The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-28 00:00:00

LONDON SCO77ISH RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

The winter inspection and presentation of prizes
won by members of this corps took place in West-
minster Hall on Saturday evening. About 400
rank and file were under arms, and the ball was
well filled with spectators. The honorary Colonel,
Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant, G.C.8., was
present at the inspection, the Volunteers being under
the command of Major Anson, V.C. Unfortunately
the Lieutenant-Colonel, Lord Elcho, who is now
on the Continent with LadyElcho,was unable to at-
tend, but he sent a telegram, which was read in the
ball, expressing regret for his absence, wishing the
London Scottish a prosperous new year, and stating
his conviction that, if ever they were called on to do
service, they would be found a reality, and no
sham. After the inspection Sir Hope and Lady
Grant, with other ladies, having taken their seats
on the dais placed upon the steps at the western end
of the hall, Major Anson addressed the corps, re-
gretting the absence of Lord and Lady Elcho, and
reviewing at some length the doings of the London
Scottish during the past year. The effective strength
of the corps on December 1, 1867, was 512, as com-
pared with 616 at the same date in 1866. This
falling off, however, is apparent rather than real,
and is due to the fact that during the year there
has been a transfer of 106 members from the effec-
tive list to the list of honorary members. Most of
these have done good service in the past, but being
from various causes no longer able to remain effi-
cients they have been very properly shifted to the
honorary list, though with a nominal sacrifice to the
effective strength, which, in making this allowance,
remains about the same as it was last year. The
" efficients" in 1867 were 402, against 338 in the
previous year, and of these efficients 260 earned
30s. for the corps, against 205 in 1866. This
is a satisfactory test of vitality and progress,
and we find further that the percentage of effi-
ciency has increased from 46.39 per cent. in 1865
to 78.51 per cent. in 1867. Alajor Anson, then,
had good reason for congratulating the corps
that they, at all events, had done what they
could to preserve the reality of volunteering.
In answering certain criticisms, well meant, but
hardly well founded, recently passed upon the value
of the Volunteer force, Major Anson pointed out
that the Volunteers could not have a separate orga-
nisation of the civil departments necessary for a
field force. In else of invasion the Volunteers
would be brigaded with the regular army, and must
be served, therefore, by the existing Commissariat,
Transport, and Medical Departments. If those
departments were not sufficiently expansive or not
properly efficient, the Volunteers were not to blame,
and he strongly repudiated the notion that the
Volunteer force was nothing better than a sham.
The list of their rifle matches in 1867 is honourable
to the London Scottish, though even the famous
marksmen whom they can send to the butts were
not always victorious. Thus the 19th Middlesex
heat them in March by 1,235 marks to 1,225 ; and
Major Anson hoped that the victory did the Mid-
dlesex men as much good as the defeat did to the
Scotchmen. In April the latter beat the St. George's
lth Muipd this d
corps by 116 marks; in June they followed
victory by beating the marksmen of
theS South
sex and the 2d Administrative Battalion of Middle-
sex Rifle Volunteers; but pride had a fall in July,
for in a match of 20 on each side with the Ist ad-
ministrative battalion of a Staffordshire corps, they
were handsomely whipped by 51 marks. Then
came the exploits of the cors at 'Wimbledon, when