The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-07 00:00:00

General Searlett and the Volunteerp,

The third administrative battalion of the Lanca-
shire Rifle Volunteers had a shooting competition
at Altcar in September last, and the prizes won on
that occasion were distributed to the successful rifle-
men a few days since at Burnley by Lieutenant-
General the Hon. Sir J. Y. Scarlett, K.C.B.
Sir JAMES, who was received with enthusiasm,
said the presenting of the prizes gave him great
pleasure for one or two reasons. As honorary colo-
nel of the corps he took a deep interest in its wel-
fare, and though the position which he held was
merely a complimentary one—a sinecure—giving
him no privilege to interfere with the internal dis-
cipline or with the drill of the regiment, still it did
not diminish the interest he took in the corps itself.
(Applause.) The pleasure of seeing the regiment
in the field last August gave him additional reason
fur being desirous to present these prizes. He was
particularly struck by the efficiency of the corps,
which at the time l►e attributed mainly to the fact
that the men were in the habit of leaving their
homes for a short time and assembling at Lytham
He imagined that this encamping at Lytham was one
of the principal reasons why the corps was so efficient
at present. (Applause.) He hoped therefore that
this custom of assembling together in large num-
bers would prevail for many years, and that Colo-
nel Hargreaves would have the satisfaction of see-
ing his corps increase from day to day in efficiency,
and that it would become one of the most efficient
in the service. (Applause.) In the volunteer
movement he took the greatest possible in-
terest; and he was sure that everybody must now
take some interest, because it would be observed
that all foreign nations were turning their thoughts
to the reorganisation of their armies. It was
known that in foreign nations every man was in
some degree compelled to be a soldier. The con-
scription, with very few exceptions, included all

individuals, who had either to pay a large sum for
a substitute, or shoulder the musket. We had seen
what the Prussians had done. Some people called
them an army of raw recruits, and said that it was
an army of raw recruits which overcame some of
the most veteran soldiers among the Austrians.
This was scarcely correct, because the Prussians
were drilled for at least three years, and all in the
army had a certain amount of drill together. Any
soldier who had been regimented, who had been in
battalion, and who was accustomed to act with
others, became in the course of a year a very fair
soldier, and a thoroughly complete soldier after a
very little more actual service. He must, there-
fore, say that the Prussians were not entirely raw
troops. Moreover, they would have much more
drill than our volunteers would have in the same
time. Our fighting army, as it was well known,
consisted of men who adopted the military life as a
profession, and no tie prevented their entire
devotion to that profession. In consequence, it
was not at all surprising if they did their duty, as
he hoped the British army did on every occasion
whenever it was called upon. (Hear, hear, and
cheers.) We had another force, and a very excel-
lent force indeed it was. The militia—(cheers)—
was, at present, also a volunteer service, inasmuch
as the power the Government had of balloting for
men was not put into execution, and perhaps very
rightly so, for the exercise of that power would
take in a vast number of men who had other
occupations, and to whom it might be most
inconvenient to leave their homes, trades, and
other pursuits of life. If foreign war were
to last for any length of time, or a very
great effort were to be made by England,
he supposed this ballot must be enforced,
because it was quite evident that the merely
volunteer service became exhausted after a time.
The militia were a most excellent reserve and nursery
They had always been so ;
for the regular army.
but if the ballot were enforced, its exercise might
tend to heighten the zeal of the militia. He ima-
gined that the volunteers and yeomanry would be
exempted on the condition that they attended a cer-
tain number of drills, which would in an emergency
render them efficient soldiers. That would fill the
ranks of the volunteers, and bring about a proper
state of things. (Applause.) Every man was bound
to defend his own home, for patriotism was nothing
more than the desire all Englishmen had to defend
hearth and home. (Applause.) Every man in this
country had that feeling. England wished for no
aggrandisement. She did not wish to extend her
dominions. It might happen sometimes that the
best defence was made by taking the initiative, and
attacking. Of course, in that point of view, our
regular army would come in, and would be well sup-
ported by the militia and volunteers. In such a
case he did not see the need of any new organisation
in England. (Applause.) Looking at the prize list,
he said that while it must be admitted that all merit
had a right to notice, he felt great pleasure as a
Burnley man in observing that the first prize was
due to the second company, which was composed of
Burnley men. (Applause.) In conclusion, he must
add that the shooting appeared to have been ex-
tremely good, and he must congratulate the corps
upon the increase of its numbers, and upon the
general prosperous state of the whole regiment.
(Cheers.)
Thanks to the gallant General for his presence
and address were voted, on the motion of the Rev.
Canon Parker, hon. chaplain of the 17th L.R.V.,
and seconded by Mr. Robinson. The compliment
having been gracefully acknowledged, thanks were
also passed to Captain Handsley and Lieut.-Colonel
Hargreaves for their valuable command of the bat-
talion. The band then played " God save the
Queen," and the assembly left the institute.