The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-02 00:00:00

SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

The services of the able-bodied men of the Corps
of Commissionaires having been offered to Govern-
ment and accepted by the Home Secretary, 150 of
them, headed by their band, were marched on Mon-
day last to the Vestry:hall in Covent-garden, and
there sworn in as special constables. A considerable
number had already enrolled themselves iu various
parts of the Metropolis. It. is Understood that this
division will act together in a bolk—under com-
mand of ('ol. Sargent, C. 8., one of the executive
committee, and Capt. 'Walter, the founder of the
corps, who were sworn in With their men—should
any disturbance take place.. A second division, con-
sisting of an equal number of men, and comprising
those members of the corps whose former services
have incapacitated them from ordinary work, have
been told off to warn the special constables in c use
of their being called ouf-, for duty. Several of the
principal Government offices are guarded at night

by Commissionaires, and th services of the mun

are in such request that there is ample employment
for a large increase in their present number.
Between 60 and 70 of her Majesty's servants be-

longing to the Royal mews at Pimlico were sworn

in as special constables on Tuesday morning last,
before the two coanty magistrates (Ur. Franco and
Major Lyon) who sat during the whole of Tuesday
in Pimlico, swearing in large bodies of men belong-
ing to the General PoSt-office, London, Chatham,

aad Dover Railway Company, and many of the
large firms in the neighbourhood. This district will
muster several thousand constables, under the com-
mand of Captain Philips, deputy-superintendent of
the Out-Wards of St. George's, Hanover-square.
The St. George's Volunteer Itifi6 Corps -will form a
strong body of effective men in the In-Wards. The
whole force is under thetornmand of Major-General
Newton.

In a very quiet and unostentatious manner, the
vast body of special constables Which haS been
sworn in in the metropolis is btAng. rapidly formed
into a well-drilled, army, which will be able to play
au important part in any active measures which the
Fenians may render necessary. The orders issued
from headquarters were that special constables
should be instructed with all possible despatch in
the preliminary drill taught in the army and
Volunteer .force, such as facing, forming fours,
right, left, deep and about, and forming and march-
ing in quarter-distance column. In Marylebone the
orders were promptly complied with, and Mr.
Superintendent Brown and Drill Instructor Dunri,
of the D division, who hal given their services
for the instruction of the others, arranged to
meet the very marked desire expressed for more
advanced drilling and the mysteries of wheeling,
countermarching, &c., have been rapidly acquired
by all of the D division who could spare the time to
attend the parades. In order to suit the conve-
nience of as many as possible, several squads are
formed at different hours on the evenings appointed
for drill. On Tuesday evening a parade of special
constables was called at the School-rooms, Stafford-
street, and the attendance was so large that three
distinct squads had to be formed and drilled sepa -
rately. As on previous occasions, Mr. Superinten-
dent Browne and Drill-Instructor Dunn were pre-
sent to undertake instructions of those who desired
it. All the men, by special order, wore their badges
and carried their batons. The rapid . progress that
had been made was, strikingly apparent, as in addi-
tion to the simple facing and, formation of fours, &c.,
the respective companies went through the more com-
plicated movements necessary for troops acting as a
battalion with great precision. The success of the
effort to get the " specials" into something like mi-
litary shape at very short notice is in great part
owing to the judicious employment of the volunteer
element. Volunteers in the ranks of the specials
are called to the front and formed into a separate
company, for the purpose of serving as a practical
example to the others. The drills will be continued
with regularity until further orders. A meeting of
the officers of the division was held last evening for
the purpose of so adjusting the district that each
officer shall have the command of the men in his
immediate neighbourhood.
At the Thames Police-court yesterday a large
number of persons were sworn in by Mr. Benson as
special constables for:: the_ metropolitan police dis-
trict. Among them were letter-carriers, tradesmen,
mechanics, and Irish ballast men, all anxious to do
their duty in the cause of law and order. Mr.
Pag t, the senior magistrate, was engaged else-
where in swearing inhabitant householders as special
constables. Foreigners have been enrolled in con-
siderable numbers. In answer to inquiries, the
magistrates said their warrants would enable them
to act in any part of the Metropolitan police district,

a radius of 15 miles from. St. Paul's Cathedral, and
that was much better than making appointments
for parishes or the Tower Hamlets divisions only.
If that had been done, special constables might see

a disturbance on one side of a street while they
were on the opposite side, and be unable to cross

over and suppress it. Captain John Holt and
Lieutenant W. A. Barrett, of the Tower Hamlets
Volunteers, and Mr. Creer, overseer, have been ap-
pointed superintendent and deputy-superintendent
of the Rateliff special constables, and the station-
house in Arbour-square, Stepney, has been named
as the rallying point in the event of their services
being required.
Yesterday Ur. J. Phillips and Mr. C. Collambell
(two of the Surrey magistrates) resumed their sit-
ting in petty session at the Vestry Hall, Kenning-
ton, for the purpose of swearing in special constables,
and during the day above 50 more persons were
added to the list of " specials" already enrolled. In
consequence of an intimation from the workmen at
several large firms in Lambeth, and clerks engaged
during the day, of their desire to be enrolled as
special constables, the magistrates have notified
their intention of giving evening sittings for swear-
ing in special constables. The following have been
salected as officers, and have consented to organise,
and lead the specials, should such emergency arise—
viz., Captain Knobel, head superintendent, and
Captains Glubb and Fowlers as deputies; and Cap-
tains Driver and De Sails, Lieutenants Syms and
Hassey, associated with Messrs. A. Long, W. Stiff,
and C. Houton, as assistant supaiintendeuts. The
corps will extend over seven divisions of Lambeth.
The Vestry Hall is to be the headquartas of the
--force.

Yesterday afternoon the. Mayor of Newbury and I
several of the town justices sat at the police-court
for two hours for the purpose of swearing in special
constables to serve for the period of three calendar
months from
.the present date. The attendance
comprised several prefessional gentlemen and many
of the principal shopkeepers, all of whom expressed
the greatest readiness to serve, and were accord-
ingly sworn in. The justices will sit again to-
morrow for the same purpose, when the constables
will elect their superintendent and other officers.
The Town Council have met and resolved upon in-
creasing the strength of the police force by the ap-
pointment of additional constables for three mouths
at least. Another precautionary measure taken iu
this town is the removal of the Russian gun from
the Recreation-ground to one of the buildings be-
longing to the corporation, where it is to be securely
kept until the Fenian outrages are effectually sup-
pressed.
Last week there was a very full attendance of the
magistrates of Coventry at a special meeting called
to take into consideration the circular addressed to
the Mayor by the Home Secretary, pointing out
that in the judgment of the Government it was de-
sirable that the local authorities should be prepared
to meet any disturbance that might arise during the
winter, and suggesting the enrolment of special
constables. Resolutions were accordingly adopted,
and since then the magistrates have been occupied
in swearing in special constables. Already upwards
of 2,000 have been enrolled. Though the authorities
at Coventry have no idea that any Fenian sym-
pathies exist there, it is very gratifying to find the
invitation of the magistrates so fully and promptly
.met. The watch committee of the borough have
also given their hearty co-operation in the measures
taken for preserving the public peace.

SOLICITORS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.—Lord
Justice Lord Cairns will take the chair at the anniversary
dinner of the association this year to be held in Juue uelt
, at Willie's Booms.