The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1859,

what you want in volunteers is some uniform colonr. 1
Gray harmonised well with other colours and. with
the atmosphere, and was difficult to be distinguished
at a distance. As for the invisible green or our re-
gular riflemen, it was so called because no green
was visible, and for all purposes it was. the same as
black—very easy to be seen—as easy, in fact, as -a
rock.or a tree. The proportion of visibility between
red and gray was shown by the fact that the red
was hit 12 and the gray only 6 per cent. In a4di-
tion to his own opinions in favour of gray, the com-
mittee of volunteers on dress, appointed by Govern-
ment, after a deliberation of four hours, agreed to
recommend a gray uniform trousers and leggings,
great coat, and light forage cap with slanting peak.
He now came to cost, which he considered a vital

qnestion, because the success or failure of the whole
movement would depend on it. It involved a ques-
tion of numbers and class ; for, whoever came to in-

vade this country would be guided by the numbers
of our enrolled volunteers. Now, if you have an ex-
pensive uniform you cannot hope to have anything
like 600,000 men, and a small number such as 50,000
would not be sufficient to deter an invader. He pro-
ceeded to read a letter from the Speaker of the
House of Commons in accordance with this view, and
then went on to consider the more serious question
of class. When this movement was first set on foot,
he hailed it for the many social advantages likely to
arise by its doing away with the old lines of demar-
cation, for he had found that the more people mixed
together the more they learnt to appreciate each
other, and to rub off those rough angles of charac-
ter which set one man against another. It was
with these views that he had done his best to ob-
tain a cheap dress in order to get respectable arti-
sans into their ranks: (Cheers.) If this could
not be effected the movement would be productive,
he was afraid, of great evil. He wanted to see as
many artisans as possibly could be obtained in their
ranks ; and he would say, don't separate them into
distinct corps. The only way you can avoid doing
so is by having a cheap dress. Can you have a
cheap and good dress ? As he stood there in a cap,
blouse, trousers, and belts he cost about two guineas
—a sum within the reach, he thought, of any ar-
tisan—(hear)—if not immediately, by quarterly in-
stalments of 10s. The first thing is to find out
whether the material be good ; that it be not a
mixture of devil's dust and shoddy.. To discover
this, he obtained an unprejudiced opinion from one
of the Government viewers, who gave it as his opi-
nion, after thoroughly examining the stuff, that it
was impossible to obtain a cheaper, more durable,
or better-looking material for the purposes re-
quired than that which composed his coat and
trousers, as it would never change colour 'by ex-
posure to weather and would always wash. He
had now shown them the possibility of getting
a cheap and durable dress, in accordance with
which he was glad to tell them that the Go-
vernment was having sealed patterns pre-
pared. A greatcoat was not absolutely necessary ;
still it was so comfortable and warm that he did not
think the equipment would be complete without it.
The cost of the greatcoat would be from 30s. to 355.
The whole sum for which the volunteer could equip
himself would not exceed four guineas. In conclu-
sion, he proposed the following resolution :
" That the uniform now exhibited be adopted as the uni-
form of the corps, subject to such modifications as may be
deemed advisable by the council after examining the sealed
patterns."
The resolution was carried unanimously.
A long discussion then arose on the comparative
advantages of the flat straight peaked cap like the
French kepi, and the cap with the slanting peak
protecting the eyes from the oblique rays of the sun,
which ultimately ended in A. division, when the flat
peak was declared to be negatived.
A' MEMBER (a workingiman) observed that the
expense of the dress would not deter working men
from joining these corps, which would always fetch
its intrinsic value, but the other expenses of the
corps. (A Voice—What are they ?)
Another discussion then took place on distinctive
badges indicative of nationality, but the meeting
declared itself against them.
• LOrd ELCIIO said he wished particularly to draw
public attention to the following circumstances.
There was, as they all knew, an association called
the "National Rifle Assoeiation," which held annual
meetings and offered prizes for the encouragement
of rifle shooting. He had reason to believe that her
Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort intended
to offer prizes to be contended for by the association.
With this knowledge he was much astonished to see
another . association had been started,. Which re-
quested that subscriptions might be sent to Mr.
Cave Thomas ; he would merely ask the public to
give the Latin pronunciation to that gentleman's
name, and say " Cave Thomas."
After three cheers for Lord Elcho the meeting
separated.

