SIR, —Mr. Arnold-FOrster's observations in the House of Commons appear to
most Volunteers to have been made without due consideration as to their effect on the feelings of men who have for so long offered their services to the State without asking for any personal advantage or pecuniary return. Does Mr. Arnold-Forster think this is a suitable moment to estrange the political support of thousands of Volunteers ? Both Sir Howard Vincent and the " Volunteer Field Officer" have stated the case for the Volunteers clearly and with great moderation.—I am, Sir, &e., ANOTHER FIELD OFFICER OF VOLUNTEERS WHO JOINED IN 1859.
[The estrangement of political support from the Govern- ment owing to the treatment of the Volunteers is no doubt a fact, but it is one which we trust will not be insisted on in the present crisis in the affairs of the Auxiliary Forces. The matter is far too serious for that. Fortunately, this question has hitherto been kept quite apart from ordinary politics, as is shown by the circumstance that we, who stand for Free-trade, can join hands with the oldest and most con- sistent of Protectionists, Sir Howard Vincent, in the effort to defend the Volunteers.—ED. Spectator.]
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