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were from 17 to 30 years of age wiio were or had been married, 

 and had not more than two children under ten years of age. 

 The number of volunteers in Dumfriesshire enrolled made the 

 levy en masse unnecessary, but the lists were carefully made out. 

 They were as follows : — Number in first-class effective, 3442 ; 

 number in second class effective, 677 ; number in third class 

 effective, 842 ; number in fourth class effective, 3409. The 

 number of clergy, licensed teachers, medical men, and constables, 

 who were all to be exempt from this levy, was returned at 43, 

 evidently a very defective return, and tiie number of infirm at 

 408. On 6th September, 1803, the county gentlemen assessed 

 the county for £1190, to give aid to the volunteers as to clothing. 

 On 10th October the ministers of Dumfries handed to Col. De 

 Peyst«r £IS 7s 6d, being a contribution from the Presbytery 

 towards tiie expense of the volunteers. The inhabitants of 

 Dumfries subscribed .£305 13s 6d. On November 12th colours 

 were presented to the Volunteers of Dumfries by Col. De Peyster, 

 who addressed them " in a most eloquent, impressive, and loyal 

 speech." The Rev. Dr Burnside consecrated the colours. He 

 also addressed the men, and it is recorded that he said — " If this 

 corps should ever meet in ' dread array ' in defence of their 

 native soil tbe wretched slaves of the tyrant usurper of the throne 

 of the Bourbons we are proud to predict that their veteran 

 commander will lead them to glory and victKiry, and that these 

 colours will be found a lasting memorial of the spirit and patriot- 

 ism of this town." The expectations of the people may be 

 gathered from this extract from tiie Dumfries Weekly Journal of 

 1st November, 1803: "Every day we are taught from all 

 quarters that the awful day approaches. The magnitude of the 

 preparations that have been made against us, and the malignity 

 of the designs proposed to be effected by these preparations, are 

 such that if there be in the bosom of any one amongst us any 

 determination other than to concjuer or to perish in resisting 

 these designs and these preparations, the person who harbours 

 such a sentiment is unworthy of the name of Briton." The 

 Volunteer corjjs were not long left without instructions, which 

 showed that serious work might be expected. 



On 3d November, 1803, instructions were laid before a meet- 

 ing of Deputy-Lieutenants, with respect to the movements of the 

 Volunteers in case of the uppearance of tlie enemy. In the 



