The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-15 00:00:00

VOL ULYTEER CORPS.

Sir J. T. Coleridge, 'in a letter which he has just
published, says :—" It may be said that it is unne-
cessary now to revive the spirit which animated the
country in the first years of this century. I ven-
ture to think that it is never unnecessary to revive
the spirit which does not tend to ambitious exten-
sion of empire or to foreign conquest, but which
teaches ns to make sacrifices of our money and.
time, to undergo hardship, and submit to discipline_
and training, that we may be prepared 'to assist
usefully, whenever the necessity may arise,' in de-
fending the sanctity of our homes and the liberties
of our country. I accept with unspeakable thank-
fulness the cessation of the Italian war. I enter-
tain no unreasonable distrust of the French Em-
peror, but I ask, judging from the history of the
past, and the complications of the present time, can
any reasonable man consider a war lietween the
two countries as other than a probable event ? Sup-
posing a war to break out, can any man suggest any
other enterprise on the part of an enemy so pro-
bable as an attempt to invade England ? Suppos-
ing the attempt successfully made (and who can
say that it might not be successful if made?) does
any one feel that our population—l will not speak
of our army—is in any.the least degree prepared to
co-operate usefully in our defence ? It seems to me
that these questions can only be answered in one
way, and the practical consequence is irresistible.
We are now an unarmed people, of all nations per-
haps the least ready for effective service. Why
should we not become familiar with the use of the
rifle and with the charge with the bayonet ? Gen.
Simcoe mainly insisted with the volunteers on the
latter. The former was at the time he commanded
(1806) a specialty reserved for a few; but by mak-
ing the volunteers act with the line and the militia
in marches, encampments, and sham fights, he had
prepared them for the improvements which actual
service would render easy and imperative.
All this, I suppose, might without difficulty
be practical now, and it would have the effect of
preparing beforehand a large force, officered, regi-
mented, knowing each other, with the rudiments of
discipline, and advanced a certain way towards
being actual soldiers. Let me conclude with the
closing sentences of a general order issued. by Gene-
ral Simcoe, in 1800:—' The Major-General desires
that the'volunieer in the charge may be exercised
to increase his pace by degrees, so as to arrive with
rapidity at the distance of 300 yards without any
disorder, and in perfect breath and readiness to
grapple with any opponent. The closing with an
enemy becomes the courage of the country, and is
firmly supported r,y that activity, in which the
Englishman participates with the southern nations
of Europe, and the strength in which he equals
those of the north. A combination of these quali-
ties and a due exercise therein must insure victory.
To close with the enemy has been the foundation
of all our superiority by sea and by land ; it was
the principle of Marlborough and the practice of
Wolfe.' "

MURDEROUS, ATTACK ON A SAILOR

On Saturday- John W. Moody, second. mate of
the Mary, of Bath, United States, was brought be-
fore the North'Shields borough magistrates, charged
with a murderous attack on Daniel Witham, a Bri-
tish sailor, which there is every reason to think
will end in the poor fellow's death. The Mary had
come across from the United States to Antwerp,
and thence had called in the Tyne to load steam
coals in the Northumberland Dock to take out home.
Witham had made the voyage in the vessel, and on
Thursday morning about three o'clock, while the
vessel was in the dock, all hands were knocked up
to unmoor the vessel. Witham, who had been
drinking on the previous night, had not got out of
his bunk quick enough for the officers, when Moody
went forward and pulled him out by the hair of
his head. He dragged him about the forecastle
floor in this manner, was taken off by a seaman
named Wm. Black. While Black was sitting down,
putting on his boots, Moody picked up a large iron
bar called a " nOrman," and struck Witham a most
fearful blow on the head. Witham dropped on
the deck, and Black imagined that he was dead,
and picked him up and placed him in his berth.
Black ran aft and knocked up the master, and told
him the second mate had killed one of the crew.
But in coming forward they met the mates coming
out from where Witham was lying. One of them
said, "Oh God him ; he is not dead." The other
replied, " No; his head is only bruised." From
what the mate said to the captain he went back to
his bed. About a couple of hours after Moody ab-
sconded, but was captured at Sunderland on Fri-'
day by the North Shields
_police. The master,
having subsequently ascertained the real condition
of the men; sent for,,a surgeon, • who had him re-
moved on shore. From the evidence of Mr. Coward,
surgeon, it seems that Witham is suffering from
an extensive fracture 'of the left 'side of the skull,
and is in a very -dangerous condition. From in-
quiriesmade, at a late hour on Saturday no hopes
recovery.this From
is
he evidence
fr et entertained
ce
rr
et
td
appears
ph!
its
rs that
at-
tack Moody has made 'upon Witham, he having
beat him with steel knuckles (knulle-duAers)
while at sea. The crew of the vessel state!t.A.t
Witham was a very quiet man. The magisfiates
remanded Moody for a week. Moody is a power-
ful young fellow, 25 years of age. He belongs to
Portland, United States.