The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY _EVENIN G, NOVEMBER 29 1855

RIFLE PRACTICE IN THE ARMY.

The authorities at the Horse Guards have just
issued another memorandum relating to instruction
in musketry, in addition to the memorandum laying
down regulations for the organisation of the Corps
of Instructors in Musketry, issued a short time back.
The following is a copy of the memorandum :
" Horse Guards, November, 1855.
"To insure the instruction in musketry being effec-
tually and properly carried out in the several battalions
in the shortest time, the Field Marshal Commanding-in-
Chief directs that the following rules be strictly observed
in all regiments and corps armed with the rifle musket :
"1. On an instructor joining a battalion where the
system as at present authorised is not in force, the com-
manding officer thereof is to hand over to the instructor
at least two non-commissioned officers per company (the
senior non-commissioned officer of each company to be
one of them) for training, to be struck off all duty while
under instruction.
"2. When these non-commissioned officers are tho-
roughly instructed in the preliminary drills—which can
be well effected in a week or 10 days—they are to be
employed to assist in the instruction of their respective
companies, as hereafter detailed.

" 3. The senior non-commissioned officer of each com-
pany is to be appointed company instructor.
" 4. Each company is to be divided into four sections,
having its proper proportion of full and acting non-com-
missioned officers to each.

" 5. An officer of the company is to be told off to each
sub-division, who is to be present with the sections of it
on all occasions when under instruction either in drill
or practice.
" 6. Each company is to keep the prescribed returns,
viz., Index return ;' target practice return 'judging
distance practice return.' In these returns the names of
the men are to be ordered by sections, the non-commis-
sioned officers heading each section.
"The captains or officers commanding companies are
to be held responsible that these returns are carefully
and correctly made up, as they are the records, showing
the progress and efficiency, or otherwise, of the com-
pany in the use of the rifle ; they are simple, and easy
to keep, if filled in as the several practices occur.
" S. These returns are to be sent to the instructor
whenever he may require them, who will point out to
the commanding officer any neglect he may observe on
examination.
" 9. After the non-commissioned officers have been in-
structed as directed in Article 2, the first section of each
company, with its noncommissioned officers of the right
wing, is to be struck off all duty and handed over to the
officer instructor for training ; these sections are first to
be put through the preliminary drills, which can be
effected in six days.
" 10. After the preliminary drills have been gone
through, these sections are to proceed immediately to
target and judging distance practices, when, in six days
more, they can have fired through the first and second
periods'—viz., 40 rounds per man ; or, in the case of
recruits, will have repeated the first period,' the first 20
rounds being expended in preliminary firing (one round
to be fired from the rest at the several distances from 100
to 300 yards), and have judged distance in the first and
second periods also.
" 11. When these sections proceed to target practice,
the first section of each company to the left wing is to
be struck off duty, in order to go through the prelimi-
nary drills ; so that by the time the sections of the right
wing have fired they will be ready to replace them, and
when they do so the second sections of companies of the
right wing are to take their place, and so continue by
sections, till the whole battalion is similarly trained,
which in fair weather can easily be effected in 10 weeks,
as shown in the following statement, by which it will
be seen that each section need only be kept off duty for
14 days (weather permitting), and that a fourth of the
battalion are employed in training to the use of their
arms. _ . _

" 12. When the regiment is classified into first, second,
and third classes, the instructor is to arrange them into
sections of classes ; those sections required for firing (in
all not to exceed 100 men at a time) are to be struck off
duty till they have fired through the third period, viz.,
20 rounds more, which will occupy three days ; and by a
regimental arrangement the judging distance practice,
by classes, in the third period can be gone through i❑ a
week ; so that firing and judging distances in the third
period (up to 900 yards) can well be carried out through
the whole battalion in a month.

