The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-30 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The first field-day of the brigade commanded by
Lord Truro, composed of the Ist Middlesex Light
horse, the 3d Middlesex Artillery, and the 4th
Middlesex Volunteer Infantry, took place at Colney
Hatch on Thursday last. The arrangements were
well carried out. Two troops of cavalry, six bat-
teries of artillery, and 240 infantry marched by way
of Holloway (where a special train had been pro-
vided for tho Artillery and Infantry) to Colney
Hatch. On the arrival of the Cavalry, who were
pronounced admirable both in bearing and equip-
ment, the manoeuvres commenced. The officers who
commanded the three regiments were clearly not
new to their work. The skirmishing of the 4th
Middlesex Rifles was excellent, and the charges in
line—first of Artillery and Infantry, and subse-
quently of the Cavalry, was, on the whole, sur-
prisingly
good. The privates of the brigade were
entertained at dinner by the officers, and the pro-
ceedings terminated to the satisfaction of all present.
The 19th Surrey, with tho 21st, 23d, and a
portion of the 10th Surrey Rifles, paraded at Ken-
nington-park on Boxing-day, and marched to
Brixton Church, where they were joined by the Ist
Surrey Light Horse. The whole, under the com-
mand of Major Roupell, M.P., then marched up
Brixton-hill and through Roupell-park to the
Crystal Palace, where an excellent lunch was sup-
plied by Mr. Strange.
The Ist Middlesex Engineer Volunteers assem-
bled at South Kensington on Boxing-day in large
numbers. Under the command of Lieutenant-Col.
Macleod, of Macleod, the corps marched to the
Great Western Railway terminus at Paddington,
and there took the train to Ealing. Having arrived
at Ealing common, and joined the local company of
the Ealing corps, the battalion, six companies
strong, proceeded to battalion drill, during which
the chief movements in column and line were
successfully performed. The butts at Ealing are
now available to the corps during the whole of
every Tuesday and Friday.
In addition to the 9th and 10th companies of Fo-
resters (4th City of London) Rifle Volunteers, which
consist of the members of the late rth Middlesex
(Islington) Rifles, a new company has been formed,
and it is in contemplation to still further augment
the strength of the regiment by recruits from Isling-
ton and the immediate neighbourhood.
Last Tuesday evening a gold ring was presented

to Mrs. W. S. Taylor, of High•street, Windsor, by
the members of the band of the Windsor Rifles, as

a testimonial of their esteem and respect, and also
as a return and acknotvledgment for the assist&nce
she has given them in their practice, conducted at
her residence.

A prize cup, presented to the Hadleigh corps by
Ensign Freeman, and won by Private Gray, has
been publicly presented to the successful competitor.
Lieutenant Robinson, who recently proceeded from
Hadleigh to the Hythe School of Musketry, has
returned, and is now communicating to his com-
rades the experience he has acquired. On Thurs-
day a butt was commenced for the Halesworth
corps, the range having been approved by the Go-
vernment inspector.

On Thursday the effective men of the Wisbech
corps commenced shooting for a handsome silver
challenge cup, presented by the ladies of neighbour-
hood ; but, in consequence of a thick fog prevailing,
the contest could not be proceeded with.
In Lincolnshire, Colour-Sergeant Brown, of the
South Lincoln Militia, has been attached to the
Spalding corps as drill sergeant and musketry in-
structor. Most of the Lincolnshire corps made
suitable demonstrations on the melancholy occasion
of Prince Albert's funeral.

On Thursday the members of the Yarmouth Rifle
Corps (which must not be confounded with the fine
artillery corps tilso formedin the town) assembled
to the number of 120, and marched to Hopton
House, the residence of their commandant, Major
Orde, by whom they were hospitably entertained.
The Thetford corps will shortly compete for several
prizes.

The Harwich Artillery Volunteers marched from
that town on Thursday to Stour-hall, Ramsey,
where they were hospitably entertained by Mr.
James Barker. Some animated speeches were de-
livered on the occasion, and the proceedings passed
off in a very gratifying manner. About 60 gentle-
men have entered the revived Brentwood corps.
The Hun. and Rev. H. W. Bertie has addressed a
letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, resigning the
chaplaincies of the 3d Essex battalion and of the 2d
Essex corps. He states that in the present state of
public affairs he feels it his duty to identity himself
altogether with the 2d, or Ilford Company, of which
he is a member, and to share with its members
every vicissitude which may befal them.
About a fortnight ago some 48 members of the
Bilston Volunteers tendered their services to Go-
vernment for active employment in any manner or
place. The offer was forwarded through the Cap-
tain (Mr. J. N. Baghall) to the Lord-Lieutenant of
Staffordshire (Lord Hatherton), and by his Lord-
ship transmitted to the Secretary for War, who, in
a communication to Lord Hatherton, has replied as
follows :—" I have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 12th inst.,
enclosing an offer of active service from the 12th
Staffordshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, and I have to
request that you will communicate to the com-
manding officer my appreciation of the zeal and
patriotic spirit which has prompted the members
of the corps to make such an offer. I have, how-
ever, to request that sour Lordship will point out
to him that I could only avail myself of the services
of the corps, even if the country were at war, under
the provisions of the Act, 44th of George 111., cap.
54. I have, &c., G. C. LEWIS." The Volunteers of
Bilston have had this reply read to them on parade
by their captain.