could be brought forward, while the enemy could exert their whole strength.

In the mean time, the Highlanders, with some British troops, remained in South Beveland, till Count Lohendhal was detached by Marshal Saxe, with a force of twenty-five thousand men, to attack Bergen-op-zoom.

When his designs were discovered, the troops left in Zealand and Beveland, with the exception of Lord John Murray's Highlanders, were collected and marched to the lines of Bergen-op-zoom, the strongest fortification in Dutch Brabant, and the favourite work of the celebrated Coehorn, which, having never been stormed, was generally esteemed impregnable. Lord Loudon's Highlanders were employed in the defence of this place, and Lord John Murray's remained in Beveland; but Lord John, Captain Fraser of Culduthel, Captain Campbell of Craignish, and several other officers of his regiment, were on duty at the siege.

In March 1748, the British army, under the Earl of Albemarle, consisting of the Royals, 8th and 20th, Scotch Fusileers, 31st, Lord John Murray's and Lord Loudon's Highlanders, joined the Allies near Ruremond.

In the month of May, Maestricht, with an Austrian garrison, being attacked by the French, was carried after a short but warm siege. Preliminaries of peace were soon afterwards signed, and the army went into quarters.

Though Fontenoy was the only battle of great importance in which they were engaged, yet the Highlanders had, during this war, many opportunities of displaying their discipline, and capability of enduring fatigue and privations in the field. In quarters, their conduct was exemplary, and procured them the esteem and respect of those among whom they were stationed. Whether in a hostile or friendly country, no insubordination was exhibited, nor any acts of violence or rapine committed. The inhabitants of Flanders and other places seemed equally satisfied with their conduct. Of all this I could produce many instances, but the testimony of the Elector of Baden, which I have already

quoted, to their conduct in the years 1743 and 1744, renders it superfluous to add more.

While the regiment was thus employed abroad, the three additional companies remained in Scotland, supplying it with recruits, and performing various duties in the Highlands. They were encamped at Fort Augustus till September 1747, when they marched into winter quarters. The companies under Captains Menzies and Macneil were ordered to Taybridge and the neighbouring parts of Perthshire, and the Laird of Mackintosh to Tarland in Aberdeenshire. In March 1748, the three companies marched to Prestonpans, to embark for the purpose of joining the regiment in Flanders; but, in consequence of the signing of the preliminaries of peace, the orders were countermanded, and in the course of that year these companies were reduced.

The regiment remained in Flanders during the whole of the year 1748, and returned to England in December, when it was proposed to send them to the Highlands, to be employed on that duty for which they were originally raised as independent companies. This intention was, however, relinquished; and, being put on the establishment of Ireland, they were sent to that country.

In the year 1749, the number of the regiment was changed from the 43d to the 42d, in consequence of the reduction of General Oglethorpe's, then the 42d regiment.

It is unnecessary to follow the regiment through all its changes of quarters in Ireland, from the conclusion of the war till the year 1756, during which period it was stationed in different parts of the country. There is one circumstance, however, the more worthy of notice, as it was not followed by a result too frequent at that period, when animosities, jealousies, and disputes, between the military and the inhabitants among whom they were quartered, existed to a considerable degree. On the part of the Highlanders, the case was so different, that, though they were stationed in small detachments, and associated much with the people,

the happiest cordiality subsisted between them. The ef fects of this good understanding were permanently felt. Of this several characteristic anecdotes have been communicated to me by old officers who had served in the regiment, and by others who visited Ireland at a subsequent period, and met with gratifying proofs of the favourable impression entertained in that country of the character of the 42d regiment. Perhaps the similarity of language, and the general and prevailing belief of the same origin, might have had some influence over the Irish and Highlanders. Upon the return of the regiment from America in 1767, many applications, founded on this favourable opinion, were made by towns and districts to get them stationed among them.

There were few courts-martial; and, for many years, no instance occurred of corporal punishment. If a soldier was brought to the halberts, he became degraded, and little more good was to be expected of him. After being publicly disgraced, he could no longer associate with his comrades; and, in several instances, the privates of a company have, from their pay, subscribed to procure the discharge of an obnoxious individual.

Great regularity was observed in the duties of public worship. In the regimental orders, hours are fixed for morning prayers by the chaplain; and on Sundays, for Divine service, morning and evening.* The greatest respect was observed towards the ministers of religion. When Dr Ferguson was chaplain of the corps, he held an equal, if not, in some respects, a greater, influence over the minds of the men than the commanding officer. The succeeding chaplain, Mr Maclaggan, preserved the same authority; and, while the soldiers looked up with reverence to these excellent men, the most beneficial effects were produced on their minds and

• These orders state, " Prayers to-morrow at nine o'clock-Prayers in the barracks on Tuesday at eight o'clock." It would appear that va rious causes interrupted the daily prayers; but by these orders it appear they were frequent.

conduct by the religious and moral duties which their chaplains inculcated.*

While their religious and moral duties were under the guidance of Dr Ferguson, they were equally fortunate in having, as their military director, so excellent and judicious a man as the late Duke of Argyll, who commanded during the seven years they were stationed in Ireland, viz. from 1749 to 1755. Under such auspices and instructions, and with the honourable principles which generally guided the soldiers, the best result was to be anticipated; and it was not without reason that their countrymen of the North considered them as an honour to their districts, and held them up as an example to the rising generation.

Although the original members of the regiment had now almost disappeared, their habits and character were well sustained by their successors, to whom they were left, as it were, in charge. This expectation has been fulfilled through a long course of years and events. The first supply of recruits after the original formation was, in many instances, inferior to their predecessors in personal appearance, and in private station and family connections, but they lost nothing of that firm step, erect air, and freedom from awkward restraint, the consequence of a spirit of independence and self-respect, which distinguished their prede

cessors.

Such were the character and behaviour of this corps during the eight years of peace which succeeded the German war of 1740 and 1748. They were soon to be more actively employed in a distant part of the world.

⚫ I have been told that many of the old soldiers were more anxious to conceal any little breach of moral conduct from the chaplain than from the commanding officer.

SECTION III.

OPERATIONS IN AMERICA.

Embark for New York, 1756-Louisburg, 1757-Ticonderoga, 1758-Louisburg, 1758-Fort Du Quesne, 1758-West Indies, 1759-Guadaloupe, 1749.

In the year 1754 mutual encroachments on their respective territories in the western world led to hostilities between the English and the French in that quarter. Several skirmishes were fought on the frontiers. The first of these, in point of importance, was an attack on a post commanded by Major (afterwards the celebrated General) Washington, which the French claimed as within their territories. Washington, after a good defence, surrendered by capitulation. This affair, which gave the first proof of Washington's military talents, excited a considerable sensation in England; but nothing further was done, than to direct our ambassador to make a representation on the subject to the French Court. In this manner hostilities were continued for nearly two years, till at length, in May 1756, war was formally declared.

A body of troops, the Highlanders forming a part, were embarked under the command of Lieutenant-General James Abercromby, and landed at New York, in June 1756. These were soon followed by more troops, under the Earl of Loudon, who was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the army in North America. An active war was now expected; but much valuable time was wasted in holding councils of war, in making preparations, and in accustoming the troops to what were called the usages of war. The general was so occupied with schemes for improving the condition of his troops, that he seemed to have no time for employ