The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-21 00:00:00

us, however reluctantly, to. be prepared for war. The
word of command to 'you is ," Stand•at..ease;" "Atten-
tion ;" and though God forbid the time should come
when it shall be said to y0u,.." Make ready,—present,—
fire I" still I hope that you will always be ready to
"Shoulder your arms." (Applause.) And, gentlemen,
sorely W have something worth contending. for. We
hale CoriStitiltion which, With all its faults, is the
noblest fabric of civil and religions liberty that ever was
raised by the hand' of man,.-"combining," as Lord
Macaiilay says, "beyond all ekainPle.nd all, hope; the
blessings of frepdom with the blessings,of brder,—the
blessed land of liberty. and philbiophy.• Which is full of
all:soignee—the:land Of the brave." (Applause.) • May
I not use: thinking of such -a land as this, the language
dt Sir Walter Scott: " Where is the coward that
would not dare to fight for such a land ?" (Applause.)
May I not, man of peace as I am, invoke the
blessing of Jehovah upon such a movement as this;
and when. I pray to • the God of Mercy to pre-
vent the necessity of your being called into action, may
I not pray to the• God of Battle to steel your hearts and
nerve your hands if the day of action should ever arrive.
But, gentlemen, in order that this should be done, you
must regard this not as a mere amusement, and not for
the purpose of vanity, but as a sacred, solemn duty,
which, whatever the result maybe, cannot but tend to
your good. The habits of discipline and Order *MA
you will learn must be beheficittl to you; and as such I
regard it,, at a liiiikister of the Gospel; with satisfaction.
It Was said to me by a friend of
sniine, a &Male friend,
that she Was afraid this movement. might leadte•con-
vivialitY and irregular I told her that I helipired
dkrectly th,e reverse; and I ain.tbld by fliOSe acquainted
with lit that such has been the case--that it leads
to babits of or ier and temperance instead of disorder
and intemperance, (Applause,),. It was on that account
I gave my humble sanction to the drill of the boyS in
the Collegiate Institution;' and I was highly gratified
to hear Colonel Wilbrahain speak of those boys in the
manner that he did. God forbid that the drill should
imbue 'anything like a martial spirit in those lads.
That is not the purpose of it. We do not want to make
them food for powder; but we wish to bring them up to
habits of order and discipline, and we believe the drill
will have a most beneficial effect, both upon their habits
of order and their health. I therefore. feel perfectly
justified 111 othofting,yoU persevere Let your motto
be that of the order of the Thistle, "Nento.inc intvt,lud?!"!
teeema,,.‘---, &body attacks rue with impont;; (Loud
applattse.) The tbtsti o. knot; hl a very peace-
ful- weed when alone;
you let it but when yon touch it,
you are apt. to scratch Voirir fingers—, (a,laugh) and se, I
believe, if Any rash invader invaded this island, invaded
the tabbtity of our island home,. he would find to his,
cost that he had better not meddle with a nation of
freemen, bristling with arms. (Loud cheering.)
An inspection of the troops then took place, and was
made by his Worship the Mayor Lieutenant-Colonel
Wilbraham, C. 8., Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, Lieut.-
Colonel Bousfield, and other distinguished military men.
When this part of the interesting ceremony had
concluded,

.The:MAYott addressed the meeting, and said : I am
requested to inform the meeting.that a great number of
distinguished noblemen and military Mari Whom We
expected to be present here tó-nigbt; haVe 'cell Prd-
veiited by marry raises, iirhiat they hake bni, ()died in
the note 6 that I hold in my hand. [sir John urgoyne
had addressed the following letter of apology t--

6; Gloucester-gardens, Hyde-park. lith Nov. 18G0.
