The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1860.

movement. (Hear.) The English people in taking
upon themselves these new duties had no ideas of
aggression towards foreign countries, for our inte-
rests were best served by the maintenance of peace,
and all we asked was to be allowed to remain at
peace. He (Mr. Luke) would say nothing in dis-
paragement of the Emperor of the French ; but
there was no use in seeking to disguise the fact that
that the volunteer corps had been established in con-
sequence of the large armaments kept up and con-
tinually increasing in time of peace by that Mo-
narch. This country had hitherto no ground of com-
plaint against the Emperor Napoleon, who had kept
all his promises to us, and had shown a great de-
sire to preserve our friendship ; but it was right that
England should be prepared for every emergency,
and, although all were anxious to avert the horrors
of war, yet the best way of preventing war was to
be prepared for it. (Hear.) The chairman then
proceeded to express his regret that he was the
only Parliamentary representative of Southwark at
the meeting, and said that he and his constituents
had suffered a great loss by the decease of their
friend Sir C. Napier. (Hear, hear.) Had that
gallant officer been spared, he would have warmly
supported the object of the meeting, as throughout
his life he had but one wish, for the honour and
welfare of his country ; and he (Mr. Locke) could
not forego the opportunity of paying a just tribute
to the memory of his late gallant colleague, whom
he regarded as one of the greatest Admirals in our
naval annals. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the
business immediately before the meeting, the chair-
man made some practical suggestions as to the
formation of the corps, recommending an avoidance
of exclusiveness and a judicious selection of offi-
cers, with which precautions he was certain that
a strong and effective body of Volunteers could be
raised in that locality, worthy to form part of the
great Volunteer army which was now one of the
glories of Great Britain. In conclusion,Mr. Locke
stated that the dock companies of the district and
the leading merchants and manufacturers were
willing to give warm support to the movement,
and that Lieut.-General Sir W. Gomm, who was
connected by property with the parish, had ex-
pressed his regret at being unable to attend the
meeting, bat had promised to subscribe 10 guineas
annually for three years. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRANDRAM moved the first resolution, which
was to the effect that it was desirable to establish a
Rotherhithe Volunteer Corps. He, as a command-
ing officer of a Volunteer Artillery Corps, wts
convinced of the necessity of associating all classes
in the movement, and hoped that no invidious
spirit of exclusiveness would be allowed to
prevail in the formation of the new corps. After
some useful remarks upon the necessity of a judi-
cious selection of officers and non-commissioned
officers, Mr. Brandram concluded by offering a
piece of land as a drill ground for the Rotherhithe
Volunteers.
Dr. MuilDocll seconded the resolution, and ex-
pressed his surprise that the parish of Rotherhithe,
with its 20,000 inhabitants, should have been so late
in joining the national movement, but he hoped
that by energetic action they would excuse their
tardiness in commencing operations.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. PERKS proposed the appointment of a com-
mittee to make arrangements for establishing the
Rotherhithe Volunteer Corps, which was also agreed
to.

The proceedings terminated with the usual vote
of thanks to the chairman.
Last evening an influential public meeting was
held at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street,
for the purpose of forming a volunteer corps of
Welshmen, Sir W. W. Wynn, M.P., in the chair.
The chairman said he had been requested to take
+he chair at the meeting to see what were the feel-
ings of the Welsh people in London with respect to
the volunteer movement. The movement and how
it had gone on through the country was well known,
and it was merely a question of nationality among
the Welsh people. There was a large number of
Scotch, and a strong battalion of Scotch had been
formed in London. The Irish had also formed a
corps, and it was for the Welsh to decide whether
they would have a corps. In Liverpool there was
a strong body of Welshmen embodied in a rifle
corps, but Liverpool was nearer the principality
than London. He concluded by expressing a hope
that they would be able to raise a corps as well as
the Scotch and Irish.
Sir T. PHILLirs next addressed the meeting, and
said that they had now arrived at a point of the
Volunteer movement where praise was unnecessary.
The movement was essentially and emphatically
a defensive one. He sincerely hoped that the
Welsh in London would enter into the spirit of
the movement; and if they wished to make the
corps successful they must remember the respon-
sibilities—they must think of the drill and of the
cost. He also hoped that if they took the move-
ment up they would not fail in it. He concluded
by moving the following resolution :
" That those present at this meeting cordially approve
the formation of a national corps of London Welsh Rifles,'
if practicable, and will exert themselves to promote that
object."

Mr. PROPERT, in seconding the motion, said
nothing could do more credit to the Welsh than the
meeting that evening. The Welsh repulsed the
French in Pembrokeshire in the last century, and
the people before him had the same blood in their
veins. (Cheers.) The Volunteer movement was
not a warlike one, but was a movement to retain
their own. Why should they go abroad to attack
other nations? We had plenty of wealth at home,
end only wanted to keep our own. In conclusion,
he said it was a duty they owed to the principality
and to their country to support the movement.
The motion was then carried with great cheering.
Mr. KENRYN moved :

" That there be two classes of members—honorary mem-
bers, who shall give a donation of 10 guineas or upwards,
or subscribe annually the sum of two guineas; and effective
members, subscribing one guinea per annum."
He gave an interesting account of the history of
Volunteers in Wales from the earliest times.
Mr. C. W. WYNNE having seconded the motion,
it was agreed to.

