On Saturday last Lord Lansdowne at the Queen's Hall delivered
an address to the Queen's (Westminster) Volunteers, in which he dealt with the good service done by the great firms,—" such houses as the Trollopes, Shoolbreds, and Broadwoods," in encouraging the Volunteers. It was commonly reported that in many places employers of labour discouraged their men from belonging to the Volunteers, Militia, or Army Reserve; but he held that it was the duty of those who were able to escape the burden of compulsory service to give every facility to those who were prepared to nndertake military service. The Volunteers had of late very greatly increased in public and official estimation. "No one now ventured to refer to the force as if it were a mere excres- cence upon the defensive forces of England." He would not attempt to discuss the much-vexed question whether it was desirable that there should be a Volunteer Reserve or not, but "be felt perfectly sure that they had in the country a large number of efficiently trained Volunteers who would be ready to come back to the colours at any moment if their services were needed." That is as it should be; and we trust that Lords Lansdowne and Wolseley between them will be able to materially increase the efficiency of the Volunteer force.
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