The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-27 00:00:00

Inspec tiou ?of the First Surrey Rifles.

On Satn rda: evening the annual inspection of
the First Surrey Rifles took place at the head-
quarters of the reeiment, Hanover Park, Peckham,
by Col. M‘Murda, Inspector• General of Volunteers.
The regiment, was under the command of Lieut.-
Col. M'Donald., assisted by Major Irvine, Captains
Rogers, Stratton, Phare, Robotham, Bristowe, and
Clipperton. 'The muster, considering the character
of the weather, was exceedingly good, there being
six compans,es of eighteen files, or something like
from 250 to 300 men of all ranks. On Colonel
M'Murdo reaching the ground, the men presented
arms in line, the bands playing. The gallant
colonel called some of the men oat of the ranks and
examined their rifles, in reference to which he ex-
pressed his approbation. The regiment then
formed into companies at quarter distance and
marched past in that order, and subsequently in close
column at the table. Having again formed line, and
performed all the most difficult battalion movements
at the double in the most precise manner,
Colonel M‘MoaDo addressed the corps. He ob-
served that he hod kept the battalion moving at a
rapid rate, because he thought their blood might be
chilled by their being het, an 4 another reason was
that he was desirous of seeing whether the batta-
lions were as handy under arms, considering the
rapidity of the movements, nearly every one being
done at the double. He (the gallant colonel) must
say that he was muchgratified with what he had seen.
It was some time since he had had the opportunity
of inspecting the First Surrey, and he remembered
that on the first occasion their evolutions were very
well performed, but he saw by the movements of
that day that they had acquired the habits of old sol-
diers. Although he had taken them somewhatby sur-
prise by the rapidity with which he ordered themove-
ments, they had performed them, from the very first
to the last, without the slightest hesitation or check,
which proved to him that they were thoroughly
wall drilled. Indeed, they had done more than any
soldiers would be likely to be called upon to do on
the field of battle, and he must repeat, both to
Lieut.•. Colonel M'Donald and to them, that he was
highly satisfied with what he had witnessed thst
day.
The proceedings of the inspection then concluded
by the regiment giving three cheers for Colonel
M'Murdo and three for Lieut.-Colonel M'Donald.
A large number of ladies graced the covered gal-
lery during the inspection.
Shortly atter the conclusion of the day's evolu-
tions a banquet was served in the spacious drill
shed, which was decorated with flags for the occa-
sion, and at which some hundreds of the members
attended.
Lieut.-Colonel M'Donald presided, and was sup-
ported by Colonel M'Murdo, the Rev. Daniel Moore
(the hon. chaplain), several officers of the corps,
rend honorary members.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The health of her
Majesty," said he was disposed to look upon Queen
Victoria as the only real Queen in existence, and
that toast, as well as " The Prince and Princess of
Wales," and "The Duke of Cambridge," as the
friend of the volunteers,were responded to with great
cheering. A similar demonstration of approbation
was accorded to the toast of " The Army, Navy,
and Volunteers."
The CHAIRMAN said he had not proposed the
health of their gallant guest, the Inspector-General
of Volunteers, in connexion with the previous toast,
because he felt that the eminent services he had
rendered to the volunteers of this country, and to
the First Surrey Rifles in particular, demanded that
they should make the gallant colonel's health a
special matter. (Cheers.) He believed that most
of the great success which had attended the volun-
teer movement was mainly attributable to the ad-
mirable manner in which Colonel 7tleMurdo filled
the post of Inspector-General. It was an office
that could not be filled by every military man ;
but there was no doubt whatever that, so far as the
volunteers were concerned, they had the right man
in the right place. (Cheers, amidst which "The
Health of Colonel M'Murdo" was enthusiastically
drunk.)

