The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-02 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Various valuable prizes were shot for by the
Surrey Volunteers on Epsom Downs on Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday last. On the
first day, in class A, the competitors were allowed
five shots at 250 and 300 yards range. The weapon
used was the Long Enfield. The first prize of
£l5 was carried off for 17 points by Sergeant Bra-
vington, of the 15th Surrey. The next prize shot
for was one of £25, the competitors for which num-
bered 48. Any rifle not exceeding 101 b. was ad-
missible. The highest score (15 points) was made
by Lieut. H. Bonus, of the 2d Surrey (Croydon).
On the third day the Lord-Lieutenant and county

members' prize of £5O was shot for ; 5 shots at 300,
500, and 700 yards range; and rifle carrying Go-
vernment ammunition. In shooting off ties Ser-
geant Mills made a bull's eye at 700 yards. Mr.
Kingsmill made an inner (2 points) and Mr. Ellis
missed ; the first was, therefore, the winner of the

£5O prize, There were 88 competitors. Class C
contained prizes in money :-Ist, £5O ; 2d, £3O;
3d, £2O ; five shots, 800 and 900 yards, shot for by
effective members of county corps ; won by the fol-
lowing :-Ist prize, Mr. Martineau, 6th Surrey ;
2d, Mr. Hewett, Ist Surrey ; 3d, Mr. G. R. Keel-
ing, Bth Surrey. The two last named fired no less
than seven times in shooting off a tie of 6 points
each. Ultimately it was agreed to divide the
money; accordingly they will receive £25 each.
The principal all-comers' prize was a Westley
Richards rifle, value £l5 15s. It was gained by
Mr. Symons (South Middlesex), who made 17
points. On the fourth day (Friday) a challenge-
cup, value £lOO, was contested for by parties who
entered in classes B and C and the winners of
prizes in class A. The cup is to remain the pro-
perty of the association until won by the same
person three consecutive years, when it will
become his property. The winner in each year
will have his name engraved on the cup, and will
receive a medal from the association. It wag won
by Mr. Burnett, of the 6th Surrey (Esher) Corps,
who made eight points. The Epsom cup, value £35,
given by the inhabitants of Epsom, was won by
A rmourer-sergeant Killick, of the sth Surrey (Rei-
gate) Corps. The firing terminated on Friday, at
6 o'clock, when the prizes were presented by the
hon. secretary, Mr. T. Tilson, without any speech.
The various squads have been commanded by Col.
Campbell, late of the Bengal Artillery, now com-
mandant of the 3d Surrey (Croydon) Rifle Volun-
teers.

On Saturday the cadets attached to the London
Rifle Brigade, the Queen's Westminster, the Surrey,
the Greenwich, and other metropolitan corps assem-
bled in considerable force at the parade-ground of
the London Rifle Brigade, Old Kent-road, for a
field day, preparatory to the review, which is to take
place on the 11th inst. Already 13 or 14 cadet
corps have agreed to be present at the review, and
it is expected that from 1,500 to 2,000 of the youthful
Volunteers will be present on the occasion.
For some weeks past detachments of the 7th Mid-
dlesex (Islington) Rifles have been practising at
their rifle range, Rainham, and, judging from the
progress they have already made, many of them bid
fair at no distant day to become excellent marks-
men. It is intended shortly to have an assault of
arms at the head-quarters of the corps, in which the
Volunteers will be assisted by several members of
the regular army.

The members of the Volunteer Band of the Civil
Service Rifles met on Friday in the orderly room at
Somerset-house to present a handsome ring to the
band-master, Mr. M. Davis, as a testimony of re-
spect. The band will muster on Thursday next in
the square of Somerset-house at 4 o'clock, when a
selection of popular music will be performed.
The prize meeting of the Ist Oxfordshire Admi-
nistrative Battalion took place on Monday, Tues-
day, and Wednesday last at the butt of the Oxford
City Rifle Corps at Hincksey, near Oxford, and the
weather each day being very fine there was a large
attendance of Volunteers from various parts of
the county. The prizes given by the county of Ox-
ford, consisting of Henry's first quality rifle, value
£3O, fin• the greatest number of points at 200, 500,
and 600 yards; Henry's second quality rifle, value
£2l, for the second greatest aggregate number of
points at the same ranges; and three silver cups,
value £5 each, for the highest number of points at
600, 500, and 200 yards' range, gave rise to a good
deal of competition, and were won respectively by
Colour-Sergeant Tawney, of Banbury, who made
20 points; Lieutenant Thomson, of Oxford; Pri-
vate Ash, of Woodstock ; Private Hawkins, of
Oxford ; and Private Mitchell, of Henley. A silver
cup, given by Mr. Rowell, silversmith, of Oxford,
for the greatest number of points at 200 yards'
range, was won by Colour-Sergeant Austin, of Ded-
dington, beating 23 competitors. A novel prize in
the shape of a piece of freehold building land, value

