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34 g j|j_JUj^l% Pa^iupa^, ¦ „___ ¦ ; ' -...
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LANDING OF THE TRENCH. We were electrifi...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Volunteer Regiments And Rifle Corps. Che...
Offer—Would redeem die fading character of the ** aristocracy . " But we should still better like to see a well-born regiment setting an example of manly plainness , of stout serviceable efficiency , clothed in sober grey . The full equipment of a r ifleman is rated at £ 15 cr £ 10 ; but we believe that it can be had even for the half of that smaller sum . Brilliant colours are to be eschewed on every account ; even rifle green is , though theoretically favoured , not the best practically , but rather a dark iron grey , or some equally neutral tint . Such an uniform may be [ comely and even picturesqueindeed it ought to be both . And as a matter of oeconomy , the greater part of it , especially the trousers , might be fitted to fall in with every day
costume . Vanous kinds of rifle are recommended , in preference to the Minie ; but it would be well that the corps themselves should be variously equipped , and even variously organized ; so as to afford every facility for differing means , capacity , inclination , and opportunity of calling or abode . In the United States , the Uniform Companies clothe themselves , but ar « furnished with arms by the State—a very good distribution of charge ; but at all events the arms should be approved by some competent public authority .
A matter of firstrate importance is the selection of officers ; and in that , as in all other matters concerning either Rifle Clubs or Volunteer Regiments , the principal points are efficiency and ceconomy Every corps of the kind should have a good commandant : he should be either an officer on halfpay ,
a retired officer , or a man of military knowledge , used to govern , and certain of the respect and confidence of the officers and men . For that reason , if for no other , he should be neither too old nor too young . The working man of the corps , however—its life ~ ^ --afid soul , particularly during the period of its organization—would be the Adjutant . He would superintend the drill and exercise , act as Secretary of the Regiment or Club , assist the commanding officer , and keep him advised on the management
of the corps * and in such a body probably the Adjutant would take charge of the financial affairs . Having to devote his time so closely to the affairs of his corps , probably the Adjutant would be paidthe only paid officer . He would need the assistance of a Quartermaster Sergeant—an old soldier—in taking charge of the stores , spare arms , & c . ; who would keep and repair the regimental targets , repair arms , set the targets in the practice-ground , pitch flags and camp colours , make up cartridges , & c . In this work the Quartermaster Sergeant would need
the help of " Pioneers , " perhaps six or eight in number ; but varying , of course , with the size of the corps . A Drill Sergeant , with his corporal and assistants , might be procured among the Pensioners ; they should be thoroughly effective , and , therefore , they should be sober men . * In a full regiment , buglers , at least one to each fifty men , would be required , with a bugle major . It would be necessary to pay all these men . But a thoroughly efficient Adjutant would know all his duties : get an efficient Adjutant , give him a good Sergeant Major and other aids , and he would make all go well .
All well , if the men of the corps did their duty to their comrades and to themselves . They might elect the officers ; but on the ground the men themselves should render instant , cheerful , silent , and exact obedience to the word of command . Let a drum-head court martial—each man tried by his peers—enforce soldierly discipline by fines . But the best of all discipline is that strictly enforced by a consciousness of its importance , and an artistic love of doing effectually any work taken in hand . The " expense , " at which some pennywise folks may grumble , would be really in the nature of an investment . The first step towards financial reform , towards reducing the most overgrown part of our military expenditure , is the process of nationalizing the Army . At the present day ? with the aspect of ^^^ j fflttN ^ on the Continent , no enthusiast would be ¦ f > ' ^^^ W ^^^ V ^ t 0 P P ose a reduction of our available f ^ . y . ^ ' j ^^^^^ uPthe enormous expenditure maybe re-3 ^ M ^^^ f ^^ cin ^ tilG 1 > aid 8 oldier 7 the »<> dy of . V ' ¦ ' '^ ffiJBJHtUlfffo ' P " int 0 a 8 ta 5 ° ^ ttulitary efficiency . ' / ' ~"" l ^ s ^ rafl ^^ ** " ^^ PP' * eB to every one of our > C !/ 3 ^ s §^ i | P * au £ 0 tnat a ! h ° > anc * in the settlements , f >¦ ( ftffia ^ lEfrgjffi reduction of the standing force is not £ [ ^^ J ^ Wffift ^ ttrole , but easy . We know well enough v . ^ ^ T TgPg TjJertain droning officials , who wish to * ' keep " ' ^^ dtwn * ' everything , m order to continue slumbering in peace , have a fear of p lacing arms in the hands of the People ; a disarmed People , they
