The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-11 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

VOLUNTEERS RQUIPMBNTS IN WAR.

On the Invitation of Colonel O'Halloran, ad-
dreamt to the commanding officers, officers, and members
of the several volunteer corps resident in or near London, a
public meeting was held on Tuesday evening at St. James's
hall, wafer the presidency of Colonel Witardo, C. 8., In-
spector-General of Volunteers, when Colonel O'Halloran
submitted to inspection • knapsack and field-service kit,
sad delivered a lecture os their constructive principles, and
their claims is • military point of view.
Among those present were Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Bodkin,
assistant-judge, Captain Taylor, civil service, Captain Henry
Cartwright, &c.

Coineedlimo, In akin the chair, said he was act
there to advocate soy pettiest's. pattern of knapsack, but
to all the attention of volunteers to the general question
of equipment for the field. He thought that the time'
had come, now that all corps had attaiued efficiency,
and many • very high standard, when it was ins-
portent that they should turn their attention to this
matter. The constituent parts of an army were these—first
that was obtained in the volunteers ; next, drill. that
had been obtained in • high degree ; and the third was
equipment for the field, The soldier was like the snail ;he
seethed with his louse ea his lock ; but there was this
bread distinction betwesa the volunteer and the soldier—
that the latter lived is barnisks or camps, he was In North
Amanita, he was in China, and everywhere he carried with
him hie whole necessities. Now, if *there should be • war
In INN country—l( logland should be inradal—we should
not hate lose than from four to eta months' warning. How
would war be indicated! Not by the mommeot bare
bodies' of troops or by political *differences, perhaps, hot
there were the means of 'meowing when • nation was gran
to war by the contiects she must make, for she must hive
I hay and food for the purpose of carrying on war. More-
-1 fete he considered that volunteers, without going to
the expense of field equipments now, should decide whet
they should be. They should have a anted pattern in the
ersierly-room, aid should have a contract made, so that
each corps could be provided with them whenever they
might become necessary. With regard to the articles
which volunteers should carry, they were different from
the soldiers, for if volunteers went into the field it would
be for • very short campaign. They must, however, bey.
mamma of thins, so that they alight replace the wet by
the dry. He had rather staggered his gallant friend, Colonel
O'Halloran, when he told him ho would allow no shoe-
bra bee—the volunteer must grease his boots with his
thumbs ; no clothes-brush—he must hang his coat on the
branch of a tree and beet it with his ramrod. (Laughter.)
No hair-brush ; they might have a comb ; no tooth-brush.
(Laughter and cies of " Ob, oh.") He could tell them
that, when he was quartermaster-genersl with Sir Charlet
Napier in Schad% he stepped out before daybreak, thinking
the general wss asleep, in order to wash Lis teeth at •
AMIN when he was surprised by Sir Charles calling out,
"Whet have yes got there, • tooth-brush!" "Yes, general,
• teeth-brush."" Well," replied Sir Charles, ' it's the
first tooth-brush which has ever been seen on these hills,"
sad rode away. (Laughter.) Now, when he bad deprived
Coaled O'Hallorsa of ell his brushes he had reduced the
kit of the volunteers Site. (Hear.) He should be happy
Mrseolumend to the Secretary for War any knapsack which
could be approved on obvious principles, and which was
eakalsted to carry • volunteer's kit, and a volunteer's ki•
ealjaooThe gallant chairman then called on
el O'HALLO/All who said be desired to address them
' on the mostructive principles of the korona* sod field service
in the construction of which he, at the request of the
foramffeeeral of volunteers, had been massed ; but
hearths entered into details he would point to the military
onoidderations which governed this proposed addition to
their accoutrements. They were aware it was the wish and
the intention of the War-office authorities to plane the
volunteer force nom an efficient war footing. Now, the
state or condition of a war footing could not apply to any
body of men however efficient in drill or the use of arms,
they could not carry with them • ithsare of clothing.
Pehlke to the Crimean war, he asked, was it wise to await
the ay of trail before they took the neessary prima-
time, and only to adopt them when disease and sick-
sees aid crested greeter ravages then the many? Belied
heard it said of the volunteers " that there was so doubt
as to their fighting qualities, end that to the majority of
them fighting would be as welcome as the dowers of
May, but they would never be got to submit to a load
—they would never like the knapsack." Admitting the
first two propositions, he totally disclaimed the third.
Admitting that the volunteers would be willing to
fight, be could not withhold from them credit for
the military capacity to endure. Of what use in
• pratracted campaign would be the soldier or the
volunteer who refueled to march or was wields
to carry his kit ! It was a libel on that patriotic movement.
It was folly to suppose that the railways of this country
amid be made available for the transport of the persesnei
of 140,000 or 150000 volunteers, in the shape of port:nee-
toms and carpet bags. Therefore it was necessary that the
volunteer should kern betimes to carry his own kit, md
the double his value. The Into operations in India, Chi
end Italy. all effoaded proof. of the importance of
bodies of searching men, and in order to render than le
Mee the knapsack and kit must form part of the
status of the volunteers. It was the element orinol:it
ewe ; it was the sacrifice of private will on the shrine
of public duty which rendered this body—self-raised,
self-equipped, sod self-supported—without • panatel—
a Will the element of obedience, he repeated, emanating
from the motives to which he had alluded, which had given
to the volunteer movement a moral grandeur, and bad im-
posed • moral reetraint on the aggrandisement of foreign
pewees. He had himself served Ler Majesty mid her
Majesty's predecessors for forty-two years, and he was will-
ing to serve her again as a private in the volunteeis, with
lie knapsack on his shoulder, if ever the ocrasioo should
require it It was said that the enthusiasm which marked
the early stage of the volunteer movement bad been kept
up by sham fights, and reviews, and balls, and that these
things would soon give place to our old business habits. He
thought differently, and hie opinions had never mod=
• Mange. Despite dacouragernents, business
and the weather—three powerful influences—the volunteer
forms had rapidly increased. Having remarked on the in-
applicability of the haversack and tunic pockets NI a sub-
stitute suggested by some for the knapsack, the gallant
colonel proceeded to say that that which he bad submitted
to them was • combination of the principle. in the Inven-
tions of Mr. Herrington and Colonel Spiller, R.A., and the
result had not fallen short of his expecttioos in being
enabled to present to the volunteer force a knapsack
more adapted to the moral and physical kW, which
govern nature then any other. He then exhibited his
invention, describing its various advantages and the me-
chanical contrivances to which be Lad resorted. Amongst
these were that it was easy of adjustment, that it secured
ventilation for the back, was not susceptible of damage-
meet, and was adapted to the mechanism of the home
frame. Colonel O'Halloran, knapsack on beck, then west
through the manual platoon exercise, and, although 60
5e bunts of age, with an ease and rapidity which drew down
tent buts a applause. He then unpacked and
d up the kit, the whole weighing 12111 e., while the
regelatioo knapsack is 201 be., as allowed by the Inspector-
General, and also drew the attention of his auditory to
another invention called "The volunteers' sphorran." to be
worn over the hips a across the shoulders for excur.
sionista. The two specimens contained plate, knife and
fork, kc., necessary for the soldier and the tourist. The
gallant colonel having girded one round his loins and exbi-
bard the contents of its various flaps, caused considerable
amusement. _

