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In the event of the militia of the county of not being complete, I am directed by his majesty to recommend that the most decisive measures should be taken for supplying the deficiencies, and for enforcing the several provisions of the act.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord, your Lordship's
Most obedient
Humble Servant,
HOBART.
To his Majesty's Lieutenant of the
County of

Circular Letter from Lord Hobart to the Lord-Lieutenants of Counties.

Downing-street, March 31, 1803.
My Lord,

The frequent references lately made to me from some of his majesty's lieutenants of counties, in consequence of the anxiety expressed by a large proportion of the volunteer corps to renew their engagements, have induced the king's confidential servants to consider upon what footing it would be advisable to place these establishments, and to determine the extent of the aid to be afforded by government to those whose services his majesty may be pleased to accept. I convey to your lordship, in the accompanying paper, a general outline of the plan it is intended to act upon; for the purpose of your being enabled to satisfy any inquiries which may be made to you, with regard to the sentiments of government in this respect.

It may be right, however, that I should intimate to your lordship, that, although the actual state of affairs has rendered it advisable

that I should make this communication at this time, the plan must rather be considered with a reference to a permanent system than a situation of emergency: the application of it, in point of extent, to depend upon and to be regulated by circumstances.

With this view I must request of your lordship to receive, and to communicate to me, for his majesty's information, any offers of service that may be made to you in the county of in order that such a selection may be made as may be best calculated to give the most useful effect to that loyalty and public spirit by which the volunteer institution has uniformly been distinguished.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord, your Lordship's
Most obedient
Humble Servant,

HOBART. His Majesty's Lieutenant of the County of

Circular Letter transmitted to the se

veral Lord-Lieutenants of Counties, by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

House of Commons, 10th of August, 1803.

My Lord,

By command of the house of commons, I have the honour of transmitting to you their unanimous vote of thanks to the several volunteer and yeomanry corps of the united kingdom, for the promptitude and zeal with which, at a crisis the most momentous to their country, they have associated for its defence; accompanied with an order, that a return be prepared, to be laid before the house in the

next session of parliament, of all volunteer and yeomanry corps, whose services shall have been then accepted by his majesty, describing each corps, in order that such return may be entered on the journals of the house, and the patriotic example of such voluntary exertions transmitted to posterity.

In communicating this resolution and order, I have the greatest satisfaction, at the same time, in bearing testimony to the confidence with which the house is impressed, that the same spirit and exemplary zeal will be exerted throughout the present contest, until, with the blessing of Providence, it shall be brought to a glorious issue.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord, your Lordship's
Most obedient
Humble servant,

CHAS. ABBOTT, Speaker. To the Right Hon. Lord &c. &c.

CIRCULAR.

Downing-street, Aug. 18, 1803. My Lord,

The zeal, loyalty, and public spirit which continue to be manifested in every part of the kingdom, having had the effect of producing voluntary offers of service to so considerable an amount as to render it unnecessary for his majesty to order and direct the lieutenant or deputy-lieutenants of the county of to cause the persons comprised in the first, second, and third classes of persons enrolled for military service, in conformity to the provisions of the act of the 43d GEO. III. cap. 96. or any, or either of them, to be trained and exercised in the use of arms; I am to inform your lordship, that it is his majesty's

pleasure to suspend, for the present, such of the provisions of the act as require the men enrolled for military service to be trained and exercised, subject nevertheless (conformably to the 53d clause of the said act) to such conditions as to the number of effective men to be constantly existing in the volunteer corps of the country, and to such other rules and regulations as to exercise and muster, or inspection by general or other officers, as to his majesty shall seem necessary.

In order, however, to enable his majesty, if he shall judge it advisable, at a future period, to resort to the clauses respecting the training and exercise, your lordship must be aware of the absolute necessity of carrying into execution those provisions of the act which relate to the enrolment in the several districts and parishes, and to the returns which are to be made to the secretary of state.

I am further to acquaint your lordship, that the inconvenience which must unavoidably arise from carrying the volunteer system to an unlimited extent, has determined his majesty not to authorise, at present, any additional volunteer corps to be raised in any county where the number of effective members of these corps, including the yeomanry, shall exceed the amount of six times the militia, exclusive of the supplementary quota, making, in the county of men; and, in providing that number, your lordship will avail your self of your own knowledge and experience, with a view to such a selection as may be best suited to local considerations.

But in the event of the effective numbers of the corps, already recommended by your lordship, hav

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My Lord,

I have had the honour to receive your lordship's letter of the 17th, and I lose no time in acquainting you, that the printed regulations for volunteer infantry, issued in June last, are not to be considered in any respect applicable to corps accepted by his majesty since the date of my circular letter (the 3d) of August, restricting the allowances before given to volunteer corps of infantry, to the allowances of 20s. for clothing, and 1s. per day for twenty days' exercise; and to corps of cavalry, to the contingent allowance of 120l. per troop.

With respect to arms-I have to request your lordship will inform me what quantity will be necessary (in addition to those with which the several corps can provide themselves, and to those already in possession of the yeomanry and volunteers), to complete the number required for the several corps already authorised by his majesty.

