The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

WEST YORK RIFLES.—This fine regiment, under the
command of the Hon. E. G. Monckton, is under orders
to assemble at Pontefract, on the 19th inst. It has been
made a rifle re ;iment since it was last assembled, when
it was called the Ist West York, and under that title was
known as a crack regiment ; indeed, a finer body of men
cannot be met with. It has given already nearly 300
volunteers to the line, and is yet 900 strong. _

THE IST REGIMENT OP DERBYSHIRE MILITIA received
orders, on Tuesday, to be in readiness for garrison duty
on Thursday, January 4th. _ _ _

EDINBURGH MILITIA ARTILLERY.—The Lord Provost
has, by public placard, made an appeal to the patriotism
and loyalty of the citizens of Edinburgh to aid him in
raising the volunteer corps of militia artillery to be em-
bodied in that city. The character of the corps, the in-
ducements offered to enlist in it,
,and the qualifications
required by the candidates are at the same time set forth,
and notice is given that a rendezvous will be immediatel
opened for the enrolment of the regiment.
THE EDINBURGH MILITIA.—We-are informed that th
officers of the Ist or Highland Regiment, Edinburgh
Local Militia, have made an offer to Government of re-
embodying a regiment of Highlanders, as Edinburgh
Volunteers, or Local Militia, to take anch duty ag may
bA assigned to ttem in the present emergency. The re-
giment above referred to, when embodied during the last
war, was the first in Scotland to volunteer for extended
service, and were called on to serve accordingly.

THE MILITIA IN IRELAND.
Irish Militia Regiments to be equipped and trained
for artillery service :—Antrim, Armagh, Cork city,
Dublin city, Gal Way, Limerick city, Londonderry, and
Tyrone.
A third Cork Militia is to be formed. No Colonel
yet appointed.
The Hon. Robert Handcock is appointed Lieut.-Colo-
nel Commandant of the Dublin Militia Artillery.
The colonelcy of the Kilkenny Militia is vacant.
Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Cornelius Maude, D.L., is
appointed Commandant of Use 2d Tipperary Militia.
Penis D. Purcell, Esq., son of Robert Purcell, Esq.,
of Kilkenny, is appointed to a commission in the Tip-
perary Militia.
Not a commission of the Galway Militia has been
given to a gentleman of the town.
_

.Fitziteplien French, Esq., 14. P., is appointed by his
brother, Lord De Freyne, colonel of the Roscommon
Militia, vice General Lord Lortor, deceased.
Janice M. Caulfield, E.q., M.P., having resigned his
commission as lieutenant-colonel of the Tyrone Militia,
James M. Stronge, Esq., succeeds him.
Captain Hoghton, late 73d,
is app.inted to a company
in the 4th Lancashire, and Captain Bond, late 86th, to
a company in the East Kent Militia.

IN
WINTER COATS FOR THE AMTRY
THE CRIMEA.

The following letter from Mr. Sidney Herbert is
in reply to an offer made by the Messrs. Nicoll to
supply clothing for the Crimea army, on the pay-
ment by the Government of the mere costs out of
pocket :--

" War•office, Dec. 7, 1854.

creceivee
dy
euar
letter of e fh,awv he iic'h should
had
dl
thehonhoauvre a to
" Genthlem2esnt,ht.
—u
some days since, were it not that I was led to believe,
from the tenor of your communication, that I should
again hear from you when the articles were ready.
" I beg to express to you my best thanks for the offer
you have made, which the Government would have felt
it their duty to accept, had not the Board -of Ordnance
entered into contracts for the supply of forty thousand
fur coats for the use of the army in Turkey.
" I shall have great pleasure in communicating to
Loird Raglan your generous intentions towards the
.oldiers of the army under his command, which lam
sure will be appreciated as an evidence of the feeling
entertained towards them at home.—l have the honour
to be, gentlemen,
" Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) " SIDNEY HIMBHRT.
" Messrs. Nicoll."

MAIL STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH

CHINA.

Important alterations, have recently been made in,
regard to the postal service between this country and,
China. The mail communication with China, which,
heretofore has been serni•monthly, will for the future, be
carried on once a month ; and instead, therefore, of the
mails being made up in London on the 4th and 20th
via Southampton, and on the 9th and 25th via Mar-
seilles, they will in future only be despatched hence on
the 4th of the month via Southampton, and on the 9th
via Marseilles.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company have, however,
entered into an arrangement for extending the China
mail service to Shanghai ; and on and after the 4th
January next, mails will be conveyed throughout to and
from that port by the company's. steamers.