The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-05-24 00:00:00

Dtbansbire.

EXETER AND SOCTII DEVON.— l'olunteer Corp 4.
—Strenuous efforts are being made to increase the
strength and efficiency ti)! the Volunteer Rifle Corps,
which has been in existence for a long period. On
Saturday a public meeting was held at the Too
Hall, Torquay. to consider the propriety of raisilg
a second company in that town. Mr. Palk, M.P.,
presided ; and in the course of his opening speech
observed that every one is the room must regret the
state of affairs abroad, aid mliuit the necessity of tak-
ing every means to arm the country against any con-
tingency that might arise ; for, altheugh there might
not be any immediate danger of our liberties bun%
attacked, it was desirable that the country should be
placed in such a position as to be able to act effec-
tively when called upon by circumstances. The
meeting had been convened in consequence of the
Secretary of State having publicly invited tne for-
mation of rill': corps, and its object was to augment
the present existing Arco of volunteers. It was a
great credit to this comity that Devonshire had been
the first to arm itself is the defence of its rights; and
with the exception of the South Devon corps there
was for soluetinie only one tither such volunteer owl's
iii the kingdom, and that was the Victoria Rifles.
He was glad to learn that measures were in progress
for putting the coast into something like a state of
defence. At present one might travel from the
Needles to Tontuay, and thence to Plymouth, and,
with the exception .if ionic trifling fortifications at
Portland. there were nn defences along the whole of
that extensive line ef mast ; and when it was re.
membered that warfare had very much changed its
character since the lad war, that steam had become
an important sos illary. and that places which before
now were safe from attack because of the intricate
nature of approach, were now, through the agency of
steam, equally as vulnerable as any other—need he
instanim Dartmouth and its narrow entrance WAS
mire tloin ever necessary that armed forces should be
raised among the inhabitants on the coast line, in
•.rder to act iii case of emergency. (Cheers.)
\lr. H. M. Phillipps, a magistrate. moved
" That, in compliance with a Meander communica-
bon from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for War,
! addressed to the Lords Lieutenant of counties, and
! inviting the formation of volunteer rifle corps
throughout the kingdom, every exertion should be
in tile to auginent the existing companies in the
Exeter and South Devon Volunteer Ilitle Battalion
raised in this town in PM, by increasing the Tor-
! quay division of the corps to two companies, con.
Mating of 60 members each." In the course of an
able speech Mr. Phillipps said he was quite certain
that with half the expellee which a line-of-battle ship
c.et to the Government 200,0911 riflemen could be
! added to the defences of the country. Captain De
Vere, R.N., seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously. About .etiff was suliecribed by gentle-
men present at the meeting. and it was resolved to
appeal to the public for subscriptions.
The QUGVII ha 4 signified her gracious intention o
permitting a picture or two from the royal household
to be amongst the exhibition of paintings, &c., which
has been announced at the Public Rooms during the
visit of the Bath and West of England Society at
Barnstaple.

PAlGNToN.—lbeiltray. The part of the Dart-
mouth and Torbay Railway from 'Porn to this place
will be opened about Midsummer day. The event
will be celebrated by the exhibition and distribution
of an enormous " Paignton pudding," containing up-
wards of six sacks of Hour, itc.

THE MILMA.- -Instructions have been sent to the
South Devon Militia at Plymouth to enrol growing
lath live feet high, and men up to 40 years of age,
being an extension of six years beyond the previous
regulation.

AN IMPUDENT Swrelitme—A gang of swindlers
have been very successful in the West of England by
going to gentlemen's house* representing themselves
to be connected with respectable fatuities and asking
for subscriptions on behalf of some charitable under-
taking. At the Devon county sessions on Tuesday,
before Mr. J. Si!Want, chairman, a well-drearel
young man was charged with obtaining money under
false pretences. The prisener a short time ago went
to the residence of Laity Churchill at Torquay, and,
having obtained admission to her ladyship's sitting
room, represented himself EA the son of a magistrate
of the town, Mr. William Kitson, said that he had
been sent by his mamma, who was ill in bed, to
plead the cause of suffering humanity in her stead,
and asked for lady Churchill's interest to aid in get-
ting the child of &shipwrecked fisherman into an idiot
asylum. Her ladyship MEI unal-le to comply with
this request, upon .which the prisoner said that it
could be done by raising £32. He hail already got
£29 IN., and only wanted .C 2 108, to effect the
benevolent object. This amount Lady Churchill
and her daughter give the prisoner, and he imme-
diately decamped. Seven previous convictions
having been proved against him he was satanic:est to
six years' penal servitude.