Sir W. Mansfield has evidently received permission to explain his
plan of military defence. His ideas have been expressed this week through an article in the Edinburgh Review, through a speech to the London Scottish Volunteers, and through a letter to Lord Elcho published in the Times. We have discussed his plan else- where, but may state here that it is bold and thoroughgoing. He would have every young man in England bound by law to serve for one year in a better organized Militia, and made subject to service in the event of invasion for five more years. This would give us in five years an army either of 500,000 men, or 1,000,000, according to been reached. " Epidemics, when they decrease in extent, decrease the proportion of blanks fixed on for the ballot, thoroughly armed also in virulence of type," and this " favourable symptom is en- and drilled. All recruits for the regular army should be drawn from tirely wanting." There " is not a single parish or union in the this militia by voluntary enlistment only, and the two services would Metropolitan district which is entirely unaffected." In the week thus cease to compete for men. There can be no doubt that this ending January 7th there were 626 cases, and although the measure, particularly if applied without ballot to the whole Poor Law Board does its utmost, new hospitals can hardly be population, would make England impregnable ; but there is a opened fast enough. We believe the proportion of these cases great deal of doubt whether Government will accept it, or if it among the unvaccinated is extraordinary, and the profession are
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