“I was favoured with your note and the enclosure last night, but in one part, as it does not exactly meet the facts, I have taken the liberty of enclosing you a certificate, which, from the conversation I have had with the Colonel, I think will. It is not in the power of the Colonel to certify that they positively have borne the word ‘Firm’ on the colours; but he has every reason to believe so, as the bearings of the colours are usually on the regimental seals of regiments. The Colonel has been in the regiment thirty-seven years, and the oldest officer by very many years now remaining in it. During his time the regiment must have had three pairs of regimental colours;—the pair when the regiment returned from the West Indies, I presume, now entirely worn out and destroyed; the pair on the regiment’s return from the East Indies was, from the same cause, burned at Winchester; and the present pair of colours consists of as many rags as might form the size of a silk handkerchief, but not a piece that is whole six inches square. These rags are tied together round the staff. Therefore, concluding that the former colours were before disposed of, at least in as bad a state as those, it would become impossible to say what bearings or mottoes might have been upon the pair when Colonel Burne joined, which was on their return from the West Indies, to which is to be added the great mortality and change among officers who served at that time in those climates. I should have had the pleasure of waiting upon you this day upon the subject, but as I leave town to-morrow I am compelled to confine my business to writing. May I, therefore, beg the additional favour (should the certificate meet your approbation, or any other form that may accord with the fact stated) that you will enclose it to my brother, who will forward it to me? I feel extremely anxious to get the business completed as soon as possible, the regiment being again down for service, &c., which I trust, in your goodness, will plead as my apology for intruding so much upon your time.
“I am, &c.
(Signed) “Henry Vernon.”
“G. Nayler, Esq.”
“Captain Vernon presents his compliments to Mr. Nayler, and with many thanks encloses him the certificate signed by Colonel Burne. Should there be any expenses incidental to Mr. Nayler’s office in this business, he requests to be favoured with them, as the Colonel, as well as himself, are unacquainted with these matters.”
“Battle, Sussex, 5th April 1810.”
“I Robert Burne, Lieut.-Colonel of the first battalion of the Thirty-sixth regiment, a Colonel in the army, and Governor of His Majesty’s garrison of Carlisle, do hereby certify and declare, that during the space of thirty-seven years to my own positive knowledge, and how long previous thereto I cannot set forth, the said regiment has used on its regimental seal the word ‘Firm;’ and that I verily believe, by reason thereof, the said regiment to be entitled to bear the same upon its colours, and that the said word may have lapsed and been forgotten by the frequent change of officers and the mutilated or almost destroyed state in which the colours of the regiment have been on their return from service, and that I am, therefore, extremely anxious that the said word ‘Firm’ should be inscribed in the painting of the colours of the aforesaid Thirty-sixth regiment, now preparing, by His Majesty’s command, under the inspection of George Nayler, Esquire, York Herald, and Inspector of Regimental Colours. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of the said regiment, at Battle, Sussex, this fifth day of April one thousand eight hundred and ten.
(Signed) Robt. Burne,
Lieut.-Col. Commanding 1st Battn.
36th Regt., and Colonel.
“Signed and sealed in the presence of
“A. Mackenzie,
Major 36th Regt.,