The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-18 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

The South Gloucestershire Regiment was disbanded
on Tuesday, after 28 days' drill, during which the most
remarkable improvement was observed in the carriage
and efficiency of the men. The inspection took place on
the previous day before Colonel Patton, the inspecting
officer of the district, on the old Racecourse at Glou-
cester, where an immense concourse of spectators had
assembled from different parts of the country to witness
the proceedings of the day. On the inspecting officer
arrivin on the ground with the Colonel of the regiment
(Earl Fitzhardinge), the whole regiment, 800 in number,
presented arms, and afterwards went through differen\
manoeuvres, including platoon and other firing, forming
in squares, charging in line, repelling an attack, &c.
At the close of the review the inspecting officer briefly
addressed the men, and complimented them on their
proficiency, informing them that he should report most
favourably of them to the Horse Guards. He also made
some allusions to the war, and recommended the men to
join the line. Earl Fitzhardinge also addressed the men,
and commended them for their efficiency, steadiness, and
industry, and for their good conduct in quarters, in
acknowledgment of which theladies of G,oucester had
provided refreshments for them at the close of the re-
view. His lordship also offered some general remarks
on the force and the circumstances under which they had
been called out, observing that from the highest lady in
the land to the humblest subject in her Majesty's domi-
nions, all acknowledged the services they had come for-
ward to offer to their country. About 60 or 70 men
have accepted the extra bounty offered by their noble
colonel of 10s. each man, and volunteered into the

line.
It having been rumoured that a certain number of
regiments of militia were likely to be called out for
pertminent duty, the Ist Somerset Militia Regiment,
which is now assembled at Taunton for 23 days' drill,
was firmed in close enlinnti of companies
MI the eve itug
parade, and addressed by its Colonel, Viscount Hinton,
when the whole regiment volunteered, to a man, to
serve her Majesty wnerever they might be sent, and
were only i-orry they were not asked to volunteer as a
body for Turkey.
The Second Somerset Militia is being daily drillei in
Sydenham field by the staff of the regiment, assiite.l by
a few drill instructors of the line. The whole corps
have expreswed an unanimous desire to place their ser-
vices at the command of the Queen at the very first
moment. they may be required. A considerable num-
ber of the men have already volunteered into regular
regiments, which they will join on the expiration of their
28 days' drill.
The light infantry battalion of the Royal S sex
Militia, under the personal command of the Duke of
Richmond, Lieutenant-Colonel Paine, and Major the
Hon. Henry Gage (late Rifle Brigade), have been pro-
gressingivery satisfactorily atClricbester du: ingithe .last
week in their evolutions. They have also. WOO ,I.CeTY:
successful ball cartridge practice at the target.
The Essex Rifles are to leave Colchester for the Tower
next week. On Monday there was an inspection by
the officers of the several companies as to the men most
eligible for service. Those with families will, with few
exceptions, be di-banded. Four in each company will
be allowed to take their wives to act as laundresses.

