The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-22 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

A deputation from the metropolitan committee on the
Volunteer Bill waited on Earl de Grey and Ripon at the
War-office, on Saturday, in reference to the objectionable
clauses of that measure. The deputation was headed by
Capt. Worms, of the Queen's (Westminster) Volunteers ;
Messrs. Few, Parson, E. Draper, J. Roebuck Lawrence,
and several others ; and Messrs. Prince and New, the hon.
secretaries of the committee.

Capt. Wonms stated that the object of the deputation
was to protest against clause 20 of the new Volunteer Bill,
which they considered arbitrary and unconstitutional, and
which had created alarm in the minds of the Volunteers
throughout the kingdom. The Volunteer movement was
a spontaneous and patriotic one, and the Volunteers ought
not, in common justice, to be submitted to restrictions which
neither the army, the militia, nor any other portion of her
Majesty's service were called upon to submit to. He con-
sidered that the power placed by the bill in the hands of
Volunteer officers was of too arbitrary a nature to bestow
on any men, and begged most emphatically to state that it
was the opinion, both of the deputation and of the class
they represented, that if the objectionable clauses were per-
mitted to pass into law it would be the means of destroying
the Volunteer movement altogether.

Mr. Fxw said that all the Volunteers required was the
right of being heard before any judgment was passed upon
them. He submitted that for all real purposes the clause
giving the right of appeal was valueless.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON said he was glad to find that
the deputation was prepared to admit that the clause re-
ferred to was not a new one, but was only a repetition of
the old Volunteer Act of the 44th of George 111., cap. 54 ;
but he would remind them that notwithstanding the existence
of this Act, courts of inquiry had not only existed through-
out the present Volunteer movement, but had been permis-
sively recognised. There was no one more ready than him-
self to admit that the Volunteer movement owed its very
existence to the spontaneous patriotism of the people them-
selves ; but it was not possible for 160,000 men to enrol
themselves as volunteers without knowing that they wore to
a certain extent submitting themselves to military law. The
present bill was simply a consolidation of the old Volunleer
Acts of the reign of Geo. 111., and they felt they had no
right to make any change in the principles laid down therein.
He was most desirous of removing another impression which
had gone abroad, that the bill gave powers to a commanding
officer to dismiss officers. This was quite erroneous, the
power of dismissing commissioned officers being vested in
the Crown alone. It was also not true that there was no
power of appeal. Any volunteer who considered himself
wrongfully dismissed had the power of appealing to the
Secretary of State for War, and that Minister could cause
him to be reinstated if he saw that he had been unjustly dis-
missed. It should be borne in mind that under the present
acts courts of inquiry were only permissive, but under the
lOth section of the present bill commanding officers were
given the power of instituting such courts, thus giving them
for the first time legal status. As to the comparative value
of courts of inquiry, they did not administer any oath to
those called before them, nor did their members take any
oath themselves. On the other had, the commanding officer
was directly responsible for the discipline of his corps, or
for the rightful or wrongful dismissal of any of his men.
For his part he would sooner be tried by a responsible offi-
cer than by a self-constituted court of inquiry holding no
judicial authority whatever. The volunteers had an immense
advantage over the army and militia by the privilege they
had of resigning at 14 days' notice if they found their com-
manding officer coercive or tyrannical. So far from abolish-
ing courts of inquiry the new bill possessed a special clause
which said, "it shall be lawful for the commanding officer
at any time to assemble a court of inquiry to assist him," &c.

Mr. PRINCE suggested that charges made against men
should be preferred in writing.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON (who was present) said,
such a rule would interfere with the powers of instant dis-
missal by the commanding officer.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON said he would consider both
the points alluded to by the deputation, but Parliament had
expressed a most decided opinion in favour of the clauses
objected to. He could not agree that the liberties of volun-
teers were interfered with in any way by the bill.
In answer to several other remarks and quegtions from
other members of the deputation, Earl DE GREY and RIPON
said ho would give every consideration to the objections that
had been urged against the bill, but ho could not in any-
way allow a departare from the principles laid down therein,
He trusted the statements made that there was so strong a
feeling among volunteers against the bill that they would
abandon the servica of their Queen and country would not
be realised.

The deputation then thanked his Lordship and withdrew.

