The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-09 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

JULY is a month which, for a couple of decades,
has been largely associated with the Volunteer
movement in this country. When the \Nun-
teen; Hocked under the national banner at the
end of 1859 and the beginning of 1860, the large
majority of them were entirely without skill as
marksmen. Practice With the rifle tas com-
paratively unknown, and this was necessarily
Lhe case in the absence of the military system
which prevails amongst some Continental nations
one that includes a limited period of service in
the army for all able-bodied men. There had
been no menaces of invasion for, more than half
a century to call the manhood of England under
the national standard, and when in 1859 a call
to arms was made consequent upon the threaten-
ing attitude of France, the thousands of men who
responded to the appeal were not only unarmed,
but undisciplined. Hence the establishment of
the annual prize competition at Wimbledon.
The result of this, after a continuance of twenty
years, is that the youth and manhood of our
nation presents a race of sharpshooters which
is not surpassed by any country in Europe.
Locking back at this distance of time over the
events which were the primary , cause of the
volunteer institution coming into existence, it is
difficult even for those possessed of good memor-
ies to account
.for the then prevailing panic.
The immediate object of onr uneasiness was
France, which only three or four short years be,
fore' was, in the Crimea, fighting side by side
with us against what was then believed to be a
common enemy. The purpose of the allies was
to prevent Russia becoming an all-absorbing,
all-conquering Power in Europe. Yet in less
than half a decade after the capture of Sebasto-
pol, we suspected our principal ally of designs
against this country. The war weged by France
upon Austria. in the spring of 1859, aout;tless
had a great deal to do with the feeling of inse-
curity which prevailed. Austria, like Russia,
wee one of the Powers which dictated the terms
of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815 ; and thest
terms the French Emperor had denounced as
detestable. England was also one of the Powers
which set its seal to the same Treaty ; and
Russia and Austria having been dealt with 1))
France, one in 1855, and the other in 1859, it
was felt that our turn might possibly come next.
doubt an invasi nn of England across the sea
was a very different uffeir fruni overrunning the
plums of Low berdy by laud. The vast flotilla
required for the transport of a great army, with
its guns, stores, commissariat, and ammunition,
could not be got together without much prepara-
tion, and in that time the threatened country
would not be likely to remain idle. But in 1859
little heed was given to this consideration. 1:
was held that not oely must our shores be at
once put into a state of good defence, but that
a general Volunteer force should be organised to
deal with an enemy in case be peradventure
euded the vigilance of our fleets and succeeded
in effecting a landing. Hence the trained,
skilled, and disciplined cit;zon army of to- dey.
The present month of July will witness not
0:113' the usual prize showing competition at
Wimbledon, but a review of more than 50 000
volunteers before tile Queen at Windsor. This
Is one of the largest military gatherings evei
witnessed in England. Whether it will be of
any value from a purely professional point et
view, it will at all events answer one grew
practical purpose in showing how far two linet
tat railway can meet the enormous demands thus
made upon their resources. .The gathering to-
gs her of 50,000 troops involves not only the
transfer of that vast body of men to one pitica-
lar spot, but the conveyance of immense masses
of spectators as well. London would have been
better pleased had this Review taken place in
Hyde Park. The Millions resident in the cal ital
see very few military spectacles, for I oth
Brighton and Windsor are far better off in this
respect. Besides, had it been held in London
the conveyance of the Volunteers to the camping
ground would not all have been thrown upon the
,Great Western and Sonth-Weetern Railways, as
is the case now, but apportioned between tht
various trunk lines which have their termini ie
the metropolis. However, Windsor having been
selected, thither the Volunteers converge, to
pass before the Sovereign within a short distance
of the stately towers of the ancestral borne of
England's Kings. The vastness oi the host, and
the efficiency which it represents, will for wen,
a day to come cause the Queeet to fe:l proud Of
her civilian army, the
_establishment of which,
as an instituttou in our midst, will form ore of
the moat notabie incidents in Queen Victoria's
Long and prosperous reign.
• THE IRON TRADE.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday
A good tone prevailed on change this afternoon,
and more busineas was transacted than id usual at
the last meeting prior to quarter-day. Unmarked
iron fully roaiotained the advanced quotatiuns of
Just wees, irons ,A 6d to 5s a ton, increase being
demanded upon tilt, rat :73 of a month ago. COM-
inon iron could not bought except of a very in-
fsiior quality and from needy firms under £5 12s
6.i a ton and medium qualities realised irom £6 to
Cartmin second telas, houses declined to
receive orders at present even at the maximum
quotations current, as their order books are wel
titled and they can afford to wait for another up-
ward. move in prices. It was not thought probably
this afternoon that the 'list" prices would be
altered at the quarterly meeting, although the
ni•aket is generally stronger than it Wtt2 three
montiis ago, Earl Dudley's common marked bars
are quoted at £7 12s 6d a too, and his best quali-
ties from £9 up to £l2 10s per ton. Angle iron
and a:BJ st,ips and boos are quoted las a ton
higher for the various qualities, and tivet iron
'linos from £lO to £l3. Sheet iron manufacturers
.:epoitcd a steady (iviliaud at tirm prices, but boiler
plates and nailrutis were ta,t much inquired toz
iin plates were in moderate request, but prices
were about is a box higher than a month ago,
LC. coke selling at 17s 9d a Dox, and best charcoal
from 793 to 203 a box. Very general regret was
expressed at the death of Mr. John Saunders, the
managing partner of the Cook ey Iron Company at
Kidderminster, toad Chairman of 'ho Associated
Tinplate Trade, who died at anrnemouth on
Tuesday, Mr. Saunders frequently attend, d tnc
meetings of the liiiminglarn iron trade, and was
much rrspected throughout South S:affordshire
and East Worcestershite, Pig iron makers
quoted prices from Is to 2s 61 a tou more thaa
week or two ago, and common forge iron ot a mar-
ketable quality could not be got under £2 a t

