"Whereby the said Lieutenant John Carpenter is adjudged to be dismissed from the Bedfordshire Regiment of Militia.

"General Sir Charles Grey directs that His Majesty's pleasure, as expressed in the foregoing orders respecting the prisoners Stevenson and Carpenter, be intimated to them. "The above Court-Martial is dissolved.

"A true copy.

"H. Shelley, A.D.C.

"Officer Commanding Troops, Lewes."

It is believed that these two Courts-Martial are the only ones that have been held upon Officers of the Regiment since it was raised.

It would appear that Colonel Moore's differences with his Officers did not end in the Courts-Martial referred to, as, on the 3rd of March of this year General Sir Charles Grey ordered a Court of Enquiry to assemble at Lewes on the 5th, to investigate "such Charges as may be brought before them by Colonel Moore, of the Bedford Militia, on the misconduct of Lieutenants Aickin and F. Aickin, of the same Regiment.

The Court was composed of

Major South, South Hants Militia.
Captain Docwra, Bedford Militia.

Pitt, South Hants Militia.

As Lieutenant F. Aickin appears in orders for picquet the day after the assembly of this Court, it may be taken for granted that the two cousins had not committed any very great offence against the Articles of War.

On the 26th of this month the Regiment was reinforced by a draft of supplementary Militia from Bedford, and these were conducted on the march to Lewes by two Officers who had been home on leave. On the 24th a General Order was issued, that in consequence of the augmentation of the old Militia from the supplementary, the Grenadier and Light Infantry companies of all Militia Regiments that had been augmented, were to be completed to 100 rank and file.

On the 26th March, Regimental Orders show that the men of the supplementary Militia who had served their time with the Regiment were dismissed, and in issuing orders for their march back to Bedford, thank them for their good conduct.

On the 30th March, a detachment of 95 rank and file, under the command of Captain Orlebar and Lieutenant Aickin, marched to Uckfield and Maresfield, there to be quartered.

On the 12th May orders were issued for the Bedfordshire Militia to march

2 companies to Tunbridge Wells.

They were relieved at Lewes by the West Essex Militia. The head-quarters were at Westerham. On the 27th May, a very strongly-worded General Order was issued by Sir Charles Grey with reference to the misconduct of the West Middlesex Militia, in marching from Shorncliffe to Thame Bay. Colonel Bayley seems to have allowed" a total relaxation of all discipline and subordination"; the men broke loose all over the country, got drunk, and plundered houses; and Colonel Bayley is informed that unless "he effects a perfect reform of his Regiment,' its condition will be reported to the Commander-in-Chief.

These records are simply intended to be what they profess, and I carefully omit any reference to the political or historical episodes of the day; but it is as well here to state, that at this time the rebellion in Ireland assumed the most serious aspect, and the French Republican Government were fitting out an expedition to assist the Irish rebels.

As has always been the case in times of emergency, the Government were obliged to look to the Militia to supply the requisite force for service in Ireland, and the Militia Regiments were called upon to volunteer to go to that Country. This step was, however, opposed in both Houses of Parliament, where Members stated various objections to the course being pursued; but on the 20th June, 1798, Mr. Dundas, Secretary at War, brought up

letters from the Colonels of the Carnarvonshire, Royal Bucks, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Caermarthenshire and Dorsetshire Militia, offering to serve in Ireland; and, on the 23rd, from the West Suffolk, South Devon, Carnarvon, Hereford, Isle of Wight, and South Lincoln; and on the 27th from the East Kent, Merioneth, and Montgomery.

The Bedfordshire Militia volunteered for service in Ireland in June, as this order will show :

66 24th June 1798.

"Head-quarters,
"Tunbridge Wells.

"Regimental After-orders.

"The report received from the Commanding Officers of companies, in consequence of orders relative to the Regiment making known their sentiments to the Colonel, in respect to the tendering their service to His Majesty to assist in quelling the rebellion in Ireland, abundantly justifies the opinion Colonel Moore ever entertained of their loyalty to their King and attachment to their Country; and when an opportunity presents itself, the Bedfordshire Militia would most cheerfully volunteer any service. where they might do themselves so much honour, and particularly at this time, in assisting to protect the lives and property of our fellow-subjects against a lawless set of traitors and rebels.

"The Colonel begs to assure the whole of his Regiment that he will most cheerfully make known their sentiments,

that redound so much to their own honour, and the County for which they serve. He has not a doubt, should their service be accepted, but that they will soon return to their native homes, with the welcome and thankful congratulations of their Country and King.

"The Colonel is confident that every exertion will be used by his Brother Officers to co-operate with himself towards making everything comfortable and pleasant to every soldier, as the nature of the service will admit. He will also use his utmost interest with the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, the Deputy Lieutenants and acting Magistrates, to procure every necessary aid for the wives and children of the soldiers who have so gallantly made a tender of their service.

"The Colonel cannot avoid adding his most firm dependence that the men will continue, with their present Officers, anxious to share the honour and glory of the field, which he anticipates will attach glory to the Bedfordshire Regiment, whenever called to actual service."

In the House of Lords the proposal to send the English Militia Regiments was strongly opposed; and when the Act empowering the King for a time, and to an extent to be limited, to accept the services of the Militia for service in Ireland, the Dukes of Leeds and Norfolk both protested against it, on the ground" that any departure, under whatever circumstances, from conditions hitherto considered sacred, and on which every engagement respecting