The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-01 00:00:00

THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL.
PRESENTATION OF COLOURS TO THE FIFTY-
EI OHM
We' have receivesithe following copy pf the
Speech of his R oyal Highness the Duke of Cie-tames
Lord High 'Admiral, on the occasion'Of his present-
ing a new pair of colours to the 58th Regiment of •
Foot, on South Sea • Common, Portsmouth, on •
Monday last : • ,
" LieutenantSCOloncl John;.. the•OfEcors and Non-
Commissioned Oilicers of his 'Majesty's 58th Regi—
ment of Infantry. • •
" Within these last four months I have been here
three times; once on' duty, once .on an,occtnsioa
similar to the present. I trust, whatever is •my
duty, I shall always, perform it.; but, on •this ocea-
sion, it is a matter, that affords me: great satisfaction,
and delight, ttraliow tesell, classes:of his Majesty's,
forces the sincere regard,l feel for
.their welfare and;
honour: • What .II have. ,say•toAay principally re-
lates to the 58th Regiment; but, in so doing, I must
occasionally adyert to the distinguished corps that •
now surround me.
•
" The 58th Regiments_though &o .highly (listin--
guislied:, can only be traced-for a itereparatiyely, short
number of years, but tlieJtoyal Attiliety .aindt2Bth.
Regiment as far bask* .109'2. „i a.
" The 58th FnopsYsts raised as the, 60thRessis
ment, at Plyinotithi, on.the btealairig out of she firsti
American war; •• 44 1748, froM'• tvilenseaCktY:PPos'
ceded to Cork; end Wlteo thereso9aer hg e9rpi~nd •
of Colonel, afterwards: Lord. Ilewses'ascirlimstapee:
occurred, showing a degree of discipline acid `siseadi-,
ness, which, in a; young corps as ;they ayeresgasae• a
promise of their future excellence:;.; on, this. occasion,,
while on the beach.lyeiting. toabe,• embarked, they
remained untlea4rolel four hours„ without without, a simile
man quitting .the ;anl4s,, • ' , •
" The first •l'stysperfotanedby, the corps was at
siege of Louisburg,. ...here. they eminently distin-
guished then:selves-a-the -.?Stlt Regiment was also
reliant and on this occasion I catmot.belp notntinc
the lat cutler advantage and honour this very aid
corps had of -serving under the ainmediete eye of
'their future Soverligtii the ;Elector of Hanover, of-'
_terwarda • George thes 2d, .et the 'gl..iiririns battle of
Dettingen. But.to.retarn to the 58th Regiment—,
•:from Louisburg they: ;proceeded to Quebec,. under
the gallant Wolfe, where, on the Plainsof
Abral am,
their coolness: and bravery gained them ,fresh , lau-
rels; .and he .would only any of that action, that as
long as the heights of Abraham exist, the valour of
the troops employed at-its conquest will bear testi-
' mony of English bravery and heroism..
" From. Quebec, the .58th sy,esre. ordered to tlia,
West Indies, were it was deenseal advisable by Mi-
nisters to pursue the war with vigour and activity.
Of the islands taken from the Frenchsni that occa-
sion, the 58th was present, and distinguished itself,
at the capture of Martinique and G4daloupe. after,
performing this service, they proceed to Cuba? under
. Colonel Howe,, who commanded the stormingof
the Moro Castle, and in that gallant.exploit the gre-
nadier company of the 58th was the first to 11101.1rit,
the breach, and to form within its walls.
" Soon after this the regiment returned to Ire-.
land, and in 1779 proceeded to Gibraltar: ;The'
Spaniards, at this time; were 'known to have been
actively engaged in preparations for an 'attack one.
this important 'fortress; Whatever were the ser-. ,
vices of the British army before, or hoiveVer splendid
they may have , been since, in.iny mind, and, I yen-,
turf to say, all military men will agree with me, that.
the troops employed during the
.four years' siege,
were•pre-eminently. distinguished for their gallantry
and discipline, under privations and fatigues which,
never. can be equalled. The- deetrUctioo of the ene-,
my's batteries was effected by the flank companies
of the garrison, and the whole of the 58th regiment.
After the successful and glorious defence Oasis for-.
tress, his Majesty, as a mark of his espeCial appro-
bation, graciously ordered the. badge ` Gibraltar'
o be inscribed on the colours of the regiments so
employed. With the exception of the badge grant-
ed for the battle of Minden, tide wna Ahe first ho-
limy.' distinction conferred on our brave.troops, for
their gallantry before the enemy.
