“Sir,—I am directed by the Mayor and Magistrates to express to you their regret that the town is shortly to be deprived of the Eighty-Eighth depôt under your command. When the peculiar circumstances attending its removal to this town are taken into consideration, the Mayor and Magistrates deem it but an act of justice to the regiment, to state their great satisfaction with the general good conduct of all parties connected with it during the period it has been stationed in this garrison.
“I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) “G. W. Ledger, Town-Clerk.
“To Major O’Hara, Commanding Depôt
Eighty-Eighth Regiment, Dover Castle.”
“Dover Castle, 4th August, 1835.
“Sir,—I have received with much satisfaction your letter of the 3rd inst. expressive of the regret of the Mayor and Magistrates at our departure from this garrison. In the present instance its value is much enhanced from the circumstance to which it refers, and their favourable opinion is the best refutation to those unfounded calumnies which were disseminated to our disadvantage at Chatham. Here we have found no unjust prejudice; on the contrary, we are much indebted to the inhabitants for their invariable kindness and attention, and we feel a pride and satisfaction in having elicited this testimony of approbation from so highly respectable a body as the Mayor and Magistrates of Dover, to whom, as well as to the inhabitants, we sincerely bid farewell.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “Robert O’Hara, Major 88th,
“Commanding Depôt.
“To Mr. G. W. Ledger, Town-Clerk, Dover.”
Copy of a Garrison Order issued by the Commanding Officer at Dover, on the departure of the depôt of the Eighty-Eighth regiment:—
“Dover, 3rd August, 1835.
“The depôt of the Eighty-Eighth regiment being about to embark for Cork, Colonel Arnold cannot suffer it to leave Dover without expressing his high sense of its excellent and exemplary conduct since it has been stationed here, and which he has frequently had much satisfaction in reporting to his Lordship the General Commanding-in-Chief. By its correct and soldier-like behaviour, the depôt of the Eighty-Eighth regiment has fully supported in garrison the high character which that distinguished corps has always maintained in the field, and conciliated the respect and regard of the inhabitants generally, by whom Colonel Arnold is confident its departure will be greatly regretted, and he sincerely wishes the depôt health and prosperity.