"13. While the third period is being carried on, one
of the officer instructors can be employed in training the
recruits in the preliminary drills and firing, which latter
can be effected before the target practice of the battalion
commences, viz., before breakfast, or at other times when
the practice ground is not occupied by the battalion.
"14. When the third period of practice is gone through,
the file and volley firing ' and skirmishing ' practice is
to be proceeded with by sections of companies ; the first
section of companies of the right wing being struck off
duty for the purpose for three days, and then those of the
left wing, and so continue, till the whole battalion has
been thus exercised, which will occupy another month.
" 15. The whole instruction—riz., preliminary drills
and practice of a battalion, will thus be gone through in
four and a-half months.

" 16. The annual course of instruction is invariably to
commence in every battalion or depot on or before the
15th of March in each year, so that it may be finished by
the time the autumn half-yearly inspection takes place ;
this will give a period of about seven months, and leave
a margin of more than two months for unfavourable
i weather.

" 17. The foregoing articles apply equally to depot
battalions ; but as it is of the utmost importance that the
►arious draughts seat therefrom should be trained to the
use of their rifle, officers commanding will so arrange that
the mon for such draughts are handed over to the officer

instructor in Pu fficienCtirn e to insure the directions con.

tained in Articles 9 and 10 of this memorandum being
complied with, each depot of the battalion furnishing at
a time a party of 1 officer, 2 full non-commissioned
officers, and 25 men, if the battalion consists of four de-
pots ; or 1 officer, 2 full non-commissioned officers, and
20 men, if of more than four depots. When these seve-
ral parties proceed to target practice, parties of similar
strength will be again furnished to go through the preli-
minary drills ; by this means, after the first week, 200
men will always be under instruction, half of whom will
be firing.
" Each depot will furnish a company instructor with
each party for instruction.

" 18. Recruits, in like manner, will be entirely handed
over to the instructor, by squ Ids, for 14 days at a time ;
they will, however, be under the instruction of the ad-
jutant for the first three weeks after they join the bat-
talion, during which time they are to be instructed in all
the motions of loading, standing, and kneeling.
" By command,
" G. A. WETHEBALL, Adjutant-General."

OUR (AMEBICAN) LACK OP DEFENCES.

Whether or not we come to blows with Great Britain
war is always so far within the range of rational proba-
bility as to exact due attention, at all times and under
the most pacific conditions, to the maintenance of na-
tional defences. Human nature in its social aggregates
is far less civilised than in the individual. The neglect
to defend is an invitation to attack, precisely on the
principle that the omission of the farmer to shut his gate
seduces the passers-by to plunder the orchard, which
otherwise might have escaped untouched. All diplomacy
moves with reference to the situation of the parties in
respect to the ultima ratio; the weakest and less corn-
plaely equipped very naturally giving ground to the
Power which stands ready to emphasise its arguments
with coups de canon, and to appeal to that jurisdiction
of final resort—the court military. In short, that is the
