The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-16 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER _RIFLE PRACTICE.

The following is the report of Major-General Hay
as to the practice made by volunteers at the Mus-
ketry School at Hythe :—" I have the honour to
forward, for the information of his Rval Highness
the General Commanding-ie-Chief, the enclosed
return of the results of the performance in shooting
of the noblemen and gentlemen of the rifle volun-
teer corps, who havejust completed a course of in-
struction at this establishment, and to report, in re-
ference to the method pursued, that the morning
was devoted to carrying out a detail of daily work,
as per annexed statement, so modified as to meet
the requirements of a volunteer company, the mem-
bers of which, it is presumed, will not be able to de-
vote more than two hours and a half daily to the
musketry drill and practice. The desire, however,
on the part of these volunteers to become fully tic•
quainted with every detail connected with the sys-
tem and the method of working it was so great that
the whole day was spent in acquiring this informa-
tion. Proficiency in the several practices being
a
always measured by a figure, I am enabled to draw
comparison of the shooting of these volunteers
with that of parties of officers (averaging from 40
to 45) in the last three courses. The result is in
favour of the volunteers, the highest figure of the
former being 46.94, of the latter 47.07 points. I
have confined the comparison to the shooting of
the officers, as from their superior intelligence they
always (when subjected to the same amount of pre-
liminary drill) beat the men. When it is considered
that these volunteers were composed of noblemen
and gentlemen, most of whom had never fired with
a rifle before, and not•any at a longer distance than
about 200 or 300 yards, and when the short period
of six days allotted to the performance of the pre-
liminary' drills is taken into account, it not only
affords the most convincing proof of the energy and
intelligence brought to bear on the work in which
these volunteers were engaged, but at the same time
it points clearly to the great benefit the country
will derive from enlisting the services of the edu-
cated classes of the population in the movement
which is now in progress for the enrolment of
volunteers for rifle companies and corps. I do not
hesitate to say that, if the training of these volun-
teers is regulated by a well detailed system, which
will ensure a preliminary preparation before prac-
tice
importantpersons
whoreserve
never
e(
tic() is allowed to take place, in a few years a most
cnotmerptrhisei ng' aas
it w
regulararmy
but who, from their education and intelligence, are
ll,oar
militia,
but of
eminently qualified to make the very best ' marks-
men') will be at all times available, and afford a
most valuable and permanent addition to our na-
tional defences. The interest taken by the noble-
men andto
gentlemen herein referred in the prac-
tice convinces me that rifle shooting, if properly con-
ducted, cannot fail to prove henceforth one of the
most interesting of our national amusements, I feel
it right to observe, however, that unless rifle train-
ing is conducted on a proper (and I would venture
to recommend a uniform) system, utter failure will
ensue. We shall have rifle corps in name, ,but not in
reality."

We hear that Mr. William Dougal Christie, who
has been for some years Minister at the Argentine Confede-
ration, is appointed to Brazil, on the resignation of the Hon.
Francis Reginald Forbes, who, our readers may recolleet,
was transferred to that Embassy from Dresden by the late
Government. We understand that Mr. Forbes does not
return, to Dresden.

