The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 1861.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-APRIL 24.
NONCONFORMISTS BURIAL BILL.

Order for Second Reading read ; motion made and question
proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and
at the end of the question to add the words "upon this
day six months." Question put, "That the word 'now'
stand part of the question." The house divided—Ayes,
155; Noes, 236.

AYES-155.
Adair, H. E. Duncombe, T. S. Martin, P. W.
Adeane, H. J. Dunlop, A. Miller, William
Agnew, Sir A. Ellice, E., jun. Mills, T.
Andover, Lord Evans, Sir De L. Monsell, Rt. Hn. W.
Arnott, Sir J. Evans, T. W. Morris, D.
Bagwell, J. Ewart, J. C. Norris, J. T.
Bailey, C. Ewing, H. E. C. North, F.
Baines, E. Finlay, A. S. O'Brien, P.
Ball, F. Foley, J. H. O'Conoi Don, The
Barnes, Thomas Forster, Charles Onslow, Guildford
Bass, M. T. Forster, W. E. Padmore, R.
Baxter, W. E. Freeland, H. W. Paget, C.
Bazley, Thomas Gavin, Major Paxton, Sir J.
Beale, Samuel Gifford, Earl of Pease, H.
Beaumont,Somerset Gilpin, C. Pilkington,'James
Berkeley, H. Glyn, G. C. Pollard Urquhart W
Berkeley, F. Glyn, G. G. Raynham, Viscount
Biddulph,:Col. 11.51' Goldsmid, Sir F. Ricardo, 0.
Biggs, John Gower, F. L. Rich, H.
Black, Adam Greene, Capt. J. Robartes, T. J. A.
Blake, J. A. Gregory, W. H. Roebuck, J. A.
Blencowe, J. G. Gregson, Si. Rothschild,Baron L.
Bouverie, E. P. Gurney, Samuel Rothschild,Baron M
Brady, John Hadfield, Geo. Russell, A. J. E.
Brand, H. B. Hanbury, R., jun. St. Aubyn, J.
Bright, J. Hankey, Thomson Scholefle,d, W.
Bristow, A. Ileneage, G. Scrope, G. P.
Bruce, H. A. Holland, E. Seymour, Dig,by --.:
Buckley, Maj.-Gen. Hutt, W. Shelley, Sir J. V.
Burke, Sir T. J., Bt. Ingham, R. Smith, J. B.
Butt, Isaac Jackspn, W. Somerville, Sir W.
Buxton, C. Jervoise, Sir J. Staepoole, W.
Caird, James Kershaw, J. Stansfeld, J.
Calcutt, F. King, Hon. L. Stuart, Col.
Calthorpe, F. H. Xinglake, A. W. Sykes, Col. IV. H.
Cavendish, Hon. W. Kinglake, Serj. J. Talbot, C. R. M.
Clay, James Kiogscote, Lt.-CoL Tite, Wm.
Cliford, C. C. Kinnaird, Hon. A. . Tollemache, Hon.F.
Cogan, W.ll. Langston, J. H. Turner, J. A.
Coke, W. C. Lana-ton, H. G. Yillfers, Rt. Hon. C_
Ovllll, IL. 1.. x.d.Aun, %V. Vivian, H. H.
Coningham, Wm.. Layard, A. H. Warner, Edward
Corbally, M. E. Leatham, E. Westhead, B.
Crawford, R. W. Lewis, J. Harvey Whalley, G. H.
Crossley, Frank Lindsay, W. S. White, Jas.
Dalglish, Robert Locke, John Williams, W.
Davey, R. Lysley, W. Woods, Henry
Davie, Sir 11. R. F. M'Cann, J. Wyld, James
Davie, Col. F. Mackie, J. Wyvill, M. •
Dillwyn, Lewis L. McMahon; P.
Douglas, Sir C. Maguire, J. F. TELLERS.
Duff, M. E. Marjoribanks, D. C. Peto, Sir M.
Dunbar, Sir Win. Marshall, W. Henley, Lord

