The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-25 00:00:00

V4l,

THE MILITIA AND YEOMANRY.

By her Majesty's gracious command the regiment of
Essex Rifles is now desii,,nated " the Royal Essex Rifles."
Within the last few days the men have been supplied
with great-coats, and are about to change their present
uniform for one of silver grey, somewhat after the fashion
of the Tyrolese Riflemen, with helmet resembling that
recently assumed by the officers, except that the plume
will be of horsehair instead of cock's feathers. The mous-
tache is also to be worn by the men. The first detach-
ment, under the command of Major Groves, was to leave
yesterday for the Tower to relieve the 35th Regiment,
and the remainder were to follow. 'Within a fortnight
the regiment is to be inspected at the Tower by Viscount
Hardinge, the General Commanding-in-Chief ; and it is
understood that after two or three months' duty in Lon-
don the regiment will be encamped on the new military
training ground, Aldershott-heath, Surrey. The em-
bodiment of the regiment has given quite an impetus to
enlistment in Essex, and recruits are daily coming in.
Orders were received at Doncaster on Tuesday for
the embodiment of the 3d West York Militia, whose
extra period of training would otherwise have expired
to-day. The regiment is to be sent into barracks at
Berwick-upon-Tweel. The staff are making out lists
of the married men, in case they should be excepted
from permanent duty. Tho percentage of married men
is very small. The officers, as well as the great majo-
rity of the men, have received with satisfaction the order
for their removal into garrison.
On Monday last the Shropshire Militia (more than
800 strong) assembled at Shrewsbury to go through their
28 days' training, and on Tuesday morning they were
addressed by their commanding officer, Colonel Hill,
who, having ascertained the willingness of his officers to
be permanently employed, then called upon the men of
the regiment to say if they were ready to accompany
their officers, and, if so, to show their assent by giving a
hearty cheer for their Queen. This was responded to in
a manner most gratifying to every English heart. From
! the efficient state this corps was in at the end o.f. last
year's training, we feel convinced that they will be
found as ready as they are willing.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

The progress of the British North American colonies
has again been illustrated by returns just issued of the
immigration of the past year, and the continuous demand
for labour. It appears that, notwithstanding the current
to Australia, the total arrivals in Canada from Europe
in 1853 were only 6 per cent. below those of the pre-
ceding year, the numbers having been 36,699, against
39,176. Of this number, 18,972, or rather more than one
half, were natives of Ireland, 4,913 of Scotland, 3,928 of
England, 3,135 of Germany, and 5,123 of Norway; while
the remaining 628 were from Holland, Sweden, and
other places. In the Irish emigration the number of
females preponderated in a remarkable degree over
that of male 3, the difference being more than 18
per cent. This fact is attributed to the shipment of
young women from the poor unions, coupled with the
extent of remittances from settlers already prosperous, to
enable their wives and sisters to join them. Of the en-
tire number of 36,699 immigrants, the proportion that
remained in Canada was 25,195, while 11,504 passed
through to the,United States, nearly the whole of the
Norwegian arrivals having been among the latter, owing
to the difficulties they experienced from ignorance of the
language, which would be obviated in the United States
by their availing themselves of some
extensiv settle-
ments already opened by their own countrymen in Wis-
consin. Their habits of industry and general suitable-
ness to the Canadian climate caused their departure to
be regretted. About 200, however, were induced to
accept railroad employment at Hamilton, and it is
hoped that these may form a nucleus to induce others
for the future to become settlers. With regard to
the general health of the emigrants of the past
season the accounts are satisfactory. The total
mortality was only 0.81 per cent., and the slight
excess which this shows over the previous year
is attributed entirely to the unusually protracted
passages to which several vessels were subjected, the
average number of days occupied by the various ems-
grant-ships from all the ports of Europe having been 48,
against 39 in the previous year. The number of ships
wrecked was four, involving a loss of 317 lives, and the
instances in which risk and discomfort were found to
prevail were mostly those in which iron formed the chief
part of the cargo—a fact that has led
ore to the suggestion
a certain
m
of some regulation being made to prevent vessels con-
veying passengers from carrying
proportion of dead weight. On the questioth n as to the
success of the several immigrants in finding employment,
nothing could be more decisive than the accounts
presented. In most cases they at once proceeded
up the country, and on reaching their destination
were seldom snore than a few hours unemployed.
During the present season the demand for labour at high
wages is greatly increasing, owing to the vast railway
undertakings in progress, and with regard to women
qualified to act as servants, it is said the scarcity is such
that several thousands could be annually absorbed. The
immigration described in the present report refers only
to that which takes place by sea. A large number of
settlers arrive via the United States, the total during
the past season being estimated at 5,000, irrespective of
a great number of railway labourers temporarily at-
tracted from the Western States, owing to the cessation
of work in those regions, consequent upon the long-
continued pressure in the New York money market.