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Documents on the Defense of Great Britain
Circular Letter from Mr. Dundas to the Lords Lieutenants of Counties,
accompanied with the subsequent plans.
"It directs them immediately to determine on the places of depôt
to which the live and dead stock are to be removed; the manner in which
they are to be taken care of at such depôts, the rout[e]s which they
are to avoid, in order not to interfere with the movements of the military;
the allotment of yeomanry, or other escorts, for their protection, or
for enforcing the regulations established respecting them; the necessary
arrangements for removing infirm persons, women and children, and next
to them such articles of property as are most valuable; the precautions
to be taken for destroying the remainder, and for obtaining, by pervious
estimates agreeable to the provisions of the act, some grounds by which
the amount of compensation to be made to owners of property so destroyed
may be ascertained; the separate place of rendezvous to which every
description of persons, whether connected with the armed force or otherwise,
should repair, on the signals of alarm being made; the arrangement of
those signals, &c."
"No volunteer to be admitted into the armed association, whose
habitual occupation and place of residence is not within the division
of the county to which the association may extend. Those who prefer
cavalry may be received into the nearest troop, or formed in separate
troops, of not less than 40 or more than 80 men. The officers to be
recommended by the lord lieutenant, and entitled to yeomanry cavalry
allowance and assistance. To be trained for six hours, once a week,
and, in case of invasion, serve within the military district to which
they belong."
"The armed infantry to consist of companies, from 60 to 120 men,
armed as the volunteer corps of towns, or a certain proportion with
pikes, with uniform clothing, or a fair allowance for the same, and
to be commanded by pr0per officers, resident, and having not less than
50l. income in land within the county, or renting land in the
same to the amount of 100l. The sons of persons so qualified,
or persons having previously held some military commission, rendering
them eligible for such a situation, are exempted from these restrictions.—Persons
accustomed to military service, on half pay or not, will be preferred,
and allowed full pay. To be trained six hours once a week, and serve
within the limits above."
"Every man of the volunteer corps, who thinks proper to claim
it, will be entitled to 1 s. per week, paid by government. A depot
for the arms to be provided at a safe place within the county. None
but known and respectable housekeepers, or persons who can bring at
least two such housekeepers to answer for their good behaviour, will
be admitted."
"Mr. Dundas concludes by strongly recommending to every description
of persons, to lay aside all untimely and misplaced jealousy respecting
the military power, with which every arrangement must be concerted."
"I have the honour to be, my lord,
Your lordship's most obedient
Humble servant,
(Signed) Henry Dundas.
"Schedule, No. 1. contains columns for the total of men between
the age of fifteen and sixty. Infirm or incapable of active service.
Serving in volunteer corps or armed associations. Aliens, Quakers,
Persons, who, from age, infancy, or other cause, may probably be incapable
of removing themselves.
"Schedule, No. 2. contains columns of the oxen, cows, young cattle
and colts. Sheep and goats, Pigs, horses, waggons, carts, corn-mills.
Quantity of corn they grind in a week. Ovens. Amount of bread the same
could bake in 24 hours. Quarters of wheat, oats, barley, beans and
pease. Loads of hay and straw. Sacks of potatoes, flour, or other
meal. Quarters of malt.
"Schedule, No. 3. refers to the returns to be made of the number
of persons between the ages of 15 and 60, willing to serve, and in what
capacity; whether on horseback or on foot. The cavalry to be armed
with swords and pistols. The infantry, with firelocks and pikes. To
the number of persons between the ages of 15 and 60, willing to act
as pioneers or labourers. To the implements they can bring; such as
felling-axes, pick-axes, spades, shovels, bill-hooks, saws. To the number
of persons between the ages of 15 and 60, willing to act as servants
with cattle. To the number of persons between the ages of 15 and 60,
willing to act as servants with teams. To the number of persons between
the ages of 15 and 60, willing to act as guides.
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