INLAND REVENUE CORPS.
An aajournea general meeting of the members of
this corps took place at Somerset House on Thurs-
day evening—Mr. T. Sargent, assistant secretary,
in the chair. A further list of donations and sub-
scriptions was announced,' and power was accorded
to the committee to delegate two of its members to
be representatives of the corps in the provisional
council now being formed in different offices to take
into consideration the formation of a Civil Service
Rifle Brigade, and to prepare a draught of rules for
the conduct and management of the general affairs
of the brigade, to be subnntted for the approval of
the several corps intending to furnish companies to
such brigade. 'The number of effective members
who have already joined is sufficient to constitute
two entire companies,.and the names of upwards
of 70thonorary members have also been received.

CLERKEN WEL L.

Last evening a public meeting was held at the
Parochial Schoolroom, Amwell-street, Clerkenwell,
in furtherance of the formation of a rifle corps for
that parish—Mr. Blogg, churchwarden, in the chair.
The CFIAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said
the meeting had been convened in consequence of
a requisition received by the churchwardens, calling
for steps to be taken for the formation of a rifle
corps for the above district. He had very great
pleasure is acceding to the request which had been
made by so many of the inhabitants. A letter from
Mr. Dancombe was read to the effect that he con-
sidered the institution of rifle corps uncalled for and
inexpedient. He hoped that no want of patriotism
or loyalty would bo attributed to him, and others
like him, who had no confidence in amateur rifle
corps, or believed that at the present juncturotheir
formation was impolitic, and more likely to create
than to remove the very dangers they were in-
tended to remove, and he was convinced that there
was nothing the Emperor of the French would not
do to advance the interest and prosperity of Eng-
land.

Letters were also read from Lord Elcho, Mr. V.
Knight, Mr. Bodkin, and other noblemen and gen-
tlemen, expressing their regret at being unable to
attend ; and also one from Messrs. Nicholson, an-
nouncing a donation of £25.
The Rev. Mr. MAGUIRE proposed the first resolu-
tion, to the effect that the organisation of rifle corps
being deemed expedient, the meeting pledged itself
to use every effort to make it strong, efficient; and
creditable to the parish. He said the movement was
essentially a peace movement, and, as a minister of
the Gospel, he did not conceive he was out of place
in advocating it on that platform. Prevention was
better than cure, and further, it was cheaper. The
press had taken up the movement, and he did not con-
sider it red, but-was rather the reflex of public opinion.
They hacl.not
.to consigt the feelings of the French
Emperor so much as the feelings of. the French
army. There was an army of 800,000 men ou the
look out, and where would they find so rich a prize as
England ? If they would have Englishmen main-
tain her position, they must be up and doing, and
it"was the riflemen who would enable her to main-
tain it, no matter what emergency might arise.
Even if no foe were expected, the movement would
give to the youth of England a more manly vigour,
and recal in some measure the athletic sports of the
ancient. Britons. Their pursuits were too sedentary,
and it would give a more healthrtone to their cha-
racter. He considered that a money qualification
ought to be entirely set aside, and, that the man
who was the best shot Ought to have the right of
membership. Prizes should be given upon the good
old motto, Palmanz qui meruit fend. •
Mr. GLOVER seconded the motion in a brief
address.

Mr. POWNALL supported the resolution, and
said, the rifle would prove an 'efficient weapon in
the hands of Englishmen. In that district they
would have some difficulty in obtaining shoot-
ing ground, but he did not apprehend
there would be any difficulty in getting
ground for drill. There was, in fact, a piece
of ground outside the prison walls which would
answer their purpose very well. As to the expenses
they would, no doubt, be considerable. The uniform
would cost about £3, the belt 155., and the cap 12s.
Then they would be obliged to join some other
corps in order to decrease the expense. He did not
advocate the formation of rifle corps from any fear
of invasion ; on the contrary, he believed the French
Emperor knew England much too well and was
much too wise ever to'think of an invasion.. Let
them all unite in one band for the good of the coun-
try, and uphold their individual blessings, and
scatter them far and wide.

Captain COLVILLt also supported the motion.
pe said many military men believed an invasion
quite possible, and it was also believed that a body
of 200,000 men could be thrown on the shores of
England in a single day.
Mr. WARD said the present cost of uniforms
prevented the working classes from joinina, the
movement. He considered they ought to have
the same chance as other classes, and as their

means ' would not permit Ahem to do so, the
Government ought to come forward--and find the
me_ass. The motion was then carried unanimously.
Mr.llAmmoND proposed the second resolution :
'% TI corps consist of ,two classes of members, en-
rolled and honorary ; enrolled
,members to consist of effec-
tive• rind non-effectivo members; honorary members to be
admitted-upon payment of five guineas at one time, or ono
guinea annually ; effective members to pay half-a-guinea
per annum, and none-effective one guinea annually. Pay-
ment in advance."

