16 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



have indulged expectations of rendering serious service 

 to my country.' 



Lord Gr. Grermain thought that much good would be 

 done by encouraging the provincial forces, and by pro- 

 mising to the provincial officers half-pay and permanent 

 rank in America. 



On January 23, 1779, he wrote to Sir H. Clinton : c It 

 is likewise his Majesty's pleasure that you publish and 

 make known to his provincial corps, as also to all others 

 his loyal subjects in America, his gracious intention to 

 support and protect them by making the rank of the 

 officers permanent in America, and allowing them half- 

 pay upon the reduction of their regiments, in the same 

 manner as the officers of British reduced regiments are 

 paid.' 



This order for promotion immediately excited the dis- 

 content of the officers in the army. In their memorial 

 to Sir H. Clinton they ask him ' to prevent our being 

 superseded by officers of yesterday who have served 

 under us.' 



In 1780 proposals were made to Lord Gr. Grermain 

 to revive the Association of Loyalists in America, c so 

 that Government, at a very moderate expense, might 

 be served by a considerable number of men, and 

 Captain Murray offered on behalf of Brigadier Euggles, 

 who had been Brigadier-General of Provincial Forces in 

 America during the last war, Deputy Surveyor-Greneral 

 of the Woods, and late his Majesty's council in the 

 province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, to 

 raise and to command a regiment of light dragoons, to 

 be called the King's American Dragoons.' 