,%;

£5O, given by Mr. R. Wharton, fruiterer, Oxford,
excited a good deal of interest, and induced no less
than 56 competitors to come forward. The shoot-
ing was at 200, 500, and 600 yards' range, and
several ties having been shot off Private Bultitude,
of the Oxford corps, was declared the victor. no
All Comers' prize, for which there were 30 compe-
titors, was won by Captain Fane, who made 11
points at 200 yards, the second prize being obtained
by Private G. T. Prior. A silver cup, value £2O,
given by Colonel North, M.P. (the colonel com-
manding), ranges 500 and 600 yards, was won by
Private C. Underhill, who made 12 points. The
following prizes were also shot for :—Two silver
cups from the profits of the issue of stores, won by
Ensign Bickerton and Private Spackman a silver
cup, value £lO, given by the Sheriff of Oxford (Mr.
W. Thompson), was gained by Captain Mallam ; a
challenge rifle, given by Mr. James Morrell, of
Headington-hill-house, was won byPrivateVen ables,
aftes an active competition officers' cup, value £2O,
was won by Private Hawkins against upwards of 40
competitors ; and a silver cup, given by Quarter-
master Grant, was won by Private Jenkin, who
made 17 points, at 200, 500, and 600 yards'
range. The shooting, on the whole, was ex-
tremely good, the several prizes being well
contested. The prize given by Colonel North,
M.P., consisted of a very elegant and tasteful gob-
let, designed by Messrs. Hunt and Roskill, of Lon-
don.

The 4th Wilts (Chippenham and Calne corps) and
15th Wilts (Wootton Basset) competed on Monday
and Tuesday last on the Chippenham range, for a
challenge cup, presented by Mr. T. H. A. Poynder,
the winner having to gain it twice against all
members of the two corps. Ensign Wilmot, of the
Chippenham corps, was the successful competitor.
To the names of the corps mentioned as present
in our report of the review of the Volunteers by
Lord Palmerston at Dover on the 28th ult., we
should have added that of the 2d (Sandwich)
Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteer corps, under Cap-
tain R. Thomson, who have displayed no lack of
spirit in aiding the Volunteer movement,
The 2d Hants Light Horse Volunteers were in-
spected on Thursday at Stoneham-park, the seat of
their gallant commander, Captain J. B. W. Fleming,
by Colonel Grimston, of the Second Hants Rifle
Volunteers, to whose battalion the troop is attached.
At the conclusion of the man ceuvres the corps dined
in a large marquee at the Fleming Arms (Corporal
Ridgley's), under the presidency and at the invita-
tion of Captain Fleming. In the course of the
evening Sergeant Andrews was presented with a
gold hunting watch, value 20 guineas, a gold
Albert chain, and a purse of sovereigns, in appre-
ciation of his services as drill instructor to the
corps.
The Bth Hants (Bottley and Bitterne) Rifle Vo-
lunteers had a field day at Lieut. W. B. Gater's,
Bursledon, on Thursday, and afterwards they were
hospitably entertained.
On Wednesday the Christchurch (Hants) Volun-

