The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-12 00:00:00

A PRECEDENT FOR VOLUNTEERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—An acquaintance of mine, who commands
a company of volunteers in a rural district, observed
to me the other day that it is very difficult for the
members of a volunteer corps in the country to
find time to drill, not being able to give them-
selves conveniently a half-holiday during the
week, as the citizens of a large town can. Ac-
knowledging the difficulty, "referred him to an act
passed in 1803, which, as far as regards England,
at any rate, authorised and enjoined the drilling on
Sundays, either before or after Divine service, of the
entire male population between 17 and 55 years of
age, capable of bearing arms, with some few excep-
tions.
The following is a brief extract from the act in
question—viz., 43d Geo. 111., c. 96, intituled—
" An Act to enable his Majesty more effectually to pro-
vide for the defence and security of the realm during the
present war, &c., and to exercise his ancient and undoubted
prerogative in requiring the military service of his liege
subjects in case of invasion of the realm."
" Clause XXVII. And be it further enacted, &c. And
such deputy lieutenants shall cause such men to be t rained
andexercised two hours at the least on each and every Sun-
day, either before or after Divine service, or on some other
convenient day in the week in England, or on any con-
venient day in the week to be appointed in Scotland, be-
tween the 25th day of March and the 25th day of December
in every year, and cause public notice of such time and
places of exercise and training to be given in the churches
or chapels of the respective parishes during Divine service,
and to be affixed on the doors of such churches or chapels,"
&c.—Your obedient humble servant,

,
W. Royal United Service Institution, July 9,

WRECK OF TUE SAPPILTRE.

We are requested to state that of the persons wrecked
last October in the Sapphire, near Torres Straits, the follow-
ing have reached Port Curtis in safety:—lt. Western,
Captain Madras Native Infantry, England; W. Beve-
ridge, mate, Scotland ; John Walker, Dublin; H. J. Samp-
son, Mudgee, New South Wales ; Thomas C. Clarke, Bir-
mingham; W. Reid, Scotland; J. Crawford, Ireland;
Mitchell, Corfu; J. M‘Denmole, Liverpool; and R. Law,
American, picked up from lifeboat.

The following are missing : —John M'Kinlay, from
Greenock ; Joel Bowden, Plymouth ; Joseph Watson, Dub-
lin; Charles F. Schmallfuss ; David Dougall, Greenock;
John Conquest, Sweden; William Warren and Ebenezer

Tibby, England , Isaac Devereaux, Wales ; John
Morris, Dablin ; James Allian, Saltcoats, Scot-
land ; Charles Campbell, Elgin ; Jubus Julif,
London ; William Twig, Glasgow ; William Charleton,
Newcastle; James Connell, Cork; Michael M'Kenna, Ire-
land ; and Henry Armstrong, England.
The persons on board the Sapphire left her in two boats,
one containing Schmullfuss and all the survivors except
Law, and the other containing Law and all the missing
persons except Schmallfass. The boats parted company,
and were both attacked by savages. In one Schmallfuss
was killed. In the other there can be no doubt that all on
board were murdered except Law, who threw himself into
the water, and was eventually picked up by the boat which
escaped.