The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-06 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE ON THE

ORGANIZATION OF RIFLE CORPS.

WORKSOP, TriunsDAY.

Yesterday at noon a most influential meeting was
held in the Corn-Exchange, at this town, to pro-
mote the establishment of a rifle company for the
district. Lord Robert Clinton, M.P., occupied the
chair, and he was supported by his Grace the Duke
of Newcastle, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire;
Lord Albert Pelham Clinton, Viscount Galway,
M.P., Sir Themes W. White, the Right Hon. the
Speaker of the House of Commons, and the leading
gentry of North Notts.
....The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in proposing the first
resolution :—" That, with a view to aid the gene-
ral movement for providing efficient means
for the national defence, this meeting ap-
proves of the formation of a corps to be called the
Worksop Rifles,' the members constituting. the
same to be residents of Worksop and its vicinity,"
obs'erved that if the meeting had been assembled in
the month of June last, instead of at the present
moment, he should have felt it necessary to address
them at some length upon the expediency of the
object for the support of which they had been
called together. (Hear.) It was, however, most
unnecessary that he should now enter into any
explanation or defence of this movement, which had
extended throughout this kingdom, and to do so
would be simply a waste of their time. He rose,
therefore, to speak upon, matters of detail, upon
topics which related to their organisation, and upon
topics which he thought were suggested by the
character of the present aspect of the movement.
They would perhaps permit him to make a remark
or two before he entered into the consideration
of questions which he regarded as of some import-
ance to them. (Hear, hear.) It was said by some
that this. movement was not now necessary, inas-
much as there were no appearances of a present in-
vasion. There might or might not be any fear of
present invasion ; but that was not the question
that dictated the wisdom, the policy, the import-
ance, and expediency of establishing rifle corps as
a means of defence. (Hear.) The point was that
this country found that, not for the moment, but
for many years past, we had not been in such a
state of preparation for our defence as was neces-
sary, and as appeared to be from circumstances that
were, transpiring. (Cheers.) It was felt to betba
duty to 'put ourselves in a defensive state ; and it
was regarded to be of the utmost importance that
corps of this character should be established in
order to render invasion impossible. (Hear.) Al-
though there was no reason to apprehend an inva-
sion of our shores, yet, at the same time, lye felt
that on the part of a neighbouring power, if there
was not the disposition to attack, there was the
accumulation of strength to strike a blow, which
made it extremely unadvisable longer to delay
the means of defence. (Hear.) When he saw the
immense standing armies which every Government
in Europe maintained—when he saw the power
that was being accumulated for aggressive war—
he could not but regard it as an act of duty as well
as an act of necessity to take some measures which
were calculated to preserve this kingdom from in-
vasion. It had been occasionally said that there was
a strong objection to the formation of rifle corps, as
the movement, as it had now come to be termed,
was calculated to cause neighbouring powers to
look upon it as an act of hostility, and as evincing
distrust. Well, it might be showing distrust, but
not hostility. If the Ministers of the Crown were to
ask Parliament to double the present standing army,
it might be interpreted by some power as an act of
hostility; but it was impossible that a purely vo-
luntary force could be looked upon as being estab-
lished for any aggressive purpose. (Cheers.) It was
clear that this was so, and for this reason—that no
Ministry could compel any man who entered the
force to do duty except in case of invasion. It was
therefore a purely defensive movement ; and while
this was its main element, it had also other advan-
tages—not the least of which was that it dispensed
with the necessity of increasing the standing army.
The increased expense which any extension of the
army would entail was an important consideration,
but still not the greatest, because any increase of
the army would involve the drawing off from the
industry of this country those very men who con-
tributed to the accumulation of its wealth, and who
would not, if in, the army, assist in those pursuits
and occupations which formed the main elements of
the success and position of this country. (Cheers.)
If, then, they had come to the conclusion, as he did,
not doubt they had, that these corps were desirable,
it only remained, in the next place for them to con-
sider the best means for their organisation. The
first meeting for this county took place in June last
at Nottingham ; and he did not think there was at
that time the strong opinion upon these corps, either
in that town or throughout the country, as there
was at the present moment. Since.then, no doubt
from the pressure of circumstances, but much more