highest security for peace—that is the best peace society
—which multiplies fortifications, accumulates munitions
of war, accustoms masses of men to the habits and prac-
tici of defensive warfare : and, in a general way, de-
creases the chances of attack by diminishing the chances
of its success. Other peace leagues must wait the Mil-
lennium to become practical. This is the immediate
need of the day ; and that it has received so little atten-
tion at the bands of the Government is one of many
evidences of the rash faciiity with which our people
run the hatards of war. The current recognition of
the national weakness in such particulars is evinced
by the sensitiveness with which the augmen-
tation of any European navy within the line of the
Gulf Stream is always regarded. Unarmed and unpro-
vided we choose to trust fortune, distance, or the ex-
tempore preparation practicable between a declaration of
r T
fortifications
harbourt idea
of ago,bay,
d ae
war and the beginning of hostilities, for all those elabo•
rate arrangements with which Russia has been busy for
this century past in surroundinz herself, and without
which the allied campaign in Southern Russia would
i
have proved the work of a month, instead of the rx-
hausting labour of years. This is neither safe nor sen-
sible. It is not, we repeat, a sound peace policy. The
shore line of the United States is very little short of the
circumference of the earth. There is not a point closed
against invasion. Where. there is any semblance of
to the formidablet resorts of
a i
adnefdenwcietht anytohuewo works have be en mainlyerected yearsadaptation
recent warfare, those prodigioautishakesh
siege-trains
Americancar-
riede-
the Mani el o
na
perhaps,nd the M
f
New York displays,
ft
tehneceenitnraint scel,arigt ehsatsdev fortificationselopment.
It
scatteredhas bes wt h
the which
o
nooootlodnoeffoofr which,
thinanmomentary the opinionontaryof
resistance
hmilitaryereis, authorities,tfoort ah lel
b all
s:
bombs, and rockets of an enemy.
prac-
ticalfleet, purpose,and noti i
on
go
butobstacle
the
clemency tot h e entranceof
the
to ohft
eo a
save
aohvuoons tt
theye
city. To expose the most vital point
othfufsa
tuuni
tgyu. a r
Butd,
tt
ho
etrheea nr
or e rneo possibilitypoints
tohf
ewcaora,
sits awnh
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are not quite as accessible ; and to enter upon s
test, or even to indulge in animated
tendingt
nakedness,o ai contest, to
offer
rawithoutorta first
combatclothing
n the
e thisp national
armour of Harlequin. The subject has been(rioaeispctlel9'aBbteciad:rilny'ds-
and vainly pressed upon Congress ; the wants ofe
.New
York Bay have been pointed out with especial distinct.
ness. There is no course left but to reiterate the danger
and the warning ; a course eminently required by the
diplomatic policy of the present Administration and by
the critical state of our forebm relations, which may at
a week's notice pass from the custody of Secretary Marcy
to that of Secretaries Davis and Dobbin. It will be mis-
ttaken economy that boggles about the cost. War is for-
tunately an expensive luxury ; but we must believe every
dollar spent in salutary prevention, in erecting barriers
to its entrance, and in frightening the belligerent away
by show of preparation, is worth millions lost in the
aetual
poconflict.oy
fTthheer e
countryis no
el
ybut
ptoon a
settle tl: e
footing,forpeace
at once abandoning all pretensions unacceptable
eign
European neighbours ; or to make provision for sus-
tainingpretensions against a "world in arms."—
to
to
New York Daly TiMes,

