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the protection of the parish." One of the best of the volunteer
corps of the day was formed as the result of this meeting,
under the title of "The Armed Association of St. Margaret
and St. John, Westminster." For five years this corps was
personally supported by a numerous section of the loyal
and patriotic inhabitants, liberal subscriptions being continued
to the cost of its equipment and maintenance until
1803, when it was disbanded upon the improvement of the
military defence by the Government and npon the fear of
the Napoleonic invasion subsiding. While these fears prevailed,
and national anxieties were increased by the
rebellion in Ireland, the inhabitants extended their liberality
to the defence of the country as unsparingly as to the protection
of their parish. In 1798, when one of these collections
was set on foot the enthusiasm of the parishioners
was such as to necessitate a daily sitting of the Committee
from eleven to three o'clock for the receipt of contributions.
Evidence of the loyalty of Westminster is not limited to
defensive combinations, such as the foregoing illustrate.
In May, 1800, after the attempt to shoot the King in the
Drury Lane Theatre, the Vestry called the inhabitants
together " to congratulate his Majesty upon the late happy
interposition of Divine Providence in his favour." At the
meeting, which was presided over by Mr. Wilberforce, the
following address was unanimously agreed to:—
To the Kings most excellent Majesty.
The Humble address of the Inhabitants, Householders of the
United Parishes of Saint Margaret and St. John the
Evangelist, Westminster.
We your Majesty's most dutiful Subjects, feel ourselves invincibly
called upon by the Desperate and traiterous attempt which has
been lately made on Your Majestys Sacred Life, to renew the
Assurance of our unalterable Loyalty and Attachment to your
Majesty's Person and Government.
The Bounty of Providence so often and so largely experienced by
this Country has been in nothing more strikingly displayed than
in these repeated Instances in which your Majesty has been
rescued from various impending Evils, and a prolongation of
Your Majesty's Reign vouchsafed to the Wishes and Prayers of
your faithful subjects.