NOES, 236.
Adderley, C. B. Graham, Lord Wm. Morgan, C. 0. S.
Anson, Capt. Greenall, G. Mowbray, Rt. Hn. J
Antrobus, E. Greenwood, J. Mundy, William
Baillie, H. J. Gray, William Naas, Rt. Hn. Lord
Baring, A. H. Griffith, C D. Newdegate, C. N.
Barrow W. H. Grogan, Sir Edward Nicol, William
Bartteldt, Major Gurdon, B. - Noel, G. J.
Bathurst, A. A. Haliburton,PJustice North, Col. ,
Bathurst, F. H. Hamilton, Jas. H. Nortlicote, Sir S. H.
Beach, W. W. Hamilton, Major Parke, G. H.
Beaumont, W. B. Hamilton, Viscount Pakenham, Col.
Beecroft, G. S. Handley, John Pakington, Sir J. S.
Bentinck, G.C. Harcourt, G. G. V. Papillon, P. 0.
Bentinck,- G. W. P. Hardy, Gathorne Parker, Major W.
Benyon, R. Hardy, J. Peel, Gen.
Beresford, B. Hartopp, E. B. Phillips, G. L.
Bernard, Thos. T. Heathcote, G. H. Portman W. H. B.
Blackburn, P. Henley, J. Potts, George
Botfield, Beriah Henniker, Lord Powys, L. P.
Bramston, T. W. Hervey, Lord A Pritchard, John
Bridges, Sir 8., Bt. Hill. Lord E. Puller,C. W.
Buller, J. W. Holford,-It. S. Quinn, Peter
Bunbury, Capt. W. Hood, Sir A. Ridley, Sir M. W.
Burghley, Lord Hope, G. W. Rogers, John J.
Cartwright, CoL H. Hopwood, J. T. Rolt, J.
Cave, S. Horuby, W. H. Salt, Thomas
CavenOish, Lord G. Hor tall T. B. Seymer, 11. K
Cayley, E. S. Hotharn, Gen. Lord Seymour, Sir M.
Cecil, Lord R. Howes, Edward Shirley, E. I'.
Cholmeley, Sir M. Hubbard, J. G. Sibthorp, Major
Clive, George Humberstone, P. S. Sidney, Thomas
Close, M. C. Hume, IV. Smith, M.
Cochrane, A. D. Hunt, G. W. Smith, Abel
Codrington, Sir W. Ingestre, Viscount Smith, S. G.
Cole, Hon. H. A. Jermyn, Earl Somerset, Col. E.
Collins, T., jun. Johnstone, Hon. 11. Somes, Joseph
Conolly, Thomas Jolliffe, Sir W. Spooner, R.
Corry, H. L. Jones, D. Stanhope, J. B.
Cross, R. A. Kekewich, S. Stanhope, Lord
Cubitt, George Kendall, N. Stewart, Sir M. R.
