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against a French Invasion'.49 Pennant was naturally anxious to impress Banks with an account of the activities of the Holywell Volunteers, and more especially as the two men had experienced a violent row several years previously. However, as the naval blockade against Napoleon began to have an effect in the early years of the nineteenth century, so the threat of a French invasion receded, particularly after Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805. Despite docu- mentary evidence to help substantiate the point, it would seem probable to conclude that by 1805 the activities of the Loyal Holywell Volunteers had been considerably reduced, and soon afterwards ceased altogether. That the Volunteer corps did eventually disband is evident from a surviving document which records a speech given at Holywell by a Lieutenant Lloyd, the occasion being the present- ation of a cup to David Pennant in token of his work as captain of the Volunteers. Lloyd's speech reads: However inadequate I may be to the undertaking, it happens to devolve upon me, to attempt expressing the sentiments of our late Corps. I shall shortly beg leave to say, that during the Time we had the Honor of Serving under your command, the Character of the Officer, the Gentleman and Friend, was so uniformly and conspicuously combined in you, cod not fail to produce in us, Sentiments and Impressions the most respectful, grateful and indelible. In Demonstration of these Sentiments, and as a public mark of our entire approbation of Conduct like yours we beg leave most respectfully to present to you, this cup, and to request the Honor of your acceptance of it, accompanied with all our sincere and good wishes for the long and uninterrupted prosperity and Happiness of the House of Downing.30 While it cannot be doubted that several men joined the Volunteer corps as a way to avoid the more unsavoury aspects of militia duty which might have taken them away from the area, the formation of the Loyal Holywell Volunteers is a striking example of local initiative at work. It was a necessary venture to provide reassurance to the local inhabitants against the repetition of such a disaster as the Fishguard landing. It should be seen as part of a nationwide drive at self- preservation against a possible French attack, and examples of similiar contempor- ary volunteer corps are to be found in many regions of Britain. Sir Joseph Banks was active in Lincolnshire, while, within Wales Iolo Morganwg espoused his nationalistic fervour by writing patriotic songs for the volunteer corps of Cow- bridge, Neath, and the Vale of Glamorgan. Indeed, a printed document has survived detailing an attempt made in May 1798 by Edward Mostyn of Calcot near Holywell, to raise a volunteer force along the lines of the corps run by Captain Pennant,51 while a similar venture was muted by Dean William Davies 49 H. B. Carter, Sir Joseph Banks (London, 1988), p.305. 50 WCRO CR2017/TP435/21/1. The manuscript is undated but is circa 1805 and is endorsed in David Pennant's hand 'Address of Lieut Uoyd on presenting the cup at Holywell 51 Ibid., CR2017/TP669/3.