did not use strong language, at such a want of forethought and arrangement on the part of the authorities! However, recruits, women, and children, with all their possessions, reached Colchester, where the battalion arrived on the 15th, and was inspected on the 19th by Major-General Milner, in "their new clothing and plumes." Here they were brigaded with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 79th, under BrigadierGeneral Dunlop.

On the 1st of February, the total strength of the 1st Battalion was 945. Soon after, a number of men were sent to the 9th Veteran Battalion at Edinburgh,* and others were discharged.

While at Colchester, great attention was paid to elementary drill, and the position of the soldier in marching, etc.; to the health and comfort of the men, and to carrying on the whole system and duty of the regiment with alacrity.

Men of the 2nd Battalion were encouraged to extend their limited service, and a number of volunteers were received from it in June by the 1st Battalion.

In July the garrison was reviewed by Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham.

It was ordered that soldiers' letters should only be charged 1d. instead of the usual high rate of postage, which was, from Colchester to Scotland, 3s. for 1 oz. weight.

At this time the 2nd Battalion 79th was affected by ophthalmia to an alarming extent, and steps were taken to prevent the disease spreading, the affected battalion being sent to encamp.

Lieut.-Colonel Napier keeps officers and men up to their work, and rebukes the former if the men's rooms and clothing are not in the best possible order.

2nd August.-Men are allowed to go harvesting, particularly married men.†

* Veteran Battalions are expressly for the reception of meritorious soldiers, who, by wounds, infirmity, or age, are become unfit for the more active duties of the line, but who retain sufficient strength for the less laborious duty of garrison. -Military Journal.

The price of bread had fallen to 74d. in Essex and 63d. in Norfolk the 4lb. loaf; good beef and mutton 74d. per lb. In 1806 the pay of regimental officers and N.-C. officers was increased, and corporals and privates of infantry

K

On August 26th, the Highland Brigade (1st and 2nd 79th and 1st 92nd) marched to Weely, and Sergeants Gunn, Alexander Cameron, and Donald MacDonald were sent recruiting to Chelmsford, the Ross-shire and other Militia Regiments being in that district.

Return giving the country of officers, N.-C. officers, drummers, and privates of the 1st Battalion 92nd Regiment or Gordon Highlanders, September 2nd, 1806.

On October 3rd the Highland Brigade marched to Colchester, and were reviewed by H.R.H. the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, who expressed his "highest approbation of their appearance in the field this day," and desired his Order to that effect to be read to the men at evening roll-call. day they returned to Weely.

Next

Horse Guards, October 27th, 1806.-Sergeants to have collars and cuffs of the regimental facings on their greatcoats.

B.O., October 21st.-Soldiers of the Highland Brigade to be allowed two months furlough to go to Scotland, to the extent of twenty men per battalion.

In November the men were exercised in firing ball, fifty rounds a man. Corporals to have brushes and prickers for the arms.†

In February 1807, the levy money for infantry recruits was £18, 12s. 6d., of which the recruit received in necessaries and cash £11, 11s. The remainder went to the party and for incidental expenses.)

+

were allowed additional pay at 1d. a day after seven years' service, and 2d. after fourteen years' service; two years' service in the East or West Indies counted as three years elsewhere.

* William Charles Grant.

To clear the pan and vent.

The levy money for cavalry recruits was £15, 4s. 6d., and for boys £10, 15s. Boys' pay had lately been increased from 8d. to 10d. a day.

Ophthalmia now existed in the 92nd as well as in the 79th, and, with the view of checking this complaint, seven companies of the 1st 79th and the 1st 92nd marched on 3rd February to Harwich, the 92nd leaving all their ophthalmia cases behind at Weely, and every precaution being taken to prevent the disease spreading by infection, all suspicious cases being at once separated till seen by the doctor.

The men were desired to scour all their old clothing, and to wear their new kilts and waistcoats till it was dry, and also to wash their hair; "they will not be expected to wear their pads at every parade, but to tie their hair neatly with a string."

R.O., 3rd March 1807, Harwich Barracks.-The commanding officer having observed several of the officers appearing with handkerchiefs tied with large knots in front, also the shirt appearing very much above the handkerchiefs, he particularly forbids the practice, except at evening parties, otherwise he will be under the necessity of ordering them to appear again in their leathern stocks. Officers are requested not to leave the barracks unless dressed in every respect regimentally.

On the 4th March the battalion was inspected by BrigadierGeneral Warde, who expressed his approbation.

The following is the general return of their country, height, age, and time of service :

Total N.-C. officers, drummers, and privates, 1018.

On March 5th the battalion marched to Colchester, where the officers are on all occasions to wear the bonnet, with the exception of mounted officers."

0

0

0

12

They were inspected by Major-General Grosvenor on the 8th, returning to Harwich a few days later, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Lamont, and on the 27th April the battalion returned to Weely, where new bonnets were issued to the men, who were ordered to take down the feathers and make them up on the new bonnets, and to wear the old bonnets, without feathers, as foraging caps. In May a draft of 32 rank and file, described as of good appearance, was received from the 2nd Battalion.

By letters from the Adjutant-General, H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief directs "that the sergeants must be taken from the regiment generally, without reference to the battalion in which the vacancy may occur, and exclusively from the men who are enlisted without limitation. This is not, however, to have a retrospect to men engaged for a limited service who have already been appointed sergeants or corporals," etc. "H.R.H. is pleased to approve of your leaving it to the discretion of the officer commanding the 2nd Battalion to appoint a certain number of men of limited service to be corporals." To Major-General the Hon. Sir John Hope, or officer commanding 1st Battalion 92nd Regiment.

The corporal punishments in the army and navy were at this time very severe, especially for desertion, absence, and making away with regimental necessaries. It seems almost incredible that it should have been necessary for the King to express his opinion," as he did in December 1806, "that no corporal punishment should exceed 1000 lashes"! Corporal punishment appears, however, to have been comparatively rare in the 92nd.