In 1805, the regiment being then quartered in East Bourne barracks, together with the Derby Militia and a detachment of the Tenth Hussars, the whole under the command of Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Alexander Duff, of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, a quarrel unfortunately occurred between the soldiers of the two corps, which might have led to very serious results; but which that officer, with a degree of tact and knowledge of the nature and feelings of a British soldier that were highly creditable to him, not only rendered innoxious, but converted into a source of eventual benefit to the regiment. The result of this conduct on the part of the commanding officer was the making of the two regiments such attached friends, that when, a short time after, the Derby Militia was permitted to furnish three hundred and fifty men to regiments of the line, more than two hundred of the number volunteered for the “CONNAUGHT RANGERS,” although they were beset by the officers and recruiting-parties of many English regiments, who naturally, but vainly, hoped to gain the preference over a corps then exclusively Irish. The volunteers from the Derby Militia proved as good and gallant soldiers as any in the army, and a very large portion of them were killed in the various actions in which the regiment was afterwards engaged. [Sidenote: 1806] It was about this period that His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief ordered Sir John Moore’s improved system of drill to be adopted throughout the army: under the active superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel Duff, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was quickly perfected in the new system, and was, in all respects, in the highest state of discipline. The commander of the district, Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, was reviewing Major-General Sir Brent Spencer’s brigade, to which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH belonged, in Crowhurst Park, near Hastings, when he received an express for the regiment to march on the following day to Portsmouth, and join the expedition under Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd. When the review was over, Sir Arthur made known the orders he had received, and addressed the regiment in very flattering terms, concluding a short and animated speech with these words:—“I wish to God I was going with you!—I am sure you will do your duty—ay—and distinguish yourselves too.” He then took leave amidst the loud cheers of the corps. [Sidenote: 1807]