The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-23 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER WEEK.

The very high character of the shooting which
has marked the Wimbledon meeting of 1868 must
be as gratifying to the conductors of the National
Rifle Association as it is to those who have
watched with solicitude the progress of rifle-
shooting in Great Britain since the taste for it
sprang up with the formation of the Volunteer
Corps in 1859. In those days the form of the target
and the mode of reckoning the value of hits on vari-
ous parts of its superficies, differed greatly from
those at present in vogue, so that a precise compa-
rison of past with present practice is not altogether
feaaible, yet enough is on record to show how vastly
the best scores of the opening are inferior to those
of the close of the current decade. In some corps,
the War-office regulation, which prescribes that
regiments of volunteers, like regiments of the regu-
lar army, shall keep a record of their proceedings, is
duly observed, and one of such records, now before
us, gives an account of what is believed to have
been the first volunteer company match in Great
Britain. It took place early in 1860, and,
although rifle shooting was then in its in-
fancy, the competitors appear to have
selected most difficult ranges for their match,
shooting with the Enfield. at 300, 500, and 800
yards. Iu one of the teams of ten men specified in
the record we recognise the namts of six of the coin-
, petitors of the current Wimbledon meeting, at least
three of which appear in the prize lists. At SCO
yards the scores iu this match, which 'nay be taken
fairly to represent the shooting of the period, vary
from 1 to 5 points, the average being 2.8 per wan ;
or adding, according to the modern practice, hits
to points, about sor 6 marks for the 5 shots. The
highest possible score was then, we believe, 15
points. At Wimbledon, last week, Lieut. Pixley,
who had scored 19 at 200, and 19 at 500 yards, for
the Association Cup, failed to take the prize, be-
cause an adversary, who had gained 18 marks
at 200, scored the highest possible score—
namely, 20—at 500 yards. Both the gentle-
men, therefore, scored 33, or 95 per cent. of
a possible score of 40 marks, and this almost per-
fect practice does not seem to have excited surprise.
The scores of 1860, above referred to, however,
were thought at the time to be notable scores, and
one of the competitors, who attained at 500 yards
to the total of 5 points, or 10 marks—equal to 66
per cent. of the highest possible score—is trium-
phantly described as the " champion of the
middle range at Wimbledon," and his supe-
riority at that great arena of prize shooting is
sought to be accounted for partly by the circum-
stances under which he and his comrades conducted

their previous practice. "It is worthy of remark,"
runs the record, " that a sufficient supply of regu-
lation tarkets not being procurable from the
War Odice, practice, even at the longest
ranges, was for a considerable period con-
ducted at a single target, i.e., one mea--
suring 6 feet by 2 :feet, nor was any mantlet
provided for the marker, who crouched behind a
bush, " but," the recorder quaintly adds, " satisfac-
tory to relate, was never shot." The primitive
ways of the early riflemen have happily given
place to better and safer arrangements, but the
pluck and perseverance which led volunteers
co apply themselves to striking the " twink-
ling white streak" which a single target would
present at a distance of 800 or 900 yards, are no
doubt, ttie final causes of the splendid accuracy of
rifle shooting which has this year been displayed on
Wimbledon Common.

An unpleasant episode has occurred in a Leeds
regiment—one member being expelled, and others
requested to resign. It seems that at a recent gather-
ing of volunteer corps at Kuaresborough, some
uuruly conduct, in which a civilian was roughly
handled, took place, and that foremost in the tray
were the unlucky wights whose punishment has been
recorded above. The sentence having been awarded
only after full inquiry had been held according to
established form, there is no reason to doubt that
the offence charged was duly brought home to
the delinquents ; and that being so, we cannot ap-
prove too highly of the promptness with which
so flagrant a breach of discipline and good order
has been met. Volunteers who profess to set the
example of devotion to their country's -cause
should be foremost in the maintenance of law
and the public peace, and we are sure that the
force, as a body, will be the first to desire that
any approach to insubordination or disorder
amongst their ranks should be promptly and surely
checked.

MARKE7S-7HIS DAY.

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE.

Sugar—The market is steady in tone, but without much
inquiry. The duty payments progress favourably, and in-
dicate favourably of consumption, but dealers operate cau-
tiously, and purchase only to meet immediate orders.
Prices of raw sugar are without quotable change. Those
of refined tendrather in favour of buyers, common English
lumps offering at 43s 6d per cwt.
Coffee—Only very light supplies are in the market, and
with good deliveries importers are firm, and only such
offers as are fully up to current quotations are entertained.

Rice.—For landed parcels there is still very little sale,
attention being directed chiefly to parcels of soft grain for
future delivery, in which a steady business is passing.
COTTON.

LITERron, July 23.--Sales probably 10,000 bales.
Market better; demand at lower and irregular prices.

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris le about at par, and
tie short exchange on London is 25f. 20c. per Al sterling.
,ncJuiparing these rat.. with the English Mint price of
is 1,13. Md. per ounce for standard gold, it appc..rs that
gold is about 1-19th per cent. dearer in London than in Paris.
The course of exchange at new York on London for bills
at 60 days' bight was on the last date about 1 ui per cent'
At this rate there is a small profit on the importation of
gold irem the United states.

KELLEY AND SADLER.—In accordance with the
challenge issued last week by Harry Kelley, to make a
second match with his old opponent, J. Sadler, for the
Championship of the Thames, Kelley and several of his
friends attended yesterday (Wednesday) evening at the
Bells, Parley, between the hours of seven and nine, as
specified, but to the disappointment of all present neither
Sadler nor any of his party put in an appearance.

DISCHARGE OF PENSIONERS.—We learn, OR good
authority, that the Adn.iralty have determined to dis-
charge 160 of the men belonging to the steam reserve this
week. The ships on board which they are at present em-
ployed are CO be placed in divisions, and taken charge of
by the crews of the ships in harbour and by the water
police.—Rants Telegraph.

- EMIGRATION FROM CORNWALL.--A meeting of
the Cornwall Central Committee appointed to administer
A fund for the relief of distress in the mining districts in
the county met at Camborne on Tuesday, and voted £220
for emigration purposes. Tho balance of the fund in hand
is £l,lOO. A vast amount of distress is reported, and it is
stated that throe additional mines in West Cornwall will
cease working and be abandoned in the course of the next
few weeks.