On Tuesday last, the annual distribution of
prizes to the children attending the various schools
established by Frances Anne, Marchioness of Lon-
donderry, took place. Towards noon, the waggons
' from-Rainton,• Pensher, Old Durham, Pittington,
and °tiltr of her ladyship's collieries, laden with
joyous children, were seen approaching, and each,
as it arrived, was emptied of its living cargo to
swell the, number of those who were awaiting
them, belonging to schools nearer home. A neigh-
bouring field was improvised into a playground,
and, arranged in file, they awaited the arrival of
her ladyship. The hedgerows, school, and every-
available spct were planted with flags, which gave
a' very insp:riting appearance to the scene, and as
_Lady Londonderry, accompanied by the Bishop of
Durham, drove past, the children greeted her-with a
universal burst of enthusiasm—a fitting welcome
to one who has done and is doing so much for them.
Arrived at the school-room Seaham
colliery,-at one end of which a beautiful tri-colou:ed
tent, 180 feet long by 40 feet broad, had been
erected, and under which were tables to accommo-
date the whole of. the children, numbering upwards
of 1,200, exclusive of those under six years of age.
Her ladyship.. accompanied by the Bishop of Dur-
ham and Miss Longley, Sir Archibald and Lady
Alison, Lord Adolphus Vane Tempest, M.P., the
Hon. and Rev. Mr. Bourke and Mrs. Bourke, John
Vandileur. Stewart, Esq., the Rev. Mr. and Mrs.
Gouch, George Wilkinson, Esq., Mrs. and Miss
Wilkinson, the Rev. A. Bethune," the Rev. W. A.
Scott, &e., took her set on a raised dais, and the
children, commencing with those attending the Sea-
ham Harbour and Seaham colliery schools, were
marched before her to receive their prizes and ex-
libit specimens of their workmanship. Lady Lon-
donderry having instituted a competitive examina-
tion among those boys and girls who had received
prizes at previous examinations, a girl from the
Pittington school, and John Niel, from the Seaham
Harbour school, were the successful competitors.
To give the names of the others who received
prizes would occupy too much of our space, suffice
it to say, there were work boxes, books, needle
casei,..instrument cases, and all manner of useful
articles for both boys and girls. The distribu-
tion of prizes being concluded, the children
marched in again to their seats, whilst Lady
Londonderry and visitors inspected the arrange-
mentslor making, and partook of, the tea, which
was pronounced to be excellent. The water was
boiled in an immense boiler erected in the school'
yard, the tea itself being brewed in four tea urns,
each holding 300 pints. The grace having ,been
given out by the Bishop of Durham, and sung by
the children, what some would consider the best
part of the programme of the day's proceedings was
commenced by an attack on the mountains of spice-
loaf which had been so temptingly placed before
them, washing them down with " the cup that
cheers but, not inebriates." The distribution of loaf
and tea did not occupy so much time as the distri-
bution of prizes, and being over, the bishop gave
out the concluding grace, oiler which—
Lady LONDONDERRY rose and addressed them as
follows :

