The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-11 00:00:00

THE ARM

An important circular has just been issued from
the War-office by Sir G. C. Lewis, Secretary of
State for War, establishing a new code of rules for
the regulation of military savings banks. A mili-
tary savings bank is now to be maintained in every
regiment and depot of regular cavalry andinfantry,
and in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers.
Officers commanding troops, companies, batteries,
and detachments are directed to receive such sums
as the soldiers under their command may from time
time desire to deposit in the military savings bank.
The maximum of each soldier's deposit upon which
interest will be allowed is limited to £3O (exclusive
of interest adde.) in any one year, and to £2OO in
the whole, exclusive of interest added. The rate of
interest allowed upon deposits will be £3 15s. per
cent. per annum ; but no interest will be allowed
upon any other part of a pound sterling than 6s. Bd.
and 13s. 4d., nor upon any sums that shall not have
remained in deposit at least one month. No soldier
will be allowed to deposit a smaller sum than:ls. in
the military savings bank. A soldier having money
in a public savings bank must withdraw such de-
posit before he will be allowed to make a deposit in
a military savings bank. Gratuities awarded to sol-
diers for long service and good conduct, or for dis-
tinguished
service in the field, are to be invested in
the military savings banks, but only under special
authority from the War-office. When a non-com-
missioned officer, having money in the savings bank,
shall be promoted to a commission, he may, if he
wish to do so, leave his savings bank balance in
the hands of the public, but he cannot be allowed
interest thereon beyond the last day of the month
prior to the date of his promotion. Upon the dis-
charge of a soldier his deposits may remain at in-
terest in the military savings bank for a period not
exceeding six months, after which time interest
shall cease. A soldier convicted by a court-martial
of desertion shall forfeit to the public all moneys
which he may have in the military savings bank,
and such forfeiture shall only be remitted by the
Secretary at War. At the death of a soldier ip-
terest on his deposits shall cease from the day of
monthly settlement next after his death. The cap-
tain of each troop or companyve
he receives and
will be responsible
that the deposits
the withdrawals
he pays are duly entered
company
each
man's account in
the ledger of his troop or m
in command, the officer second ainny ; and the officer
command, and the
ce of
adjutant will be responsible the
for
the savings bank ledger,which is to
b correctness
the orderly room under their direction. preparedpu I-n-
-aien.
tive operations in the field, or Whenever estances may render it impracticable to attendirteoutulh-
details of the savings banks, the general officer in
command is empowered to direct their temporary
suspension ; but all sums then actually in deposit
will continue to bear interest in the usual manner,
and such suspension is to be immediately reported
t o the Secretary for War. The above regulations
are to take effect from the 31st of August, 1861, and
subject to any further alterations that may be made
nder 22d and 23d Vic., cap. 20, are to be the only
regulations in force os to military savings hanks.
The discharge from the army of time expired and
invalid troops sent to Chatham from India, the co-
lonies, and the several miliistry home stations, still
continues at that garrison, the number of men dis-
charged from the service having averaged nearly
100 of all tanks, weekly, for some time past. Yes.
terday 70 men of various cavalry and infantry regi-
ments, most of them at home stations, left the inva-
lid depot, St. Mary's, where they had been pre-
viously inspected by a Board of Commissioners of
rheas
vea -Hospital. Several of the men discharged
ry young. Some of them had only been a
short time in hospital before the order arrived for
their absolute discharge from the service. Each man
before quitting Chatham received his arrears of pay,

in addition to which pensions were awarded to most 1
of them according to their periods of service. With
the exception of certain corps, such as he Royal
Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Royal Marines,
and a few foot regiments, recruiting f( r the army
is entirely suspended.
A rural fete was held last week at little Heath,
near Woolwich, by permission of Col. Sir Thomas
M. Wilson, in order to obtain some pecuniary re-
lief for the widow of Private Bradshaw, accidentally
shot some time ago in Plumstead marshes while
marking for the Volunteers. The committee state
that the sum received, after defraying all expenses,
is £75 Bs. 3d. ; they express their regret that, owing
to the unfavourable state of the weather, the
amount realized by the fete did not approach their
expectations. Capt. Watson, Paymaster of the
Royal Marines at Woolwich, has consented to re.
ceive any donations which may be forwarded for
their disposal.

Major-General Windham left Norfolk yesterday
en route for India. He only recently returned to
England, and resumes his command of the Lahore
division without anticipating a stay in India of more
than a year. The Lahore division has been, unfor-
tunately, greatly reduced by sickness, but its esti-
mated strength is about 12,090 or 13,000 men of
all ranks.

The Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich having
been thoroughly surveyed by the Sanitary Com-
mittee, and pronounced fit for the reception of in-
valids, the transfer of the patients from the old
hospital commenced yesterday, when 83 Marines
and 34 seamen, 47 of whom are convalescent, took
possession of the new establishment. The old
hospital is to be converted into officers' quarters
and offices required for the barrack establishment.

LIVB.RPOOL MERCANTILE MARINE

ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of this Association was
held on Wednesday in the Association Rooms,
Water-street; Capt. B. Sproule presiding. Among
those present were—Capt. W. 0. Campbell (deputy
chairman), B. J. Thompson (secretary), John Olive,
Joseph Cornforth, H. R. Cumming, Henry Oakley,
Henry Ponsonby, Samuel Gale, J. C. S. Braddon,
E. M'Nevin, Eldred Mordaunt, W. T. Marsden,
Donald M'Phira, Capt. Lamont, Cspt. Collyer, W.
S. Tyrer, W. P. Gunnyon, J. R. Cameron, Mr. T.
Dobson, 8.A., of the school frigate Conway, 11. J.
Ward, A. Macdonald, John Miller, W. Henderson,
John Black, Richard Green, and John Payne.
The Secretary read the following report :
" The Council has now to report to the members
and associates its proceedings during the months of
July, August, and September.
" The President of the Board of Trade withdrew
his motion to introduce a Bill into the House of
Commons for the amendment of the Merchant
Shipping Act, but he has pledged himself to the in-
troduction of such a measure early in next session.
Owing to this the attention of the Council has been
chiefly directed to maturing the various measures
in connexion with the objects of the Association
which have on former occasions been announced to
be in progress. It has also taken steps to place before
every member of the service, both on his arrival
here and on leaving Liverpool, the benefits and ad-
vantages of the Association.
" The Act for allowing merchant officers to hold
commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve received
the Royal assent last session. The Admiralty have
stated that they will do everything in their power
to render the regulations agreeable to the officers of
the merchant navy, and the Council is now in
communication with their Lordships upon the
subject.

"-The committee for the management of the school
frigate Conway have made their annual report to
the Council. It has been approved, and the follow-
ing gentlemen have been recommended as the nau-
tical members of the committee for the current year :
—Captains James Anderson, Gilmore, J. Brown, 0.
Camp bell, J. Carnforth, C. H. E. Judkins, D. B.
Marton, C. Semple, It. Green, B. Sproule, G. Ham-
lin, and C. Tougell. The report of the committee
has been so extensively circulated that the Council
does not feel it necessary to enter in detail into the
subjects of which it treats. It is much gratified by
the success of the institution, and has recorded that
its best thanks are due to the committee for the
very effectual manner in -which they have conducted
the school frigate during the past year, and the
high position in which they have placed itas a prac-
tical nautical school. The Council is also gratified
to be informed that, in consideration of its success,
the Admiralty have placed the Winchester at the
disposal of the committee. She is a vessel larger and
in every way more suitable for a training ship, and
an being completed and taking her station she will
assume the name of the Conway. It may also be of
interest to members to learn that the Board of Trade
have made an order allowing two years on board the
Conway to reckon as a year of the pupil's sea time.
"His worship the Mayor has forwarded to the
rooms of the Association some copies of popular
charts which have been prepared by the Admiralty,
and which are intended to be issued with such others
as are most likely to be required for the mercantile
marine, at very reduced rates of charge. The Council
will be glad to receive any suggestions respecting
these charts, and as to any others which members
may consider are required. Upon the representation
of the Council, a merchant captain, whose certificate
of competency wab cancelled by the Board of Trade
for 12 months, has been granted an immediate cer-
titeate as first mate.

