310 VOLUNTEERING PROJECT. [1804. 



the danger of invasion imminent, desired exceedingly 

 to form themselves into a battalion of infantry, to serve 

 without pay, and to clothe themselves. They accord- 

 ingly met to the number of above 200, about the end 

 of July. My intention at that time was to serve in 

 the militia of the northern counties of England with 

 which I was chiefly connected, and I had actually 

 taken steps for obtaining a company in the West 

 York militia. I was, however, applied to by the 

 leading persons among those above mentioned ; and 

 having the honour of enjoying a very unmerited share 

 of the confidence of the body, I was requested to 

 attend a meeting which they purposed to call. This 

 meeting did me the honour of appointing me the 

 chairman of the association, and of desiring me to 

 charge myself with the superintendence of their con- 

 cerns. I mention these particulars to show the reason 

 why I feel it my duty to retain some interest in the 

 manner in which they were treated, and to take this 

 opportunity of doing them justice. I must also add 

 that the body in whose name I write these lines was 

 composed of all the young gentlemen of family, for- 

 tune, and talents, in that part of Scotland, who hap- 

 pened to be in no volunteer corps. They were about 

 two-fifths Scotch, two-fifths English, and one-fifth 

 Irish. Some of them were residing at Edinburgh for 

 pleasure, others attending the University, and some 

 belonged tfo the place, being engaged in the professions 

 of the law and physic, or members of independent 

 families. All of them at every meeting showed the 



