Page:Historical Record of the Fifty-Sixth, Or the West Essex Regiment of Foot.djvu/38

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The regiment, after its return from the West Indies, in the early part of 1799, had been recruited with men for limited service in Europe; but when the glorious triumphs of the British army in Egypt, under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., were made known to the corps in general orders, this announcement of splendid victories, gained by English troops, created so lively an interest in the regiment, that the soldiers instantly responded with a tender of service in any quarter of the globe, which was communicated to the general officer of the district, Brigadier-General Champagne, by Major H. S. Keating, commanding the regiment at the time, in the following terms:

“Sir,—I have the honor to inclose you the offer of the Regiment, of serving in any part of the world, where His Majesty may deem it necessary; which I beg you will have the goodness to lay before his Excellency the Commander-in-chief. I should consider myself acting with injustice, were I not to notice the very enthusiastic manner in which the orders of the 16th May, 1801, of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, were received, and the consequent tender of those services excited by a contemplation of the animated conduct of our gallant army in Egypt; and I feel a confidence in adding, that should they be accepted, I have every reliance, that the spirit and energy of the regiment, will support with honor the interest of its king and country.”

The commander of the forces in Ireland directed the adjutant-general to convey to the non-commissioned officers and privates of the regiment, “his thanks and approbation of their spirited offer of general service, which is transmitted to His Royal Highness the