The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-16 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER, CORPS MOVEMENT.

On Saturday afternoon a meeting of the Lieuten-
ancy of the county of Durset was held in the Grand
Jury Room, Shirehall, "fur the purpose of taking
into consideration the opinions and feelings of the
county in respect of Volunteer Rifle or Artillery
Corps." The circular calling the meeting was
signed by the Clerk to the Lieutenancy, Thomas
}Tooke, Esq. There were about twenty magistrates
present, and the proceedings were expected to he of
a preliminary character. On the motion of J. C.
Nlansel, Esq., seconded by John Goodden,. Esq.,
Major Frampton, the senior deputy lieutenant
present, was voted to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said that, being a member of the
Yeomanry Corps of this county he hardly thought it
his duty to take prominent part in the Volunteer
Corps movement; but as age qualified him he did
not hesitate to take the chair on the present ocea-
Sion, though it might simply be for the purpose of
formally adjourning the meeting till more was known
respecting the proposed corps. Han adjournment
took place it would be well for gentlemen to ascer-
tain wleit were the feelings on the subject of Volute
tier Corps of the resident; in their respective neigh-
bourhoods, so that should the Lord Lieutenant call
another meeting the Licuteuancy would be better in-
fullued and inure ready to attend. The Lord-Lieu-
tenant, of course, had a perfect right to call a meet-
ing of the deputy lieutenants, and, to use his lord-
ship's words, the present meeting was only to con-
sider "the opinions and L.:clings of the county" reLs-
tive to Volunteer Rifle or Artillery Corps ; but
this meeting was toa meagre to effect very much,
and it would have made a considerable difference
had the Lord Lieutenant himself attended.
2ilr. JCI4EPH Gcspar stated that it had recently
come to his knowledge that the Committee appointed
by the War Office to prepare rules for the guidance
of Volunteer Corps bad concluded their labours and
submitted their decision to Mr. Sidney Herbert and
the War Office fur approval or modification. In con-
nection with that committee, of which Lord haste-
high was chairman, consisting of about seven or
eight gentlemen selected from all parts of the
country, it happened that the Mayor of Bridport,
Mr. Templer, who was to be the captain of the
Bridport Corps, was appointed a member. This
was a great distinction for our county. Now, as the
rules alter passing the War Office would be handed
to the Lord-Lieutenants of the various counties
throughout the Kingdom, this meeting might, had it
been large enough and competent to act, have passed
rules antagonistic to those suggested by the Govern-
ment Committee. He could not, however, help ex-
pressing a hope that gentlemen now assembled
would not rest satisfied with merely adjourning on
this most iqiportant matter, but trusting that the
Lord Lieutenant would use the full power delegated
to him, the adjournment would have for its object
the securing the objects contemplated for furthering
the suggested Volunteer Corps.
Mr. J. C. Ilasszi. thought the object of the
meeting was not to decide upon rules, but to deter-
mine what species of corps the county was to have.
whether artillery or rifle. The meeting might cer-
tainly decide so Ur.
Mr. PuIa:HER was inclined to coincide with the
views expressed, but as the meeting, according to the
Clerk of the Peace, was not legally convened, an
immediate adjournment sine (lir ought to take
place. At the same time lie could not quit the room
without expressing his extreme regret that nothing
was done in the county of Dorset to put us in • state
of defence. He thought the state in which this
county at present was in this respect perfectly dis-
graceful. for, with the noble exception of Bridport,
not one thing had been done • and he could only
remark that the name of Mr. Templer, of Bridport,
should be mentioned in this county with the highest
honour. The Mayor of Bridport was really the gen-
tleman who had set the thing going with the greatest
spirit in his locality, putting himself to great incon-
venience by going to Ilythe for the purpose of ob-
taining the knowledge requisite for carrying on a
Volunteer Rifle Corp*, end being one of the gentle-
men appointed by the War Office to draw up rules to
guide the proceedings of all Volunteer Corps. Dorset-
shire, therefore, owed Mr. Templer a strong debt for
putting them on the road of the counties which had
already enrolled volunteers.
The CHAIRMAN here read the letter of the Lord-
Lieutenant, as follows :--

August 5, 1859.