think , is easier to rule . It is also easier to conquer . The fact is , that nervous apprehensions of this sort are idle , old-womanish fancies . Where the body of the People is armed , it is not only strong against the external invader , but the internal traitor , and faction . is powerless before it . In a People among whom arms are equally diffused , education , social standing , the opportunity for
acquiring superior skill , would have at least their proportionate influence ; indeed , we believe that the proportion of their influence would be enhanced . All Europe is overrun by Standing Armies , which are fed by debt and war ; America * with a national army , is impregnable . Louis Napoleon has shown the base and revolutionary uses to which a standing army may be put ; in Carolina , Cornwall ' s showed how little a brave General and an efficient army
could do against an armed People m its own land ; and the most superficial knowledge of America lets any one see , at a glance , that neither invasion nor faction , of the maddest mood , could hope to have a chance of conquering the republic . In France , with the standing army , Louis Napoleon establishes himself in an hour ; in America , with its army-nation , " Governor" Dorr , whom it would be a libel to call the Louis Napoleon of Rhode Island , was a lamentable failure . In this country
we may have our quarrels and class jealousies ; but a genuine trust of the People , without distinctions of class , would find its response in a forgetfulness of past dissension and a thorough revival of that national feeling which is already breaking forth with its cheerful countenance , like the honest sun through the clouds of a winter ' s day and the double-distilled grossness of our city smoke . Let us trust our countrymen , and they will uot fail to join in the common loyally to their land .
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34 g j | j _ JUj ^ l % Pa ^ iupa ^ , ¦ „___ ¦ ; ' - —^ ' ' 1 - ' ' ~ . ' . ' " " ' - - ' - —— ^ _——^_ .::.
Landing Of The Trench. We Were Electrifi...
LANDING OF THE TRENCH . We were electrified this morning by a telegraphic intelligence that the French landed at Dover the day before yesterday , and will probably be in possession of London-before London is in possession of this news . The visitation turns out to be the result of a long-concerted plan . The visits of the National Guard were not altogether convivial ; M . Salandrouze de Larnornaix , M . Soyer , are Frenchmen—the latter having kept possession of Gorehouse , so dear to the memories of the Prince President .
We understand that , with his usual decision of character , Lord John Russell instantly took command of the Channel fleet , and forthwith ordered home the fleet from the Chinese and South seas ; keeping the Channel fleet in the Tagus to watch the important trade in port wine , while the blockade of Lagos is to be strengthened , to prevent any diversion in that important region . But as to matters at home , after recording his disapproval of the conduct of his Majesty Louis Napoleon , through Lord Granville , in a spirited protest , Lord
John thought it more constitutional to apply to Parliament for a new Alien Act to be enforced against these unwarrantable trespassers on our hospitality . Meanwhile it is said that the A Division of Police will be reinforced by the engagement of forty-seven men of excellent character ; and Lord John contemplates a letter to the city of London , in which he will suitably allude to this lamentable aggression of a foreign potentate . It is satisfactory to know that the Lord Mayor has expressed his resolute determination to support the independence of the kingdom , and to exert his influence with the President of the French Republic ;
good offices , in which , forgetting all past differences , he will be joined by his predecessor , Sir John Musgrove . Mr . Dilke and the other Commissioners also join in the same honourable service . The foreign refugees who have previously sought refuge amongst us , and who are obnoxious to his Majesty Louis Napoleon , have had our embarrassing position laid before them ; and we understand that they would be quite willing to go away , or to be given up , rather than' bring England into trouble . So that Government is energetic and fearless in its duty .
