"Whereas the Earl of Sandwich has signified to us his Majesty's pleasure, that the two Battalions of Marines, serving under your command, shall be formed into one Battalion, each Company to consist of one Captain, four Subalterns, five Serjeants, five Corporals, four drummers, and 100 private men each, conformable _to the present establishment_ of the Corps, together with the following Field and Staff Officers, viz. two Majors, one Adjutant, one Chaplain, one Quarter Master, one Surgeon, and one Surgeon's Mate; you are hereby required and directed to form the said two Battalions into one Battalion accordingly, with the Field and Staff Officers as before mentioned, and having so done, you are to cause the non-commissioned Officers and private men which may remain after this Battalion is formed, to be embarked in such of his Majesty's ships serving in North America under the command of Vice Admiral Viscount Howe, as may be in want of them, agreeable to the requisition which will be made to you by his Lordship for that purpose; but with respect to the commissioned Officers, over and above the number necessary for completing the said Battalion, you are to send them to England by the first opportunity that offers, in order to join their respective Divisions, unless Lord Howe shall apply to you, for any of them to serve in the ships of his squadron, in which case you are to supply them accordingly. "Given under our hands, 1st January, 1777. "SANDWICH, J. BULLER, "H. PALLISER." "To Major Souter or Commanding Officer Marines, Halifax." "By command of their Lordships, "PHIL. STEPHENS." "In consequence of the above arrangement, such Officers as choose to return to England are desired to give in their names to the Commanding Officer." Pursuant to this order from the Board, the following Officers, non-commissioned Officers, and drummers, were appointed to compose the new Battalion-- FIELD OFFICERS--Majors Souter, Hon. John Maitland. OFFICERS, GRENADIERS. SERJEANTS. CORPORALS. DRUMMERS. Capt. Averne Markhole Daffey Sweeton Lieut. Ragg Sargent Martin Saul ---- Vevers Pollock Blake Pichen ---- Stewart West Pike Sidway ---- Cunningham Saul--Wallace Bryald LIGHT INFANTRY. Capt. Pitcairne Davis Ross Edwards Lieut. Dyer Hill Turtle Maclean ---- Short Collier Sutherland Cook ---- Howe Pritchard Wilkinson Leeson ---- Simms Jarvis Baker