The flank companies, which had been wrecked and left in England, were made the basis of another First Battalion, which was formed accordingly, and removed from Plymouth to Lyndhurst and Lymington.
In March, 1797, Lord Dalhousie, who had a short time previously returned from the West Indies, assumed the command of the First Battalion, which was marched to Tiverton, where it was brigaded with the Twenty-ninth and Fifty-eighth Regiments.
The quarters of the Queen's Royal, during the year 1797, continued in the western district, and in June the regiment moved to Plymouth Lines.
When the mutiny broke out in the fleets at Spithead and the Nore, and attempts were made to disseminate seditious publications among the soldiery, Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Dalhousie, and the Captains of the Queen's Royal, addressed a letter to the General Commanding the district, expressive of their firm reliance on the unshaken loyalty of the corps; at the same time, the non-commissioned officers and privates subscribed the sum of one hundred guineas to be applied towards the detection and punishment of any persons who should attempt to distribute unlawful papers, or offer, by bribes or any other means, to seduce the soldiers from their allegiance. The letter from the Lieutenant-Colonel and Captains, as also the resolution of the men, signed by the Serjeant-Major, Michael Eager, were entered, by order of the Colonel, in the Orderly Book of the regiment.
The latter document is transcribed into this record, as characteristic of British soldiers, who, in periods of political excitement, do not permit themselves to be withdrawn from the fidelity and allegiance which they owe to their Sovereign, whom they have sworn to defend against all enemies.
Head Quarters, Plymouth Lines,
10th June, 1797.
Regimental Orders.
The following is the declaration of the 2nd or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot, dated Barnstaple, 7th June, 1797:—
'We, the Non-commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Privates of the above regiment, do most willingly subscribe One Hundred Guineas, in order to detect any Author, Printer, or Distributor of papers, or hand-bills, criminal to the Military Establishment and the Laws of the country, or for information against any person or persons found guilty of bribing with money, or holding out other false allurements against His Most Sacred Majesty King George the Third, or against this country.
'We unanimously agree to give a reward of Ten Guineas out of the above subscription (to be paid on conviction) to the person or persons who will inform against, secure, or deliver over, to any man of the above regiment, the Author, Printer, or Distributor of papers or hand-bills, or any person or persons found guilty of bribing with money, or of holding out other false allurements to any soldier in this district. God save the King!'