Dalkeith, Earl of Kennard, R. Stuart, Major W.
Darner, L. S. W. D. King, J. K. Sturt, H. G.
Deedes, Wm. Knatchbull, W Sturt, Capt. C. N.
Disraeli, Benjamin Knightley, R. Talbot, Hon. W. C.
Du Cane, Chas. Knox, Lt.-CoLB.W. Taylor, Colonel
Duncombe, A. Lacon, Sir E. Thynne, Lord E.
Duncombe, W. E. Leeke, Sir H. Thynne, Lord H.
Dunkellin, Lord Lefroy, A. Tollemache, J. li.
Du Pre, C. G. Legh, G. C. Torrens, R.
Dutton, Hon. R. H. Legh, W. Tottenham, C.
East, Sir J. B. Leighton, Sir B. Trefusis, Hon. C. H.
Edwards, Major H. Lennox, Lord G. G Trollope, Sir John
Egerton, Sir P. Lennox, Lord H. G. Upton, General
Egerton, A. F. Leslie, C. P. Valetort, Lord
Egerton, E. C. Leslie, W. Vance, John
Egerton, W. Lewis, Sir G.C., Bt. Vansittart, Wm.
Elphinstone, Sir J Liddell, Hon. H. G. Verner, Sir Wm.
Estcourt, S. Lindsay, Colonel Walcott, Adm. J. E.
Euston, Earl of Lockhart, A. E. Walker, James R.
Farquhar, Sir M. Long, R. P. Walpole, S. H.
Farrer, James Longfield, Robert Walsh, Sir J. B.
Fellowes, Edward Lopes, Sir M., Bt. Walter, John
Fergusson, Sir J. Lovaine, Lord Watlington, J. W.
Filmer, Sir E. Lowe, Rt. Hon. R. Welby, W. E.
Fitzgerald, W. S. Lowther, Col. H. C. Whitbread, S.
Foley, Hon. H. W. Lowther, Captain Whiteside,Rt HnJ.
Foljambe, F. J. S. Lyall, G. Whitmore, 11.
Forde, Lt.-Col. W. Lygon, Hon. F. Winnington, Sir T.
Forester, Col. G. C. Lytton, Sir E. B. Woodd, B. T.
Forster, Sir G. Mainwaring, T. Wrightson, W. B.
Foster, W. 0. Malcolm, J. W. Wyndham, Hon. H.
Gallw.y, Sir W. P. Manners. Lord J. Wyndham, Hon. P.
Gard, R. S. Martin, J. Wynn, Cot.
Garnett, W. J. Miles, Sir W. Wynne, C. G.
George, John Miller, T. Wynne, W. W. R.
Gilpin, Colonel Mills, A. Yorke, Hon.E.
Gladstone, Capt. Mittord, W. T.
Gladstone, W. E. Montagu, Lord R. TELLERS.
Goddard, A. L. Montgomery, Sir G. Heatheote, Sir W.
Gore, W. R. 0. Mordaunt, Sir G. Selwyn, C. J.

