The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-16 00:00:00

Lord Elcho makes the following remarks on a let:
ter going the round of the papers, headed " Roya
National Rifles," and signed John R. W.almisley :
The writer says, " I am takirg steps to form a bri•
gale of riflemen composed of artisans and the more
respectable of the labouring classes, and, as it is the
intention to assist the men in obtaining the uniform
and to form a benevolent fund, I have to solicit the
favour of, your donation or annual subscription."
The first thing that strikes one in this circular is
the strangeness of its heating, ." Royal National
Rifles." Why "Royal ?" Why "National" more
than any existing corps ? It is not, however,
for the purpose of criticising the title of the
proposed corps that I ventare to call public at-
tention to this circular, but because I know, from
having lately attended two meetings of working
men, that there is a strong and laudable feeling on
the part of the artisan class ;hat those of their num-
ber who can afford it shoull take part in the de-
fence of their country, and it is therefore most
important to consider what steps should be taken
with a view to their admission into the ranks of
the Volunteers.
Is it desirable or necessary to form special artisan
corps, aided or supported by Public subscriptions?
Is there any reason why artisans should not enter
the ranks of the Vclunteers alrg with the other
classes of society? Now, bell ing, as. I do, that
the success of the Volunteer movement depends upon
the force being very large as well as well-trained
and disciplined, and that numbers can only be got
by the admission of the best working men to the
Volunteer ranks, I am nevertheless of opinion, and
I hope to be able to show, that it is neither desir-
able nor necessary to form smial artisan corps.
It is not desirable, because in this country the
different classes of society home few opportunities
of meeting, and because vohnteering presents this
opportunity, and enables them to meet together
and unite shoulder to shoulder in defence of
their common country. All, indeed, who have
taken an active part ie this movement will
bear witness to the social good arising
from it, and it is impossible to over-estimate the
many social advantages to which it may lead. If,
however, special artisan corps be established, not
only is this great good lst, but positive evil will
arise from the strengtheri,
Ile; and perpetuating of
class distinctions, which tone but the political agi-
tator can wish to do.
It is not necessary, because there is no reason why
artisans should not enter into existing corps if the
expenses of these corps are kept within moderate
bounds, and if some sligh
concessions are made in
their favour. In the corps I have the honour to
command there are no 150 Scottish artisans;
these men pay for their uniform
and accoutrements,
the cost of which, including
cap, blouse, tunic,
trousers, leggings, belts,
and pouches, is under
£3 35., by weekly instalments of ls, 3d., and the
only concession made to them , --- is, that they pay no
entrance fee, and only os. as subscription the first
year, after which they will
pay the annual sub-
scription of £l, the same as the other members of
the corps. This, then, is a
proof that where the
expenses of an existing corps are moderate, indus-
trious artisans can afford to join it ; hut, unfortu-
nately, the cost of the uniforms of most of our
metropolitan corps is beyond the means of working
men, and this it is which at
first sight appears to
give grounds for the formation of special artisan
corps. There arc, howeysr
two or three ways by
raj,* be avoided :
which this difficulty
1. By existing corps adopting a cheap, comfort-
able working dress, which
should be the uniform
of the corps, and the cost of
which should be under
£3, and therefore within the means of the working
men, while at the same time
there might be a more
ornamental and expensive dress,
which any member
of the corps might or
his taste and fancy, but in
might not get, according to
which he would never
appear on parade.
2. By having artisan colupanies attached to exist-
ing corps, whose dress, though the same in colour
and general appearance, might be less ornamental
and expensive ; and this is, I believe, the system•
which prevails in Scotland.
3. By establishing
a corps confined to no class or
district, but the expenses
of which would be limited
—say to £3, so as to enable artisans to join, and a
corps of this description is.., I believe, at the present
moment being formed under the title of the Metro-
politan Rifles. Any of these plans would be pre-
ferable
to the formation of, a class corps. Economy
is, indeed, the soul of
extravagance the Volunteer force, while
is, I fear,
the rock on which it is likely
to split, and we cannot calculate with any degree
of certainty upon the permanent amount of our
force until we see what number pay for a second
uniform. The expenses of some corps are enor-
mous, £4OO or .£5OO being expended on their bands,
and in many instances the uniforms and outfits are
needlessly extravagant. Now., bands ought to be
viewed as luxuries, and Paid for, as is is done in
some cases, not out of the funds of the corps, but
by a special subscription, and it has been already
shown that a Volunteer can be neatly, comfort-
ably, and effectively equipped for £3 3s. I am
confident that no greater service could be done to
the Volunteer force at the present moment than
for the Government to recommend the adoption of
a cheap working dress and the practice of the
strictest economy. If, 'AI addition to this, the Go-
vernment could be induced to give, free of cost, a
certain fixed allowance of ammunition to each effec-
tive Volunteer, and if they would give a few drill-
sergeants to each county, there would be no occa-
sion for special artisan corps. All classes would
then be able to mix in the same ranks, and a
brotherhood in arms would be established such as
would secure our country against all dangers, whe-
ther from without or within. ' There is only one
other point in connection witlf,this subject to which
I would allude—viz., that I believe there exists
among the artisan class a proper feeling of inde-
pendence which would deter them from joining any
corps which proposes to create an eleemosynary
fund for the purchase of their uniforms ; for, to use
their own expression, they do not like to be thus
" patronised."

