414 APPENDIX I. 



furnish his Majesty's ministers with such returns of the 

 different provincial regiments and corps as may be proper 

 to lay before Parliament. 



4 1 hope your Excellency will approve of my having made 

 no separate claim or interest between the three provincial 

 corps that are established with permanent rank (of which 

 the King's American Dragoons is one) and the rest. I 

 thought it would have a better appearance if we were all 

 unanimous, and would be more pleasing to the rest of the 

 corps that we should take our chance in common with 

 them and stand or fall together. At the end of the paper 

 No. 3 your Excellency will observe that Major Rooke is 

 returned for half-pay as Deputy Inspector General of 

 Provincial Forces. This was done at the desire of Colonel 

 Innes, who arrived in London after all the papers were 

 prepared. I know nothing of Major Rookes' pretensions, 

 and therefore cannot answer for the propriety of his being 

 included for half- pay, but, as it is a matter that must finally 

 be determined by your Excellency, I am sure nothing but 

 what is perfectly right will be done respecting it. 



' In the vote of the House of Commons no mention is 

 made of half-pay for the Muster- Master General or his 

 deputies ; but it is by no means intended to exclude them, 

 and, if your Excellency returns their names, the vote for 

 their half-pay will pass of course. I have spoken to Lord 

 North upon the subject, and he thinks it perfectly right 

 that they should be included, as also Mr. Bridgham, Colonel 

 Innes' deputy. 



' With regard to the seconded provincial officers who are 

 mentioned in the memorandums contained in the papers 

 No. 4 both General Coaway and Lord Sheffield strongly 

 advised against bringing their claims before Parliament at 

 the same time with the application of the officers of the 

 provincial corps, as the largeness of the sum wanted for the 

 whole might prevent our success, whereas, if what we 

 then asked should be granted, it would strengthen the claim 

 of the seconded officers, and their application would after- 