THE ,BUDGET.

The whole case of the Budget is now fairly
opened to Parliament, and before the week is out
it will be understood by every man in England
who reads a newspaper,' Two great questions are
placed before the House of Commons, and probably,
before sunrise on next Saturday morning a delibe-
rate opinion will be pronounced upon them.
The first is, whether there is such a surplus re-
venue as to warrant a remission of taxes ? And if
this be answered in the affirmative, the next ques-
tion is, which tax ought.to have the preference in
the contemplated remission ?

On the first of these two great subjects of
inquiry, the prevalent opinion in the house on
Monday evening clearly was, that the Economist
was right in regarding the supposed surplus 'as a
least problematical. Out of the hoped-for balance
of £1,923,000, the Economist, a Ministerial paper,
has shown that at least £798,000 is uncertain, and
may never be realised. Little more than
£1,100,000, then, is left as an actual surplus which
may be dealt with. But is one million, on. an
annual account of 70 millions, too large a margin to
be left to guard against mishaps ? Would 'a pru-
dent financier, in the contemplation of an excess of
only one-seventieth part of the whole, think it his
duty to get rid of that petty balance as quickly as
possible ?
Supposing, however, that Parliament should be of
opinion that an actual surplus of X 1,125,000, which
May possibly be increased to '£1,923,000, is more
than ought to .be left, in' the Exchequer towards
the reduction of the. unfu.nded debt, the, second
qtieStion 'is immediately proposed—which tax ought
to be selected for the earliest remission that can be
afforded? And here we 'find immediiktely four
imposts o different kinds. each of Whiclidemands
and expects a priority over all others. Let us
look at them each in turn, always remembering
that no tax is -good ; that every eonceiv dale impost
is full of evils? and that to defend a tax as a thing
in itself desirable would be dreamed of by no man.
outside the walls of a lunatic asylum. The prac-
tical question is, which of all the candidates for
remission is the one whose retention would be the
most injurious to the country ?
First—The Paper Duty is deservedly unpopular,
as being an Excise, a thing naturally hateful to
Englishmen: It also cramps and fetters trade. The
nufacture, and some
have been relieved
from the visits of the exciseman; and the mann-
osothapermbanraunfac
manufacture, the
ft hei
ngdluasstsrlyn a
expect to have relief
ifna ctuhreeirrs
turn. paperT naturally
This
s is the
e
chief feature in the case of
the Paper Duty. Its repeal-would not greatly affect
the people at large. A guinea book would, still be
sold for a guinea ; a shilling book would not be
reduced to lid. ; a penny tractor newspaper would
not be sold for Id. The repeal of the Paper Duty
would benefit the reannfacturer, but for the con-
sumer it would do little or nothing.
Second—The Income Tax. This Mr. Gladstone
admits to have a strong claim, for he himself
selects it for reduction. But he is not faithful to
his own avowed principles. He told the country,
in 1853, that the income tax must be our chief
reliance in time of war, and that therefore it was
unwise and perilous to exhaust this element of
strength in time of peace. This view is unques-
tionably the true one ; but then this consequence
results from it—that what he is now doing, which
is, to " use up" the income tag in a time of peace,
is actually dangerous—that it prematurely ex-
hausts the country, and tends to leave it powerless
when the day of trial shall arrive. In this view of
the case, it would seem to be the very first duty
of a British financier to get rid of an income tax
as rapidly as possible, and to restore this great
weapon to its scabbard, so as to be ready to be
again drawn from it whenever an occasion shall
arise.

Third—But there are other war taxes which the
country has often been told are to be remitted " at
the earliest possible moment." These are princi-
pally the tea and the sugar duty. These are heavy
imposts—the duty on tea being more than one
hundred per cent., and that upon sugar more than
fifty per cent. And they fall directly upon the
consumer. There is not a poor washerwoman or
sempstress in the kingdom who does not drop a
few of her hard-earned halfpence every week into
the Exchequer by means of these two taxes. Only
think what a boon it would be if really goad tea
were now selling throughout these islands at two
shillings a pound, and genuine rich sugar at three-
pence ! Yet the excess over these prices is wholly
caused by taxation ; and thus, in daily and weekly
payments, the whole mass of the people are forced
to throw millions per annum into the receiving-
boxes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer...
heler tax less
of
upon a particular class.
Fourth—One other tax deserves to be named,
generally upon the com-
munity last two; it is an
immoral
t n
ihoo although .11 at iantnd presses
ceriut
Provident forethought is a duty, especially in an
industrious and commercial people. In the view
of the ruin which sometimes fell upon individuals
all their property,
prudent men, a long time since, invented societies
by an accidental fire consuming
to which ten thousand men might pay two or three
pounds per annum each, and from which the un-
fortunate ten-thousandth man 'night receive back
his loss if his house was consumed by fire. No-
thing could be more wise or sore praiseworthy.
Some evil spirit, surely, must have prompted the
Government, sixty years ago, to say, You shall
not do this, except you
pay us at the same time a
heavy tax." The mischief hereby wrought is in-
calculable. Most people, burdened with this tax,
are insufficiently insured, and, in ever' way, pro-
vident forethought is discoura
imposts, we say, on
ged.
Glancing, then, at those four
The paper duty calls for repeal, chiefly because
it is an excise duty, and hampers trade.
The income tax urgently demands repeal a comparison of the four, that--
be-
cause by it we are exhausting our war reserve
in time of peace.
The tea and sugar duties arewar times,
wrong-
fully maintained in time of peace, and bearing
directly on the mass of the people.
The tax pn Insurance is an immoral tax tend-
ing in the most direct manner to discourage pru-
dence and forethought.

