In 1785, while the regiment was stationed at Windsor, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Crosbie, and furnished the usual guard at the Castle, where his Majesty resided, an "ORDER OF MERIT" was instituted in the corps, with the view of promoting good order and discipline,—the field-officers, captains, and adjutant for the time being, to be members of the order. The order consisted of THREE CLASSES: the first wore a silver medal gilt, suspended to a blue riband two inches broad, and worn round the neck; the second a silver medal, and the third a bronze medal, similarly worn. The candidates for the third class must have served seven years with an unblemished character; for the second, fourteen; and for the first, twenty-one years. On the 1st of July, the King was graciously pleased to accept from Lieut.-Colonel Crosbie a medal of the first class of the regimental Order of Merit: and on the 3rd of that month, the regiment being then encamped in Windsor Forest, assembled on parade, with the non-commissioned officers and soldiers selected to receive medals in front, the rules of the order were read; the corps presented arms, the band played "God save the King;" the members of the order took off their hats, and the commanding officer invested each member with his medal; the drums beating a point of war during the whole time.
1787
In 1787 the regiment proceeded to Guernsey and Jersey, where its establishment was augmented; and it was ordered to be held in readiness for foreign service, in consequence of some revolutionary proceedings in Holland. In October the regiment proceeded to Portsmouth, and its establishment was soon afterwards reduced. Previous to leaving Guernsey, it received the thanks of the Lieut.-Governor for its excellent conduct.
1788
On quitting Portsmouth in 1788 for Chatham, the regiment received a very flattering mark of the high estimation in which its conduct was held by the inhabitants.
1790
The regiment left Chatham and Dover in the spring of 1790, and proceeding to Ireland landed at Cork on the 5th of April.
1791
Major-General Charles O'Hara was removed to the Seventy-fourth Highlanders in April, 1791, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the TWENTY-SECOND by Major-General David Dundas, Adjutant-General of the Army in Ireland.
1792