The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-05 00:00:00

THE 17th REGIMENT.

The ceremony of presenting colours by LadY
' Vivian to the 2d battalion of the 17th Regiment
' took place at Mount Wise, Devonport, on Thurs-
day. This battalion was reduced in 1802, but Was
revived in April last on Maker Heights, Plymouth.
It now exceeds 700 men, obtained principally from
the counties of Devon, Cornwall, York, and North'
ampton. The appearance they presented augur!,
well for their discipline. The average height of
the battalion is sft. 6-}in., and the age 19 to 20. It
is commanded by Col. Crofton. a
The troops in garrison at Plymouth were formed
in square, the side towards Government-houie behli
open. The Royal Artillery, under Col. Pester, an
Hants Artillery, under Col. Burnaby, were to the
right and left. The Royal Marines, commanded by
Col. Michell, occupied the remainder of the space
to the right, Col. Scovell, with the 96th Regt., we!
to the left, and Col. Granville, with the Warwics.
Militia, in front.
Instead of the inconvenient size hitherto used,
the new colours, after the French style, and in ac-
cordance with a recent regulation, are of much
more portable dimensions; in place of the custo-
mary spearhead they are surmounted by
crown, on which there is the full figure of a lion. he
pattern of the Queen's colour is like that of other
regiments. The banner of the 17th, uniform with
the facings of the regiment, has a white ground ;
the word " Leicestenshire, 17," encircled by a wreath,
appears in the centre, and is supported on the left
by the words " Ghuznee" and " Sevastopol;" on the
right by " Afghanistan" and "Khelat," and beloW
by " Indostan. Several heraldic figures complete
the embellishments. Both banners are of silk, and
are finished in the most tasteful manner. After
being consecrated by the Rev. G. W. Langmuir,
Chaplain of Forces in the West, they were raised
from the military altar of drums, and held by Major
M'Kinstry and Brevet Lieut.-Col. Rawstorne, be-
tween whom Lady Vivian stood, and, addressing
Col. Crofton, said,—" Col. Crofton, officers, non-
commissioned officers,and privates of the 2d Battalion
of the 17th Regiment, it is, I assure you, with feel-
ings of very great pride and pleasure that I com.
plied with the request to present these colours to
you. On them I read names famous in the annals
of our Indian conquests, and my eye rests upon one
familiar to us all. I allude to Sebastopol. We call
all remember the gallantry and fortitude shown by
our army in the Crimea, not only before the enemy
on several memorable occasions, but while famine
and plague surrounded them. War, alas ! still
exists in India, and rumours of coming war yet
nearer home have of late reached us. Should, then,
the sad necessity arise, I am sure these colours will
ever proudly wave where duty calls, and will never
be dishonoured. Woman's province is her home--
her prayer is peace; but should your Queen and
country call upon you to defend their rights, men
of the 17th, I know and feel you will rally round
those colours, and victory will be yours, while we,
the wives and mothers of England, will offer up our
earnest prayers to Him who is alike the God of
Battle and of Peace, to bear you in his safe keeping.
To you I now present these colours ; guard them
with your lives, and may they ever lead you to
honour and victory."
This address was received with great emotion
by the troops and the numerous assemblage of
nobility and gentry on the parade. The colours
having been received by Ensigns Bros and Deane,
kneeling, Col. Crofton said, " Allow me, Lady
Vivian, in iny'own name and that of the 2d batta-
lion of the 17th Regiment, to express our thanks
for the honour you have done us in presenting these
colours, and for the kind wish you have expressed
towards us. In return we acknowledgein you, with
peculiar pleasure, a lady closely allied to one of
England's best and most chivalrous soldiers, and
therefore most eminently qualified to present to this
new battalion these colours, which are to us sym-
bols of our love to our country, our allegiance and
our devotion to our Queen, and consequently of our
duty to God. It does not become us to make pro=
fessions for the future, but I think we may safely
point to the past conduct of British soldiers in the
hour of trial as a fair inference that, with the help
of God, they will not in future be wanting in their
duty to their Queen and country. Once more allow
me to thank you for undertaking the kind office you
have just so well performed. Believe me it will not
be lightly forgotten by us; but that in days to come,
whenever these colours may be unfurled at our So-
vereign's call, your name will be associated with
them."

Gen. Eden, commander of the forces in the West,
expressed the great satisfaction with which he had
beheld the day's proceedings. Much credit was due
to Col. Crofton and the officers for the manner in
which they had disciplined the battalion, and to the
men for their obedience and proficiency. It was for-
tunate for them to have in command an officer of
such distinguished service, and one who had coin,.
menced his career under his command many years
since.

The Crimean medal was worn by many of the
officers and men, of whom Col.* Crofton was the
most distinguished and the most decorated.
An entertainment was given in the evening by
the officers of the 17th at St. George's Hall, Stone-
house. The ball-room, which is 85 feet long, 45
wide, and 30 feet high, was adorned by a trans-
parency of her Majesty the Queen, supported by
the new colours, and surmounted by a trophy of
swords. Other transparencies, with appropriate mot-
toes, surrounded by military weapons in curious de-
vices, embellished the walls, and a variety of flags
and festoons of evergreens completed the tasteful
display.