My dear Captain regret very much that indis-
position, which confines me to the house, will prevent ins
from witnessing a ceremony which it ,would have given me
great pleasure to attend. With every good wish for the
success of the corps, believe me, yours faithfully,
J. F. Bilario+9.E.
Lord Clyde, who had been oleo rrti'eAttll rionliatending;
says as follows

thrd Clyde presents his compliments to Captain
lisein, and regrets to say that the pressure of unavoidable
business renders it impossible for him to accept the invitation
which the committee of the First Lancashire Volunteer Engi-
neers are good enough to send him. With every wish to do
honour to the volunteers of Great Britain (of regiments of
which he is honorary colonel), he feels that he has really not
enough of time at his disposal, and must request Capt. Ellison
to make his excuses to the committee accordingly.
Albany, Nov. 2, 1860.]
My Lord Derby is also prevented, I am very sorry to
say, through his recent indisposition, though no one has
taken a more lively interest itt the uloVerrieet than that
ndbie geritlernain (Cheers.) Dly Lord SWiley feels
that it would not be possible for him to attend our
meeting this eveningos he has left Lancashire for some
time, and the engagements which he has made will
occupy his time entirely for the present week. T. B.
Horsfall, Esq., is also prevented from being present in
consequence of his having some friends staying with
him, We have also a number of other communications,
the'writers of which state that they are unable to attend
from various causes. [Amongst the gentlemen who
were prevented from attending the meeting were the
Rev. Dr. Raffles, Canon Stowell, Lord Sefton, Lieut.-
General Sir Edward Cest, T. Stamford Raffles, Esq.,
John B. Lloyd, Esq.' Major James Cunliffe (Scotch
corps), J.. Wilson l'atten, Captain Mends, &c., &c.]
his "Worship then continued :—Ladies and gentlemen,
it now becomes my pleasing dilly to address a few Wards,
congratulatory words, to the Ezighieerss whom we have
just admitted into the high privilege of volunteer ser-
servite which, whateVer be its faults, and there
is no great movement without some drawbacks—a ser-
vice which, at all events) has the high trait of raising
this country from very great weakness to a very great
state of security. (Hear, hear, and deafening applause.)
And I am sure that • I but speak the feelings of the
volunteers that I see gathered within these *all on this
most auspicious occasion to-night, when I, on their
behalf, offer to the Engineer 'Volunteers of Lancashire
their heartiest and their 'warmest welcome. (Loud and
prolonged cheering.) On the other hand, I think 1
may, with equal justice, congratulate the town
of Liverpool upon so important art accession to the
material defences of, our pert--(hear, hear)—for, I
believe, it is generally admitted that our approaches
will form a conapicnotts part, if ever this town should he
attacked; and I have no doubt whatever but that, with
the aid of the Engineers of Liverpool and Lancashire,
the sand hills of Crosby will give a good account on the
day of trial. (Hear, hear, and enthusiastic applause,,.
which lasted for several minutes.) The calin and dis-
passionate, manner in which yott have come forward 'to
record your oaths of fealty to your gracious Sovereign—
(hear, hear)—and of obedience to your commanding
officers and generals, is, I think, the most convincing
proof that you have not taken this step without mature,
serious, solemn, and calm. consideration. (Hear, hear,.
and renewed demonstrations of delight.) You have
not, I am quite sure and feel perfectly' satisfied in
my own mind, taken that step without some
forethought; you have, I have no doubt, been prompted
by that motto which now fronts me upon that flag ; you
have, I feel perfectly confident, been impulsed to it by
the noble and generous feeling " That England expects
that every nasn—no matter whatever may be his position
or his station—will do his duty faithfully and well."
