The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-14 00:00:00

THE NEW VOLUNTEER BILL.

The act introduced in the House of Coarsens by
the Under-Seaetery for War has been priote& It pro-
vides, in the first plans, for the acceptance by the crown
of services proffered through lieutenants of comities. and
for the immediate formation of corps on that basis.
The permanent staff to be attached to every volunteer
corps ie to consist of an adjutant commissioned by her
Majesty, and of so many sergeaut-inetructors as any seem
lR Offieers, except snob as are on the permanent staff,
will take their commissions from the lieatenent of the
I county. &nom of the volunteer force are to rank with
officers of her Majesty's regular end militia favor ea the
yenned of their rsetive respective ranks ; and with officers
of the yeomanry force accordinf to the rank and date of
their C 01111134,60120 is the respective forces. The a
ef a oommissiee in the volunteer force by a member
t will not reader his seat vacant. The eon-
reit—o: which a volunteer may, unless on actual mili-
tary service,quit his corps, are, that be shell give four-
teen days' notice in writing, that he shall deliver up all
arms, clothing, and appointments issued to him, and that
he shall pay all money due or becoeniag due by him,
either as subscription or toe. Appeals are to be made
to two deputy lieutenants or to one deputy lieutenset
sod a justice of the peace for the county to which
the corps belongs; and their determination, after bear-
ing ervklenes on oath, will be binding. Whenever may
volunteers are on actual military service, or are under-
going inspection, or are voluntarily doing any military
duty, her Majesty may put them under the command of
general or field officers of the army, but so, nervertheless,
that the volunteers shall be led by their own officers
under such command. An annual inspection of every
volunteer corps is to be held by a general or field officer of
the (Nem. army. The declaration of requnities of Mil-
dew may from time to time be made by her Majesty is
council. Tb. roles for officering administrative regiments
formed by the mane of two or more volunteer corps are
similar to those laid down in respect to separate turps ;
and, notwithstanding the formation of such regiment, the
separate corps formed into the lame will be severally
deemed volunteer corps for all purposes of the act.
The wood part d the bill relates to actual military
service, sad it gives power to the crown to direct lieu-
tenant, of counties, in cue of apprehended iovasion, to
cell out the volunteers. If any such officer, volunteer, or
noncommissioned officer, not incapacitated by iofirmity
for military service, refuse. or neglects to assemble or
much he shall be deemed a deserter. An officer of the
volunteer force disabled on actual military service will be
entitled to balf-pay, according to his rank ; and the widow of
such an officer killed on actual military service will be en-
titled to the like pension for life as the widow of an officer
of her Majesty's army. A volunteer or noe-commissioned
officer of the permanent staff, disabled on actual military
service, will, according to his rank, be entitled to the like
pension and other benefits, if any, as a soldier of her Majesty's
may
The. third portion of the act relates to matters of disci-
pline ; the fourth to the rules and property of corps ; the
fifth to the acquisition of laud for ranges; the sixth to
exemptions ; and the seventh to miscellaneous provisions.
The schedule confides the form of oath to be administered

to officers and volunteers, and the for oiwarranTeanq
*Mikelee to be geed in earietlS ewes, The act concludes
with an unnecessary eistatueut that its ter= de not extend
to Ireland.

FOREIGN AID BoarrY.—The annual meeting of
this society was held yesterday at the Hanover-sguare-
rooms ; Mr. A. Kinnaird, M.P., in the chair. The nacre•
tary, the Rev. Richard Burgess, read the report, which
stated that at the present time there were six evangelical
societies in France, who during the past year had opened 22
places of public worship in France, besides schools in which
4,000 children were educated. The Evangelical Society of
Geneva were most zealous in assisting its French brethren in
spreading the light of Gospel truth throughout France.
Religions liberty, however, was but little understood in.
France, and the societies in that country bad many dieted.
ties to Goateed with. In Belgium the Evangelical Soc'et7
was protected by the government, and were making mom-
demble progress. In aid of the Belgian Society the Foreign
Aid Society had sent during the year 2301. In Italy, pro-
testantivm was mating great progrees since the revolution.
le Naples, Leghorn, Florence, and other towns, protestant
plates of worship were being built, and as the 000solidation
of that country took place, sowould the principles of evan-
gelical protestantism increase. The income of the society
for the past year bed been 2,049/. ; its grants had exceeded
those of last year by 58/. ; but its home expenditure bad
been 891. less._

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CITY OF LONDON TRUSS SOCIETY.—The 55th
anniversary of this excellent and useful institution was
held last night, at the Albino, Alderagate.street ; Lord
Feveraham in the chair. The total number of eases relieved
during the year 1852 bad been 6,2 n, making • total of no
leas than 225,415 since the commencement of the society in
1806. The noble chairman, in the course of the evening,
s►id that one of his ancestors bad been sheriff and lord
mayor ; and be consequently took • deep interest in every-
thing that concerned the welfare of the City. He strongly
reprobated the suggested amalgamation of the City and
metropolitan police corps ; and he denounced es vigorously
the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to tax chan-
ties. As regarded the particular malady which this so-
ciety was designed to relieve, he remarked that
it was one from which at least an eighth of the working men
of the country were suffering. It was one likewise to which
the agricultural labourer aas peculiarly liable, espeolally
during the hay harvest; and be therefore earnestly besought
the aid of all claws of the community for the society.
Subscriptions amounting to the liberal sum of 1,2641. were
announced ; and the health' of the noble chairman, the
stewards, the committee. Mr. J. A. Kingdom, the aurgeon
and Mr. Thomas Eglington,the secretary, were proposed and
warmly received. The musical entertainment of the even-
ing was furnished by Messrs. J. and W. Coward, Mr. Mon-
ten Smith, Mr. F. Walker, and Mr. L. Thomas.
TILE Ramer Soca:rt.—The weekly meeting of
thisaociety was held 00 Tuesday last. With reference to the
nails election it was reported that steps bad been taken to
prevent the seat vacated by Captain 0 Connell from being
lost to the cause by the retain of an anti•ballot candidate.
Letters were read from cioneepondents at Thetford and
New Radnor containing suggegions for proceedings at future
elections foe those places. An epplicatioa was made from
• gentleman at Manchester foe • grant of publications in
favour of the ballot, and stating that • long dircwoion on
the question was taking place in that city. The application
was (granted. It was reported that Mr. Berkeley, 11. P.,
would bring forward the question of the ballot in the
Home of CIMTIIOIIs as soon as possible after the Whitsun-
tide holidays, and it was resolved that Mr. Berkeley be re-
quested to take immediate measures to have the day fixed
on which the question is to acme op, in order to give the
committee as much times* possible to interest their friends
in the various constituencies is securing a good discussion
and division. The committee hope that all will be on the
alert to prevent the absence of member*, as in the case of
sours important divieione that have taken place lately.
OVEHCOATs FOR THE RACZ6.—Fasbionable
over-
coata of the new materials adapted for (he ran a sad mining
mann are to he had at Hamilton sad Maybe 6, Tudors, 106,
Strand, of gendte Exeter Hal. --tAdvertlatment.)