The annual inspection of the London Rifle Brigade by its
Colonel, the Duke of Cambridge, took place on Saturday in
Hyde-park. The brigade was under the command of Lieut.-
Colonel Warde, and mustered nearly 600 strong, and was
formed into nine companies. It also included 50 of the cadet
corps. After a couple of hours spent in the usual manoeuvres
gone through at inspections, the Duke of Cambridge, ad-
dressing the officers, said, "Last year I had occasion to
praise the admirable character of your drill ; on this occasion
it gives me great gratification to say that your drill is even
better than it was last year, and I must compliment Colonel
Warde on the high efficiency the brigade has attained
through his exertions. The excellent manner in which
you performed your manoeuvres was greatly facilitated by
the way in which you are commanded by your officers.
Your steadiness after very rapid movements is very com-
mendable. Even when you lost a little of your distance
the companies, instead of wavering backwards and forwards,
stood still, and did not attempt to rectify their error until
ordered to do so. Nothing could be better than your
drill, and great credit is due to Colonel Warde." Three
hearty cheers were then given for the Duke, and his Royal
Highness left the ground, after which a similar compliment
was paid to Colonel Wards. The ground was admirably
kept by the Ist Surrey Rifles.
On Saturday evening a parade was held in the courtyard
of Burlington-house for the purpose of presenting prizes to
the members of the Irish Rifles who Lave distinguished
themselves in shooting during the last year, and although
the corps did not muster very strongly the occasiJn was in-
teresting, and the proceedings as animated as the nature of
the meeting would admit. The battalion was drawn up in
line facing the entrance, with the tine band in the rear of the
centre, the other sides of the parallelogram being formed by
non-Volunteers, for to say they were civilians would not
draw any distinction between them and their fellows in
arms. The ground was kept by recruits or recent additions
to the corps, who carried arms, but wore no uniform. In the
centre of the square a table stood, loaded with silver cups,
ornaments, badges, and other prizes. A number of ladies
found convenient seats under the interior colonnade. At
7'15 the Marquis of Donegal, in his uniform as colonel, en-
tered, and was received by Colonel Verner, Capt. Daubeney,
the Adjutant, and by the corps, with the usual military
honours, and by a lively Irish march from the band. His
lordship proceeded to address the Volunteers for a few
minutes, congratelating them on the progress they had
N and recommending increased exertions, and was heard
with marked attention, respect, and goodwill. It was quite

evident that there was reason for one remark he made to
the effect that those who joined the corps once were
not at all disposed to leave it. At the conclusion
of his speech, which was received with cheers, the
Marquis, standing at the table, proceeded to deliver the
prizes, assisted by Colonel Verner and Captain Daubeney.
The successful candidates were called out from the ranks of
the battalion one by one, and formed line at right angles to
it in the courtyard facini the table on which the prizes were
deposited; and when the Marquis of Donegal had finished
each man was called to receive the prize to which he was
entitled in due order. It was interesting to observe the dif-
ferent manner of men, their gesture, walk, attitude, and
demeanour, as each came forward for his prize—some smart
and confident, others rather bashful and diffident, some with
an easy air, as if to say, " I could have gained all the prizes
if I liked, but only tried for this"—others with a fulness
of contentment as they carried off cup or badge, as though
they were happy altogether in their reward. But what
marked the ceremony most of all was the hearty spontane-
ous way in which the men cheered their favourites, as each
man was called out to receive his prize ; and so good-
natured and kindly was the corps that there was no one of
those who had not many friends who clapped hands as ho
left the line and got his guerdon ; but then there were some
whom all applauded, so that a rattling fire of palms went
from right to left, and marked them as prime favourites
with a feu de joie of their own. That the liberality of the
friends of the corps, of the noble colonel, and of the officers,
was of no ordinary character will best appear by the list of
prizes, which was as follows :
Eight prizes—viz., six silver cups and two medals, pre •
sented by the Marquis of Donegal::-1. Range 650 yards ;
seven shots. Won by R. F. Chattock ; 16 marks. 2. Range
500 yards ; seven shots. Won by Sergeant Sylvester ; 11
marks. 3. Range 150 and 200 yards; five shots. Won by
J. Bell ; 29 marks. 4. Range 200 yards ; five shots. Won
by Ensign Dines ; 14 marks. 5. Extra presented to Dr.
West. 6. Extra presented to B. Slaton. 7. Silver medal ,
range 600 yards; seven shots. Won by E. J. Hoare; 10
marks. 8. Gold medal; 600 and 700 yards; five shots,
Won by J. O'Connor; 19 marks.
Three prizes, presented by Mr. F. Gasgoyne--viz., a
Reilley Whitworth rifle, a purse of £6, and a purse of £4.
1. Range 200, 500, and 600 yards; seven shots; the Whit-
worth rifle. Won by J. C. Wood; 40 marks. 2. Same
ranges ; £6. Won by C. E. Thompson ; 37 marks. 3.
Same ranges; £4. Won by Private Hoare; 36 marks.
A silver bugle, presented by Lady Harriet Ashley, still
open.

A silver whisky flask, presented by Lieut.-Col. Lord
Ashley, M.P., to No. 1 Company. Range 400 yards, five
shots. Won by W. Walters ; 13 marks.
Two silver cups, presented by Mrs. M'Swiney to No. 3
Company. LlRanges 150 and 400 yards ; five shots. Won
by Sergeant Wood' 26 marks. 2. Same ranges. Won by
Sergeant Butler; 25 marks.
A Silver Medal, presented by Lieut. Meade to No. 3
Company. Ranges, 150 and 300 yards; five shots. Won
by Ensign Chambers; 28 marks.
A Silver Cigar-case, presented by Captain the Earl of
Belmore to No. 4 Company. Ranges 400 yards; five shots.
Won by Sergeant Klussman ; 8 marks.