WONDERFUL ESUPE.

One of the most marvellous instances of preservation
of life in extreme peril that we have ever had occasion to
record took place in this town on Monday last. About
two o'clock in the afternoon some men were engaged in
putting a new "vat" at the bottom of a well, above 20
feet deep, in the yard of Mr. Frost's currying-office, next
the churchyard, a man named Charles Webb being be-
low, and John Jackson at the crank. Webb had placed
a part of the segments forming the vat, and Jackson was
cautioning him to bring the edges close together in order
to secure the pinning, when he observed two or three
bricks falling. Webb seized the rope, and called, " Pull
up," when instantly the brickwork from the very top of
the well, with a large quantity of the soil behind
it, fell in a mass, burying him beneath full 20 feet
of materials. All idea that his life ceuld be pre-
served was abandoned, for the surface appeared as
closely covered as a filled-up grave, and it was some time
before anything was done, the men at first deeming
it too hazardous to venture down, so loose and friable
was the soil, and so hollowed out were the sides, whilst
the wall of a neighbouring outhouse actually overhung
the cavity. After some little delay, however, assistance
was procured, and the wall having been taken down,
the men worked most diligently in removing the fallen
materials, but with little, if any, hope of more result
than the recovery of the poor fellow's body. His wife
was close by, in what state of agonising suspense for
herself and her two babes (for the man was but 22 years
of age) may be easily imagined. At length, between 5
and o'clock, he was heard moaning, and the joyful tid-
ings were conveyed to his poor wife, who had been with
difficulty removed. The sides of the well, however, were so
loose and crumbling, that it was necessary to delay the
work until a circular shield could be mane, and lowered for
the men to work in, when they renewed their labour
with increased vigour for a fellow-creature's life ; but it
was nearly 9 o'clock when they arrived at his fingers !
After a while his head was cleared, and he was found
in possession of his senses, and was able to state that his
arm was broken and his body dreadfully pressed. Tne
work proceeded very slowly ; for the constant slipping of
the earth, now much below the shield, made it necessary
to be very careful, and to reduce the size of the shaft as
small as it was possible to work in. A little before 11
he was pronounced to be clear down to his knees, and lie
appeared to be in good courage, having been supplied
with some brandy and water. Now, however, came the
greatest difficulty. He was standing close to one side of
the well, which was a little skewed back from the perpen-
dicular, to which cause, humanly speaking, he owed his
life, and was so wedged is with the crowbar which be had
been using and some pieces of timber, that it was only by
a brick at a time, or a handful of earth, that the work of
extrication could be proceeded with. The poor fellow,
however, gallantly held on, holding the candle with his
sound arm, whilst the men -worked by his side in the little
space that could be opened. At length Mr. Jackaman,
of Mr. Farrow's establishment, descended, and succeeded
in placing another segment of the vat so as to keep off
the earth, whilst efforts were made to draw out the crow-
bar and timber by means of the crank, Webb himself
giving the signal, and calling to stop when the pressure
upon him was beyond his endurance. At length, about
two o'clock in the morning, the crowbar was removed,
but not until the stout iron-hook of the rope had been
broken ; and it was announced that the number of per-
sons, including many of the medical and other gentle-
men of the town, who were anxiously waiting the re-
sult than one foot was clear. Another anxious hour
passed, during which Webb himself assisted in removing
the earth ; and at last the timber—a piece of the old curb
lying across his foot—was got out, and about a quarter-
past three the joyful intimation was heard that he was
free ! In a few minutes he was raised, and placed before
the fire in Mr. Frost's kitchen, in a blanket, when he
appeared inclined to faint or sleep, but soon recovered
sufficiently to be carried to the omnibus which had
been kept in waiting, and he -was removed to the hos-
pital (where a warm bath and every preparation had
been made for him), attended by Mr. Kilner, the receiv-
ing surgeon, and other medical gentlemen. It was
found that his arm was not broken ; and except a rather
severe contusion on the forehead, he does not appear
to have sustained any other material injury, though his
exhaustion, after remaining in such a position for 13
hours, may be easily conceived. !In what manner he
was able to maintain respiration beneath such an appa-
rently compact mass of bricks and earth, amounting to
no less than 10 tons, is almost beyond comprehension.
It is impossible to speak too highly of the courage and
perseverance of the men who perilled their own lives for
so many hours to release him ; and the public will, we
have no doubt, gladly respond to the appeal elsewhere
made for some recognition of their exertions and good
conduct.—Bury Post.

THE VASE OF MR. BATES.

