The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-01 00:00:00

Dec. 26.
hat' you are
for the for.
„I,,krby -
" linoweles
"My dear Sefton—l am very glad to learn lk
to preside on Friday at a meeting at Preston,
mation of a County Rifle Association. Such an it- tatitution
—if I may use the term—appears to me exactly sal hat is re.
quired to give at this moment a character of Pernk.oulenee
and consistency to the great notional movement which. has
reflected such credli on the publi spirit of the eonAtrlv•
have hitherto kept aloof from evet:V Pro Peal of the kind,
because I feared, in all that had been presented tome, the
prevalence of )oval influences and local joalousies. Put, If
you will allow me to say so. you have ta,cee your propel'
place, as Lord-Lieutenant of the county, in pu tong yourself
at the head of a movement which I hope may t:lltd to con-
solidate and unite the volunteer system, which hal Already
produced in this our county a larger force than that' which
has just enforced terms of peace upon the capital of the
Chinese empire; and you may depend upon my co-orera,...
lion In Parrying out the object which you have in via
As my one nuance at the meeting is impossible, I hope yolk
you will excuse me HI offer to you a few remarks as to whet
I conceive should be the objects chiefly aimed at. Nrot
have had abundant evideno t&s year of the readiness of
those who are not in a position !o give their personal service
to aid the movement by pecuniary ';ll:Ttilbutions, and wipe.
cially by offering prizes, for proflciencylfie shoeting; andE
this has even been carried to an extent.N. bich insskaa nns
think it necessary to rguard against the possfhle dent* of
too much prominence being given to rillepracike aSagainst
rifle drill. We must not forget that the nationstlObject is
the formation of rifle corps, and not rifle elu thiss
distinction ought not to be lost sight of. In laying'ileYnt
the rules for a County Rifle Association, the first practifid
step must be to provide the ' sinews of war,' not for a tents'
porary but fora permanent Object; and with this view r
should suggest that whatever contributioni are made,
should be either in the form of annual subscriptions, or if
giviin in a lump suns, that sum to he invaded in the 11112110.
of finitees; and the annual interest addle to be OZPandet.t.
Now as to the applicationof any funds whic.lreaY he raieeds
'the amount of which need not be very lap, provided theyi
are certain, Ithin.k they should Belistritea. to two objects*
Ist, the providing an adequate number of ranges 'lin' prac-
tice at long distances, to accommodate the various di:Arista
of this large county; and 2d, the establishment of certain
prizes to be annually and permanentlygivensubject to alte-
rations from time to time by a committee, the appointment
of which, after the principles are settled, shall be the very
first step. It is needless to say that this should be a works,
ing committee, composed of men willing to give to- it their
time and attention, and impartially selected from all parts
of the county. As to rifle ranges, they ought to be a charge/
on the permanent funds of the association. I believe there.
is only one at present, at Ilightown, which is more especi-
ally available for Liverpool and its neighbourhood, but which
is at present on the responsibility and at the risk of Mr.
Adam Gladstone and other private individuals. ' Ithink at
least two other ranges should be formed, and leased by the
association—one for the north, and one for the Manchester
divisions of the county, No ground should be 'adopted
by tho association which does not give at least a 900 yards
range. I should think ground might be found towards the
eastern range of hills, near the Manchester and Leeds, or
Manchester and Sheffield lines, which would be very suit
able for Manchester and its neighbourhood. In my opinion.
these grounds, when taken, should be free for the practice-
of any corps from any part of the county, but not for indivi-
dual members of such corps, except on payment of such fees
as may be fixed by the committee. Spectators coming on to
the ground should also be charged a moderate payna.mts
which will materially diminish the cost of the association•
Every county ground will require a permanent staff attache&
to it, of three or four men, to attend to each target. The as-
sociation should have nothing to do with minor local ranges
the provision of which should be left, as at present, to the
respective corps. Now, as to prizes, I would limit them to
money, or to pieces of plate, and I would absolutely exclude
everything in the shape of medals to be worn, which, if al-
lowed, would have a tendency rather to cast ridicule than.
distinction on the wearer. The prize should be fixed and
announced by the committee at the commencement of each
year. Their amount must of course depend on the funds at
their disposal ; but I should lay great stress on the condi-
tion that prizes given by the association should be conspetsld
for only by members of some accepted rifle corps, or of thus
two years' regular service. I would not discourage the offer
of prizes for shooting by individuals on other conditions ;
but I would make them subject to the sanction of the cora-
mittee, awl especially if intended to be shot for on days as-
signed to the association's prizes. The practice grounds
should be open on days not required for the regular volun-
teer service, on moderate terms, bu: not gratuitously, to
parties desirous of making use of them for shooting matches
between individuals, or even clubs, but no as stance in the
way of prizes should be given to these latter.' I 21. ave thus
hastily embodied what appear to me to hie' 061;leideati°318.,
applicable to the objects of your meeting, of which I win
thank you to express my hearty approval,—Yours, &c.
" DERBY.'

