advantages. Leave being given to bring in a bill for the better ordering
of the militia forces in the several counties of England, the task of
preparing it was allotted to Mr. Townshend, and a considerable number of
the most able members in the house, comprehending his own brother, Mr.
Charles Townshend, whose genius shone with distinguished lustre: he
was keen, discerning, eloquent, and accurate; possessed a remarkable
vivacity of parts, with a surprising solidity of understanding; was
a wit without arrogance, a patriot without prejudice, and a courtier
without dependance.

While the militia bill remained under consideration in the house, a
petition for a constitutional and well-regulated militia was presented
by the mayor, jurats, and commonalty of the king's town and parish
of Maidstone, in Kent, in common-council assembled. At the same time
remonstrances were offered by the protestant dissenting ministers of the
three denominations in and about the cities of London and Westminster;
by the protestant dissenters of Shrewsbury; the dissenting ministers of
Devonshire; the protestant dissenters, being freeholders and burgesses
of the town and county of the town of Nottingham, joined with other
inhabitants of the church of England, expressing their apprehension,
that, in the bill then depending, it might be proposed to enact, that
the said militia should be exercised on the Lord's day, commonly called
Sunday, and praying that no clause for such purpose might pass into a
law. Though nothing could be more ridiculously fanatic and impertinent
than a declaration of such a scruple against a practice so laudable and
necesssary, in a country where that day of the week is generally spent
in merry-making, riot, and debauchery, the house paid so much regard to
the squeamish consciences of those puritanical petitioners, that Monday
was pitched upon for the day of exercise to the militia, though on
such working days they might be much more profitably employed, both for
themselves and their country; and that no religious pretence should be
left for opposing the progress and execution of the bill, proper clauses
were inserted for the relief of the quakers. Another petition and
counter-petition were delivered by the magistrates, freeholders, and
burgesses of the town of Nottingham, in relation to their particular
franchises, which were accordingly considered in framing the bill.

After mature deliberation, and divers alterations, it p