The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-05 00:00:00

SURREY VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.

Yesterday a meeting of the central committee
appointed to superintend the general management, and to
prepare the rubes fur the Surrey Volunteer Rile Regiment,
was held at the Bridge Houle Hotel, London bridge. Cap-
tain W. S. H. Prreitor in the chair.

Amongst those present were H. Drummond, Esq., M.P.,
J. W. Evelyn, Esq., M.P., Captain Evelyn, Captain Wood,
Maurice, Esq.; Charles Sumner, Esq., 8.L., &c.
The CHAIRMAN said that in his opinion the beet mode
of conducting the bushier would be to call on the secretary
to read the resolutions which had been prepared, and then
it would be open to any gentleman to propose any amend-
ments or to offer any suggestions that might appear tit and
Prllir.
bie Smear:mire then read the resolutions, 12 in
number, referring to the organisation of the regiment, the
rules for carrying out the object in view, and the conditions
tinder which the members were to be enrolled.

Mr. DRUMMOND then moved that the resolutions be
adopted. He said that some persons were of opinion that
it was very unchristian to go to war. They did not, how-
ever, deem 4very unchristian to defend their houses against
robbers, or their pockets against pickpockets ; but if they
had a great national housebreaker, like Louis Napoleon, it
was quite unnecessary to take arms to defend themselves
against him. Had Christianity ever recommended men to
lay aside common seise ? (Hear, hear.) There was one
part of Christianity which some gentlemen kept out of
view in their calculations—that was, a sense of duty.
(Hear, hear.) It was the duty of men, at all hazards, to
defend their wives, their children, their servants
—in • word, all those who were under them—but,
above all, to defend their country ; and in he Bible there
was no precept more clearly laid down than this. (Hear,
hear.) The only question for them to consider was, whe-
ther the means they were adopting were—he would
not say the best means—but whether they were •
means for attaining this object. (Hear.) He remembered
an old Scotch clergyman beginning • sermon in a way
which was well worthy the attention of some persons in
this country. He began by saying—If you have no com-
mon sense, there is no use in your reading the Bible.
(Laughter.) The Bible pre-supposes common-sense, and if
men had not common-sense, reading the Bible would never
give it to them. (" Hear," and laughter.) The present
was not • question of taking arms against housebreaking,
or against domestic violence—it was • question of taking up
arms against foreign violence and aggression. (Hear, hear.)
Now, if they did sot believe that they were going to be
attacked, they and not think of arming themselves, in
this or any of way. But it was very odd, if they had
say doubt on this point. lie beheld accumulating daily,
—ant; merely in one country, but throughout Europe—a
meahluatioa of demote, determined that in no country
la the world should there be any thing bat
military tpenmay. (Hear, beer.) And, were they to sup-
that these people were so desperately in love with
d, as tolet her alone. This country was • thorn in
side—its very existence put them to shame, and they
weld rest till by some means or other they were
enabled to attack her. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the
lannatMs of the Surrey volunteer corps, let them not run
away with the notion that they could ever be made suffi-
ciently efficient to resist regular troops. They never would
be able to do any such thing. He, happily,
anything of what war was ; still less did he know anything
of what it was to live in • country that was invaded.
(Hear, hear.) But any officer who had served in Stain
or Russia, or, above all, any one who ever versed
in Algiers, could recount the frightful scenes which had
been enacted in these countries by an invading army. It
was because the Duke of Wellington and Sir C. Napier
were fully alive to these horrors that they were desirous of
saving the people of this country from being the witnesses
and the victims of similar atrocities. (Hear, hear.) They
must hear in mind that in the conduct of war no horrors
were comparable to those endured by the people of an in-
vaded country. (Hear, hear.) Rest assured, they might,
that no quarter would ever be given them. (Hear, hear.)
By the laws of war every person out of uniform who in-