" Another year has passed, and by God's mercy I find my-
self spared to attend arecurrence of this meeting, which from
its nature, I am free to confess, gives me perhaps greater sa-
tisfaction than any ether association my duty amongst you
affords me.. I, believe, if we rightly understand our
callings in life, it would be found that one of the greatest
blessings insured by the possession of wealth is the power
it ought to give the possessor of doing good to their fellow-
creatures. I confess this is too often lost sight of, and not
the least by myself, in the pursuit of objects and ends of a
more personal and selfish nature, and yet the satisfaction
that I cannot but feel at being permitted to be instrumental
in producing a result such as this scene affords, is a proof
of the truth that property entails duties, and if you try to
discharge them, however humbly and inefficiently, you are
rewarded ;for-I can assure you that the means of assisting
towards the education of some 1,200 children is not lone of
the least of the blessings I have to thank the Almighty for
conferring on me: Trying, therefore, as I do, to estimate
my responsibility, I may fairly claim of both parents and
teachers their fullest sympathy and assistance in thiys work
we have mutually at heart—namely, the fitting, by judi-
cious teaching, the youthful to pass through their future
life happily and rightly in the positions they may here-
after occupy. I am glad to think that I have not
to complain in not having been sufficiently seconded.
I have the most satisfactory reports of all the schools,
which happily contrasts with those of last year, lin not
giving me grounds for special exhortation or blame in any
particular. The attendance generally has been better,
which leads me to believe that the parents have attended to
my advice of lastyear, and have impressed on their children's
mind the value if the employment of this time of intel-
lectual sowing. I have the most satisfactory account of the
teachers, to whom my thanks are due, as also to the Rev.
Mr. Bethune and the Rev. Mr. Scott, to whose attention
and care I feel lam greatly indebted. I have been glad to-
'find that my scheme of starting two competitive prizes, of
the lists of boys and girls who had obtained prizes, to find
out the first of each class, has been successful. I have writ-
ten the name of each in the books given them, and I hope it
will serve as an example in future life of the results to be at-
tained by energy, industry, and perseverance. There is no
one whom lam addressing who will not have in future life
that opportunity of improving in his or her position that tide
in the affairs of those which happens to us all, and which will
when well applied, lead on to greater welfare, if not to for-
tune, and by the recollection of these qualities, and by God's
help, there is no one of you who may not advance. One fea-
ture that has been brought out by this competitive examina-
tionis the advantage derived by not taking children away at
too early an age ; the best answers being given by those of
14 years, while the majority competing averaged from 10
to 12. I hope parents will consider this, andl reflect
whether the ultimate advantage of a year or two at school
will not compensate for the loss of the immediate gain
of their children's labour. I have been glad to hear that
the examination of the girls' needlework was, by the wish
of the ladies, to whom my thanks are due for their assist-
ance, based on the useful works of shirt-making, mending,
darning, &c. It is by the knowledge of such acquirements
and homely duties that you will hereafter make good wives,
and you may be sure the true secret for a happy home is an
industrious and thrifty wife. I feel it, as before,!a great
encouragement to my humble endeavours to have the pre-
sence of the most reverend bishop of the diocese. I hope he
will be kind enough to address a few words of advice, far
more valuable than aught that I can advance, and I am
thankful to him for doing us the honour of coming. ' I have
now only to tell you again how much pleasure this sight
gives me, and to wish you all well in your future lives."
The Lord Bishop of DURHAM, in a speech of consider-
able length, enjoined upon the children the necessity of
being diligent in their studies. He assured them he could
readily j sin in the expressions of pleasure her ladyship
announced. Their assembling reminded him of the bless-
ings and advantages they enjoyed, but the great difficulty
with children was to persuade them of these advantages.
If they could only be made to understand that right use
of their privileges would both aid them in fighting the
battle of the world and in securing happiness for ever,
there would be no difficulty in persuading them
to be very diligent. He trusted they would make a right
use of talents entrusted to them. Time was one of the
talents they enjoyed. How many were there who would
give all they possessed to get their time back. Education
was another, and it was the same with it. His lordship then
read the motto, hanging from the top of the tent, " Nothing
is difficult to the brave and the faithful," and pressed upon
them to be faithful to themselves and to their masters, to
those in whose employ they might be, they were to show
that they were trustworthy and honest—to be faithfi#to
God, to recollect there was another before whom they would
have to give the answer of a good conscience towards God
and themselves. They had heard a good deal about prizes,
and must recollect that there was another prize to be tried
for. Here only two or three could obtain one, there all
might. His lordship next addressed words of encourage-
ment to the teachers, remarking on the dignity of their
calling. They were fellow-labourers with himself, and he
thanked them for it. He was very thankful to meet them
all, and prayed God they might have such another happy
meeting. Her ladyship said it was her greatest pleasure
to do good, and he called upon all to learn that lesson—to
be kind—to be unselfish, generous, benevolent, looking for
their reward from above. Only set that before them, and
he was sure they would be happy here and hereafter.
Sir A. Antsox then addressed a few words of encourage-
ment to the children. He said that though a comparative
stranger amongst them he felt great interest in the pro-
ceedings. It was a spectacle which could enly be witnessed
in a country blessed with such institutions as ours, and if
the great and affluent throughout the country would follow
the example set them by the noble patroness of these
schools, how soon would happiness be extended in the
land, and the hearts of all be knit together. Her ladyship
had told them that wealth; has its duties ; he would re-
mind them that labour also has it duties. He trusted there
were many among those present who would do honour to
the training they were now receiving. It was at schools
similar to those, and in this locality, that Lord Eldon, one
of the profoundest of lawyers, and afterwards Lord High
Chancellor, and Admiral Collingwood, second only amongst
our admirals to Nelson, received their education. But why
need he go to others for examples ; he would refer them to
the founder of these great works, who, although a nobleman
by birth, solely by his own courage, integrity, and ability,
had won for himself such eminence and such honour in the
state and nation.

Her ladyship and visitors afterwards retired
amidst the reiterated cheers and applause of the
children, who shortly afterwards adjourned to an
adjoining field, there to complete their day's enjoy-
ment with games, &c.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Diphtheria, Sore Throat, Glandular Swellings.—Some
twenty years ago diphtheria raged in Paris to an alarming
extent, and in Boulogne, in 1855, its presence produced con-
sternation by the desolation it left in its track, and gained
the appellation of the " Egyptian Pestilence." Diphtheria
is a variety of typhoid fever, perfectly under curative con-
trol by Holloway's Ointment and Pills, which assuage the
fever, diminish the thirst, disperse swollen glands, prevent
inflammation in the throat, and speedily healthe hazardous
ulcerations on the tonsils which always accompany the
complaint. Various are the remote causes of this pesti-
lence, but impure blood directly produces it thus Hollo-
way's preparations, by filtering everything deleterious from
that vital fluid, ward off the disease.

