Lord Derby on Saturday delivered a speech in the Guildhall
of Preston. The occasion was a distribution of prizes to the Volun- teers, but the speech ranged over the whole question of our arma- ments, which, said the Earl, must be dependent entirely upon our policy. If we only intend defence, we need such and such an army ; but if we intend more, we shall need a much heavier expenditure. The one improvement on which all persons were agreed was an in- crease in the efficiency of the scientific services. He recommended the Volunteers to try the mitrailleur, and the light Armstrong six- pounder used by the Navy for shore service, and drawn by men. He further suggested, as a compromise between conscription and voluntary enlistment, that a district should be called on to pro- duce either so many men or so much money, and thought the neighbourhood would usually secure men by making up a purse for them. That does not strike us as a working suggestion. Its only effect would be to set all the parishes in England bidding for men against each other and the Queen's Government, a very wasteful way of expending what would be practically a new an I an unequal tax.
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