railway station, where they were halted and inspected. Then came the Rifles, with their two bands; and lastly, the Fairlight Artillery, with its band. On the inner platform of the station were to be seen carriages of every description familiar to railway travellers, from the exquisitely decorated "first-class" to the laticed(sic) "four-wheeler" whose previous duties on market-days need not be inquired into. And there were also to be seen the indefatigable station master and his coadjutors exerting themselves in an eminent degree to accommodate everybody so far as might be consistent with their duty and the necessary arrangements for safety. And here, be it stated that extra precautions were adopted both at Hastings and all along the line, to ensure the utmost regularity. - Once seated in the train, a string of 15 carriages was moved out from the south side of the station, and linked to another train of 36 carriages, propelled by two engines. This being got clearly off, another train from Tunbridge-Wells came in; and then it was that the only probability of accident appeared imminent. The termini being still overburdened with engines & carriages, and the metals, from the previous rain, being slippy, the incoming train was unable to pull up so soon as it should have done, and a slight collision took place. Happily, the only result was the bumpting of a few heads and the temporary loss of a few hats. For the rest, "all went well as a marriage bell" and our brave volunteers returned home at night as well pleased at heart as they were weary of limb.
A Masked Battery, in the month of May, was formed at Fairlight by Capt. Lucas-Shadwell, of the 2nd. Sussex Volunteers; & a piece of ground, about 400 yards in length was appropriated for carbine practice.
Prize-Firing - On the 10th of June, the 4th Cinque Ports Artillery sent a detachment to Rye, there to compete for prizes with detachments from Dover, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Hythe, Walmer, Rye, Sandwich and Deal. The firing was from 32-pounder guns at ranges of 1300 and 1500 yards. The Hastings detachment were successful in obtaining the 2nd and 3rd prizes of £20 and £10, respectively, and only lost the third prize by a second of time, occasioned by a mistake in laying the last gun. After the firing, the Cinque Ports Artillery and a detachment of Rifles paraded the town under the command of Major Harcourt, and terminated the day's proceedings with a dinner at the George Hotel. It was stated that the Hastings men had also an equal claim with those of Flokestone for the first prize, the firing in all respects having proved to be a tie.