teers contested for an Enfield rifle, given by Lieu-

tenant Mills, and a second prize presented by the
Earl of Malmesbury. Mr. A, Pike won the one.
Mr, G. Ferrey the other.
On Friday evening the prizes won in the annual
competition in the Ist Hants Rifles were presented
at the Corn Exchange, Winchester. The contest
took place on Monday and Thursday.
A challenge cup offered to the Colchester corps
by the ladies of that town and district has been won
by Colonel Pertwee, who made one point more than
private Wright, one of the crack shots of Essex.
Private Wright afterwards won a sweepstakes. On
Friday another match took place among 19 mem-
bers of the corps for a rifle, presented by Mr. T. J.
Miller, M.P. Private Taylor made the highest
number of points (13), but Private Wright, who
scored 12, entered a protest, en the ground that his
opponent had used a rifle not introduced in the regu-
lar course of firing. A final award of the prize was
accordingly not made. The target practice of the
corps during the past season has exhibited a marked
improvement on 1860, 14 having attained the posi-
tion of marksmen, as compared with four in 1860.
During the past week some excellent matches
have been contested by at least two of the Volunteer
corps in the county of Essex. On Wednesday at
Harwich the Artillery Volunteers fired for a silver
cup given by Mr. E. W. Garland, High Steward of
the borough, which was won by Gunner Baker, who
scored 21 points at ranges of 100, 200, and 300 yards.
A subscription cup was won by Gunner Newton, 19
points ; and other prizes were won by Sergeant-Major
Barnes, 18 points, and Gunner R. Hardy, 13 hits.

The third company of the Norwich battalion has
had a competition for several prizes during the past
week. A silver cup given by Capt. Croker (shot for
at 400, 500, and 600 yards), was won by Private St.
John ; a cup given by Lieut. C. Gurney (shot for at
200, 250, and 300 yards), was won by private W.
Saxton ; and a third cup presented by Ensign Hansell
(shot for at 200 and 300 yards), was gained by private
Burrows. Several other money prizes of small amount
were also competed for. A cup shot for by ten
members of the Yarmouth battalion at ranges of
200, 400, and 500 yards, five shots each, was won by
Sergeant Drane, who made the high score of 22
points.

0 Several interesting movements may be noticed in
connexion with the Suffolk corps. There has been
a presentation of prizes to the best shots of the
Stourmarket company ; the first a cap for the
greatest number of points in the first class being
awarded to Sergeant Felgate. Various other prizes
were, at the request of the winners, given in
various articles of equivalent value. The Lowestoft
Artillery corps has been entertained by its com-
manding officer (Captain Fowler) at his seat at
Gunton-ball. The Eye corps has been reviewed in
Thornham-park, the seat of Lord Henniker, M.P.
A silver cup, previously allot for at 200, 400, and
500 yards, was presented on the occasion to Private
Gill. Captain Commandant Mitchell acted as in-
specting officer.
In Cambridgeshire the Ist County corps has had
a competition for prizes, the first, for the greatest
number of hits, being won by Lance-corporal Red-
farn ; and the second, for the highest number of
points, by Private Hitzman.

The Grantham corps had a competition last week
between 12 of its married and 12 of its single mem-
bers, each man firing five rounds at ranges of 200,
300, 500, and 600 yards. The married side made
194 points to their opponents' 168.
The two Worcestershire battalions assembled on
the racecourse at Worcester on Monday evening for
review by Colonel M'Murdo, the inspecting officer
of Volunteers of the district. The weather was
remarkably fine, and there was a very large con-
course of spectators. Nineteen different corps
assembled from all parts of the county, having
arrived by train and by road in the course of the
morning, and there were nearly, if not quite, 1000
men under arms. The two .battalions were com-
manded respectively by Lieut.-Colonel F. Knight,
M.P., and Lieut.-Colonel Seobell. Lord Lyttelton,
Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, accom-
panied the inspecting officer. The battalions
having formed in line, and received the inspecting
officer with opened ranks and saluted, a number of
evolutions were gorse through most creditably, in-
cluding firing by companies and in volleys, which
was done with wonderful precision. The volunteers
were complimented at the close of the review by
the inspecting officer. The Queen's Own Worces-
tershire Cavalry kept the ground.
Oa Friday afternoon a meeting of officers of
volunteers corps in Worcestershire, convened by
the Lord-Lieutenant of the county (Lord Lyttelton),
was held at the Shirehall at Worcester, his lord-
ship's object in convening the meeting being to
obtain information, first, as to the practicability of
establishing a County Volunteer Rifle Association ;
and, secondly to consider the propriety of obtaining
uniformity of clothing among the corps. On both
subjects decided opinions were expressed in favour
of the chairman's views.

