that are employed, the more dependence may be placed upon the militia
in the preservation of our rights and privileges, and the more will the
number of the disciplined men be increased; because at the expiration
of every three years the lot-men must be changed, and new militia-men
chosen; but the substitutes will, in all probability, continue for life
in the service, provided they can find lot-men to hire them at every
rotation. The reader will forgive our being so circumstantial upon the
regulations of an institution, which we cannot help regarding with a
kind of enthusiastic affection.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

BILL FOR REMOVING THE POWDER MAGAZINE AT GREENWICH.

In the latter end of November, the house of commons received a petition
from several noblemen, gentlemen, and others, inhabitants of East
Greenwich, and places adjacent, in Kent, representing, that in the said
parish, within a quarter of a mile of the town distinguished by a royal
palace, and royal hospital for seamen, there was a magazine, containing
great quantities of gunpowder, frequently to the amount of six thousand
barrels: that besides the great danger which must attend all places of
that kind, the said magazine stood in an open field uninclosed by any
fortification or defence whatsoever, consequently exposed to treachery
and every other accident. They alleged, that if through treachery,
lightning, or any other accident, this magazine should take fire, not
only their lives and properties, but the palace and hospital, the king's
yards and stores at Deptford and Woolwich, the banks and navigation of
the Thames, with the ships sailing and at anchor in that river, would
be inevitably destroyed, and inconceivable damage would accrue to the
cities of London and Westminster. They, moreover, observed, that the
magazine was then in a dangerous condition, supported on all sides by
props that were decayed at the foundation; that in case it should
fall, the powder would, in all probability, take fire, and produce
the dreadful calamities above recited: they therefore prayed that the
magazine might be removed to some more convenient place, where any
accident would not be attended with such dismal consequences. The
subject of this remonstrance was so pressing and important, that
a committee was immediately appointed to take the affair into
consideration, and procure an estimate for purchasing lands, and
erecting a powder magazine at Purfleet, in Essex, near t