While dealing with the Volunteers we desire to urge upon
the Government with all the power at our command the need for prompt settlement- of the small outstanding technical points connected with the application of the Act of 1863 to the movement, and the immediate enrolment of the various corps throughout England and Scotland. We are well aware that the Government are most anxious to preserve the Volunteers and to make use of them, and that the very last thing in their minds now, whatever it may have been a year ago, is to get rid of the corps or to kill them with kindness. Unfortunately, however, a great many of the rank-and-file of the Volunteers do not believe this, and cannot be persuaded that the Government at last mean business. They point, indeed, to delays which they assert are inexplicable except on the ground that the Government want to get rid of them. Accordingly many of the units are still losing not only heart but men.
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