"The glorious deeds which are recorded in your annals, and inscribed upon these colours, will serve to incite in you the determination to equal them; to surpass them I believe to be impossible.
"The inspection, which I shall this day finish, of your regiment, will, I have no doubt, furnish me with the opportunity of reporting my entire satisfaction with the interior economy and management of the regiment, as well as with your movements in the field; and I trust that I shall never have occasion to alter the high opinion I have formed of you, not only here, but in scenes on service, of which I was myself a witness."
His Excellency having concluded his appropriate address, Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland replied to the following purport.
"Permit me, Sir, on behalf of myself and the regiment, to return our best thanks for the very kind and flattering terms in which you have been pleased to present these colours. It must be a great additional source of gratification to all ranks to receive so honourable a charge from the hand of a distinguished officer, who, having personally witnessed the regiment in conflict with the enemy, can therefore duly appreciate its conduct; and this will doubtless prove a strong incitement to such a discharge of their duty, whenever they may have the good fortune to be similarly circumstanced, as will emulate those deeds to which your Excellency has so handsomely alluded."
The square was then reduced, and his Excellency having rode down the line, ranks were closed, open column formed, and the review commenced by marching past in slow and quick time, and in column at quarter distance. The manual and platoon exercises (the latter also kneeling as light infantry) were then performed, under the orders of Brevet Major Johnson, after which the Lieutenant-Colonel put the regiment through a variety of manœuvres and firings, in close, extended, and skirmishing order, of which his Excellency expressed his unqualified approbation.
In the evening his Excellency dined with the officers of the regiment at the mess, where a large party of about fifty persons, consisting of Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, the Captains of the squadron, commanding officers of corps, heads of departments, and staff, was assembled to meet him.
On the following Sunday the colours were, according to custom on such occasions, taken with the regiment to church; when the duties of soldiers, both as men and Christians, were inculcated by the chaplain to the forces in the most impressive manner.
1837
The regiment embarked from Malta on the 28th of March, 1837, and arrived on the 4th of April following at Corfu, where it has continued until the end of the year 1837, which brings this memoir to a conclusion.