264 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
In 1747 there w£re fourteen battalions and fourteen squadrons with 
six heavy 12-prs., six heavy 9-prs., fourteen heavy and twelve light 
6-prs., fourteen heavy 3-prs., two 8-in. howitzers, and six royal mortars. 
In 1748, being the last campaign of the war, the British troops in Flanders 
consisted of twenty-two battalions and fourteen squadrons, six heavy 
12-prs., six heavy 9-prs., fourteen heavy and forty-four light 6-prs. 
(these last for battalions) two S-in. howitzers, and six royal mortars. 
N.B. The above abstract of the troops and artillery in Flanders during the war 
of 1741 is given to mark the utility the artillery was found to be of, by the quick 
progress it made in the addition of it in proportion to the number of troops 
employed during that period. 
It is a justice due to the regiment of artillery to mention here that on all 
occasions during this war wherever the corps or any part of them was 
brought to act, their behaviour was such as to distinguish them greatly, 
gain'd them great applause from the troops with which they served, and 
thereby established the reputation of the regiment. 
The regiment of artillery owes much to the memory of Colonel Belford 
and Major Borgard Mitchelson for their zeal and diligence* and their 
influence during the campaigns 1747 and 1748, while they commanded in 
Flanders; for the corps then began to emerge from that state of oblivion 
and obscurity in which it had hitherto remained. It now began to bear a 
regular military appearance; great attention was paid to good order and 
strict discipline and subordination, a change, that was far from being 
agreeable to the older officers, who being promoted from the ranks had 
grown up with erroneous notions and bad habits, inconsistent with any 
military system; but the junior officers who of late had been promoted from 
the Cadet Company being of a different stamp, and better educated, and being 
now the majority, enter'd with great zeal and a military spirit into the newly 
adopted alterations and improvements that were introduced by these 
two officers. 
N.B. The first fifers in the British service were established in the Koyal Kegiment 
of Artillery at the end of this war, being taught by John Ulrich, a Hanoverian fifer, 
brought from Flanders by Colonel Belford when the allied army separated. 
1749 During the peace, the Boyal Begiment of Artillery consisting of ten 
companies continued on the same establishment as last mentioned, 
and station'd as follows, viz. in Minorca, Gibraltar, Newfoundland, and 
Scotland, one company at each; the company heretofore at Louisbourg was 
on the giving back of that fortress to the French in 1749 sent to 
Nova Scotia, a new colony, and the remaining five companies station'd 
at Woolwich, one of which was generally at Greenwich for the ease 
of quarters. 
On occasion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle a magnificent firework was 
exhibited in the Green Park, and the corps of artillery was then review'd for 
the first time by the King. 
The two companies in Minorca and Gibraltar w r ere this year relieved from 
Woolwich for the first time since these places came into the possession 
of Britain. 
