The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-27 00:00:00

iDorsetsbire.

BLANDFORD RIFLE CORPS.

On Tuesday, December 20th, one of the most in-
fluential and enthusiastic meetings hid within our
experience in Blantiford, assembled at the TownslL
at the call of the Mayor, to take into consideration
the advisability of establishing a little Corps. A
very few minutes after the hour named, the Mayor
F. T. Johns, Esq., took the chair amidst cheering,
and the following noblemen and gentlemen were pre-
sent : Right lion. Lord Portman, Ml'., H. Kee
Seymer, Esq., J. J. Fanjuharson, Esq., J. H.
Bastard, Eng, George, Nlansel, Esq., Sir John .
IrOyley, Heeds. Robert Farquharson, Harte, Pro-
ther, St. John, Ilinsflehl, Captain D'Oyley, Captain
Snow, W. Parry Motion, Esq., E. Castleuuni, Esq.,
Lieutenant-Colonel Nlalet, C. S. Parke, Esq., Revils.
Cotten, O'Neill, Watts, jun., Leigh, li. Farquhar-
son. Esq., E. (I. Spooner. Esq., W. Smith, Req.,
Colonel Parke, J. Stuart, Req., E. A. Smith, Esq.,
W. H. Atkinson, Esq., J. C. Daniell, &q., G. W.
Daniell, Esq., M. Fisher, Esq., Messrs. Pond, lieu-
ville, Fisher, Green, Lock, Lyres, &c.
The JI AVIA, having taken the chair, opened the
proceedings in a few brief observations, in the course
of which he expressed a hope that it would be found
that they came there for something else besides
talk. (Hear, hear.) 'lle olijoct of the meeting
would he so fully set before them by the gentlemen
who would propose and second the resolutions, that
lie would not detain them with any observation of
his own, but call upon Mr. Portman to move the
first resolution.

The lion. W. H. 13. PORTMAN, who was greeted
with loud cheers on rising, said he had been re-
quested by those gentlemen who had taken an active
part in promoting this meeting to move the first n••
solution, winch he would read to them. (This and
subsequent resolutions will be found in our adver•
tising columns. The reading of it elicited haul
cheers.) He thought the lint part of this resolution
strictly in accordance with what ought to be, and
plainly in accordance with the interests of the
country. If the prosperity and welfare of the country
depended mainly upon its commerce, it WAS also
clear that this .country was not in a position to at-
tack any other large power of Europe, unless in
conjunction with one of them. We have only a
small army, whereas in the large continental nations
very large stauding armies were always maintained.
lie thought it was the general desire of the nation to
maintain friendly relations with all the foreign
powers, awl he was quite sure that any t:overn-
'tient that should be led into the advocacy of a war
that was either aggressive or was not supported by
the popular opinion of the country, would Ind main-
tain it. position for a single week. (Cheers.) But
let them consider the other side of the question.
Supposing any other power were to entertain the
idea ef attacking us. They then came to the ques-
tion embraced by the second part of the resolution—
was this country in a state to resist aggressi ~,, s ! He
believed it was not, lie believed our system of
national defences wanted to be very much Unproved
—(cheers)—and this volunteer movement now ex-
tending throughout the whole country was perhaps
one of the best that could be devised for protectiog
this country. Our wealth is great, and it is a temp-
tation to other nations to take it, if we left it unde-
fended. That wealth should be used for the proper
means if defence. (Hear, hear.) He believed the
resources of the country were greater thou any of
theiu had the least idea of ; but they were resources
. . . . .

which could not be turned to ace°. tint in such an

emergency. We require time to prepare proper
means of defence. We (mold not, as HI France, lay
out • large snm and obtain soldiers and sailors. We
require time to make our preparations, but when
they are made he believed the other powers would
say that any prospect of success in attacking us would
be most doubtful. We are perhaps the most vulner-
able nation in the world. From our position as an
island, we are liable to attack iii every side, and
from the great extent of this kingdom, we have so
many outposts to defend that we require a larger
force than we are well able to maintain It was not
for him to enter into any discussion on the system of
national defence which should be adopted, as there
were gentlemen to speak to the succeeding resolu-
tions who would discuss that subject inure ably than
he could do; and he should only say that it was
the duty of every man to exert himself at what lie
believed to be a great crisis in the history of this
country, and to bear his share in the expense of im-
proving the general system of national defence, by
devoting to it either his purse or his person—(loud
cheers)— and so to assist in protecting the liberties
of this country, and promoting the welfare of all
most dear to us. (Much applause.)
