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

THE 17th REGIMENT.

The ceremony of presenting colours by Lady
t
Vivian to the 2d battalion of the 17th Regiraeu
took place at Mount Wise, Devonport, on Thial!
day. This battalion was reduced in 1802, but IT
revived in April last on Maker Heights, Plyine
It now exceeds 700 men, obtained principally_f row
the counties of Devon, Cornwall, York, and No
rth-
ampton. The appearance they presented au gui'
well for their discipline. Tho average heighl It
the battalion is sft. 6L-in., and the age 19 to 20-
is commanded by Col. Crofton.
The troops in garrison at Plymouth were for 00a
in square, the side towards Government-house bail
open. The Royal Artillery, under Col. Pester, OIL
Hants Artillery, under Col. Burnaby, were to I.JP°
right and left. The Royal Marine; commanded Di
Col. Michell, occupied the remainder of the vs°
to the right, Col. Scovell, with the 96th Regt.,
to the left, and Col. Granville, with the WarWje
Militia, in front.
Oa'
Instead of the inconvenient size hitherto IT
' the new colours, after the French style, and in
cordance with a recent regulation, are of mile
more portable dimensions; in place of the ctist.G;
mary spearhead they. are surmounted by a 4110
crown, on which there is the full figure of a lion. "„
pattern of the Queen's colour is like that of otk
regiments. The banner of the 17th, uniform W.llu.'
the facings of the regiment, has a white grow est
the word " Leicestershire, 17," encircled by a wre
appears in the centre, and is supported on the IT,
by the words " Ghuznes" and " Sevastopol;" on PL:
right by " Affghanistan" and " Khelat," and berAre
by " Indostan. Several heraldic figures comptela
the embellishments. Both banners are of silk, Or
are finished in the most tasteful manner.
being consecrated by the Rev. G. W. Lange
Chaplain of Forces in the West, they were raafer
from the military altar of drums, and held by IVritp,,
M'Kinstry and Brevet Lieut.-Col. Rawstornel
tween whom Lady Vivian stood, and, addres4llb
Col. Crofton, said,. Col. Crofton, officers, Oil;
commissioned officers,and privates of the 2d Batta.ll°l;
of the 17th Regiment, it is, I assure you, with feel;
ings of very great pride and pleasure that I co;
plied with the request to present these colones
you. On them I read names famous in the an ii
of our Indian conquests, and my eye rests upon:O..„Il
familiar to us all. I allude to Sebastopol. We:
all remember the gallantry and fortitude show 11 by
our army in the Crimea, not only before the ent"
on several memorable occasions, but while farailli
and plague surrounded them. War, alas ! E3t
exists in India, and rumours of coming war
nearer home have of late reached us. Should, tlTheli
scl r
the sad necessity arise, I am sure these colours *
ever proudly wave where duty calls, and will netli"e
be dishonoured. Woman'%s province is her home a
her prayer is peace ; but should your Queen a.%
country call upon you to defend their rights, iluveA
of the 17th, I know and feel you will rally mull"
those colours, and victory will be yours, while vre'
the wives and mothers of England, will offer up cl
earnest prayers to Him who is alike the God
Battle and of Peace, to bear you in his safe keepil4 go;
To you I now present these colours ; guard the_
with your lives, and may they ever lead you
honour and victory."
00A
This address was received with great emoti
of
by the troops and the numerous assemblage
nobility and gentry on the parade. The colon
having been received by Ensigns Bros and Dean e;
kneeling, Col. Crofton said, " Allow me, Lad
Vivian, in my own name and that of the 2d bac
lion of the 17th Regiment, to express our thwl•
for the honour you have done us in presenting ti xe5,A
colours, and for the kind wish you have express7l
towards us. In return we acknowledge in you, litf
peculiar pleasure, a lady closely allied to one. a
England's best and most chivalrous soldiers, f!,11.5
therefore most eminently qualified to present to till,
new battalion these colours, which are to us sYli
bols of our love to our country, our allegiance all,
our devotion to our Queen, and consequently. of 0":„
duty to God. It does not become us to make Pt.',
fessions for the future, but I ' think we may safe`,l
point to the past conduct of British soldiers in VI
hour of trial as a fair inference that, with the he `iPt
of God, they will not in future be wanting in Of,
duty to their Queen and country. Once more alio "
me to thank you for undertaking the kind office 1C
have just so well performed. Believe me it will at
belightly forgotten by us; but that in days to com e'
whenever these colours may be unfurled at our S'
vereign's call, your name will be associated Nal'
them."
Gen. Eden, commander of the forces in the Wes ti
expressed the great satisfaction with which he 10'0
beheld the day's proceedings. Much credit was (11:1
to Col. Crofton and the officers for the manner 11
which they had disciplined the battalion, and to t.'t,
men for their obedience and proficiency. It was Oaf
tunate for them to have in command an officer
such distinguished service, and one who had co(11:4
menced his career under his command many yc

since.
The Crimean medal was worn by many of 090
officers and men, of whom Col. Crofton was V'
most distinguished and the most decorated.
An entertainment was given in the evening '))/
the officers of the 17th at St. George's Hall, Stot7s
house. The ball-room, which is 85 feet long, "„
-wide, and 30 feet high, was adorned by a tray'
parency of her Majesty the Queen, supported ,I)ofir
the new colours, and surmounted by a trophy' t,
swords. Other transparencies, with appropriate Tit,
toes, surrounded by military weapons in curiouf;
vices, embellished the walls, and a variety of fi
and festoons of evergreens completed the taste
display.