On Saturday afternoon Colonel M'Murdo made
the annual inspection of the Birmingham corps in
Calthorp-park. About 800 men mustered in Bing-
ley-hall, whence they marched to the inspection
ground, where they were put through eighteen
evolutions in a very able manner by their colonel.
They were afterwards formed in battalion square,
and addressed by Colonel M'Murdo in highly corn
plimentary terms, special reference being made to

the soldierlike manner in which Colonel Mason
commands the battalion, to the bayonet drill of the
sergeants, and the sword drill of the officers. The
inspecting officer also enjoined the necessity of the
strictest discipline being observed ; and in reference
to this point alluded to the recent review at War-
wick, some irregular firing having taken place on
that occasion. From the efficiency and steadiness
which the corps now displayed he had 'dopes that
no such irregularity would again occur. The ground
was kept by a battalion of the Staffordshire Volun-
teers.

The contest for the prizes offered for competition
to the volunteers of the Leicestershire Regiment
commenced on Monday at Melton, and terminated
at Leicester on Friday. The first prize was a chal-
lenge cup, presented by Mr. W. Turner, open to four
members from each company, five rounds at 300, 500
and 600 yards ; the points gained on the target
practice to be added to those obtained in six an.
swers at judging distance up to 600 yards. The
prize consists of a silver cup, value 25 guineas,
which is to be kept by the winner but for one year,
unless he wins it three years in succession, when it
becomes his property. Sixteen competitors entered.
Captain Halford scored 17, Captain Bankart 16.
Captain Bankart gained 9 points at judging dis-
tance in six answers, and was accordingly adjudged
to be the winner. This is the second year Captain
Blankart has held the cup. He also on Monday
won Colonel Turner's prize of £lO for excellency
in judging distance. On Tuesday the competition

was continued at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The first
prize contended for was one of £2O, at 700 and 900
yards. Ensign Paul, 9th Leicester, scored 8, win-
ning the first prize. A prize of £l5, five shots, at
300 and 500 yards, was won by Corporal White-
house, of Melton, scoring 15 points. On Friday
the All-Comers' prize of £l5, five rounds at 300
and 500 yards, was contested for, when Ensign
Gardiner, Ist Leicester, proved the victor, scoring 14.

