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sion, vice Lt. Col. Commandant Moor, resigned.

Henry Dearborn, Major General 8. Division.

General Orders, Head-quarters, Roxbury May 1. 1798.

The uncertain state of the foreign political relations of the United States, require the most vigilant attention to the means of national defence, & induce the Commander in chief to call upon all the Officers & other Citizens of the Militia of this Commonwealth, to use the most vigorous exertions, conformably to the laws, in placing the natural defence of our country upon the best footing of which it is capable. To do this, would be useful to us as a people, even if there should be no collision between the United States & any foreign nation; but in case the reverse of this should happen, the advantages to be derived from an efficient Militia would be incalculable.

In peace as well as in war, every State has found it necessary to have a military establishment. This is necessary not only to repel the foe from without, but for the preservation of tranquility within the body politic. In[?] arbitrary States the military