Mr. WILLIAMS moved the appointment of a com-
mittee to carry out the object of the meeting. He said
in reference to the dresses proposed, the ancient
head dress was a kind of turban, for which in the
present design, the modern worn Spanish hat was
thought to be a good substitute, in the front of
which would be placed the Prince of Wales's
feathers, instead of a bunch of cock's feathers, The
feathers would be fastened to the head dress by a
scroll of metal, on which would be the sentence
" Ich Dien." The colour of the hat would be gray.
The " crylP'or shorteltilted blouse, was loose in
the body and sleeves. The colour of the material
and the trimmings would represent the national
of Wales—green, red, and white, which latter
colour could be represented by gray, the same
colour as the Scottish uniform.
The motion was then agreed to.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.
The goat belonging to the Welsh Fusileer
Guards was present on the platform.

The Volunteer Guards (32d Middlesex) will mus-
ter OR Saturday afternoon at Carlton-ride, Water-
loo-place, the authorities having allowed them the
use of that spacious building for drill.
The 3d Somerset Rifles had a grand shooting,
match on Tuesday at Orchard Portman. On the
return of the party to Taunton, Mrs. Sanford, wife
of the captain of the corps, presented the prizes to
the successful competitors in the presence of a large
concourse of spectators on the Parade. The prizes
consisted of a handsome silver cup, the gift of Mr.
G. C. Bentinck, M.P., and a gold medal, the gift
of Mrs. Sandford, together with a number of
" cross-rifles" for distinguished marksmen. The cup
was won by Private Geale, and the gold medal by
the honorary surgeon, Dr. Edward Liddon. In
making the presentations, Mrs. Sandford felt much
pleasure in awarding the prizes for distinguished
merit. She trusted that the riffis of the 3d Somer-
set would never be pointed against anything more
hostile than their targets ; but, should any foreign
foe dare plant his foot on the free soil of England,
she doubted not they would render a good account
of themselves. Three cheers were then given for
the Queen, three for Mrs. Sandford, and three fox

the captain, the proceedings of the day terminating
with a dinner, of which a numerous and distin-
guished company partook.

The 4th Nottinghamshire (Mansfield) Volunteer
Rifles, which has made considerable progress in
drill, discipline, and target practice, has recently
received a considerable addition to its numbers.
Within the last week nearly 40 eligible recruits
have presented themselves from Sutton-in-Ashfield,
Kirkby, and elsewhere, so that the company has
nearly attained its maximum compliment of 100
effectives. They will shortly be inspected by the
inspecting-officer of the district.

readily imagine that such an attempt could only
have emanated from the mind or minds of those
capable of committing the murder itself. If any-
thing should come out in that room showing him
that it would be his duty to act elsewhere as a ma-
gistrate,or if a proper case were brought before him
by complaint or information in writing, on oath, he
should not hesitate to issue his warrant for the ap-
prehension of Miss Constance Kent. Nor should he
under such circumstances hesitate to issue his war-
rant for the apprehension of Elizabeth Gough. He
mentioned these two specially because they had
been already before a court of judicature; but he
would say that he should not hesitate to issue his
warrant against any two persons who were in or
at the house, or elsewhere, at the time of the
murder, or to put his signature to a warrant for
the apprehension of any one or more of those
parties, so that justice might then be done.
He believed that the result of the coroner's
inquest, and the mode in which it was conducted,
had met with general disapproval in London. He
believed that the proceedings with regard to Miss
Constance Kent had met with great, he did not say
general, disapproval. And he believed that the pro-
ceedings with regard to Elizabeth Gough in that
room, at Trowbridge and elsewhere, had also met
with very great disapproval in London. It was
unbecoming on his part, perhaps, to make any ob-
servations with regard to his brother magistrates.
But no such delicacy was felt in London, and he
believed that the chairman of their quarter sessions
(Sir J. W, Awdry) had erred, unknowingly, un-
doubtedly, in the examination of Elizabeth Gough
in having conducted the case as if he were trying
her as a judge without the intervention of a jury.
The consequence was that she had been allowed to
go free on certain recognizances being entered into.
He understood, however, from a person in whom
he could place the greatest confidence, that she was
willing to come forward at any moment she might
be required. It was for others to say, with regard
to the investigations which had taken place at Trow-
bridge and elsewhere, whether there was or was
not a prima facie case then and there made by legal
evidence against Elizabeth Gough. If so, it was
the duty of his brother magistrates, without being
persuaded by the chairman, to have committed her
for trial, and to have had the charge investigated
at the next assizes for the county of Wilts. lie
(Mr. Saunders) might have been excited, but, after
the observations which had been made on his con-
duct, he felt it only due to himself to state what
he had stated. He proposed to go no further with
the investigation that day, but he did not intend,
though it had been suggested to him by parties of
intelligence, to close the inquiry, certainly until he
knew the result of the application for a second coro-
ner's inquest. In his opinion he did not believe that
application would be granted, and if not, then the
burden would be thrown on the magistrates and
police of the county of Wilts of endeavouring to
discover the criminal, He might have appeared
excited, but what he had gone through was enough
to excite any man; but though writs ad tnelias
inquirendunt and other writs had been talked of, he
was as cool as he ever was in his life. He proposed,
therefore, to suspend this inquiry, not to close it,
and he left the public to judge of his conduct is
the matter.

It was subsequently stated by Mr. Saunders that
he should not, in all probabili4y, resume his sit-
tings until the proposed application to the Court of
Queen's Bench has been disposed of; but that if
he should alter his determination he would com-
municate with the representatives of the press who
had attended the inquiry.