It was harder in 1859 to say what was best to be done than it is now. Money and labour can overcome much of the present difficulties, but then the only thing to do was to raise an army, and that army on the very shortest notice to be such as not only could be trusted with the national defence, but be able to co-operate with the regulars in the defence of their native land. Some advocated the training of gamekeepers, and sportsmen generally, with, we suppose, a small sprinkling of poachers to keep up _esprit de corps_, others were for arming every old pensioner, and not a few for purchasing the services of foreigners, as was done in the early wars with Napoleon, and more recently in the Crimea. Danger was at the door: for years prognosticated, and for as many pooh-poohed, or denied altogether; and now that it was so near, it found none so weak and wavering, none so helpless and unwilling to meet the emergency, as the individuals causing it. They simply stood by, wringing their hands, and left each and all to arrange as they best could, provided it cost the State nothing. Notwithstanding the backwardness of the Government and their inability to see the absolute necessity of immediate action by raising some force less long in making efficient, and of a different class in life to regulars or militia, the country commenced with the greatest activity; and as rifle corps had been decided upon as both useful and dependable, few towns of any size but had such forming. In Wiltshire some progress had been made in the movement at Salisbury, Trowbridge, Malmesbury, Devizes, &c., and now Bradford followed suit by calling a public meeting on 19th December, 1859, "for the purpose of promoting the formation of a local volunteer rifle corps." E. Edmonds, Esq., was unanimously called to the chair, and was supported by most of the influential gentlemen of the neighbourhood and others residing in the town. On the platform were the Right Hon. T. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., R.P. Long, Esq., M.P., Rev. W.H. Jones, Vicar, Rev. J. Wilkinson, Rev. W. Popham, Rev. E.D. Whigfield, Captain Rook, Captain Pickwick, Dr. W. Adye, A. Adye, Esq., G. Forster, Esq., W. Beavan, Esq., J. Gee, Esq., T. Taylor, Esq., Mr. Neal, and others. After a very enthusiastic speech from the chairman, Captain Rook moved that the rifle movement of the country he supported, and Mr. Forster, of Holt, in seconding the motion, offered his services in any way by which they could be rendered most useful. Mr. Sotheron Estcourt, Mr. A. Adye, Captain Pickwick, and Mr. Richard Long, of Road Ashton, spoke on the occasion, and finally a committee of management to collect subscriptions and to make the necessary arrangements was appointed, and the following subscriptions were announced: The Earl Manvers, £50; the Right Hon. T. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., £10 and the equipment of five men; Walter Long, Esq., M.P., Road Ashton, £10; the Rev. Edward Brown, of Farley, £5.