Transactions. 95 



at this period 300,000 Volunteers were enrolled. We can 

 show that Dumfriesshire was not lukewarm in the cause. 

 After war was again declared, military preparations were made 

 under new Acts of Parliament. The Militia Ballot was made to 

 embrace men between 18 and 45, and of those liable to serve there 

 were reported to be in Dumfriesshire 5597. The quota balloted 

 for was 284. The men were assembled on April 5th, 1803. 

 There is no evidence that on this occasion there was any dis- 

 content similar to that which existed at the embodiment of the 

 Militia in 1797. In nearly every case the men actually enrolled 

 were substitutes. The penalty for not serving or not procuring 

 a substitute was £10, but a little later (26th May) in the same 

 year it was raised to £15. On the 15th July, 1803, there was 

 a special meeting of the Court of Lieutenancy, when such resolu- 

 tions were passed as became what is termed in the minute " a 

 crisis when the empire is threatened with destruction, its 

 existence as a State menaced with annihilation, and its in- 

 habitants at large held out as objects of general pillage and 

 confiscation." It was agreed that the whole inhabitants between 

 fifteen and sixty years of age, and any healthy men who were 

 above that age, should be invited to meet the Deputy- 

 Lieutenants of tlie districts in their respective parish churches, 

 and should be asked in what manner it is their intention to act 

 should their country be invaded — whether (1) by engaging to 

 assemble in arms either mounted or on foot in the event of 

 invasion ; (2) by engaging to serve as pioneers ; (3) by engaging 

 to serve in the removal of live stock ; (4) by engaging to provide 

 carts, horses, and drivers for the removal of dead stock or the 

 transport of military stores, provisions, or troops ; (5) by en- 

 gaging to furnish Government for its armies with flour and 

 bread. It was also agreed to intimate to the inhabitants that in 

 the event of its being necessary all live stock were to be driven 

 inland — live stock in the maritime parishes and towns of Annan- 

 dale and Eskdale to the upper districts of Eskdale and those 

 adjoining in Selkirk ; and the live stock from the maritime and 

 town parishes of Nithsdale to the districts connected with the 

 source of the Cairn, as well within the Stewartry of Kirkcud- 

 bright as in the County of Dumfries. 



Among other resolutions the meeting resolved " that the in- 

 habitants be informed that however formidable and numerous 



