In the year 1740 an additional regiment, of four battalions, was authorised to be raised in America, and the royal standard was erected at New York, as the signal-post to which every volunteer marine was to repair. The field officers and subalterns were appointed by the King, and the captains of companies were nominated by the American provinces. Colonel Spotswood, of Virginia, was appointed colonel-commandant of the whole. It was supposed that, from climate, the natives of that continent were better calculated for the service to which they were destined, than Europeans. Their uniform was camblet coats, brown linen waistcoats, and canvas trousers. This regiment, which was afterwards commanded by Colonel Gooche, was considered as the FORTY-THIRD regiment of infantry of the line.
In January, 1740, an augmentation of 340 men, and of one lieutenant in each company, was made in each of the six regiments of marines, and twenty men were added to each of the four companies of invalids, and a similar number to the retired marine establishment.
The utility of the corps of marines was now universally admitted, and in a letter addressed to the Duke of Newcastle, then first lord of the treasury and prime minister, by Admiral Vernon, previously to his sailing with an expedition to the West Indies, he thus expressed himself on the subject of marine soldiers:—
“I could wish that we” (alluding to ships of war) “had each a company of regular troops on board, which would strengthen us in numbers, and their expertness in handling their arms would incite our seamen to the imitation of them. If we should come to a general war with France as well as Spain, I believe your Grace will have already perceived, from the difficulty of manning our ships, the necessity of converting most of our marching regiments into marines.
“I have always looked upon our fleet as what must not only protect our trade, but secure to us the blessings of a Protestant succession, being strongly convinced in my own judgment, that preserving a superiority at sea is the best security of His Majesty’s government, as well as the trade and prosperity of this kingdom.”
The sentiments expressed by Admiral Vernon, in favour of the marines, were drawn from the acknowledged usefulness of the corps so employed in the naval expeditions during the reign of Queen Anne.
In the year 1740 four additional regiments of marines were raised, viz.:—
7th, Colonel W. Cornwall; 9th, Colonel C. Powlett;
8th, Colonel W. Hanmore; 10th, Colonel J. Jeffreys.
Each regiment consisted of ten companies of 100 men in each company, which, with officers included, amounted to 1155 in each regiment. The six regiments raised in 1739 were increased to the same numbers of officers and men.