The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-13 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER CORPS.

ST. PANCRAS.
Last night a numerous meeting of the inhabi-
tants of St. Pancras was held at the vestry hall for
the purpose of promoting the formation of a rifle

corps in the district.
Mr. CAMERON, churchwarden,Whb was called to
the r. /lair, said that the meeting was convened in
consequence of a requisition of ratepayers to the
-vestry, who were asked to have the sense of the
parish taken as to whether they would join in that
movement, which was now universal from the north
of Scotland to the south of Englan 1. He looked
-upon the present as essentially a peace movement,
andit to show that it was such they had amongst
them the Rev. Canon Dale, the vicar of the parish.
(Cheers.) They might have joined the neighbour-
ing parish of Marylebmie, but it would be incon-
venient for them to 'go for drill in Wormwood
Serubbs. They had a population of 200,000, and
out of that number they ought to be able to form a
respectable corps of their own. (Hear-) He hoped
it would be no exclusive corps, but that its ranks
would be open to all corners. (Hear.) He did not
believe that there would be an invasion of the coml-
.
try„butfr it was wise to be prepared to meet any
eventuality. (Hear.)
A letter was read from Lord Fermoy, dated from.
Ireland, expressing his, approvatof the object of the
meeting and his regret at not being able to attend.
The Roy. Canon DALE proposed the first resolu-
tion. He agreed with the chairman that this was
a. peace movement, because there was no bettor
Preservative of peace in the `vicinity of a powerful
neighbour than to be prepared to ward off any blow
that-might be intended. If he had any doubt on
that,point it was removed by the resolution which
he had to propose, and which affirmed that the
meeting, though earnestly desirous that friendly
relations ,sheturd 'continue to .exist with foreign
states, was deeply impressed with the conviction
that the training of the people to the use of arms
was the most effectual means of averting the
calamities of war and securing the advantages of
peace and commercial prosperity, and that it was
therefore desirable that a rifle brigade should be
formed in the parish. He sincerely desired that
friendly relations might exist between France and
England, He recollected the time indeed when
the two countries regarded themselves as natural
enemies, frit he hoped the time was come when they
might regard themselves as natural allies. (Hear.)
The people of this country did not want to attack
any other nation. All they wanted was to preserve
their own,and with God's assistance they would he
able to accomplish that object. (Cheers.) They
had recently seen it stated that great nations should
not fear but appreciate each other. Well, by this
movement they showed that they did not fear,
but that they appreciated their , neighbours, and
when the British people became, as lie hoped it
would, the British *army under the influence of
the present movement, they could roll back any
army that might assail them, and not leave a man
to tell the tale except those who might be spared by
the mercy'of the victors. (Cheers.) That being their
position, that the arming of the people was
the most effectual means of maintaining peace,then
came the necessary conclusion of the resolution
that it was desirable and necessary that a volun-
teer rifle corps should be at once formed in the
parish, and that the meeting should give it its sup-
port. Why should the parish of St. Pancras be
the last to come forward in the defence of what all
men held dear ? He trusted that the movement
would be no class movement, but that the mechanics
and artisans, who had a great stake in the peace
and prosperity of the country, should be called
forth to stand in its defence. (Hear, hear.) Those
persons who like himself were disqualified by pro-
fession. and by years from joining in the ranks
should provide a substitute. (Hear, hear.) He did
not believe that the Emperor Napoleon desired to
invade this country • but he was at the head of a
powerful army, and he might not always be able to
restrain their wishes and warlike propensities.
They ought, therefore, to guard against being taken
unprepared. He would aso recommend them not
to be over confident. The time was when it was
the general belief in England that every English-
man could beat two Frenchmen. (A laugh.) But
he believed the French were the best soldiers on
the continent—he did not say they were the best
off the continent—and as he was armed thrice who
had his quarrel just, there was no,boasting in say-
ing that an Englishman at home was equal to a
Frenchman abroad.. (Hear, hear.) Their • great
national poet said :

"Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in,
Bear it, that the opposer may beware of thee "

