The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

THE VV:

EETING.

The Common yesterday morning presented a
marked contrast to former days of the meeting, when
soon after the reveille had sounded hundreds of
volunteers were to be seen emerging from their
tents, and afterwards indulging in those morning
luxuries and comforts so essential to fit them for
the business of the day. This was succeeded by
mutual interchanges of friendship, all inspired with
good wishes for the future. Breakfast was scarcely
over before little parties were formed discussing the
probabilities of so-and-so making a good score, and
opinions expressed as to the chances of success.
Before dinner time hundreds of ladies in elegant
attire graced the scene, and all was bustle and
activity. The chief attractions of the meeting have
now been disposed of. The Queen's Prize has been
shot for and won, and the Belgian visitors, laden
with proofs of Englishmen's goodwill, have departed
for their homes, and nothing could be more chilly
than the general aspect of the place yesterday morn-
ing, although a large number of prizes still remain
to be disposed of.
On the previous night there was a renewed illu-
mination by means of large Bengal and other
lights, in consequence of the great success which
attended the former display on Saturday last. The
affair on this occasion was on a more extended scale,
and at ten o'clock the whole extent of the common
became brilliantly illuminated. The many hundreds
of tents under the effect of the blazing lights pre-
sented a wonderful aspect, and the canvas appeared
a snowy whiteness. The old mill displayed brilliant
lights, and could be clearly defined for miles round.
The buttif were also brilliantly lighted up, and had
there been any desire to continue the shooting at
midnight instead of mid-day the light was just as
good, and every shot on the target could have been
marked with the same accuracy. The whole dis-
play gave unqualified satisfaction, and loud plaudits
showed how it was appreciated by the visitors.
. This mimic display had not been long disposed of,
and the "last post" sounded for all lights to be ex-
tinguished, when there were loud cries of " Fire
fire !" proceeding from a number of voices. The
Surrey Volunteer Fire Brigade, who are encamped
on the ground, were soon on the alert, and under
the direction of Capt. Irvine, Sergeant Woodward,
and Lieut. Lucas, they soon got out the engine, find
proceeded to a spot outside the enclosure, where a
great heap of furze was on fire which had been col-
lected during several days of the past week. They
got out their hose and placed it in some stagnant
water close at hand and commenced pumping on the
while the general volunteers in camp formed a
me from the water tanks on the common and passed
buckets of water from one to the other, so that in a
comparatively short time the fire was extinguished.
It is believed that this large quantity of furze, hav-
ing been dried by the heat of the sun, was wilfully set
on fire. Some difference of opinion appeared to exist
conse-
quently as to whose orders were to be obeyed, and
with a divided responsibility there was not
that complete organisation that should prevail on such
.asions. This, however, appears not to be the
solev? taken by Colonel Colville, the commanding
'neer, for about mid-day yesterday the following
order was issued:—

