60 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
the autumn. Having won golden opinions this season, we must take care 
to keep them by further progress. 
These are, I believe, the main points to which attention is requisite, and 
there can be no doubt that attention will be given to them, for they are 
not the mere crotchets of a few individuals. 
It is said that “ the gods blind those whom they wish to destroy.” Let 
us give the converse, and say that “ Heaven opens the eyes of those whom it 
wishes to favour.” The new and extraordinary attention now paid in England 
to the art of war, is unlocking the fountains of knowledge at a prodigious 
rate. The progress already made is marvellous. Is it not possible that we 
may be unconsciously preparing ourselves for a not far distant day, when 
our country may have to draw the sword for the principle of moderate 
liberty—when officers and men shall march forward in perfect training and 
mutual confidence, and our banners once more be flung out to the cry of 
“ St. George for Merry England ! ” 
General An ye, at the close of the lecture, said they should be pleased to hear 
any officer who wished to make observations on the highly interesting lecture they 
had heard. 
Colonel Domville, E.A., said he listened with much pleasure to the very 
able lecture that Captain Brackenbury had been kind enough to deliver. The 
remarks on the tactics of the artillery were of much weight, and the criticisms 
generally were characterised by judgment and fairness. He had not intended or 
desired to make any observations thereon; but-as discussion was invited by the 
Chairman, and it appeared to be expected that he, as the colonel in command of 
the artillery attached to one of the corps d’armee engaged in the manoeuvres, should 
make some comment on the lecture, he would trouble them with a few words. 
Eirstly, as to the relations of the commanding officers of artillery with general 
officers in command of the troops, and the independence of movement of batteries 
as referred to in the general order to which allusion had been made by the lecturer, 
he could only say that, so far as he was concerned, the general officer had invariably 
conferred with him on every occasion, whether in making his arrangements for the 
distribution of the troops previous to each day’s operations, or with respect to the 
dispositions of the batteries at any critical period during the movements which 
rendered any change of plan necessary. Any opinions he had submitted had 
invariably been received with the greatest consideration, and, of course in due subor¬ 
dination to the general’s own plan of operations, had been acted upon. He could 
not speak too highly of the zeal and ability of the lieut.-colonels and the captains 
of batteries under his orders, nor of the hearty co-operation afforded him, and the 
earnest desire which had been shown by officers of all ranks to effectually carry out 
his orders and wishes. Thus, keeping in mind the high state of efficiency of the 
batteries, which could not but have been obvious to all there present, he must be 
fully prepared to take on himself the entire responsibility for any errors and short¬ 
comings or mistakes that might have been committed by the artillery under his 
command. 
As to the desirability of keeping in hand and under the immediate control of 
the commanding officer of artillery a sufficient reserve to meet such eventualities 
as might occur, which the lecturer appeared to suppose had not been done, this 
was a misapprehension on his part; for in each day’s dispositions, when the number 
of batteries present admitted of it, a reserve had always been detailed, one battery 
