The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-07-07 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DULY TIMES.

Sine—l am glad you have taken up this subject by
advocating the proposal to bring it within the reach of
the working classes.
I trust our members will use their influence with the
Government to persuade it to give some-assistance in
order to encourage and enable that class to join in the
movement. The latter would gladly do so if they coul4.
No one will say our artisans would not make excellent
soldiers; but they cannot afford to pay for "an outfit."
These men have their wives and families (as dear to
thorn' as are those of the richest men in the land) to
provide for and defend. In the event of invasion
the majority of them would, of course, be thrown out of
employment. The misery that would ensue it is dread-
ful even to to think of. Were they trained as volun-
teers—wore an invasion attempted—the country might
rest at ease ; but, untrained and unarmed, of what use
could they be ? Nay, what misery would they and their
families not he reduced to ? Then, why not prevent
the bare possibility of such an event, when it can be
so easily (and so cheaply) done ? lustead of spending
millions in fortifying London, and millions more
on fortifications round the coast, let the Govern-
ment vote ONE million to fit out 400,000 or 500,000
of the most respectable of our working classes,
(for £2 or £3 per head would be quite sufficient) ; and
then, even if all the soldiers of the line were called
away for service abroad, our island-home would be
perfectly secure against all and every invader. The
annual-- expense of -keeping up such a 'corps would be
trifling, and be repaid a thousand-fold by the feeling.of
security that would result. We should then have no
more " invasion panics ;" for, with- such a back-bone of
strength, in addition to the other self-supporting
volunteer corps, Britain might, and could, defy the
world in arms.

Our skilled mechanics are fine fellows, and make
noble soldiers. Look at the artillery corps of " our
own," Charles M'lver of Liverpool, and " our" John
Laird of Birkenhead, and deny it who can !—Yours,
A RirrnmAN.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.--YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr. RAFFLE.)
A DANGEROUS BLACKGUARD.

A ruffianly-looking fellow, named William Lashley, r'az
brought up by Mr. Murphy, of the Local Marine Board, or.
the following charge. Mr. Murphy stated the case, which
was borne out by the evidence as follows. On the 21st of June,
the prisoner signed arti.eles.as the carpenter of the ship Com-
merce, belonging to J. F. Hutton & Co., at £6 a month. He
got £l2 advance. He went on board on the 23rd and remained
a couple of days, but en the third night in company of three.
others, took the ship's bort and deserted her with the other
three men. In consequence of the want of hands to manage
the ship, she drifted down the river and came into collision
with a ship called the Lucy Tho.npson, and there was damage
to the arriount of £25 sustained by the vessel. There was also
£1 for advertising the boat and £1 reward for its recovery. It
has been picked up. And besides the prisoner had got his
note cashed, and of course had swindled the party cashing it
out of the money. In answer to the charge, the prisoner said,
the ship was net sea worthy and was leaking 'very much and
that was the reason he left her. Mr. Murphy said the
prisoner bored holes in the ship, and induced the other three
men to abscond with him, saying the ship was leaking. A
gentleman from the office of the owners, handed in a Lloyd's
Certificate, that the.ship was in thorough repair and quite sea
worthy. Mr. kaffles said the ease was a very bad one and he
:Would send the prisoner to jail for 12 weeks.