" Camp Orders, July 18, 1866.
"1. The Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding has
much
pin
leasure
in expressing his thanks to the volunteers
carnp for the smartness, steadiness, and observance of dis_
elpline shown by them generally last night, when called
out in consequence of the fire on the heath.
"2. n Friday, the 20th, the ' first post' will sound at
4
.I:aidigOht2.4o a.m. (21s the
t). ' last post' and 'lights out,' at 12.30 and
" W. J. CoLvuxr., Lieut.-Colonel Commanding."
Guards Last night a very ill-feeling was expressed by the sergeants, and officers employed on the
common and engaged in the duties of scoring, in
consequence of it being intimated to them that a
reduction would be made in the pay they had re-
ceived on former occasions, and as they had re-
ceived no intimation up to that time they expected
to be paid as before for their services.
The men considered, as they had gone on so far
and so well without any previous notice, that this
sudden announcement was very hard upon them,
and especially so as they had duties,
and the markers were
in thevery butts fromincreased morning
until night, with
all one hour's cessation only, and for
this work they only received 2s. a-day. Never
did the business of the meeting go on more smoothly
and successfully, and the proposed reduction, there-
fore, came with a very ill grace. Yesterday morn-
g, on the men being mustered to be told off for
their
respective duties, they all unanimously refused
~go unless they received a guarantee that they
B'ellid be paid as they had been hitherto ; for
alt h o ugh the Guards receive their regimental pay
in addition, yet in consequence of being separated
from their homes or their usual mess the whole of
the camp pay is absorbed in extra expenses. With
)Beeh a determination, there was nothing to be done
° Comply with the men's demands, and having
received an assurance that they should be paid as
hitherto, they cheerfully marched off to their re-
spective posts, and the business of the day pro-
ceeded.
The programme for the day contained a large
amount of business to be got through, but the prin-
Ccipal_ new competition was the contest between eight
embers from the Oxford University Volunteer
Corps and a similar number from the Cambridge
tniversursitoy,Volunteers for the possession of the
Chance
University Challenge Plate, given for
annual competition by the Duke of Devonshire and
the Earl of Derby, five shots each, at 200 and 500
Yards. The next new competition was what is called
divide
the Rifle Oaks, being a sweepstakes of 10s. each,
d into three prizes; five shots each, at 200,
600, and and 600 yards. .
The Albert Prize competition was continued at its
second stage of 800
The Fourth , 900, and 1,000 yards.
Was also inu, as was the Any Rifle Associa-
tion Cup, at 200 and 600 yards.
loaders The Saturday Review Prizes, shot for breech-
, excited a vast amount of interest, in conse-
quence of the attention which has lately been be-
stowed upon this subject, and the notice which
Parliament has taken of the question.
, T. he Windmill Prizes again went on, the ranges
being at 200 and 500 yards, and, from the numer-
ltprizes offered they excited great competition.
cited
Enfield Wimbledon Cup contest again ex-
kiocto a very lively interest. It is of the value of
value , but restricted to the winners of prizes of the
tion of £2O and upwards in Enfield rifle conipeti-
-186: at any of the Wimbledon meetings previous to
tio',, and to the highest scorers in the Interna-
f._unt. plate matches previous to 1866. Therefore,
,uel these conditions, great excellence in shooting
" a 8 expected.
,reccere were some extra prizes given yesterday for
-I.Paders, both for rapidity of firing and mark-
peatereB''''
brlkra some high scores were made. Sergeant
of the 12th Middlesex, with a Spencer re-
tearks rwirle2,at 200 yards, in three minutes made 79
late of't, with 30 shots and 28 hits. Mr. Peterkin,
this, for
"e 30 shots
University, however exceeded
ter with 33 shots and 31 hits he made
the He afterwards continued shooting with
of therte wisarkon, and was doing very well, but some
i.,„ ~ work in the chamber fould and he was obliged
-,, uuscontinue it.

/
'll REVIEW
The ON SATURDAY NEXT.
eL
:Th following is a list of corps which have re.
1-„.vecl authority to attend the Volunteer Review at
Iv lithledon on Saturday next :
RENDEZVOUS—PUTNEY.

Ist 1,0"04
Strength.
Engineer Volunteer Corps ...
...
Ist Middle 109
sex
320
do.
21T:It Tower hamlets do.
113
i 7,446011 Rifle Volunteer Corps ... ••• 390
S''
18t1; and 36th Middlesex Corps ... ••• 376
26th Middlesex
540
do.
2d Middlesex
347
do. do. ... ...
7tthh SlirreY Thee do. do. ... ... 303
7-- Adnainistrativo Battalion Middlesex Rifle
2 Volunteers ... ...
• "
4 Adraittistrative Battalion Essex Rifle -Volun-
,o
,teers .
•••
...
...
435
411 Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps ... ••• 370
2d
do. ... ••• 257
Ist Londdoo:- Artillety
do. ••• •*: 175
21 . do.
St Middlesex Rale do. ... 350
88th do.
68
15th do. do.
do. ... 3"
do.
Ist Surrey
do.
...
... 207
do.
14 Adtni4istrative Battalion Surrey Rifle
Volunteers ... -

••• 214

... ... ... . 207
GEORGE ERSKINE, (10101101.