Sir,—A letter in your imwession of this day,
from Mr. Hawksley, contains some remarks which
call for a brief statement 'from us of the facts of our
position with-the different Commissioners of Works
respecting the question of the purification of the
Serpentine.
In the year 1848, we were desired by the then
Commissioners of Woods and Forests, to calculate
the amount of mud contained in the' bed of the
Serpentine, as shown by the very elaborate sections
taken under the direction of Sir John Rennie, and
we were further asked to report upon the best
means, in our opinion, of improving the condition
of that piece of water. In accordance vrith that
request we made the- two reports of December 1
and 4, 1848 (given at length in the printed.s.opy of
the correspondence), in the second of which we re-
commended that the mud should not be cleaned
out, but that the bottom .be reduced to. a. regular
slope, and coated over with concrete in exactly the
same way as has since been carried out with such
complete success in St.' James's Park. The mutter
then dropped for several years, until Sir Benjamin
Hall became Chief Commissioner of. Works, who
immediately determined to alter the condition of
the pieces of water in the public parks, and ordered
that that in St. James's Park should be first dealt
with, and the work of cleaning and concreting was
commenced. Sir Benjamin then sent for Mr. Easton,
and desired him to report Upon the best method
of obtaining a supply of water to the lake, and in
consequence our report of April, 1857, was written,
recommending the sinking of the well in the duck-
island in St. James's Park. 'ln that' report we
dealt with ,the whole subject, and stated that we
were of opinion that a quantity could be obtained
from that well suffioient for all the pieces of water
—viz., the lake in St. James's Park, that in Buck-
ingham Palace Garlensi the Serpentine, and the
basin in front of Kensington Palace. We received
orders-to proeeed immediately with the work, and
to make the permanent well; providing temporary
machinery for filling and keeping up the lake in
St. James's Park from that• source, until such time
as he could obtain a grant 'from Parliament for the
erection of permanent machinery, and for extend-
ing the operations to the Serpentine.
Lord John Manners succeeded Sir Benjamin
Hall as Chief ComMissio'ner, and we thought it
right to put him 'in possession of the exact state of
matters as left by his predecessors, and we wrote
the report of Jan. 1, 1859, for which we received
the thanks of his lordship.
This brings us to the time of Mr. Fitzroy's be-
coming Chief Commissioner, and the first hint of
the abandonment of the plan submitted to and ap-
proved by Sir B. Hall, and' partly carried out, was
the obtaining of a grant for the execution of a more
expensive plan, and, as we' shall very shortly show,,
one involving a much larger annual tax upon the
country without a corresponding benefit. We
thereupon wrote our report of the sth inst. to the
present Chief Commissioner—referring to our cor-
respondence with his predecessors on the subject,
and making him a distinct offer to carry out and
guarantee the works for a stated sum. 'We took this
course because we were of opinion that Mr. Fitzroy
could not be acquainted with those previous re-
ports, which opinion is confirmed to a great extent
by Mr. Hawksley's assertion, " That of these gen-
tlemen's schemea I never so much as heard, till some
time after my report had been sent in and adopted,
and then only because Messrs: Easton and Amos
forwarded a letter to the First Commissioner," that
letter being our report of the sth inst. above re-
ferred to.

So much for the statement of our having forced
our propositions upon the attention of the Govern-
ment—and now for the relative expense of the two
plans.

Mr. Hawksley states that the annual cost of his
plan of filtration will not exceed £3OO, but he has
evidently omitted one very important considera-
tion, and one which involves considerable expense
—viz., that of providing a supply of water to keep
up the evaporation. This is provided for at pre-
sent by the supply derived from the Chelsea Water-
works, at a cost of about £350 per annum, which
sum, unless Mr. Hawksley has a cheaper source of
supply, must be added to his estimate of the annual
expense. _ _

