Thomas Airy, Thomas Smith, ---- Waller, Charles Fletcher, Benjamin Edwards, Enoch Markham. These, formed into three divisions, were placed at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, under the controul of the Board of Admiralty, and an Act was passed for their regulation while on shore. Some of the names detailed, still live, while others, like them, survived to hold distinguished rank, and to prove ornaments to their profession, and the British Army. From this era the Marine Corps has ever constituted a branch of the peace establishment, the sale of Commissions was abolished, although a transit between the Army and it, was still kept up, which, from the casual introduction of men of influence, animated promotion. But this system was soon changed, by which reform all Officers rose in regular rotation, and what is the regulation of the present day. Every appointment in the Marine Corps was notified from the Admiralty, and appeared in the London Gazette; a practice for reasons I know not, has been since discontinued. Although no declaration of war had taken place, still hostilities of a serious nature had been committed in America, and captures to an immense amount were made by our cruizers during 1755. Even since the signature of peace, indeed, the French maintained a spirit of inveteracy in the East, which aimed at universal dominion. Preparations were at last commenced, and the country at large began to feel their wrongs. CHAP. XIX. An unaccountable dread pervaded the nation, which the public measures certainly tended to heighten. In the early part of 1756 the enemy had collected immense forces upon their coasts with the avowed object of invading England. Foreign auxiliaries were called in, measures of precaution and defence were adopted, while the real objects of attack from all their mighty threats, were entirely forgotten and neglected. Amongst the additional forces voted during the present year, 9138 Marines were decreed by Parliament; in order to complete which 30 additional companies were ordered to be raised. The expedient of a land impress was resorted to, in the form of an "Act for the more speedy and effectual recruiting his Majesty's Land Forces and Marines," but which was suspended by a Royal Order upon the 1st of May, in consequence of the zealous and patriotic co-operations of the nobility and gentry, who, by their purses and their energies, rendered it unnecessary. The real designs of the French having been developed in an expedition against Minorca, while they continued to amuse the nation by the terrors of an invasion, produced a declaration of war upon the 18th of May, against that power. Admiral Byng had been detached for its relief, and had previously been ordered to disembark all the Marines from his ships, in order to take on board a number of land forces destined for the relief of that garrison.