" The Council has again, at the instance of
members,brought under the attention of the Board
of Trade the inconvenience resulting from the
seizure of vessels, especially steamers, for small
quantities of tobacco being found secreired on board.
The Board of Trade has not expressed any opinion
on the subject, but has fox warded an extract from
a communication it has received from the Commis-
sioners of Customs, in which they say, ' We are of
opinion that the power of placing a vessel under
detention is the best security the Crown possesses
for the exercise of due vigilance on the part of the
master, inasmuch as the knowledge that he cannot
obtain the release of the Vessel without a written
application being made either to us or to the collec-
tor of the port is a great inducement to make a
search previous to arrival for articles likely to he
smuggled, and that, were it not for this induce-
ment, the search would be merely a nomital one.'
" The Council are, however, of opinion that the
state of the law in regard to these seizures is vexa-
tious and inconvenient, and that any small apparent
advantage which the Crown gains is more than
counterbalanced. The ship being responsible has a
tendency to make the officers of Customs less
anxious than they otherwise would be to trace out
the real offender; and, further, the mode in which
the fines and proceeds of tobacco found are dealt
with, by giving Customs officers a direct pecuniary
interest in the seizure, places temptations in the
way of persons to whom even these small amounts
must be inconsistent, the Council conceives, with
the public administration of justice.
" The prospectus for the bazaar which is to be
held in aid of the benevolent fund, and for the
creation of a proper building for the purposes of
the Association, has been widely circulated ;
contributions to some extent hare been re-
ceived, and the Council is aware that many
members are exerting themselves to carry out
the scheme in a manner which will be worthy
of the high patronage which has been given to
it. This is a matter in which every member and
every friend of the service can assist, and the Coun-
cil earnestly trusts all will join heartily and at once
in making it, as it ought to be, a great success. The
assurance of the lives of members and the formation
of a provident fuad, to provide against those pain-
ful cases of accident and want which have too often
come before the Council, and which are inseparably
associated with a seafaring career, have also con-
tinued to engage the attention of the Council. It
hoped to have been able now to report some progress
in reference to them, but the inquiries which had
to be made, as well us other circumstances which
need not here be alluded to, have, however, delayed
these important matters longer than the Council
wished. Where carried out they ought. to be on a
sns dionft pptrlheoe,perly ascertainedbasts, as well as po-
st\ Jvtuirlseahrae,
at:dry iiteleacCoarda.nce with the wants and
Council trusts it wmill:abahent:abiltel
beenhnei
sr,7s
scheme
Theohno done
willo; ttohsetaitieextthait-eit)horist the
uinn will
lelhhaes generallyfr.er co
eatmistv7e the names of the mem-
pepdlupe
sure
r ea i
repproperlyorti orga-
nised goal
e-
cantinued and satisfactory in the room.
mpcioiert which the Asso.
serviceiie andi from
elation is receiving both .fros
the shipowners end merchants of
grploso
I.lnaTfhoer
new members, July were 13, for Au'
Sept. 13; and while the receipts from subscriptions
last year were, in July, £3O 19s. Gd.; Aug„ £3os
Os. 6d.; and Sept., £3O 19s. Gd., this yar they have
been—in July, £5l 19s. Gd.; in Aug., £O2 O. 6d. ;
and in Sept., £5B 162., or nearly double in each
month. Even with this increase the Council finds
that there are many members of the service still in
igsorance of the Association, and still more not
or who have not considered, its benefits
t:IIt has to ask that the members
j
who have joined wr
do their utmost to make the
wherever they go, and to show
aware
advantages.
of,
t
Association known w
~'4II;CS or ends, but that.
its a only L i
objectsfists
fur
r S
a to .Cibfi'rri n
irtgtl;se service together, to

protect and watch their interests, and to add to the
position, the information, and comfort of each mem-
ber belonging to it.
" 10, Water-street, Liverpool, Oct. 8."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the confirmation of
the report, could not but feel gratified at the pro-
gress the Association was making. The influence
of the Association was proved by the number of
merchants and shipowners (about 50) who had
joined it since April last. In every seaport that he
had been in he had heard the Association spoken
of as a mast valuable and thriving institution; and
in London, where there was great influence brought
to bear, great efforts were being made to establish
a school ship on the model of the Liverpool train-
ing vessel, the Conway. The Government also
highly appreciated the Associatian. He and others
went to London to see the Admiralty, and instead
of having to wait about for some hours to see the
Secretary, they were ushered into the presence of
the Duke of Somerset, who received them most
cordially, and said he would give the Association
any ship suitable for the purpose of a school ship.
(Applause.) His lordship said he looked upon that
school ship in the Mersey as one destined to beconte
not only of great service to the mercantile marine
but to the Royal Navy also. (Applause.) He was
glad to say that on the previous evening the Liter-
ary and Philosophical Society had resolved to admit
25 members of the Association free of charge, with
the object of those gentlemen bringing to bear the
information that they had acquired abroad. This
showed that the position of members of the Asso-
ciation was appreciated, and it was hoped that they
would contribute what they could to science. In
reference to the bazaar, which was very highly
spoken of, it would be necessary to increase very
considerably the funds of the Association before it
could carry out its intended charitable movements;
and he was glad to say that a great number of
ladies, in different parts of the kingdom, whom he
might never see again, had signified their intention
to contribute articles for the bazaar.

Captain CAMPBELL seconded the motion.
The motion was carried unanimously, and the
proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairman. ,