A Colt's Revolver, in case, by Captain and Adjutant
Daubeney. Range 200 yards ; five shots. Won by Ser-
geant Musketry Instructor Aylmer; 14 marks.
Three prizes, presented by Capt. Cusack to No. 1 Com-
pany—viz., £5, £3, and £2. 1. Range 200 yards ; five
shots. Won by J. O'Neill; 12 marks. 2. Same range.
Won by S. Willey ; 9 marks. 3. Same range. Won by
Bandmaster R. T. Cowen ; 8 marks.
At the conclusion of the presentation, after loud cheers
for Lord Donegal, the Colonel, the Major, and the Adju-
tant, the battalion, preceded by their band, marched out of
the yard, and the ceremony terminated.
The third annual meeting of the Edinburgh and Midlo-
thian Rifle Association took place last week at theßlackford
ranges, near Edinburgh. The competitions began on Tues-
day, and closed on Saturday. The first two days were ex-
tremely wet, but the last three were fine. A competition of
great interest took place on Friday and Saturday for the
selection of four of the Scotch eight to compete with the
English eight at Wimbledon in the second international
match. Lord Bury and Mr. Horatio Ross are the captains
of the two sides, and each of them has to select seven others
to shoot with them. Of the seven Mr. Ross resolved to se-
lect four at Edinburgh, and also to give a prize cup to the
best of these four. The remaining three will be chosen in a
competition of Scotch riflemen to be held at Cambridge on
the 3d and 4th July, open also to the unsuccessful compe-
titors at Edinburgh. In the first stage of the competition 20
competitors entered, and 15 rounds were fired at each of
three ranges-800, 900, and 1,000 yards. On Saturday
the eight highest in the first stage competed again at the
same distance and number of rounds, and the best four were
selected by taking the aggregate result of the 90 shots fired
by each of the eight. The four who stood highest and who
take part in the match next month at "Wimbledon were Mr.
Farquharson Roseberry (who carried off Captain Ross's
cup), Mr. H. G Ross, Mr. A. Henry, Edinburgh, and
Captain Maxwell. Mr. H. G. Ross is a member of the
Bengal Civil Service, is the second son of Captain Ross,
and the elder brother of Mr. E. Ross, ex-champion of
England. As a volunteer in the Indian army during the
mutiny Mr. Ross performed signal service, was four times
thanked in general orders, and was one of 28 names
mentioned in Lord Canning's despatch at the close of the
war. He had the honour to receive a letter from Sir C.
"Wood, expressing the thanks of her Majesty for hie ser-
vices. Although a skilled rifle shot, he had not till his
return to this country, about three weeks ago, engaged in
target practice. For the Edinburgh Cup, which was shot
for on Thursday, with any rifle, at 800 and 900 yards, seven
rounds at each distance, Mr. Rawson, of Liverpool, and
Mr. 11. G, Ross both scored 47. In shooting off the tie
Mr. Rawson was the winner. The Caledonian Challenge
Shield, or champion prize for Scottish Volunteers, was
competed for, for the first time, at 200, 500, and 600 yards,
five rounds at each. Mr. Bruce was theswinner by a score
of 45, and his will be the first name engraved on the shield,
as the winner he receives a St, Andrew cross in gold. Mr.
Henry Scott, Edinburgh, stood second on a score of 43,
taking the silver cross. The Ladies' Cup, ten rounds at
400 yards, was won by Mr. Henry Scott in a score
of 35, after shooting off a tie with Ensign Lockhart, 7th
Ayr. The Lord Provost's Cup was gained by Lieutenant
Kinnear, Edinburgh, on a score of 34, in ten rounds at 500
yards. The bronze medal of the National Rifle Association
was taken by Captain M'Gibbon, Edinburgh, on a score of
30, in ten rounds at 600 yards, The Associated Compa-
nies' Prize, ten rounds at 700 yards, fell to Mr. A, Pater-
son, Leith Artillery, on a score of 34. The President's
(Duke of Buccleuch's) Cup was carried off by Mr. J. Gray,
Fife Artillery, who made the same score in the same
rounds and distance. The City Col poration Cup, shot
for in ten rounds:at 300 yards, was won by Mr. Berry,
Leith, in a score of 32. The Lord-Advocate's prize (a
Henry rifle) ten rounds at 400 yards, was won at 30 by Mr.
J. Macnee, Edinburgh, after shooting off a tie with Mr.
Noble, 2d Berwick. In the artillery carbine competition at
100 and 200 yards, five rounds at each, the first prize (a
Henry rifle) was won by Capt. Horne, Midlothian Coast,
in a score of 33. In the match between Edinburgh and
Newcastle Edinburgh won by 307 to 276 ; and in the return
match between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, eight men on
each side, Edinburgh won by 633 to 560. In this compe-
tition Mr. Farquharson, on the Edinburgh side, made 109,
out of a possible score of 120. In the previous match on
New Year's Day, at Montrose, Aberdeen beat Edinburgh
by 563 to 543. In consequence of bad weather, the match
between Edinburgh and Glasgow, appointed for the second
day of the meeting, did not take place. On Saturday com-
petitions took place for artisan Volunteers and for the sol-
diers in garrison.
A Volunteer sham fight and brigade field-day, under the
command of Lord Ranelagh, took place on Saturday at
Wanstead. The force consisted of over 3,000 men, belong-
ing to the 2d (South) Middlesex, the 29th Middlesex, three
or four companies of the Essex Rifles, the Tower Hamlets
Corps, the Customs battalions, the Victoria Dock Rifles,
and several others. They were divided into an attacking
force under Lord Ranelagh, and a defending army under
Lieut.-Colonel Buxton, M.P. The usual manoeuvres under
such circumstances were gone through in a very creditable
manner, a new feature being introduced in the occupation,
attack, and defence of an empty house, from every window
of which the reconnoitring party of the enemy, composed of
the South Middlesex Volunteers, poured murderous volleys
into the ranks of the Tower Hamlets Corps below. After
the termination of the sham fight the belligerents were
united into a single brigade, and went through several
manoeuvres before they separated. The whole of the move.
ments on both sides, more especially the file and volley
firing, were gone through with great precision.
On Friday evening last Capt. Prewett, of the 19th Surrey
Rifles,' was presented with a handsome silver tea service on
the occasion of his retiring from the temporary command
of the Regiment.

