The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-11 00:00:00

THE GUARDS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —Can you acquaint your readers why the
seven battalions of Foot Guards ar.) kept idling
about the streets of London and other favoured
places, instead of being sent (at least 3 or 4 of
them) to the scene of action in India, ? In putting
this question lately to an old Guardsman, he said,
"Oh, the Guards are not enlisted for any service
out of Europe ! And further, they are required
to attend on the Sovereign and to do other duties
of honour."
Now, with regard to the first of these objections,
does it appear on the face of each man's attestation
that he cannot be called on to servo out of Europe ?
In the second case, can it be believed that our
present most popular Sovereign would require or
wish for such a fine body of efficient troops bAng
kept at home solely for the purpose I have men-
tioned ? Would she not feel secure, and have suf-
ficient honour paid her by the body of regular
troops that would still be kept in England ? I
fully believe that the Queen would ! With regard
to the defences of the nation, 1 presume to say they
neight fairly be trusted to its militia (if wholly
embodied), and united with such regiments of the
line as would be available at home, together with
the depots of those abroad.
" Up Guards and at them."
Yours obed'ently,
AN OLD 7TH FUSILIER.
September 9th, 1857.

THE FATAL FIRE IN HoLsonN.—VEßDtor.7—Yester•
day the coroner and jury met for the sixth and last time
to inquire into the origin of the fire which happened at
No. 14, High llolborn, at the end of July last, and by
which two persons, named William Chapple and John
Rolfe, lost their lives. Some further evidence was taken
and the jury returned the following verdict:—" That
the deaths of the deceased persons were occasioned by a
fire in the premises, No. 14, High Holborn, in the occu-
pation of Mr. G. Maidinent, but whether the said fire
was acci !totally or wilfudy caused by. the criminal act
of some person or persons unknoWP, there is no evidence
to show." They also r-x)ressed an opinion that Dunk,
the conductor, behaved in a very meritorious manner on
the occasion.
LETTERS TO OFFICERS SERVING ON BOARD SHIPS
OF WA.n. —There appears to be some misapprehension
respecting the Deltic:ion authorise] on the 23rd May
last in the postvg- of letters addressed to officers serving
on board ships of War upon foreign and colonial stations.
it frequently happens that upon 'etters chargeable with
a foreign postage in addition to the British postage of
61, the latter only is paid ; whereas, whenever prepay.
went is eithr r compulsory or intended, both postages
should I e paid. Thus, upon prepaid letters forwarded
aia Marseilles, addressed to officers serving on board
ships of war in the Mediterranean, India, or China,
and upon all letters, via Marseilles, addressed to offi•
cars on board ships of war in Australia or New Zealand,
not only the British rate of 6d. per half ounce, but the
French transit race of 3d. per quarter ounce, must be
prepaid. In like manner, upon all Letters addressed to
officers serving on board ships of war on the Pacific sta-
tion, the Granadian transit rate of 6d. per half ounce
must be paid in advance, in addition to the British rate
of 6d. per half ounce. By command of the Postmaster-
General, RorLArtp HILL, Secretary,