Volunteers of the Present Day.—­The first official enrolment of Volunteers of the present corps, was dated Nov. 25, 1859, though a list of names was on paper some three months earlier.  Unlike sundry other movements which are now of a national character, that for the formation of a volunteer army was so far from having a local origin, that for a long time it was viewed with anything but favour in Birmingham; and, though it is not pleasant to record the fact, it was not until the little parish of Handsworth had raised its corps of the First Staffordshire, that the Brums really stepped into the ranks.  Properly the natal day should be reckoned as the 14th of December, 1859, when a town’s meeting was held “for the purpose of adopting such measures as might seem desirable for placing Birmingham in its proper position with regard to the great national rifle movement.”  The Hon. Charles Granvllle Scott had been previously selected by Lord Leigh (the Lord-Lieutenant of the County) as Colonel, Major Sanders had accepted the Captaincy, Mr. J.O.  Mason been appointed Lieutenant, and 111 names entered on the roll of members of the 1st Company, but it was not till the above-named day that the movement really made progress, the Mayor (Mr. Thos.  Lloyd), Sir John Ratcliff, Mr. A. Dixon, and Mr. J. Lloyd each then promising to equip his twenty men apiece, and sundry other gentlemen aiding to dress up others of the rank and file.  The money thus being found the men were soon forthcoming too, the end of the year showing 320 names on the roll call, a number increased to 1,080 by the close of 1860.  The latter year saw the first parade in Calthorpe Park, the opening of the range at Bournebrook, and the formation of the twelve companies forming the first battalion, but, notwithstanding many liberal donations (the gunmakers giving L850), and the proceeds of the first annual ball, it closed with the corps being in debt over L1,000.  On the formation of the 2nd county battalion, Col.  Scott took command thereof, Major Sanders being promoted.  He was followed by Lieut.-Col.  Mason, on whose resignation, in February, 1867, Major Ratcliff succeeded, the battalion being then 1,161 strong.  Col.  Ratcliff retired in June, 1871, and was replaced by Major-General Hinde, C.B., who held command until his death, March 1, 1881.  Major Gem who temporarily acted as commander, also died the following Nov. 4, Major Burt filling the post till the appointment of Col.  W. Swynfen Jervis.  The first adjutant (appointed in 1860) was Captain McInnis, who retired in 1870, having received bodily injuries through being thrown from his horse; he was succeeded by the present Adjutant-Colonel Tarte.  The first uniform of the corps was a grey tunic with green facings, and a peaked cap with cock’s feathers; in 1863 this was changed for a green uniform with red facings, similar to that worn by the 60th Rifles, with the exception of a broad red stripe on the trousers.  The trouser stripe was done away with in 1875, when