The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-11 00:00:00

GENERAL SIR HARRY SMITH

AND THE 31ST REGIMENT.

WTALMER, SEPT. 6 AND 7.—SV;T;;e:nuch satis-
faction in recording the interesting inspection of the
31st Regiment, at Walmer, by General Sir Harry
Smith—a regiment
.that had shared in his dangers
and privations, and had contributed by its bravery to
his success. The short notice afforded to this gallant
corps (only a few hours) of his intended visit, pre-
cluded those arrangements being completed by which
they were desirous of testifying their sense of the
occasion ; but, as soon as the news of his visit gained
publicity, the terminus at the railway station was at
the appointed hour filled by the officers and veteran
soldiers who had served under him in the East, and
his arrival was hailed by one loud-- cheer, which
carried conviction to all who heard it that his memory
was still cherished in the breast of each soldier pre-
sent. With one impulse the horses were removed
from the carriage, and Sir Harry Smith, accompanied
by their gallant and distinguished commanding
officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Spence, C. 8., was drawn
in rapid triumph to the barracks, where he was re-
ceived with enthusiastic welcome, becoming the hero
of Aliwal. Subsequently he was entertained at
dinner by the officers of the 31st, and the principals
of the staff and neighbourhood were invited to meet
him to the extent the means of accommodation
afforded. After the cloth was removed, and the
customary loyal toasts were given, Colonel Spence
proposed with much fervour and good feeling " the
Health of the Hero who had that day honoured them
with his company," when three times three, with
one cheer more, and another, and another, expressed
the delight of all present. The able and eloquent re-
ply which followed this toast our limits will not
allow us to detail, but Sir Harry Smith commenced
by remarking that during 140 years this regiment
had maintained an unsullied fame, and proceeded to
state that, amongst other glorious deeds of honourable
distinction, this gallant corps contributed to the suc-
cess of the hard-fought battle of Albuera during the
Peninsular war, and again, by its intrepidity, aided
most effectively in the glorious results arising from
the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, Budde-
wal, and Sobraon, when he grieved to say that 13
officers and 250 men fell mortally wounded ; and
never did a body of men conduct themselves with
greater bravery and distinction than did the 31st on
those memorable and eventful occasions. Next morn-
ing the regiment was paraded for Sir Harry Smith's
inspection, and after various manoeuvres with firing,
&c. (performed with marked precision), it was formed
into close column, when Sir Harry, with much energy
and kindly feeling, expressed his satisfaction at see-
ing the regiment " regenerated," and their disci-
pline so perfect, considering that only a few months
had elapsed since it returned home a mere skeleton.
Its present soldierlike appearance was to be attri-
buted to the unremitting attention of each member of
the corps ; " and," continued Sir Harry, " when
moral power is united with physical strength, nothing
can withstand its combination ; and to these qualities
it is, my soldiers, you owe the great name you have
so nobly acquired for yourselves, and which has also
raised me to the proud position I am placed in. To
you, my comrades, I owe my success, and be it your
duty, soldiers, to teach your younger brethren in
arms that courage, aided by moral conduct, will ever
place the 31st Regiment conspicuous in the annals o;
the brave." A dejeuner was prepared after the re-
view, to which the neighbouring families were most
hospitably invited, affording great pleasure to all par-
ties. After the Este, Sir Harry was drawn in his
carriage from Colonel Spence's quarters to the rail-
way terminus by his faithful followers amidst cheers
which made the air ring. Nor must we omit to men-
tion that an intimation was conveyed to General Sir
Harry Smith by Major Edwards, at the request of
several of the inhabitants of Deal and the neighbour.
hood, of their regret at not having the opportunity
of expressing the high respect they entertained for
him, and their grateful feelings for those vast achiev-
ments he assisted in accomplishing, which enlarged
our possessions and extended our commercial rela-
tions in India, where the standard of Christianity has
been planted, laying the foundation, it is ardently
hoped, of a permenent peace.