from thought and reflection, the establishment of
these corps had progressed. The only place
in this county that took up the movement at the
commencement was the town of Nottingham, and
there a considerable force had been raised. Many of
the officers had been gazetted, and the number who
up to the present time had volunteered was from
600 to 700, and before long he expected that 1,000
men would be raised. (Hear.) He ventured to-
suggest at a meeting he attended that, considering
the purely military character which had distin,„
guished the county in days of old for the 'excellency
of its shooting—(hear)—the corps should be called
the " Robin Hood Rifles ;" but he had no wish that
that title should be monopolised by them, and he
should be glad to see it taken up in other parts of
the county. (Hear.) But, as he had told them (the
meeting) that he would address them more especi-
ally on the Question of organisation, he would now
turn to that topic, and give them what he conceived
to be the best advice respecting their future proceed-
ings.
He would then, in the first place, remark
that it was most desirable, as far as practicable, to
form companies of some battalion, rather than to
have subdivisions of one company, one part of a
company residing in one neighbourhood and another
at another place, because he saw that at some future
day this would give rise to much difficulty. Each
district should form a company in itself, and endea-
vour to concentrate its members within a limited
distance. The movement was not well suited to
thinly scattered population a.n it was difficult for
farmers living down on theßanks of the Trent to
meet together at a certain appointedNvije place for drill
• without great inconvenience persons had
to travel four, five, six, or seven milesre
toand
return the same distance, the MoVement 'could drill,ot be
kept up. The yeomanry was best suited for f -
because, possessing good horses, they couladrnlers' meet
with that body, and find no inconvenience in attend-
ing duty for eight days in the year. But in such
towns as Retford, Worksop, Southwell, Mansfield,
and Newark the case was different. In each of these
towns one, and in the larger towns two companies,
could easily be raised, the drill could be properly at-
tended, and the spirit kept up. (Hear.) By taking
this step they would not only be doing patriotic
service to the country, but they would benefit
themselves, and' at the same time be improv-
ing their social position. (Cheers.) He had
seen the advantage of it in the town of Nottingham,
and was fully' persuaded that it would do much good
by keeping young men out of bad company, and at
the same time afford relaxation and recreation.
There was one point respecting the organisation of
companies that he would especially call their atten-
tion to, and it was this :—He felt convinced that
in case of necessity the rifle corps of Worksop and
Retford (yid other places would' be prepared to do
their duty, and would not stay at home to await
the approach of an enemy, but that they would
march either to the coast of Kent or into Lincoln-
shire, or any other part of the kingdom where a
descent Was likely to be made. But if they went as
separate companies they would be isolated from
each other, and their not acting in concert would
be seriously felt by any General who 'had command
of them. It would be extremely difficult, even if
it were possibje, to command any body of riflemen
under such circumstances, and therefore what he
would suggest was that they should as often as
possible meet for battalion drill. Now, they must
not be alarmed at this suggestion, because it was
not compulsory, though it was highly expedient
they
battalion with Newark and Southwell, they could
VP— say, to Newark for battalion drill for three
days occasionally; but he
wished
them to bear in
mind that neither the Government, nor he (the
Lord-Lieutenant) could so order them. If formed
into a battalion, they would likewise have a lieu-
tenant-colonel and a in •
lois who could give them
instruction, and in factbe gtrn he up to a state of
the highest efficiency ; butin thesehi two officers, it
not must be borne in mind, would have any com-
mand over them when they were not riliet for bat-
talion drill, though their assistance a
practical men., would' be most advan; nta f,advice as
neceLea3rly:twhaltf
formed into a battalion it would be
they should have .the same uniform. This
most anxious should be borne in mind ; aud, withoa:t
attemptinto, dictate to them as to what uniform
they should adopt, he would scv—" Do not let it be
a mere pieee of dandyism ; let it be useful, and not
adorned witlitoo much silver lace and vanities of that
description." (Cheers.) To colour he did not attach
much impoftance. He thought too much prominence
had been given as to the colour of the uniform. If
they were going fOr 'service to the plains of India,
or the steppes of Russia, it might be wise duly to
consider the colour, but he did not regard it as a
Very essential consideration for rifle corps. Some
preferred one;,colour and some another, but his own
opinion was that a gray-brown was the best.
(Hear.) He left companies to choose their own
uniform, but at the same time he did not wish it