Mr. SEVNIEtt, who also was loudly cheered, said,
in seconding the resolution, he found himself in a
posit' of some difficulty—he always found it a
great difficulty to speak on questions where all were
agreed. He did not know whether there was any-
thing antagonistic in his nature—(laughter)— but he
always found where all were agreed a great difficulty
to say anything, If lie had before him Mr. lined
or Mr. Cubslen lie could say something to them.
(Laughter.) If lie had that gentleman who was so
ably handled by Lord Palmerston, and who thought
that if the French crone here it would be our duty to
talk over the enormity of an invasion over • cup of
tea—(laughter) —he could say something to him. If
a large proportion of the people of Blandford were
opposed to rifle corps, lie should be able to say some-
thing to them, but he believed Rochdale, of all the
towns of England, stood alone in that di/grape.
(Hear, hear.) But his mind was very h relieved
when by the courtesy of the committee he received a
copy of the resolutioz, although it dill not quite
satisfy him. Perhaps they would say lie was speak-
ing against the resolution. but if he did so it would
only be amording to Parliamentary practice, to speak
against a resolution mid vote fot it afterwards.
(Much laughter.) It did not tell the whole truth.
He very much agreed with Lord Sidney Osborne in
the remarks he made on Saturday. He (Mr. Sep-
mei ) had not come out in the cold to-day to support
an abstract resolution however true, and the people
of England were not going to arm to support abstract
principles, however sound. It was an emergency and
pressure put upon us. We have become painfully
alive to the fact that a disposition does exist to dis-
turb the peace of Europe. We had hoped " the
Enipire was peace;" but at this time last year we
were made painfully alive to the fact that a great
military monarchy was prepared to disturb the peace
of the world. That it was which made England de•
sirens to arm. We found the spirit of aggreseiou
had disturbed that which was sometimes laughed at,
but which he believed was the only safeguard of
Europe—the balance of power. If it had been resit-,
friendly to Liberty we should have sympathised with
it —(hear, hear)—but we could not believe that,
when it was in his power to suppress bad Govern-
ment in ROOM, the Emperor was anxious to put
down had government in Austria; for we all know
that hut for the French bayonets, the Pope and the
Cardinals must quit Rome in twenty-four hours. We
could not bear • very large standing army, and no-
thing buts very groat emergency would induce him to
support an increase of the standing army. Some in-
crease we must have, but we do not wish to see our
money taken away from industrial pursuits; and he
was firmly persuaded that in spite of machinery, or
rather in consequence of it, both the agriculturalist
and the manufacturer were able to support • much
larger working population than we possess. Then if
it was not desirable to increase very largely our
standing army, we must adopt some other means.
We must not, he thought, expect too much from
rifle corps. Because Switzerland and the Tyrol
were effectually defended by riflemen, we must
not think we could be. They were mountainous
countries, and Minced inaccessible; the men there
mould occupy positions behind rocks, and work very
successfully against an invading enemy. Therefore,
they must look upon the Volunteer Corps as allies
of the regular army. From what he saw of the feel-
ing of the country he had no doubt that the guveru-
ment would have at its disposal a very large body of
volunteers of the finest men that the world can pro-
duce, and no doubt that the military authorities
would turn them to good account. He thought they
had not yet arrived at the conclusion, in what way
they weld be made available. He believed himself
that with • certain addition to the standing army,
and with an embodied militia—which he thought
must be made general—and with the rifle corps we
should be able to put this country in a position to
defy the invasion of any power, however ill-disposed.
