[26] The following curious statement is inserted in Lieut.-Colonel Stearne's journal:--"During the siege of Aire, provisions were very scarce; but one thing gave the soldiers relief, and it is indeed almost incredible--and it was the hoards of corn which the mice had laid up in store-houses in the earth, which our men found, and came home daily loaded with corn, which they got out of these hoards." Captain Parker alludes to the same circumstance, and adds,--"These hoards were from four to six feet under ground, and in many of them our men found some pecks of corn." [27] On the appointment of _Lieut.-Colonel Stearne_ to the colonelcy, Captain Parker states,--"He had served in the regiment from its establishment, and, _being a brave and gallant man_, he rose gradually, by long service and good fortune, until, from an ensign, he became our colonel." [28] See Note inserted at page 14. [29] Continuation of General Stearne's Journal. [30] The Warrant of the 1st July, 1751, issued by command of King George II., contained regulations for the Standards, Colours, Clothing, &c., of the regiments of Cavalry and Infantry, in order to ensure uniformity throughout the army. In this warrant it was directed, that in the centre of each colour the _Number_ of the rank of the regiment should be painted or embroidered in gold Roman characters. In the colours of those regiments authorised to bear any _Royal Devices_, or _Ancient Badges_, the _Rank_ of the regiment should be painted, or embroidered, towards the upper corner. A Warrant was also issued by King George III., on the 19th December, 1768, containing regulations on the same subject. [31] Lieut.-General Stuart's despatch. [32] Major-General Sir Hugh Gough's despatch. [33] Sir Hugh Gough's despatch. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources. Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. For example, Hong Kong, Hong-Kong; foot-guards, foot guards; situate; harquebus; enrol; ensanguined. Pg xxxiii, 'Curaçoa' replaced by 'Curaçao'. Pg 45, sidenote '1746' was moved up one paragraph to a more relevant position. Pg 61, 'Curaçoa' replaced by 'Curaçao'. Pg 87, 'Willam Cosby' replaced by 'William Cosby'. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Historical Record of the Eighteenth or The Royal Irish Regiment of Foot: From, by Richard Cannon