THE HUNDRETH REGIMENT OF THE LINE.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 108, 2 November 1858, Page 4

THE HUNDRETH REGIMENT OF THE LINE.

(Friitnthe Times.) In a very short time, according to the reports from Quebec, we may expect such an arrival from the shores of America.as no Englishman has ever yet seen. The spectacle will consist of a new regiment of the Line,'imported whole and entire from the other side of the Atlantic. In succession to the 99th, now the last regiment on the list, it will be numbered the 100 th Regiment of Foot, but it will be dignified also with a Royal title, and will be inscribed in full as "The Prince of Wales' Royal Canadian Regiment," under which .designation it will form part and parcel of the regular infantry of the army. As we are informed, the corps is already nearly complete, and its appearance in England may be anticipated within a few weeks. The event will be not a little remarkable, for it will constitute, we believe, the very first example of its kind in_ the history of the British army. ..",,,. The exigencies of our military service, combined with the peculiarities of our military institutions, have long ago suggested a variety of expedients for relieving the regiments of the Line from some of their colonial duties, and leaving a stronger force disposable" for., general demands. The theory of the.service assumed that all military duties in all parts of the empire, with the exception of India, should be discharged by the regular army, but in process of time recourse was had to .the assistance which the colonies themselves were able to furnish, and at length " Colonial Corps" of various descriptions have become recognised as members of ourordinary military establishments. In theprincipal instances these regiments consist of native levies enrolled and organized, on the spot for service in those parts only. For instance, we have raised a regiment of Malays in Ceylon, another of Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope, and an Artillery corps of Negroes on the Gold Qoast. Besides these we have special levies of our own, including Invalids and Veterans, for stationary service in particular countries. We have a local battalion at Malta, another at St. Helena, two or three companies at Newfoundland, and one at the Falkland Islands. Even a Canadian Corps is no new formation, for we have already a new Canadian Rifle Regiment, 1000 strong, borne on the general rolls of her Majesty's laud forces. . But none of these examples approach in any degree to the character of the new regiment of the Line. The peculiarity of this creation is, that it is a regiment raised in the colonies from the colonial population, and yet enrolled among the regular battalions of the Imperial Army for indiscriminate service in any part of the world. No instance of-this kind has ever, we think, occurred before. A Royal American Regiment was, indeed, once included* as the 60th of the Line, in the strength of the army, but its constitution never resembled that of the new 100 th. It was raised about the middle of the last century, and united in its composition the characteristics of a Colonial Corps with those of a Foreign Legion. It was intended for duty, in British America, but fr it was especially to-foreign volunteers who might be: disposed to enlist for colonial service under the British Crown. After the termination of the War of Independence the 60th lost its American character, but still retained "much of its foreign stamp, and, having been converted into a rifle regiment and augmented to a strength of no fewer than 40 companies, it furnished our army with sharp shooters through the wars which ensued. At no time, however, was there a regiment of the Line disposable like other regiments.for the ordinary service; of the Empire raised in America or from Amerigan colonists. The offer of the Canadians to contribute to the forces of the Empire was made, it will be remembered, with every circumstance of patriotism and loyalty during the pressure of the Crimean War upon our then imperfect resources, but at the moment the disposal was declined. With better judgment, as we can conceive; the authorities have since availed themselves of these overtures, and in the augmentations which our army has recently received, have assigned the quota of one. regular regiment to the Canadian Colonies. It is only a short time since the resolution was taken, but more than half the.men—63o:xait of 1000—

