366 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Major-General Dickson said that, as no other gentleman rose to offer any 
remarks, it became his pleasing duty to propose that the thanks of the 
meeting be returned to Colonel Bray for his valuable and interesting lecture. 
(Applause.) The subject was a most important one, as it dealt with the 
much-desired improvement of the British army, and the lecturer had given 
them much to think about, which he hoped would hereafter conduce to the 
well-being of the nation. (Hear, hear.) Colonel Bray had well described 
and ably commented on many points of interest in the Prussian system, and, 
although in some small essentials they might differ as to their advantages, 
they must acknowledge that in the main point—the instruction of their officers 
—the Prussian plan was excellent beyond doubt. (Applause.) The Prussian 
government had given itself up to make an army, and for that purpose they 
had an advantage which we have not, and that was a military despotism. 
(Hear, hear.) It was fortunate for this country in some respects that they 
had not a despotic form of government, but for the advancement of the army 
there was no government so useful. Here, if any vital improvement is 
proposed, it has to be submitted to parliament, and then the money question 
cropped uffi Very properly perhaps, and the result was that nothing was 
done. (Applause.) And they never heard one word concerning how and 
where they were to get the proper men to do the work that would be required. 
(Hear, hear.) The system such as Colonel Bray proposed would remedy 
many defects and introduce valuable improvements in the army. Ho one 
could doubt that it was the desire of everyone present, and of the young 
men especially, to get on in their profession, and try to become the men of 
the future; and he hoped that Colonel Bray, General Wilmot, General 
Simmons, and other officers of position and ability who had engaged in the 
work, would still persevere, and that it would be taken up by others, and 
never cease until they had put the army into such a position that, instead of 
the cry being “ What will become of us when the Prussians come ?” it would 
be, “ What shall we do with them if they do come ? ” (Applause.) While 
they had been discussing suitable places for large manoeuvres he had in his 
mind Dartmoor, where a committee, of which he was president, had recently 
carried out a series of dangerous experiments with shell at long ranges. On 
that large and open tract of land, about twenty-two miles long and fourteen 
wide, embracing every description of country—bog, morass, and mountain— 
a very large corps of all arms could be manoeuvred; and General Staveley, 
when he was there during the experiments, represented to him how desirable 
it would be to have all the troops under his command instructed there every 
year or every two years on the Prussian system. The land was all open, and 
the only difficulty would be with the owners of cattle ; but the cattle could be 
driven off as they were during the experiments, and very little would satisfy 
the owners. The important garrison of Plymouth was close by, and alto¬ 
gether the place offered such advantages that he hoped it would be further 
considered. In concluding the proceedings he thanked Colonel Bray, in the 
name of the meeting, for the enlightenment he had afforded them by his 
lecture, and expressed a hope that he and others, in bringing these reforms 
under the notice of the authorities, would continue perseveringly until they 
had accomplished complete success. (Applause.) 
