Whitehall, 1st August, 1715.
"Gentlemen,
"His Majesty having been pleased to declare the regiment of dragoons whereof the Honorable William Kerr is colonel, to be 'Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales' own Royal Regiment of Dragoons,' I am desired you will acquaint the Right Honorable the Lord Townshend therewith, that a commission may be accordingly prepared, constituting the said William Kerr, Esq. colonel of the said regiment.
"I am, &c.,
"William Pulteney,"
(Secretary at War.)
The Secretaries to
The Lord Townshend.
[6] An instance of ardent attachment and zeal was exemplified by a detachment of the Seventh light dragoons, who, having been informed that Lieut.-Colonel Osborne had been made prisoner, rushed forward among the enemy and rescued him.
[7] An instance again occurred of gallantry in a detachment having pressed forward in consequence of a report that Colonel Lord Paget had been taken prisoner: the report proved incorrect, but the zeal of the men of the Seventh and their attachment to their officers was on this, as on other occasions, strongly manifested; and although His Lordship felt it necessary to restrain this excess of ardour, he could not withhold an expression of his feeling of the good intentions of his brave corps.
[8] Macky, in his characters of the Scottish nobility, speaking of the Marquis of Lothian, observes—"He hath abundance of fire, and may prove a man of business when he applies himself that way; laughs at all revealed religion, yet sets up for a pillar of presbytery, being very zealous, though not devout. He is brave in his person; loves his country and his bottle; a thorough libertine; very handsome; hair black; with a fine eye; 45 years old."
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