The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-06 00:00:00

THE ARIIII.

PRESENTATION OF NEW COLOURB TO
THE 42n ROYAL HIGHLANDERS.
We are indebted to a correspondent at Bareilly
for the following account cf the presentation of
new colours to the 42d Royal Highlanders. About
half-past eight a.m., on New Year's-day, the Com-
mander-in-chief arrived at hartilly, and wag re-
, ,
t'eited 4 a saliite of 17 giink and a gnard of honour
of the grenadier company, 42d Highlanders, Unger
Captain gordon, with Lieutenants Haynes, James,
Ensign Walter, the queen's eolOur; band, and
pipes. His excellency, who had a severe fall from
his hbise at Shajehanpore, appeared in good
health and spirits, and intimated his intention
of presenting the new colours that evening
at five p.m. Accordingly, at that hour the
brigade was formed in the following order,
forming three sides of a square :-12th Irre-
gular Cavalry, tinder Major Watson, and Bth
Battery Royal Artillery, tlnddr Captain Rideout ;
42d Itoyal Highlanders in line; the Loyal roor-
beah Regiment, tinder Colonel Jervies, and 3d
Company sth nattalion Bengal Artillery. Imme-
diately after his Excellency had been saluted by
the brigade the trooping of the old colours com-
menced, and, escorted by the grenadier company,
were placed on the stand from which the new
colours *ere taken by his Excellency. After a
most impressive benediction by the Rev. William
Ross, chaplain to the regiment, Sir Hugh Rose
presented .the colours to Ensigns Walter and Moore,
who received thensi kneeling, tbq *ete after-
wards marched in front of the regiment to their
proper position, when Sir Hugh, having mounted,
thus addressed the regiinent
" 42d Royal Highlanders,-1 do not aglt yeti to
defend the colours which I have presented to you
this day 1 it would be superfluous ; you have de-
fended them for nearly 150 years with the best
blood of Scotland. Ido not ask you to carry these
colours to the front, should you again be called into
the field—you have borne them round the world
with success. But I do ask the officers and soldiers
efilis gallant and devoted regiment not to forget,
because they are of ancient date, but treasure in their
memories the recollection of the brilliant deeds of
arms of their forefathers and kinsmen, the scrolls of
which are inscribed on these colours. There is not
a name on them which is not a study. There is
not a name on them which is not connected
with the most important events of the world's
history, or with the brightest page of the military
annals of England. The soldiers of the 42d cannot
have a better or more instructive history than their
regimental records. They tell how 100 years ago
the 42d won the honoured name of Royal at Ticon-
deroga, in America, losing, although only one bat-
talion, 647 killed and wounded. How the 42d
gained the red hackle in Flanders. How Aber-
cromby and Moore, in Egypt and Spain, dying in
the arms of victory, thanked with parting breath
the 42d. Well might the heroes do so ; the fields
of honour on which they were expiring were
strewed with the dead and wounded soldiers of the
42d. The 42d enjoy the greatest distinction to which
British regiments can aspire. They have been led
and commanded by the great master in war, the
Duke of Wellington. Look at your colours ; their
badges will tell you how often ; and this distinction
is the more to be valued because his grace, so soldier
like and just was he, never would sanction a regi-
ment wearing. a badge if the battle in which they
had been engaged, no matter how bravely they might
have fought in it, was not an important one and a
victory. In the Crimea, in the late campaign in this
country, the 42d again did excellent service under
my very gallant and distinguished predecessor, Lord
Clyde. The last entry in the regimental records
shows that the spirit of the Black Watch of 1729 was
the same in 1858, when No. 6 Company of the 42d,
aided only by a company of the Kumaon Levy,
4 guns, and a squadron of Irregular Cavalry, under
Sir N. Walpole, beat back, after several hours of
obstinate fighting, and severe loss, 2,000 rebels of
all arms, and gained the day. Lord Clyde bestowed
the highest praise on the compeny that a general
can do; his lordship thanked them for their valour
and their discipline. lam sincerely obliged to
Lieutenant-Colonel Priestly for having, on the
part of the 42d Royal Highlanders, requested me
to present to them their new colours. It is an
honour and a favour which I highly prize, the more
so, because I am of Highland origin, and have
worn for many years the tartan of another regi-
ment which does undying honour to Scotland, the
92d Highlanders. I have chosen this day, New
Year's day, for the presentation of colours, because
on New Year's day, 1785, the colours were given
to the 42d under which they won their red plume.
Besides, New Year's day all over the world, parti-
cularly in Scotland, is a happy day. Heaven grant
that it may be a fortunate one for this noble
regiment,"
At the conclusion of this address the troops
marched past his excellency to quarters. On the
following evening the officers gave a grand ball,
which was numerously attended, and at which
several spirited reels were danced.—lnverness
Courier.