The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-14 00:00:00

_.1.17()Jr
_T__ if. am i
THE DAILY TIMES, -MONDAY; .JAN uAE,Y 14, ISUL_

honours may be a trial Mid a fcriipfatiori to me, and that
I tid/ well pray edriiestiy that, 'at tiatt tdakifier n'e

.
more ptoud; the are given to make me more lowly,
more humble. ihe oCeasioi ageais to call for it;
allow me to say a few wofdS 11017 tfie start M the
Voluntem: Movement some eighteen mon&
have heard of various 'claimants to the honour of being
the originatois of this glorious movement, which has
swept as a torrent over the whole country. Now far be
it from me to disparage the exertions and merits of any
one, but when a man claims to be the originator of this
Movement, I cannot help thinking he must have a fair
opinion of himself. No, depend upon it, God gives to
few, to tefy few men, the mental.power of directing the
mind of a great natiOft. This is far too grand, too dan-
gerous a gift to be giten to many. Ateotding to my
opinion the originator of this great Voltteteer Movement
Was the will, the Mind; of a great and free people—
the English nation': (Cheers:)' Thai I may hate
been an humble instrument in this part of the country,
perhaps it would be mock modesty in m'e to deny.
I well remember, in fact I do not think I shall
ever forget, a fine morning in May, 1859, just at
the time when men's minds were deeply stirred
about the risk of invasion and our defenceless position.
On this morning I was quietly smoking my cheroot after
breakfast, when my dear neighbour, Ledward, came iu,
find said with a, thrilling earnestness which I shall
never forget, "king, I hate hdd a deal of talk with
many upon the necessity of a voldnteer Mofemerit, and
we all say that you are the man to take it up in this
neighbourhood." Now, although I might have well
felt that I had neither the talents or the position
to take the lead in so grand a movement as this, yet

I can assure you there was an earnestness, aye, a
solemnity, in Ledward's manner, which so impressed me
that I did not 'hesitate one moment, but answered
him in an instant, " Well, I will ; I will do my best."
From that day I hope I have done my best ; I hope I
have never shirked or shrinked from any labour or duty
which could help forward the volunteer cause ; and be-
lieve me, though mayhap the work has been hard, I have
never for one moment regretted the step I then took.
No, I have always rejoiced I took it, for each day con-
vinces me more deeply of its necessity, in a national
poitit of 'tier( )=(cheers)—and surely I ought also to
rejoice, seeing that it has given me many dear and
intimate friends. it was ,very soon after this that my
connection with you commenced, and hot well I remem-
ber that bright July morning when we met on Olton
Common, at six o'clock, in dresses of all shapes and colours,
and had our first drill ; how well I remember the eager-
ness, the delight which all had in learning ; and how
well rewarded we were when we were able to execute a
few of the most simple movements. Last spring we all
felt proud when we were able, at the review in Birken-
head-park, to execute' our manoeuvres with fair precision.
I am sure all must remember with pleahure the thrilling
scene ; and I shall never forget my sensations as I
marched on the ground at your head. Last summer
we all enjoyed the target practice. lam sure I shall
never forget the keen enjoyment I had in it. As I sat
smoking my cheroot on the Bidston road, waiting for
the 'bus, it was delightful. Then came the drive down
to Lea.sosve, and the pleasant chat; then the keen
excitement at the target practice. How pleasant it
was to congratulate those who had shot well and get-
out of their class ; how sweet, too, to sympathise
with those who had not been so fortunate. Although
the work was hard, I shall never forget the enjoyment
at it; and this enjoyment, I am certain, arose because
we were all happy together, and all took an interest in
each other. And 'why were we happy ? Because we
were engaged in what was good and right and manly:
Yes, believe me, this was the main cause of our happi-
ness together. We were learning an art which was to
teach us to defend our dear native land, if ever we were
required to do it. Yes, depend upon it a man is always
happy when he is doing what is right—always unhappy
when he is doing what is wrong. Ever since our com-
pany was established there has been the same kind and.
sweet feeling amongst us, and I do not think there has
ever been any unpleasantness amongst any of the
members of it. I cannot lay claim to any merit in
having promoted this feeling. Not. I believe it.has_all_
arisen from your kind and good and Christian feelings.
I believe you considered the Volunteer Movement as
a solemn, a serious duty which you owed to your country,
a duty which was not to,be taken up lightly, but when it
was taken up ought to be worked at with the earnest-
ness which it 'deserved, and so I believe you are actuated
by high and by lofty principles. You have had to do
exactly what other coMpanies have done. You have had
to pass through what I think is the severest test and
ordeal of a Volunteer Company—that is, you have had to
send in' to the Lord. Lieutenant the names of the gen-
tlemen to whom you wished commissions to be given.
Now, although there have been various candidates, and
some were favourable to one man, some to another
man, yet, the moment the choice was overithe gentleman
selected was always warmly and heartily congratulated
by the whole company. Believe me, I have often
been deeply gratified and affected by this proof of your
excellent good feeling. lam anxious to dwell upon
this, because I feel, and feel strongly, that it is upon this
kind and good feeling that the success of the Volunteer
Movement mainly depends, and if it does not exist, it
will fall to pieces like a rope of sand. You have always
yielded the most willing obedience to me, such an
obedience'that .it is alliays delighful to command you;
and believe me it has cost me a severe pang to give up
the command of you my dear company. I often feel
that in the higher rank'which I now hold, I shall never
have the happiness, the delight, I had in the command
of the 2nd Cheshire. (Cheers.) I can assure you what
helps to reconcile me to the loss of my command of
you is the knowledge that I leave you with three gentle-
men as officers who, I am certain, will all do their duty
to the very best of their ability ; and I can pay them no
higher complinient than when I say they are worthy to
command the 2nd Cheshire. (Cheers.) I cannot help
haying a word upon the exquisite taste which has been
shown in the shape of the magnificent testimonial you
have given me. It will always be before my eyes. It
will always remind me of my dear 2nd Cheshire, at that
sweet, aye, at that sacred, time when dear friends are
gathered round my board, and when, with sparkling
wine, there is

"The feast of reason and the flow of soul."
But especially let me thank you for giving it to me in
a shape, not of selfish enjoyment, but in one that will
add to -the enjoyment of every friend who enters my
house; aye, will add to the enjoyment of that one
whom I love the most dearly on earth, of her, who,
like a good English woman, has entered most heartily
into the volunteer cauie ; who has cheered,me on in

it by her kind smile; who has submitted to the sacri.-
lice of the frequent loss of her husband's society with-
out a complaint ; aye, even with cheerfulness, because
she felt it was his duty. Yes, believe me, it is she,
and she alone, who deserves this testimonial. (Loud
applause.) This beautiful work of art will remain as a
Memorial of your regard for me, and in after years my
child will prize it highly as a mark of the regard in
which ber father was held. Besides its intrinsic value

it will haie a greater one in my eyes, because I shall
always look upon it as the bond which still connects me
with the 2nd Cheshire. Now, let me offer you my poor
but heartfelt thanks, not only for. this but for all your
kindness to me since I had the honour to command you,
and may God bless you all. (Great cheering.)
A. vote of thanks was then moved to the chairman by
Mr. Wm. Jackson, M.P. ; and, after a similar compli-
ilea to the ladies, the proceedings terminated.