GUIDONS,--The first or King's guidon to be of _crimson_ silk, embroidered and fringed with gold and silver: in the centre the rose and thistle conjoined and crown over them, with the motto _Dieu et mon Droit_ underneath: the white horse in a compartment in the first and fourth corners, and VI. D. in silver characters on a yellow ground in a compartment in the second and third corners. The second and third guidons to be of _full yellow_ silk, in the centre the castle of Inniskilling within a wreath of roses and thistles on a crimson ground; the white horse on a scarlet ground in the first and fourth compartments, and VI. D. within a small wreath of roses and thistles upon a scarlet ground in the second and third compartments. [Sidenote: 1752] During the succeeding seven years, the regiment was employed on home service in Great Britain, and was distinguished as an efficient and well-conducted corps. [Sidenote: 1755] [Sidenote: 1756] In 1755, when the aggressions of the French in North America led to acts of open hostility, the establishment was augmented one corporal and fifteen men per troop. Shortly afterwards a _light troop_ was added on the same principle as light companies to infantry corps: and the regiment consisted of six heavy troops and one light troop. The light dragoons were sometimes styled _hussars_. A periodical of this date (June, 1756) has the following paragraph: 'On Monday morning the newly-raised light horse, or, as they are commonly called, hussars, were exercised in Hyde Park, as were also some life guards and horse grenadiers. The hussars in particular made a very pretty and genteel appearance; went through their peculiar method of exercise, both on horseback and on foot, with the greatest vivacity and exactness, to the satisfaction of many thousands of spectators.' War was proclaimed, and the French monarch made such extensive preparations for invading England, that some alarm was occasioned. [Sidenote: 1757] These preparations being continued in 1757, the country was placed in a posture of defence. Seven battalions were encamped on Barham Downs under the Duke of Marlborough; five at Chatham under Lord George Sackville; six at Amersham under Lieutenant-General Campbell; a regiment of cavalry and six battalions of infantry at Dorchester under Sir John Mordaunt; another camp was formed on the Isle of Wight; and the INNISKILLING dragoons, with the third dragoon guards, and first, third, fourth, and eleventh dragoons were encamped on Salisbury plain, under Lieutenant-General Hawley. The formidable attitude assumed by the government, with the increased military power prepared to oppose the invasion, induced the French monarch to lay aside his design of landing troops on the British coast, and he resolved to attack the possessions of his Britannic Majesty in Hanover. [Sidenote: 1758]