VOLUNTEER MEMORA.NDA.
The movement has not in the least degree slackened. Gradually ne,w corps are springing up, and the number enrolled cannot be far .from 100,000. The farmers of Huntingdonshire have followed the example set in Devon, and have established a body of mounted rifles. This spe- cies of force combined with artillery should find favour in the ayes of all the coast populations, but perhaps it is not so well adapted for Wend counties, unless, indeed, it be intended to convert a portion of the yeo- manry into mounted riflemen. Great efforts, at all events, should be made to promote the formation of artillery corps. The Lord Chancellor administered the oath of allegiance to the Inns of Court Volunteers on Thursday. He made a speech on the occasion, heartily concurring in the movement, and sprinkled with allusions to--tlie old Volunteers of the Inns of Court, when George the Third was Bing.
The London Rifle Brigade met on Wednesday to receive a statement from Lord Mayor Carter. In July last, he said, he had been nominated as Colonel of the Brigade. Here arose cries of disapprobation. Lord Mayor Carter requested them not to jump to conclusions. Subsequently a rumour arose that the Duke of Cambridge would not object to be their Colonel, and the Lord Mayor frankly asked him if he would comply with the request. The Duke said that if the Lord Mayor asked him to take ;it he would take it ; whereupon the Lord Mayor resigned, and on the 9th the Duke of Cambridge became Colonel of the Brigade. This statement was followed by uproarious cheering. But the Brigade were not ,conr ciliated. They declined to vote thanks to the Lord Mayor.
The Earl of Clarendon, Lord Ebury, Lord Rokeby, and other dis.- ting,uished persons, attended a meeting at Watford to promote the exten- sion of the local rifle corps. The Earl of Verulam occupied the chair. In, moving the principal resolution, Lord Clarendon said- " If they were to have a large standing army there would always be
danger to freedom and liberty, and other powers might be justified in asking if our intentions were pacific; but they could not ask what were the inten- tions of volunteer rifle corps, the formation of which was merely a defensive measure for the protection of our homes, not calculated to give umbrage 3n the slightest degree to foreign powers. The movement, although as yet only in its infancy, had produced a very salutary effect throughout Europe. It was the most complete scheme that had been devised to secure pease, and place us beyond the recurrence of unmanly panics of which Engliebsueu should be ashamed. To see a danger, to be frightened, and yet to do.ner thing to avert it, was worthy only of a nation of old women ; to see it and to shut their eyes to it was pusillanimous ; but to look the dangerataedaly in the face was the part of freemen and patriots, and worthy of tliniakople of England. (Cheers.) The only power from which danger could be_exe peeted was France, and he was the last man to say that the ruler of thait nation meditated any course inimical to the interests of this countvy. On the contrary, he believed that the Emperor Napoleon considered a war- England as likely to be dangerous to himself, and productive of injurious 1 effects on the progress of civilization. The Emperor was a man-of geot sagacity, and possessed experience that had been dearly bought. Whatlwas the experience he derived from the Russian War ? The lesson he learnt Then (Lord Clarendon said he was betraying no confidence, the opinions of the Emperor being well known) was, that they ought to be able, at a given time and a given day, to carry the precise amount of forces required to any given point, and he determined that in future France should not be without the means of transporting 20,000 men. He was quite right in determining that the armies of France should be placed in a state to uphold the position of the nation, and he had been enabled to send out 100,000 men in an ex- traordinary short space of time to commence a gigantic war. Now they could never look with indifference on the position of affairs on the other side of the Channel, which might now be said to be bridged over ; and, without intending any offence to any other nation, the people of England had deter- mined that they would not be dependent on the good will or amicable in- tentions of any Government or combination of Governments whatever for the security of their sheres. If the Emperor Napoleon had been killed in Italy (he WILS brave, and continually exposed himself), how did they know that the next Government, possessing all their powerful resources, would continue to enter- tain the same friendly sentiments ? There were certain friends of peace who said that all this preparation was totally uncalled for and unnecessary, as we should always have full notice of any meditated invasion, and should such an emergency arise England would rise as one man. Now, considering the complete condition of the French army and the resources of France, it would be utter imbecility on the part of that Government if they allowed forty- eight hours to elapse after a declaration of war without taking decisive steps, and he would ask them if those forty-eight hours would not be spent in con- fusion here. The rising of the people of England would be like the rising of a flock of sheep ; without arms, without discipline, and totally unpre- pared, they would be but brave men rushing to certain destruction ; but when they were properly organized and equipped an invasion would be im- possible. (Loud cheers.) No effort should be spared to attain this end. The Government gave them their cordial support ; those who were too old to join should give their money : those who were effective should render themselves efficient ; and no man could take part in the movement without feeling he was rendering a service to his country. When they were certain of repelling an invasion that invasion would not occur. Another feature in the movement was the bringing together in harmonious action those' 1- lasses who usually did not amalgamate from the want of opportunity. The gradual but sure manner in which it had progressed was a proof of its sin- cerity, and a guarantee for its permanence. It ought not to be one of an ephemeral character, and the spirit of the nation, which was now thoroughly roused, would prevent it from relapse." (Applause.) Lord Rokeby, the Inspector of the Brigade of Guards, supported the movement, and said he should be glad to give the corps every assistance in his power.
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