The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-03 00:00:00

i

really be considered a national institution. (Hear, bear.)
My lords and gentlemen, the occasion which has brought

you here together has been stated by my kind and noble
friend, Lord Abercom, to be for the purpose of recognising
my services in aiding the volunteer movement, as he has
been pleased to express it. Both he and Lord Colville have
spoken of me with the warmth and exaggeration of old
friends. AR I can say is this that my humble object has
been to do nothing more than any other volunteer has done
—namely, to do my duty, as you yourselves have done by
this great movement, and we have endeavoured to do it
without a wish for any recognition or reward. (Loud
cheers.) We have done so as a public duty and for the love
of our country. Speaking in the name of myself, in your
name, and iu that of every volunteer iu the kingdom, I say
that previous to the existence of this great force I have
writhed—l have no other word for it—under what this
country suffered from those periodical panics which had
almost become chronic. I felt our position was unworthy
that of a great nation, and when the opportunity for forming
a volunteer force was once offered to us, the unanimous
feeling was to come forward to rescue our country from
such a state of humiliation. (Cheers.) lam not now
going to enter into the history of the volunteer movement,
but I must say that we armed in Vindication of the inde-
pendence of our country, and I hope that our intentioes
have been successful, and that we have been enabled to
place her in a position of greater security than she would
otherwise have occupied. (Loud cheers.) The success of
this great movement has been signal and complete, and we
may well hold our heads erect. (Cheers.) Our difficulties
have been great, and our duties onerous, but we have
reaped our reward in our sense of security, and in the
thanks of our fellow-countrymen, whose approving smiles
and whose encouraging words have done so much to
stimulate and consolidate this great movement. We
reap it in the independence of our country, and in the
knowledge that our own liberties are secured, and that at
the same time England being secure at hometbs dy.ohneer
passive strength and invulnerability to attack, has
much to secure and consolidate the liberties of other lands.
(Loud cheers.) This is our reward for what we have done,
and in securing those objects our success has been signal.
(Loud cheers.) Why ask to find out to whom that success
is due—to this man or to that? In such a great national
movement individual exertions are like specks floating on
the ocean. Let us endeavour to keep anclretain the success
we have met with, instead of endeavouring to find out who
has contributed towards it. We need now have no fear but
that this great army will be maintained as a permanent in-
stitution. My noble friend Lord Abercorn mentioned my
connection with the National Rifle Association and the
Parliamentary grant. Now, heaven forbid that this move-
ment should descend into a number of rifle clubs ; but my
firm opinion is, that nothing will add to the permanence of
the institution more than the National' Rifle Association.
Once you get a volunteer to the butts you will never lose
him—he will remain permanently a volunteer. (Cheers.)
With regard to the Volunteer Commission and the Govern-
ment grant, as time went on it became apparent that what-
ever the zeal and patriotism of the volunteers might be, the
movement, like other military matters, could not go en with-
out the sinews of war, and that there were many volunteers
who required assistance. (Cheers.) This led to the Vo-
lunteer Commission, and I hope and believe that it will
add to the permanence of the volunteer force. (Cheers.)
Its success is not due to the exertions of individuals, it is
due to the patriotism and spirit of the people, it is due to
the countenance and support of our Sovereign—(loud
cheers)—and it is due to the foresight and con-
sideration of the Horse Guards—Lord Grey, whom I am
glad to see in a position that he is so well calculated to
fill, and which I am confident he will fill to the advantage
of the country—having done all in his power to aid it.
(Loud cheers.) That success is also greatly the result of
the exertions of Colonel M'Murdo and of Colonel Erskine,
and not to one or two individuals connected with the force.
But, although Government has done this for us, you must
recollect that the time of trial for the volunteer force is
now approaching, when you must recollect that noblesse
oblige, which means that nobility has its duties as well as
its obligations. lam sure you will cling manfully to what
you have undertaken, and will, in case of need, show the
same spirit as that exhibited by the Confederate States of
America. (Loud cheers.) I am sure that, in case of
emergency, we shall find our Stonewall Jackson—(loud
cheers)—our Lees, and our Beauregards spring up on this
side of the Atlantic. (Loud cheers.) But it is not in the
hour of need when the trial of our volunteers will take
place, for then there will be hundreds of thousands stand
forward for every hundred now enrolled. but it is in the
hour of peace, when there is no excitement, no danger, and
when we have ceased to be petted and feted, and when we
shall be looked upon merely as an honourable and steady
institution, that we shall be tested. Remember that every
volunteer who in times of peace steadily goes through his
nine effective drills, and obtains the Government grant.
is doing a great deal more service than the man who, in
times of danger, rushes spasmodically to arms, So long
as health and strength are granted to me, I will stand by
you, and I am ready to give my hand to our noble chairman
as a pledge that I will stand by you so long as I have health
and strength to do so—(loud cheers)—but, at the same
time, in taking his hand, I shall consider that you,through
him, pledge yourselves to stand by meso long as you have
health and strength. (Loud cheers.) We have now en-
tered into a solemn engagement with one another, and I
further ask you, by this day year, to have each of you
added by your influence at least one member to the force.
(Cheers,) I hope you don't wish to be outdone by the Lon-
don Irish. (No, no, and laughter.) Well, Lord Donegall
has just sent to the London Rifle Association for a 10th
rifle, as they have succeeded in adding a 10th company to
the corps. (Loud cheers.) In conclusion I have only to
express from my heart the wish that God Almighty may
bless you in all your goings. (Loud cheers.)
Several other toasts followed, and the proceedings were
protracted till an advanced hour. These were enlivened by
some Scotch songs, volunteered by Mr. Kennedy and ac-
companied by Mr. Land. The band of the corps was sta-
tioned in the gallery, and Mr. Ross, the Queen's piper, and
the pipers of the regiment made their appearance at inter-
vals during the evening.

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