“I have the honour to inform you that Major Dirom having resigned his office of Deputy Adjutant-General in India, I have appointed Captain James Robertson, of the Seventy-first Regiment, who has acted for him since 1st July, 1792, to succeed until His Majesty’s pleasure is known, as Captain Robertson was included in the brevet of Major, made in March, 1794, though not yet published in India, and I am sensible any further mark of His Majesty’s favour will be pleasing to the Marquis Cornwallis, under whom he served, and I beg leave to recommend him for the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.”
1796.
In May, 1796, the regiment marched to Wallajohabad, where it was stationed during the remainder of the year.
1797.
On the 2nd of January, 1797, the regiment was inspected by Major-General Clarke, who issued the following general order:—
“Major-General Clarke has experienced infinite satisfaction this morning at the review of His Majesty’s Seventy-first Regiment.
“He cannot say that on any occasion of field exercise he ever was present at a more perfect performance.
“When a corps is so striking in appearance, and so complete in every branch of its discipline, little can occur to the Commander-in-Chief to particularize. He cannot but notice, however, that the Seventy-first Regiment has excited his admiration for its expertness in those parts of its exercise which are most essential and most difficult to execute. He alludes to its order and regularity when moving in line, its extreme accuracy in preserving distance, and the neatness and promptitude that are so evident in all its formations. So much perfection in a corps whose services in India will long be held in remembrance, does the greatest honour to Lieut.-Colonel Baird and all his officers, to whom and the corps at large the Commander-in-Chief desires to offer his best thanks.”
The regiment remained in the cantonment of Wallajohabad until the month of October, when orders were issued for its return to Europe. It was accordingly drafted, giving five hundred men to the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth Regiments, and then marched from Wallajohabad, under the command of Colonel Baird, to Madras, and immediately embarked on board of Indiamen for Great Britain. The fleet sailed from Madras Roads on the 17th of October, and was at sea during the remainder of the year. A few days previous to its embarkation the following order was published:—
“Fort St. George,
“October 16th, 1797.