The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-28 00:00:00

REPORT OF HER MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONERS.

This morning the report of the commissioners
appointed to inquire into the condition of the volunteer
force in Great Britain was issued. The commissioners are
of opinion that further assistance should be rendered by the
government, and, as the most expedient way of regulating
the aid so as to secure the real efficiency of the force,
they recommend amongst other things the following
:
"That there should be a grant from the government of 21h.
per man for every light horse, engineer, mounted rifle, and
rifle volunteer, who can produce a certificate, according to
a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of State, signed by
the commanding officer and adjutant of his corps, or by the
commanding officer and adjutant of the administrative
battalion to which his corps belongs, that he has
attended nine drills, sir of which in the case of • consoli-
dated battalion, and three of which in the case of an ad-
ministrative battalion, should be battalion or troop
drills, in the course of the preceding twelve months ; that
he is efficient in drill, has been fully instructed in the ma-
nual and platoon exercise, and, in addition to the above
drills, has gone through a course of musketry instruction to
be laid down by the Secretary of State ; and also that be
was present on parade (unless absent by leave of his com-
manding officer with the approval of the Secre-
tary of State) on the day of inspection : and
an additional grant of ten shillings per man for
every volunteer who can produce a similar certificate that
he has fired • certain amount of hell cartridge, according to
regulations to be laid down by the Secretary of
State. That in the case of a recruit 30 drills,
including • short course of musketry instruction,
should be substituted for the drills already enume.
rated, in order to qualify for receiving such certificate.
That a power should be reserved to the inspecting officer
to disallow the certificate of any man or body of men
whose inefficiency may be manifest on parade. That the
existing definition of an effective should be repealed. That
I divisional or brigade field days and official inspections should
not be reckoned in the number of drills above specified.
Thu in the case of artillery volunteers • further grant,
beyond that already made by the government, of 30s. per
man should he made for every man who can produce a cer-
tificate signed by the commanding officer and ad-
jutant of his corps, or by the commanding officer
awl adjutant of the administrative brigade to
which his corps belongs, that he has attended twelve gun
drills'in the course of the preceding twelve months ; has
been present at the gun practice of his battery, and is an
effi,ient gunner ; also that be was present on parade (unless
. absent by leave of his commanding officer with the approval
of the Secretary of State) on the day of inspection. During
de first year of service attendance at 30 drills,
of which 24 should be gun drills, should be
substituted for the conditions above enumerated.
That in addition to all other allowances, a rum not exoeed-
iug per head per annum for each member who has been
certified as efficient, in any corps where the head-quarters
are distant beyond five miles from the place of meeting
of the administrative battalion to which it be-
long., should be granted to the commanding officer
of the battalion in aid of the expenses of conveying the
members of such corps to battalion drills. That the adjutant
should be responsible to the War-oriice, in the event of his
being employed to act as paymaster, for ell sums received
on account of such corps, and for their having been expended
strictly according to regulation, and that he should be put
on the same footing as an adjutant of disembodied militia."

The authorities of the town of Krernsmunster,
in Austria, bare rigorously interdicted servant girls, lady's-
maids, &c., from wearing crinoline.
In 1861 there were exported from California
1.792.217 bushels of grain and 171.417 barrels of flour. In
Itt ti California imported 50,000 barrels of Boor for hang
consumption.
A NEW ORATORIO.—We understand that Mr.
John Francis Harnett, the pianist, has just completed his
oratorio of Lamrsa, and competent judges, it is said, speak
highly of its merits. We some time ago copied from the
German papers most flattering notices of a portion of the
work which was pertained at Leipzig, but we shall no doubt
have an early opportunity of forming a perusal opinion with
regard to it. as the Sacred Harmonic Society will probably
introduce it to its friends in the metropolis.