298 HISTORY OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 
In 1803 he succeeded William Kerr as foreman there, in which 
position he continued until after nine years’ service he received 
the call to Edinburgh. 
The times were troubled when William McNab found himself 
thus within a circle where the personal influence of King 
George III. was dominant. It is recorded of McNab that he 
attracted in a special manner the attention of the King, and this, 
we may believe, not merely because of his capacity as a gardener 
but no less on account of the enthusiasm with which he threw 
himself into projects for the defence of the Country.1 For the 
King took great interest in the Volunteer movement of the time 
and particularly in that current of it which affected the area in 
and about his own domain at Kew, and the fact that young 
McNab joined the Corps of Kew Volunteers? at its institution® 
would be known to the King and be a commendation in his eyes. 
? Through the Rev. Dr. Turnbull of Dailly, I learn that a niece o. William McNab, 
Mrs. Andrew Hannah, aged about 86, is at this date living in the parish of Dailly, 
and relates oa ‘*the King, re by his appearance, said to him that he ought to 
be in the arm 
re isa ee of McNab’s anole eak card :—* William McNab | Enrolled a 
perso! 
1803. |” On the reverse of the card there is:—‘* The Engagement | with the | 
Rules | and | Regulations | of the | Kew | Company of | Volunteer Infantry | Brent- 
ford | Printed by P. Norbury | 1803. | ”*—By permission of Miss McNab, who has the 
original. 
®° The following is a copy of the Appeal for Volunteers which McNab had pre- 
—‘* ADVANTAGES | Obtained By | VoLuNTEERS, | SERVING in DEFENCE of 
their Country. | Kew, | August 11, 1803. | The Committee wish to point out to 
the Inhabitants of the Parish of Kew, the advantages that will arise in forming a 
VOLUNTEER Corps, in preference® to permitting the compulsory Clauses of the 
DEFENCE Act to take effect. It is more respectable for the Inhabitants ;—it is con- 
formable to the wishes of the Legislature ;—it marks the Loyalty, Spirit, and Zeal of 
the Parish in the Service of their Country ;—and it is particularly ¢o de observed, that _ 
they will have the Privilege of serving together, under Officers chosen trom among the 
oldest Inhabitants ;—that they will not be drafted into any Regiment, Battalion, o 
Corps of Regulars, Militia, or Fencibles ;—that they will not be called out of their 
District, except in case of actual Invasion, or the enemy appearing upon the Coast, and 
then not out of the Kingdom. | Norbury, Printer. Brentford.”—By permtssion of 
Miss McNab, who has the original. 
Miss McNab has also allowed me to see a copy o: a booklet containing the Rules 
of the ‘‘ Kew Volunteer Infantry.” On page 3 is a recommendation of the 
“Rules” over the signature of ‘‘ John Haverfield, Chairman, P.T.”, and 
then on e 4 there is ‘‘State of the | Company | of | Son Volunteer 
Infantry. | Captain | Robert Browne | First Lieutenant | Robert Tunstall | Second 
| Lieutenant | William T. Aiton | Sergeants | T. Hofland, T. Healey, G. 
