Letter from Whitehall concerning the quartering of troops in Essex and Kent for the defence of London, 15 December 1745 (SP 41/16/141).
Transcript
I have this moment [received] your Grace’s letter with the enclosed Route for Sir John Ligonier’s Army: by which I find the Troops are not to encamp, and therefore Provision of wood and straw will not be necessary on their march. Its to what was ordered to be provided about ten days ago on that Road, it was when the Troops here abouts were intended to be encamped on Finchley Common, and Lord Stair I believe did give some orders about it, but that Resolution being soon changed, I am not certain what was done. The Commissaries for wood & straw are now with the Troops in Essex and Kent, who are canton’d [grouped] in Barns & stables etc. It will likewise be necessary that some provision of this sort be made in case these Troops are to be disposed of in like manner about London, and as all this is properly under Lord Stair’s Direction, I will wait on him tomorrow morning about it and likewise to settle the Quarters, for till that is done, it cannot be known where wood and straw will be necessary.
As to shoes, I writt Sir John Ligonier Word that I had fifty Dozen ready, and yesterday I received a letter from him, desiring I would send them all to Coventry, but I suppose that was before he [received] the Orders for his present March, I shall therefore revoke the Orders I gave this morning for that Purpose, and send them in different parcels to the Places where I find the different Regiments are to halt. I will likewise endeavour to get an additional number ready in Town to be sent as shall be thought proper when the Troops arrive.
I am with great Respect
My Lord
Yr Graces’ most obedient humble servant
[William] Yonge
Whitehall
December 15th 1745