You are hereby authorized and impowered to raise for his Majesty's Service a Troop of Light Dragoons to Consist of one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Cornet, one Quarter Master, two Serjants, two Corporals, one Trumpeter, one Farrier and forty Privates, who will engage to Carry Arms under my Orders, or the orders of the Commander in Chief, for the time being of his Majesty's Forces, for two Years or during the present Rebellion in North America, to receive the same pay and be under the Same Discipline as his Majesty's Regular Troops of Light Dragoons.

The Officers are the be approved of by me previous to their being authorized to inlist Men, and as their appointment by Commission will depend upon their Success in recruiting, they are to be instructed to raise the following Numbers to intitle them thereto Vizt. Captain 25 Men, Lieut. 12 Men, and Cornet 9 Men.

Such Officers as do produce their respective Quota of Men, at the Rendezvous of the Recruits at Philadelphia have them approved of in one Month from the Date of their Approbations, will receive their Commissions and pay Accordingly,

but failing in this they will only be intitled to pay and Commission in Proportion to their Success in Recruiting at the Expiration of one Month, and liable to be dismissed at the pleasure of the Commander in Chief if they do not chuse to accept of the Same-

exact returns are therefore to be made to the Approving Officer, one Month from the Date of this Warrant, that the Dismission or Confirmation of Officers may be adjusted.

This Troop is to be stiled the 2d Troop of Philadelphia Light Dragoons.

Five Dollars in Specie will be allowed as a Bounty for each Man Enlisted and approved, and Sixteen Pounds Sterling for every Horse approved of by Brigadier Genl. Sir Wm. ERSKINE.

All Officers Civil and Military, and others his Majesty's liege Subjects, are hereby required to be aiding and Assisting unto you and all concern'd in the Execution of the above Service, for which this shall be to you and them a Sufficient Warrant and Authority.

Given under my hand and Seal at Head Quarters in Philadelphia

[Sign'd]   Wm. HOWE

By his Excellency's Command
     [sign'd]   Robert MACKENZIE

[To Jacob JAMES]
[no date]

Great Britain, Public Record Office, Headquarters Papers of the British Army in America, PRO 30/55/827.

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