Of the whole four' it must be evident to every
one of our readers that the tax which Mr. Glad-
stone has placed first in order of repeal,—:-the
paper duty —is that which ought to have been
placed fourth. We believe that If a vote were
taken in Guildhall of all the elictors of the city
of London, an enormous majority would support
us in this view of the question.
But we must not forget the previous inquiry,
Whether Mr. Gladstone has really got any such
surplus to dispose of in the remission of taxes, as
he flatters himself and his hearers is really within
his reach ? This is, to say the legit, very doubtful.
—Advertiser.

IRELAND. -

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.

In the Court of Queen's Bench yesterday thecase
of Thomas J. M'Robins came on for adjudication.
He had been committedfor contemptin obstructing
the writ of habeas corpus issued for the production of
oilowd, who had been
ay station. He
tcharerfieodurocffhfirldomrenthoef Mrs.Gaiw Sahyeitrwa
was subsequently admitted to bail, undertaking to
appear and abide the order of the Court whenever
called on. The case having been fully heard, the
Court pronounced judgment, observing that
M'Robins was guilty of contempt, but, considering
that he had already undergone six months' impri-
sonment, and that there were mitigating circum-
stances in the case, their Lordships did' not inflict
any further punishment on him, but merely made
an order that he should pay the costs incurrei by
Mrs. Sherwood. This must be a considerable sum.
As M'Robins has no means of his own this jndg-.
ment will consign him to further inaprisonment, un-
less the persons who employed him, and who seem
to have ample funds, come forward to pay.the costs.
In these kidnapping cases the Court of Queen's
Bench has been so _far baffled that not one of the
children has been produced in obedience to the
writ of habeas corpus; but that the proceedings
have had some effect, and that they will act as a
restraint upon' this sort of proselytism, we may in-
fer from the fact that there has not been any new
case of the kind during the last two years. The
imprisonment of Miss Aylward, and the heavy coats
incurred in the defence in her case, as well as iu
this, will induce caution for the future.
The members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy
met yesterday in the ".Pro-Cathedral Church,
Marlborough-street. There were 27 present, all
the prelates' but Dr. M'Hale. The proceedings
were strictlj private.

MEXORTALS".OF WELLINGTON.—In the Civil
Service Estimates this year there is a vote proposed of
£34o' for the removal of the Wellington Car to the crypt of
St. Paul's Cathedral, and for works required in adapting
part of the crypt-to receive the car ; and of a vote of £95
for the. removal of the Waterloo Vase from the National
Gallery, and for a pedestal.

CONTEaT FOR PRIZES AT HITHE.

