242 BOUQUET IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY. [1765. 



The unexpected honor, which his Majesty has 

 condescended to confer upon me, fills my heart with 

 the utmost gratitude. Permit me, sir, to express my 

 sincere acknowledgments of my great obligation 

 to you. . . . The flattering prospect of preferment, 

 open to the other foreign officers by the removal 

 of that dreadful barrier, gives me the highest satis- 

 faction, being convinced that his Majesty has no 

 subjects more devoted to his service." ^ 



Among the letters of congratulation which he 

 received from officers serving under him is the 

 following, from Captain George Etherington, of 

 the first battalion of the E-oyal American regiment, 

 who commanded at Michillimackinac when it was 

 captured : — 



" Lancaster, Pa., 19 April, 1765. 



Though I almost despair of this reaching you 

 before you sail for Europe, yet I cannot deny myself 

 the pleasure of giving you joy on your promotion, 

 and can with truth tell you that it gives great joy 

 to all the gentlemen of the battalion, for two rea- 

 sons : first, on your account ; and, secondly, on our 

 own, as by that means we may hope for the pleas- 

 ure of continuing under your command. 



" You can hardly imagine how this place rings 

 W'ith the news of your promotion, for the towns- 

 men and boors (^.e., German farmers) stop us in 

 the streets to ask if it is true tha.t the King has 

 made Colonel Bouquet a general ; and, when they 

 are told it is true, they march off with great joy ; 



1 MS. Letter — Bouquet to Gage, 17 April, 1765. 



