'Adjutant-General's Office, 19th April, 1788.
'Dear Sir,
'Having had the honour of laying yesterday before His Majesty your request that the Fourth Regiment of Dragoon Guards, late the First Regiment of Horse, under your command, might bear the title of Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards, I have the pleasure to acquaint you that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant his royal permission for the same.
'I am, &c.
'William Fawcett, Adjutant-General.
'Lieut.-General George Warde,
Colonel of the Fourth Regt.
of Dragoon Guards.'
[19] In this attack Lord Mountjoy was killed. He was the second nobleman of that name who fell while serving with this Regiment. See the account of the battle of Steenkirk, in 1692, page 12.
[20] This eminence had been the scene of the most infamous and inhuman proceedings. Here the hapless Protestants seized by the rebels were taken and maliciously butchered, after a mock trial, and often no trial at all: some were shot, others transfixed with pikes, and many were barbarously tortured before their final execution. It appears, from unquestionable authority, that upwards of 500 Protestants were murdered on this fatal hill; and the priests were the instigators of these horrid religious massacres.
[21] When this part of the record was read to King William IV. at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, on the 9th day of November, 1835, His Majesty observed:—'I recollect perfectly well inspecting the squadron at Liverpool with the Duke of Gloucester, and I think they were the finest men and horses I ever saw. In a short time afterwards we went to see the regiment at Manchester, and were equally pleased with the whole. It is a long time ago now, but the circumstance is fresh in my memory.' His Majesty directed Colonel Chatterton to make a note of this in the record.
[22] During this year, 1815, the white web pantaloons and Hessian boots, were replaced by dark-coloured cloth overalls and short boots.