The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

Widow'd wife, and orphan'd son,
Sire whose age's stay is gone,
Plighted maid whose hope for ever
Sank in Alma's crimson river,
Hearts that bleed, and eyes that weep—
How should these the revel keep"
Peace ! oh, peace ! unthinking mirth
Mocks our neighbour's lonely hearth ;
Not with careless revelry
Vex their glorious ghosts, who lie
Where Tschernaya runneth red
With the blood for England shed !
Thankful quiet, chastened feast,
These will keep our Christmas best ;
Guerdon free, and liberal aid,
Succour, large and undelayed,
Hence let Plenty speed and spare.
God ! what Christmas-tide is there
Veil that picture ! Little wont
Is Britannia's lion front
To grow red at charge of shame
For neglect of kin and name.
Hath she too unheeding seemed
Well that fault shall be redeemed !
Yet, brave hearts, awhile abide !
England's help is on the tide !
It may be that, overatrong,
She hath held her hand too long
Touched at last to heart and core
Keeps she Christmas, Fifty-four!
So, when heart and arm made strong
Well have paid the Despot's wrong,
Grant, 0 God, that we who live
Through the moons of Fifty-five
See it's Christmas bring again
" Peace on earth ! goodwill to men!"

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HARRY LZROY TZWPLE.

[We have been favoured with the following copy of the original draft of the Foreign
Enlistment Act, as it was intended to be brought in, with that courageous candour
for which Ministers are celebrated. It will be seen that the modifications in the
existing measure are in letter only and not in spirit.]
A
BILL
To Permit Foreigners to be Enlisted, and to Serve as
Officers and Soldiers in her Majesty's Forces.
(The words in italics are intended to be inserted in committee.)
WHEREAS a mistaken prejudice has gone abroad amongst
divers of her Majesty's Subjects that the English People
have heretofore been able to resist aggression and succour Allies
in the field without the assistance of the vagabondage of Europe;
And Whereas, all our great battles in the page of history, from
Crescy, which was won by the Flemish Archers, to Inkermann,
which was gained by the Foreign Legion of France,* the contrary
has been the fact ; And Whereas, there being no barracks in
existence for the lodging of the Militia Force of Great Britain and
Ireland, it is therefore expedient that her Majesty, during the
continuance of the War, should be enabled to enlist and employ
Foreigners in her Army : Be it therefore enacted. &c.
I. It shall be lawful for her Majesty to cause to be enlisted into
her Service persons being natural born Subjects of any foreign
country, and being denaturalised, or having special reasons for
quitting the same, who may voluntarily enter themselves for her
Service with the free and eager permission of their own Governments.
11. Provided always, That no Foreign Order of Merit, worn
round the ankle or otherwise, nor no clasp, badge on the arm, or
cordon on the wrist shall be worn by the said Foreigners so
enlisted, except by her Majesty's Royal Permission, signified from
the Bench of a Criminal Court by one of the Judges of her Majesty's
Courts of Law.
111. It shall be lawful for her Majesty to grant Commissions
and Letters of Service in such corps to such experienced engineers
and men of military science as shall have distinguished themselves
by the construction of Infernal Machines" or other ingenious
contrivances, intended for the benefit of our Allies abroad, and to
direct the said Officers and Soldiers to be formed into separate
Battalions, by the title of Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Barricadiers.
IV. Provided always, That the men serving under this Act shall not be
employed in the United Kingdom, except in case of any considerable meeting
called to petition her Majesty to remove from her Councils her present
Advisers.
V. Every Soldier enlisted under the Authority of this Act shall
be attested in such manner as he shall think proper, and not

Here there is a marginal note on our copy, signed " S. H." :—" Literally true, u
appears by a statement in the Consiiintionnel; for, if a deserter from the Foreign on
had not informed the many of oar weak points, the Russian attack would not have been
Iliad*, sad, eureqpistiC the bank Kidd not hare been pined by is."