Great preparations are being made at Oxford for the in-
tended review of the Volunteer regiments of Oxfordshire
and the surrounding counties, which comes off there on
Wednesday next. This is the first of the great gatherings
of Volunteers that-has Leen held in the country this year.
The general orders received from the War-office direct that
the parade be formed at 2 p.m. under the directions of the
General officer in command, opposite the stand on Port
meadow.

The Worcestershire Volunteers have been busy this week.
On Wednesday there was a battalion drill of the 13th and
14th Worcestershire corps, and on Thursday the represen-
tatives of the battalion met at Redditch to compete for the
honour of representing the battalion at the forthcoming
contest at -Wimbledon for the tit. George's Challenge Vase.
The highest score was made by Lieut. Purchas, of the 14th
company, and Sergeant Baylis, of the 11th (Malvern) com-
pany, was second. The distances were 200 and 500 yards,
five shots at each range. The Worcestershire corps join in
the review at Oxford on Wednesday next.
The annual prize shooting of the East York Rifle Volun-
teers, Ist battalion, was held on Monday and Tuesday at
Driffield. The Challenge Cup, given by Major Saltmarshe,
was won by Private Pickering, of the Driffield company, who
scored 37, at 200, 300, and 500 yards ; five shots at each
range. Mrs. Saltmarshes's prize cup, shot for at 150 and
200 yards, was also won by a Driffield member, Private
Horsley, who scored 32.

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s 4d. and
4s. " High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the
strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every
town supply it in packets.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

--w -

SATURDAY REVIDIV.--"It is to be feared that the 1
Princess cannot have carried away so favourable an
idea of other developments of cur civilisation. The
Muse of poetry at Oxford has seldom disgraced
herself so lamentably. The Congratulatory Odes
deserve the worst that has been said of them. That
they should be wordy, unmeaning, empty, was
almost a necessary incident of their character, tin-
less they had been confided to the hands of first-
rate and practical poets. But these qualifications
were brought out in painful relief by the spas-
modic and ambitious contortions of language in
which, in attempted imitation of the fashion of
the day, it was sought to clothe thoughts that
were almost inevitably commonplace. The first ode
was the best, or at least the most harmless. "Town
of towers" was an odd periphrasis:for the peaceful
city of Oxford, and " Student-Prince" might per-
haps be objected to as a designation doubtfully ap-
propriate. On the other hand, the Prince might
fairly complain that an exhortation to remember
his Oxford reception "in the calm, wise after-
time," implied that his present time was neither
calm nor wise. But at least the first ode was in-
telligible, and not ill-bred. Neither of these com-
pliments could be paid to its successor. It was a
very strange composition ; but we have no space to
unravel its merits. It is full of passages which will
give the New Zealander infinite trouble to imerpret
whenever he shall arrive to explore our antiquities.
There is one about the shouts " rising aloft to the
startled sky, from a thousand seas where the trade's
ply," which implies a somewhat sanguine estimate
of commercial enthusiasm; and another requesting
the ploughmen and weavers in the neighbourhood
to leave off their work during the Commemoration
—" Let the looms be stilled and the fields uutilled,
for the city's festive glee !" au exhortation which,
besides the extreme improbability of its being
attended to, implies the unhistoric statement that
there are looms in the neighbourhood of Oxford to
be stilled. Then there is a still more mysterious
assertion—to which, until better advised, we must
absolutely demur—that on the day of the Princess's
arrival in England the Australian diggers gave up
working for nuggets:—
And the sun• browned delver far away
Sought not the golden ore that day,
Yielding his soul to mirth and play
On England's jubilee.
If there is any truth in the statement so confidently
hazarded, it may be safely assumed that " play" is
to be construed technically. But these and many
other minor absurdities pale before the gem of the
piece—the apostrophe, which it needed all an
undergraduate's freedom from bashfulness to recite
to a lady's face :
So fair a bride, with those sweet, trustful oyes,
So fair, so good, a royal prize,
The gem of all the isle.
Who can see her and not love her ?
Brighter seems the sky above her.
This lover•like address, delivered by an under-
graduate to a young Princess, in the presence of
some thousands of hearers, had at least the effect of
leading a novel complexion to the proceedings. If
the value of achievements is to be measured by their
rarity, the cool impertinence of a Prize Ode, which
has been selected by many learned Doctors for the
Princess's special entertainment, will not be the
least memorable of the recollections of the Com-
memoration of 1863.