Your lordship will understand it to be the intention of government, that the whole number of volunteers, now proposed to be armed, should not exceed six times

1803.

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Whitehall, August 30.

I have the honour to inform

your lordship that directions have been given to the board of ordnance to issue, immediately on your lordship's application, such a proportion of arms, in the first instance, as, including those already delivered or retained in the county of will amount to one of its quota of volunteers (calculating their establishment at six times the number of the original militia) should your lordship find, upon investigation, that so large a number is actually necessary for the effective strength of such volunteers, after making allowance for the quantity of arms which the respective corps may have provided, or (I)

may

may be disposed to provide for themselves.

I must request that your lordship will furnish me, without delay, with an accurate return of the number and description of the arms which have been so retained, delivered, provided, or intended to be provided, specifying in whose hands they now are; and that, in making your demand for arms, you will be careful to distinguish what proportion is necessary for the supply of cavalry and artillery; sabres and pistols being appropriated for the use of the former, and pikes for the latter.

I am also to inform your lordship that pikes sufficient to arm the whole number of men serving in the different volunteer corps of artillery will be delivered on your lordship's application, and specification of the number required; and that a further supply of the same nature may be had to the full extent of the wants of any other corps, which may have been or shall hereafter be formed, for whose use this weapon may be preferred.

Your lordship will have the goodness to point out to the board of ordnance, with precision, to what places and into whose charge these arms shall be delivered; and it is particularly requested that your lordship will take such precautions as may be necessary, in communicating with the general officer commanding in the district, to ensure that proper care is taken of them till delivered to the respective corps; and that the commander of each corps is duly made responsible for their safe custody, proper distribution, and accurate re-delivery when called upon for that purpose by regular authority.

When I shall be favoured by

your lordship with accurate returns of the amount and description of the whole volunteer force in the county of I flatter myself that I shall be enabled in due time to direct a further issue for the use of such corps or conipa nies as may remain unprovided. It is, however, considered to be highly desirable that the several bodies of volunteers should in the present moment be encouraged, under proper precautions, to supply themselves.

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My Lord,

Whitehall, August 30.

A great number of letters having been transferred to this office from the war department, and many having since been received by this office from the lieutenants of counties, respecting offers of volunteer corps or companies, which, from the extreme pressure of business, there has not been yet time thoroughly to examine and consider; and being at the same time solicitous to prevent any anxiety or dissatisfaction which might arise among the persons whose zeal and loyalty have induced them to come forward upon the present occasion; I have the honour to acquaint your lordship, that his majesty is graciously disposed to ac cept all the offers which have been recommended by your lordship, provided the total number of rank and file, to be raised under them, together

together with that of the corps and companies heretofore accepted and established, does not in the whole exceed the proportion of the county, as limited by lord Hobart's letter of the 18th inst. and that such efforts do not militate against the regulations of the defence acts, and the general rules which it has been or may be found expedient to adopt.

As soon as I shall be enabled to examine with more particularity the offers which have been transmitted by your lordship, I shall have the honour of communicating his majesty's special directions on the subject. In the mean time, I cannot omit this opportunity of informing your lordship, that it is clearly to be understood that, under the genuine construction and meaning of the late acts of parliament, all volunteer corps and companies to be accepted subsequent to their passing, should be formed with reference to the general militia system. It follows that no company ought to consist of less than sixty privates, and that no body of infantry can be considered as a corps which consists of less than three such companies; and that all smaller assemblages of volunteers, under the above-mentioned acts, within any county, parish, or district, shall be thrown into independent companies of not less than sixty nor more than one hundred and twenty privates. The establishment of field and company officers, as well as of serjeants, corporals, and drummers, is to be fixed by the same rule.

In the yeomanry cavalry, however, a different arrangement will continue to prevail; single troops may be accepted as corps, not being less than forty rank and file,

though it is much to be wished that in all cases they should be carried, if possible, to sixty or eighty effectives per troop: and that two or more troops, wherever local circumstances will permit, should be joined together, for the purposes of discipline and interior arrangements.

I take leave to make it my earnest request to your lordship that you will favour me, at your earliest convenience, with an exact return of the different corps heretoforeaccepted, or which are now trans mitted for consideration, or which you may hereafter think proper to recommend for acceptance, specifying the particulars of their establishment, according to a form which you will receive herewith. I cannot sufficiently impress upon you the necessity of furnishing me with this document, with the least possible delay, as great embarrass ment is found to arise from a want of sufficient precision upon these points.

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Should it have happened that the number of persons who have offered themselves, up to this period, to serve in volunteer corps or companies, has exceeded the proportion limited in the first instance, by lord Hobart's circular letter of the 18th inst. for the county of and should your lordship be of opinion that it would contribute to the satisfaction of those who might by such limitation be prevented from manifesting their zeal for the public service, I have the honour to inform your lordship, that there will be no objection to a certain number of such persons, properly selected, being attached to the accepted and established corps, as supernumeraries, in such a proportion per troop or (12)

company

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