History of the Company. 139 



the Company was exchanged for the old title of 

 Master. 



Henceforward the records of the Company 

 contain little of general public interest. The 

 increase of stability to the throne gave the Com- 

 pany an opportunity of turning their attention to 

 Internal affairs, and their participation In public 

 events Is in but few cases of more than civic 

 Importance. 



In the year 1798 occurs a record of ^200 

 subscribed by the Company to the '' Voluntary 

 Fund for the Defence of the Country," recalling to 

 our minds the sacrifice which the country was 

 called upon to make at a period when, 

 having barely recovered from the strain 

 of the American War, England was forced into a 

 long and bitter struggle with France. The Com- 

 pany had not the required sum In their exchequer 



" Here lies poor Fred, 

 Who was alive and is dead ; 

 Had it been his father » 



I had much rather ; 

 Had it been his brother 

 Still better than another ; 

 Had it been his sister 

 No one would have missed her ; 

 Had it been the whole generation. 

 Still better for the nation ; 

 But since 'tis only Fred, 

 Who was alive and is dead. 

 There's no more to be said:" 