SPECTATOR.—Mr. Steers, Purveyor to the House
of Commons, is becoming a national nuisance. He
feeds the members so badly that they cannot bear
to dine in the House, and resent a debate which
threatens to keep them in 'Westminster as if it
were a personal injury. At least, that is the only
apparent explanation of the enthusiastic howling
with which the House has a dozen times this ses-
sion silenced anybody who threatened to offer an
argument which might last over seven o'clock. Sir
Henry Willoughby occupies, it is true, the unique
position in the House of always saying sensible
things to which nobody wants to listen; but then
there are limits even to conventual indecorums, and
when members shrieked at him on Monday night
those limits were almost passed. There were four
hundred members present of whom at least one-
half had pledged themselv_s on the hustings to do
their utmost to " secure the most rigid economy
consistent with the efficiency of the public service."
The subject afoot was a demand for the most ex-
travagant vote yet proposed, even in in this Par-
liament, which has voted for fortifications, for a
new fleet, for a new artillery, and for military
expenses to the tune of fifteen millions a year. One
hundred and thirty-five members condemned the de-
mand as irrational ; those who voted for it did so
with sulky discipline ; the tone within the house
was critical, not to say hostile, yet the debate ended
with three set speeches, only one of which was di-
rected against the vote. Members were hungry
and savage, the whips looked assured of success, the
Government were known to be resolved on a divi-
sion that, night, and so rather than face Mr. Steers,
the majority smothered the debate, the last speaker
heard being the unlucky Sir Henry, who was re-
ceived, as one report notices, with a " storm of de-
risive cheers," intended not for his arguments, but
for his patriotic impudence in delaying their din-
ner. He gave way, of course, and the house, hur-
ried and jubilant, voted with hungry decisiveness
that it would give £120,000 for seventeen acres at
Kensington, and had the Premier had the hardi-
hood to accept Lord Eleho's ironical proposal, might
in its voracity have swallowed the whole job at once.
Mourning over spilt milk is seldom the favourite
sentimentality of practical politicians, there must
be an end of discussion somewhere, and a vote of the
House of Commons, even when that body is hun-
gry, is the most available terminus. We shall not,
therefore, regret that the nation has secured a limited
right in seventeen acres in a London suburb at a
cost exceeding the produce of all Mr. Gladstone's
petty taxes. The land is not dear at the price,
though as the purchase is made under a contract
that it shall be devoted to science and art, even an
Act of Parliament cannot give the nation the fee-
simple, or make the tenure other than a perpetual
leasehold under very oppressive conditions,
EXAMINER.—The Duke of Cambridge has given
a satisfactory explanation of his conduct respect.
ing the Court-martial at Mhow and its attendant
circumstances. It appears that the authorities of the
Commander-in-Chief in India is practically inde-
pendent, and that it is ,a 1 but unprecedented for the
Horse Guards to meddle with it. Nevertheless,
however, the Duke of Cambridge was so displeased
with the transactions at Mhow, that he wrote the
memorandum censuring all the officers concerned,
When we commented on the memorandum we fully
acknowledged the spirit of justice in which all the
circumstances were reviewed, but objected to the
conclusion leaving Col. Crawley in his command
upon trial, as his admitted demerits called for his
removal. But we did not join in the opinion of
our contemporaries, that the memorandum was mere
brutent fulinen, for we knew that the censures would
fall with great weight upon the officers in high
authority in India not accustomed to have their
doings questioned, much less rebuked. But it so
happened that we took a juster view of the memo-
randum because at the time we were not in posses-
sion of the horrible facie of Lilley's case, of which
the Duke of Cambridge was also ignorant. And
upon better information the Commander-in-Chief
resolved to put Col. Crawley upon his trial by court
martial for his treatment of Lilley and the other
sergeants. To render this step satisfactory, it was
essential, as Lord Shaftesbury observed, that the
trial should took place in England. A trial in India
involving the conduct of military authorities, not
excepting the Commander-in-Chief, whose power
is all but arbitrary, would obviously be a mere
mockery, or perhaps worse, an occasion for making
other victims like poor Lilley. And this reminds
us of Lord Hartington's last speech on this subject,
and his declaration that the Horse Guards could
not do more than draw the attention of officers to
the illegality of their acts. How is it that so lately
the expedient of a court martial on Col. Crawley
had not occurred to the Secretary at War ? He was
in possession of all the facts, and though he admitted
the commission of a great wrong, despaired of fixing
the responsibility on any of the parties implicated.
The time may come when it will appear that the
much-belauded Sir William Mansfield's conduct
demands inquiry no less than that of Col. Crawley.
This affair ought to bring under consideration the
authority of the Commander-in-Chief in India and
its independence of the Horse Guards. We suppose
this to be a fragment of the old Indian Government,
for which thei e was reason before the communication
with India was expedited by steam and rail, but
for which there is not a particle of reason now that
instructions may be conveyed in a month or less.
Supreme military sway in India is enough to turn
any but the very strongest beads, and it would bea
most wholesome discipline to such an officer as Sir
Hugh Rose to bring him under immediate account-
ability to the Horse Guards, and we say this with-
out meaning any disparagement, for we fully admit
the Inn its of Sic 11 ugh, but they would be even
greater than they are if he were more under control,
and so sometimes saved from himself.
WEEKLY REGISTER.—The Queen of Prussia has
arrived at Windsor on a visit to her Majesty—the
King having arranged to
visit Carlsbad for the
benefit of his health, which is much impaired.
Rumours of an unpleasant nature are current as to
serious differences between the King and his heir,
the Crown Prince. The declaration of the Prince at
Dantzig, that the coup d'elat against the Parliament
*old the press was without his knowledge and ap-
proval, was very naturally considered by the
Ministers as a repudiation of their policy, which it
in reality was intended to be. It was as plain and
precise an intimation of the Prince's condemnation
of the violent measures of his father's Government
as he could decently give to the nation, and so his

