annual celebration of “Gunpowder Plot”. The significant admonition of “’Member Old Guy” was repeated at sundry intervals from morning till night on the 5th of November, during which day the usual display of tag-rag and bob-tail was made; first in small detachments, and, lastly by a torchlight procession in the western part of the borough. This last was, of course, the grand spectacle, the procession being composed of about 40 masquerades in unusually gaudy costumes, accompanied by a monster effigy, and preceded by a fife-and-drum band, playing a medly(sic) of tunes in an equally variety of keys. A crowd of some two-hundred persons (male and female) brought up the rear, disporting itself with squibs and crackers to any amount. While this was going on at St. Leonards, a train was conveying over 200 persons to Battle, where the Guy Fawkes demonstration came off with unusual eclát(sic), a new feature in the shape of “Garibaldian Volunteers” being added to the usual torch-light procession, and the bonfire being of the dimension equalling those of “ancient days”. It having become known that a recent Act of Parliament of a very stringent nature would be put into force ere another anniversary came round, the promoters of this kind of sport seemed determined on this occasion to make the most of the opportunity.
Our Local Volunteers.
As preliminary to the movements of our brave volunteers in the present year, it may be well to recapitulate in a succinct form that which has before been told under consecutive dates, and, of course, in a less connective narrative.
From time immemorial Hastings, as the premier Cinque Port has always been patriotic; and on the 21st of January, 1799, a meeting of the Corps of Cinque Ports Volunteers was held in the Town Hall, when it was unanimously resolved “That although living in a district wholly exempt from compulsory military service, yet, being desirous on all occasions of showing our loyalty and attachment to King and Country, we do hereby again declare our readiness to march, in case of emergency, to any part of Great Britain wheresoever our services are required. Edward Milward, Commandant.” The said Volunteer Corps was formed at a Mayor’s public meeting on the 17th of April, 1794, the Mayor at that time being the said Edward Milward, who had been previously Captain of the Cinque Ports Militia. Towards the expense of such establishment he subscribed a sum of £50, whilst a hundred pounds were given by the Rt. Hon. Sir R. Pepper (one of the Hastings -
