AN ORDINANCE

For better régula tins: the Militia of this province, and rendering lt of more gênera) utility towards the préservation and security thereof.

WHEREAS the security of the state is the first principle in every well regulated government, Be it enacted and ordained by his excellency the governor and the législative council of this province, and by the authority of the same lt is hereby enacted and ordained.

ARTICLE I

That ail persons résident within this province, as well in the towns as in the country, from the âge of sixteen years to sixty, are hereby declared to be militiamen, and bound to serve in the militia of the parish or township, or seigniory wherein they réside; and from and after the day of the publication of this ordlnance, every person (excepting such as are herein after excepted) refusing to serve, or neglecting, for the space of one calendar month, to get himself inrolled by the captains of militia, who are or hereafter shall be appointed by his excellency the captain-general or commander in chief for the time being, within the différent parishes, or townships or seigniories, shall forfeit the sum of five pounds; and for every subséquent refusai he shall forfeit the like sum of five pounds, and suffer one month'» imprisonment.

ARTICLE V

Whereas circumstances may render it expédient for the security of the frontière, that a body of well-disciplined militia should be held in readiness, It is enacted and ordained, by the same authority, That his excellency the captain-general, or in his absence the commander in chief, may whenever he shall judge it expédient, draw ont

(1) Gazette de Québec, 26 avril 1787.

and embody detachmeiits from such companies of militia as he in his discrétion shall think proper, in an equal proportion, to march and be employed, under such officers as he shall appoint, for any space of time not exceeding two years.