POLITICAL HISTORY way from Egypt to India. There they remained from 1802 to 1818, during which time most of the recruits were derived from the Staffordshire Militia. In the first Sikh War the regiment made up for missing the Peninsula and Waterloo by distinguishing itself highly at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon, but took no part in the Crimean War, and only reached India after the backbone of the Mutiny was broken, yet were in time to render valuable service as part of one of the flying columns in 1858. During the Zulu ar a company of the regiment was nearly annihilated at the Intombi Ri>er. M7 The last regular battalion now connected with the county to be formed was the 9 8th or Second Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, raised at Chichester in 1824, which fought in the China War of 1841, the Punjaub campaign of 1846, the Indian Mutiny, 348 and also in the late war in South Africa. The condition of the militia during the seventeenth and the greater part of the eighteenth century can only be described as disgraceful. Under the early Stuarts they were hardly called out once in five years for drill. 349 In 1745 the march of the Pretender with a few thousand irregular troops into the heart of England proved the utter incompetence of the constitutional force. The great Chatham inspired the country with a new spirit, and in 1757, when England was fighting in all parts of the globe, among other measures of defence a new Militia Bill 360 was passed remodelling that force, but Staffordshire, instead of balloting for its quota, paid a fine. However, in 1778, ' owing to warlike preparations in France becoming every day more considerable,' su the militia of the kingdom were embodied and Staffordshire furnished 560 men ready to ' march to such posts as shall be judged proper.' 8ES Their colonel was Lord Paget, their lieutenant- colonel Sir John Wrottesley, and the other commissioned officers were a major, six captains, nine lieutenants, an ensign, and an adjutant. 853 In order to establish the seniority of the various regiments for that year lots were drawn at the St. Albans Tavern in London by the lords-lieutenant or their deputies, and by this method Staffordshire came fortieth on the list. 354 347 Lawrence Archer, op. cit. 321. M Ibid. 450. 519 Fortescue, Hist, of Army, i, 194. " 30 Geo. II, cap. 25. 851 Military Entry Bk. No. 4, 148, P.R.O. 351 Ibid. 148, 202. Clode, Military forces of Crown, , 48. 353 The property qualification required for officers of the militia by 30 Geo. II, cap. 25, was : For a colonel, an estate of the yearly value of 400 For a captain, an estate of the yearly value of 200 lieut.-colonel 300 lieutenant, 100 major 300 ensign 50 Raikes, Hist. Rec. of First Reg. ofMiRtia, App. E.
- " From 'A List of Officers of the Militia of England printed in London, 1779,' now in Bodl.
Lib. which also gives the pay as follows : Subsistence j. d. Sergeant . . .10 Corporal ... 8 Private ... 6 Drummers and Fifers, each 8 269 Full Pay Subsistence ' d. !. d. Colonel . I 4
18 O Lieut.-Colonel 17 o 13 O Major 15 o 1 1 6 Captain . 10
7 6 Lieutenant 4 8 3 6 Ensign . 3 8 3 o Adjutant . 4 o 3 o
