The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-23 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER CORPS.

The subjoined circulars have just been issued
from the War-office :
" War-office, Pall Mall, March, 1860.
" My Lord,—Having had under consideration
the expediency of forming the various scattered
bodies constituting volunteer rifle corps into batta-
lions, in order to facilitate the administration of
the volunteer force generally, as well as to increase
its efficiency, I have the honour to inform your lord-
ship that, with a view to carry out this organisa-
tion, it is proposed to adopt the following princi-
ples :--
" Ist. That a battalion of volunteers may be
formed either as a considerable body, composed of
various companies in densely populated districts,
acting together as one corps, in the meaning of the
Act of Parliament, 44 George 111., cap. 54 ; or,
" 2d. It may be a consolidated body for drill and
administrative purposes only, being composed of
various companies forming in themselves distinct
and (financially considered) independent corps, in
the meaning of the act ; or,
" 3d. A battalion may be formed for administra-
tive purposes only from the various corps scattered
over a rural or thinly populated district.
" It appears to me, therefore, that in order to
meet these several forms of battalion organisation
it is desirable to lay down the following rules :
" For a consolidated battalion formed on either
of the two first principles—
" 1 major and one adjutant will be allowed to 4
companies of minimum strength.
" 1 lieutenant-colonel and one adjutant will be
allowed to 6 companies of minimum strength.
" 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, and 1 adjutant
will be allowed to 8 companies of minimum
strength.
" 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, and 1 adjutant
will be allowed to 12 companies of minimum
strength.
‘. When the companies exceed 12, the corps will
constitute a regiment and be formed into two bat-
talions, each with field officers and adjutants in the
above proportion ; the whole to be commanded by
the senior lieutenant-colonel.
" Although I am prepared to sanction the forma-
tion of a battalion of four companies, it is intended
to provide only for cases in which no [more than
that number of companies can be formed in a town,
and where it is not considered advisable to bring in
rural companies : and it should In-understood that
no two battalions of this strengtit-utml.,,formed in
one place.
" With regard to the third principle of forma-
tion, which is applicable to rural districts, where
the companies, &c., are greatly scattered, I have to
explain to your lordship that it is not intended that
this formation into battalions should render the
separate companies liable to be removed from their
own neighbourhood, or brought together at any
time when not called out for actual service, except
with their own consent ; or that the independent
existence of the several corps should be in any de-
gree affected ; my object is to accomplish a unity
of system in correspondence drill, inspection, and
returns throughout the entire force.
" The following staff will therefore be allowed for
rural battalions .
" 1 major and 1 adjutant to 4 or 5 companies of
minimum strength.
" 1 lieut.-colonel and 1 adjutant to 6,7, 8, or 9
companies of minimum strength.
" 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, and 1 adjutant to
10, 11, or 12 companies of minimum strength.
"I have farther to state to your lordship—
" Ist. That in effecting the formation of these
battalions the concentration of companies should
be considered with reference to locality, and not to
their numerical standing in the Army List.
" 2d. That each company may continue to have
its own rendezvous and drills, but that there should
also be a battalion rendezvous established ; and
where the local distribution and convenience of the
different companies will admit of it, certain days
set apart for battalion drills.
" 3d. That although I have not thought it de-
sirable to insist upon a rigid adherence to that
uniformity in the clothing and equipment of corps
serving in the same country, which was recom-
mended in article 6 of the memorandum
of the 13th July, 1859, I trust that in any future
renewal of the clothing the propriety of adopting a
uniform colour for companies belonging to the sate
battalion will be daly considered.
" I beg, therefore, to acquaint your lordship that
I am desirous to see the different companies of vo-
lunteers through.c.ut the country united, as far as
possible, into battalions under the foregoing rules I
and I shall be glad to be favoured with your lord-
ship's views as to the best means of carrying out
the proposed organisation among the companies
formed in the county under your charge.—l have
the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's obedient
servant,
"S. HERBERT."
" War-office, February, 1860.
the" expediency Nl
ylord,- Having had under my consideration
of the appointment of an adjutant,
commissioned by her Majesty, to every brigade of
artillery and battalion of rifle volunteers, I have
the honour to inform you that I shall be pre-
pared to submit for the Queen's approval the names
of such officers as you may recommend for the seve-
ral corps serving in your county, subject to the fol=
lowing qualifications and conditions of service:—
" Ist. That the candidate shall have served at
least four years in the line, or in the army of the
late East India Company, or in her Majesty's In-
dian forces, or in the embodied militia.
" 2d. That his application should be accompanied
by testimonials as to conduct from his former com-
manding officer.