GRILAT RoDILY STLIENOTII. PEPPEit's QUIN Nr AND 1,
IoN TONIC strengthrns the nerves and muscular system,
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he.sith, rouses aid ricveloyes the nervoua energies,
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and el-preason, fortifies tho digestive orgins Is a
apecifil temAy for neuralgia, indigestion, 1v ere, ciitst
affeetiaus. tar. in warring diseases, scrofirous tendenci-S
&c. The whole fr,..u.a a vestly invltioratedh; Per
the ne...uta, faculties brightened, Up! e‘.netitution
i:restiy o, d a reiurn to r. bust health
hit es, 32 d. ass, 4a. 6d. Sold hi Ch-ruists
he Darns of J. PF.PPEit is on stie
es•rti,in in effect 119 Peipse
iAlron o:i „
iiAlll.--kor 40 years Mrs. S. A. ALLEN
hnsvoiena naereer-ived the county, d ••
public- It has acquired th:as.hihiebe
3nl favour of the
pica that San he obtained for any ri.e.derate tarisgriss
ist..l contributed to tLe adornment of tros of ii oisand
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ter. It rills PoW•r,l'y and re.,,t,:re the orr,tia.,/
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It will strengthen and irtrigurstr- the Hair, stools.
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ther Frei:tie irn eau pi &duce the same benefi,ial
notl 1,3 all lbervists and I trfutnerß, in large
Cs
. 0. pot 11.5 & lif, ri...attimpton how,
London
~e; MANY Pr.orLK Soiree, wtili dul Leavy pains in
t'•a Lead; %sill, tired ens a. guid feelings that Seep
not remove; eith ii fuAaesa e boot the c'iest sitar •aiin.4
at et.•tcci nit') :,-+!, A painii tLe
gna
back stilt fr, gur.e.• 5.040.i0 ; With nausea after sat-
in", attt ty.e.l tl...ttict,ce Lite. a iiis,agre6db e ttt
io e witi vertigo or dezziDess, &
mantpilhb eLft.-r ni.lt II ti.cse .Iles.Jaca•.l, fee-
I 4 at.d lilt e ie.Ao,e the rt a! Cause of 11.trir malady, or
I.el proper in.'s!. (Altos:4T relic:. Three a-e
synopthins r.r iiirligs,t;o4 and iivcr cemplaint. but
Ai,ls thsp 1..4 at VLICe I,y ths n3o
Syrup' it t..1c...n iut.tC.l eiter eating the ti;rup wutl
earlss thy f.aisi touig.-st. and give vonrialsmeist to the
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,J 1 sill'..lberuists.

Dittaowtztm FLAVOUR. CRACROFT'S ARLCA-X1:72.
PA— L.—By usug this delieiotia Atoinatic
tiits eLatuarl itell4 coule4 white, soand, and
-,viy Is txcettlty fragranL, an 4
liti g inerutt.t.oLA tartar on
Letui.ts. Pots, is and
bd tsak.Uterscroli.'s.)