The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-07 00:00:00

Every man, woman, and child in these isles is in-
terested in our naval supremacy, and has therefore
a right to be a critic. Do not let us go croaking about
our " defenceless state," the incapacity of our Ad-
mirals, and the jobbery of our Ministry. What-
everno
possess are pretty well
w n
enemies,edo
without our magnifying
known
weakto opuorin ts w
them.---Your obedient servant,
Carlton Club, May 6.

K. G.

ESTABLISHMENT OF RIFLE CORPS.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AND TOWN.
A most numerous and enthusiastic meeting, haviriefor its
object the establishment of a rifle club and corps for mem-
bers of the above-mentioned bodies, was held on Friday
(yesterday) at the Town-hall under the presidency of the
Mayor, Mr. C. Ball. Such was the interest excited, that
the large room at the Town-hall, was densely crowded, and
numbers went away unable to obtain admission. On the
platform were the Vice-Chancellor of the University (Dr.
Bateson), the Rev. Dr.Whewell (Master of Trinity College),
Dr. Guest (Master of Caius College), the Rev. Dr. Okes
(Provost of King's College), Professors Selwyn and Fisher,
Dr. Leapingwell, Mr. Potts, M.A., Colonel Wale, Captain
Davies, the Rev. Mr. Emery (Corpus College), Messrs. P.
Beales, C. H. Cooper, R. M. Fawcett, C. Francis, and H.
H. Harris. A number of other University dignitaries and
gentlemen of high position in the town were and
the undergraduates were in strong force.
The MAYOR briefly opened the proceedings, expressing
his cordial sympathy with the objects of the meeting.
The Very Rev. the VICE-CRANCELLOR (Dr. Bateson,
Master of St. John's College), who was received with rounds
of applause, said that he had felt much reluctance to
take part in the day's proceedings when the matter was
first mentioned to him, for he had to consider his
own professional position as a clergyman, the peculiar
character of the town, as a place devoted to the study and
the arts of peace, and in particular the nature of the office
which he had the honour of holding. His first impression
then was to be reserved and cautious in his official position,
however willing he might be in his individual capacity to
promote the objects for which the meeting was convened.
But when he saw that the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, that part of the Government which was spe-
cially charged with the care of domestic peace and protec-
tion, had publicly stated that the Government would be
glad if patriotic persons would come forward to enrolthem-
selves in volunteer corps, he felt no longer any hesitation—
he thought it was the bounden duty of every citizen to obey
the call of the Government, for such he considered it to be,
and do what lay in his power to promote any measure that
might be necessary for our defence and protection. Ho (the
Vice-Chancellor) thought there was no occasion for much
slam, much less for any feeling of panic—for he believed
there never was a time when this country was better pre-
pared at the outbreak of hostilities, and he had the ut-
most reliance on our power to augment almost to any extent
our military equipment. Still it was necessary to rouse the
military spirit of the country, and he thought there were no
means to accomplish this end which were more practicable
or more likely to be efficacious than the enrolment of such a
corps as it was the object of that meeting to form. (Cheers.)
Much had been said on the use of the rifle, and the pecu-
liar character of our country rendering that arm effective
for defensive warfare. Those arguments he thoroughly
believed to be founded in reason and good sense. No doubt
the formation of a rifle corps in a place like Cambridge
must be looked upon as a very significant event. (Cheers.)
It was no light matter for them, dedicated as they were to
study and the arts of peace, to come forward and take plait
in warlike exercises. It would doubtless be attended by
some inconvenience that military exercises should be fos-
tered and encouraged in the University. But there were
times when all questions of mere convenience must give
place to higher considerations, and as he (the Vice-Chan-
cellor) thought that time had now arrived, he did not hesi-
tate to say that it would give him satisfaction, and that he
should feel it to be his duty in his official capacity, to give
every encouragement to the objects which the meeting was
called to promote. (Loud cheers.) He had therefore much
pleasure in proposing—" That this meeting is of opinion
that in the present aspect of public affairs it is desirable to
form rifle clubs, and that in accordance with this view it
determines to form a rifle club for the University and town
of Cambridge." (renewed cheers.)
Mr. FAWCETT said he would nst enter upon the question
of the European war, a subject which was too deep for his
ken, and even for the greatest statesmen and most profound
authorities to fathom, and say where the lead should touch
the bottom. He would pray that God would so govern
events and the hearts of our rulers, that we might be pre-
served from implication in it. The duty of England might
be expressed in two words, " entire neutrality." He did
not mean by that entire inactivity, but that we should be
prepared to resist any aggression. He had been told that
the formation of such clubs was the very course most likely
to bring an invading army here, but he denied that, and
maintained that the best way to keep them out was to show
an attitude of what had been aptly termed in another place
" recumbent strength"—that we were prepared to repel any
aggression. As a means to that end he had much pleasure
in seconding the resolution. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. S. FOSTER asked if the intended corps would be
called upon to serve abroad ?
The MAYOR could not answer that question. That must
of course entirely depend upon circumstances as they arose.
Dr. PAGET moved the second resolution :—" That steps
be taken to obtain the sanction of the Government to the
enrolling of such members of the club as desire it into a
Rifle Corps, to consist of a university and town division."
Ho was proud that Cambridge had taken the lead in this
movement. In saying that he spoke both as a member of
the University and an inhabitant of the town ; he was
proud they should be the first to respond to the call of the
Government, for such he took that to be which fell from
the lips of the Home Secretary. In addition, it augured
well for the club, for it was one of the duties of a rifleman
to be first in the field—(cheers)---and the last out. If
the example were followed, as it was sure to be, they would
soon have 200,000 or 300,000 of the young men of England,
who were capable of using the rifle efficiently. At any
rate, the use of the rifle as a national pastime would be en-
couraged ; a practice which went far to explain the surpris-
ing victories of the inhabitants of the Tyrol. (Cheers.)
Mr.-BEALES seconded the resolution.

