The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-13 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.

A copy of the following circular, relative to the forma-
tion of volunteer rifle corps was issued from the War►aloe
yesterday to all Lord Lieutenants of Counties :
" War-office, Pall-mall, May, 1859.
" Her Majesty's Government having had under considera-
tion the propriety of permitting the formation of volunteer
rifle corps, under the provisions of the act of 44th Geo. 111.
cap. 64, as well as of artillery corps and companies in marl-
time towns in which there may be forts and batteries, I have
the honour to inform
that I shall be prepared to receive through you, and con-
sider any proposal with that object which may emanate from
the county under your charge.
66 The principal and most important provisions of the act
are—

" That the corps be formed under officers bearing the
commission of the lieutenant of the county.
" That its members must take the oath of allegiance
before a deputy-lieutenant or justice of the peace, or a com-
missioned officer of the corps.
" That it be liable to be called out in case of actual inva-
sion, or appearance of an enemy in force on the coast, or in
case of a rebellion arising out of either of those emergencies.
" That while thus under arms, its members are subject
to military law, and entitled to be billeted, and to receive pay
in like manner as the regular army.
" That all commissioned officers disabled in actual service
are entitled to half-pav, and non-commissioned officers and
privates to the benefit of Chelsea Hospital, and Wl4owil_of
commissioned officers killed in service to such pensions for
life as are given to the widows of officers of her Majesty's
regular forces.

" That members cannot quit the corps when on actual
service, but may do so at any other time by giving fourteen
days' notice.
" That members who have attended eight days in each
four months, or a total of twenty-four days' drill and exer-
cise in the year, are entitled to be returned as effectives.
" That members so retured are exempt from militia ballot,
or from being called upon to servo in any other
"That all property of the corps is legally vested in the
commanding officer; and subscriptions and fines under the
rules and regulations are recoverable by him before a magis-
trate.

"The conditions on which her Majesty's Government
will recommend to her Majesty the acceptance of any pre-
posal are—
" That the formation of the corps be recommended by the
lord lieutenant of the county.
"That the corps be subject to the provisions of the act
already quoted.
" That its members undertake to provide their own arms
and equipments, and to defray all expenses attending the
corps, except in the event of its being assembled for actual
service.
" That the rules and regulations which may be thought
subjectnte
n.t to
eynocue
,r
aanpdpacrovcoalrdiinbugttotthhae
necessary, be submitted tome, in accordance with the 66th
section of the act.
" The uniform and equipments of the corps may be
arms, though provided at the expense oft he members, must
bs
furnisheettl e d b
f this in
regulations o department, order to secure a perfect
uniformity of gauge.
~ The establishment of officers will be fixed
recorded in the books of this office ; and by me, and
yedthuenmdeernithbeerssuperi
limy be enabled to determine the proportion, , in order that I
you will lie
pleased to specify the precise numberof
you will recommend, and into how private men which
propose to divide them. many companies you
" I have only to add that I shall
jesty's lieutenant, for the look to you, as her Ma-
be appointed officers nomination of proper persons to
have the honour t ' subject to the Queen's approval: —I
servant. 0 be, &c., &c., your most obedient
" lie " J PEEL,
r Majesty's Lieutenant for * '.
the County of
A

sad accident occurred a few evenings ago in
the little town of Schutten Hoffen, near Prague :—Several
hundred persons had assembled on a bridge over the
river Watawa, in accordance with a local custom, for
some religious ceremony, when the bridge suddenly
broke down. Upwards of 70 persons were precipitated into
the river, the greater part of whom were droweed, the rest
being seriously injured.

An accident, which might have been attended
with serious consequences, occurred at Pau three days ago.
The owner of a house in the Place Bosquet was erecting
a new chimney for a room on the ground floor, and ha
carried it up to the top of the building, when
suddenly fell, crashing through the roof and floors down to
the cellar, the wine in which suffered considerably from
breakage. Fortunately all the workmen were away at th
in)lnent, and so escaped injury.