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

Inspection of the First Surrey Rifles,

- •
On Saturday ev.iiiirig the annual. inspection of
the First Surrey Rifles took place at the head-Li
quarter& of the regiment, Hanover Park, Peckham?
by Col. M'Murdo,,,lnspeetor-General of Volunteers
. .
The regimeni was under the command of Lieut. 7
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 companies 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 out of the ranks and
examined their rifles, in reference to which he exr
pressed hi© - approbation. The regiment then
formed into companies at quarter distance and
marched past in that Omer, 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 I\i‘Mirapo addressed the corps. He ob-
served that he had kept the battalion moving at a
rapid rate, because he thought their blood might be
chilled by their being hot, and 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 much gratified 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 the move-
menu!, 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
well 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 that
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 after 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,
rand 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 Prinee 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 thii 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 ll'Murdo 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 M'MunDo, 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's greatest 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 . indeid.
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 may that there was only one
army and navy, and in the whole world but :one
volunteer force, and that force 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 toUieet with. Did they ever hear of a
battle being
fought on parade ground P (Hear.)
er did. When engaged in the campaign of
Sninde they han a fiat desert and sixty miles be-
yond rose a ran
to reach. ner
range of mountains, which they had
They ee
bed in the dark,
and he recollected
whilst
mare
riding over that rough
district by the eide of the gallant 22d, hearing one
man say to his camrum e_ in •
,' allusion to the ground
they were mareeine,
the earth he must- hover' " Well, when God made
have shot all the rubbish , this
way." (Laughter.)
So it was absurd to suppose
they were likely to h battles. (R ave smooth ground for fight-
ingear) With
the new actregard to the effect of
upon the
volunteerl service, the gallant
colonel said he was
lunteer force was ine:th e to tell them that the vo-
bers and efficiency_(cehasing rapidly both in num-
in the metropolitan eers)—perhaps not so much
Yorkshire, especiallycorpsh min the country, and in
ere in the course of a few
iew a
8,000 men. (Cheers.) He body of from 7,000 to
ref
be had read in one of theisle ofWierred to a statement
in g the fortifications, and stetight papers,attack-
they useless, but that it wouldng that not only Were
the standing army to.man theMrequire an incretise of
crease the taxation. He seld , and also larg, in-
om touched
tical questions, but he emphatically upon poli-
said that the volunteers would deniedmaltyne thif,i, and
Instead of six battalions of artille them,w
(Chts.)
Hardinge found was all the force of that' hich, ord
fend the United Kingdom—(laughter) arra, landghter)—En
now possessed the finest artillery ;
-n the *hole
world, and at that moment they had no fewer' th
370 battalions of volunteer artillery,and ' an
30,000
artillerymen. (Loud cheers.) After again 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
torme, proposed "The health of Lieut.-Colonel
M`Donald," which was also most enthusiastically
received.
Lieut.-Colonel M'DoeteLD feelingly returned
thanks; and " The health of the Chaplain," "The
Hon. Secretary,
1, " Lieut. Puckle," " The Press,"
" The Ladies," and other toasts, concluded a most
pleasant evening, greatly enlivened by the spirited
music discoursed by the excellent band of the
regiment.

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 zo the
Secretary of State, lord lieutenant, and general officer com-
manding in the district, on the Ist of August in each year,
having been repealed (so far as it relates to volunteer corps)
by the Volunteer Act, 1863, I am directed by the Earl de 1

Grey and Ripon to inform you that the,transmission of the
above returns will not be necessary.
"lam to add that, in future, annual return= 11 be re-
quired to be made up, on, the Ist December ia-,( ad of the
Ist August ; and that instructions in regard t (he mode of
preparing and rendering them will be con: t, din the re-
vised edition of the Volunteer Regulations• :( his 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 Mess's.

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 ao,
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 believed 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 Ilth 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 lam 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.
deuce, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

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

(Copy.)
TO MESSRS. JOHN LAIRD, SONS, AND CO., BIRKENHEAD.
Confidential. " Washington, July 30,11861.
" Dear Siis,—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 best
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. itt 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 con&•
dence 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
veseel 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 best 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.