(Cheers.) Though he said the resolution did not
state the whole truth, it stated a great truth :—that
we ought to be thoroughly prepared for war by a
complete system of national defences, and there could
be DO doubt the means of doing that was •
fleet in the channel. We never could keep that on
ti
the same footing_ as formerly in the event of an
European war, He was happy to be able to express
his conviction that if a rifle corps were once esta-
blish.' it would not be put down when the amen.
amcy was over. They were about to be armed
with the best weapons that the world could produce
—weapons of extraordinary precision, and which it
would be quite a pleasure to hapille. Therefore he
thought such weapons when once used would not be
hastily thrown aside, and that rifle corps would be-
come one of the permanent institutions of the coun-
try and that this pressure, which he thought unfortu-
nately one which had induced people to come for-
ward and arm themselves, would be the means of es-
tablishing permanently the defences of the country.
He could have wished they could have had one
thoroughly good county organization. (Hear, hear.)
He lived in the Vale of 'Racketeer, which was not
bellindband in spirit, and intended to do something;
but they had not the neighbourhood and population
that there was in this town. It was too late for a
county association now, and they must all do their
best, but it would have been better to have started
with a thoroughly good county organization. (Loud
cheers.)
The resolution was carried with acclamation.
Mr. FARQuiIARsoN rime, amidst much cheering,
to propose the second resolution, and prefaced his
observations with an extract from a well-written
article in a London paper, insisting on the pernis,
palmy of these corps if they were to be thoroughly
useful. He thought there could be no doubt that the
best way to maintain peace Was by endelivOUrlng to
avert war, and Its should himself be very happy to
find that the town of Blandford, though late in cow-

ing forward, had emulated other towns in spirit and
in zeal. (Cheers.) lie was mach posted to attend
a meeting it Winileone, but he hail hoped that a
meeting would be called at Blandforil, and that they
should have a volunteer corps here. He should he
very glad to do anything in his power towarda the
objects they hail in view. He was old enough to re-
collect the old Volunteers of Die-set, and lot trusted
the Blindfold Rifle Corps would make better sol-
diers than they did. (Laughter.) He tool the
honour of belonging to the local militia, and he hail
much more trouble in teaching the volunteers than
the recruits—lie hiot to unteach them so much.
(Laughter.) Ile trusted then from the spirit, intel-
ligence, and improvement that now existed, the
Blandford Rifle Corps would prove superior to the
old Volunteers. (Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. GROUCH 11A,NREL, in seconding the resolution,
said national instincts seldom erred, anil when they
saw this general movement, they might be sure
there was danger in the air. England, single-
Lauded, might cope with any other nation, but al-
liances were what we had to dread. If we took a
retrospect, we had an instance of this in the alliance
between England, France, and Turkey, against
Russia, and of France auil Sardinia against Austria.
The main arm of strength lies in the steam battle
ships and the steam frigates, for on these depeuiled
the safety of our shores. The principle we went
upon was that our naval force should be double the
number of ally other Power, lie was reading a
pasuge in Alison where he said our naval force was
100 commissioned line of battle ships and 200 fri-
gates. What was it now? Only 36 line iff battle
ships and 19 frigates, whilst France had 40 line of
battle ships and 36 frigates, arid Russia 7 line and II
frigates ; so that if France and Russia were opposed
to Flagland, and our fleet of 35 were opposed to the
94 of France and Itmeila, what on earth would pre-
: vent an army a 2110,1HN1 men from loing landed in
this country'? Certainly not our little home army,
which he eaw in the Army List consisted of only 21
battalions of infantry, 40,000 militia, 2 hatallions of
guards, soil 81,11110 cavalry. But he told them what
would he added —130,000 volunteers —(cheers), and
with the knowledge that such a fens was available at
any n ~,,, lent, lie believed an invasion would not be
atteuiptial. Mr. Manse' then detailed the course to
be pursued by these corps. The first things to get
were volunteers and money. On that point then he
anticipated no dilbeulty. The most expensive thing
they would have to provide would be a practice
ground with a range of not less than 200 viols.
They would then have to find a place for arms a Ild
an annourer ; volunteers would then return their
names to the Lord Lieutenant. A committee would
be appointed for the purpose of raising funds and
making the necessary rules and regulations. After
the meeting a paper would he left with the secretary,
Mr. Roe, in which volunteers might enter their
1 names. It would depend upon the committee who
were accepted and on what ternis. According to the
Act of Parliament, it would be necessary that they
should have eight days' drill every four months, not
eight consecutive days. (Lord PORTMAN : It may
be 16 half-days, the regulation is eight days, and the
Government allows them to be in lialfoLays.) Mr.
