The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-13 00:00:00

(Front the Morning PoSt of this day.)

It certainly is very much to be regretted that, in conse-
quence of an oversight, or an omission, in the Militia
Amendment Act of last session, the country at the present
time has suddenly been deprived of a considerable portion
of the rank and file of the militia, who were gradually ac-
quiring a practical knowledge of the duties which belong
to a regular military force. To Earl Grey, and to the
Earl of Malinesbury, wnmust attribute the credit of having
originated a discussion in the House of Lords which has
already had the unfortunate effect of sending back to their
homes a considerable portion of oux militia. These men,
on hearing from so high authority to mere suggestion that
they could not legally be required to serve more than MY-
six days in each year, except "in cases of actual invasion,
or upon imminent danger thereof, or in cases of rebellion
or insurrection "—contingencies which happily are in no
respect probable—very naturally thought that service in
the militia was a very good occupation during the winter
months, and that en opportunity of returning to their in-
dustrious and, perhaps, more profitable employments
during the summer and harvest time, was one which they
could not be expected to overlook. Although the law
officers of the Crown were of opinion that, under the
provisions of the Militia Act, which received the
Royal Assent so late as the 12th of •May, 1854, thi
militiamen who hail already enlisted might be retained
on permanent service, the Government, influenced by,
an honourable and considerate desire not to construe an
enactment which'some persons considered doubtful, too
stringently and strictly, at once gave permission to militia-
men enlisted'previously to the Itth of May, 1554, to re-
tire from the service, subject to the obligation of returning
to their colours for 56 day during each year. Many of the
men, with a loyalty which deserves the highest praise,
have re-enlisted ; but it would be idle to conceal the fact
that some regiments, which a few weeks-ago were rivalling
the troops of the line in discipline and efficiency, have be-
come mere skeletons, cmisisting of officers, non-commis-
sioned officers, and drummers, the nucleus on which a new
regiment must be formed. Under these circumstances, it
is very much to be regretted that the late Government,
when it was about embodying the militia of the United
Kingdom, did not revise the whole of the statutes relating
to the domestic military-organisation of the country, for
the purpose consolidating them in one plain and simple
enactment adapted to the new state of things which our
engaging in h.ostilities had created. It is, however, satin
factory to know that the recruitment for :he army and the
militia is steadily progressing ; and that, before long, the
militia regiments will have been restored to their full com-
plement bf rank and file. We think that advantage may
now be taken of the temporary dislocation of this force to
restore a system which was found of such great uti ity
during the last war. Let us have the number of one
hundred and twenty thousand permanently embodied
militia for service in the -United Kingdom and in
the colonies and let us have also the men, wh
are still liable to duty for a limited period in each
yesr, formed into battalions like the local militia,
and fencible corps, which existed during the last war. By
this means the country would obtain the services of a larger
number of men than originally was anticipated, and both

descriptions of militia would 'form excellent nurseries for
the line by facilitating recruiting in all parts of the coun-
try. Should this suggestion be adopted, the interference
of Earl Grey and the Earl of Malruesbury would, we be-

lieve, lead to a positive advantage to the public service by
increasing the military force of the nation an object
which we cannot believe at all engrossed their patriotic
attention, when they detected with so much avidity what
they thought an oversight or omission in an act of Parlia-
ment.
There is another poiat connected with the militia which
should not at the present time bo disregarded. We refer
to the qualication and education required from officers. By
a recent act property qualification is dispensed with in the
case of officers who have served in the Queen's and East
India armies, but all other officers of the rank of captain
and field officers are required to possess a certain annual
income. The consequence of this state of things is, that in
many regiments expensive habits are encouraged, which the
poor officer cannot participate in without running into debt.
There is first bf all a large outlay for the band, and in many
cases the mess charges, althbugh nothing to a country gen-
tleman, are a serious tax upon the poor subaltern, with
his six and sixpence or five and threepence a day. It must
be borne in mind that many gallant young gentlemen of
little or no property take commissions in the militia for
the purpose of afterwards volunteering into the line, which
they are enabled to do on obtaining seventy-five men, and
without passing any examination. If it be the desire of
the authorities to invite into the militia well-educated and
well-conducted young men, they should certainly lay down
some rule fixing a limit for the mess expenses, and dis-
couraging any extravagance on the part of the officers, so
as to enable the poor man to live respectably upon his pay.
Inducements also should be offered to militia officers to
study something more than mere battalion drill. They
should read works on strategy, fortification, and.gunnery,
and they should be taught to direct their men in throwing
up- field works; and from those who would show them-
selves most proficient in a practical and scientific know-
ledge of their profession, a fair proportion of the staff
officers to he employed at the camp of Aldershot should be
selected. These officers should undergo an examination
at the senior department of Sandhurst, and, after serving
for a period upon the staff at home, they might be allowed
to volunteer with equal rack into the line. We merely
throw oat these suggestions, believing it to be both just
and expedient that the militia should feel the influence of
any improvements which may be effected in the general
organisation of the regular army.