" The 58th, from Gibraltar, returned
,to Ireland.
I had twice before the pleasure of meeting them. on
service, and on again meeting them at Cork, an oc,:
currency of to extraordinvy alld .inttfe,atitepitwe
took place ‘vhielil shall now relassea„oestatiatisarades.
-OtslinroTPrretliairtrei abiodille striping, ii ed .
'what I may call a youngster, a Lieutenant of Gre-
nadiers; and on making enquiry who this young of-
ficer was, I was told his name was Wellesley, who
had only joined-on that day., the 26th of December,'
1787; from that•hour I did not again meet him till
at dinner at the Queen of England's table the Ist. ei
August, 1814, as Field Marshal the. Doke of Wel-
lington, whosetiostfpil_he,ni
1 should.ci dolsileirtnrvti
—ctelstbhiliastiViesi atadlc.diiger
lacdttisrfn)tositnoailimicciie: .
tsoo'singular,
tub-
mentioping it on the present occasion: T • .
" At the commencement of what I. may call the
last war, namely,' 1793, the -58th were again ordered
to the West Indies, under Sir Charles. Grey; but
were not engaged .in•any •affair of importance until
1801. When in Egypt no corps'distinguished itself
io much. They wear theladge, they-.won it well,
and I trust they will ever maintain it utistillied.
" A few years after, I believe, they distinguished
themselves in an action, ' Maida. . The country
was not then
.sc much aliye as. it ia nowito
victories; it was tone of the bravest-on record, and
his Nia'sjesty,with his usual condescensionsgranted the •
corps then engaged Maids,' as a badge. ..•, •
" .ThesBthiwere engaged in the various services
throughout the Peninsular war. s The 58th Foot,
nevets forgetting. their *former exploits, more. •eape-
cially Gibraltar, constantly maintained the sime high
character. I trust they
.ever. will; in, short, they
only sighed for an opportunity of distinguishing
themselves .on every occasion that presented itself.
" Since the conclusion, of the general .peace in
1815, the 58th Regiment -have been employed five
years in the island of Jamaica,
" Colonel John, and the officers of the 58th re-
ziment, having now in a summary manner stated the
badges . and device,
services of your distinguished
Ikceoi
nr pigms
the
importance
here only
colours
nollfoy:trts
any that, in whatever situation-you may be placed,
snit have my warmest wt;:iesnr,hles for your welfare, and
the
• May it please your Royal righni
, .
eiand dOsi3Raopdr:odzmyraoiainy4gllb,tiltgoehisie,sneety.
aiseoshufzl.
el:
presented them to the: Ensigns,
.with an,uppro.
he
toca "er upon his Majesty
charge entrusted to them..
Lieutenant-Colonel John replied as follows:--
"ess,—The
honour you have been-graciousl
egiment, mest be
ever re membered si most O. •
b flattering mark of your
Royal 'Highness's' appro anon. -.Your Royal High-
ness has been pleased to
follow the 58th Regiment in
ts career for many yeaFs, nay from its tirstformation,
Wherein you • have. bestowed the Highest and most
;ratifying encomiums, on its charaCter end. services.
'Encomiinns, which cannot bat give a new 'valise to
he distinctions and badges. already conferred upon
he regiment by his Majea•Wsn.lo4 gracious favour.
" Permit here to ,observe, Sir, that' I was
called, to the command of t regiment by • your
Iliistriotts brother, the-late .beleved mid 'ever to be
's Sissrat pleased, this de.y,
lamented Duke of. York. This• act of his Royal
Highness's favour and confidence, will be indelibly
impressed on my mind, and I humbly hope that, in
Intention and spirit, I have fulfilled the trust so- re-
hosed in me. I may truly state, that during, the six
bears I have'had the honour of being at the head of
the regiment, its conduct and discipline' have been
•lach, as to claim iny'unqualified praise and approba_
tjecxepnrneoget ins
oa
adequatelytcm uch
the.
hi,oish I Uponwere thcaisp
able of
feelings of pride' and gratitude which, the 58th Reo_
hent entertains at the distinguished honour this tra,
ionferred upon them by your Royal s;
:fetltekrntoowbempryoyherdo,trhehrenofefiveeerrathaensde
nseawidi;,n;idatriidesy,
lieoewplryecaenidvedduflryoampyporeucriaßteoyth4iisizknicossf
unfurled in
'~s illustrious
the field before the
ansenemyd " shall be •
•
) .