prefentations, which you have dif charged with fo much fidelity and wisdom.

Go on then, worthy Sirs, in the fame glorious paths you have long trod: let not the invidious whisperings of the fly, nor the groundless calumnies of the difappointed, infpire you with diffidence of a Man, who feems to have been raised up by Providence, to protect and fave a deluded and abufed nation.

THE eyes, the hopes of all true Britons are upon You and upon Him; and although it cannot be expected, you will be able to effect all you wish; yet it will be a lafting honour to do all you can.

We are willing to flatter ourselves, that the day is now beginning to dawn, when PATRIOTISM will be no longer a bye-word, but a term of honour, as in virtuous times; when faction will sneak away, and hide its guilty head; when party-names and diftinctions will ceafe; and no queftions afked, but

thefe;

thefe;-Is he a wife man, or a fool? an honeft man, or a knave? then this glorious conftitution of ours will be in truth and reality, what it is in theory and appearance-the perfection of beauty; the joy and envy of the whole earth.

!

We are,

Gentlemen,

Your most devoted Servants,

The EDITORS.

THE

MONITOR,

OR THE

British Freeholder.

N° 105. SATURDAY, July 23, 1757

A well-ordered and well-difciplined MILITIA is effentially neceffary to the fafety, peace, and profperity of this kingdom.

SIR,

A

Preamble to the MILITIA ACT.

To the MONITOR.

Ta time the nation is employed in the execution of an act of parliament for the better ordering of the militia forces in the feveral counties of England, I congratulate thofe worthy patriots, who contrived and fup

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ported

ported a law fo effentially neceffary to the Jafety, peace, and profperity of this kingdom: and I congratulate the nation, which has received fuch an additional strength; though it is obtained with fo great an oppofition, and not without fuch alterations, which none, that would be esteemed friends to the conftitution, peace and profperity of Britain, could have endeavoured to make.

HOWEVER, I Confefs, this bill with all its mutilations and restraints, disguised with all the artifices of an inimical oppofition, is more defirable, than to be left entirely to the hazardous and moft expenfive protection of a standing army; and much more formidable to our enemies, whose schemes have been always to force us into new measures, that left our country exposed to their insults, and exhausted our treafure in the inaintenance of mercenary troops..

In the bill, which in the year 1756 was thrown out by the house of lords, the estimate amounted to fixty-one thousand fix hundred and eighty private men, including drummers; and five thousand three hundred ninety-feven officers, including ferjeants. It was then objected to the number, as impracticable to af femble them at a place of rendezvous in order to train and exercife them. Let us fee how they, who made this objection, have provided an amendment. They have reduced the number of private men to near one half.

How does this warrant a fair opposition, and

exemplify their wisdom in the fate of that bill, thrown out under this frivolous pretence? is it not as difficult in proportion to affemble thirty thousand, as to affemble fixty thousand from the places of their difperfion? would there not have been more ftrength in fixty thousand, than in half that number, of a well difciplined militia? is not therefore the fafety, peace and profperity of this kingdom, reduced by this mutilation to the neceffity of trusting to half the force proposed? when it was in the power of the legislature, and the inclination of the people, to establish a militia composed of such a number, as might bid defiance to all invaders, and release the nation from an unconftitutional and expenfive ftanding army.

BUT, perhaps, this might be the very reafon and the moft fecret ground, of the objection against a well ordered and well difciplined militia: and I am the more confirmed in this belief, as it appears that all the other objections and amendments are formed upon the fame plan; either to model the militia into a standing army; or to render it incapable of acting for the fafety, peace and profperity of the nation without an army of mercenary troops: except the head of the oppofition to this national ftrength, being thoroughly confcious of having contributed greatly, by the marriage act, to the diminution of the human fpecies, infifted that, in a few years, the fruitful ifland of Britain would not be able to furnish above half the number

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