The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-03 00:00:00

"Britannia needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the steep ;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
Her home is on the deep."

But, had the celebrated writer alluded to,
existed at the prevent period, there is no
doubt, owing to the altered state of affairs, be would
have arrived at different conclusions ; for it must be
apparent that Britannia, not only requires bulwarks,
but those of a very powerful description—not coin- ,
posed of stone and mortar, but the athletie arms of
the young men of this kingdom, who, to their '
honour be it said, have nobly come forward—number-
ing little short of MAIO —in defence of their
Sovereign, their country, and its sacred institutions,
should their services be respired. For when we ob-
serve the dark and heavy clouds which at present
are impending over the political horizon—when we
are aware, as we all must be. of the convulsed state
of pmtions of Europe, almost unparalleled -and on
approaching near to our own homes—owing to this
peculiar locality—we may almost consider ourselves
as standing on the brink of a frightful precipice,
with powerful fleets and armies only a few leagues
distant from 1124 ; and which may be called into im-
mediate action by the dictation °fa single individual,
—I wish to be informed if there is one person pre-
sent in this assembly who does not concur with me
in opinion that Britannia not only requires bulwarks,
but those of a most powerful descnption. (Cheers.)
It appears to me that we have assembled here this
413 y for the purpose of considering and discussing
three very important quest. —namely, Ist, the
expediency of establishing an additional Volunteer
Corps in this island ; 'holly, whether, if established,
it should be formed into an artillery or rifle corps ;
and 3rolly, the important question of expense ;—for,
undoubtedly, if the services of the corps areaccepted,
and al the forms complied with, as required by
her Majesty's Government, serious expenses will be
incurred, which most be considered. (Hear, hear.)
This meeting can only be said to be one of a preliminary
nature ; and it is impossible all the matters to which
I have alluded, can lie fully argued and discussed
this day. I therefore propose that a committee be
formed to take the Same into consideration. It is
needless for me to hint to the gentlemen who may
compose the committee the importance of the duties
they have to perform, for there can be no doubt but
they will consider all questions brought before them
pro. and con. All I can venture to suggest is, that
during their deliberations they will bear in mind the
words of the poet :
•• Weigh strictly right and wrong,
Resolve sot quick,but once resolved,be strong."
(Cheers.) I will not detain you longer, as time flies
and we have much work before us; for as a friend of
! mine once observed :

"Beauty, like time, soon flies away,
•
'fig gone, we know not how !
And all f either we lll.segs,
• Is hut the bout of Now."
There are, no doubt, many gentlemen here present •
who have observations to offer in reference to the •
' important questions we have to consider. and I am
I confident it sill afford us all the greatest pleasure to
hear them. (Applause.)
aptain BROWN then came forward and said that
the objects of their meeting hail been so clearly and
ahly described by Captain Nla 111 l ing that it would be
unnecessary for him to occupy the time of the meet-
' in by any remarks of his own. The volunteer
MOvement showed that however much Englishmen
. might wish fir peace, they felt that under the pre-
sent aspect of affairs it was necessary to be prepared
for war ; and the review on Saturday last showed
how much might be done by pera3verance, energy,
1 and enthusiasm in the cause. Ile was quite sure
that in this loyal island of Portland a second volun-
teer corps might be formed, for the defence of their
Queen and their country whenever called upon. He
had therefore very great pleasure in proposing—
: " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable
that a Inwood volunteer cusps be formed among the
inhabitants of Portland." (('heers.)
The Bev. I). Hotivitru said that he felt in his own
mind that it was very desirable that a second volun-
teer corps should be formed. It might he supposed
a delicate thing for a minister of the Gospel to urge
on this movement, but it must be recollected that
this wile for the purpose of defensive, not aggressive
warfare But there were circumstances when even
aggressive war was justifiable —especialy when a de•
spotic oppressor would deprive his people of their just
rights, their privileges, and their liberties. It was
justifiable in such a case to throw the shield of
motection over the defenceless and stand up against
the foe and the oppressor, and be trusted that when-
ever eircuwatances might require it, the army of
England would be found acting on the aide of
suffering humanity and of right. (Applause.)
Happily we were not now placed in circumstances like
these. Our army was small for the defence of our
nation, and our object was simply hi be prepared
against any attempt of invasion. In prospect of this
it was desirable to show to the potentate across
the water that we were preparing to protect our
selves, and that should he attempt an nivaaion we
might be prepared to say "we are ready for you—
come if you dare.'' They all knew what England
WWI when once aroused. He would not take the
sword himself, but he would go with any regiment
as their chaplain, and brave the dangers-of a war
with them al Id such an unhappy event occur.
But he believed that by the volunteer movement,
war might be averted, as we thereby showed by our-
luct that we were ready to risk our lives in
defence of our country, our families, and our homes.
At present the movement was one of peace—its
object was peace, and he trusted that all would use
every endeavour to promote it.. GA grant his
blessing on the movement. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried upanimonsly.
The Rev. H. JESNICK moved. the secowl resolution
—That a raimmittee be appointed to carry out those
detail,' necessary for the furtherance of the objects
of this meeting. consisting of Capt. Manning, Capt.
Browne, Mr. Weston, Mr. Holland, Mr. Freeman,
Rev. D. Hogarth, Mr. .1. Lane, Mr. It. Lone, Mr.
C. White, Mr. B. Scriven, Mr. B. Collins, Mr.
Andrews, and Mr. B. White, with power to add to
their number. He was of opinion the sailor Was
correct, when in answer to a Quaker who took hold
of his sword and asked him what that was, he
replied "It is to keep peace." So likewise the
formation of our volunteer corps was to "keep peace."
He was quite sure that the best possible means to
keep peace was to lie prepared for war, and it was
upon raising a volunteer corps throughout the
country that peace was grounded, and be strongly
urged upen all the necessity of using every effort in
their own persons and their purses to aid this good
cause. He particularly urged upon all to procure the
lecture delivered by the Rev. Canon Stowell on the
volunteer ement, and which had been published
in the shape of a pamphlet. So much value
di.' he set upon it that, poor as he was, he would
willingly purchase a copy for all in the island who
could not afford to purchase one for themselves. Ile
believed that if they followed out the principles
there inculcated, the movement would, under the
blessing of God, prove a blessing to our country and
our Queen. (Cheers.)
Mr. FREEMAN, in seconding the resolution said,
the meeting had decided that it was necessary
they should have a sec I corps fur Portland, and
such being the case, a comniittee was necessary to
carry out the details. It appeared to him that there
were two points for their consideration that evening,
the first was, why they should have a second volun-
teer corps, and the second, if they were to have it,
how were they to set about its formation. Captain