Manse', in reply to an observation from Mr. Seymer ,
as to what part these troops would take in case of '
invasion, said he apprehended they would be aux-
iliary force* to the army ; for he did not apprehend
the Volunteer Corps would beat an enemy off the
coast- lie thought the uniform ought to be gene-
rally alike so that a general officer might know his
friends from his foes, because if by any accident the
volunteer corps got on the tlanks of an army it
might not be known whether they were friends
or enemies. (Cheers.)
Lord GODOLPHIN Osooesz in proposing the ap-
pointment of a committee, said it mignt be perhaps
a question with some whether a clergyman under
any eiremustaioas ought to take an active part in
promoting the establishment of a military force ; but
singular circumstances will make singular exceptions
to general rules, and he thought under present cir•
cellist:oleos men i.f every profession should step for.
ward and assist the preparations that are being made
—not for the purposes of aggression—but for the
purposes of defence. It was all very well for the
writers on the continent to say, " Look at England
in a funk"—(laughter)—but what was that funk I
He would suppose his own case in Poole harbour.
He lived just opposite Branksea Island. Supposing !
somebody in the occupation of that island, of whom :
he hail information that he hail a number of people
in his pay, active, bold, plucky men, who did a
great deal of business with centrebits which they
were rather notorious for using upon their neigh-
bour's property, of course in a way objectionable.
With such a neighbour as that would he not be justi-
fied in seen% that a chain was put upon his front
door, mid that his back dour was bolted and lucked,
and in drilling his servants in the hack garden, so
that if his friend came over to him in a punt he
might be prepared to receive him I (Much laugh-
ter.) He did not mean to say a word against the
Emperor of the French, but there never was a time
when we were in a higher social state, and yet they
were from the Archbishop of Canterbury down v.
himself aud his curate, raising their voims for volun-
teers to use a most deadly weapon, and to take great
pains to use it in the most deadly manlier possible. •
He believed there was every reason in the world
that the country should put itself into a thorough
state of defence. (Cheers.) There was also every :
reason to show that we meant no offence to any
other country. We had always depended on those
jolly fellows, the men in blue. We called them our
wooden walls, but they had become walls of iron,
and the system of warfare was now changed alto-
gether. He did not know what Lit- I Palmerston,
with his long head and knowledge of history, would
say would be the result of an engagement in the
Channel, whether successful or unsuccessful ; miless
the country hail calmly thought of the possibility of
such an event terminating unlavourably to England ;
hut let them be prepared for the possibility of such
a thing. That remarkably astute man the French
Emperor had seen what it was on which we depen-
ded when England was threatened with a danger
that was not likely to menace her again. He saw
that we depended, not upon our army, but on
special constables for the preservation of tie peace
He recollected the joke very well at the tune, of two
footmen in powdered wigs carrying out Mm•er.a . a I
Sandwiches to a nobleman who was doing &sty ii
the square—(laughter)•—but no doubt the oobieulau
was in his right place, and Louis Napoleon must
have seen that in time of danger there was no class
but would put shoulder to shoulder and go to work
like men. Let them look to a home feature in this
matter. Some were old enough to recollect when the
Yeomanry were employed tochock the resort to physi-
cal force by the lower orders on every occasion.
How different the case now! In the late strike had
there been any attempt to use physical force? had
the funds varied an atom per cent.? nay, he would
ask was there any other country in the world where
they could take 100 men to gaol? (Cheers.) These
were proofs of the possession of order in this country, •
which equally protected the rich man on his .states
and the poor man in his cottage. (Loud cheers.)
He hoped that the members of this co would not
tar
Ire confined to any one rank or e in society.
(Cheers.) They wanted the strength and activity—
the bone and sinew of the county. It was not a
question of weariug smart uniforms—of mess and of
. dress. (Laughter.) They must all unite in obeying
' discipline, and they must allow no political or sociall
questions to interfere with that union that could
render them truly effective. He knew it was said
that one of the results of these corps would be to
render the medical profession more familiar with
gun-shot wounds—Baughterl—but he did not believe
it, and he believed that if they showed proper re.
vect to their officers, and proper tact was used with I
the men, they might establish a force that would be
of infinite moral service. His Lordship concluded
an effective speech by pointing to the old arms of
England over the mantel-piece of the hall. Then he
said our opponent.' might see the bold lion and the 1
unicorn, supporters of old England. They might
read—aye in French too—" God and my right !" :
(cheers.) They might read also "Evil be to him
that evil thinks ;" and they saw the letters G. R.
