The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-12 00:00:00

THE CEANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
ON VOLUNTEERS.

The ceremony of presenting the prizes to success-
ful competitors of the 13th and 14th Companies of
the Queen's Westminster Rifle Volunteers (St.
Martin's Division) took place last night, at the
Freemason's Tavern, by the Rev. G. W. Humphry,
the Vicar of St. Martin's.
Subsequently a supper was given in the great
hall, at which the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, presided.
After the usual toasts were drunk,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and
said—Gentlemen, the reception you have given to
the toasts which it has already been my good for-
tune to propose to you, convinces me that you will
require but a few words, and not much persuasion,
in order that you may give the toast I have now to
propose the reception it merits. I have to ask you,
gentlemen, to drink to " The Navy, the Army, and
the Volunteers." (Applause.) The first of these
three services I fear is not personally and actually
represented at this board. The others are repre-
sented by distinguished members of the respective
services. Now, gentlemen, it is impossible to pro-
pose this toast—although, as I have said, it would
not be necessary in order to insure its reception,
that anything should be said on the subject
consistently with the feelings which we, as Eng-
lishmen, entertain, without saying at any rate
one word on its nature and character. We
propose to drink, gentlemen, to the " Army,
Navy, and Volunteers." Two of these services
are very ancient, the other is a service not so an-
cient, and, yet, though not so ancient under the
name it bears, in reality, perhaps, it is as old as
either of them, because, after all, the periods of real
crisis and danger, the main reliance of Old Eng-
land has not been merely on professional services,
however distinguished, but on the patriotism, spirit,
courage, and self-devotion of its people. (Loud
cheers.) If we go back as far, at any rate, to the
time of Queen Elizabeth, it was not then in regular
and well-organised services that that extraordinary
Sovereign, whose name, I hope, will always retain
a high place in the estimation and gratitude of
Englishmen—(cheers)-.it was not in particular and
highly organised services, however meritorious, that
the main reliance of this country under Providence
was placed. It was in the deep attachment of every
Englishman—an attachment founded and rooted
alike in his heart and understanding to the laws
and institutions of his country. It was in that lay
the greatest of all our resources, and our surest
hope, that whatever amount of trial might be put
on the country, yet the demands made on the peo-
ple of that country would be fairly and fully met.
(Cheers.) Since that time, gentlemen, we have seen
both the navy and the army of this country assume
A permanent form, and in compliance with the re-
quisitions and exigencies of modern society, become
portions of our fixed institutions. As portions of
the fixed institutions of the country they have at
all times held a high place in our esteem, regard,
and admiration. We have always found them
thoroughly efficient for the purpose for which they
were appointed, namely, the purpose of maintain-
ing the honour, the security, and the safety of
our country. We have never found them, on
the other hand, exposing us to dangers which
sometimes are associated with those insti-
tutions—I mean the dangers to those liber-
ties which we prize more dearly than even our
own lives. (Cheers.) Unhappily, gentlemen, there
are in Europe armies who have never seen and
never faced any adversary in the field except their
fellow-subjects and fellow-citizens. (Hear, hear.)
Such is not the case in the army of England, and
whenever an Englishman becomes a soldier, from
having been a citizen he becomes something else he
was not before. He has the same attachment as if
he still remained a civilian to the laws and institu-
tions of the country, and he pays the same respect
to its magistrates and its constituted authorities as
if he had never put a redcoat on his back. (Cheers)
Ile knows, gentlemen—a soldier knows and a sailor
knows—that he is not the hired instrument of des.
potism for the purpose of supporting laws and go-
-vernments that are odious to the people amongst
be exists, but that he is truly appointed for a pur-
pose to which his attention ought to be devoted—
namely, that of defending against foreign foes the
shores, the hearths, the altars, and the homes of
England. (Loud cheers) lam afraid, gentlemen,
there are countries—aye, that at this day there are
portions of Europe—where, if they could gather to-
gether such an assemblage of their citizens as Inow
see before me, the toast of the navy, or at an rate
the toast of the army, of those countries would not
meet with a very enthusiastic reception. (Cheers.)
But such is not the case within these walls, and