At home everything might be said to be in suspense,—even
that kind of action which is most popular. The money market has not again been panic-stricken, but nothing is done. En- thusiastic persons jump at the idea of volunteering, and volun- teer corps are initiated ; but the Government conveys its ap- proval in such terms as to restrict the volunteering to those who can pay for their whistle, and numbers who have rallied to the British standard pause at the consideration of the expense into which they are plunging. We have always, for the last twenty years at least, been in favour of restoring to the British subject wherever he was the right of self-defence; many now perceive the truth of our view, only under a peculiar light. But the public has not yet really come to the bottom of the question ; it is standing on the threshold. We have already mentioned that persons in Government employ have had overtures towards the formation of corps in their own departthents ; but to this some demur. They would prefer the formation of corps nearer their own homes, where the drill could be part of .their leisure. The public shares the same feeling. The volunteers, as in America, should be local corps for the defence of hearth and home, with the exercises performed in the neighbourhood. The uniform, too, should be practically useful, but inexpensive ; and the arms, which the volunteers want for the service of the State alone, should be furnished by the state. These, the prevailing views, are causing a good deal of irregular discussion, the pur- port of which it would be difficult to gather from its casual manifestations in the daily press.
Meanwhile the Queen has been reviewing her troops at Aldershott, and has assisted at a splendid spectacle. The Peace Society has also had its review, boasting of its successes, while reporting to us how it has presented addresses to the Emperor of the French and others on the policy of not proceeding with any warlike operations ! Certainly England does not know her own mind just at this moment.