(Georg! Rex.) which certrinly meant " Good Rifle :
Corps. (Loud laultiter and loud cheers.)
Mr. Mat•ein FISHRIL seconded the resolution,
observing that he was not quite so much alarmed as
some, as be had heard for nearly 70 years that the
French were coming. (Laughter.) He held in his
hand the subscription book of the old volunteers in
ISO 3. The first sum raised by that town alone was
X 323 4s. 6iL, and subsequent subscriptions raised
the amount to £909 his. fad. He had therefore no
fear that sufficient funds would not be raised. He,
however, suggested that they should know how the
money was to be expended. [Lord OSHORNK ex.
plained that these matters would be the work of the
committee.]
Lord PORTMAN then rose, and was loudly cheered.
Having highly eulogised the Mayor, to whom lie
proposed a vote of thanks, his lordship observed that
he attended there sea deputy of one of Lord Shafteio
bory's lieutenants. He filled in another county an
office which had brought liim in communimition with
• great body of volunteers in different parts of one of
the largest counties in this kingdom, and the course
which he thought it his duty to take he would, with
their permission, state to them. He thought it right
in no case to urge the movement ; it was exceedingly
desirable to guide it, but it was no ler desirable not
to urge it • r„,suse if it Means anything it means •
step towards the permanent defences of this great
country. if this was to be a mere movement on an
emergency, panic, or pressure, to his opinion it
would be worth nothing; became when the feeling
of panic pawed away this movement would paw
away with it. But he believed it to he essentially
necessary to this conntry to take advantage of the
feeling which had been created to endeavour to esta-
blish a permanent system of national defence. He
believed there was no doubt on the mind of any
military or naval officer that the circumstances of
this country had been entirely changed by the intro-
duction of steam as a substitute for the wind • for
we were now coming to the seine position in which
Continental nations were one to another. They
must defend themselves as nations against the
Powers that are able to paw their !retool boundaries,
and musks an aggressive attack upon thetn. He had,
he said, no more fear of the Emperor of France than
of the Emperor of Russia; but be believed the time
might come when either might find it desirable, on
some excuse or other, to make an attack on this
country. Let them also prepare for those gentlemen

who were so fond of filibustering. (Laughter.)
We ought to be prepared fur an attack. come f,
what quarter ; and He believed that a thive ut
which Obi not pot the shoulder to the wheel and
work deteriutuedly to put this country into an to:i•
clout state of defence, never would possess the eon-
Odom.: of the people. (Loud cheers.) The great
fault he found in the present state of things, was tuat
everybody was iu a hurry. Every man thought he
was to he accepted next week, and if he nil not
hear to that etfeet, be thought the Lord ',lei:Gamut
hail gone to sleep, or that the Secretary of War wai ,
iumnluLiurg in his amusements. But they ought to
know th.it there were a great many things to healer:.
The object of the Government was to make Oili
movement lirm and sound and permanent, and
before that was doue it was absolutely necessary to
take a great many steps. They began by deter-
mining to establish a ride zorps ; then they found
that a number of volunteers were perfectly willing
and able to pay their own expenses, but they found
also a number of most valuable men whose time was
their money, and who were able to afford no other
contribution but their time. Some other means
must be. fOllllll for dresaing and atwontreiug these
men, and that brought them to the subject of soli-
scription. Now they moat take care, and he was
sure Lord Shaftesbury would require it from his
deputy-lieutenants. that in enrolling men for the
ride corps they did not deprive the militia of those
who fairly ought to serve in it. They began by
enrolling volunteers and obtaining subscriptions, and
the first thing they had to do afterwards was to
select a place for practice, for no ride corps was ac-
cepted by Government until the Lord Lieutenant
certified four things That a certain number
were willing to serve as volunteers; 2nd, That a
specific piece of ground was selected as a practice
ground; 3rd, That all the men who were williug to
serve had had the Articles of War read over to them
' and hart signithal their re:oh:leas ta manna to the
discipline which the Nlatiny Act requires ; 4th.
