| Disgrifiad | Threats of a French invasion this year spur the Government on to a redoubled effort to complete the country's defences. Orders are issures to embody one third of the Supplementary Militia of the Kingdom (753); volunteers are called for the enlist into the regular regiments. In Anglesey a decision to embody half of the county's Supplementary Militia by means of a ballot is received with some misgivings. The men are inclined to be "clamorous", and a few even riotous, objecting strongly to the ballot, and demanding that they should go as a body to join the establihsed militia, and not be obliged to serve under any other officers but their own countrymen. Not a single one can be got to take the bounty and join the 20th Regiment (771). The Volunteers, 100 are apt to be somewhat contrary in the matter of service outside the county in case of emergency, and complain also of the lack of efficient instructors and of the quality of their arms. Pikes are a particular source of grievance to the men of Pary Mountain Corps; they "think themselves degraded by being obliged to carry them" (see 781,783, 786, 787, 798, 822). Notwithstanding all this, the general morale remains unshaken; in April a War Office appeal to gamekeepers and others "skilful in the use of fowling pieces" to form volunteer companier or sharpshooters find ready response amongst the tenant farmers (800, 806). In March a general muster of the provisional cavalry takes place at Llangefni (777, 780); while September brings an appeal from the gentry and substantial freeholders of the Holyhead district for provision of a few light field pieces as menas of defence against "any hostile incursion by sea (820). As for the Royal Anglesey Militia, the beginning of December finds it settled into its Winter quarters at Colchester Barracks (83) |