ABSTRACT
T h e intervention o f Great Britain in the war against the French Republic (February 1793) created a new situation in Ireland. The Irish Establishment, which was independent o f the British Establishment, was im mediately raised by 5,000 men, the Volunteers were disbanded (11 March 1793), and the passing o f the Catholic Relief Bill was immediately followed by the enactment o f a Militia Act for the formation, on the English model, o f a Militia for home defence in Ireland. Thus, as has been pertinently observed, ‘the Catholic was entrusted, almost at the same moment, w ith arms and w ith voting power, but the expectation in both cases was that he would use both these weapons under the direction o f his landlord’.1 Sixteen thousand men were promptly recruited by ballot for four years’ home service, and in the course o f the war the number was raised to 20,0002 5,000. The Colonel Commandant o f each regiment was appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, and the Colonel ap pointed his officers who had to possess a property qualifi cation ranging from £20 a year for ensigns to £2,000 a year for the Colonel Commandant. The M ilitia A c t was not popular but was supported both by Grattan and by Castlereagh, who accepted a Commission as LieutenantColonel o f the Londonderry Militia, and personally superintended the enrolment and training o f recruits.
