DORSET VOLUNTEERS DURING THE FRENCH WARS. 23 



officers and men. It is a matter of regret to me that I was 

 not able to transcribe and publish the names of all who served 

 in 1798, but it was manifestly impossible in these pages; 

 hence I must be content to follow the example of the Army 

 List and confine myself to the holders of the King's commission. 

 At the outset it will be convenient to review briefly the 

 circumstances leading up to the rirst recognition of Volunteers 

 as a separate military force. The various Acts regulating the 

 Militia had allowed a substitute to take the place of a man 

 whose name was drawn in the ballot. Then single volunteers 

 were allowed to enlist, who proportionately reduced the 

 liability of the parish or town to furnish a given quota of men. 

 Later on, entire companies of volunteers under their own 

 officers were accepted for service, but they were merged in the 

 Militia and so lost their identity. In addition, companies were 

 formed independently of any Act of Parliament and were 

 known as Fencibles; but no evidence is forthcoming of the 

 existence of such Corps in Dorset. Then came the Act of 

 1794 (34 George III, cap. 31) as a consequence of the disturbed 

 condition of France and the renewed apprehension of an 

 invasion. This statute set forth the desirability of raising 

 Volunteer companies in particular towns, more especially those 

 on or near the sea-coast, the details of the scheme being 

 described as " the plan." The minimum number of men in 

 each detachment was to be sixty, with the usual complement 

 of officers, while those who enrolled were exempted from any 

 liability under the Militia regulations if they punctually attended 

 the exercises. Here, then, we see the official inauguration of 

 the Volunteer movement in this country. Among the measures 

 recommended in " the plan " was the opening of subscrip- 

 tion lists; to this the county responded by raising more than 

 2,500 at a meeting held in Dorchester in July, 1794, which 

 was followed by adjourned meetings. Although the proposals 

 met with general support, the activities of Bonaparte induced 

 the Government to pass two more Acts in 1798 (38 George III, 

 cc. 27 and 51) with the object of " applying in the most 

 " expeditious manner and with the greatest effect the voluntary 