By permission of the authorities at the War De-
partment, a grand competition for a series of prizes
with various descriptions of arms took place yes-
terday at the splendid and extensive, ranges of the
Government School of Musketry, Hythe. The
event was looked forward to with much interest, as
.several of the prizes were open to all coiners, but
the result is exceedingly encouraging to the Rifle
and Artillery Volunteers who were entered for
firing, and who reaped a merited reward for mani-
fest close attention to rifle and carbine practice. The
arrangements for the fete, which were of the most
complete description, were carried out by a commit-
tee of officers of the 4th Cinque Ports (Hythe) Rifle
Corps, Lieut. Mackesoir 'commanding, and Major-
General Hay, commandant, and Inspector-General
of the Hythe School of Musketry, who rendered the
most efficient aid, in conjunction with the adjutant
and other officers of the establishment, to afford ac-
commodation to all visitor* and produced a result
worthy the importance of the undertaking. The fol-
lowing is a list of the prizes awarded for competi-
tion, with the final regulations issued by the com-
mittee:-Ist prize, an Enfield rifle—firing at 200
yards; 2d prize, ditto—firing at 300 yards; 3d prize,
ditto—firing at 200 yards (contributed by general
subscribers) . 4th prize, a cup, value seven guineas
--firing at 300 yards (contributed by Mr. Corbey,
of the Swan Hotel, Hythe) • sth prize, a Hay rifle,
firing at 300 yards,. contrib'ufed by the Staff-er-
'geante, of the Hythe School of Musketry; 6th-
prize, a cup value 10 guineas—firingsansoo yards,
enntri'buted by Mr. Henry ScOtt, of Hythe; 7th
prize, a Lancaster, or small bore rifle; contributed
by Messrs. ,Hollis and Son, of Birmingham ; Bth
prize, a purse of 10 guineas---firing at 600 yards,
contributed by the ladies of the district, and a
second prize' contributed by the Adjutant of the
Hythe School , of . Musketry; 9th , prize,
an Aston rifle, firing at 600 yards, contributed
by Mr. Aston, Armourer at the Hythe School of
Musketry; 10th prize, a Lancaster rifle, firing at
700 yards ; and 11th prize—firing at 800 yards,
contributed by general subscribers. Regulations.—
The shooting to commence at 10 a.m., and the com-
petitors to be formed into sections and placed under
the command of an officer appointed for that pur-
-1 pose ; prizes Nos. Itosto be shot for standing ;
Nos. 6,7, and 8 in Hythe position, ond the remain-
der in any position • prizes Nos. 1 and 2 to be shot
for with long or 'short-
ort- regu'ation Enfolds, No. 3
with regulation Artillery carbines, Nos. 4,5, 6,7,
and 8, with long or short regulation Eafields and.
Artillery carbines; Nos. 9, 10, and 11 with any
description of rifles. The maximum weight of
rifle to be 101 b„ with a minimum pull 0f,31b. .The.
prizes 1 to 3 inclusive are to be shot for in uniform;
five shots at each distance. Ail ties to be shot off
at one shot each. No magnifying sights, hair
triggers, or rests will be allowed, and the rifle of
every winner is to be given up for inspection to the
officer at the firing point: The entrance fee for the
first five prizes to be 2s. 6d., and for the remainder
ss. Pool targets will be provided. The amount
realized, less 20 per cent., will be divided by the
number of bull's-eyes at the end of the day. The
competition will be under the command of the
officer at the firing point. The All-Comers'
Prizes will not be shot for before noon.
No winner will be allowed to take more than
two prizes. The prizes will be distributed on
the ground at the close of the day's shooting. Capt.
Coles, Captain Instructor of the School of Mus-
ketry, has kindly consented to act as referee, and
his decision in case of any dispute will be final. A
special train left London-bridge at 7 a.m., convey-
ing a large number of Volunteers belonging to the
London Irish, London Scottish, City, Tower Ham-
lets; 11th, St. George's; 9th, West Middlesex;
Ist, Victoria; 2d, South Middlesex ; 22d, West-
minster ; Ist, South London ; 7th, Southwark ;
26th, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, &c., a fair pro-
portion of whom were provided with rifles to take
part in the competition. Among the passengers
were also five non-commissioned officers of the
Grenadier Guards, armed with the short Enfield
rifles of the 46th Middlesex Volunteers, for the
purpose of entering the lists in the competition for
prizes for all services and all corners. This party
arrived at Hythe about half-past nitre o'clock, and
at once proceeded to the practiec range, where a
large number of the several Kentish Rifle and
Artillery corps, including the 4th Cinque Ports
(Hythe) Rifles, 19th Ashford, Dover, Canterbury,
11th Sandgate (Artillery), Hythe Artillery, &c.,
had already assembled. The ground presented a
gay appearance, a decorated archway haying been