Mr. Bates, one of the partners in the late firm of
Strahan, Paul, and Bates, has drawn forth a petition to
her Majesty, setting forth .his case.
The following is an abstract of the document, which
is entitled " The humble petition of Robert Makin
Bates, late Of No. 41, Norfolk-street, Strand, in the
county of Middlesex, banker, but now a prisoner in your
Majesty's gaol of Newgate, under sentence of transpor-
tation."
Showeth—That your petitioner is in the sixty-sixth
year of his age, and has a wife and three young children
under the age of eight years, besides a daughter and son
by a former marriage, all of whom are dependent upon
your petitioner for their support.
That your petitioner, in the year 1820, entered the
bank as a junior clerk, and by his good conduct was in
1837 appointed to the confidential situation of a ledger
clerk, with an annual salary of 4001., with the addition
of about 1201. every year as Christmas money, with the
privilege of occupying the upper portion of the No. 41,
Norfolk-street, Strand.
Whilst ledger clerk, he was at Christmas, 1841, upon
the retirement of Mr. Robert Snow, invited to become a
partner, but upon the distinct understanding that his
Promotion was not to confer upon him any privilege be-
yond an increase of his income to 8001. per annum, and
of being announced to the world as a partner.
After the execution of the said articles your petitioner
continued to discharge the duties of ledger clerk, adding
thereto the duty of answering, as partner, such inquiries
as were made of him from time to time by the customers
of the bank.
During the whole period your petitioner strictly
abided by the arrangement, and, except in the ordinary
routine business of the bank, never possessed any control
whatever over the management of the banking business,
either with respect to the opening of any large or im-
portant account for the receipt of money or upon the
occasion of any considerable advance of money.
That your petitioner, about the year 1847 or 1848,
applied for an increase of his salary from 8001. to 1,0001.,
which was consented to, and beyond that your petitioner
never derived any pecuniary advantage whatever from
the said partnership.
That your petitioner has at all times lived on a very
moderate and economical scale of establishment and ex-
penditure and within the limits of the income so assigned
to him, and continued to reside in the apartments in
No. 41, Norfolk street, aforesaid, down to the time of
the bankruptcy of the petitioner in June last.
That in the year 1852 certain persons named Gandell
applied to your petitioner's partners for a sum of
10,000/., and obtained the same without the concurrence
of your petitioner being in any manner asked for.
That subsequently further largo sums of money were
advanced, not only against the sanction of your peti-
tioner, but contrary to his most earnest advice and re-
monstrance, until the said Messrs. Gandell became in-
debted to the sum of 100,0001.
That in October, 1853, it came to the knowledge of
your petitioner that the said Messrs. Gandell were
about to apply to the co-partners of your petitioner for
their acceptances to a very considerable amount. That
upon the day appointed for the interview your petitioner
besought Sir John Dean Paul on no account whatever to
listen to any such proposal, whereupon Sir John pro•
mised your petitioner not to consent to give such ac-
ceptances. That on your petitioner'e return from the
city, he asked Sir John whether he had been firm in his
refusal, and that Sir John replied he had gone very fully
into the business in the presence of a highly respectable
solicitor, and that he was quite satisfied with the trans-
action, and had promised to accept the bills. That your
petitioner then observed, " Well, Sir John, you may
date the ruin of the house from the moment those ac-
ceptances are given." That such acceptances were ac-
cordingly given to the extent of between 30,0001. and
40,0001., notwithstanding the remonstrance. That on
the 31st day of the following month of December, your
petitioner, upon the bank books being balanced accord-
ing to annual custom, advised his said co-partners to close
the bank on the following morning, or at all events be-
fore the said acceptances became due, rather than at-
tempt to meet them, although at that time there was a
very large sum of money in the house. That your peti-
tioner's said co-partners declined to follow such advice,
and declared their intention to continue their business,
as they saw their way to do so clearly, and could rely
on the resources they possessed and expected.
That your petitioner declares he was not in any
manner cognisant of the sale of the bonds of Dr. Griffith,
by Sir John Dean Paul, in March, 1854, and that he
was not informed of it until some time after it had taken
place.
That although it may be urged against your petitioner
that his remaining a member of the firm after he became
acquainted with such fact was a moral weakness on the
part of your petitioner, yet he humbly hopes that the
subordinate and comparatively dependent position which
he held, and his natural reluctance to precipitate the ruin
of his partners, whilst they had the opportunity of re-
trieving the mischief which had been done, may not be
disregarded.
That upon the occasion of your petitioner becoming
acquainted with the fact of the disposal of the said bonds
Sir John assured him that it was intended to replace
thorn immediately, and orders were accordingly forth-
with given for the purchase of other Danish Bonds for
the prosecutor, and subsequently 5,0001. of them were
so purchased, and every exertion was made to replace
the remainder of them.
[rho petitioner then goes on to show that he was
engaged in Paris from May,1854, in the affair of Messrs.
Gandell.]

