The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-13 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.
SomEßsrputna.

On Thursday afternoon a meeting, convened by
the Lord Lieutenant (Lord Portman), waa held is
the Shire-hall. Taunton, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the beat mode of forming a rale
corps commensurate with the size, wealth, and
population of the count?, of Somerset.
On the motion of Sir P. P. ACLAND, the Hon.
P. I'. Bouverie was trilled to the chair; and, after
some little limitation, the hon. gentleman seceded
to the request of the meeting, intimating, however,
that he was not very favourable to the object for
which it had been called.
Sir P. P. ACLAND, in moving the first resolution ,
explained that the meeting had been convened simply
for the purpose of ascertaining whether the feeling
of the county was favourable or unfavourable to the
formation of a volunteer ritle corps. Probably there
was no immediate danger of invasion, but other
counties had been very active in originating rifle
corm, and he for one did not like to see Somerset-
shire so much behindhand in the matter. The rids
was an arm to which all Englishmen !should get ac-
customed, so as to be able to protect themselves in
the event of any emergency. It had been said that
the formation of these corps would be likely to CMt!
an angry feeling on the other side of the Channel,
but they had not been promoted with any such ob-
ject. They were simply a protective force, and
were not originated for any aggressive purposes.
(Hear, bear.) He could nut help thinking that, if
they were successful in raising throughout As
country a volunteer force of some 200,000 or 300,00 S
men armed and trained to the use of the rifle, such a
fact would weigh very much in the councils of any
nation which might contemplate an attack on this
country. The proposed corps would not interfere
with the Yeomanry or the Militia, but would
embrace that class which at present held itself aloof
(ruin both those bodies. It would be amusement to
those who joined it, and, at the same time, a very
great advantage to the country, which would thus be
placed in a much more dignified position than it at
present occupied. It had been said by an eminent
statesman, that for a nation to be prepared for war
was the best security ter maintaining peace; and,
believing in the truth of that statement, he (Qs
speaker) moved That this meeting considers it
most desirable to promote the formation of volunteer
ride corps in the county of Somerset, under the pro-
visions of the Act 44th George 111._ cap. 34."
Mr. W. A. SANFORD, of Nynhead-court, in Se-
conding the resolution, expressed his belief that the
formation of volunteer ride corps was essentiarry a
pacific movement, and was simply an act of pew
deuce.
The resolution Was put and carried arm con.
Sir A. A. Hoou, 11. A., moved,—" That each
gentleman present pledges himself to use his best
exertions to ascertain the feelings of the inhabitants
upon this subject in his own neighbourhood, and also
to use his Lest endeavours to forward the object of
the first resolution." The hon. baronet said there
had been several independent movements for the for-
mation of volunteer ride corps in various towns of
the county, but there had not as yet been any general
action on the subject throughout Somersetahire.
This meeting had therefore been convened to ascer-
tain the opinion of the county gentlemen as to what
course it would be most advisable to adopt, and
whether they should have a ritle corps for the county
or not. His own impression was that unless they
obtained large bodies of volunteers these corps would
be perfectly melees. If 200,000 or 300,000 men skilled
in the use of the rifle, able to judge distances, possess-
ing a knowledge of military movements, and well
organized, could be obtained, then, in case of any
sudden danger. they would be of the utmost use to.
the country. He did not believe that there was any
general feeling of immediate dander, but, on the
other hand, there did exist the feeling that danger
might at any moment exist. Having referred to the
rapidity with which French troops were embarked
for Italy during the late war, Sir Alexander asked,
WU it a fact or was it not, that England was in an
exposed state? That (portion might be answered
by looking at what the flcivernment were doing at
the present moment. They had just issued a com-
mission to look into the national defences, and was
it probable that such a commission would have
been issued if it were not felt that the defences were
in an awkward and inefficient state' After quoting
the opinions of the Duke of Wellington, Sir Charles
Napier, and Sir John Burgoyne on this subject, the
hon, baronet argued that if they succeeded in obtain-
ing a large number of volunteers permanently en-
rolled in rifle corps, their services would prove more
, efficient in case of need than either the Yeomanry or
the Militia, and the country would no longer enjoy
l its liberties on sufferance.

Colonel PHIPPS seconded the resolution, and de-
fended the Militia from some of the remarks of the
previous speaker.
Mr. R. N. Ganormur., of Butleigh-court, also
offered a few observations in vindication of the Yeo-
manry, a body to which he had the honour to belong,
whose services had been praised by Canning and
other statesmen, and which, he thought, had been
somewhat unjustifiably sneered at by their county
member.

Some discussion ensued, in the course of which Mr.
It. K. M. KING warmly repudiated the idea that
Englishmen held their liberties on sufferance, and.
ultimately the resolution was carried, the chairman
guarding himself against being supposed thereby to
pledge himself to any active exertions in the mat-
ter.

Mr. C. A. MOODY, M.P., in moving a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, said he did not participate
in the gloomy observations which had been ma& at
this and similar meetings, to the effect that the coun-
try was comparatively speaking, in a defenceless
state, or that it would ever become a tributary to a
foreign power. He believed the national defences
had scarcely ever been more efficient than they were
at present, and vrbile he expressed his approval of
the proposed rifle corps, he did not think those bodies
would prove of the great importance or so exceed-
ingly nada as some of the speakers seemed to suß-
pois.
SU J. Ls-rum:molt seconded the motion, which
was carried unanimously, and having been acknow-
lodged by the Chairman, the proceedings termi-
nated.

Tug MILITIA.—The First Regiment of Somerset
Militia will assemble (this day), Tuesday, for its
annual period of training, under the command of
Colonel Tynte, 24. P. for Bridgwater.

Printed sod published for the Propritters_by JO"
BARIUM MUMS, at F Pereneeser.
Printer, at the Moe of Tin Ceenry Zurusk
Cburcdi-street, Doselsester.—Troday, &Omits, 1,01.
1859.