The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-23 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE

The Morning Advertiser says : Mr. Cardwell is in great
difficulty as to what is to be done for the volunteers and
militia, and suggests that he cannot be wrong in having
the militia embodied, and in raising the status of militia
officers, so as to make the service somewhat more
popular than it is. He cannot err in brigading the volun-
teers under paid and permanent military officers, which
might cost the country annually some £50,000 or £60,000.
He might turn his attention or that of a sub-
ordinate equal to the task, to the drill, discipline, uni-
form, and efficiency of volunteers who desire to remain in
the service as effectives, and not or mere triflers or
supernuinerary incumbrances in time of peace.' Thus,
the volunteers might, it is true, lose a third of their num-
bers in the beginning, but then it should be remembered
that these same individuals would either disappear at
the first indication of active service being required
from them, or if they uid remain, would imperil and dis-
grace the wliole force. And thom;11 tie Volunteer army
might be thus diminished at first, not only would the loss
be a gain, but the service would hold out considerably
greater attractions to earnest men, who like to belong
to something real and business-like, and thus the force,
in a very short time, would, in all probability, be
numerically stronger than ever. But even 50,000 fighting
men would be somewhat better to meet Earl Derby's
100,000 invaders (it is known that 100,001 could not land),
than 150.000, of whom two-thirds should be a mere mob
of armed men, unable to march, skirmish, fight, or even-
retreat in order.

THE ERA ALMANACK FOR 187]. LEDGBIL
The most thoroughly reliable and entertaining of all the
almauacks, the " Era Almanack," in this new issue of it,
for 1871, more than sustains its already high reputation.
It is the completest repertory anyone could reasonably
desire to have upon all matters relating to the dramatic
and operatic professions. Conducted by a skilled editor
like Mr. Edward Ledger, it has a splendid band
of contributors. Conspicuous among these con-
tributors are Mr. E. L. Blanchard, who tells us
all about such places of out-door amusement as
Bagnigge Wells, White Conduit House, Highbury Barn,
and Cremorne Gardens—Mr. C. L. Gruneisen, who
describes the Operatic Season of 1870—Mr. Tom Taylor,
who tells a True Story of the Far West—Mr. J. B.
Buckstcne, who rejoices us with a reminiscence of
Edmund Kean Mr. John Oxenford, who pour-
trays the Toy Theatre—Mr. Shirley Brooks, the
Editor of Punch, who depicts, in a Shaks-
perian monologue, Macbeth's Medical Man and
Mr. Benjamin Webster, who has a few words to say
to us about Ancient Theatres. Besides all this, the " Era
Almanack " has a surprising mass of professional infor-
mation, such, for example, as a theatrical, musical, and
equestrian obituary, a record of new pieces produced in
1870 in London and the provinces, a dramatic and musical
chronology, and a wonderfully interesting catalogue of the
first appearances in London of actors and actresses.

" Dietrichsen and Hannay's Royal Almanach;
for 1871, is remarkable for having no mention whatever
of either the Emperor Napoleon 111., or his Holi-
ness Pope Pius IX. among the Reigning Sovereigns.
Bacon's Railway Guide Map of London and
Suburbs—a pocket folding map, mounted on calico in a
cloth cover, brilliantly coloured, perfectly legible, and
arranged throughout on an entirely new plan, is the cora-
pletest and handiest map of the metropolis we ever
remember to have examined. Its range extends from
Alexandra Park to the Crystal Palace, from Greenwich
to Richmond. It displays to view at a glance of
the eye every railway company's line in a sepa.
rate character. The routes from one part of Lon-
don to another are traced out with the utmost facility.
As a pocket companion it will save an incalculable
amount of time and worry, being .purchasable itself for
very little more than a shilling.
MALvErgi COLLEGE.—The annual examination
for the £9O scholarships. tenable at the masters' houses,
resulted in the following awards : Scholarship for two
years : F. H. Fowler, Gloucester Grammar School.
Scholarship for one year : E. C. Tyndall, private tuition :
J. E. Vaughan, Weston-super-mare, preparatory school ;
H. Elton, Dedham Grammar School. The school exami-
nations for the West Classical and Wilton Mathematical
Exhibitions terminated in favour of E. N. Jones and H.
Haddon. Examiners : The Rev. P. Frost, M.A., late
fellow and tutor of St. John's College, Cambridge,
' and A.' 0. Prickard, Esq., M.A., fellow of New College,
Oxford.