(Hear.) That was the feeling that ought to animate
the people of England at that moment. (Hear,
hear.) On still higher authority he would say to
them, " Be. of gOod'courage ; play the man for the
cities of your God, and the Lord do what seenteth
him good." (Cheers.)
Mr. BIKER seconded the motion. As a man of
peace and ajustice of the peace, he cordially seconded
theresolution.: lie had in his early days witnessed
the horrors of war, and he 'did not wish to see
them again, particularly in his own country, but he
felt assured that the best mode of ,preventing such
scenes was to be prepared to repel invasion, if such,
a thing Was contemplated.' He did not in the least
suspect the Emperor of the.Freneb of a desire or
intention to invade a country where he had been
so well received as a guest ; but they were told not
to put their trust in princes, but in God and their
own right arm. Therefore he asked them to join
the, movement. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was put and carried unanimously..
Mr. FISHER moved the second resolution. to the
effect, that in order to establish an efficient. corps it
was desirable that the subscription for effective
members should be £1 ls.,and the &Mations for
honorary members should be £5 ss. .
Mr. Ross, jun., seconded-the resolution.
Mr. E. JAMES, M.P., said he intended to defer to
a general meeting of his constituents, which he had
tailed for the 16th of January, for.. the- purpose of
addressing them on that and other. topics, any ex-
pression of opinion on this subject; but -finding that
there was a strong 'feeling in. the parish on the ques-
tion of the volunteer movement, he thought it to be his
duty to appear amongst them. He believed that any
intention of_ an invasion of England was far from
the mind of the Emperor Napoleon ; but they must
recollect that he was an autocrat. (Hear, hear.) He
did not use that word ofninsively, but to indicate
that everything depended on the will of one man.
,(Hear, hear.) They knew .that, on the Ist of
January last, an intimation of hostility was given
to Austria. which ended in a declaration of war.
Now, in England they loved freedom too well to be
liked by the other nations of Europe. A country,
therefore, like England ought to be at least pre-
pared to meet any attempt that might be made
against her.
.In a country which possessed no free
press and no constitutional government where the
question of pace or. war could be discussed, it was
of the utmost importance that we should be pre-
pared to meet any emergency that might arise. He
did not meats to say more than that. They heard
of great naval armaments in France, of depots for
her steamers in her arsenals. Was not this calcu-
lated to make England feel uneasy'-(hear, hear)—
and to make them ask if nil this was meant for
England. (Hear.) As a military nation, they were
ready to ackno4edge the high position of France;
but the commerce of France was not so extensive
as to require the protection of such a navy as she
possessed and was preparing. For whom, then,
were these' itt4shty armaments intended ? He
did not say they were intended' for them, ,be-
cause he dill not bslieve that the Emperor Napo-
leon dreamed or 'slaking war upon them at that
moment. He relieved that the Emperor Napo-
leon was te:er' sagacious for that, but they could
not tell what might take place when the question
of war depended on the fiat of one man. (Hear.)
Under such circumstances it.was the duty of Eng-
land to be I.repared for any eventuality... (Hear.)
Ile hoped the present movement would be entered
11130 n seriously and solemnly, and not -for the pur-
pose of mere display. He therefore hoped that the
Working class whose patriotism and love of country
were as-sincere as those of any other class would
be enabled to take part in it. ( heat%) He hoped it
,was not got up in order that a Lord May or as such
'should be the colonel, and an
alderman as such the
captain of the corps. (near.) They were much
better employed •in presiding •at dinners at
the Mansion-house than in playing at soldiers.
(Hear.) He supported the movement, because it
tsmded to spread a feeling of loyalty
amongst the
people. IL, dianot believe tlifit thjzige of chivalry
'was dead amongst the -people of England, but that
they were still prepared to take arms, not for the
purpose of carrying the horrors of war into other
countries, hut to prevent them, and to show their
love of country and their devotion to the crovsn.
The motion was then put and adopted.
On the motion of Mr. WYATT, which was seconded
by Mr. Ross, sen., a committee was appointed to
carry out the foregoing resolutions._i_
Captain WILK H
tssos, of the ghz.lc/a. teßifles,
mace some practical and useful ohserratiodn. s on rifle
corps; after which the meeting separate

an,
TilE Bninsu (Atheneetem)
nettnee With great satisfaction that the trustees of the Bri.,
tiSh. Museum have at len;:7th taken into serious considera-
tion the difficulties, in which they are placed by our vast
accumulation of literary and scientific treasures. Something
will now, we trust,. be done. At a very full meeting of the
board, after considerable discus,,,ion as to the principle of
separation, the trustees have appointed a sub-committee to
consider and report on the subject. The Speaker of the
House of Commons, as representative of the powers that
pay, is to act as chairman of the sub-committee.