Mr. J. BLUNDELL read a list of the patrons and
council, and proposed the following as the rules of
the association --
1. The object of the association is to give permanence to
the volunteer Orps of, and to promote rifle shootiig
throughout, the county.
2. That the Lord-Lieutenant be the peesident.
3. The association to consist of 10 patrons, whose sub-
scriptions shall be optional ; 50 vice-presidents (with power
to add to their number), whose subscriptions shall be £5
58. per annum ; members, whose subscriptions shall be £1
Is. per annum ; and donors of 20 guineas and upwards,who
shall be considered as life members. Subscriptions to be
due on Jan. 1, in each year.

4. The property of the associatioi to be invested irt three
trustees, to he appointed by the council. .
5. There shall be a council of 15,t0 be chosen from among
the members, to be elected at an annual meeting—one-third
of whom shall retire annually (in the first and second year
by lot), but shall be eligible for re-election.
6. The President and Patrons shall be ex-officio members
of the council.

7. The council shall have the sole management of the in-
come of the society, rendering an account yearly to
the annual meeting ; such account having been previously
audited by a person or persons not members of the council,
for that purpose. .
8. The council shall be regulated in their proceedings by
such by-laws as may from time to time be enacted by them..
No established by-laws being in any ease altered or a new one
proposed without at least one month's notice of such 'Atten-
tion being given to each member of the council.
9. There shall be a paid secretary appointed by the coun-
cil, with such a salary as may appear requisitetand who chair
be removable at their pleasure. Clerks likewise may be ap-
pointed, and offices taken at the discretion of the oouncil.
10. There shall be a treasurer to be appointed by the
trustees, wbo shall be ex-officio a member of the council.
11. Gentlemen of influence in various parts of the county
to be invited to act as honorary secretaries.
12. There shall be one general meeting of the association•
in each year, to be held in Preston,. on Thursday in Easter
week.

13. There shall be one meeting in each year for rifle
practice, to be held successively in different parts of the
county, the place of such meeting to be fixed by the council,
at which prizes will bo given out of the funds of the associa-
tion for the best practice of artillery, rifles, and carbines.
rato°
14. Prizes shall be given which shall be open to members
of this society who are not volunteers.
15. An umpire shall be appointed by the council.
16. An officer of experience to be
effectiveappointed, eliboeretaolfir
annually inspect the practice ground,
bby the
associationre
council as to its eligibility for the
meeting. purposes of a county
given at the discretion of the council
17. All volunteers to appear in uniforta.
18. The principal prize to be given
assembled to compete, who shall be reopen-
be competed for exclusively by the
volunteer corps within the cottniP
ance of order and discipline at the vari-
ous 19. Prizes also to be
to officers and privates a the militia and yeomanry.
20. The council shall appoint an officer to take command
shall be conducted in accordance with the
osoiusfbtlhereaf volunteersonrgthe
es .mate'
BROOKS seconded the proposition, and
oli'ohir.'firinof the School of Musketry at Hythe.
Captain
regulations
the rules .were adopted.
Lord STANLEY proposed a Tote of thanks to the
chairman. .

The voto of thanks was briefly acknowledged,
and the proceedings terminated.

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