A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



At the Restoration Bishop Cosin opposed the freeholders' demand for 

 representation, and a protracted struggle took place. In 1660 a bill enabling 

 such representation received a first reading, but nothing further was done till 

 1666, when the Grand Jury, on behalf of the freeholders, at Quarter Sessions 

 presented a ' paper ' to the magistrates to join them in their ' endeavours to 

 right our hitherto injured county.' Despite the opposition of the dean, the 

 magistrates by a majority decided to send proper persons to solicit Parliament. 

 Cosin protested, and was sufficiently powerful to prevent the bill, which was 

 introduced on 26 March, 1668, being carried. Immediately after his death 

 an Act was passed enabling the freeholders to elect two knights for the county, 

 and the mayor, aldermen, and freemen of the city of Durham to elect two 

 burgesses to represent them in Parliament.'''^ 



Owing to Cosin's energy and ability the county rapidly recovered from 

 the devastations caused by the Civil War, and, except for the Derwentdale 

 Plot,'''* the district enjoyed such a period of quiet as it had not known since 

 the Reformation. The Revolution of 1688, despite the efforts of DeanGren- 

 ville, caused but Httle stir, and both the county and city members joined the 

 association to stand by King William in 1696.'''* In that year there had been 

 some commotion at Durham, for a letter of 1 6 March states : — 



We have been mightely allarmed aboute y.e late conspertsy and inteended invation. There 

 came downe last weeke three messingers for taking sum persons into custody, amongst 

 whome (for which I am very sorry) Captain Tempest is one : the messinger did seas him.-" 



The eighteenth century was marked by great industrial progress, and for 

 that reason probably but little is heard of either the 171 5 or 1745 rebellions.-'^ 

 A few years later, in 1759, the Durham Regiment of Militia was raised under 

 the Act of 1757. The earl of Darlington was colonel, and the battalion, 369 

 strong, was made up by the quota of the different wards, Chester supplying 

 105, Darlington 131, Easington 59, Stockton 45, Norhamshire 11, and 

 Islandshire 18. The uniform consisted of a wide flapped red coat, breeches 

 and leggings of woollen material, and buckled shoes. The hair was powdered, 

 and a slouch hat looped up at the brim was worn.''" This battalion became 

 the South Durham Militia, and is now the 3rd BattaHon of the Durham 

 Light Infantry. The 4th BattaHon (formerly North Durham Militia) was 

 raised in 1853."'' In 1758 the 2nd battalion of the 23rd Foot was formed 

 into a distinct corps as the 68th Regiment, and John Lambton became their 

 first colonel, and thus began the association of the regiment with the county. 

 In 1 88 1 the 68th Light Infantry became the ist Battalion of the Durham 

 Light Infantry. 



2S» 



County Palatine of Durham 'to have tvyo knights from thence into the Parliament' ; ibid. p. 7. In 1614., 

 1620 (when fourteen members were claimed), 1623, 1624, and 1640 further attempts were made, and on 

 7 April, 1642, a Bill passed the House of Commons. In 1645 the petition of the county passed both 

 houses, and on 21 December, 1646, an ordinance that they have knights and burgesses was read a first and 

 second time. No members were summoned to the 1659 Parliament ; on 31 March a Bill was brought in 

 for restoring members for Durham ; ibid. p. viii. 



"" Ibid. 8. Owing to a technical defect in the Act, no members were elected for the city till 1678. 



'^ See 'Eccl. Hist.' p. 51;. "* List of Knights and Burgesses, 18. 



^^ Hunter MS. (D. and C. Library, Dur.), viii. No. 31. 



"* The Quarter Session Records for these years indicate the passage of troops, whilst a letter printed 

 in Surtees, Hist. Dur. ii, 1 8, shows that considerable alarm was felt on the former occasion. 



"' The Dur. Militia (pub. Barnard Castle, 1884), p. 5. ''" Ibid. 42. 



"' Hist. Rec. of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 71. 



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