(Enthusiastic cheering, loud and long-contmuM ) You'
have, I firmly believe, been prompted by the love of
country, by strong and loyal attachments to the throne,
to come forward to devote your time and your moneys
I will say your leisiire hours and your precious time,
(because you have no other time at your disposal), has
been asked from you, and you have come forward to
devote them to the service of your country. (Hear,
hear, and bursts of applause.) And while learning pro-
ficiency in the art of warfare,—or rather, I should say,
in the means of defence—you are and will be assisting
your brother volunteers in maintaining, with the regular
forces of this country, your homes, your hearths, your
altars, and, in a word, your country itself, inviolate,
untouched, and unharmed, from the possibility of a
foreign foe landing on' our island shores. (Tremendous
cheering.) You are -Commanded by a gentleman who is
not new to tire, for he has, been under fire and in its
thickest midst—he has seen: the greatest warfare of
modern days. He is your natural leader, and I am sure
you have and entertain for him those natural ties which,
to some extent, exist between the employer and the
employed. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) You are officered
by gentlemen of no less distinguished scientific abilities,
and you yourselves combine a large amount of practical
engineering skill. (Hear, hear, and continued vociferous
cheering.) And I' am sure I do not' say too,
much when I say that we do expect from you what
the splendid corps has achieved that only, twelve
months ago was sworn in within these 'calls--that
you will do within the next twelve months what they
have done within the past twelve months. (Hear, bear,
hurrah, and other expressions of popular applause). But
while learning;the art of defence, there is,still a higher
and more important duty that I will impress on yob,
which must uot.by any means be forgotten ; and that is,
that you will endeavour, by your conduct, to preserve
the good and high character which you now enjoy, and
that by steadiness, sobriety, and general good conduct,
youswill not only deceive the approbation, esteem, and
well-wishes of your brother volunteers, but you will
earn for yourselves the respect of the town at large.
(Hear, hear, and continued applause.) I would wish
to have informed this meeting of the pleasure with
which I went round and inspected the numerous
volunteers under arms this evening ; but there
is present a higher authority, a still higher
authority than mine—l mean Colonel Wilbraham.
—(hear, hear, and applause, which rang from every
part of the densely-filled edifice)—who, I may say,
might not have viewed with the same partial eyes as I
looked upon my brother volunteers. (Hear, hear, and
cheers.) He will inform you, and I have no doubt he
will candidly tell you- of what he has seen and what he
thinks. (Loudfand frequently-repeated cheering, amidst
which his worship resumed his seat.)
Lieut.-Colonel WILBRAHAM rose, and was greeted
with enthusiastic rounds of applause. 'When silence
bad been somewhat restored, he addressed the'assemblarre
as follows :—Mr. Mayor, ladies, and gentlemen, after
having so very recently addressed a body of volunteers
in this hall, I had hoped to have been only a spec-
tator of this evening's Most interesting ceremony,
but I had been told that it would be both grati-
fying to the volunteers, and also of some advantage
to the volunteers Who are present on this occasion, if
some military men were to take a part in this evening's
proceedings. (Hear, hear, and immense cheering.)
And, therefore; I can have no hesitation in coming
forward once more, and saying a few words to you.
(Hear, hear, and repeated applause.) Gentlemen, I
have watched the volunteers in every stage of their
growth, and I have seen them on their private parade
grounds, at their rifle practice, and at their great
reviews—(hear, hear ;)—but it so happens that I never
before saw even a single volunteer enrolled. Therefore,
I need scarcely tell you how strikingly imposing that
sight has been to me this evening. to see this large, and
I may truly say, this splendid body of volunteers coming
forward in the public manner that they have done, .
to enrol themselves for the defence of their native coun-
try. (Hear, hear,* and loud applause.) Gentlemen, the
experience of the last year, and I may say the experience of
the last year and a half, will have given you an idea of
what is expected from you ? You must be aware that you
volunteers are called upon to make considerable sacri-
fices of your time and your personal convenience, and
I am sure that you have weighed this matter well in
your minds ; and that you now come forward with the
deliberate and determined resolve to follow the example,
the good and noble example set by your brother volun-
teers, whom you have invited this evening to witness
your enrolment. (Hear, and loud expressions of
applause.) The declaration that you have made this
day, gentlemen, if we only look to the letter of it, is
not a very binding or stringent one—for, if I am
not very much mistaken, a fortnight's notice suffices to
set you legally free from your engagement. (Hear, hear.)