We propose to provide an ample supply of fresh
water for the sum of £11,500, and at an annual cost
of £7OO. At first sight this seems a considerable
excess upon Mr. Hawksley's estimate, but indepen-
dently of the addition which ought to be made to
that estimate of the amount paid to the Chelsea
Water Works Compeny, there must also be added
the cost of keeping up the lakes in Buckingham
Palace Gardens and St. James's Park, which
amounted last pear to upwards of £5OO, and which
would be done away with by the adoption of our
plan. The real state of the case therefore is, that
whereas Mr. Hawksley's plan involves an increase
of £BOO a-year beyond what is now paid to the
Chelsea Water Works Company, without doing
away with the necessity of their supply, the plan
proposed by us not only does not involve additional
annual expense, but affords an annual saving of
£l5O per annum. Thus, calculating the interest of
the first outlay at 5 per cent. per annum, and adding
thereto the annual expense of working, we have the
following results :

Mr. Hawksley's Plan
Five per cent. on £17,000 £Bso 0 0
Cost of working (as per Mr. Hawksley's own.
showing)
Sums paid to Chelsea Water Works Company,
and which must be continued, about 350 0 0
Sums paid last year for pumping water into St.
James's Park and Buckingham Palace Gar-
dens

Total annual cost £2,000 0 0
Easton, Amos and Son's Plan :
Five per cent. on £11,500 575 0 0
Cost of working 7OO 0 0

Total annual cost £1,275 0 ö

This shows a saving of £5,530 in the first out-
lay, and an annual saving of not less than 4700 by
our plan as compared with that of Mr. Hawksley.
We are greatly astonished in common, no doubt,
with the rest of the public at Mr. Hawksley's ac-
count of the purity and excellence of the Serpen-
tine water, and we can only inquire as men of com-
mon sense whether such an outlay as that of £17,000
can possibly be required if the water be so good as
he describes ?

With regard to Mr. Hawksley's statement that
" Messrs. Easton and Amos's device is based on
false premises, both as regards the influence it
would have exercised on the Serpentine and the
quantity of water to be obtained from a well in the
duck-island, and certain to pr6duce evil conse-
quences of no small magnitude in and around St.
James's-park," we cannot better endorse our opinion
than by saying that we are willing to guarantee
the whole works, the getting of the water and de-
livering it to the Serpentine, and to take upon our-
selves the responsibility of all the evil consequences
prophesied by that gentleman.
We think your readers will absolve us so far from
any charge of personality towards Mr. Hawksley.
Without, however, making so sweeping a state-
ment as that to which that gentleman's modesty
has prompted him, we think that our 35 years
practical experience in various hydraulic operations,
by no means unfits us for arriving at sound conclu-
sions on a matter so simple as the supply to the See-
pentine. With reference to Mr. Hawksley's re-
marks as to the difference in the views of contrac-
tors and professional men, we happen to occupy
both positions, and we can only say that we feel
honoured in sharing the odium which he seeks to
throw upon the former, with several eminent civil
engineers who stand higher in our profession than
either ourselves or Mr. Hawksley.
We have found the advantage of being able to
act in this double capacity, and we would mention
that in the case of the water supply of no fewer
than six towns within the past two years, our ser-
vices, originally engaged as consulting engineers,
have been retained as contractors for the carrying
out of our plans, at our estimates—a proof of the
growing appreciation of public bodies of a mode of
business which enables them to reckon with cer-
tainty upon having engineering works carried out
within the estimates.

We are, your obedient servants,
EASTON, AMOS, AND SONS.
Grove, Southwark, S.E., Aug. 13.

TILE BUILDERS' STRIKE.

The following builders, it has been stated to us,
opened their yards yesterday :—Mr. Sergant, of
Camden-town, employing upwards of 80 men ; Mr.
Morris, Park-street, Grosvenor-square, employing
about 40 ; Mr. Jackson, Rathbone-place, about 40 ;
Mr. Lawrence, Brook-street, New-road, about 50 ;
Mr. Warne, Soho•square, about 40; and Mr. Potter,
Great Pulteney-street. It has not been ascertained
whether the full complement of workmen have
been called in, but, whatever the number be, they
have gone in, it appears, without subscribing to
any terms.

J. Wise, Kew (Blue) 1
J. Chandler, Hammersmith (White) 2
W. Mancey, Isleworth
The men started away from the aqueduct b-idge very
evenly ; immediately after which Wise and Chandler drew
slightly in front. At the Matia Wood, moored nearly op-
posite Megan. Searle's late yard, Wise, was just clearing
himself of Chandler, who was nearly half a length clear of
Mancey. In the rowing up to Craven Cottage the three
men, preserving their relative positions, became wider
apart, and Mancey fell right astern.