land which an hundred families can fairly occupy, and amply fufficient to fupply a rofter or rotation of very easy service in the necessary watch and ward of the fettlement. N. B. This average number of males would be rather too large, were not apprentices and indentured fervants included; but in a new fettlement, where ordinary labour is chiefly wanted, there is a great probability that the indentured Servants will far exceed the number I have estimated. WATCH WATCH AND WAR D. Rotation.-Exercife.-Difcipline preferved by Fines of Labour.-Watch Duty of Indentured Servants to be allowed and deducted from the Term of their Indentures. THE bundred deciners fhould serve, three at a time at least, with fix privates, in due rotation, as the nightly guard of the hundred divifion; which guard being divided into three parties of one deciner and two privates each, one party may patrole, whilft the other two are ftationed at the gate-house, or watchtower, alternately watching and resting every four hours; but the patroling and watching party must relieve each other every two hours, until it is their turn to rest four hours in the inner guard room; by this means the watch duty may be rendered C rendered very eafy and equal to all ranks of perfons in the hundred; and even if the captain and four of the oldeft deciners, together with eight of the youngest privates be excused the nightly duty, the rotation of this easy service to each individual will be only once in thirty-two nights, viz. lefs than twelve nights in a year, which cannot interfere with their ordinary employments: but for the fake of keeping up proper difcipline, triple the number ought to affemble in rotation, every evening and morning, to set and to discharge the guard, after the performance of a fhort military exercise all together, under the inspection of the captain, or one of the lieutenants, (being previously trained or drilled in fmall fquads under the infpection of their respective ferjeants) and this attendance may be rendered perfectly equal and regular to all ranks, by a proper rofter of fervice, duly distinguishing the courfes courfes of Watch and Ward from the rotation of attendance for mere exercife. Want of punctuality in mufters, or abfence, should be punished in proportion to the time loft, by equal fines on all ranks of men, eftimated at fo many days or hours labour (as hereafter explained) towards the fupport of the public Exchequer. Difobedience of orders on fervice, and inattention or careleffnefs in exercise, and all fuch other mifdemeanors, fhould be likewife punifhed by fines of labour for publick profit. The watch duty of an indentured fervant should be rewarded by a deduction of one day's fervice from his indentures for each night that he attends on miliC 2 tary tary duty, which will encourage his vigilance, and win his attention to the interests of the fettlement; and by his being entered on the fame roster with the whole body of deciners, and by ferving in due rotation, with them he will foon perceive the facility and happiness of becoming a deciner himself by proper diligence in fulfilling his contract of labour; especially as the regulations, hereafter to be mentioned, will infure him from the impofition of more service than is due, and from the fraud or oppreffion of an unjust master; and he will acquire ftill further fecurity by being known, and by becoming acquainted with other deciners (befides his mafter) in the militia fervice. FREE |