The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-28 00:00:00

London Rifle Volunteer- Fria e.

The sixth annual assault at arms of this brigade
took place rzsterday evening in the spacious Ro-
tunda of the Coal Exchange, St. Mary at Hill,
which was splendidly decorated with flags, banners,
and escutcheons, lighted up with jets of gas, for the
occasion. The proceedings were under the presi-
dency of Lieut.-Colonel Warde, Colonel M'Murdo,
several members of the city corporation, the De-
puty Inspector of Volunteers, and many hundreds
of visitors, the greater number belonging to the
different metropolitan Volunteer corps, were pre-
sent. The programme embraced almost every de-
scription of combative art—foils, sabres, the old
English quarterstaff, the gloves, singlesticks,
bayonets, Indian clubs, sword feats, rapiers, swords
and bayonets, and sabres and bayonets. The cow-
' petitors were introduced by Sergeant-Major South-
gate, an old Crimean medallist. They were for the
most part very young men, and by the proficiency
they exhibited the school of arms, which the Loudon
Rifle Brigade has exceptionally established, has
proved itself to be a most valuable adjunct to a
Volunteer corps. 'The contest between Corporal
Fletcher and Mr. Rhode at quarterstaff excitedgreat
interest, not only from its associations with the
days of Rabin Hood but by the grotesqueness of its
mode of combat ; as did also the wonderful display
of muscular vigour by Mr. Cuthbert, in wielding
in various convolutions round his head, and then
suddenly holding aloft, two massive clubs weigh-
ing not less than twenty-five pounds each.
An encounter between Captain Chapman (late
of her Majesty's Militia) and Mr. La,tham
with rapiers was a beautiful exhibition of skill in
fence and attack. The game of fists, though gloved,
was greeted with its usual warmth, anny the fre-
quency of its occurrence during the evening the
science of self-defence in the old English style seems
not yet to have fallen into desuetude. The band of
the brigade, under the direction of Mr. Poulter, per-
formed an overture and several valses and other
pieces during the evening, and the whole arrange-
ments were admirably managed by Mr. Cross, colour-
sergeant and hon. secretary of the school of arms.

SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE. -
Under the Sole Management of Mr. W. 11. C. Nation.—
Will RE-OPEN for the Summer Season on E A.STER-
MONDAY, April 2, 18e6, with a powerful Company, selected
from the principal London and Provincial Theatres.
During the recess the Theatre has been renovated and
decorated ; entirely new Orchestra Stalls, with a separate
entrant-, added; the Dress Circle and Pit Scats recovered,
and no expense spared to render this Theatre one of the most
elegant and comtor.able in London.
On EASTER-MONDAY, April 2, and during the week,
will be presented the great Domestic Drama, in Three Acts,
of BEL I'HEGOR : Messrs. T. Swinbourne, G. Betmore;
Misses Ada Dyaa, Hudspeth, and Mrs. Poynter.
After which (first time at this Theatre), :the Ever-green
Burlesque, by F. C. Burnand, Esq , of IXION : Misses Lizzie
Willmore, Fanny Gwynne, Ada _Harland, Hetty Tracey ;
Messrs. F. Bar-by and G. Belmore.
To conclude with (first time for many years), David Gar-
rica's Farce of A MISS IN UEkt TES:IN 6 : Mr. G. Belmore
and Miss Fanny Gwynne.
Box-office open daily from Eleven till Three. No charge
for booking or programmes. Bonnets are not admitted in
the Dress Circle or Stalls. Doors open at half-past Six,
commence at Seven. Entirely new Oichestra Stalls, with
spring stuVed seats and backs, and equal to those of the
Weo-end Theatres, 4s. ; Dress Circle, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit,
is. ; Gallery, 6d. ; Private Boxes, LI ls., £l its. Od., and
£2 2a.—Second price at Nine.

Acting Manager, Mr. NYE CHART.