dicted any injury on a military man was forthwith hanged.
Did they suppose that if they permitted this man and his
army to land they would not burn down every town,
ravish every woman, and murder every man they met ?
Most unquestionably they would. The advantage of this
corps would be, not in resisting the enemy—for that
they could not do—but in banging about his dank.
Their tactics must consist in lying about cottages and
farms for the purpose of annoying the enemy, and in this
wry they would powerfully assist the regular army . They
would never be as efficient as the regular militia regiments,
but, above all, it was absurd to suppose that with their 28
days' drill they could meet men who had learned the art
of war in 28 years' service. (Hear, lieu.) Doubtless, it
was • very amusing practice to go out deer-stalking.
(Laughter.) Probably some gentlemen present bad gone
out of a morning and shot a hare. (Laughter.) Had any
of them. however, attempted to carry it on a whole day
(Hear, bear.) It was rather heavy, was it not ? (Laugh-
ter.) Nevertheless, be could tell them it was not equal to
80 rounds of bell cartridge. It was perfectly clear that a
power of physical endurance was what they had mainly to
acquire. A mere pin-shootingability would not make a
man a good rifle soldier. (Hear, hear.) And if he might
be allured to judge from some of the gentlemen
present, perhaps he might suggest that • diminution
of corporeal dimensions would be a most desirable object
to be obtained in any system of training. (laughter.)
As to further details, bwirever, that was not the proper oc-
casion to dwell • Rum He would, therefore, sit down
by w that the very day on which the in-
ert:tail Oahe plan would be simultaneous with a de-
dandle of sabered peace and high-fiourishing compli-
ments to England. (Hew. hear.)
Mr. PALMER semmded the resolutions.
Mr. R. FEW, la petting • question to the chairman re-
lanes ea the ma whisk Lot be made ea the time of those
whose esissirdoss wen of a boa:nees ohmmeter, and who
wen diamond to wad diemealvem its the age, said that
be had best iadirmed, w whet be mmalimed m be lingoes-
*mak% authority, thee the priasipal WNW in the military
calmer Pruner had hem kr some time met, " Retribution
for Waterloo." He wintarther informed that the French
army had been making tbe roads elf Zasiamd a portion of
their study.
The CHAIRMAN sold Oat three eempaslm would be
formed—viz , one at Croydon, one at Cl.Clapkam, and a third
at Bermondsey. According to his present view, it would
be sufficient to give three hours in the week to drill ; and,
as the summer months were apprnaching, he thought that
it would not be difficult to spare the time for this purpose
after the busy business hours of the day.
In reply to other questions'
The CHAIR .lAN stated that the convenience of the
volunteers would be consulted as far as possible in arranging
the meetings of the companies. Ile suggested that Epsom
Downs would be a convenient plaeo for the general meeting
' of the regiment, and that there should not be, as in the old
times, champane dinners, but • plain cold collation.
(" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Mr. I)RUMMOND suggested that they should particu-
larly qualify thempelves to measure distances, and to become
quick runners—(laughter)—for sometimes • man's life de-
pended upon the speed with which he could run.
(Laughter.)
A discussion then took place with respect to the colour of
the uniform, the description of rifle to he used, and other
matters of detail ; but nothing was decided on these points.
The resolutions were then agreed to, and the ordinary
vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.

FORLION SPIRITS.—The Customs authorities
have, on the application of several houses in the wine and
spirit trade, given directions that when casks of spirits,
racked or vatted, and drawn off into smaller casks in bond,
shall remain in the warehouse at least three months from
the date of the operation, the duty be eherwed upon the
quantity ascertained on the re-examination of the realty,
provided the deficiencies which may be ascertained and ap-
por'ioned to the new package. do not exceed the regulated
allowanees which are acknowledged or identified be law, or
the regulation. of the acetic*. This indulgence, however,
is not to he considered applicable to racked or vatted spirits
drawn off into smaller packages when cleared from the ware.
house fur home consumption within the period mentioned.