of some of the members.
Published by desire of the corps. Printed by James Weir, Horncastle,
1804." In this address he expresses his great regret that so many
volunteers are resigning "after putting the country to the expense of
supplying them with clothing and arms, having also pledged themselves to
the country's defence, and received in return exemption from militia
service," this too at a time when (as he says) "we are in danger of being
reduced to a French province." "No resignations (he continues) have
taken place in London, in Boston, or in Spilsby." He reminds them that
they (the Horncastrians) had been "among the first in the county to offer
their services," and he urges them still to "maintain their character"
for loyalty.

In consequence of this appeal a public meeting was called together, at
which was formed a "Court of Enquiry," consisting of "9 members, 3
elected from the officers of the corps, and 6 from the non-commissioned
officers and privates, to whom all proposals of resignation should be
submitted." In subsequent pages regulations are added as to keeping
their weapons in proper condition, orders as to loading their guns, &c.,
which are described as "firelocks" with "flints." This we may regard as
an interesting item of past local history, evidencing the spirit in which
the first Horncastle Volunteers were formed.

The modern volunteer movement originated in the year 1859, under somewhat
similar circumstances to the earlier movement. Notwithstanding our
ultimate victory in the Crimean war, it was felt that our blunders had
been most serious, and our military organization far from complete. War,
as a science, was assuming new forms; steam was giving to navigation an
independence of wind and tide, which might lead to invasion unawares.
The state of our defences was considered most unsatisfactory. France was
our ally, but the Emperor Napoleon III. only ruled by popular suffrage,
and the memories of Waterloo still affected the sentiments of his people
towards England. The facility with which England might be invaded was a
subject of discussion in parliament in the course of the session of that
year. Lord Palmerston held the view that France could, within a few
hours, bring together an army, which could land on our shores and march
upon London, before we were awake to the danger. It was our duty to be
ready for defence against any such surprise, and it was said that "our
friend" Napoleon woul