Galway and the Militia
By
The unpopularity of the dissolution of the Volunteers and the arraying of a militia force was clearly expressed by the magistrates of Cork, Waterford and Galway as reported in the newspapers of December 1792: "Government having submitted to the consideration of the magistrates of Cork and Waterford, the propriety of arraying the militia in their cities, it has been resolved by the meetings convened for that purpose, that the same is at present inexpedient".
The Connaught Journal for December 1792, carried the notices: -
Galway Volunteers. At a general meeting of the united Corps of Galway Volunteers (Infantry and Artillery) held at the Coffee house Tavern, in Galway the 23rd Inst. In pursuance of public notice, the following declarations were Unanimously agreed to: Captain O'Connor, in the Chair
Having read in the Waterford Paper of the 18th Inst. A Requisition from the Mayor, to the Inhabitants, to hold a pole considering the expediency of raising a Militia in that City, in consequence of a Letter addressed to him by the Right Hon. Mr. Secretary Hobart. And as we apprehend from the general purport of said Letter, a similar Requisition may be made to the Inhabitants of Galway and other parts of Ireland. We think it necessary to declare, that such a Measure is unnecessary and useless here; and that, as we have, from past experience, found the Volunteers sufficiently adequate, to preserve the Peace and Public Tranquillity of this Town, during the late War, when the Military Forces were withdrawn from it. We now pledge ourselves, to perform the same service on the like event taking place (or should the Times render it necessary) as well as to aid and assist the Magistrates, whenever called upon to suppress Riot or Disorder, and to enforce a due submission to the Laws of our Country.
We also, with peculiar pleasure, take the Opportunity to declare our firm and unalterable Attachment to his Majesty's Royal Person and Family and to the present Constitution as we are of Opinion, human Ingenuity cannot devise a better, provided a real representation of all the people, was substituted instead of the present limited and partial
One. John Edmund Burke, Sec.