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

to exceed. a cost of X 4 per man. If, as he said be-
fore, they agreed to join to form a battalion, it was
desirable that they should have one uniform, and
what that uniform should be the respective compa-
nies would have to arrange among themselves, and
the best way to do this would be for each company
to decide as to whether a meeting should be held
at Newark to fix upon one colour of uniform, and
to send a deputation—say two or three of their
members—to represent tnem. As Lord-Lieutenant
he was most anxious to interfere as little as -possible
in these matters, being desirous to leave the respec-
tive companies to suit themselves. At the same
time he should, if possible, attend any meeting they
might hold for such a purpose ; but with the near
approach of Parliament pending he could not pro-
mise to do so ; and if not, he would commit his
views to writing, and forward to the meeting the
opinions he entertained. Sir Thomas White had
most properly observed that it would be a matter
of deep regret to him if anything were done to in-
duce any of the Yeomanry or Militia to leave either
of those forces and join the rifle movement. With
Sir Thomas he believed it would be most undesi-
rable that anything should be done to prevail on
any officer to leave either the Yeomanry or the
Militia to serve in this new volunteer force—
(cheers)—for if this were done they (the officers)
might leave the "new love" without returning to
the old. With respect to the officers, he would just
make a remark. He had never recommended any
officer for appointment to her Majesty without
consulting the wishes of the company as to whom
they desired to command them. (Hear, and cheers.)
He had adopted, this plan because he fully re-
lied upon the good sense of the respective compa-
nies to name such persons as were worthy of the
position in which it was proposed to place them.
He had so far been most fairly treated by those on
whom had devolved the responsibility of naming
them,but at the same time he alone was responsible
to the Queen for those whom he recommended for
her Majesty's sanction. (Cheers.) He hadput them
upon their honour to name fit and proper persons,
and they had done so. There had been a disposition
on the part of some of the Nottingham volunteers
to elect men not altogether desirable, but it had
been reconsidered. He (the Lord-Lieutenant) had
full confidence that the companies that had yet to
elect officers would do so having a due regard, not
to persons whom they respected from private mo-
tives, but to select
.the men in whose judgment and
good sense to command them they placed the firmest
reliance. (Cheers.) And now he did not know that
he had any other observation to make to them re-
specting the organisation of these companies. He
had merely risen to make a suggestive speech, and in
concluding his somewhat lengthy remarks, he
would say that the number of volunteers was daily
increasing throughout the country, and he was fully
persuaded that before next summer was over there
would be such a volunteer force throughout the
length and breadth of this kingdom as would strike
terror into the minds of those who might still have
'a disposition to attempt an invasion of our shores.
(Loud cheers.) He was not one of those who
thought that the intelligent and the educated of
Englishmen would not be found a valuable adjunct
to 'the standing army. (Cheers.) There was one
point to which he had not called their attention and
to which it was necessary he should refer. It was
that, at the present moment, it was inadvisable to
enrol men who were not prepared to pay, at any rate
for a considerable portion- of their outfit. He
would observe; " Do not make your company ex-
elusive ; and by all means have the representatives
of all classes; but, at the same time, do not involve
yourselves in any great expenses at first in this re-
spect. By all means haVe all classes in your corps,
but do not at first attempt too much." If they only
got a company of 100 to start with, they would be
the nuclus of a greater number, who, in case they
were required—which God forbid—might render
good service. They must not endeavour to effect
too much—if they did, instead of succeeding in the
object they had in view, it might only end in dis-
credit to theinselves and failure, so fax as they were
concerned, to the cause which they desired toserve.
(Cheers.) That they would have to assist the arti-
san who joined the corps was evident, because it
could not be expected that he would give his time,
and then, out of his hard earnings, purchase his
uniform ; but his advice to them was, not to attempt
too much at first. He must now apologise to them
for having occupied so much of their time. (Cheers.)
It only remained for him to say that he could not
attend any other meeting that might be called in
this district, as his duties. elsewhere required his
attention. He would, therefore, earnestly beg of
them to encourage unity and cordiality among
themselves. (Cheers.) If they had any quarrels,
let them keep them to a future day, and carry into
the company that spirit of thorough friendship and
good feeling which would conduce to their benefit.
He hoped the company they were about to, form
would prosper. The movement was one of solemn
importance; he held it as a great blessing that it
had been taken up in this country in so warm a
spirit, and he wished it every prosperity. (Cheers.)

