"Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham has the greatest pleasure in communicating to the KING'S OWN regiment the distinguished approbation which his Royal Highness the commander-in-chief has been pleased to convey to him of their soldierlike appearance and high state of discipline when his Royal Highness lately saw them at Shorncliffe camp. Lord Chatham desires to offer his particular thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Brinley, as well as to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, for their conduct and unremitted exertions, so well attested by the superior appearance of the regiment, and he trusts that a perseverance in the same exemplary conduct, will ensure to them a continuance of his Royal Highness's favourable opinion. "Lord Chatham assures the regiment that it is with the warmest satisfaction he has seen a corps, whose zeal and whose bravery it has been his good fortune to witness in the field, attain that degree of discipline, correctness, and precision, which when combined must ever render British soldiers invincible." [31] After dinner Colonel Brinley was addressed by Major Dales as follows:-- "The KING'S OWN have directed me to inform you that, while they rejoice at your promotion, they feel much distressed at parting with an officer whose whole time has been so zealously and successfully employed for the general welfare of the corps. It is their intention to beg your acceptance of a small mark of their universal esteem, and it naturally suggested itself to them that a SWORD was the most appropriate token; and, while it will keep alive your attachment to them, opportunities will probably occur when it will be drawn in defence of the best of Kings and best of governments." To which the colonel replied:--"I beg leave to express in the warmest terms, how much I feel the marked attention showed me by this very elegant entertainment. I return you a thousand thanks for the testimony of your attachment, esteem, and regard, manifested by the proposed present of a superb sword, which I shall wear with pride, and I hope with honour to the end of my life. To your assistance alone, during the three years I have had the honour to command you, am I indebted for enabling me to bring the KING'S OWN regiment to its present state of perfection; and I attribute the recent mark of favour which his Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer on me, to your generous aid." [32] In 1808 the officers' lace, epaulettes, and buttons, were directed to be changed from silver to gold. [33] Lieut.-General Leith was wounded during the action, when Major-General Pringle assumed the command of the fifth division, and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke that of the brigade.