Representation having been made of the gallant behaviour of the EIGHTY-SIXTH at the reduction of this island, the royal authority was given for their bearing the word “BOURBON” on their colours and appointments, as a mark of their Sovereign’s approbation, and to commemorate their gallantry on this occasion. Bourbon and the Isle of France had been blockaded some time; the capture of the former emboldening the British navy, a small fleet ventured within the Isle de Passe, on the south-west side of the Isle of France, where one British ship was burnt and sunk, and several disabled, which gave the enemy a superiority at sea, when their frigates menaced the batteries of Bourbon. The “Africaine” frigate arriving from England short of hands, Lieutenant W. Home, a serjeant, and twenty-five men of the EIGHTY-SIXTH went on board, and this frigate, and the “Boadicea,” having put to sea under Commodore Rowley, came up with, and engaged, two French frigates. The “Boadicea” was becalmed astern, the “Africaine” fought the two French ships until Captain Corbett and one hundred and sixty of his crew were killed and wounded, when the frigate being a complete wreck, she struck her colours, but Commodore Rowley coming up with the “Boadicea,” the enemy made sail, and the shattered frigate was towed into St. Paul’s. Only three of the soldiers of the EIGHTY-SIXTH escaped; six having been killed, and Lieutenant Home and seventeen wounded. In September, the “Ceylon” frigate, having Major-General Abercromby and staff, also Lieutenant Clarke and twenty-five men of the EIGHTY-SIXTH, on board, was captured by the “La Venus” French frigate, after a severe action, in which both ships were dismasted; but Commodore Rowley appeared in the “Boadicea,” re-captured the “Ceylon,” and took the “La Venus.” General Sir Charles Ross having been removed to the Thirty-seventh Foot, was succeeded in the colonelcy of the EIGHTY-SIXTH by Major-General the Honourable Francis Needham, from the Fifth Royal Veteran Battalion. Lieut.-Colonel Hastings Fraser was rewarded for his conduct before St. Denis on the 8th of July, with the dignity of Companion of the Bath, the officers of the EIGHTY-SIXTH regiment presented him with a sword, and those of his brigade, in the Company’s service, with a valuable piece of plate. [Sidenote: 1811] The EIGHTY-SIXTH were removed to the Isle of France in March, 1811, that island having also been captured, and were there joined by Ensigns J. Creagh and J. Grant, Assistant-Surgeon Bell, and a few recruits from Europe, being part of a detachment which had been sent to India. [Sidenote: 1812] Orders having been received for the return of the regiment to India, it sailed from Port Louis on the 9th of January, 1812, and landing at Madras on the 21st of February, encamped on the South Beach until the departure of the Thirty-third regiment for England, when it occupied Fort St. George where Captain Impey and sixty-eight recruits were awaiting its arrival.