THE EXPLOSION OF THE JASPER•

Yesterday, on Mr. John Borrer and Mr. F. J. Hall,
the sitting magistrates of the Brighton bench taking
their seats, Mr. George White, the chief officer of police,
called their attention to a statement in the morning
papers relative to the explosion of the gon-brig
Beachy-head, and reflecting strongly on the conduct
of the local authorities of Brighton. If, he said, it was
not out of place, he should like, while the reporters were
present, to explain what was done in the matter.
The magistrates intimated that they were ready to
hear what the chief officer had to say on the subject.
Mr. White then stated that on Monday evening, about
5 o'clock, two officers called at his office, and represented
that they belonged to the Jasper, which bad blown up off
Beachy-head, and that the crew were in Brighton, requir-
ing assistance. They wished to see the Mayor, and he
replied that Brighton bad no Mayor, but that the high-
est local authority was Mr. Wilkinson, the High Con-
stable. He then sent Inspector Terry to the High Cob.
stable's office, in North-street, but it was found that Mr.
Wiikinson was out of town. His chief clerk,
ll
erra however,
accompanie I Mr. Terry to the office of Mr. V, the
magistrates' clerk. Mr. Verrall was of opinion that they
had better go to Mr. Thorncroft, the assistant overseer.
They did so, and Mr. Thorncroft offered to order admis-
sion for the whole of the crew into the workhouse ; but
Mr. Terry and Mr. Wilkinson's clerk, thinking that
something else ought to be done, went in search of Lieut.
Pratt, of the Coast-guard. On their way they called at
the police-office and found that Lieut. Pratt had arrived
there ; and he undertook to take charge of the crew. He
did so, and left the office at a quarter to 6, within three-
quarters of an hour of their arrival.e of them ? He was
Mr. Borrer—Then he took char,
the most proper person.
things of this sort
Mr. White said that, happily,
occurred so seldom in Brighton that it did nut strike him
that he ought at once to have sent to Lieut. Pratt ; on
the contrary, he thought the best person was the High
Constable. He did all he could for the seamen.
Mr. Verrall (magistrates' clerk) explained that when In.
spectory Terry and Mr. Wilkinson's clerk came to him it
was, he supposed, to inquire as to the High Constable's
power to grant assistance to the crew, and to charge the
same in his accounts. Mr. Wilkinson was away, and his
clerk did not like to take upon himself the responsibility of
granting assistance. He toll theta his opinion with re-
gard to the legal authority of Mr. Wilkinson—that he
was not justified in making any such payment and
charging it to the towa. At the same time, it was a
matter of discretion with him, in his position, whether
he would do so, and run the risk of the amount being
allowed. Of course the same observations would apply
to Mr. White and the police. Mr. Wilkinson's clerk
then inquired what was to be done ? He (Mr. Verrill)
replied that the only authority in the town through
whom persons who were distressed obtained relief was
the parochial board, and advised them to mention the
case to Mr. Tiiorncroft, and ascertain the view which he
took of the matter ; and they left with the intention of
going to Mr. Thorncroft. He also expressed his surprise
that, as they belonged to one of her Majesty's vessels,
they did not apply to the naval authority here, Lieutenant
Pratt. The answer was, that the application had been
made to Mr. Wilkinson, as High Constable, and they
wanted to know what to do. Lieutenant Pratt had
afforded them every attention. It was natural that he
should do so ; and, as far as he could judge, on the part
of Mr. Wilkinson's clerk, in Mr. Wilkinson's absence,
and also on the part of Mr. Terry, there was a great
disposition to afford any and every assistance they felt
justified legally in affording.
yeatO be the cornpariti:62Bt9aBt9e
Mr. Borrer—The fact was, that they wanted imme-
diate relief for the position in which they were placed,
and it took some little time to obtain it fur them ? th the amounts of the fixed
Mr. White—l am informed that they lost all they issues, the following appears
On complanrcirnegasethoena thoev e w
has been used. The •
had. ; of the circulation :
The private banks are below their fixed issues £703,006
Mr. Borrer—Some language of reproach
Mr. Venal said that if they had been soldiers. they ejomt-stock banks are below their fixed issues 172
,703
ooulti 14 avo been toillett&l, but the locul sot esicrwtbipg Total below the ggpi ionel usott Z875,700

P.RIVANE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS.

The Banker's Magazine furnishes the returns of circu-
lation of the private and joint-stock banks in England
and Wales for the four weeks ending the 15th of April,
1854; and gives the following as the average weekly cir-
culation of those banks during the past month, viz. :
Private banks
3,153,154
Joint-stock banks

Average weekly circu1ati0n........... £7,057,603
On comparing the above with the returns for the pre-
ceding month, ending the 18th of March last, it Shows—
An increase in the circulation of the private
banksof ..................................... .. ... ... £92,768
An increase in the circulation of the joint•stock
.. 7069
banks of

, • •

Increase on the month .:.... . . : ....... 1169,W
and, as compared with the return' for the corresponding
period of last year, viz.. April 16th; 1853,1 t shows—
An increase in the circulation of the private • '
banks of ................ .............
An increase in the circulhion of the joint-stock
banksof .................. .

Rllf 915

21,074

-,~_4 - .