Meanwhile , however , the illustrious invader has not suffered himself to be detained e , ven by these formidable preparations . The manner of his arrival is historically acourate . He left Boulogne with his suite in a numerous flotilla of boats . On approaching Dover , like Ascanius , he altered his name ; and , instead of Louis Napoleon , called himself Julius Napoleon . As the galley ran aground , the Standard-bearer ( Herr Pischek ) jumped into the surf , bearing the eagle , which has now braved so many times the ridicule and sneers of Prince
place in his theatre , either on the stage or in the royal box . Learning of the determined purpose of his Majesty Julius Napoleon to come up to town as soon as his followers should have recovered their health , her Majesty ' s Ministers resolved on still more energetic measures . The Special Constables were again called out , and they have answered the appeal to a man . And the old bivouac swords have been served out to the Police .
eminent theatrical manager invited him to take any Julius Napoleon ' s detractors ' . Our illustrious visitors intended to march at once ; but the effects of so long a voyage obliged them to take a little repose . An eminent wax chandler instantly waited on Prince Julius Napoleon to . request his portrait in wax for the Chamber of Horrors ; two eminent daguerreotypists , ' an eminent tailor , and an eminent printseller , also waited on the Prince ; and an eminent theatrical manager invited him to take anv
A curious incident occurred at the landing . A company of the garrison at Arch Cliff Fort had been drawn up to oppose the invader , and actually fired pointblank into the faces of our neighbours ; which caused a good deal of amusement among that gay and witty throng . It is said that the cartridges had been made by contract ; but that the contract will be more carefully observed next year . One person suggested that it would be a very effective measure to offer our visitors some of the
" preserved " meats from Gosport ; and objections against the shocking barbarity of such a desire were nearly overruled by a member of the Peace Society , who objected to fighting , and justified the proposed use of condemned stores on free trade principles ; but a gentleman said , from his knowledge of the French , that some officer would be sure to look into the stores before they were served
out—a practice recently introduced into our own stores , with a very beneficial effect . This suggestion induced the proposers of the plan for de * stroying the French army to relinquish it .- The stores ^ therefore , are still left for the benefit of the Hampshire hogs . As an auxiliary measure to the calling out of the Special Constables , by an official request , a deputation from the Peace Society has been sent down to Dover , to represent the inhumanity and impolicy of war . Canterbury , January 23 .
The Emperor Julius Napoleon received the Peace deputation very politely , and the members were delighted with the cordiality of his manner . He explained that he could not delay his departure ; which seemed reasonable . He permitted Mr . Cobden to make his address ; and that gentleman prorceeded , with his usually mild style , to illustrate the effect of war on finance , exports , & c . Even the Emperor was surprised at the masterly manner in whicli the truly English statesman continued his discourse ,
in spite of the difficulty of his position in speaking while he was constantly walking backwards before the horse of his Majesty , who listened with great attention , in the intervals of looking at the country . Mr . Cobden ' s embarrassment must have been much increased by the crowding of the general population , which accumulated in front as the soldiery advanced ; to say nothing of the cocks and hens that fluttered before the moving body and around the speaker , in great flocks . They have just entered the town in that order . Canterbury , Two o'clock .
They have just passed out of the town in the same order . Mr . Cobden was much applauded by the Men of Kent for the resolute spirit of his opposition to the honourable Member for France . We have since heard from Sittingbourne that Mr . Cobden appeared much fatigued . His motion was carried against him by a large majority . In the French organ of this day we read , among the fashionable arrivals— " At the Symposium , his Majesty the Emperor Julius Napoleon , and a numerous suite . We understand that his Majesty is not unprepared with a constitution for England , as the Trans-oceanic department of . France . " We
may add that the Leader , the Times , and other journals opposed to the Party of Order , are to be instantly suppressed . Prince Albert has been invited to join the Consultative Commission , and Queen Victoria has been invited to the evening parties to be held at St . James ' s during the season . Lord Lanadowne , Mr . Julian Harney , Mr . Disraeli , Lord Shaftesbury , Mr . Macaulay , Mr . Richard Oastler , the Duke of Wellington , and persons ^ of that class , have received orders to embark immediately for Bermuda . The Special Constables are dissolved . The Emperor appeals to the English people .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 24, 1852, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24011852/page/16/
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