words were interpreted by Ministers and by the
Opposition. The Cabinet could hardly avoid taking
notice of so heavy a rebuke from the heir apparent
to the Crown. and it is understood that they pre-
sented to the King the alternative of accepting their
own resignation or of censuring the Prince. The
King preferred the latter course, as may easily
be supposed, for he has over and over again in
the most emphatic terms proclaimed his entire
acquiescence in and approval of the acts of his
Cabinet, and his strong disapproval of the course
taken by the House of Commons. What were the
exact terms of his Majesty's letter of rebuke to the
Prince we cannot take upon us to say. One ver-
sion of it, which may be imaginary, but which is in
everybody's mouth in Germany, is that the King
expressed in .L.t-fong terms his indignation at the
Prince's short speech at Dantzig, and threatened to
de
priTo his Royal Highness of all his decorations
and dignities and his military rank, and even went
so far as to hint at ordering him to be arrested.
This letter, so the story goes, was shown by the
Prince to his consort—our own beloved and good
Princess Royal—who at once counselled her hus-
band to maintain his principles at any cost, and to
go into exile, in which she would cheerfully accom-
pany him, rather than sanction what he considered
wrong, or retract what he had felt it due to himself
to proclaim to the nation on a matter ef&cting the
security of the throne and the liberties of the people.
However this may be, it is certain that there is a
serious divergence of views, if not an estrangement
of feeling, between the King of Prussia and the
Crown Prince, and that the Prince does not evince
any inclination to take the part of his father's
Ministers.

