In July, 1825, four companies and the head-quarters proceeded to Fort Neuf, leaving the remaining companies in the citadel. In August the regiment was formed into six service and four depôt companies. The head-quarters and flank companies returned to the citadel on the 14th of November, and on the same day four battalion companies embarked for Santa Maura, furnishing detachments at Calamas, Magnassia, Fort Alexandria, San Nicolo, Fort Constantine, Scorpio, San Nichola, and Vassaliki. [Sidenote: 1832] The regiment remained at the Ionian Islands until February, 1832, when it embarked from Corfu for England, and landed at Portsmouth on the 7th of March. The decease of General the Earl of Donoughmore occurred in the summer of 1832, when King William IV. appointed Lieut.-General Matthew Lord Aylmer, K.C.B., from the fifty-sixth foot, to the colonelcy of the ROYAL IRISH regiment, by commission dated 23rd of July, 1832. [Sidenote: 1834] [Sidenote: 1835] [Sidenote: 1836] The regiment remained in England until May, 1834, when it embarked from Liverpool, and, landing at Dublin, was stationed in Ireland nearly three years, during which period it preserved its high character. [Sidenote: 1837] Having received orders to transfer its services to the British possessions in Asia, the ROYAL IRISH regiment was divided into six service and four depôt companies, and on the 10th of January, 1837, the service companies embarked for Ceylon, under the orders of Colonel George Burrell: they landed at Colombo on the 1st of June, and were stationed at that place and at Galle. [Sidenote: 1838] In the autumn of 1838 the depôt companies embarked from Dublin, and, landing at Portsmouth, were stationed in South Britain. [Sidenote: 1839] The service companies remained at Colombo and Galle until February, 1839, when a change of quarters took place, and they were stationed at Trincomalee and Galle, where they continued until March of the following year. [Sidenote: 1840] In the mean time a course of violence and spoliation had been commenced by the Chinese government against the persons and property of the British merchants trading with that empire, in consequence of the introduction of opium into China, which was prohibited by the Chinese laws, but was tacitly admitted by the local authorities, who did not enforce the law. At length, however, the Chinese authorities commenced summary measures without sufficient previous notice, and the British superintendents of trade found it necessary to apply to the Governor-General of India for a number of ships of war and armed vessels for the protection of life and property. The violence of the Chinese, however, could not be restrained by reason or menace, but the thunder of British artillery was necessary to enforce forbearance.