Colonel 111‘Munno, in rising to return thanks,
was again enthusiastically cheered, He observed
that he believed that no person could fill the posi-
tion he did in relation to the volunteers without
working with all the heart and will which he did
in their behalf. (Cheers.) He had had all the
advantages of a military education by the side of
one of England'sgreatest captains in the field, and
if he had not paid attention and learnt something as
a staff officer to one of the greatest soldiers and
patriots that ever led the armies of this country, Sir
Charles Napier, he must have been a dolt indeed.
He had gone—but, thank God, all those principles
of a soldier which he learnt under that good man
still remained with him (Colonel M'Murdo), and re-
taining those principles, he could not, as an English-
man, hesitate to go heart and soul with the volun-
teers of this country. (Cheers.) After some plea-
sant allusions to the remark of the chairman, that
his idea was that there was only one queen of the
universe, and that Queen Victoria, he said he would
carry out the simile, and say that there was only one
army and navy, and in the whole world but :one
volunteer force, and_ that iorce the volunteers of
England. (Cheers.) Whilst the Ist Surrey were
drilling that day before him a gentleman apolo-
gised that the ground was so rough. In reference
to that, he must say that he would rather that vo-
lunteers should go through their evolutions on
ground they were likely to meet with if ever they
came into action, than on that which they were
never likely to meet with. Did they ever hear of
battle being fought on parade ground? (Hear.
He never - a
id. When engaged in the cauipeign of
Seinde they had
a fiat desert, and sixty miles be-
yond rose a range of mountains,to reach. which they had
`They generally
recolieciec
and h© marched in the dark,
district by the Bide whilst riding over that rough
iae of the gallant 22d, hearing one
man say to his comrade,
they were marching
niut s over, in allusion to the ground
the earth be" Well, when God made
have shot all the rubbish thi
way." (Laughter,)
they were likely to So
it was absurd to suppose
ing battles.
(Rear.) have
smooth ground for
Withfightl-
regard to the effect of
the new act Upon the
volunteer service, the gallant said he
Was
able
to tell them that the vo-
lunteer force was increasing
bars and efficiency—(cheers
rapidly both in num-
in the metropolitan erhaps not so much
)
Yorkshire, especial, coorPs as in the country, and in
iy, where i
days he expecctcehdeetorsr:)evieuw the course of a few
of from 7,000 to
8,000 men. a buody
he had read in one of thelslee rfefer.red to a statement
in g the fortificationsrand Sta°t•Wight papers,attack-
they useless, but that it woulding that not only were '
the standing army to man the quire an increase bf '
crease the taxation. seldom, andt also largely in-
Hetical questions, but he emphaticallyouched upon pc4i-
said that the volunteers would man this, denied this, a d
Instead of six battalions of -
n them. Cheer .)
artillery, which
Hardinge found was all the force of that L d
fend the United h.
ingdone—(laughteilann' to
4e-
now possessed the finest artillery i
-II th® gland
world, and at that moment they had no fewer6whole
than
370 battalions of volunteer artillery, and 30 goo
artillerymen. (Loud cheers.) After a • •' '
gain highly
complimenting the Ist Surrey for the way in which
they had performed their evolutions that day,
and for their kindness and hospitality to-
wards him, Colonel M'Murdo, in eulogistic
terms, proposed "The health of Lieut.-Colonel
M'Donald," which was also most enthuaiastically
received. 1
Lieut.-Colonel M‘DoNALD feelingly returned
thanks; and "The health of the Chaplain," "The
" " Lieut. Puckle," " The Press,"
lion. Secretary,
" The Ladies," and other toasts, concluded a most
pleasant evening, greatly enlivened by the spirted
music discoursed by the excellent band of the
regiment. 1

VOLUNTEER RETURNS.
The following circular has been issued from the
War Office:—

" War Office, July 24, 1863.

" Sir,—The Act 7 Geo. 4, cap. 58, under the provisions
of which returns were required to be sent by you to the
Sacretary of State, lord lieutenantiand general officer Com-
manding in the district, on the Ist of August in each ,•ear,
having been repealed (so far as it relates to volunteer corps)
by the Volunteer Act, 1863, I am directed by the Earl de

Grey and Ripon to inform you that the transmission of the
above returns will not be necessary.
`• I am to add that, in future, annual returns v 11 be re-
quired to be made up on the Ist December Ia cad of the
Ist August ; and that instructions in regard t ihe mode of
preparing and rendering them will be con; din the re-
vised edition of the Volunteer Regulation.; v .ch is about to
be published,—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient
servant, " HARTINGTON.
" To Officers Commanding Volunteer Corps."

The Federal Government and Mr. Laird.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—ln your paper of yesterday you publish a letter Mr.
Cobden was, on a point of form, prevented from reading to
the House of Commons on Thursday.
It is addressed by Mr. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the
United States Navy, to the Hon. Charles Sumner, and dated
April 19, 1863,

In this letter Mr. Gideon Welles says that " he has an
indistinct remembrance that his department was impor-
tuned by more than one person on behalf of Messrs.

Laird."