LONDON REVIEW.—About 60,000 persons arc
directly engaged or interested in the cab trade of
London. Before speaking of the men, let us see
whence come the horses. Many of those are excel-
lent horses, which have been sold hastily because
they have jibbed, or stumbled, or kicked when
" killed with kindness, pampered and caressed
by their master, well clothed up, and fed to
the full." A cabby hears that this sort of favourite
is to be sold, and " does not care if he is scratched or
has cut his knee—sixpenny worth of tincture, and a
little gunpowder and lard, will soon put that to
rights ;" so he gets him for £2o—perhaps a sixth of
the original price. The temper of such a horse is
soon reduced by hard work and bad feeling. In the
wettest night he stands in a cold wind, and on the
hottest day he is chafed with the coarse harness;
" while the gent inside the Hansom is sitting as far
back as possible to avoid the scorching rays, the
poor horse is often in untold misery." Then, again,
there is the slippery mud, the hard pavement, the
slush of a thaw, and the glassy road after a sudden
freeze, when each stumble entails unnatural twists
and struggles up, and countless quick stoppages,
wrenching the poor horse's muscles. "We might
feel somewhat for him if we had to run on a hard
road in cricketing shoes or to carry a heavy load in
pattens." Every sort of trade or manual labour has,
of course, its hardships, and we need not indulge in
any maudlin sentiment when we recite the woes of
a cabman and his horse. But as this particular
calling is practised directly under everybody's notice
and for everybody's comfort and convenience, it
is
the duty of all to give some attention to the evils of
cabmen's ccridition, especially if those evils are
very much caused by the habits of the public, and
may be remedied by them. The fatal diseases and
large number of deaths among cabmen may be caused
partly by their being men originally of a weak or
broken-down constitution, or partly by their vicious
habits; but these evils are undoubtedly increased by
the very nature of their occupation. " Our long-
day-man goes on thinking it is not so cold as people
make out, but, as the day advances, especially after
he has changed horses, he finds that, notwithstand-
ing his wraps, he is cold. He buffets himself till he
is sore, and in this state he looks anxiously out for
the next rank, where he can get down and have a
run, though risking a summons for standing with
.more than the allotted number of cabs. He
is at last, however, fair,' and then jumps
off his box and indulges in a walk as far as
the limited space to which he is confined by the
care of his horse will admit. The weight of his
clothes, however, soon tires him, and, as the cabs get
off, he takes their place until he is first. He must
now look out. He remounts, and often sits there
until he seems a fixture. That blue face and those
chattering teeth are an evidence that he is cold
through, and if he has not gone to the publichouse
before, he is now ready to do anything to obtain
warmth." He needs not go far; the gin palace is
at hand, and he whisks off a glass of spirits. Still,
when he goes out and mounts his box, down pours
the rain. He is giddy with cold, wet, and drink,
and gets, perhaps, only a shilling fare ; and again
he is sent wandering through the bleak night; and
again he tries to nerve himself with another " three
penn'orth." He gets late to bed, having risen very
early, and his wet coat is not dry by morning. Can
we wonder that a man exposed to all this is rheuma-
tic ? " I know that very many are soaked to the
skin while out, in order that their little ones may
have dry feet, and while wiping from his face the
inky drops that have filtered through his hat, the
man may be seen bringing Bob' a quartern of
beans." Tired, wet, and sleepy, he will sometimes
get into hi own cab, and snooze away his time of
waiting, The next lady passenger is surprised to
find the cushions damp. Often, when the driver
cannot leave his cab, his stomach is yearning for
food, and when he arrives at home, the dinner which,
at 1 o'clock, would have greatly cheered him, is
scarcely touched, unless he feel the craving appetite
of debility.

LAW TIMES --Lord Westbury proposes a revision
of Reports, for the purpose of abbreviation. There
is novelty in this, and its utility is undeniable. We
have, at present, some hundreds of volumes of re-
ports, all of which in practice form a part of the
law, because the judges hold themselves bound by
the decisions they contain. Of all this mighty mass
of cases the greater proportion is now worthless.
Some relate to extinct law ; some have been over-
ruled by decision ; more have been superseded by
legislation ; others have become obsolete. The
Lord Chancellor proposes that a commission should
revise the mass, expunge all that are worthless,
and leave only such as contain good law applicable
to the present time. Thus, he considers, would the
law contained in this library of reports be reducea
to a few volumes. The statutes, by judicious ex-
purgation, might be treated in the same manner
with the same results, and thus would the whole
!aw be reduced to a bulk which, if not exactly por-
tabk, would be contained in a bookcase of moderate
dimensions. The design is admirable, and the plan
has an aspect of simplicity very attractive at the
first glance, but we fear it will not bear a close in-
spection. In the first place, where are the fit men to
whom it could be safely intrusted? It must be
done by lawyers—and by learned lawyers—and
sagacious lawyers—and above all, by practical
lawyers. But a lawyer who is learned, sagacious
and practical, can employ himself much more pro-
fitably than in editing reports; such a
i man is cer-
tain to secure a fortune and honour n the active
labours of hls profession.

The Trial of Lieut.-Colonel Crawley.

(From, the Army and Navy Gazette,)

