a competition, and
it was in consequence not generally known of. Very little was known of
the movement till it actually took place, and then only when noticed by
the press the day after its introduction.

Again, it should be remembered that the entries were restricted to
officers, warrant officers, and petty officers, of her Majesty's land
and sea forces, and doubtless this restriction accounted for the spare
attendance. Every Englishman belonging to the auxiliary forces should
hail with pleasure the opportunity offered of making himself master of
this useful weapon; one that in skilled hands is most deadly at long or
short ranges, and a thorough knowledge of the use of which might at any
moment be the means of saving another's life from an opposing force when
no other weapon was at hand.

The difficulty in using even an ordinary pistol with accuracy is, and
always has been, an acknowledged fact, as it requires great practice to
enable a man to make his mark as a crack shot. Some men would perhaps
miss a haystack at twenty yards, while others, with little practice,
soon become excellent shots at very small objects. It is marvellous the
accuracy with which the professional burglar has of late years used his
revolver against the police and others; but it may be accounted for by
the fact that these men use a small, light weapon, easily carried and
much easier wielded than the military regulation revolver, which weighs
2 lbs. 8 oz.; that they invariably take what may be termed flying
shots--and it should be remembered that a full-sized man at
comparatively close quarters presents a very large target. I venture to
affirm that if these burglarious minions of the moon, who make night
hideous, were compelled to stand before a Martini-Smith target (a foot
square) at twenty yards, with a military regulation revolver, they would
make but sorry marksmen.

The use of the military revolver is acknowledged to be a question of
great importance, as one not only affecting those who embrace the
profession of arms, but those who travel; and as no one knows when he
may be called upon, or where he may be, it is imperative that he should
gain a thorough knowledge of every minor detail, most useful in the hour
of need, and which will enable him not only to protect himself with
confidence, but to come to the assistance of the weak should occasion
require.

It is to be deplored that what once formed part of the education of a
gentleman--_i.