550. ARMY, An unauthorized.—
When,
in the course of the late war, it became expedient
that a body of Hanoverian troops
should be brought over for the defence of
Great Britain, his Majesty's grandfather, our
late sovereign, did not pretend to introduce
them under any authority he possessed. Such
a measure would have given just alarm to
his subjects in Great Britain, whose liberties
would not be safe if armed men of another
country, and of another spirit, might be
brought into the realm at any time without
the consent of their legislature. He, therefore,
applied to Parliament, who passed an
act for that purpose, limiting the number to
be brought in, and the time they were to continue.
In like manner is his Majesty restrained
in every part of the empire.—
Rights of British America. Washington ed. i, 140.
Ford ed., i, 445.
(1774)