The Judge-Advocate-General has now before him
all the circumstances necessary to enable him to
frame charges for the trial of Lieut.-Col. Crawley,
and we may expect that the course of procedure
will be settled so that instructions may be sent to
India by the next mail. It has been urged that it
would be more satisfactory to the public, and mote
conducive to the ends of justice, that Col. Crawley
should be tried in England than in India ; and we
believe that the authorities are so far in favour of
this view that it has been left to the proper legal
authority whether there are any technical dfficulties
in the way of a trill at home. Some of the neces-
sary witnesses—Adjutant Fitzsimon, Dr. Barnet,
Sergeant-Major Waxefield, and others—are in
England, but we take it that the majority are with
the regiment, and it may yet be worthy of conside-
ration whether a court of inquiry, consisting of
three officers, of whose experience, capacity, and
judgment there could be ino doubt, should not be
sent out to investigate the case of Mhow, and com-
plete it at home. There would certainly be awk-
wardness in having a court-martial on the spot, for
the first step must necessarily be a direction to Gen.
Mansfield to assemble a court to try an officer for an
offence, for the consequences of which he cannot but
be held responsible so far as we know of his action
in the matter. The remarks made by his Royal
Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-
Chief in the House of Lords on Monday afford ground
for grave reflection. It appears that it was only within
the lust, week or two that he was placed in possession
of the facts attending the imprisonment of Sergeant-
Major Lilley. Now, these facts were known to any
one in England who cared to inquire into them for
many months. They were recounted as fully as need
be for purposes of further inquiry in our impression
of Aug. 9, 1862 ; the court martial and its horrible
May
episodes having taken place in the April and
previously. There are now over 70,000 European
troops in India, and we think it is high time th at
some change should be made in a system which
permits the officer responsible for the discipline.f of
the whole army of the Queen to remain or ten
months in ignorance of facts having amos.t impor-
tant bearing not only upon that discipline,. bat upon
the reputo.tion of the country for justice and huma-
nity,

LAW INTELLIGENCE—June 0.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

- - -
:Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before Mr. Barak
Martin and a Special Jnry.)
THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY V. WARRING.

Mr. Manisty, Q.C., and Mr. Hannen, were counsel for
the plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Baddeley for
the defendant.
The case (which was tried yesterday) wes an action of
ejectment, brought by the Earl of Shrewsbury against the
11ev. William Wareing, a Catholic clergyman, to recover
possession of 170 acres of land in the county of Stafford.
The defendant admitted that the plaintiff had proved his
title to the earldom of Shrewsbury and the estates belong-
ing to it; but disputed his right to deprive him of the pro-
perty in question, which he claimed under a lease granted
by the late Earl John, on the 2d of August, 1843.
Mr. Manisty, in opening the case,
,said that by a private
act, 6th Geo. 1., c. 29, the power of the Shrewsbury
estates, being in actual possession, was entitled to grant
leases, at the usual and accustomed rent, of lands for terms
of years determinable on three lives. In 1840 the lands in
question were leased :by Earl John to John Fallows, at a
rent of £4OO a year. In 1843 the earl obtained another
act, 6th and 7th Viet., c. 78, by which he was entitled to
accept the surrender of leases granted in pursuance of the
the first act, and in lien of to grant leases for 60 years at
the same rent. A fcw days before this act passed—viz., on
the 2d of August, 1843, Earl John granted a lease of the
property held by FalloWs, at £4OO a year, to the Rev.
Mr. Wareing and three other persons, priests of
the Catholic Church, of which , the earl was himself
a member, for 60 years, at an annual rent of £5O. The ques-
tion was, whether the earl was in actual possession of the
lands so as to be entitled to grant a lease at all, and,
secondly, if so, whether it was granted for the " usual and
accustomed rents," in accordance with the terms of the
act of 6th George I. and the subsequent act. In Novem-
ber, 1852, Earl John died, and was succeeded by Earl
Bertram, who was an infant. The estates then passed into
the hands of the Court of Chancery, who appointed s
receiver, who continued to receive the £4OO a year. In

1854 Fallows got into difficulties, and a lease of the greater
part of the land was granted for a certain time to his son
and nephew at an annual rent of £360. In August, 1856,
Earl Bertram died, and the present plaintiff, who was a
Protestant claimed the earldom and the estates, which he
ultimately succeeded in obtaining. The defendant then
set up the lease of August 2, 1843, but the earl contended

that it was void, because it was not granted in accordance
with the terms of the two previous acts of parliaments.
The evidence adduced on the part of the plaintiff was
chiefly of a documentary character, and the case resolved

itself chiefly into one of law.
Mr. Sergeant Shee, in his address to the jury, said
there was no reason whatever for the suggestion that the
defendant had obtained the lands improperly, because he
enjoyed the rents of them during the life k,f the last two
Earls of Shrewsbury, with their full knowledge and with
their best wishes.
Mr. Baron Martin, in summing up, said there was not
the slightest imputation on any of the parties.
The Jury then, under the direction of the learned judge,
found that the land in question formed part of the settled
estates comprised in the 6th Geo. 1., and that it was not
leased by Earl John to the defendant at the usual and ac-
customed rent.

This was substantially a verdiet for the plaintiff. It is,
however, probable that points of law upon these facts will
be raised in the Court above.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

YORK-SATUhDAY•

There was not a large show of wheat to-day, and the
demand was slow, prices being in favour of sellers. Bar-
ley was very scarce. Beans quiet.
Wheat, red 44s to 4Se Oats.... 22s to 24s
White do .48s to 52s Beans 40s to 42s
Barley .28s to 30s Peas ....—s to —a
Malt, 62s to 64s per qr. ; rye, 34s per qr ; flour, 343
to 36s per sack.