DILAR Ma. FFOOKS,
It 11 I think, desirable that the deputplieuten-
ants of the county should be convened at Dorchester
on Saturday next, the 13th, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the opinions and feelings of the
county in respect of Volunteer Rifle or Artillery Corps.
Will you be 1.0 good as to issue letters accordingly ?
Yours truly,
SHAFTESBURY.

T. Ffooks, Eq.
The CLERIC read the subjoined letter from the
Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Somerset
-

Bryanston, Blandfonl, Aug. 11, 1359.
Mr DEAR Mu. F1N.01.1.4,

- - -
jam sorry I cannot meet the Lord•Licutenant
on the 13th, at Dorchester. Pray offer my mmlogy.
It is the day of our Petty Sessions. and I believe I must
be there to make a quorum. The course I have adopted
in Somerset has been to itrtruct my deputies lieutenant
by letter to request them to attend to the memorandum
of the Secretary of State in their subdivisions, and to
rcis.rt to uie thereon, as I %ball not act anywhere ex-
cept through their aid. I have advis..4l them not to
initiate any mos :mod but to co-operate when any veinal.
terra offer their services. This brief outline may be
useful to you as it has Wen much considered.
Yours faithfully,
PORTMAN.
You are probably aware that a meeting of lieutenancy,
unless previously sanctioned by the Secretary of State,
has no force in law.
- - • -

--
The CLERK void he had received a letter from Mr.
W. P. Okeilen, apologizing for non-attendance, being
obliged to attend the Blondford Petty Sessions; also
letters from Sir Edward Johnstone, Dr. Hawkins,
who expressed a willingness to join in any suboerip-
tion entered into; from Mr. Edward Weld, Mr. H.
Williams, and the following from Mr. Seymer,
M.P. :
Kinston, Wednesday.

MT DRAB SIR,
I very much regret that an engagement in • dis-
tant part of the county will prevent my attending the
meeting at Dorchester on Saturday. Having been in
London for several months I have had no opportunity
of ascertaining the feelings of those residing in this part
of the oounty. I ahall however, he very happy to co-
operate in any measure that may be decided on by the
meeting of lieutenancy.
Yours faithfully.
HENRY KER SEYHER.
T. Rooks, Esq.

Mr. PORCHKR said the only observation to be made
on Lord Shaftesbury's letter was that if the Lord I
Lieutenant did not originate the Volunteer Corps
movement in this county. and the deputies lieut.
did not do so, and the magistrates could not do so— '
who the deuce was to do it?
Mr. J. C. NIANSEL observed that in reality Arid-
port was the only place which, with its large nuinu•
factoring population, could produce a sufficient num-
ber of Volunteers for a defensive corps. The trade of
I Poole he did not think adequate to furnish a sufficient
number of men. Dorchester and Slierborne had
come forward, but a good deal of opposition was
found in the populations of those Unmet° taking the
position of candidates in this movement owing to
equipments not being supplied. If, however, a larger
I area were included in several districts, and certain
advantages were given, such as those enjoyed by the
militia and other corps, then a sufficient body of men
would be found willing to join a Volunteer Rifle or
Artillery Corps.
Mr. H. C. GoolinzN said, as soon as he received
Mr. Ffooks's circular convening this meeting, he
communicated with the Mayor of Weymouth and
ascertained that in the absence of his Worship an
abortive meeting had taken place, but Mr. Dodson
added that he had no doubt if a meeting were
called in Weymouth and proper information given,
a corps could be organized there.
Mr. PORCHER hoped that 1,200 men at all events
would yet be raised in Dorset in connection with
Volunteer Corps.
Mr. G. CARTWRIGHT observed that during his
temporary absence from Lyme Regis a meeting of
the inhabitants had been summoned, but it seemed
to have fallen to the ground owing to the unsatis-
factory recommendations of the Government relative
to arms and accoutrements. At the request of the
speaker the Mayor of Lyme communicated the
remit of the meeting to him (Mr. Cartwright), and
the report stated that the gathering was small, and
only three or four expressed willingness to join a
corps, owing to the heavy outlay for arms, Ice. The
opinion in the district, nevertheless, WAS that if an
Artillery Corps were started, the Government find-
ing the accoutrements, enough men would be forth-
coming to make the corps effective, and no difficulty
, would be felt, in forming also a Rifle Corps of
younger men for the same district.
IThe meeting shortly afterwards separated.