But if we look to the spirit of that declaration, gentle-
men, I am sure you will feel with me that you have
taken upon yourselves this evening an obligation which
it wojild be unmanly, and I may say dishonourable, to
draw back from without some good, sufficient,
and reasonable cause for so doing, tangible;
(Hear, and loud
cheers.) We were talking the other evening, gentlemen,
of the effect that the institution of rifle matches, such

as that at Hightown, would have upon the permanence
of the volunteer movement. I myself, for my own part,
believe that that effect will be very great; and I believe,
tpo, that we act .quite right and consistently in
trying to make the Tat'iwils corps of the voltinteers as
attractive as siesSilfie, ,df borirse;,o doe
.regard
economy: (Mai; hear, arid CheerS.) But. ei;e.fi
gentlemen, we may syish the Voliinteers to lieceare,
as .I trust their .svill ultiMately become an established
force, and a permanent institution of our country. .still
we . .must look, td higher,, motives firan,. those, : (Hear,
hear,, and Appla*e.) . must look, gentlemen, to the
combined operations of that Powerful motive in Which
this great nOtiorial riloierrient -drigirrated--I. mean :the
sense of duty which we all of us owe to our greions
Queen and our beloved country. (Hear, hear, and con-
tinued plaudits.) The threatening aspect of continental
Europe—the political world in Europe, gentlemen, led
the nation to feel, and I believe rightly, what sage and
far-sighted men such as the late Duke of Wellington had
felt all along, namely, that.our means of defence were
utterly and entirely inadequate either to give us security
—proper security—at home, or to command for us
respect abroad. (Hear, hear, and prolonged cheering.)
Thank God, gentlemen, that is now changed—this
aspect has assumed a milder one. We are, gentlemen,
I think, for ever free from those periodical panics arid
alarnis which Wire than note hOie liven hurtful td our
Oeniiribred degradirigtd pride-s”
Englishnieri. (Lend., Mid proleoged aPrilanse.) :We
haye also the pleasure arid pririleee of hearing within
the last few weeks, froth the lips of three of the chief
ministersi of the crOWni that England has regaiped—or
rather, 1 should say,, she has at all events acquired—
that respect arid loris 4 standi which she formerly held
in the councils of Etirope .(Hear, hear, and applause.)
And surely, gentlenien, Voltinteer, can eipeet or get.
noligher reward for their exertions, amino greater en-
couragement for persevering in those exertions, than to
experience the proud feeling that they contribute largely
to those happy results. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
And the addition of this volunteer force, gentlemen, will
be not merely an addition to the numbers, but a valu-
able addition to the efficiency of the volunteer force of
Lancashire. (Hear, hearl and Amid eXpressions of
approval,) Of the ditties of eitgirieerst iri offensive /tar-
tare, I need not speak tto*. In the first place, your
excellent captain, tti the Illayqr ci,;,,=Ted just now, had
an Oi'Pottinity of seeing theni operate Off, pothapl, the
most gigantic scale- the ' World ha's ever' Witnessed.
(Hear, hear.) But in defensiVe war—(I need, riot. say
that yotir warfaiesii4 lie, and mustnecessarily be, a
defensive:one)—the duties .whieb devolve to the Engi-
neer Corpa to perform become extremely important.
(Hear, hear, add great cheering.) The strength of
any position may be doubled In a few hours by an
advanced and effective corps of engineers by the judi-
cious erection of earth-works. No doubt, gentlemen,
as a matter of course you will turn your attention to
that most interesting and important branch of your
military duties—those duties, in fact, which distinguish
the engineer from every other branch of the service.
