The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

found in each to fill up the complement of six
service companies? Is there spirit and patriotism
enough in the regiments that have been longest em-
bodied to induce them to come forward ? There is
no lack of spirit or patriotism in the militia regi-
ments. All of them have come forward to the
utmost of their power, and beyond what could rea-
sonably be expected of them; but the fifteen service
regiments cannot be raised out of the fifteen regi•
ments that have been asked to volunteer. The
regiments are too weak in numbers. In some only
four companies can be raised; in others, only three.
The cause is the ►mismanagement of Government.
It must be evident to every one, on a moment's
consideration, that no militia regiment can be ex-
pected to volunteer en masse. They were enrolled
for home service, and without the smallest idea of
serving abroad; many have families, a still larger
number are married ; a considerable number are
looking forward to returning to their trades, and a
far higher rate of wages than their present pay ; a
great many are physically unfit for much service,
militia surgeons having been more lax in passing
recruits than would be permitted in the line. There
must be a certain per centage even in the most
spirited regiments, who cannot be expected to volun-
teer. We believe that one-third will be about the
proportion. A regiment that is asked to send 540
volunteers ought not to have less than 810 rank and
file. If a regiment is below this strength, it ought
not to be asked to send so many volunteers. It is
not fair to the regiment to ask it. The militia regi-
ments that have been longest embodied have not
nearly this strength. On the average they do not
number more than 630. They have been reduced in
the following manner :—When first embodied they
were, on the average, from ti 50 to 90U strong ; but
they found it necessary at once to discharge a great
number of men whose families were in distress, or
whose circumstances would not permit them to con-
tinue on permanent service. Others were invalided,
and others deserted. The regiments suffered a
constant diminetion. On the 20th of November
they certainly did not average 750 strong. Why, then,
did they not recruit? Applications were very early
made to Government by their colonels to permit
them to send out recruiting parties, but permission
was not granted. It was not until November that
any effectual recruiting began. Can anything be
more absurd than this? These regiments were de-
ficient in strength to begin with, and were losing
their men week by week; it was important to raise
them to their full strength ; and yet months elapsed
before Government would allow anything to be
done.

On the 20th of November the Horse Guards Cir-
cular came down, asking every embodied regiment
to send twenty-five per cent of its strength as volun-
teers into the line. We believe that the demand
was responded to. The regiments were reduced at
the beginning of December to little more than 530.
Recruiting went on, but the constant drain of dis-
charges went on also; and when the Duke of NEW-
CASTLE'S Circular came out the average strength was
not more than about 830. It must be remembered,
also, that the twenty-five percent. who volunteered into
the line were the most effective and the most spirited
men—the elite of the regiment. Their places were
supplied by raw recruits, unacquainted with the sim •
pleat drill, and very little likely to volunteer for
foreign service.

Some regiments, by a combination of favourable
circumstances, or by their colonels refusing the
twenty-five per cent., are nearly 800 strong. They
have got their full number of 540 volunteers. Other
regiments are much below 630, and have not been
able to obtain them. The demand upon them is
unreasonable; but their inability to comply with it
causes them great annoyance. Government may refuse
to take imperfect regiments. In that case a slur is
cast on them, from which their zeal and services
should have saved them. Or Government may join
them to another regiment, to the total breaking up
of the original regimental system, and loss of esprit
de corps.
The behaviour of Government has been the same
towards the militia as towards the regular army.
Delay in everything. Delay in passing the Militia
Bill of May; delay in embodying; delay in re-
cruing ; delay in sending out. How long will it be
borne by the nation ?