" 3d. That the candidate shall be subject to an
examination at the nearest garrison as to his fitness
to hold the office of adjutant under such regulations
as his royal highness the general commanding-in-
chief may, with the concurrence of the Secretary
of State for War, be pleased to direct; and that he
shall also have passed through a course of instruc-
tion in musketry at Hythe, or be prepared to do so
when called upon.
" 4th. The rank of an adjutant is properly that
of a subaltern ; but if appointed out of her Ma-
jesty's regular forces, or Indian army, or the militia,
he may retain the rank which ho held in either of
these services; but no adjutant shall be entitled by
virtue of his superior rank to take the command of
any company of volunteers, an officer of the com-
pany being present, except for the purpose of in-
struction drill.

"sth. Ever officer appointed an adjutant of
volunteers will be required, before receiving his
commission, to transmit to the Secretary of State
for War the following declaration :
I do hereby declare upon my honour as an
officer and a gentleman, that in order to obtain the
appointment of an adjutant in the volun-
teers, I have not given, paid, received, or promised,
and that I do not believe that any one for me has
given, paid, received, or promised, directly or indi-
rectly,
any recompense, reward, or gratuity to any
person or persons whatever.

"`Witness (C. D.)' (Signed)
" 6th. The pay of an adjutant of volunteers
shall be Bs. a-day, and 2s. to cover the forage for a
horse, or for travelling expenses, providing the com-
manding officer has exempted hint for the time
being from the liability to keep a horse.
" Any other incidental expenses must be borne
by the corps.
" ith. As the public services of an adjutant are
to be made fully available at all times, it is neces-
sary that it should be perfectly understood before-
hand by candidates that the Secretary of State will
not allow them, if appointed, to follow any other
profession, or hold any other appointment public or
private.—l have the honour to be, my lord, your
lordship's obedient servant,

“ , (A. B.)

" SIDNEY HERBERT."

THIS DA YES SHIPPING.

LownoN, March 23.—Wind this day at noon, S.W. ;
fresh breeze, and cloudy.
PoicrsmouTit, March 22.—Wind W.S.W. to W.N.W.
blowing hard.--Arrived—Aggripina, from London for
Colombo, with loss of jibboom ; !toward, from London for
Denierara.

QUFENSTOWN, March 22,--Arrived—Scottish Chief,
from Callao.
PLYMOUTH, March 22.—Arrived—Success, from Deme-
rara ; iLM. S. Iforo, from Lisbon; Nancy Dawson, from
London for St. Michael's; crow sick.
uLL, March 21.—Arrived—Helvetia, from Bombay.
MiLvonn, March 23.—Arrived—Brazils (Hs), from Rio
Janeiro, &c.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Friday Morning.
Wind, W.S.W., blowing. very strong.
Arrived—lfavre, steamer. from Havre ; Courier, steamer,
Jorsoy ; Malvina, steamer, London.
Sailed-- Victor, for Careatau ; Despatch, steamer, Jersey;
Malvina, steamer, Dublin ; Mechanic's Own, Brothers,
Jane Cochrane, and Saltham, for Newport; Paragon, and
Eliza, Sunderland.

(By SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Friday Morning'•
Wind, W.S.W.; tide, first hours' 'flood ; weather fine.
Arrived, March 22 Emma Eden, from GuernseY;
Arrow, St. Michael's ; Clarissa, Porto Rico.
Sailcd, ➢larch 23—Seine, steamer, for Boulogne; Vesta,
Odessa.

DEAL, Friday Morning.

W.S.W., moderate.
Passed, March 22—Ranger, screw steamer, from Bor-
deaux for London.
Passed, March 23—Clurista, from Porto Rico ; Enner"
da'e, Cochin ; Thames City, ship, frout Vancouver's Island
—all for London.