As the matter has never left the memory of Mr. Welles,
I shall feel obliged if he will give me the names of any one
of the persons who have so importuned him on my behalf,
and I shall, no doubt, be able to show him that they did so,
if at all, without any authority from me or my firm.
In the meantime I accept the admission that the depart-
ment over which Mr. Gideon Welles presides allowed itself
to be importuned by foreigners to build ships on behalf of
the Federal Government.
Mr. Welles also states that " it is not true that his de-
partment ever approached my firm with a view of getting
vessels built in this country for the American. Govern-
ment."
I can oLly say that I balieved it to be true, and I leave
the public to judge whether I had not sufficient grounds for
entertaining this belief, having in my possession the letters
copies of which I forward to you for insertion.
The contents of these letters clearly show that my friend
was well known to and in the confidence of the Federal
Naval Department, and I have no doubt his name is very
familiar to Mr. Gideon Welles. I also enclose a copy of a
letter to my correspondent on the 11th April last, to which
I have not yet any reply.
_ _

Before deciding to publish the letter of the 30th of July,
marked " Confidential," and the important memorandum it
contained, I consulted some of the leading men on both
sides of the House of Commons, and gave them, in confi-
dence, the original correspondence to read.

They are of opinion that the course taken by Mr. Cobden
in publishing Mr. Gideon Welles's letter gives me a clear
right to use all the documents in my possession for my own
vindication—but that I am not justified in making public
the name of my correspondent.

I will only add, in conclusion that I believed at the time,
and believe now, that my correspondent had the authority
of his Government for writing the letters, copies of which I
enclose.

Requesting the favour of your inserting this correspon.
dents, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

10, Park-place, St. James's. Street, JOHN LAIRD.
London, July 25, 1863.

(Copy.)

TO MESSRS, JOHN LAIRD, SOPS, AND CO., BIRKENHEAD.
Confidential, " Washington, July 30,11861.
" Dear Sizs,—Since my arrival here I have had frequent
interviews with our "Department of Naval Affairs," and
am happy to say that the Minister of the Navy is inclined
to have an iron-plated ship built out of the country. This
ship is designed for a specific purpose, to accomplish a de-
finite object. I send you herewith a memorandum, handed
me last evening from the department, with the request that
I would send it to you by steamer's mail of to-morrow, and
to ask your immediate reply, stating if you will agree to
build such a ship as desired, how soon, and for how much,
with such plans and specifications as you may deem it beat
to send me.

I feel very sure that the building of this proposed shot-
proof steamer will lead to other _business of much value.
Our own builders would be very jealous if they were
aware of this application to you, but in the present condi-
tion of affairs it is important to act secretly and cautiously,
and I have assured my government that you will keep this
matter entirely and strictly to yourselves, and by no means
let it be known what you are building, or for whom.
You will notice that the largest liberty is given for the
construction of the ship, one requisite only being important,
that she is bomb and shot proof. How this is to be accom-
plished it is for you to judge and determine, as the depart-
ment gives no specifications. I can state to you in confi-
deuce that the object is to enable the government to make
the attempt to take repossession of its forts in one specific
Southern port.

I have assured our Minister of the Navy that if such a
vessel can be built you can do it, and he has great confi-
dence in my judgment.

In addition to this shot and shell proof vessel he also
wants a side-wheel gun boat, of not over five or six feet
draft ; rudder at both ends ; speed not less than 13 knots ;
to carry a single gun at each end, weighing 6,0001b5., ex-
clusive of carriage; the boat to be built of iron.

Please give all due examination and thought for both of
the objects desired, especially the battery, and write me as
soon as possible, directed as usual at New York, for which
I leave here this evening.—Waiting your advices, I am,
dear Sirs, very truly yours,

(Signed)
You can judge what angles to give if decks must be iron-
plated, and the beat form for glancing off balls.
We are desirous of having constructed a floating battery
planned with the specific object of going into ports
guarded with batteries and forts, which are within from
300 yards to half a mile from the channel. The floating
battery or iron-plated ship to be so constructed as to be able
to pass the forts comparatively unharmed by the fire of the
batteries, both horizontal and plunging. She is wanted for
no other purpose.
She is not required to have a speed exceeding six knots.
She must not draw over 14 (fourteen) feet.
She must have no masts.
Her rudder must not be exposed so as to be liable to be
disabled in passing a fort : this is most important.
There should be a rudder at each end to avoid turning.
She must carry eight guns (rifled), weighing each about
16.000 lb.

Two on each side,
Two on bow, and
Two to fire from stern,
The ship to be finished complete, with guns and every.
thing appertaining.