1782: 22 George 3 c.6: An Act for keeping the Militia Forces of this Kingdom complete, during the Time therein mentioned.

[Preamble.]

‘WHEREAS it is highly expedient for the public Service, that the several Regiments and Corps of Militia should be made and kept as complete as possible during the Course of the ensuing Campaign: And whereas the Time of ballotting for many Regiments and Corps, or Parts of Regiments and Corps, will happen between the Months of March and December next ensuing, whereby such Regiments and Corps will, during that Period, be very much weakened and rendered unfit for Service: And whereas the Provisions in two Acts of Parliament, one made in the eighteenth Year of his present Majesty,

[18 Geo. III. Cap. 59.]

intituled, An Act to amend and render more effectual the Laws relating to the raising and training the Militia within that Part of Great Britain called England; and to establish certain Regulations with respect to Officers serving in the Corps of Fencible Men directed to be raised in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, and certain other Corps therein mentioned; and the other made in the nineteenth Year of his present Majesty,

[19 Geo. III. Cap. 72.]

intituled, An Act to explain, amend, and render more effectual, the several Laws now in being relative to the Militia Forces of this Kingdom; and for making certain Provisions relative to the Fencible Men in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland; which were intended to prevent in some Degree this Inconvenience, have been found inefficient:’ For Remedy thereof, be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[Colonels, &c. of Militia, in whose Regiments the Time of Service of any private Men will expire between April 1, and Dec. 1, are to enquire of every such Man if he is willing to continue his Service for a further Term of three Years.]

That, from and immediately after the passing of this Act, the Colonels and Commandants of the several Regiments and Corps of Militia, in which Regiments or Corps the Time of Service of any private Militia Men will expire between the first Day of April and the first Day of December next ensuing, shall, and they are hereby respectively required forthwith to apply, in the Manner directed by the said Act of the eighteenth Year of his present Majesty, to every such private Man, and to enquire if he is willing to continue his Service for a further Term of three Years, and for what Sum or Price he shall be so willing to continue it, if required.

[Colonels, &c. to return Lists of such Men who are willing to continue, &c. to the Clerks of the General Meetings; which Clerks, Deputy Lieut. &c. are forthwith to proceed to ballot for proper Men to serve instead of those whose Times will expire as aforesaid.]

II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every such Colonel and Commandant of every such Regiment and Corps of Militia, shall, and he is hereby required forthwith to return a List as well of such private Militia Men as are willing to continue so to serve, as of all others whose Times of Service will expire between the first Day of April, and the first Day of December, next ensuing, to the Clerk of the General Meeting of the County or Riding to which such Regiment or Corps shall respectively belong, in like Manner as is directed by the said recited Acts, or either of them; and all Clerks of General Meetings, Clerks of Subdivision Meetings, Deputy Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, and all other Persons concerned, are hereby respectively authorised and required, upon the Receipt of such Lists, forthwith so proceed to ballot for proper Men to serve in the Militia, in the Place of those whose Times will expire as aforesaid, and for that Purpose to execute all the Powers and Directions given by the said recited Acts, or any other Act or Acts of Parliament respecting the Militia Forces of this Kingdom, as if all the Clauses, Provisions, Powers, Matters, and Things, contained in any of the said Acts relating to the Premises, were repeated and re-enacted in the Body of this present Act.

[Clerks of Sub-division Meetings to send Lists of the Names, &c. of Militia Men sworn in to the Commandant of the Corps to which they, belong, &c.]

III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That when and as often as any Militia Men shall be ballotted for and sworn in, in the Manner herein-before directed, the Clerks of the Subdivision Meetings respectively shall forthwith give Notice thereof, and transmit a List of the Names and Places of Abode of such Militia Men to the Colonel or Commandant of the Regiment or Corps of Militia to which they shall belong; and every Colonel or Commandant of such Regiment or Corps of Militia is and are hereby authorised from Time to Time to discharge of those Men whose Times will soonest expire, a Number equal to those who are ballotted for and sworn in, and in Readiness to join his Regiment or Corps, so as to keep his Regiment or Corps as complete as may be during the Period before mentioned.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, Vol. 14.