158 THE SQXJIEE AND HIS YOLUNTEERS. 



to drill, and prepare for defending tlieir heartlis and 

 homes; they had property to defend, shops that 

 might be plundered, houses that might be burned, 

 or children to save from being brained, and wives or 

 daughters to protect from treatment which some- 

 times prevailed in time of war. 



As a result of his exertions, a strong and ejfficient 

 company was formed, called "The Wenlock Loyal 

 Yolunteers." The Squire was major, and he spared 

 neither money nor trouble in rendering it efficient. 

 He always gave the members a dinner on the 4th of 

 June, the birthday of George III., who had won his 

 admiration and devotion by his boldness as a fox- 

 liunter, no less than by his daring proposal, during 

 the riots of 1780, to ride at the head of his guards 

 into the midst of the fires of the capital. On New 

 Year's Day, that being the birthday of Major 

 Forester, the officers and men invariably dined 

 together in honour of their commander. The corps 

 were disbanded, we believe, in 1802, for we find in 

 a cutting from a Shrewsbury paper of the 12th of 

 January, 1803, that about that time a subscription 

 was entered into for the purchase of a handsome 

 punch-bowl. The newspaper states that " On New 

 Year's Day, 1803, the members of the late corps of 



