The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-23 00:00:00

DEFENCE OF THE EAST COAST OF
SCOTLAND.

ABERDEEN, JAN. 21.—Government having resolved
to put the east coast of Scotland and England in a state
of defence, Captain Craigie was appointed to the com-
mand of the Royal Naval Volunteers, thus to be raised.
He has visited the people in the fishing villages on the
Firth of Forth, and enrolled upwards of 200 men.
Yesterday he held a meeting with the fishermen in the
neighbourhood of Aberdeen, and was accompanied by the
Lord Provost, the shoremaster, the town-clerk, Major
Christie, and other public officials. The captain assembled
the men in the open square of their village of Foot-Dee,
and in a blunt, sailorlike speech told them that he wanted
them as volunteers. They would be enrolled for a period
of 5 years, and while enrolled would be exempt from im-
pressment. Their training and exercise would be on shore
or on shipboard, at such periods as would least interfere
with their ordinary avocations, and would not exceed 28
days in the year. They would not be taken beyond 150
miles from the united kingdom under any circumstances ;
but it did not follow by their enrolment that they would
be taken even that distance, while by act of Parliament
provision was made for their special protection. Each
volunteer would receive 10s. on th' day of enrolment,
being a portion of his bounty of 61., and while training
on shore would receive is. 7d. a day, with is. a day, for
travelling expenses for every seven miles. At the end
of the 28 days' drill, volunteers of good conduct would
receive a further proportion of bounty not exceeding U.
Is. until the fifth year, when they would receive 1/. 68.
each. Volunteers would be provided with a jacket, trou-
sers, and pair of shoes, to be worn during the time of
training. They would be called into active service only
in cases of imminent national danger or great emer-
gency, and with this view would always be kept within
150 miles of the united kingdom. In actual service
they would only be called out for one year, except in
cases of great emergency, when they would be summoned
by Royal proclamation ; but those volunteers whose
time of service would be so extended would receive extra
pay, and at the close of two years would be entitled to
be discharged and exempt from all other service or lia-
bility. As it was of importance that boats' crews should
not be broken up, Government would give a gratuity,
in addition to the bounty ❑amed to such skippers as
might bring their boats' crew with them. The force
thus proposed to be raised would be identical with the
Sea Fencibies during the last war, or with the land
militia. They all knew that Europe at present was in
a very critical state ; the Government wished to be pre-
pared for the worst. Should any outbreak really occur
which would endanger our liberties, impressment or the
ballot must be resorted to if the present proposal were
not successful, for the country must bo defended. To
poor men the ballot was virtually the same as impress-
ment, as they could not pay for substitutes, but the
fishermen on the east coast, he felt assured, would readily
come forward, and, in the noble spirit of their forefathers,
enrol themselves for the defence of their country. (Cheers.)
To be of good service, however, it was necessary that
they should be disciplined, for all the hardy fellows be-
fore him would have little chance with even a dozen of
men well trained. Had the Government resorted to the
population generally, to raise the number of men re-
quired (1,500), they would, no doubt, have succeeded,
but as the fishermen resided on the coasts it was felt
that they were most in need of protection, and it was
therefore decided to give them the first offer to enrol
themselves in the service. And he was glad to say that
so ar as,he had yet proceeded, they bad responded nobly
to his appeal. Though he had only begun last week,
he had already enrolled 250 names—the fishermen,
wherever he went, being enthusiastic in the cause.
(Cheers.) And be had not the least doubt but that
when he returned to Aberdeen, three weeks hence, to
receive names, the fine fellows before him would show
the same ardour to defend the shores of old Scotland,
their sweethearts, and wives. (Cheers.)
GEORGE BRANDS, a seaman, then stood forward, and
in a very enthusiastic address backed Captain Craigie's
appeal. He had " been out " in 1798, and he could as-
sure the young men around him that their forefathers
had acted nobly, and the "folk of Filtie " (fishermen of
Foot Dee) would prove themselves worthy of being
called their sons. (Cheers.)
Three cheers were then given for Captain Craigie and
three for Provost Blaikie, after which the meeting ad-

journed.
Captain Craigie, who has been appointed to this com-
mand, was the general superintendent of the benevolent
distribution of provisions to the destitute people of the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland during the recent
destitution, and is a favourite with the people on the
east coast.