The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-16 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH STREET.

IVATIOIVAL RIFLE ASSOCIA.2ION.

ANNUAL MEETING.-(THIS DAY).

The February meeting of the members of the National
Rifle Association was 'held this day at Willis's rooms. Lord
Herbert of Lea, the Earl of Ripon, Lord Elcho, Sir J.
Burgoyne, and a number of other influential noblemen and
gentlemen were present.

•
The principal business was the receiving the balance
sheet of the income and expenditure of the association for
the last year, and for the election of the retiring officers for
the ensuing year.

From the statement of receipts and expenditure laid
before the meeting, the receipts were as follows :—Life
subscriptions, £3,300 ss. ; annual subscriptions, £1,183;
special annual donations, £400; special donations, £270;
general donations, £258 13s. 10d. ; donations from volun-
teer corps, £254 Os. 9d. ; entrance fee for shooting, £585;
amount received at Wimbledon, £2,2oo—making the total
receipts £8,542 9s. 6d. The expenditure amounted to
£7,327 125., showing a balance of £l,lll 17s. 6d.
Lord HERBERT, in opening the proceedings, said the
present was one of the two general meetings held according
to the rules of the association. lie said he need not on that
occasion enter into the objects of the National Rifle Asso-
ciation, because its objects were generally understood by
the public. He must, however, congratulate the associa-
tion on the improved position it now occupied with that it
assumed on its formation. Anything like a meet-
ing for rifle shooting and the distribution of prizes
was unknown, and it was doubted whether an asso-
ciation with the object furthering that idea would
become a failure or a success. But all now were acquainted
with the success of that meeting at Wimbledon last year,
in which the highest personage in the land took so great
an interest as to actually inaugurate the interesting pro-
ceedings by firing the first shot. (Cheers.) The outlay in
carrying out the necessary arrangements had been great,
but the sum that had been expended had been increased by
the extraordinary wet weather that existed at the time. It
was, however, considered necessary that everything that
was possible to give eelatto thatmeeting should be done, and
in carrying out that feeling a great inroad had been made
on the donations as well as subscriptions. He hoped in the
coming meeting they would be enabled. to secure the use of
Wimbledon-common, because it had become almost classic
ground to them, and was so admirably adapted to rifle.
shooting. In adverting to the future, it was intended
by the association to make an effort to induce
the whole of the county Rifle Associations to
join that of the National Association, and also to use
their utmost efforts to further the formation of rite corps

in [the colonies. Already some applications had been
received for arms, and if the movement was general
and successful, he should look upon the colo-
nial volunteers as one of the greatest safeguards
and:attachment to the mother country. (Cheers.) Donations
for the ensuing year had been made by her Majesty,
the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
Wellington, Lord Palmerston, and other eminent person-
ages, which proved the deep interest taken in the movement.
The members of the association at present numbered 1,508
persons, with 328 life members, and although that could
not be considered a large number, yet the association, tak-
ing into consideration the short time of its foundation, did
not stand much behind the Agricultural Association, the
Botanical, or the Zoological Society. He thought the fact
that they were banded together for the purposes of national
defence ought to act as an inducement to persons to join
an association with so loyal and laudable an object. When
he had the honour of being elected president of the
Association, they had but 13 corps of Rifle Volun•
teers, numbering 1,500 men, but now—and it showed
how great and successful had been the movement—they had
a corps for every single man at the period of which
he was speaking of. They had at the present 1,500
corps, the effective strength of whom amounted to
140,000 men. (Cheers.) In order to increase the spirit
for perfection in rifle shooting, the Government intended to
supply ammunition gratis, which doubtless would be con-
sidered as evincing on the part of the ex-committee that
there was no falling of in the estimation in which the great
movement was hold. Although he had not been able to
do so much in assisting the endeavours of the asso-
ciation, it would be one of his most pleasing
recollections that it was during his connection with office
that it assumed its greatest dimensions. (Cheers.) His noble
friend near him (Earl Ripon) had been a warm supporter
of the Volunteer movement, and he was sure he must feel
great pride when he cptemplated its vast extent. (Cheers.)
For he did not think that anything could be more remark-
able than that a large body of the artisans of Great Britain
should come forward, and, at their own cost, form them-
selves into one of the largest and most important of armed
men, whose only object was the protection of hearth and
home. (Loud cheers.) Though retiring from the office
of president, ho should already feel happy to further the
objects of !the movement in every way within his power.
(Cheers.) He had great pleasure in informing them that
the chair of president for the ensuing year would be filled
by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. (Cheers.)
Mr. GLEN moved the usual resolution for the reception
of the accounts, which, having been seconded, was carried
unanimously.