The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-25 00:00:00

PRESENTATION OF COLOURS TO THE

91ST. HIGHLANDERS.

An interesting military ceremony was performed on
Tuesday on fhe Western Heights at Dover. The 91st
Argyllshire) Highlanders, who returned home last year,
after fifteen years' continuous foreign service, at the Cape
luring the Kaffir war, in the lonian Islands, and in India
luring a portion of the mutiny, exchanged the old
:olours, which they have carried since 1844, for new ones,
he presentation being attended with full military honours,
/Ind the religious service in connection with the ceremony
being conducted by his Grace the Archbishop of Canter-
bury. For the more convenient presentation of the
:olours a dais was erected. The ceremony commenced by
the process of "trooping" the old colours, the band first
advancing in slow time along the whole front of the
line and retiring at a quicker pace, adapting the musical
selections played in each case to the rate of pro,
:cress. They then once more advanced in slow time, on
Lis occasion preceding the senior company of the
regiment, to whose charge was consigned for the last time
the colours about to be abandoned. The National Anthem
was performed solemnly, and a general salute given. Then
the custodians of the colours, musicians, and soldiers'
passed slowly along and between the ranks of the different
companies, which had opened out for the purpose, so that
every man in the regiment might take a farewell look at
the familiar staves—for colours they could hardly be
called—and the renewed strains of "God Save the Queen"
at the other end of the line announced that these veteran
military emblems had passed out of the service, and would
in future know guard-mounting no longer. Colonel
Gordon said the fitting moment had now arrived to inform
the regiment of the destination of the old colours.
These had been offered to the Duke of Argyll by the
officers of the 91st (Argyllshire) Highlanders, his clan
regiment, in order that they might find an asylum in the
walls of Inverary Castle. Colonel Gordon read the reply
of his Grace, written from Inverary Castle, accepting the
offer, adding, "We shall remember you on the 23rd, and
wish well, and drink a bumper toast to the gallant 91st."
A reading desk, composed of a pile of drums, was quickly
raised on the edge of the dais, and upon this the new
colours, still in their waterproof cases were laid. The
religious service prescribed upon occasions of this kind
was then entered upon. The service was read by the
Archbishop. After the final prayer and benediction
Colonel Gordon read aloud a letter of deputation from
the Duke of Argyll requesting that Mrs. Gordon, in the
unavoidable absence of the Duchess of Argyll, would be
kind enough to represent her in presenting the colours to
the regiment. The colours were thereupon taken from
their cases and handed by the majors of the 91st to Mrs.
Gordon, who in turn presented them to the junior
ensigns kneeling to receive them at her hands. Mrs. Gor-
don then proceeded to say in tones the clearness of which suf-
fered little by contrast with the practised elocution of the
Archbishop : " Proud as I am to-day to present to you
your new colours, I would even have thought my place better
filled by her Grace the Duchess of Argyll. Soldiers ! your
colours have been well earned, not alone in the protracted
struggle of three Kaffir wars, but also by long service in
tropical claims, under burning suns. Receive these now
as a sacred trust ; guard them carefully, close manfully
around them whenever you are called upon to do so;
be, as you always have been, foremost in the service
of your Queen and country, and you 'will be their pride,
as you are at this moment, of your commanding officer.
It was probably not altogether an easy task that
devolved upon Colonel Gordon to reply, on behalf of the
regiment, to the address thus delivered. Addressing Mrs.
Gordon, however, he thanked her, and assured her that
from her bands the regiment received its colours with
peculiar satisfaction. By many acts of unobtrusive kind-
ness the regiment had learnt to appreciate the interest she
took in its welfare.--The Archbishop of Canterbury, next
addressing the regiment, said the service in which they
had just been engaged had for him very great interest,
Their colonel had been his schoolfellow a great many
years ago ; the regiment wore the tartan of the Clan
Campbell, with which he felt it an honour to be con-
nected, and there were associations connected with these
colours which carried him back in memory to scenes and
places that doubtless were familiar to many he was ad-
dressing. It was not, however, in his private capacity,
or of his private feelings that he was called upon to
speak to them. Rather as intrusted with the chief
ministry in the Church of Christ, in the district which had
welcomed the regiment on its return from foreign service,
he was called upon to pronounce a blessing on them and to
thank God that the regiment had returned to its native
land after the many dangers through which it had passed.
If, in whatever neighbourhood it were called to serve, its
name was known above other regiments for the good
Christian conduct of the men who composed it, then not
only would they additionally endear themselves to their
fellow countrymen, but practical evidence would be
given of the sincerity of the prayers which they had just
offered