The distribution of the prizes offered at th© recent
rifle competition at Bristol took place on Saturday
afternoon on the grounds of the Clifton Zoological
Society. The gardens were gaily decorated with
flags and banners, and a large company were pre-
sent on the occasion. The rifle corps was drawn
up before the platform, the Engineers being on the
right and the Artillery on the left. The successful
candidates having been called to the front the open
regimental prizes were presented by the Mayor—
a Henry rifle, given by Mr. W. H. Gore Langton,
M.P., and a silver medal, to Sergeant Geary ; a
Whitworth rifle, given by Mr. H. A. Palmer,
to Private Cleft ; £5 to Armourer Sergeant
Gibbs ; and £5 to Private Portia. The prizes offered
by the Clifton Zoological Society, with two prizes
added from the regimental fund, were distributed by
Mr. A. J. Knapp. Mrs. Lyon Campbell presented
the ladies prize. Various prizes were then presented
with appropriate remarks, by Colonel Bush; the
second-class regimental prizes.—lst prize, a silver
goblet, presented by Mr. G. W. Franklyn, M.P., to
Private Champion, and the All Corners' prizes-Ist
prize, £lOO, to Lieut. Thomson, Oxford Rifles (the
band playing, " See the Conquering Hero Comes").
The Volunteer prizes, competed for with any wea-
pon, were distributed by Mr. J. Saunders, high
sheriff. The first at 300 yards, consisting of £lO and
a silver medal, was won by Ensign Pinney; the
first at 500 yards, £lO and silver medal, by Captain
Simons, 2d Middlesex ; at 200 yards, the Ist prize,
£lO and silver medal, was gained by Sergeant Rowe
Ist Devon. Colonel Whitmore delivered the follow-
ing prizes :—At 300 yards, a Ist prize of £lO and a
silver medal to Sergeant Mackey, 13th Glocester ;
at 500 yards, Ist prize,
£lO and silver medal to
Captain Holme, Bath. Of the extra prizes open to
all comers, the Ist prize of £2O, at 500 and 600
yards, was gained by Private Chamberlain, Bristol ;
at 700 yards, the • Ist prize of £lO, was won by
Lieut. Brock, of the 82d Regiment. The prizes
offered for competition by the Staff sergeant-major
and sergeants of the corps were next distributed.
The regimental challenge cup, to be held for one
year by the member making the highest score, the
successful competitor retaining a gold meipl, and
the next highest score receiving a silver medal were
handed by Colonel Bush to Sergeant Compton and
Private Hamilton. The regimental challenge bugle
which having been won two years in succession by
the same company, becomes the property of that
company, was then delivered to Captain Wright, of
No. 3 company, by Col. Bush, who in the course of
his remarks said that the file firing of the 10 men of
No. 3 company for .this prize was 13.90, the volley
firing 11,30, and the skirmishing 9.20, making a
total of 34.40, a result which he might say, espe-
cially as regarded the skirmishing, was almost un-
precedented.
The County of Lancaster Rifle meeting, which
commenced on Monday last at Altcar, late High-
town, Lancashire, terminated on Saturday by the
distribution of prizes, amounting in the aggregate
value to nearly £l,OOO. The meeting passed off to
the satisfaction of all concerned. The" All Corners"
prize attracted the presence of most of the leading
shots in the county. The Liverpool Corn-exchange
parse of £25 and a Turner rifle, for all corners, dis-
tance 200 and 300 yards, five shots at each range,
10 entries, was won by Captain Heaton, 40th Lan-
cashire Rifle Volunteers, 21 points. The Association
Cup of 30 guineas, distances 200 and 300 yards,
five shots at each 'range, for which there were 66
entries, was also won by Captain Heaton-200
yards, 13 ; 300 yards, 10; total, 23. A purse of
£5O, presented by Mr. Robt. Barnes, of Manchester,
open to the effective volunteers of the county of
Lancaster, distances 200, 400, and 500 yards, 255
entries, resulted in Mr. Shaw winning the prize by
making a bull's-eye. The Leigh Challenge Cup,
value 80 guineas, distances 300, 500, and 600 yards,
five shots at each distance, was won by J. Hain'',
of Wigan, with 20 points. The Ellesmere Chal-
lenge Cup, with £25 added by the Association,
competed for by three delegates from Volunteer
companies of the county, distances 300, 500, and
600 yards, five shots at each, resulted in Lieut.
Wood, Sergeant Dougan, and Corporal Usher, all
of the 26th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, making 43
points. The Mayor of Liverpool's Prize of £25, for
Liverpool Volunteers, distances 300 yards and 500
yards, for which there were 73 entries, was gained
by Sergeant Sillem, sth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers.
The Liverpool Stock Exchange Prize of £25, dis-
tance 500 and 600 yards, was won by Joseph Wood,
Bth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. The Lord-Lieu-
tenant's Cup, valued at £5O, distance 500 and 800
yards, five shots at each range, was won by S. R.
Richardson,l9th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, with
points. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Com-
panies Prize for all comers, distance 800 and 900 yards
first prize £35, was won by Sergeant H. Rowe,
Exeter and South Devon, who made 13 points.
The Liverpool Cotton-brokers' Prize of £5O, open
to all corners, with any description of rifle, in any
position, 10 rounds at 1,000 and 10 rounds at 1,100
yards, attracted most of the celebrated shots. Mr.
ladies, Collins stood at the head of the list, making 16
points. On Saturday a large number of the pub-
lic,, visited the range. The
including many dies
with proceedings
commencedthe contest for the
County of Lancaster Rifle Association's Grand
Challenge Cup, value £lOO, to be competed for only
by effective Volunteers of the county, being winners
of any of the aforesaid prizes for individual firing
during the meeting—distances, 700, 800, and 900
yards, five shots at each range—the prize to be won
three years consecutively by the same person,
which was won by Lieut. Handsley, 17th Lanca-
shire Rifle Volunteers, with a score of 12. The
concluding contest was for " a purse of £5O, pre-
sented by Mr. J. Pemberton Heywood, for the best
company volley firing, open to the effective Volun-
teers of the county of Lancaster, 10 from each com-
pany ; five rounds at 400 yards." The tie was shot
off, and the 47th won by a point. At the termina-
tion of the firing the directors adjourned to a gaily
decorated platform, from which, after brief but ap-
propriate addresses from Colonel Downie and Major
Walker, the prizes were distributed.
On Tuesday afternoon the Hon. Col. W. E. Dun-
combo, M.P., reviewed the 2d Battalion of North
Riding Volunteers, before Lard Faversham's man-
sion, at Dancombe-park, near Helmsley, Yorkshire.
The Market Weighton Riff) corps (9th East
Yorkshire) assembled in Everingliam Park on
Tuesday last, under the command of Lieut. Lang-
dale, and went through a series of military exer-
cises, after which a silver bugle was presented to

