Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-13 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES, FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1859

time back. According to the report of the medical
officer of health, submitted to the Health Committee,
yesterday, the total deaths last week, were 183,
being 30 less than in the. previous week, and 48 less
than the corrected average of the coriesponding week
in the previous ten years. One death occurred last
week from small-pox, after vaccination. It was stated
that Mr. Fresh, late inspector of nuisances, had taken
his departure for America, and Mr, Higgins was
appointed as his successor. In reference to the
Building Act, Mr. Gladstone said that it ought to go
forth that the town-clerk had found out a law which
authorises the town surveyor to interfere with a
building which had been erected, although _Mr'
Stewart averred in the council that no such law was

n existence

THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY

THE patriotic spirit of large bodies of the people
is being displayed in a most gratifying manner, in
furtherance of the important object of providing for
the defence of the country. The assurance expressed
by the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
Mr. SOTHERON ESTCOURT, at his re-election for North
Wiltshire, last week, that her Majesty's Government
would gratefully accept the services of Volunteer
Rifle Corps, is meeting with a hearty response, we
observe, in various parts of the country. In our own
district, how no such appeal was necessary to
awaken a desire for so noble a purpose. • Here, and
in the neighbourhood, the formation of one or more
Volunteer Rifle Corps had already bee❑ begun ; and
now that the enrolment of such corps has the ap-
proval or the crown, as we believe it has, as well as
the sympathy of the public, we may expect to find
these brave Volunteers of ours rapidly increasing.
At a most interesting public meeting for this
object, held at Cambridge a few days since, the
matter was explained, and set forth, in a very satis-
factory manner. It was Cambridge University and
the Borough combined —as combine, Gown and

Town so properly, so patriotically may, on such an
occasion. It was described as " a most numerous
and enthusiastic meeting, having for its object the
establishment of a rifle club and corps for members
of the above-mentioned bodies, held at the Town-
hall, under. the presidency of the Mayor." And
at ,the Mayor's right hand was the resident head
of the other -public body of the place, the Vice-
Chancellor of the University, accompanied by several
Heads of Houses, and other Collegiate notabilities.
Now, when we see men in such positions as these
University dignitaries occupy, coming forwsd in
furtherance of, such an object, and when we are
assured that the Government are not only in. its
favour, but anxious for its complete success, there need
be no scruple in giving it all the encouragement it is
possible to bestow upon it. It is not, be it remem-
bered, a political purpose: It is in no wise an affair
of party. But it has in view the common interest
of every man in Britain, be his situation in life what
it may; for there is no one, however humble, or
however obscure, but ought to be warmly interested
in the defence of his country.

The case was truly and forcibly put by the Vice-
Chancellor of Cambridge, on the occasion we refer to.
"He had felt," he is reported to have said, " much
reluctance to take part in the day's proceedings when
the matter was first mentioned to him, for he had- to
consider his own professional position as a clergyman,
the peculiar character of the town as a place devoted
to the study and the arts of peace, and in particular
the nature of the office which he had the honour of
holding. His first impression, then, was to be
reserved and cautious in his official position, however
willing he might be in his individual capacity to
promote the objects for which the meeting was
convened. But when he saw that the Secretary of
State for the Home Department, that brand' of the
Government which was specially charged with the
care of domestic peace and protection, had publicly
stated that the Government would be glad if
patriotic persons would come forward to enrol them-
selves in Volunteer Corps, he felt no longer any hesi-
tation ; he thought it was the bounden duty of every
Citizen to obey the call of the Government, for such
he considered it to be, and do what lay in his power
to promote any measure that might be necessary for
our defence and protection." Such is the plain
matter of fact of the business. The state of Europe
is just now a most disturbed one. Certain
rival despots have called into the field of deadly
conflict their legions of fighting men. England,
it is true, has nothing to do with them, either on the
one side or the other. But England must defend
herself, both at home and in her possessions abroad,
and in her "home upon the deep."
It is not, as was very poperly explained, on the
occasion we refer to, that there is any cause for
alarm whatever, that these voluntary corps are so
desirable. Our position is in all respects one of
safety, provided that we take due care and precau-
tion in preserving it. We quite agree with the
opinion so earnestly expressed, that there probably
never was a time when this country was better pre-
pared to resist an enemy, or had better means of
augmenting its military and naval armaments
Still," ,as has been well observed,

" it is

I important to rause the military spirit of the country,
I and there are no means to accomplish this end
1 which are more practicable or more likely to be
efficacious
than the enrolment of such a corps as it
was the object of that meeting to form." The very
fact of the Universities coming forward for such a
purpose is highly significant. "It was no light
matter for them," as the Vice-Chancellor went on to
observe, " dedicated as they were to study, and the
arts of peace, to come forward and take part in
warlike exercises. It would doubtless be attended
by some inconvenience that military exercise should
ba fostered and encouraged in the University. But
there were times when gall questions of mere con-
venience must give place to higher considerations ;
and as he thought that time had now arrived, he did
not hesitate to say that it would give him satis-
faction, and that he should feel it to be his duty in
his official capacity to give every encouragement to
the objects which the meeting was called to promote."
Here, then, is certainly a noble example. Let us
hope that it will not, at such a time, be lost upon the
country. _ _

" Men who their duties know,— •
But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain."

Such are the men on whom England must ever
eount in her time of need. They who know and
dare maintain their rights, are just those whom
the country may most implicitly rely upon, as
the men who, at the same time, know and
will perform their duties. There can, in fact, be
no security for rights, where duties are disregarded..

And it is for the maintenance of our rights as
Englishmen, as citizens of that realm where liberty
and justice are so fully and so happily enjoyed, and
of which it can so truly be said;
" This England never did (nor never shall),
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror,"—

it is for the maintenance, we say, of our rights as so
highly:favoured a people, that our duties must not be
neglected in such a conjuncture as the present.
Ambitious and tyrannous Potentates there doubtless
are, whom it would delight beyond measure to
humiliate England; even to see her "lie at the proud
foot of a conqueror ; " and we could name
one such Potentate, who would not only rejoice
at this, but who, or aught we know to the
contrary, may already have planned it, and
waits but for an opportunity to, as he vainly
thinks, " strike the blow." Without being bellicose,
then, it is wise and prudent to be prepared for what-
ever may come to pass. We live in strange eventful
times

In ordinary times we know not what a day
may bring forth. But in times like the present,when
there are in neighbouring empires jealous rivals, in
Imperial and elevated positions, who would exult in
nothing so much as in bringing England under their
subjection and oppression, it is not only our bounden
duty but our highest interest to stand on the
defensive ; and no- expedient should be left unap-
propriated thatowill enable us to do so most
effectually, Those Volunteer Rifle Corps are such
an expedient ; and hence our commendation of them
to public and popular support.