ADMIRAI, SIR CIIARLES.NAPIER ON

-211 E NATI-011:4a DEFENCES.

LOWESTOFT, JAN. 5.
Admiral Sir Charles Napier undertook to be pre-
sent last evening at a meeting held in this town to
promote the enrolment of " Royal Naval Volun-
teers" along the coast. Captain Steward presided,
and the meeting was numerously attended.
Sir C. NAPIER said, those present no doubt knew
perfectly well that for some time past anxiety had
prevailed in England with reference to the position
of the country in respect to France. All over Eng-
land rifle and military corps were being formed for
the defence of the country ; for, the army of Eng-
land being very small, and the greater part of it
being in India and China, the people had thought
it necessary to assist the Government by enrolling
themselves in various ways. He heard, however,
that there was but little doing at Lowestoft, a rather
remarkable circumstance, considering how exposed
the place was to attack. Whether the Emperor of
the French intended to attack us it was impossible
to say, but for the last 20 years there had been a
constant augmentation in the navy of that country,
although, geographically speaking, France was
very differently situated from ourselves. Great Bri-
tain, as an island, relied for defence on her navy
and the fortresses on her coast; while France, as a
military Power, had an army of 600,000 or 700,000
men. Nobody could know better than the present
audience that the aspect of naval affairs had now
greatly changed. In days gone by there was no
such thing as steam, and the country was then de-
fended by the navy alone. The application of
steam to modern warfare had now produced a great
change, and given other countries a great advan-
tage in attacking us, and although he believed that
the superiority and skill of our men would always
be maintained still the difficulty of invading our
coast was not so great as in former days. A year
ago it appeared that the French navy was almost
equal to our own, and he was sorry to say this was
owing to the inattention we had paid to our navy.
(Hear, hear.) For some years we had seen danger
in our position, but we were now, he was glad to
say, building a number of large ships and fine fri-
gates. Still, what would be the use of building
ships and erecting fortS if we had not men to man
them ? This was our real necessity. When Par-
liament voted a certain number of seamen, 30,000
or 40,000, that total could be kept up, when it was
once obtained, by bringing forward the boys, as they
grew up, to meet casualties and death; but when a
sudden augmentation was required, as in the case
of alarm or invasion, and the Government found it
necessary to call out 10,000 or 20,000 more, the
men under ordinary circumstances were not to be
had. The mercantile marine had its number of
men, and the navy had its number, but in the ease
of an-emergency extra men for the latter were not
to be had ; and he was glad to find that the Govern-
ment had at last come forward and taken measures
for forining a reserve force. Coast volunteers had
been for some time organised, to assist the Coast-
guard in looking after smugglers, and, if necessary,
they would come forward in the event of war sud-
denly taking place, and man the reserve ships. It
was true that they might have to fight ; but at pre-
sent they had only to put down their names and
come forward in case of an emergency to defend
the coast. The boats plying on the coast were some
of the finest in the world, and they were fit to re-
ceive the enormous men—elephants be might call
them—who went out in them sometime to save life
and property. When they thuspntoffd
could nottoshipsin
distress they braved great dangers and
ing was nothing at all to this,
say whether they would come
there In
was elgilti et
fboare tkh ea
mcnt in it. The plan under which enrolment was
now invited was different from that of the Coast
Volunteers. The Government hoped to raise
30,000 men, to be ready in the event of an invasion
of this country or an attack from France, and
they would be required to serve in any part of the
world in time of war. The class invited to enrol
themselves were ablehodied seamen, and they would
receive £6 a-year, merely to be ready when wanted.
'they would assemble for 28 days' drill annually,
a'id would receive while up ls. 4d. per day victual-
lingof a
years'might
be enjoy
money, and ls. per day pay, with the advan-
tagepension of 110 less than £l2 a-year after 10
enrolment,e wbyhitetlile'ilu.nvdi under certain
afterr t ant regulations,heir decease.
In addition to this,wounded or not, they
would be eligible to anas whetherl .
um in Greenwich Hos-
pital. The time for drill wouldy be so selected as not
to interfere with their fishing
and other ordinary
occupations ! they might, with leave, go foreign
voyages, and gunboats would be stationed so that
they had their drill at home. What inconvenience,
he would ask, would they endure lin •
earning, under