the corps bfLady Herries, on behalf of the ladies
of Market Weighton.
The second annual prize shooting in connection
with the Leeds Volunteer Rifle Corps was concluded
on Thursday last. The competition was on the
shooting grounds of the corps at Farneley and
Pontefract, the short ranges, 150, 200, and 300
yards, being shot at the former place,`,and the long
ranges, 500, 600, and 800 yards, at the latter place,
except in the case of pne prize, which was com-
peted for at the short ranges at Pontefract. The
company prizes were shot for at 200 and 300 yards,
five rounds at each distance. For the Battalion
Challenge Cup, value £25, together with a double
field glass (the latter to be retained), presented by
Mr. W. J. Armitage, the competition was confined
to the 20 best competitors for the company prizes,
and the prize was won by Sergeant Holroyd, 2d
company, who scored 10 points. The Borough Mem-
bers' Prize (a silver cup, value £10) was shot for at
150 and 200 yards, five rounds at each. There
were nearly 100 competitors, and the prize was won
by Sergeant Harding, who made 20 points. The
prizes were distributed to the successful competitors
on Saturday afternoon, in the Victoria-hall, by Mrs.
Markham, wife of Lieut.• Col. Markham, the com-
manding officer of the Leeds Rifle Corps.
The 3d Durham (Sunderland) Rifle Corps held
their first competition for prizes, on the beach be-
tween Hendon and Ryhope, on Friday afternoon.
There was a good muster. The first competition
was for two prizes given by the officers of the corps
—first, a piece of plate worth ten sovereigns ;
second, a Hay rifle. The first was carried off by Mr.
Clark, shoemaker, Walworth-street, Sunderland,
who made 22 points.

The Carlisle Artillery Volunteers had their first
prize shooting with the rifled carbine which has
been supplied them on Tuesday last, 'at their
practice range on the banks of the Eden. The
competition was for a Whitworth rifle, given by
Mr. Richard Carruthers, of Eden Grovo ; a short
Enfield, given by Miss Lambert ; and a field glass
for third best shot. The ranges were 100, 200, and
300 yards, which is the limit of calculated range of
the rifled carbine. There were 41 competitors,
each of whom had five shots at each range. The
first prize was won by Gunner Gibson, who made
27 points.

On Thursday last part of the Morpeth Rifle Volun-
teers visited Naworth Castle, the seat of the Earl of
Carlisle. The " Belted Will" (Brampton) Volunteers
had been invited to the Castle to meet them, and
the two corps were put through various movements
in the grounds. The volunteers were afterwards
entertained in the hall, when several complimentary
and patriotic toasts were drunk.

The Countess of Kintore, in presenting a hand-
some silver bugle on Wednesday to the 10th Aber-
deen shire (or Inverury Rifle Volunteers) suggested
that the Scottish volunteers should present a testi-
monial to Lord Elcho, whom she described as the
father of the volunteer movement in Great Britain.
The force in Scotland now numbers nearly 47,000
men, so that if each volunteer were to subscribe 3d.
they would raise within a very small amount of
£6OO. The proposition was received with applause,
and measures were taken to begin the subscription.