[With-respect to the statement made to Dr. Griffith
by Mr. Bates, &c.]
That your petitioner fully believed that the 5,0001.
Danish 51. per Cent. Bonds, so repurchased, and which
had been placed in the envelope of the prosecutor in the
strong box of the bank, were in truth the property of the
prosecutor, the dividends thereof having been received
on his account and carried to his credit ; and that when
your petitioner saw the prosecutor on the 28th of April,
1855, as deposed by him on the trial of the said indict-
ment, and stated to him that the dividends upon his 51.
per Cent. Danish Bonds had been received your peti-
tioner (having on that very day arrived in London from
Paris for the express purpose of consulting with his said
partners upon an urgent point connected with the said
Messrs. Gandell, which needed immediate decision) verily
believed that he was speaking the truth, and had no in-
tention or desire to do otherwise, or in any manner to
deceive or mislead the prosecutor.
That your petitioner left London for Paris on the
evening on the said 28th of April, and did not return to
London until the 9th of May following.
That at the time of your petitioner so leaving London
as aforesaid neither the said Sir John Dean Paul nor
Mr. Strahan had in any manner communicated to your
petitioner the idea or intention of raising money upon the
property of their said customers in any manner whatso-
ever, and that your petitioner was wholly ignorant of
their intention to make any deposit with Messrs. Over-
end and Gurney, through the medium of Sir John Dean
Paul and Mr. John Young, on the 30th of April, or of
any intention to deal with the securities so deposited, in
a h
allegation,an and Siryo
uJro
any manner whatever.
That all the before-mentioned facts were well known
petitioner craves and,
leave to refer to certain affidavits which had been pre-
Paul,
m
pre-
pared and were signed by the said William Strahan and
ofa thisS Strahan
Sit John Dean Paul, ready to be sworn in the Court of
to theinsasitlppWoriltli
Bankruptcy on the 25th day of June last.
[The affidavits of Sir John Dean Paul and Mr.
Strahan are given in the petition, and they fully bear
out the above facts.]
And your petitioner humbly prays and implores your
Majesty to take into your gracious consideration the
facts and circumstances above set forth, and to extend
to your petitioner, now hastening to the close of a life
which, up to this fatal event, had been one of unsullied
honour and integrity, your Majesty's most gracious
pardon.
And your petitioner will pray, &c.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Nov. 28.

QUEEN'S BENCH.
(Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.)
THE QUEEN V. KING, AND KING V. SAVERY.
(Continued front our impression of yesterday.)

Sergeant Shee having addressed a few words to the
ury,

Sir. James called their attention to the evidence ad-
duced on both sides, and defended the course adopted in
bringing the action, to enable them to decide the ques-
tion on the evidence of both gentlemen, instead of on the
ex parte statement of the defendant under the indictment
preferred before the Middlesex Grand Jury. He denied
that the correspondence complained of contained a per-
sonal attack on the Messrs. Savery, and charac-
terised the course pursued by the plaintiff, in
bringing before the firm the irregularities practised in the
establishment as being actuated by the most honourable
motives, because it was of importance the prescription
entrusted to the defendants should be accurately dis-
pensed, and in the instance of Major Reid's complaint
a mistake had occurred. The irritation was on the side
of the defendant, and so desirous was the plaintiff of
keeping peace, that he retreated from the library and
locked himself in the drawing room. The whole of the
circumstances showed Mr. Savery was the aggressor.
This was an unfortunate quarrel, and it was for them to
say who committed the first assault.
Lord Campbell, in summing up, said it was satisfac-
tory to find the jury had heard the evidence of both gen-
tlemen. He considered they were bound to return a
verdict for the plaintiff on the civil action, with very
moderate damages. In the other case they would have
to consider who first committed the assault, and in the
event of their finding it was Dr. King, whether he used
more violence than was necessary in defending himself.
The jury, after a few minutes consideration, returned
a verdict for the plaintiff in the civil actin 3, damages one
farthing, and on the indictment returned a verdict of
guilty, with a recommendation to mercy.
Lord Campbell, in passing sentence on the defendant,
said he did not for a moment doubt but that he was a
very skilful and honourable man, and was of opinion
that he had proceeded in an arbitrary manner in sum-
moning Mr. Savery to his house. Although he was an
educated man some part of the proceedings had shown
that his temper was not altogether under his control,
and his lordship advised him to be careful and not get
into such difficulties again. In consequence of the re-
commendation of the jury he should pass on him a
lenient sentence. He sentenced him to pay a fine of
20s. to the Queen, and to be imprisoned until the fine
was paid.
The fine was immediately paid, and the defendant
left the court with his friends.

tßoper; and who, on one or two occasions, behaved in
the mo,t insulting manner, even to the • la,dy me,ttkp-rs.
I shall continue my inquiries in the matter, and wait on
your worship another day.