The rifle movement, now general throughout Great Britain, was showing itself in the quaint old town of Bradford-on-Avon. Some towns and cities in the county, and indeed some villages in the country, had advanced further in corps-making than had the men of Bradford; but perhaps nothing beyond a low number in the county rifle volunteers was lost by it, but very much experience gained, and needless expense avoided. Doubtless, in 1859, there was no time to be lost in putting the country into a state of defence, and making some arrangements by which an advance of an enemy into the heart of the land should be stayed, even if a landing on the shores could not be prevented. It was plain, very plain, and all the more from becoming so suddenly, that if the vapouring of the French turned into a reality, and war was declared, the country was quite unprepared for such. Her army at home reduced to a handful, with the greater portion of it in India crushing out mutiny; the militia, where not embodied, weak, badly officered, and really untrained; and the navy in a transition state, between wood and iron, sailing and steam. It was no good shutting one's eyes to the fact: the country was terribly open to invasion; and as the invaders were not likely to send any but their best and most efficient soldiers to attempt the subjugation of that country whose word was law to almost the whole world, it behoved every citizen to aid, either in means or person, in the defence of his home. It was no time to tax the Government or Governments with having thrown dust in the eyes of the people, and said all was well when things were very far from being so, and that not only were the army, navy, fortifications, and all appertaining thereunto, amply sufficient to meet any demands made upon them, but that economies ought to be practised. The people of Great Britain had to do then what they have to do now, to take things as they find them, and, liking it or disliking it, set about putting their house in order.