" City of New York." (Copy.)
TO MESSRS. J. LAIRD, SONS, AND CO., BIRKENHEAD.
New York, Sept. 20, 1861.
Dear Sirs,—your valued favours of 3d, 28th, and 31st
ult. with the accompanying drawings were received during
my absence in the Far West with General Fremont's divi-
sion of tha army, where 1 have been delayed far beyond my
expectations.

Immediately on my return I went to Washington with
your tracings, and laid them before the Secretary of the
Navy, and I trust that before long I shall be able to send
you an order for the construction of one or more gunboats.
The Secretary was rather disappointed that you have not
sent any response to the memorandum in reference to a shell
and shot proof battery for use in our Southern harbours.
I may say to you in confidence, intended to force an en-
trance into Charleston Harbour, defended by Forts Sumter
and Moultrie.

I hope that you may be able to send me a plan for such a
battery, and the terms on which you will construct such a
ship.

Lam glad to leain that you.are 2°124,, and so well and
rightly appreciated.

Trusting to hear from you soon, I am, dear Sirs, yours
faithfully,

(Copy.)

TO MESSRS. JOHN LAIRD, SONS, AND CO , BIRKENHEAD.
New York, Oct. 25, 1861.
.My dear Sirs,—l have your valued favour, also the slips
containing very interesting accounts of your new works, all
of which give me much pleasure. _

I congratulate you on the confidencewhthe
buildingmanifesteodf
abnyiyroonur.
Government in entrusting you it
plated ships of such large dimensions, as well as the trans-
port.em ship, and I have no doubt but that you will turn them
out, as you always have done, to the entiresattsfactionof
the Admiralty. I trust that you may get the contract for
the others they propose.
I cannot but regret that you did not estimate for the
floating batteries required by our Navy Department, as it
would have been a step in the right direction, and had you
succeeded, as I know you would, it would have gone far
towards relaxing the stringency of our navigation laws in
Iyference to the buying of foreign-built ships.
niraseynettydoeure last letter received yesterday to the Secretary
ion-plated
of the Navy,airwehtoboowas very desirous to have you build the
rab-proof batteries, and I trust that he
boats, have you build one or more of the gun
It is my present intention to visit England again for a
hurriedifso, lht:ippe, ltoealiai:e
proximoh kind regards to all, I am, &c.,
htheree in the Africa 6th November, and
Pleasure of seeing you about the
18th
(Sign)

. .__—.."..
You will ha seen b
(Copy.)
My dear Sir,—
ve
• April 11, 1863.
Birkerdl
report of the discussion in the Ilouseyotfhee
, meta on the 1
newspapers the
Alabama case, on the 27th of March last
in part of my speech the fact, that my land t I gamed
application from the Secretary of the Nary firm
athellari had
Government, through a friend of mine, to build vesaeteroafl
war for them.
I
I do not wish to bring your name before the publin, or to
Publish. the correspondence, except in the event Of the
Federal Government denying the statement I made, in
which case I shall have in self-defence to do so, which I
shall regret.

I think if they do deny the neintiation it will be treating
you unfairly, more especially us your letter to me and its
enekeuree handed to you by them ehow that they watered

very fully with you into the class of vessels required, and
the object these nsaels were intended to accomplish.
The American Government, as you also informed me per-
sonally and by letter, Nay, 1861, had employed Captain C.
to endeavour to purchase suitable vessels for blockading
purposes, and that you were in communication with him on
this subject. _

I did not name the negociation I had with the Federal
Government through you, until forced to do so by their
friends in the House of Commons, notwithstanding the re-
peated attacks made on, myself and my sons in the Ameri-
can and English press, and by the partisans of the North at
public meetings and elsewhere.
To have remained longer silent would have been con-
strued into an admission that the charges made against me
were correct, and, therefore, I felt the time had arrived when
I must make some statement on the subject.

I hope your family are all well) and remain, my dear sir,
yours very truly,

(Signed) JOHN LAIRD,