The King of France having made preparations, in the spring of 1708, for landing the Pretender with a body of troops in Scotland, to aid him in his projected attempt to ascend the British throne, the INNISKILLING dragoons were held in readiness to embark for Scotland; but the French fleet having been chased from the British shores, the regiment remained in Ireland until the following autumn, when it landed on the English coast, and was stationed, during the winter, in Yorkshire and Lancashire. [Sidenote: 1709] [Sidenote: 1710] [Sidenote: 1711] [Sidenote: 1712] The regiment was withdrawn from its cantonments in the early part of 1709, and proceeded to Scotland, where it remained during the three following years. [Sidenote: 1713] Returning to England after the peace of Utrecht, the regiment was stationed in Cumberland. [Sidenote: 1714] In September, 1714, the regiment again occupied quarters in Scotland, and the officers, with those of Brigadier-General Hans Hamilton's (now Sixteenth foot), celebrated at Stirling the arrival of King George I. from Hanover, with public rejoicings. [Sidenote: 1715] Lieut.-General Echlin retired from the regiment in March, 1715, and was succeeded by JOHN EARL OF STAIR, who had been removed from the Scots Greys, by Queen Anne's ministry, in April of the preceding year. The regiment was stationed in Lancashire in the spring of 1715, and in June one squadron was employed in suppressing riots at Manchester. Soon afterwards the Regiment marched to Scotland, and in the autumn, it was encamped at Stirling, under Major-General Wightman. Encouraged by promises of aid from the Continent, the Earl of Mar raised the standard of the Pretender in the Highlands, and assembled an army of ten thousand men. The camp at Stirling was afterwards augmented by additional forces, and the Duke of Argyle assumed the command; but the rebels exceeded in numbers the king's troops.