erected at the-entrance, near which were Marquees
for the secretary, the committee of management for
the supply of ammunition, &c., and an appropriate
booth tastefully fitted up for the distribution of the
prizes to the winners. A number of refreshment
booths, which appeared to be well patronised, were
also provided ; and the military bands of the 16th
Regiment from the adjacent camp at Shorncliffe,
and the 19th Kent (Ashford) Rifles were in
attendance. In addition to the military and Volun-
teers some thousands of spectators were present at
various points of the magnificent practice range,
which is beautifully situate on the seacoast on a fine
level, about one mile from the town of Hythe,
and four miles from Dymchawh; the sea boundary
having within sight no less than 10 martello
towers, mounted with heavy artillery, for the coast
defences. The shooting commenced at 10 o'clock,
the following being the result :-Ist Prize.—An
Enfield rifle, competed for at 200 yards, by Cinque
Ports Volunteers, of both branches of the service ;
36 were entered, and after some smart practice the
prize was won by Private Sheppard, of the 4th
Cinque Ports (Hythe) Rifles. 2d priie.—An En-
field rifle, range 300 yards ; 23 entered, competed
for by Cinque Ports Volunteers ; this prize was
well contested, by the Folkestone and Hythe corps
especially, and was ultimately won by Private
Palmer, of the 4th (Cinque Ports) Hythe Rifles.
3d prize.—For Volunteer Artillery only, shot for
with the artillery regulation carbine, at a range of
200 yards ; 20 competitors appeared, and the prize
was won by Private John Dunk, of the sth Cinque
Ports (Hythe) Artillery. 4th prize.—Competed
for by Artillery and Rifle Volunteers at a range of
300 yards ; 91 of various corps contested, and the
winner was Private Kennett, of the sth Cinque
Ports (Folkestone) Rifles. sth prize.—Open to
Artillery and Rifle Volunteers, at a range of 300
yards ; 63 competitors ; well contested, and won by
Private Abbott, of the 30th Middlesex (Ealing)
Rifles. 6th prize.—For Artillery and Rifle Vol-
unteers ; range, 500 yards. This was exceedingly
well contested by 62 members of various corps, in
which the metropolitan were pre-eminent, and was
ultimately won by Mr. Sproat, of the 15th Middle-
sex (London Scottish). 7th prize.—For Artillery-
and Rifle Volunteers; range 500 yards. 72 com-
petitors appeared, and the prize was won by Ensign
Padwick, of the 7th Sussex (Horsham) Rifles. Bth
prize.—Open to all services, at 600 yards' range.
A large number of competitors appeared for this
prize, and some excellent shooting took place both
on the part of Volunteers and non-commissioned
officers and soldiers, of the 16th and other regi-
ments of the line. The prize was, after some dis-
pute, ultimately awarded to Mr. Brown, of the 28th
Middlesex (London Irish) who was a winner by
five points. For the extra prize of a Reeves
breech-loading rifle, contributed by the adjutant of
the Hythe School of Musketry, and open to all com-
ers, a smart competition took place, but an unfor-
tunate dispute occurred, which resulted in a great
delay to the proceedings, and caused some amount
of ill feeling. It appears that Corporal Bentley,
of the 16th Regiment, from Shorncliffe Camp,
obtained the requisite number of points to win
the prize. but on examination of his rifle, the pull
of the trigger was pronou.iced not to be of sufficient
weight. An adjournment then took place to the
committee-tent, for the purpose of submitting the
question to the referee, and a warm discussion en-
sued, but we were informed that it was ultimately
decided to contest for the prize on a future occasion.
The 9th prize, open to all corners, was then con-
tested, but it being at this time about seven o'clock,
the majority of the metropolitan Volunteers and
other visitors were compelled to leave the ground
La. the NV estenhanger-station, four miles distant,
in order to save the return special train, and were
consequently debarred from w:tnessing the distri-
bution of the prizes, which were arran4ed to be
Airs.
Hay, 4e at the termination of the proceedings, by
Hay, wife cd the major-general comm inding the
School of Musketry. During the (ley, in add don
to the sese ral offieers from t) e Hythe establish-
ment, Lieut.-Colonel Audain, Captains J. V. nos-
took and R. W. Lea, Adjutant W. H. Carter, and
other officers were present from Shorncliffe Camp,
and took the utinoet interest in the proceedings. It
is also worthy of notice that the whole of the ser-
geant instructors and other non-commissioned offi-
cers attached to the S[ 11001 of Musketry, volun-
teered their services, and requested permission of
the commandant to be present, and their assistance
at the several targets was most valuable, A large
number of p )ol targets were well patronised at
various points during the day.