Page:The Cornhill magazine (Volume 1).djvu/95

 and hardy portion of the population, we must not be considered aa implying any doubt of their thorough good feeling in the cause; it is absolutely necessary to stimulate, by some substantial recompence or boon, the exertions of those who are living, as it were, from hand to mouth, and on the smallest means. The inducement may be very moderate; still it should be such as to make the service in some degree popular and advantageous, and cause men who may be rejected or discharged to feel it as a punishment or misfortune.

Whatever may be said in the way of general considerations affecting the volunteer system, will admit of exceptions. Thus many of the difficulties in the way of the efficiency of volunteer corps for service in the field will be greatly lessened in the case of those which may be chiefly composed of young men of active habits, and not yet settled in life: such as university corps, who would, without doubt, display a degree of hardihood, spirit, and intelligence not to be surpassed by any troops. And so with regard to the local bodies. Such corps as the dockyard volunteers, at all those great establishments, public and private, should be replaced on an improved system;—a system which should avoid expense and encroachment on a valuable part of their time, which were the failings of their original organization, and occasioned their being broken up.

The noble spirit which originated the volunteer movement is one of which the nation may justly feel proud; it exhibits and fosters a patriotic and military spirit in the country, which will render us more fit than any other people to cope with a powerful enemy. The moral effect of this national movement will influence other countries; it will dissipate the erroneous idea that the English are only a trading, and not a warlike people, and make them more cautious of attacking us.

In actual service, the volunteers will be valuable behind works; thus releasing a corresponding number of the regular troops from garrison service: but it cannot be too strongly impressed upon them, that unless they will submit to the necessary training as soldiers, and are complete in organization as infantry, no general in the world will have any confidence in them as a field force. The occasional embodiment of our volunteers at some of the great camps, as before recommended, would appear the most available means of training them for general service. It would also have another good effect, by demonstrating to many who are now carried away by their enthusiasm, how far they may be really calculated or prepared for the necessary trials and sacrifices incidental upon taking the field in the emergency. It will then be perceived by many that their age, want of physical stamina, or inability to dispense with habitual comforts which may be absolutely necessary to them, would render them totally unequal to the task they would willingly undertake. It would be far better that these should be weeded from the field corps of volunteers, and not remain to give a false appearance of their strength for actual service.

Lastly, there may be some who, on reflection, must be aware that