THE HUNDRETH REGIMENT, OF THE LINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 617, 6 October 1858, Page 3

THE HUNDRETH REGIMENT, OF THE LINE.

(From the ' 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 itwill be dignified also iwith 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 eonsitute, we believe, the very first example .of its. kind in the history of the British army. The exigences of our military service, combined with th« 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 I 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 j various descriptions have become recognized as ; members of our ordinary military establish- ' ments. In the principal 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 Coast. Besides these we have special levjes 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 Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, 1,000 strong, borne on the general rolls of her Majesty's hind forces. But hone of these examples approach in any degree to the character of the new regiment of the Line. The peculiavit; 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 Ar,my for indiscriminate service iv 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 60fch 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'thbse of a • Foreign Legion. It was intended for duty in British America, but it was opened 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 Bine disposable like other regiments for the' ordinary service of the Empire raised in AmeJ rica or from American colonists. !

The offer of the Canadians to contribute toi 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 -r-630 outof I,ooo—have already btsen raised, and it was expected that the complete battalion would be ready to embark' for England soon after the close of the present month. The sight of a regiment landing on our shores which had never quitted them would bo 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 additionof 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 orgaiiized. and the 18th Light Dragoons. It is not to be supposed that the mere contribution of 1,000 men will materially lighten the obligations of this.country in maintaining the army at its proper strength, but the, precedent is 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 soldierlike 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 th'e'systeih for supplying the army, with recruits. As thing have hitherto been managed, although

we succeed sooner or later in effecting the augmentation 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 kind 3; 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 thesis 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 ali 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 of ;good quality and admit of easy expansion in times of pressnre. At present, military service is still often regarded rather as the last resource of the idle or desperate than as an honourable'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, we think, that our recruiting machinery is not more localized. An established and recognized connexion with a county or province—such as the 100 th Regiment will-preserve with Canada—would 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 a< 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 13 riot sufficient for the work; These defects are serious enough to produce occasionally troublesome results, but they t; are certainly:not beyond the reach of remedy. '..