accompany them should meet at the "mess" in the new Assembly Room at the Castle hotel previously to marching to the "battle" field. The day appointed was the 6th of September, which so far as the weather was of any consequence, a better might have been selected. As, however, sharpshooters are supposed to "rough it" nobody had a right to quarrel with them in that respect. The Rye gentlemen having arrived by railway, were met at the station by several of the Hastings by several of the Hastings[sic] party, who conducted them to the rendezvous, where luncheon was served up by Mr. Emary to about 50 persons, among whom were the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Ald. Ticehurst, Ald. Hayles, &c. ,&c. Mr. J. Rock, jun, who took the chair, explained the object of the meeting as that of a private contest among individual members, and not as a movement of the entire corps. He averted to the friendly feeling that had at all times existed between the Cinque Ports of Hastings and Rye, and after expressing the pleasure he felt in meeting those gentlemen, from the latter place, he remarked that he hoped they might have to meet or be called upon to act in a more hostile manner.
The Mayor, in responding to a toast, said that while believing that there would be no occasion for active service of the Volunteer Rifles, they might be a very valuable aid to our regular army in time of war and ought therefore to be encouraged.
Capt. Newman, who had come down from Government to officially inspect the practice ground, remarked from what he had seen, they had already made a proper choice. He had been many years connected with the Service, and he believed the Rifle Corps would be of the greatest possible assistance to the regular army.
The two bodies then proceeded to the practice ground at Ecclesbourne valley, accompanied by a band of music, a flag bearing the Borough Arms and a large concourse of people. When they arrived the competition soon commenced ad was continued with animation through wind and rain, till each of the twelve men on both sides had fired a dozen rounds; where it was found that Rye had beaten Hastings by a difference of 10 points.
The following impromptu exhibits the score:-
Rye
Davis starts with eight
Vidler add a four
Bellingham's first rate
For a dozen more.
Austin, nine doth get,
Pankhurst only five;
Never mind the wet!
Keep the game alive!
Dawes is good for six,
Hugget scores three less;
Smith is in a fix,
Having no success.
Sev'n is Walker's lot,
Crowhurst makes the same,
Then nine points are got,
Placed to Hilder's name.
Selmes now gets his two-
Eighty Total inning,
Rye's brave riflemen,
Surely must be winning.
Hastings
Langham scores eleven,
(Best of Hastings men),
Honiss gets but seven,
Stace makes up his ten.
Harris, Bray and Brindly,
Eight apiece contrive;
Field and Bevins, dwindly,
Get each only five.
Rock secures but three,
Penhall only two;
Ivall same as he;
This will never do!
Baldwin's single one,
Makes three score and ten;
You are surely done,
Hastings Riflemen!
Never mind, my hearties,
Wince not at defeat;
Challenge all the parties,
Till, in turn, you beat!
