The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-25 00:00:00

STANDARD HEIGHT FOR THE Aloft

Is there any sound reason, says a correspondent,
why a wan of 5 feet 4 inches should be rejected as
unfit fer her Majesty's service / In the Anglo-Swiss
Legion, 2,100 of whom were quartered in Smyrna
during the late war, men were enrolled at the low
standard of 5 feet 2i inches. The average height of
course exceeded this. Their appearance on parade,
as regard size and strength, was pronounced by many
competent judges fully equal to that of our line regi-
ments. In marching powers and endurance of fatigue
they were certainly not to be surpassed by our best
troops. Their breadth of shoulders and depth of chest
toook our army contractors by surprise. I think it may
be laid down as a general rule that a well-framed little
man can go through continuous hard work for a longer
period than an equally well proportioned big man. It
is almost a proverb that many a little frame encloses a
biz heart. • The Enfield rifle, some pounds lighter than
" Brown Bess," certainly does not lose its formidable
powers in the hands of a man of 5 feet 4 inches. Why
is not the standard, then, lowered 1 Our small army
is going off, regiment after regiment, to the East. We
have no reserve. Recruits are coming in, but not ra-
pidly enough to fill up the probable casualties of Eastern
service, certainly not to provide a new army. Every
day many good men and true are turned away by the
recruiting sergeant on a matter of inches. The splendid
infantry that relied back the tide of itivasion from the
sunny homes of " la belle France," that carried Napo-
leon's eagles in victory over a continent, was mainly
composed of men who, by the present regulations, would
be rejected by the British recruiting officer.
Let the standard be lowered two inches. Let a corps
of 5,000 be formed from these hitherto rejected volun-
teers for service in India. Let them be lightly equipped
and c'acl. Let them be officered by men specially dis-
tinguished for their powers of organisation. Let them
have a proper quota of light active horsemen, picked
men, armed with sharp sabres and good revolvers—say
two regimeuta of 500 men each. Furnish them with
the usual complement of artillery. Place a good man
at their head. England, once such an experiment male,
will have no more occaeion for foreigners to fight her
battles.

THE INDIAN RELIEF FUND.—We understand that Sir
Henry Meux, Bart., MX., has sent his own subscription
, of 1001. towards this fund, and also 200/ as the sub-
It appears from a Parliamentary return issued yes. I ecription of the firm of which he is the head, towards
1
terday, that there are 469,868 registered voters for the same object.—At the meeting held at Manchester
counties in England, 36,190 in Wales, and 50,403 in the following contributions were announced :.___The
Scotland : mai ing a total of 556,931. Including the Mayor of Manchester, 1091.; the Earl of Wilton, 1001.;
universities the total number of registered borough Messrs. Heywood and Co., 2001.; J. and N. Phillips
vott.rs in England is 426,377, in Wales, 12,669, and and Co., 2001.; J. C. Harter and Co., 2001.; Messrs.
Lloy,l, Entwistle, and Co., 2001.; F. Barnes, 2001.; E.
in Scotland, 50,069 : making a total of 489,115. The
total number of registered voters in Great Britain Buckley and Co., 2001.; J. Fletcher, 100/.; A.. and G.
therefore, is 1,045,506. According to the census of Murray, 1001.; A. Smith and Co., 1001.; C. P. Render-
-1851 the total population of Great Britain was son and Co., 1001.; Fairbairu and Co., 1001.; Fender
21,000,000. There are 88,457 county electors in Eng. and Co., 1001 ; Messrs. Reuss and Co., 100/.; Messrs.
land and Wales registered f..,r property situated within
Slater, Heelis, and Co , 501.; the Oxford-road Trust Co.,
the limits of boroughs. 101., and several others.