Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-06 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourscfres responsible for the opinions of
our correspondents.]

ORANGE PEEL UPON THE FOOTPATHS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.
sut,—lt is cheering that we can at times appreciate
the value of the Health Cominittee, and we can at the
present time thank them most cordially for the caution
so liberally circulated in reference to throwing orange
-peel upon the pavement. It is a most dangerous and
thoughtless practice which has often caused deformity,
doSs of limbs, and even death. It cannot be too severely
condemned and punished. Condemned it has been, but
we propose that a penalty should be enforced on those
that still continue to set at nought this timely caution
that we see posted on every available site. Last week
two accidents occurred owing to the thronging of
venders of oranges at the Circus, Dale-street, who ab
well as their customers negligently scatter the dangerous
peel upon the pavem: nt. The practice, therefore,
demands PI7BLIC CONDEMNATION.

THE POLICE AS A VOLUNTEER
ARTILLERY CORPS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.
. SIR,-It appears strange to me that in the present
general enrolment of the various classes of our com-
munity as volunteers, so valuable and effective a body
of men as our police-force should hitherto .have been
overlooked in the popular movement. ,As artillery men
they would prove most efficient; their strong muscular
*frames, already rendered apt by their previous drill as
police and firfnuen, would limber and unlimber our guns
with the greatest possible ease. And far, more amuse-
ment would be afforded to their minds by gunnery
practice than by,the child's play in which they are
weekly drilled, called the short sword. exercise. No
compulsion should in any case be used, but have an offer
of enrolment made to:them. I have been induced to
believe that numbers would gladly avail themselves of
it—their example would stimulate others ; and as their
uniform is already provided, nothing Would be needed
to furnish us with a numerous, powerful, and intelligent
army of artillery: men, but the -means of organisation.
Trusting these remarks may meet the attention of some
able and willing to aid the movement-7-.1 am, sir, yours,
A RIFLE VOLUNTEER.

Birkenhead, Dec. sth, 1859.

EXPENSE OF RIFLE CORPS.

• TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES. •
think the.present:State of things will redeem
English ,
the Ensh character froM the charge of want ofpatriotism,
but while we applaud the readiness of our youth.to take up
arms in the.defence of their country, it is to be deplored
that the system pursued b them is both ruinous to
theinselve:S and to the keeping up of the study-of arms.
ClUbs have already assumed far too military an
appearance ; What I has been done so far, has been
merely to ape the soldier. Any One who wishes to join
a club must go to the great expense of undress and full
dress; and suppose a. knapsack Will
be added. This is most ruinous to thecause, 'for instead
Of having Civilians expert with the rifle, we shall have
merely parade.soldie:s. Many of these valiant gentle-
men who have sacrificed •.£lO for, the purchase of imi-
4rm, &c., possess the splendid income of £lOO, a year,
,and:.ho doubt the, County Court he the'result.Of
'their folly. .If our merchant princes were actuated by ,a
*use of patriotism,according to the risk they might
rim-in..eaSe- of a real invasion, .volunteers would
net he obliged to incur individual 'expense ; but
'in looking over the • list of subscribers to the general
fund, . we find the munificent donations Of £lO 'or
£2O from men with an income of as many thou-
sands. But as it.-is alMost imperative .that volun-
teers must bear their -own expenses;. and that, while
defending their country, and granting security to the
rich man, who in return shows his gratitude by a paltry
pittance, so I would beseech thein, that,if they wish the
movement to bo'permauent, these expensos be as small
as poSsible. The only expense really necessary, to: be
incurred by a volunteer is for the purchase of a tunic,
:cap, and belts, and 255. is sufficient for the purpose
the trousers shotild be such as may be worn in business,
and so would not.he_comidered. an_expense. It 'is to be
hoped that government will sweep , away the ridiculous
collection of uniforms which at present exist, and en-
fforce ~the adoption of some cheap and comfortable
uniform, necessary to the'permanency of rifle corps, and
;to the development of the use of the rifle.
LiVerPool, DeceMber 6, 1859. REAL DEPENC.E.