The Rallant CHAIRMAN mid they all must he obliged to
Colonel O'Halloran for his lecture on the use of the sol-
diets' equipments in war. He had also shown the use of
" The Volunteers' =berms," which he (the chairman)
was inclined to call " The Volunteers' fig leer —(loud
laughter)—both of which were exceedingly useful in their
way, and they would join with him in their thanks to a
veteran et nearly a quarter of a century's standing. He
entirely concurred with what the gallant colonel had said
as to volunteers carrying a kit in war, but he did not think
it possible. for many reasons, that volunteers should sup-
plly themselves with knapsacks, and be trained, as the
osel wished them, to war. If war broke out corps of 60
4..100 men would be increased to 800 or 1,000 ; so that
emits would be trained and ethers not, so he had wished to
Wag thu knapsack down to the lowest weight. The can-
teen exhibited was most necessary, for they could not de-
pend on their railways or their camp kettles. He hoped
that if e aaaaa enemy put his foot on these shores the whole
country within the circle of his action would be driven, that
not a bullock, or a stack of hay, or a blade of grass. would
be left to feed the invader. Therefore they must carry
their own means of cooking, and thereby the enemy would
be starved into retreating.
The pruceediugs then terminated.

SALL 01 THE GARRICK THEATRE. TEStedTlars:
If Mr. C. J. Baker put up to auction, at the Auction
Garrick Theatre, which is situated in Leman-street,ts titso-
chapel, sad which bas been rebuilt about six years. There
err very little competition for the property. which wee
described by the auctioneer as being capable of being fitted
r a musie•luill, or as a circus, for the display of eques-
trian exhibit one, there being a circle vadat the pit. Ile
stated that the house would contain 200 penned' is the
boxes, 800 in the stalls and pit, and GOO in the gallety.
and that it let at Goo/. a year. Independent of theatrical
entertainments, the theatre realised 120 f. • ratter religious
Sunday 0011,1,061. There were three ricer ; the proscenium
was n feet in width, and the stage 34 feet in depth. The
property was leasehold, and was held far • term, of which
1-x years were unexpired, at a grouad•rent of 25/. a
year, and 21. in lien of landtax. It was knocked down
for 1,4001.
Mr. A. Brough, wino and spirit merchant, of
Squad. hoe mitered his prices, in accordanaivirar:ethe further
redneties el the wine duties. He is now ee excellent Port
rid Wherry at lie. per dozen. and a rood sound at Os. per
dam, bottles included.—[Adrertisensiot.)

