The formation of the various corps of South Wilts into a battalion with its head quarters at Salisbury, and that city very often used as a meeting-place for all the corps on battalion occasions, was perhaps rather advantageous to the headquarter companies, enabling them to practise field movements, and to acquire more knowledge of battalion manœuvres than other corps, and at less cost; but it is doubtful after all. The dispersion of other companies in the midst of a battalion drill in order to get to railway stations affected them too, and perhaps a quiet battalion instruction parade on the cricket ground, with four companies in single ranks of twenty or twenty-four men each, was more effective and instructive. The Market Hall made an excellent covered-in place to teach aiming drill or squad, but was too cramped and supplied with articles of machinery, &c., &c., to make it thoroughly available for company drill. The streets of the market place then, as the short evenings of autumn or the dark nights of winter came on, had to serve the purpose, and drilling became a tremendous difficulty. Imagine one hundred men in uniform marching through a dense mass of the _genus_ street boy at every twist or turn they took, and every order, as given by instructor, captain, or sergeant, echoed and re-echoed by these detestable small boys. To attempt any drills where firing (sham) would be shown, such as volley or independent firing, &c., &c., was the signal for more than usual activity and interest in the proceedings being shown by the tormentors. With "P'sent," down fell a wriggling mass in the mud, each shamming to have been shot, and only rising and running to the flanks as the good-natured riflemen moved forwards. What were the police about? The police at that day cared not to interfere in these matters, and a rifleman was too new a thing to be appreciated or protected.