The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-26 00:00:00

LORD ABERDEEN ON RIFLE CORP,

•
The landholders of Aberdeenshire met On Wed'
nesday afternoon, in the County-buildings, Abel'
deen—Mr. Thomas, the convener of the county,
presidin—anent imposing a voluntary assessment
on their property, for the purpose of defraying 1.1,r
cessary expenses in the formation of county raw
and artillery corps. There was a numerous attend.
ante. From a statement read by the convener, is
appears that at the present moment there are nearly
800 volunteers in the various districts of the county;
many of whom, through their own and the farmers
liberality, will require very little assistance in re.
gard to uniform, &c. The following letter was read
from the Earl of Aberdeen, lord-heutenant of
county :

" Argyle House December 19, 1859.
"My dear Sir,--I have to transmit to you, for the infer'
mation of the county meetin summoned for the 21st inst.,
the replies which I have received to my circular ofnt the
tate of
26
ult. My absence from Scotland, and the prese s
my health, make it impossible for me to attend that meet-.
ing, and I am, therefore, desirous of availing myself of thill
opportunity to put you in possession of my opinions upet
the subject with respect to which it has been convened, an"
to inform you of the course which it is my intention t?
adopt. Different opinions no doubt exist as to the necessltll
or expediency of volunteer corps. Arguments not deficit!l
in weight may be urged, both against them and on thisr
behalf. Individually, I entertain a very decided op.inio
in their favour, but I apprehend that this question 10
not .
one which we are now called upon to discuss. The übh.
opinion of the country at large has been expressedards in a Blau
ner too unequivocal to be mistaken, and as reg Abe;
deenshire itself, it does not appear to me that we haviqhin
to consider whether a volunteer force is to be raised Ix, of
the county, but what the most efficient means mad
lwhiddi
carrying into execution the resolutions to that effect
were adopted during the course of past summer.
doubt that the expenses which must attend the organisation
of of such a force should not be allowed to fall entirely uport
its members, and that to a considerable extent at least they
should be defrayed by the country at large whether by way
of general subscription, voluntaryassessment,
or such other
mode as may appeur preferable. In two parishes in no'
own immediate neighbourhood more than £2OO has bee
l
subscribed by the tenant farmers and volunteers alone, to-
wards the expenses of the companies there formed ; and I
cannot but feel that such patriotic liberality deserves to be
responded to in a similar spirit. I make no doubtaL
' that
other parishes will, if called on, be ready to display equal ze
is
But it is absolutelp necessary to the successful orgetnlsatio
of any such movement that it should possess a centre and re-
cognised head. Such a centre might naturally be supposed to
exist in the lord-lieutenant of the county. My age and in
firmities, however, render it impossible for me to undertake
the increased fatigue and responsibility which these fresh
duties would involve ; and I have therefore netermined to
request ber Majesty's permission to appoint a vice-lieutenant
who will take charge of the whole military business of the
county, whether relating to militia, or to volunteer corPar
and who will exercise all the powers at present invested itt
myself. I have requested Col. Fraser, of Castle Fraser, to
undertake this office, and I am happy to say that he has
consented to do so. His experience in affairs of a similar
nature, and the personal weight of his position and character
will, I trust, ensure a general approval, by the county, of
this appointment. —I remain, my dear sir, yours very faith-
fully, " A.BERDEEN."
"A, Thomson, Esq., of Banchory,
Convener of the County."
After some discussion a resolution was carried,
by which the gentlemen imposed upon themselves
an assessment of -id. in the pound on their property.
The appointment of Colonel Fraser to the office to
which he was nominated by Lord Aberdeen Wati
received with warm applai_2_t____—...

_---- . -_ . __
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The Irish papers state that Kirwan, who was
sentenced to death some years ago for the murder of his
wife on Ireland's Eye, and whose sentence was commuted
to transportation for life, and who was finally deported to
Bermuda, has obtained through the energetic and enduring
sympathy of his friends at home a further commutation of
his sentence ; and, on a report of his ' very proper con duct'
while in foreign parts, he has been liberated and Will be
allowed to return home,