But you will not content yourselves with that, as the
proficiency you have acquired in drill, shows me in an
unmistakeable manner. I will only remind you that
the Royal Engineers twri years ago proved themselves
the best ripe shots iii the /thole arirty. Wow' and
Contili li
ded •tteefitig,) And 'Pt.& alsoralin yoit that
in, the Criniea the, best soldiers—Nit' most Valuable
soldiers—we had there were thdsetery risen who couldat any time eichange . their pick for the rifle,
and, vice versa, the rifle for the plek, and rise
either of those very irithiable instninierits, Witii
equal skill and ile to heal', arid great
al ~Neisladds—i-(the aPealrei. here
Odiessed the g rilant officer)—l ant very glad to See the
cOlour of the uniform which you and your Yohinteers
have adopted. (Hear, 11;ar, and loud applause.) I own
that I have a very strong feeling in favour of red, for
the whole volunteer force, as it was in 1804. I think
that a great deal too much has been said about making
our
.soldiers invisible., No doubt it is desirable that
skirmishers should be hidden from the enemy for a cer-
tain degree; but skirmishers bear but a very small pro-
portion to troops of position. And. I have great faith
in the wholesome effect that the sight of imposing
masses of red coats would have upon an invading force.
(Hear, and loud and prolonged applause.) And if they
Conte near enough to distinguish between the volunteers
grid the Hue; the will, apprebersdf-happen. to find to
their cost that it was, as the..old proverb has it, A
distinction without much' difference." (Hear, hear,
cheers, and loud laughter,) And, now, gentlemen, I
will not trespass upon your time very much longer, but
as it may be a long time before T have an opportunity of
addressing so large a body of volunteers again (and,
indeed, I feel that in addressing you as the representa-
tives, I am addressing the whole volunteer force of Liver-
pool) allow me to give you a few words of advice—(hear,
and applause) —on two points, the negligence of which has,
to my own knowledge, seriously impaired the efficiency ,
of the volunteer movement in some parts of England.
Let me first of all say, that in the remarks I am going
to make, -I give expression to them without any re-
ference whatever to the Lancashire tolittiteers, of Whose
efficiency I have already spoken, arid of Which I haVe
spoken often indeed. But I may mention this because
these tWo subjects, conibined or separately, are pregnant
with riot a little importance, and a great deal of ims
portance to ,the cause in general. The first of these,
gentlemen, is economy, and I need only give you the.
opinion expressed by Earl. De Grey, who, when at the
review of volunteers in 'Yorkshire, entreated them to
avoid as far as possible all unnecessary expenses. In
support of that, I may quote the opinion of Lord Elcho,
who, both by precept and by his example, carries out
this principle. The other point that I Wish to call
attention to is the one which, in a large and pspolotis
county like this, perhaps we are not so srihject td
as in' a small county—l mean the great importanne
and desirableness pf creating the most 'friendly relations
between the volunteers of the same county. (Loud
applause.) lam perfectly ass-are, gentlemen, that from
the constitution of the volunteer force, it is quite impos •
-
sible but some causes of misunderstanding should arise.
The gradations of rank—military rank—are not so marked
among you as amongst the regulars. And in the event
of any little or local differences arising, you have not
always a superior officer to whom you can apply, and
who will settle it with a' word on the spot. (Hear,
hear.) All I can impress on you is that all these checks
must be avoided by your own good. feeling and sense of
dirty, and; 'above all, by the constant practice of good
temper and mutual forbearance. (Cheers.) Gentle-
men, I thank you for your kind attention, for I feel it
is the last time that I can have the pleasure of meeting
you this year, and I trust during the winter that those
who have acquired a good proficiency will keep it up,
and. when we meet in the spring I trust to find the
volunteers of Lancashire increased in efficiency and in
number, and not decreased in zeal and spirit. (Loud
applause, amidst which the gallant speaker retired.)
Lieutenant-Colonel Bnow'r then rose to address the
meeting, but Was perfectly inaudible to the reporters.
He was understood to say that it was with pleasure that
he heard tho observations which fell from Colonel Wil-
braham, as to the-efficient state of the volunteers in this
county. There can be no doubt but that the volunteers
have rendered great and most essential service to
this cotintry. They had more firmly established our
position as a nation, and had doubtless been the
means of preventing a foreign war. Although
the volunteers were not of the line, there is no
doubt that in the course of time they will become
equally efficient, and it has shown foreign nations that
we are not alone a nation of shopkeepers, but can come
forward and. act in our own defence for the protection of
our country—a country which enjoyed more liberty than
any other nation in the world. The volunteers have
nobly came forward in support of the rights of the
nation, and have shown that we are perfectly
invulnerable to any attack. When the volun-
teers were first called out, they were called out
to • protect this country from a foreign foe, but they
had been the cause of making peace ; and should there
ever be a war, he felt quite sure that they would find the
volunteers the first men in the field to protect these .
