William augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721 the second son of George II, from whose private papers the documents in this book are selected, was captain general of the British army from 1745 to 1757. Highest ranking officer in the military hierarchy, his business dealt with everything which concerned the running of the army as an effective mili tary unit, with the selection and promotions of its officers, with its discipline and drill, with the coordination of the various departments and boards which equipped, supplied, clothed, transported, mustered, paid, and quartered it. His connection with America, therefore, was with those units of the army which served there. A shadowy and incom petent figure he has appeared to most writers on the war in the colonies; these documents give the range of his interests and the extent of his in?uence.