The Rev. Mr. Danny, of. Corpus College, proposed
" That a donation list be at once open to defray the preli-
minary expenses of the club ; that a donation of ti ve guineas
constitute a life member, and that a practising or non-prac-
tising member pay an entrance fee of 10s. 6d., and a sub-
scription of one guinea per annum." He found himself in
a somewhat unexpected position, that he, a minister of
peace, should be found proposing a donation and subscription
list to forward the purposes of war; but seeing the Vice-
Chancellor, Dr. Whewell, and Professor Selwyn, the latter
of whom was about to move a resolution, on the platform,
he thought he might be proud of his position. A clergyman,
a minister of Christ, had his duty to perform to his country.
and if he had not the good of his country at heart he could
not make an efficient clergyman, as the people would not
listen to his counsels. He had always found that if he would
do good among the population he must show himself an
honest open straightforward Englishman. (Loud cheers.)
Our religion was one of common sense, and it taught us
" 'When a strong man armed keepeth his place his goods
are in peace : but when a stronger than he shall come upon
him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all the armour
wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." (Loud and
continued cheering.) As a country, it behoved us to see
that our house was so well armed that nothing could over-
come us. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Emery, after entering upon
the details for the formation of and maintenance of the club,
read a number of promised donations. The list included
the names of several ladies, and the mention of these was
rapturously cheered. A number of heads of houses have
subscribed a guineas each; Mr. Adeane, M.P., £lO.
Mr. FRANCIS (solicitor) seconded the resolution, and men-
tioned to Mr. Emery, as a case in point, the fact that in the
"old volunteer" times, a relative of his own, a clergyman,
who afterwards rose to be an archdeacon, was a member of
one of those corps, which used to go to service on Sunday
morning and as regularly turn out on parade in the after-
noon, the clergyman having put on his surplice over his
gown in order that he might be ready for battle. (Laughter.)
The Rev. Professor SEL WYN moved the appointment o
a number of gentlemen as a provisional committee. A m-
tion had been asked, he said, as to the destination of the
corps ; but, he said, he trusted they would not make it a
condition, as was once the case with a regiment of volun-
amnersin,vtashaiotnt.he(yßsoharosulodf
lnotau gqhutietr
.E) npgrl ao nf
eds,s
oexcept in case
u o t eodi
the noble conduct of Walker-at the siege of Londonderry as
a proof of what might be done by a clergyman, though the
latter afterwards exceeded his duty by going to the battle
of the Boyne, where he was killed. After some other hu-
mourous and patriotic remarks, the professor wound up by
saying that the best orators on such matters as this were
those of the school of Demosthenes. After hearing other
orators, the audience went away expressing their admira-
tion of the speeches, but after hearing Demosthenes, they
exclaimed, "Come, let us fight Philip." (Loud cheers.) In
conclusion he said :
" Si vis pacem pari bellum,"
and he trusted such steps would now be taken as would
secure for this country at once and for ever the blessings of
peace. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. ADEANE, M.P., seconded the resolution. He ex-
pressed a hope that the county would not be long behind
them, but would soon establish a mounted corps in gene-
rous rivalry. He had not the honour of being a member of
a university himself, but he had been taught " Ingenuas
didicisse fideliter antes emollit mores, nec snit ease feros
but he found that university men were as fierce as ever in.
defence of their country. (Loud'cheers and laughter.) He
believed that the despot of France had no intention of in-
vading England, but whether or no, the seas were no
longer our defences as they were bridged over by steam.
They had to depend upon the men of England now, and
such a proceeding as that would do more than all the armies
or fle3ts to terrify a despot. In conclusion, Mr. Adeane
said :

ti But glory that aspires to last
Leans not meanly on the past.
'Tis the present that demands
British hearts and British hands.
Cursed be the man, the willing slave,
Who waits, who lingers to be brave.
Cursed be the craven tones
that darn
:Chancellor, and
A RRIS seconded
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STATE OF TIIRKEY.—The attention of the British
public is at this moment so exclusively directed to Italy,
much about Turkish matters ;
vain
tme to observe en passant that we are on
thebthu at
t eve of
vi°t e woilusadtgebteeermral to say
rising in European Turkey. The Porte
has about 120,000 men concentrated at Shumla, Sophia,
&c., and Omar Pasha is coming on the wings of the wind
from Bagdad to the Turkish capital, but the Russo Trench
plan for the dismemberment of Turkey is a good one, and
in all human probability the days of the Mussulmans in
Europe are numbered. lam unable at present to give you
any positive information on the subject; but there is reason
to believe that the Oriental question will be before
the public again before the world is two months older.
Movements have recently been observed in Montenegro
which have induced the Austrians to strengthen the de-
fences of Cattaro on the land side. Prince Milosch is rais-
ing the Servian militia, and in a short time he is likely to
have between 30,000 and 40,000 fighting men under his
command. Prince Couza has demanded back the arms
which the Russians carried off with them wien they quitt( d
the Danubian Principalities at the beginning of the last
war, and the chances are that they will be returned,
French Government having declared that. the requesait.uf
::
the Hospodar is a reasonable one. Bulgaria 0 en° the
southern speaking, quiet, but the political apt.' mace
southern provinces of Turkey in. Europe—Al
donia, Thessaly, and Thrace—is exceedingly
that the mount
Greece itself the patriots openly declare._
Penna. Letter.
for enlarging the kingdom has arrivedgreat. In