shorei. They had been armed. for that purpeSe, and he
was sure they would do their duty. .There had .been
much said that they were not drilled the same as
the regular army was ; but they were a class of
men whe had heads on their shoulders! .and knew
what they were after, and there would not be
the same difficulty in drilling such men, and
training them to a state of efficiency for the field,
as the regular army had with the Johnny-raves who
entered that body as recruits. He was convinced that
in a short time the volunteers would, by paying attention
to their drills, become a most efficient body of men for
the protection of our 'country ; and if ever a foreign foe
should set foot on these 'shores, they would do their duty.
CHARLES TURNER, Esq., next rOse, and wag received
with great applause. He said,—Gentlemen volunteers,
in compliance with the request that has been made to
me by the' Mayor, I have much pleasure in obeying, that
request, inasmuch as it is gratifying to me to express to
y6u all. the great interest itake in the 'volunteer move-
ment; at the same time, after' the 'able and practical
speech you have just heard from Colonel 'Wilbraham, it
is quite unnecessary for a civilian like me to offer
one word of advice in military matters 'if even
I -could do so. But, I think, nothing of late years
has contributed so much to raise the character of this
great and commercial nation in the estimation of other
countries of the world as the volunteer movement. The
other nations of Europe have been led to suppose that
we, as Englishmen, were only a nation of' shopkeepers,
and that we would willingly sacrifice our trade and our
commerce—that we would rather sacrifice our country,
than sacrifice our profit and loss account; by this
movement, the nation had shown, by its taking up arms
as one mans that they were prepared to defend its shores
tagainion tsot
invade
dfeo foreign
territories.d espots
svh o
Englishmen,migh t s how
ga
endei srpa
jolt
d
were slow in moving, but, when moved, they were most
; and this-occasion will show them that we
can make most valiant soldiers; and I believe that the
necessity of such a movement has by. no means passed
away. Other ' nations, and more particularlyrmaamets
neigh-
bouring nation, are augumenting their a
they profess to have a most friendly feeling,to defendl
and so we must keep up our position; and although
they
Recessary that England should be , prepared
1 should
be prepared to protect her shores. from attack, 110 m
I herself, should she be attacked. Englishmen.
whatever quarter it might come. From ,the activity
that has been shown in this movement, I feel convinced
that should even an attack be made upon us you:will be
prepared to repel any attack, and drive away any foe, as
fast as possible. I assure you I have felt it a great
pleasure in taking the part I have done in the enrol
-
meat of the Engineer Volunteer Company,
which
I consider one of the most essential and useful
portions of the army. We have all seen the absolute
necessity of the movement, and I .am sure it
it has most materially added, to the safety of the country,
and while it does
.us honour,' it wily tend to maintain for
us'the respect of other countries, and demand front them
their good esteem, which, as a nation, we are entitled
to. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. BELOE said—l have been requested by the
Engineer Corps to convey their thanks to the Mayor
and the other magistrates for their kindness in attending
on this occasion, to take part in the swearing-in of that
noble body of men. I feel my own difficulty, because,
although I could return thanks for myself, I cannot find
language sufficiently strong, or words that express the
feelings of the warm hearts that are now beating beneath
those red jackets. (Cheers.) And, when it was
considered that more than nine-tenths of the
Corps of Engineers were servants belonging
to the Council over which you, Mr. Mayor, so ably
preside, I shave ' only to say, that Liverpool should be
proud of such a body of men. (Cheers.) When I tell
you that it is not three months since this company was
first started, at a meeting in this ball, and that now
they were armed, equippeo, and ready for war, all must
be proud that the Corporation of Liverpool possessed
such a boo of men: (Cheers.) Although I do not
intent to to you on the subject of discipline, which