Manning. in his opening address, had pointed ont veri •
lucidly and forcibly the necessity for Englishmen
prepare themselves in the event of an eniergaicY•
We did not want to trample upon mw neighbours.
and we did not want our neighlsoirs to trample upon
us ; but we must be both blind and deaf if we did
not see and hear what was going on at the present
time in all the countries of Europe. Why was it
that preparation was going on throughout England,
in the formation and trainig of rifle corps ? Was it
that they desired to add new territories to England?
No, but because there was one whose ambition was,
that he might not die till he had humbled this coun•
try. (Hear, hear.) It was because there was one
who had said that it was his mission, before he dies,
to avenge Waterloo. It was because there was one
who undoubtedly means, some day or other,. and
some say next year. to invade our shores. Anil was
it for us, knowing these to be his motives, to foldour
arms and to sit down with indifference, and seo. our
homes laid waste, and our wives and our little ones
perish by the hands of those who are thirsting for
our blood? There was nut a Frenchman but was
longing for the day to arrive when they should be
able to crush the pride of England, and if we intended
that they should not accomplish - their
design, it was for us to say so. It wee
not because the breakwater people or the
Itridport people hail raised an Artillery Corp ; that
tha formation of a woonl Volunteer Corps hail been
proposed, but because it would require a strong
army of well trained men to keep away the foe.
If, then, they were to have a sec I corps fir Port-
land, how should they set about it ? and the answer
to this was—"altogether." (Loud cheers.) II there
was but little money in Portland, they had as fine
a lot of men as any the British army could produce
(cheers) ; and they wanted as many of these as
possible to come forward and offer themselves for en•
rolment, that should an emergeucy arise, they might
he prepared to repel the foe. There were two
Volunteer Artillery Corps in the county, and the
question had been asked if a second corps for Port-
land were formed, which should it be, a Rifle or an
Artillery Corps? There was an overflow of Rifle
Corps throughout the country, and they did not
know whether, if they were to propose a Rifle Corps
they would be accepted, because Artillery Corps
wire meal more needed. What they wanted was
for the inhabitants, one and all, to come forward and
volunteer their services whether the proposed corps
should be Rifle or Artillery.
Thin resolution was then put, and carried nem

Several parties then came forward, and gave in
their names, a unanimons vote of thanks was
accorded to Captain Manning for his kindness in
taking the chair, and the meeting separated.

Her Majesty's ship Colossus arrived in the Port-
land 1105415 on Saturday last, and took up her station
as permanent guanlship near to where the Blen-
heim formerly anchored.