.The steam-frigate Veloce, at the beginning of
the engagement, placed herself before the western
shore, in ' order to support the enemy's left flank.
She landed also some men and ammunition.
The ordershasing been renewed, and the instruc-
tions previously given for the attach, Colonel del
Bosco visited all the positidns, and: went personally
to direct the operations at the Mill-bridge, where
the thick of the fight was raging. He had with
him Captains Fonseca, of the artillery, and Pur-
mann, the battery-commandant. The colonel had
kept as a reserve a part of the 9th Chasseurs; but,
unfortunately, this detachment was employed, with
little foresight, by Lieutenant-Colonel Marra, com-
manding the Ist Chasseurs, the result of which
was, that Colonel del Bosco was unable to use them
after the cavalry charge ordered by- him to recapture
a gun, and he could not meet in this place with the
famous Garibaldi.
Our right wing was attacked in an insignificant
manner at the commencement, but it subsequently
decided on retreating because Veloce had recourse
to grape.
Our men were arranged in open order with slight
supports, partly from the broken nature of the
ground, partly from the small number of combatants
displayed in front.
The scene of the combat was in the plain, at the
distance of a mile (more or less) from Melazze.
After a brisk fire of musketry for two hours, the
artillery of the centre, placed in the Fiumara, opened
fire together with that of the left wing at the post
of the Mills. It was a bloody contest; the chas•
seurs and artillerymen displayed the most signal
valour in this affair ; all fought with enthusiasm
and resolution. It was surprising to see several
chasseurs, whose pieces would not go off, attacking
with the bayonet as soon ,as the order was given
them by Colonel del Bosco, to whom they had come
up to show' him the serious inconvenience in ques-
tion

is to be observed that in the small number of.
men forming the column of operations, there were
hardly more than a thousand to fight against
numerous forces.
The rest were employed as outposts along the
cape for protecting the rear, and as a post at
Melazzo for guarding the gates MesOna and
Palermo, for securing and protecting the retreat;
besides three half-companies placed between the
Unnazzo-house and San Giovanni, the first of which
alone fired a few volleys.
The removal of the wounded, who were gradu-
ally picked up, deprived us of several men. With
four stretchers only, and eight soldiers of reserve
as bearers, not much could be done. The officer in
command of the column, therefore, ordered a
hundred men from the Ist of the lire, on duty as
garrison in the fort, to be brought out without
arms and employed exclusively in carrying off the
wounded to the ambulances.

A small body of cavalry, the only one disposable
on the consular way, made a brilliant charge at the
crossway leading to the Mills, and it was just at the
moment when the artillerymen abandoned to the
enemy the only howitzer we lost, whereas it has
been repeatedly asserted, with rare impudence, by
one of Garibaldi's partisans, that five pieces were
taken from us.

The brave Captain Giuliani, who led on the
squadron, fell struck with a projective, and not by
a sabre cut. With him fell also seven other horse
chasseurs.

Lieutenant Faraone, who was also following the
captain, received seven wounds, all caused by bullets.
All, therefore, is false that they have the audacity
to say about Garibaldi's having met an attack with
cold steel.
The combat lasted eight hours and a half, with-
out once compelling us to quit our positions, not-
withstanding the enemy's greatest efforts and his
fresh masses succeeding each other, striving to
break our centre, to prevent us from rallying and
falling back upon Melazzo, the basis of our opera-
tion :

Nevertheless, however great the valour of our
chasseurs, their long combat against masses con-
tinually replaced at short intervals, and on our side
the want of troops to relieve the already fatigued
troops, decided Colonel Del Bosco on gradually
ceding the ground, and on taking up in Melazzo
the positions already established.
In the meantime the Veloce frigate, which all the
day had kept in a line with the enemy's left flank,
had no sooner observed our retreat than she ad-
vanced towards the San-Papino esplanade, and,
firing grape, forced the column to re-enter the fort
from which Colonel Pironti, the commandant
ordered some 24-pounders to be fired at the steamer,
so as to facilitate the movement of the troops.
The enemy still hesitated about entering the spot,
completely abandoned by the inhabitants. He gave
us time, therefore, to transport with very feeble
means our 87 wounded, not counting those of the
enemy, who were most kindly picked up by us.
Through want of foresight on the part of Major
Maringhi three doctors of the ambulance, from not
having been warned in time, remained prisoners.
Our loss consisted of two officers killed and eight
wounded, besides 38 private soldiers killed and 83
wounded. The number of the missing amounts to
31 only, amongst whom we comprise the dead and
wounded left on the field of battle.
From the statement of the prisoners and under-
officers who deserted during the truce, the enemy
has had 1,100 men put hors do combat, and among
the dead he deplores a large number of officers.
The fact has been confirmed by the Piedmontese
Consul to the Governor at Messina, whence they
a number of vehicles and doctors be-
longing to the neighbourhood.
Lastly, Garibaldi himself said to M. Salvy, com-
manding the Protis, that he had lost more than 800
men, and that he did not command more than 8,000,
whereas every one, prisoners and all, agree in de-
claring that we were attacked by about 12,000
men.
One incomprehensible fact is the timid entrance
of the enemy into the country. They fired without
necessity with their rifles, from the tops of the pro-
montories encircling the fort, nor would they have
ceased firing but for our tranquil silence.
The Cavaliere Selvy, Captain of the Protis, paid a
visit to Colonel Del Bosco on the morning of the
23d, in the fort ; and after different topics under-
took to tell him, in the name of Garibaldi, that they
offered him the option of withdrawing with his
i officers to Naples, all with their swords, leaying