The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-05-22 00:00:00

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SA.TURD.N./, 111.1 Y 22.1 d, 188 J.

THE VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION.

IT is jnst exactly one-and.twenty years ago that:
the Volunteer movement was initiated in this
country; and there can be to doubt that the pro
pO-al to celebrate its coming of age meets with
general approval. On the 10th May, 1859, the
Emperor Napoleon left Paris to join the army ef
Italy, havirg previously conferred the title of
Regent on the Empress. At Genoa he was met
by King Victor Emmanuel, then ruler over Sar-
dinia; and the short and brilliant campaign was
inaugurated which witnessed the battles of Ma-
genta and Solferine, and ended in the peace of
Villarr inca. For nearly eighteen months the
demeanour of the French Emperor towards this
eanntry bad been regarded as far from friendly;
Red the fact of his going to war with Austria,
"fir an idea," lea h( himself described it, was
eit favouea!ey reearded on his side of the
Chanel. at had already gone to war with
Ro.,sia. one of the signatory Powers to the
Treet7, of 1815 curtailing the strength of France;
he was now dealing with Austria. another of
:hose Powers ; the time might come when he
would deal with England. Su the people argued,
and it was considered expedient that the island
:4hould be placed in a condition of deferce.
on the 12th May, two days after the Emperor
'lad left his capital to take the command of the
'rench army in Lombardy, a notice was issued
'.rotu the War Office in London, sanctioning the
formation of velunteer rifle corps under the pro-
visions of the Act George 111., as well as of
irtiilery corps in towns where there were forts
or batteries. The movement for the formation
of these corps snread with great rapidity through
P.;ngland and Scotland.
On the 7th March, 1860, her Majesty held a
levee in St. James's Palace, for the purpose of
receiving the officers of the newly-formed volun-
teer rifle corps. About 2,500 attended, repre-
senting an effective force of 70,000 men. Earl
de Gray, the present Marquis of Ripon, in ad-
dressing the officer, said it. would depend upon
themselves whether the movement was to be
worthy of England, or whee her it was to become
a mere laughing.slook. Before the end of the
summer he thought the number of volunteers
would reach 100.000 wee. Bat the idea was re-
o iveil with such ueiv(rs tavola., that by the
:late spok. n of. the nu !bar of v lunteeri en-
roded was 130,000, of whom 40,000 had been
formed into ao ad.eiratey trained and
armed that the offio al inspection pronounced
them fit to take their pace in the line of battle.
Oa the 23rd June in the same year the Queen
hold a review in Hyde Park, when the volunteers,
I numbering 21,000 men, marched past in com-
panies. This accomplished, the line advanced
an battalion columns, and cheered her Majesty
ay signal with vociferous earnestness. Of the
great force thus assembled, 15,000 belonged to
tee metropolis and 6,000 to the provinces. On
the 2nd July the first meeting of the National
Rifle Association was held at Wimbledon Her
M.j sty commencing the proceedings by firing
thP first shot—a " centre." 'Volunteer reviews
followed in Edinhnrgh and LaneaThire ; and on
t;)e Ist April, 1881, there was a sham-fight at
Brighton un er Lord Raeelagh, and at Wimble-
don under Lord Bur.. For many years the
Easter Monday Volunteer Review, either at
Brighton, Dever, or Portsmouth, was one of the
most popular institutions of that holiday. The
importance of the movement has also been recog-
nized by many an act of international courtesy.
These have more than once been exchanged he.
twecn England and Belgium ; while volunteer
riflemen from Canada frequently show at Wim-
bledon what Can be done by the crack shots of
the Far West.

A movement which has attracted so large a
share of the public attention has not been sus-
taiued for t,venty-one yesrs without sacrifices on
the part oi those who comp( se it. The demands
made non the time of an efficient volunteer in
a country and in an age in which time is money,
are considtrable, but that these are cheerfully
met, the condition of the force today eonelu-
sively shows. The causes which led to i▪ ts
origination havepessed away; but it still reinaiDS
as a testimony to the national patriotism. Napo-
leon, so far from living to invade this country,
landed on our shores an ex le, and as an exi▪ le
died. in a secluded Kentish villtge. the tona,
witth has been raised to his !memory is au elo-
qu-nt piece of evidence of the transitory nature
of earthly greatness and' to the instability of
mundane power. The Empire of France, once
a dreaded, has now for ten years been a thing
Of the past ; no one cne teal v f, ers the disposi-
tion of the Reeputylic •Lis ;
Oat the volun
ter force, so far from disbanding, is more firmly
-
welded together than it ever was before, for its
ranks have been consolidated by time • and
strengthened by experience. The Queen, who
, first viewed her citizen soldiers twenty years
ago, still Inlet; over a loyal p.eople,who celebrates
her sixty-first birthday now, end look forward to
ceramerucrating her johilee seven years hence.
The vicist,itudes which have effected other
dynasties and changed the destinies of nations,
have left the occupant of the Throne of Rngland
the ruler of the splendid heritage which she re-
ceived from her predecessors. The respectful
, 'ion which 122 S been made to her Majesty
tlib ) many of the volueteers as can be breught
together, may cnce more be permitted to pass
In fore her in ityde Park is. a reasonable aria
practic bie anc, tied all cl .s:ies of the Queenets
subjects would rejoice if it could be carried
• out.

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

ASSAULTIIIG TIER POLICE. Arthur Jones, the
prisoner in the prev!-us case, was charged with as-
s !n'tin:r Police-constabl, s C,ltwright,
and Rideley while in the execution of their duty.
Police-censtable Cartwright said on the 18th inst.
he had prisoner in cust, dy on a charge of stealing
money. He went to put the handcuffs on him and
pri one bit his hand, On the way to the station
prisoner lay on Ms back and kick d witness several
times. When at the bottom of King Street he
struck witness on the mouth, and w.tness then
threw him down and sent for assistance. Police-
constables Williams and Madeley came to his as-
sistsnce. He saw prisoner strike both officers
several times. He was very violent and had to be
conveyed to the station in a cab. Police constable
Williams said he was called to assist Cartwright and
saw Jooes near King Street. He saw prisoner spit
in Cartwright's face and he kicked him about the
legs. Prisoner did the same to witness. He XV a s
very violent and lay on his back kicking. Witness
tried to p-r,uade him to walk hut he refused. They
got him as far as Summer Street when Police con-
stable Madeley came up. Prisoner took a running
kick at Madeley and caught him in the groin. They
then sent for a cab and handcuffed him. Police-
constable Madeley gave corroborative evidence and
said he had been in pain ever since prisoner kicked
him When in the cell prisoner kicked him on the
moil', after his clogs were taken off. Prisoner was
committed to take his trial at the next Worcester
Se ?gong.
1 lAssfritrvr CASE.—Henv Walters was charged with
assa,lltiug Eliza Edwards on the 17th inst Com-
plainant said that on the above date. defendant
struck her, blacked her eye and face, and kicked
her. The defence was that complainant struck him
four times. Fined 5s and costs.
Scitoon BOARD CASES.—John Griffin, Benjamin
Smith, and Elias Harper were summoned by John
Stif:lu, School Board Offieer, for neglecting to send
their children to tae Lye Board School. The case'
were proved and defendants fined Is each. Harper
was adjourned for a week.