The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

fulemulation, and without disparagement to the gal

corps have assembled in considerable numbers, and
joined in the movements which do not belong aim.
ply to battalions, but also to divisional operations,
they have excited the admiration of military men,
and the astonishment of the strangers who have
visited this country. (Cheers.) You know, gentlemen
volunteers of England, you well know that numbers
alone do not constitute strength ; that large assem-
blies of men, although in uniform and with the best
of weapons, are not by their numbers alone eompe-
tent to meet with success an enemy disciplined
and trained ; and, therefore, you have at a great
sacrifice of private occupation, at a great devotion
of time, which in this country is money, you have
made these sacrifices in order to become thoroughly
acquainted with the duties of your profession—your
honourable profession, for so I will call it. (Cheers.)
Well, gentlemen, you have by yotat perseverance,
by your constant attention to your duties, made
yourselves masters of all those movements which
belong to separate battalions, and also to collections
of battalions in brigades and divisions. You have
also well thought that it is one thing to meet and
another to kill an enemy. To move to meet an
enemy without being able to bring him down is
only getting nearer to danger yourselves. There
is, however, no fear that those who have so well
exhibited their skill to-day and yesterday will ne-
glect a practice as necessary almost as your drill,
and even your battalion and divisional exercises.
The people of this island have in all times been
famous as marksmen, and in the days of old when
war was carried on, I will not say with less deadly,
but with more clumsy weapons, such as bows and
arrows, the British archer was celebrated in every
battlefield of Europe in which he was engaged, and
his skill was shown from the slaughter which he
made of his opponents. (Cheers.) Well, gentle-
men, that keen eye, that strong arm which so dis•
tinguished your ancestors is not wanting to you.
(Cheers.) This day you have given ample proofs
of your skill in the weapon which is placed in your
hands. You have proved yourselves worthy descen•
dents of worthy ancestors, equally ready to defend
your shores from attack, and, if need be, to vindi-
cate the honour of your country wherever your ser-
vices may be required. I congratulate you on the
assemblage here to-day. I congratulate you, in the
first place, on your success and the interest which
the vast crowd I see here, not merely the accumula-
tion of our own sex, but of the beauty of the other sex,
takes in that success, and I trust that this interest
which your fellow men and women take in your
success will serve as an additional encouragement
to you to persevere in this meeting on the ground
on which we now stand—on a territory which has
been for generations occupied by a family honoura-
bly distinguished in the annals and history of the
country, which has always maintained that charac-
ter which belongs to an old aristocratic family, and
those traditional ties of duty on one side, and of
gratitude and affection on the other. (Cheers.) I
congratulate you on having had your prizes distri-
buted by the noble lady who represents this family,
who combines with all the graces of her sex quali-
ties of her own—warmth of heart and benevolence
of character, energy of purpose and application to
business exclusively her own. (Cheers.) I congra-
tulate you also that this ceremony has taken
place under the auspices of the youthful heir
to this vast estate, who, I trust, as I am sure be
will, will prove himself a worthy representative of
the ancient and illustrious house of Pembroke.

On the motion of the Marquis of BATH, three
cheers were given fur Lord and Lsdy Palmerston,
Lady Herbert, and the Earl of Pembroke, and the
proceedings were brought to a close.

lant soldier who has so well won it, I may express a
hope that next year it may be won by a better
shot—(laughter)—than he who has now become
the holder of this valuable trophy. My noble friend
has eloquently and truly • dilated on the causes
which led to the original establishment of the Vo-
lunteer system of this country, and I must say that
a nobler display of national feeling, of sagacious
patriotism, and of persevering courage was never
exhibited by any nation. (Cheers.) Its original
cause was, as my noble friend stated, temporary,
but I trust that its effects will be permanent, and
that this institution so valuable and so important
to ,the best interest of the country, will continue
for all ages to come to be a great national institue
tion. It is quite true that some few years ago, cir-
cumstances to which it is unnecessary to advert led
the people of this country to reflect that the ordi-
nary and established means of defence were not
sufficient to keep away the dangers which it fore-
saw might at all events be possible. We differ in
many things from the great Powers of the Conti.
nent. We live on an island accessible to any invader
who might chance to land on our shores at almost
every point of oar large maritime circumference.
We therefore cannot pretend to defend ourselves as
continental States may do, which, being accessible
in only one avenue of attack, by one valley or by
one pass, may sufficiently fortify their vulnerable
points. and by stationing there a military force
may think themselves secure from the invading
enemy. We have not thought it possible, and it
would be idle and foolish to attempt to fortify the
whole of the extensive shores which begirt these
islands, We have done that which is within our
means and which is sufficient for our purpose. We
have begun and carried out to a great extent these
works which are necessary to protect from sudden
attack those naval dockyards and arsenals which
are the cradles of oar maritime power and the
defenders of the best interest of the country ; for
it is needless for me to point oat that if we lost
the command of the seas which surround our
shores and a hostile squadron was allowed to
blockade our ports, our commerce, our industry,
and our independence would be seriously endan-
gered. (Cheers.) This work was begun by the
late noble occupant of these estates who devoted his
best energies to commence these operations. Hie
plans have been followed out, and I trust they will
soon be successfully completed. Well, although the
defence of England,if she is ever attacked, must be
by armies on the field, it is not our habit, it does
not suit our constitution nor our interest to assem-
ble permanently under arms those hundreds of
thousands of soldiers who may bo found in every
country of Europe. We think that it would be an
unnecessary pressure on our own resources to keep
and maintain such a force in time of peace. -We
think that it would draw away a valuable portion
of the people from the pursuits of industry, and be
a drain on the wealth and resources of the country
fur a time of emergency. We have, however, the
Militia—an admirable force, well disciplined, ably
officered, and animated with the best spirit. AV e
have thus a force of some 112,000 men ready, if the
eceeeion be required, to take its place in line be-
side the regular army. Well, then, gentlemen, the
volunteers of England come forward to make up
the deficiency, yeacame forward with courage,
patriotism, and a (IL
tpraise, whichwihhilas :o the public service be-
yond all
excited the admiration
of all the world, ilea iel has entitled you to the
warmest thanks of the country,
that at
I am not
overstating the case when I ZY
iacto,o the present
080
moment there are from 1,50.,00 0 to
volun-
teers organised, equipped, trained, and dl.O n
edwith officers who have made themselves acquainted
wi'h their duties. and we know that when these

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 22, 1864.