Mr. INGLIS seconded the motion.
Dr. STEEL also supported the motion ; which was
also carried unanimously.
A resolution was then passed, appointing a com-
mittee to carry out the above objects, and, after a
vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting
separated.

readily made available for purposes of defence.
With a few Armstrong guns mounted at these
points, it would be utterly impossible for an enemy
to advance up the stream, or to attempt to land a
hostile force.

If, however, Woolwich is to be regarded as a for-
tified camp, and to have a system of defences equal
in importance to those of Sebastopol, its strongest
line of eircumvallation must be nearer to the town.

Here, again, every advantage is provided by nature
for the defence of the place. The Government esta-
blishments stand at the base of the highest bill in
this part of the county of Kent, and from its sum-
mit the county in every direction is completely co-
vered. If an enemy should succeed in landing at
any point of the coast between Dover and tho
Thames, his advance must be up the old Dover road,
and from the summit of ghooter's-hill this road is
visible, stretching away in a direct line for nearly
five miles. The ascent of the hill itself, for nearly
a mile, is exceedingly steep, and it would be as im-
possible to force a passage up it, in the face of a
1 heavy fire from guns on its summit, as it would be

•
for a squadron of cavalry to charge up Snowdon
Between the old Dover road and the Maidstone
road a thick belt of woods intervenes—so thick and
so extensive as to be impracticable for the advance
of cavalry, and unsafe for that of infantry. The
next point, therefore, at which an enemy could
advance would be along the road leading from
Maidstone ; and here, also, the ground is equally
available for defensive batteries. The advance of
troops along the road would be effectually checked
—fir,t, by, flank batteries on Shooter's-hill; se-
condly, by directly opposing batteries on the sum-
mit of `wool wick-common ; and thirdly, by a bat-
tery which might bo constructed in a small Maine-
ion on the road leading to Eltham.
Presuming that the enemy should land any-
where to the west of Dover, either at Romney
Marsh or at Pevensey Bay, his only practicable
mode of advancing so as to attack Woolwich would
be along the valley of the Ravensbourne, and then
along Blackheath. But here, again, he would have
to advance in the face of batteries which, occupy-
ing a far greater elevation than his own position,
would pour upon his forces a plunging fire of shot
and shell, against which his own fire would be com-
paratively ineffectual. In short, instead of Woolwich
being, as it has been asserted, impossible to de-
fend, it is more amply provided by nature with the
groundwork for defences than any other maritime
port in the kingdom. It maybe alleged that it
would be easy for an enemy to bombard the Arsenal
from the Essex hills, or to bring his batteries into
the marshes and open fire from thence; but those
who argue so forget that he would still be ex-
posed to the fire of batteries mounted on the
Plumstead hills, and even from the town of Wool-
wich itself, hich completely commands this
position. But no danger need be apprehended
from any advance in this direction. The nature of
the coast would prevent an enemy from effecting a
landing anywhere between the mouth of the Thames
and Harwich, which, if accomplished, would en-
tail upon him a difficult march of four or five days,
and the risk of a sea passage from Cherbourg
or Boulogne would be proportionally increased, by
the increased distance the flotilla would have to
steam. Instead of a run of a few hours, the flotilla
which left Boulogne at daybreak would find itself
at nightfall far from its destination, whilst its ad-
vance through the Straits of Dover would be sig-
nalled to every part of the coast long before it
reached the shore.
Whilst strongly advocating the necessity of im-
mediately constructing defences for the coast, and
more particularly for our dockyards and arsenals,
we feel bound to protest against any extravagant
outlay for the erection of expensive stone batteries.
Experience has shown that earthworks are quite
as enduring, much more easily repaired, quickly
constructed, and erected at one-tenth of the ex-
pense of the old works of defence. The White
Tow erbofore Sebastopol fell into ruins after the first
week's fire, but the earthworks continued to oppose
for nearly twelve months the science and force of
lie two greatest nations of Europe, supported
by the armies of two minor States. After the
experience acquired at Sebastopol, we should hardly
deem it necessary to 'titter such a caution, did we
not know that many of our old engineer officers
are incapable of learning by any amount of expe-
rience, and prefer the costly and exploded mode
of defence pertaining to a system that has long
since passed away.--Steam Shipping Chronicle.