On the 23rd of June, 1743, Colonel the Honorable Thomas Murray, from the Third Foot Guards, was promoted Colonel of the FIFTY-SEVENTH regiment, in succession to Colonel John Price, removed to the fourteenth foot. In the meanwhile King George II. had joined the army at Aschaffenberg, and on the 27th of June gained a victory over the French army, under Marshal Noailles at _Dettingen_. [Sidenote: 1744] France and Great Britain, from auxiliaries, now became principals in the contest. On the 20th of March, 1744, France declared war against England, and on the 29th of that month a counter declaration was made by Great Britain, in which the French monarch was accused of violating the "_Pragmatic Sanction_," and of assisting the son of the Pretender in his designs on the British throne. The operations of the British army in Flanders during the year 1744 were confined to the defensive, and no general engagement occurred. [Sidenote: 1745] After the battle of _Fontenoy_, fought on the 11th of May, 1745, Louis XV. revived the claims of the Pretender[8] to the throne of Great Britain. Prince Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, arrived in the Highlands of Scotland towards the end of July, where he was joined by several clans. The FIFTY-SEVENTH regiment at this period formed part of the force in Scotland, and Lieut.-General Sir John Cope, the Commander in Chief in North Britain, assembled all the troops under his orders at Stirling, which consisted of about fourteen hundred men. He afterwards advanced towards the great road called the Chain, leading through the Highlands to Inverness, and after a laborious march, arrived at Dalwhinny on the 25th of August. Here intelligence was received that the rebels were posted at Corryarrack, seventeen miles distant, upon which Lieut.-General Sir John Cope continued his march through Badenoch to Inverness, so that the south of Scotland was left unprotected, and the young Pretender improved this unexpected advantage, and accordingly entered the county of Athol, seized the Castle of Blair, proceeded afterwards to Perth and Dundee, proclaiming his Father by new magistrates of his own appointment, levying the public money, and assuming other acts of royalty. The number of the rebels had increased to four thousand men, and on the 11th of September the young Chevalier marched from Perth, passed the Forth on the 13th, and on the 16th of that month, at night, arrived in the vicinity of Edinburgh. At five o'clock on the following morning the city was unaccountably surrendered to him without resistance. He then made his public entry, attired in Highland costume, and occupied the royal palace of Holyrood House. General Guest, who commanded the garrison of Edinburgh Castle, removed the bank, and the effects of the principal inhabitants into that fortress, which greatly disappointed the young Prince, who expected to gain possession of the treasure. His Father was afterwards proclaimed with great