That a drill hrouts.l had been selected, that there
was a placo bar the safe ilepoait, anal arinourer.
When these things were dune the LontLieutenant
reported to the Secretary of War that the ground
could be inspected by the officer who would be sent
by the Counuander-in-Chief. As soon as the officer
reported to the Secretary of. State then, and then
only, the services of the ride corps were accepted.
Therefore. if they did not hear for a fortnight or
three weeks they must unit imagine Lord Shaftes-
bury was neglecting his duty. He had himself no
less than three ride corps waiting for acceptance.
Three had been accepted, and some men Ixeatnio
they hail not received an answer in a found'.
had begun to call hint an obstructive, anal
he really did not know what else. (Laughter.)
Well then, with regard to expenses, he would tell
them what they were in the county of Somerset.
The uniform for the comity hail been fixed, and the
cost amounted, with the expenser, to the sum of
£3 his per man ; that WM all that was required.
Now he believed that in Doraetshire Lord Shaftes-
bury had approved the uniform of the Briiiport
Corps, if so it was quite probable that it would be
the uniform of the county. If he hail not, the Secretary
of State hail appointed a Commis.sion to determine
the best uniform fur three nut already fixed. In
Worcestershire, the Lord Lieutenant hail copied the
Somersetahire uniform, and the expense there would
be the sane; but a very large item of expense was,
the preparation of the practice-ground. By taking
advantage of natural features, such as a ravine. the
expense might Le very notch lessitinsl. but it was
necessary to have the sides as well as the front pro-
teeteil. With regard to the rides, the Governmuit
had formed a conic, which was sent to the officer in
command ; lie ambulated them to the members, who
altered them if necessary. They were then Reit to
the Lord-Lieutenant, who altered or approve I of
them and returned them to the Secretary of State.
Whether Lord Shaftesbury hail taken any steps to
form a ode of rules he could not say, but in Somer.
setshire the Government rules haft been taken as a
foundation, and ;101l the corps had offered their little
suggestions. The Government hart promised to find
75 per cent. of the Rides. But he was bound to tell
them that they hail not yet determined what was to
be the rifle. They had ler experiment a large
number of rifles. Whitwortia'a Enfield's, Terry's
and BO forth. He believed the rifle corps at present
would get the Enfield, but that which is to be per-
mauently the ride is not yet decided on, and be
was sorry to say at this 1111 l inent they found them-
solves unable to supply this yeomanry. not only be-
cause they hail not decided on the ride, but because
they hail not sufficient in store, and lie was quite
sure, that although they hail promised 75 per cent.
it would be absolutely unpoasible to supply them for
many months to come. The school of musketry at
Ilythe was quite full, and it had been determined
that the officers of every corps should take their turn
in the order of the corps. it was therefore of im-
portance that the corps amnia get a sergeant of the
militia. if one could be obtained, as drill sergeant.
unless like their gallant friend (Mr. George Nlansel)
who had been in the Bides, and for whose exernens
they were much ohligeal—.(elieers)— they hail officers
who had some knowledge of drill. On the question
of subseriptions, his lonlship said the principle
which was about to be followed in influential quar-
ters, was to determine in the donor's own mind, the
sum he ought to give, and to allot it to places in
which Ids property was suitable, giving moat to the
poorest district. Then, recurring to his mot of
thanks to the Mayor, he elicited great cheering by
remarking that he did not get a letter from the
Queen telling him what to 11.1 ; but he was an inde-
pendent magistrate, presiding over the affairs of a
free people.
Lord OsSORNE inquired if they were not all liable
Inn the ballot for the militia.—Lord PoRTYLN re-
plied in the affirmative.
The Bev. M. Warrs seconded the vote to the
Mayor, and warmly endorsed the sentiment., of laird
Osborne. Mr. Johns having briefly asked the com-
pliment, a subscription list was opened. It was
headed by J. J. Farquharson, Esq. for .C5ll. Sir
John Smith also gave £5O. Upwards of £250 was
subscribed in the room.