1780. JET. 27.] COUNT KUMFORD. 17 



Lord G. Germain wrote to Sir H. Clinton, June 7, 

 1780, from Whitehall: 



The services of Brigadier Ruggles in the last war, 

 and the influence he still retains in those provinces of 

 North America, where his character, his honour, and his 

 name are respected, made me long desirous of seeing that 

 gentleman engaged in the King's service. The enclosed 

 plan of raising a regiment of dragoons was communicated 

 to me by Captain Murray, by authority of Brigadier 

 Ruggles. It appeared to me so fair and so disinterested, 

 that I laid it before his Majesty, and it so far met with his 

 royal approbation that he permitted me to transmit the 

 plan to you. And if the public service requires any pro- 

 vincial cavalry to be raised, his Majesty would be pleased 

 to see Mr. Ruggles placed at the head of such a corps, where 

 he may have an opportunity of again acting with that zeal 

 and spirit which formerly did him so much honour. 



In September 1780 Mr. Thompson was made Under- 

 secretary of State for the Northern Department by Lord 

 George Grermain. 



In May 1781 the Inspector-General of Provincial 

 Forces wrote to the Under-Secretary, Thompson, to say 

 that the distress for the want of cavalry appointments 

 was beyond conception. ' Had all the appointments/ he 

 says, ' for Brigadier-General Ruggles come out, it would 

 have afforded us a small temporary supply ; but only 

 twenty-live helmets have yet appeared.' 



Lord Gr. Grermain then moved the Treasury to send 

 fresh and large supplies, and said he had directed Mr. 

 Thompson, the Deputy Inspector-General of Provincial 

 Forces, to procure patterns and estimates and to give 

 information. Lord North, Lord Palmerston, and Sir R. 



c 



