“The Wiltshire Regiment for Wiltshire.’ 193 
must have enlivened the mess-table and camp-fire of the new (2nd) 
battalion, stimulated its young life, and brought in recruits for the 
then king of the King’s Own—George II.—who was every inch 
a soldier. 
There was no war actually on at the time, but things had-been 
looking rather blacker than usual. On the 8th of February, 1756, the 
Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment (James Wolfe), had written: “I 
believe the French would be pleased to invade us if they knew how to 
get over. My opinion is, that they will try what their fleet can do 
first, and if they beat ours, then we may expect a very formidable 
attack. We have been rather tardy in providing against their great 
power, but I still hope it is not too late. The confidence, or rather 
stupidity, of the people of this country surpasses all belief. Secure 
in their ignorance and presumption they set the whole force of 
France at defiance.” 
So thought the future conqueror of Canada, and when “the fine 
season called him to business ” he, with his regiment (the Twentieth) ; 
commenced recruiting, took up his quarters at Devizes, and set 
Wiltshire ablaze. 
The site of the old inn at: the back of the Town Hall in that 
town, where his colours were posted, must be known to several here. 
Recruits eame, drawn by his reputation from many a fight, his 
smart little active dapper form, his bright winning eye, and his 
known care for his soldiers. Recruits came during June and July 
_ and then “The Twentieth ” left Devizes, and by the 4th of August 
_ reached a military camp formed near Blandford, the accounts of 
_ which read very like those of similar gatherings now-a-days.’ 
It was during the month of August, 1756, probably, that this 
second battalion was added to the 4th Regiment of Foot. Two - 
_ years later it was given an independent establishment and numbered 
_ “The Sixty-Second.” London Gazette, 9th May, 1758. Whitehall. 
_“The king has been pleased to appoint the following lords and 
" gentlemen to be officers of the following regiments.” Then 
| follow appointments to fifteen new regiments, viz., Sixty-First Foot 
nn i ee et ae hy tel 
ot 18ee London Gazette; August 21st, 1756, 
VOL, XVII.—NO. L, o 
ee 