have already been*rawed t and.it "was expected that the complete battalion would be ready to embark for soon after the close of the present month. The sight of a regiment landing on,our shores. which had never quitted them would be novel indeed. . : Notwithstanding the aggregate increase in the numbers of the army, this new battalion represents the only regimental addition to the strength of the Line. . All the rest has been accomplished by the addition of fresh battalions to existing regiments— an expedient often adopted in times past. The cavalry force, however, has been .augmented two new corps—the sth Light Dragoons, already organized, and the 18th Light Dragoons. It is not to be supposed that the mere contribution of 1000- men j will materially lighten the' obligations of this country in maintaining the army at its proper strength, but the precedent ris instructive as well. as remarkable in the pledge it offers of the loyalty and good affections of the Canadians. Our military establishments have often been sorely taxed for the wants of the .colonies, but this is the first time that the colonies have added to the regular resources of the army. . The men of the new regiment are spoken of as an efficient and soilderlike body, and there cannot, of course, be the slightest reason why they should not be a match for' those of any other corps in the service. " We shall be very glad to find that the recent emergencies have produced a general reform of the system for supplying the army with recruits. As things have hitherto been managed, although we succeed sooner or later in effecting the desired, we are often compelled to act under pressure, and,. as . a natural consequence, get but indifferent terms. Rushing hastily into the market, we either increase the bounty, or lower the standard, or enter into bargains of various kinds, 'which are only justified by the necessities of the moment, not to mention that the very attitude assumed under such circumstances by the military authorities conduces neither to the national credit nor the public service. The terms offered for enlistment in the army are, in reality, very good, if measured by. the only fair standard of comparison—those obtainable in any other pursuit by unskilled labour; and, as this is the case, it must necessarily be evidence of a faulty system when we find ourselves at a loss. What is wanted is, not that the standing army should be kept at all times on a footing equal to any emergency, but that such a comprehensive machinery should be established for the recruiting service as would secure levies good quality and admit of easy expansion in times of pressure. At present, military service is still often regarded rather as the last resource of the idle or desperate than as an honorable and remunerative profession—an impression the more remarkable, considering that those features of a soldier's life which once furnished some warrant for the idea have been now abolished. A recruit, under ordinary circumstances, is likely to receive better treatment, better instruction, and better wages in the ranks of the army than he would have found in any other calling; but the facts of the case are not appreciated, and the very, eagerness which is shown in raising men creates a natural presumption that bargains which go begging cannot be-very good ones. It is a pity, wa think, that our recruiting machinery is not more localized. An established and recognised connection with a county or province—such as the lOO.th Regiment will preserve with Canadawould tend to give the youth of the district both an interest in the corps and an inducement to enter it. Our army, even, at its present strength, is in reality a small one if measured by the resources of our population. The difficulty felt at times of emergency arises not from any unpopularity attaching to the service, but from the fact that its advantages are imperfectly known, and that the machinery for recruiting is not sufficient for the work. These defects are serious enough to produce' occasionally troublesome results, but the}' ,are certainly not beyond the reach of remedy. . _

At a recent meeting of the Geographical Society, Mr. Graham gave an account r of his travels to a Scripture Jand hitherto unvisited by Europeans, and his exploration of new ruined cities, which-were once under the rule of Og, king of Bashan. Considering their antiquityj they are in remardable preservation; the houses lofty, with great slabs of stone ibr roofs, and stone doors carved into panels, and ornamented. A dead silence prevailed; yet so few were the signs of decay, that Mr Graham paced the streets expecting every moment to see one of the old inhabitants., step^forth to meet him. Illegal Conveyancing.— A singular case of "illegal conveyancing" has recently come under the cognizance of the Melbourne detectives. It seems that a young lady named Margaret Hines, having a disposition, to try wedlock, was accompanied to St. Francis's Catholic Church oh Sunday, by her chosen swain, a youth by name Lyons, for the purpose of obtaining the necessary sanction to her becoming the lawful lady of that particular Lyons. It being necessary, however, that the.church should have her dues, and Mr. Lyons being in a condition of impecliniosity, he tore himself from the side of the bride expectant for the purpose of making arrangements outside the sacred edifice, with a lone widow named Casey, for a loan of 15 pounds, to be disbursed in the payment of Minister's fees and other preliminary charges. The possession; however, of so important a sum appears to.have changed the course,of ideas, for instead of returning and marrying the object, of his affections, he retired in an opposite direction, arid has not since been heard of; either "-by the deserted Miss Hines, or tW defrauded Mrs. Casey .—HeraW •r■ <• - ;