The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-27 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos presided
on Saturday evening at the distribution of prizes to
the Ist Middlesex Volunteer Artillery Brigade at
Willis's Rooms, St. James. There were present Col.
Erskine, C. 8., Inspector-General of the volunteer
force ; Lieut.-Col. Creed, commandant of the regi-
ment ; Major li. F. Smith, and many officers of the
regular and volunteer services. Col. Creed, in open-
ing the proceedings, referred to the part which the
corps had taken in thevarious field-days of the year.
Since Mit year, he said, the number of members had
been steadily augmenting. Their efficiency of artil-
lerymen had vastly increased. Adverting to the
field-days of the year he commenced with that of
Brighton, to which, he said, a portion of the regi-
ment had marched with their guns from London,
and carried out this proceeding in every way as a
detachment of the regular service would have done.
Not only did the members clean their horses and
harness, but they mounted guard at night, which
showed that in case of need Volunteers could fall in
with the duties of soldiers, and would prove a ser-
viceable auxiliary in the army. With respect to the
review at Wimbledon it would be remembered that
the Duke of Cambridge complained of the want of
punctuality of many of the regiments, but this com-
plaint could not be made against the Ist Middlesex
Artillery, for the brigade marched down by road and
was on the ground to the minute. At the competi-
tion of the National Artillery Association at Shoe-
buryness a portion of the brigade attended and en-
camped. He was sure every man felt thankful for
the kindness of the Royal Artillery officers and men,
and for the instruction which they received from
them in their duties as soldiers. He was happy to say
the Ist Middlesex made the highest winning score
during the competition, and won the Association
Prize. At the annual inspection the brigade turned
out most efficient both in numbers and drill, but he
regretted to mention that an accident occurred to
one member, Gunner Meadows. He bore his mis-
fortune in an heroic manner, and the corps would
gladly welcome him back when he had recovered.
The speaker then referred to the establishment of a
hc Club b
saida t thhaedhhe zetedn- qp
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concluded by referring to the great honour which
the chairman had conferred upon the regiment by
becoming the honorary-colonel. The Duke then made
a short address to the assemblage, and dwelt upon
the advantages of the volunteer movement to
England, not only in preserving peace and strength-
ening the country, but socially and morally in bring-
ing people of all classes together and giving young
men healthful recreation in place of questionable
amusements. That it was a permanent institution,
he said, might now be looked upon as certain, and
its establishment by the will of the people, and not
by dictates of a Government, was a good omen for
the welfare of the country, proving, as it did, that
the people were resolved to maintain the institutions
under which they live. The Duke resumed his seat
amid loud cheers. Colonel Erskine, on being called
o
upon to speak, said the presence on that occasion
the Duke, who was a distinguished memberof the
Yeomanry, was a proof of the good feeling existing
between the two services. He said it was most de-
sirable that this good feeling should be kept up, for
in case the volunteers became necessary for the de-
fence of the country they would have to act with the
Yeomanry, as the Volunteer Cavalry is but a small
force. The prizes were then distributed. Captain
Monckton had so distinguished himself in indi-
vidual competition as to take three chief prizes.
A challenge prize, given by Major 11. F. Smith, for
bnapttrearcytiocef the
,m
Ist taTkoenwebrNo.Hamlets 1 (Captain Artillery
Marsh's
Volunteer Corps, which forms a portion of the bri-
great u
bri-
gade. At the close of the proceedings thanks were
voted by acclamation to the chairman, the comman-
dant, and Colonel Erskine, the proceedings termi-
nating with a ball.
The Lord Mayor and the Lady
Mayoress have
kindly consented to present the prizes to be awarded
to the respective winners of the North-East London
Rifles on Thursday evening next. The large hall
of the regiment in Shaftesbury-street, City-road,
has been beautifully decorated for the occasion.

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_
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't*-- tut

point, the public should understand that to threaten
Chili is to take a wrong course to obtain satiii-
faction. The active measures taken in both
hemispheres have probably by this time reduced
the assumption alike of the Madrid Cabinet
and of its representative at Valparaiso. Europe
will gladly see the affair brought to a conclusion,
and the arrogance of Spain towards these Southern
Republics reduced and humbled. Unscrupulous
Powers are learning a dangerous lesson from the
successful spoliation of Denmark; but it is a pre-
cedent which can hardly be suffered to be followed
with impunity, or we shall have a general disor-
ganisation, and our sacrifices to secure peace will
end in producing a prolonged and universal war.

The English public will learn with great satisfac-
tion the termination of the petty but harassing war
with Bhootan. Although it could scarcely be
ranked among those matters which occasion a
serious disturbance in the current of English politics
and make unusual demands on the Imperial trea-
sury, it was from first to last an unsatisfactory
business. Since the Viceroyalty of Lord DALHoUSIE
the public mind has undergone considerable changes
on the subject of annexation, and a good many
conscientious persons are apprehensive that we have
already done more in that way than we were en-
titled to do. The great convulsion of 1857, too,
awoke England to a fresh sense of her important
and responsible duties towards the peoples and
races of India, and among the most difficult of these
must be ranked our relationship with the native
chiefs and with those states that do not own our
direct control. There was consequently a fear in
some quarters of proceeding to harsh measures with
Bhootan, while at the same time it was quite im-
possible to allow the outrageous conduct of the
Bbootanese towards a gentleman who, whatever
his diplomatic mismanagement, was the representa-
tive of the English Government. The two conflict-
ing feelings were reconciled in a most unsatisfactory
manner by placing British troops on the frontiers
in such positions that the lives which were
spared the risks of warfare succumbed to
the pestilence. The divided authority in Bhootan
very greatly increased the perplexities of the situa-
tion, the one party expressing a desire to make
terms only to be contradicted by the other. The
approach of the cold season brought about promises
of submission and peaceable intentions ; the advent
of hot weather, when action was difficult for Euro-
peans, allowed the Bhootanese to assume fresh airs
and graces. Happily they have now perceivedtheir
error, and appear to have arrived at the conclusion
that however long they continue their resistance
English power must be triumphant at last. As yet
we have no particulars of the manner in which their
submission was brought about. We have yet to
learn whether it is due to the influence of the Deb
Rajah, or to the slowly awakened conviction of the
rival party that the struggle is hopeless. However,
it matters comparatively little by what means the
conclusion has been arrived at, since, according to
the overland telegrams received, it is everything
that could be wished. The Treaty was signed on
the 11th. Full apology is made to the British Go-
vernment, and all the Dooars are ceded. The pri-
soners are given up, and free trade is established
between British India and Bhootan. There is
consequently nothing left to require at their hands,
and the last clause of the Treaty, while opening up a
fresh channel to Anglo-Indian commercial enterprise
is likely to produce important effects pn Bhootan
itself. We have, therefore, thus come to a pros-
perous conclusion of the long-pending dispute with
Bhootan, a dispute which the close vicinity of
Assam and its rich and thriving tea plantations in-
vested with some importance. There are not many
parts of India in which the inhabitants are ignorant
or isolated enough to provoke a struggle for supre-
macy with the Imperial Power, but it is the grow-
ing desire of our statesmen and people to rule by
reason rather than by fear. The day may be yet
far distant in India, but we are moving towards it,
and every step we take towards the education and
civilisation of the people brings us nearer to it.