For the service of this year (1746) nearly 12,000 Marines were included in the parliamentary vote of the military establishment. An expedition against Quebec was contemplated at this period, and a considerable force was assembled at Spithead with that intent, but delays took place until the season for such an attempt became too late. Of this force Colonel Powlett’s (the ninth) regiment of Marines formed a part. The troops were afterwards destined against _Port L’Orient_, under the directions of Admiral Lestock and Lieut.-General Sinclair. Sixteen sail of the line and eight frigates, with 5000 troops, exclusive of Marines, were the number employed on this occasion. The long detention of so respectable a force until the period of the equinox, endangered its progress along a hostile coast at so critical a season, and gave time for the enemy to ascertain the object of the expedition. The fleet sailed from Plymouth on the 14th of September for the coast of Brittany, and a debarkation of the troops was effected on the 20th of that month, in _Quimperlay Bay_: on the 21st the troops advanced in two columns against _Plymeur_, which surrendered, and on the following day the whole moved on to a rising ground within a mile of _Port L’Orient_, the ultimate object of their views. Some affairs took place between the 21st and 26th of September, when after a cannonade, which did considerable damage to the town, a retreat was commenced under cover of the night. The French were pouring in from all quarters, and the situation of the British troops became critical. After a loss of 150 men killed, wounded, and missing, a re-embarkation was effected, and the fleet sailed on the 1st of October for the Bay of Borneuff, off Quiberon, to the south of Quimperlay: a detachment of Marines was entrenched at Quimperlay to guard the landing-place; the remainder, under Colonel Holmes, was united with the army: some troops were landed on the 4th of October on the peninsula of Quiberon, and, after remaining ashore some days, the whole returned to England. [Sidenote: 1747] The number of Marines for the year 1747 was eleven thousand one hundred and fifty, as included in the parliamentary vote of that year. On the 28th of February, 1747, His Majesty King George II. directed, that the several regiments of Marines, which were then existing, or might hereafter be raised, should be placed under the entire command of the Lords Commissioners for executing the office of High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland. The following Royal Warrant was issued on this subject:-- “_To Our Commissioners for executing the office of High Admiral of Our Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and to Our Commissioners for executing the office of our High Admiral for the time being._” (Copy)