32 DORSET VOLUNTEERS DURING THE FRENCH WARS. 



John Barlow, of Radipole. This effusion escaped the eyes of 

 Canon Mayo when he compiled his Bibliotheca Donetiensis. 



A necessary adjunct to the work of our Volunteers when 

 watching for Bonaparte and his armada was the telegraph or 

 signal station established on several Dorset hills. A drawing 

 of the apparatus on High Stoy, and a description of the method 

 of working it, from the pen of the late T. B. Groves, can be 

 found in Proceedings, vol. xi., p. 135. There were also, of 

 course, the beacon fires on the coastal heights; but neither of 

 the systems could overcome the vagaries of a Channel fog. 



I will recall for a moment an almost forgotten branch of the 

 auxiliary forces in the maritime counties. The Sea Fencibles 

 were raised and organized by the Admiralty for the immediate 

 defence of the shore and harbours, its members being recruited 

 from fishermen and sailors who were not liable to seizure by a 

 press gang for the navy. For example, in 1798 Bridport and 

 neighbourhood provided 53 men for such duties under Nicholas 

 Ingram, who was probably identical with a cornet in the 

 Rangers of the same name about three years earlier. The Sea 

 Fencibles formed a chain round the shores of England, and 

 may perhaps be regarded as the forerunners of the naval 

 coastguard of to-day. 



The alarums and excursions of that troubled period are 

 illustrated by a local incident related in the Western Flying 

 Post in April, 1799 



" Monday evening about ten o'clock an express arrived from 

 " a neighbouring signal house to the commanding officer at 

 " Bridport, stating that an enemy was actually landing in the 

 " west, but their numbers and situation could not be ascertained 

 " before the morning. The drums immediately beat to arms ; 

 " the three companies of Bridport Volunteers assembled with 

 " surprising alacrity, and remained steadily under arms during 

 " the whole night, anxious to march wherever their services 

 " might be required. Two troops of the Somerset Provisional 

 '' Cavalry, commanded by Major Rodber, displayed great zeal 

 " on the occasion; Captain Travers's troop of Dorset Yeomanry 