- .
TIM Drill:ME IN MB BUILDING MADAM

Notwithstanding the unhappy prevalence of pi
colliery difficulties between employers and employed at
the present moment, the " lock out or " strike" had not
extauded yesterday in the metropolitan workshops beyood
the Arms of Moors. Kelk and Liona, with the exception of
• partial withdrawal of the men at Mean Smith's, nor
inquest on the expressed detennination of those gentlemen
to decline engaging workmen on any other terms than at
7d. per hour, with the concession of the Saturday half-
holiday.
A meeting of operatives from several of the principal
building yards was held last evening at (Amadeu-town, at
which their interests were calmly and moderately din.
cussed, with an evident desire to put an end to the existing
unfortunate dispute ; the men present agreeing in opiniou
that the strike of the year 16ii9 opened a breach between
employers and workmen, and especially between foremen
=sandy Loureeicareelymyenims6, whieelloyanhesjof uninterrupted prosperity

It waa dated on credible authority that dal big the twenty-
live yearn of its tandem*, the Masons Union have expended
upwards of 150,0001. bat their wages have remained at the
same uninterrupted level.

A resolution was eventually agreed to, said to be in an-
cordance with the intentions of a large number of opera.
tives involved in the labour question, to withhold the weekly
contributions to the fund for the support of the men who
refuse to accede to the equitable terms recently offered by
the master builder&

rms SOUTH LANCASHIRE STRIKE,

A monster meeting of operative factory workers,
attended by not fewer than 8,000 pennies, took place on the
market poured of Ashton-under-Lyme, at half-path tea
, o'clock on Tuesday morning. Mr. WILLIAM JARDINI was
nominated to the chair. The Chairman, after requesting
the meeting to be as quiet as plinth* alluded to certain
di/enures which, it seems, have taken place between; the
committee and certain of the bands out, se to the distri-
bution d the funds collected. He stated that it had been
raged that the money collected should be equally distri-
buted, though it only amounted to a farthing per bead.
In reply to this he announced that they bad no funds
except what they had obtained in itabtott.eader-Lyas ;
and they bad considered it their first duty to relieve
families containing five and six children, justifying this dim-
tributios, and telling the mating that it was too soon for
the genendity of them to call out as if in distrust, and re-
minding them that the committee had distinctly told them
that if they did come out they meet rely on their own
funds. He °moldered that if it turned out they could not
come to a settlement, then they would obtain better fluids.
He aasounced that a deputation had waited upon each em-
reploleas Mr. Richard
on Monday,
Mellor. rued stated the meeting would learn the
mit
Mr. Ma Lon,after slew iatroductory remarks, said the only
semen the deputation received were ` That the employers
coaled not comply with their (the deputation's) request,
neither bed they myth's' to advance to bring about •
settlement ot the dispute. He thought that they ought
tirlietevi ftte up the whole reduction of 7) per oent., ad he
if the operatives were only firm, it would sot
come off in 1861. He then alluded to the nos-distribution
of the funds collected in equal shares, showing that the
mama% wee inadequate to be of any good if so divided,
and urging the absolete asesality of relie the large
families in the first instance. He alluded torte standard
list of Hyde, on which Hyde, he mid, could go to that
morshog ; and he stated that he bad affixed to take the
respeasibility of going is to Ashton on that list. One
gentleman in Hyde bed, be said, offered a farthing a cut
mum than the Hyde standard list, so that them was a
farthing per out offered more than they would settle
the dispute for. He was not prepared to retain to hie
work on the conditions of the employers, but if they
(the meeting) mid they ought to retain, he would not
be ow to oppose. Again alluding to the distribution of
the fusels, he maid epos any one to get into the cart in
which he stood, sad be would stand the- e until two
o'clock to justify the coarse taken by the committee,
goyim that was the time to speak or for ever bold their
After alluding tot e wages paid In Stalybridge,
rely,. Hai* and Addeo, be urged the wisdom of
having me standard list in the whole district, and hoped,
whatever they did, they would not go in under the
accursed regulating system," Metier/ that that system
bad lowered wages from 71 to lb pm cent. daring the last
Osman.
Mr. WELLIAM SHAWC/088, after a few words, said the
meeting was well aware that it was the opinion of the oxen-
mitme that a strike waa not adviaable, and they had been
advised to keep is until fine weather. Had that been
dote they would have been united and have had a much
better chance. After justifying the distribution of the
fends, he said be wished the dispute settled, but he wished
it settled on honourable terms. He then urged the meeting
(as the other spmkers had done) to disperse in peace. The
meeting was adjourned to half-past ten o'clock on Thursday
messing.
During the meeting a letter was banded to the chairman
suggesting that a requisition should be got up and presented
to the Mayor of Ashton, requesting him to °memo a public
meeting at the Town Hall, at which the masters and men
should attend, and the public should sit in judgmeot and
hear the arguments on both sides, after which they should
ceesure or praise. Thip suggestion was made into a motion
by one of the audience, seconded by another, and carried