The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-30 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEE.RS,

The members of the 26th Middlesex (her Ma-
jesty's Customs) Rifles recently contested for their
prizes. The regimental prize, a rifle purchased out
of the funds of the corps, was won by Private
White; the Ist company's prize, a rifle given by
Capt. Hamel, was also taken by Private White ; the
2d company's prize, a rifle given by Capt. Wybrow,
by Sergeant Barnes ; the 3d company's prize, a
rifle by Capt. Ogilvie, by Private Boddy ; the 4th
company's prize, a rifle given by Capt. Dobell, by
Sergeant Jones ; and a commanding officer's prize
for the married officers and sergeants of the corps,
a handsome gold ring, set with turquoises, by Colour-
Sergeant Irish.
On Friday last a Court of Inquiry assembled at
the head-quarters of the 4th Middlesex (North Lon-
don) Rifles, to consider a charge preferred by Lieut.-
Col. Truro against Capt. Ebsworth, commanding the
7th Middlesex (Islington) Rifles, for taking part in
the volunteer review by his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief at Wimbledon in June last
without the sanction of his superior officer. It ap-
pears that on the occasion in question the 7th went
to Wimbledon merely as spectators, and took no
part in the review with the exception of keeping
the ground, which they did in company with the
6th Tower Hamlets, the 46th Middlesex, the 3d
City of London, and other corps. The finding of
the Court of Inquiry has not at present transpired.
At the commencement of the volunteer movement
Capt. Ebsworth joined the 4th Middlesex, but is
consequence of misunderstandings with the com-
mandant, Lord Truro, he and several other members
of the corps resigned and formed themselves into a
separate company, whose services were accepted by
her Majesty as the 7th Middlesex; and although
since that time the names of 80 gentlemen have been
transmitted to the Lord-Lieutenant of • Middlesex,
the Marquis of Salisbury, who are desirous of join-
ing the 7th, his lordship up to the present time has
refused to recommend them for her Majesty's ap-
proval.
On Saturday a detachment of cadets, attached to
the 7th Middlesex (Islington) Rifles, consisting of
two sergeants, two corporals, and two privates, un-
der the command of two non•commissioned officers
of the corps, proceeded to the rifle range at Rainham,
for the purpose of commencing their first period of
ball practice. The weapons used were the short
Enfield rifles, with the Government ammunition,
and the targets of the pattern used at the Hythe
School of Musketry, six feet by two, and the ranges
100 and 150 yards, five shots at each range. It
will be seen by the following score that the prac-
tice was such as would not discredit much older
volunteers than those who took part in it :—Corpo-
' ral I. F. Clare, aged 15, made six points at the 100
yards range, and ten at 150 ; Sergeant Riley, aged
15, eight at 100 and six at 150 ; Sergeant Piercy
Ebsworth, aged 14, six at 100 and five at 150;
Private G. Elliott, aged 14, six at 100 and four at
150 ; Corporal Gunston, aged 13, four at 100 and
two at 150; and Private Edwin Ebsworth, aged
12, three at 100 and three at 150. They then com-
menced firing at 200 yards, when Corporal Clare
made four points, but in consequence of there not
being sufficient time for each of the youthfurmarks-
men to finish his rounds, the proceedings were sus-
pended till a future day. The 7th Middlesex will
compete for their prizes on Friday next, and the
distribution will take place on the following Wed-
nesday, on which occasion the ladies of Islington
will present the corps with a set of drums and fifes.