BRITISH PROVIDENT LIFE AND FIRE
ASSURANCE.

The third annual meeting of the shareholders of this
society was, yesterday, held at their offices, 4, Chatham-
place, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars. In the temporary
absence of Captain Iralkin, the chairmau of the society,
Mr. Britten, sen., was called on to preside.
The notice calling the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRM kN said that as he had unexpectedly been
called upon to preside over the meeting, he hoped that any
errors he might commit iu the discharge of his duty would
be received with indulgence by those present. He sincerely
regretted the absence of their regular chairman, Captain
Malkin, for, had he been present, he would have told them
that the directors regarded the condition of the society as
exceeding in prosperity anything they could have well ex-
pected, considering the circumstances of the period—war,
disease, and scarcity, all combining to prevent the develop-
ment of commerce, and compared what they were now
doing with their position two years ago. They had now
nothing bad to report ; on the contrary, everything was
looking well. With these observations he would call on
their able manager, Mr. John Sheridan, to read the report
of the directors fer the past year, a document which
would, he was sure, meet with their full and warm appro-
bation.

Mr. SHERIDAN then read the report, which was as fol-
lows :—" The directors are much gratified in meeting the
shareholders and policyholders of the company at the close
of another year, and in being enabled to present to them a
report descriptive of the continued success, well-being, and
favourable progress of the company. The directors like-
wise feel that they have reasonable cause for congratulating
themselves, the shareholders, and policyholders generally,
upon the result of the past year's working of the institu-
tion, when they take into consideration the keen compe-
tition now existing in the assurance world, the amount
of labour now required to procure anything like a success-
ful business, and that the year now closed has been rife
with obstacles to all commercial pursuits, and to specula-
tion in particular. In the life department, the directors
have to report the receipt of 935 proposals since the last
meeting, proposing to assure 123,3351. 10s. Bd.-804 of
which have resulted in policies, assuring 94,7401. 19s. 6d.
—127 have been declined or not carried out, and 54 are
n.)w under consideration, or waiting the medical reports.ie
The comparison with the two preceding reports of the
company will therefore stand thus •—.lt the first
of the shareholders, in 1853, the directors re,,p7orotmfec,lotibicalt,
they had received 50 proposals for insure,
The remiums re
they accepted and issued policies for.
was stated at la • •
ceived on those policies amounted to 1531. Os. a,
income they yielded to the office:.
between that and then
51 per annum. In the interv.
ls received numbered
7'l/ 14s
second annual meeting.
613 438 of wlich had The premiums
received on these amounted
the
inw(c)Po'rnl'etecl.
lice was 2, i 4 1
by them to the of ,
I ee
to i,748. 12'. 4".' ,ansd
the 985 prop° .ws received,
these figures
the annual income yielded
amount of
Os. id. Adding to
ics
issued last year, v•
and the 8.)4 (3,79,1. 4islh thend of annual
a tie. ikl :the total busi-
premiuutsl,?7,e.ilivcie.d. °sll)t,hwen'hich they .
income (3,16,5".,
society for the last 3 years may ba thus summed
neseDf 'the received, 1,675 policies issued, 1,269; pre-
en Proposals
—received, 6,67 • 14. . ,
1/ 17 3d - annual income. 6,831%
miiiine
being an increase upon 111) last year of 342 in ill.'
11.5,5* I,sed;of p rSposals received, 366 in the number o' policits
is eee 1,2, 016 d. lls. 2,1. in the amount of premiums re•
s
ceived, and 1,0831. 2s. 41. in the income. lu . accordance
with the rules which the directors deem it prudent, for the
sooty of the shareholders and the benefit of the policy.