The foregoing pages contain a faithful history of the ROYAL FUSILIERS from the period of their formation in the year 1685, and of the peculiar service for which this Regiment was originally established. The introduction of artillery, and the expert and proper management of field-guns, rendered it necessary that a suitable description of officers and men should be selected for such an important and scientific branch of the service, in order to ensure its usefulness; hence it may be inferred, that as qualifications of a superior kind were requisite, the _Subaltern Officers in the Royal Fusiliers_ obtained, on their first appointment, the rank of LIEUTENANT, a distinction which is continued to the present time. During a period exceeding one hundred and sixty years, the ROYAL FUSILIERS have proved themselves to be a faithful and zealous Regiment in the cause of Royalty, and in the interests of their country. Their services in various parts of Europe and America, when war has required their presence and exertions, have, on all occasions, been conspicuous; and their conduct on home-service, when relieved from their tour of duty abroad, has been marked by a strict adherence to the rules of order and discipline: these qualities have rendered them a valuable corps to the Government of the country, and have obtained for them a continuance of the approbation of their Sovereign. 1846. FOOTNOTES: [6] "Our Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to have snap-hance musquets, strapt, with bright barrels of three feet eight inches long, with good swords, cartouch-boxes, and bionetts."--_King James IInd's orders for arming the Royal Fusiliers._ [7] "JAMES R. "These are to authorise you, by beat of drum or otherwise, to raise volunteers to serve for soldiers in your own company in Our Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which we have appointed to be raised, and whereof you are colonel; which company is to consist of one hundred private soldiers, three serjeants, three corporals, and two drummers. And as the said soldiers shall be respectively raised in the said company, they are to be produced to muster, to the intent that they may be received into our pay and entertainment; and when that number shall be fully or nearly completed, they are to march to the general rendezvous of their regiment, where they are also to be mustered. And you are to appoint such person or persons as you shall think fit to receive arms for the said soldiers, and halberts for the said serjeants, out of the stores of Our Ordnance. And we do hereby require all magistrates, justices of the peace, constables and others, Our officers, whom it may concern, at the places where you shall raise, march, or rendezvous our said company, to be assisting therein as there shall be occasion. "Given at our Court at Whitehall the 20th day of June, 1685. "By His Majesty's Command." "WILLIAM BLATHWAYTE.