The past week was an eventful one with the
various Suffolk corps. On Thursday and Friday
the recently-established county rifle association
held its Erst annual meeting on the race-course at
Ipswich, and the weather being fine, with the ex-
ception of a few hours on Thursday morning,
everything passed off very satisfactorily. There
were altogether five contests, and as there was a
great number of competitors both days were fully ,
occupied. The first contest was for a Lancaster
rifle, of the value of £lO 10s., to the competitor
making the greatest number of points at 200, 300,
500, and 600 yards, and a cup of £lO to the cern-
' petitor making the greatest number of points at
200 and 300 yards. Sergeant Norfolk, of the Bury
St. Edmund's corps, made the greatest number of
points at the four ranges, and WAS consequently the
winner of the Lancaster rifle; and Lance-corporal
Swan, of the Bungay corps, made the greatest
number of points at the first two ranges. The
second contest was for a first prize of £3O and a
second prize of £2O awarded to the company whose
three representatives made the greatest number of
points at 200, 300, 500. and 600 yards for the £3O,
and 200 and 300 yards for the £2O. The associa-
tion also offered a silver medal to the competitor
making the greatest number of points at the four
ranges, while some ladies of the county added a cup ;
the competitor making the greatest number of points
at the first two ranges also received a medal. The
2d company of the Eye corps won the £3O, and the
Ist company of the Ipswich corps the £2O ; Private
Burrows, of the Leiston corps, won the medal and
cup, and Private Bugg, of the Ipswich corps, the
second medal. The third contest, which was for
prizes of £2O and £5, offered by the Earl of Strad-
broke, Lord Lieutenant, to the first and second best
shots at 200 and 300 yards, resulted in favour of
Lieut. Bates of the Saxmundham corps (X2O), and
Sergeant Bales, of the Ipswich corps (X 5). The
fourth contest was for a cup offered by the president
of the association, Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P., the
firing being at 300, 500, and 600 yards; after ties
had been shot off Captain Haward, of the Ipswich
corps was declared the winner. In the fifth and
last contest the ranges were at 500, 600, 800,
and 1,000 yards, and the prizes were a Whit-
worth rifle of the value of £25 and £5 in money ;
Private Tickner, of the Ipswich corps, won the
rifle, making altogether 30 points, and Mr. J.
Haward, of the Needham Market Corps, gained the
second prize. The Ipswich corps, therefore, car-
ried off five of the prizes. Sergeant Norfolk,
who won the Lancaster rifle, was under the
impression that he should have the option of taking
a rifle or the second prize, a cup, and declared a
preference for the cup, which Lance-corporal Swan
also wished to retain. To obviate this difficulty a
cup was presented to each of the two successful con-
didates and the rifle was withdrawn. At the close
of the shooting on Friday evening the prizes were
distributed by Sir Edward Kerrison, in the pre-
sence of a large and brilliant assembly. The Coun-
tess of Stradbroke handed the ladies' cup to Private
Burrows. Lieut. Bates, who won Lord Stradbroke's ,
prize of £2O, was authorised, at his own request, to -
order a cup of that value.. The number of Volun-'
teers enrolled in Suffolk was 1,765 at the date of
the latest available return, as compared with 1,298
in August, 1860, showing a satisfactory advance
during the last 12 months.
Several movements may be noticed in connexion
with the Norfolk corps. The Thetford and Attie-
borough companies have been entertained by Sir R.
J. Buxton, of Shadwell-court, having previously
gone through several evolutions. In a competition
between 21 members of the 2d Norwich Company,
Private Love won a challenge piece of plate of the
value of £lO 10s., presented by the officers, and to
be retained by the competitor winning it two years
in succession. Private Etheridge won a field-glass
of the value of £5 55., presented by Mr. Henry
Willett; and Private King won a silver-mounted
drinking flask, presented by Mrs. Patteson, wife
of Captain Patteson, who commands the company.
Lord Wodehouse handsomely entertained the Wy-
mondham Company at Kimberley on Thursday
afternoon ; the corps, which is under the•command
Captainonßfuenmabier of Gordon, having previously executed a
manoeuvres in the presence of Captain
Bellaire, who acted as reviewing officer.
A review of the Kesteven Battalion of the Lin-
colnshire Corps, in Grimsthorpe-park, the seat of
Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, took place on Wednes-
day
. The weather was unfavourable, a heavy
thunderstorm in the course of the afternoon
scattering both Volunteers and spectators. It
Colonel Dixon, CA, commanding the 9th depot was necessary from this circumstance to some-
laattalion, Colchester Camp, has been attacked what curtail the evolutions. The companies
which took part in the review were- the
P"alvilie, and fears are entertained that he will not. again he Lin-
able with partial
coin (two), Grantham (two), Sleaford, Palkieg.
which
iresume his duties as commandant of the battl'ali°l2,
Lieut.-Csoitoemporarily placed under the charge of BreN'4:t ham, Bourn, and Stamford. A number of evoln-
c.B., the neol-L3Ye. Strangely enough, Colonel Stn.*,
ions having been executed on the lawn sloping
attacked with 411148444,,cri0 ut of the other battalion, has been
from the Castle to the lakes, Major Dick, in-
the 10th battalion illness at Dover. The command of
alion 1r °Aeen. entrusted to Major West. odplelno rof Volunteers in the Midland district, ad.