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LONDON:
PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Great changes in appliances and art of war since Volunteer
force 1859 organization-Waste and want in Britain's
war expeditions-Our disasters with the African Boers-
Volunteer force the country's true insurance-Foreign
estimate of England's naval and military strength-
Austrian officers' view of our great national weakness-
Captain Kirchhammer declares British invasion more than
practicable-Capture of London by invaders foreshadowed
-Easy provisioning an invading army-England's ablest
and most experienced officers thorough believers in inva-
sion-French "more than ready" of 1870, and the
nation's overwhelm: a lesson to England-What would
invasion of England mean?-London and our other large
towns' incalculable wealth a glittering prize to invaders—
Do Englishmen realize the possibility or its effects?—The
Queen's deep sympathy with the Volunteers-Revolution
needed in rifle-practice of force-Mr. Mullens' prizes de-
veloped the weak point-Vast power of riflemen-marksmen
against enemy-Louis Napoleon's invasion designs against
England foreshadowed personally to Major Walter-Pre-
paredness the great security of a nation-Volunteers of
1799-1804-Great art exhibitions' hoped-for peace results
a failure Our Channel line of defence-Lord Derby on
possible consequences of despotism-Possible direction of
PAGE
European armies against themselves-British artisans
chief element of our Volunteers-Victor Hugo's descrip-
tion of England's colonies-Their deep sympathy with the
mother country
1
CHAPTER II.
Origin of the modern Volunteer movement- Earlier Volunteer
corps-Colonel Tilney and other organizers of the Volun-
teer movement-Generals Sir W. F. Williams of Kars,
and Sir C. Napier-Admirals Sir W. Mends and Lord
Lyons-Encouragement by Prince Albert-Victoria and
Elizabeth: Historic parallel-Major Walter's address to
the 4th Lancashire Artillery-Lord Derby on the Volun-
teer force-French Admiral Thouars on invasion of Eng-
land-Lord Clarendon's admitted defenceless condition of
England-Lord Dunsany and Sir Spencer Robinson on
our naval weakness-Popular delusions as to difficulties
of invasion-A landing panic-Strength of foreign navies
-Britain's relative inferiority-Sir Edward Watkin and
the Channel tunnel-Our Volunteers' admitted capability
-Emerson's characterization of Englishmen
41
CHAPTER III.
History conflicting as to class of forces needed for English
home defence-Estimation by the nation of the Volunteers
after twenty years' trial-National self-love wounded by
want of organization in Crimean war-Insignificance of
European armies in former ages-Enormous existing dis-
proportions-God's dealings forgotten-St. Augustin's
rejoicings at the birth of Christ as harbinger of peace-
Britain the land of true freedom, its right acknowledgment
of supreme power-Boasted civilization may turn out a
delusion-Europe's tremendous armaments, enormous cost
and annual expenditure thereon-England's comparative
small forces an example for peace to other nations-Our
Contents.
military shortcomings in expedition preparations-Our
known great riches an inducement for attack-Our meddle-
some nature-Presumed advantages of our insular position
a delusion-A Volunteer force requisite―The Volunteer
forces, strength and easy expansion-Admiral Thouars on
English invasion-Prince Albert a true patriot-Britain
exists on past glories-The character of the security
afforded by Volunteers-An enemy's first blow-Popular
delusion as to invasion-Lord Dunsany on landing prac-
ticability-A landing panic-Result of invasion-Strength
of French navy-Character of British sailors--The silver
streak a delusion-Sir Edward Watkin and the Channel
tunnel-Progress of the Volunteer movement-Its general
character and endurance-Ancient military organizations
were limited-Need of wider military organization in
these days
vii
67
CHAPTER IV.
The pressing duties and cares of the Queen's Executive power
-Her Majesty's conscientious discharge of same evidenced
by her letters made public in Life of the Prince Consort-
Letter of her Majesty to Lord Palmerston, 2nd August,
1859, on calling out the Militia-Admission of Lord
Clarendon that the country is "utterly defenceless "—The
Queen and Prince's loyalty to Napoleon-Royal anxiety
for the establishment of the Volunteer force-Letter from
Baron Stockmar expressing doubts as to the Emperor's
pacific intents-Lord Cowley spirited away from Paris to
Vienna-Letter from the Queen to Lord Malmesbury,
18th March, 1859, warning her Foreign Minister not to
be trapped into a Congress-Letter from Thiers, 24th
March, intimating Emperor's intent to compass war
while talking of peace-Austria awakens to his designs
-England mistrustful-The Prince Consort's wise memo-
randum for guidance of Lord Lieutenants as to Volunteer
embodiment-The French Emperor alarmed-Empress
Eugenie instigated to write to the Queen-Her Majesty's
dignified reply—The late and present Lord Derby both
alive to the purposes of the French Emperor-Letter
from Lord Palmerston to Lord Russell freely expressing
his opinions of the Emperor-Letter from Prince Consort
on subject of the Italian war-Letter from her Majesty to
Lord Palmerston conveying dignified rebuke of course
of the Government-Napoleon III. a mere stage-effect
actor-Letter from the Queen, 13th May, 1859, to Lord
Russell on French action in Italy-Lord Lyndhurst's call
for the embodiment of Volunteers-Lord Cowley's letter
to the Queen, 7th August, 1859, stating the Emperor's
displeasure at England's arming Her Majesty's Review
of the Volunteers in Hyde Park, June 23rd, 1860-
Details of the Review and troops on the ground-Particu-
lars of the Hyde Park Review by George III. in 1799
-Prince Consort's speech at Trinity House eulogistic
of the Volunteers-Letter from the Prince Consort
describing the Review to the Crown Prince of Prussia—
Bright and Cobden oppose the embodiment of Volunteers
-Their helplessness to stay the movement-The young
Quakers generally favourable to it-Many join the force-
Colonel Pease takes command of the Hull Battalion-
Account of Napoleon's coup d'état, and the seizure of mem-
bers of the Assembly-Character of Lord Raglan-Her
Majesty's Review of her Scottish Volunteers-Details
of the Review and troops on the ground-The Review
as described and noted in her Majesty's own Diary-
Humorous parallel of military enthusiasm in Scott's
"Antiquary "-Letter from her Majesty to King Leopold
describing the Review and general enthusiasm.
101
CHAPTER V.
Major Walter's interview with Napoleon III. in Paris-The
Emperor's opinion of England's Volunteer Force-His
augured breakdown in stability and military official sup-