[20] The lofty promontory of Southern Africa received the name of “_Cabo da Boa Esperança_” (_Cape of Good Hope_), from King John II. of Portugal, upon its discovery, in 1487, by Bartholomew Diaz, in consequence of a _good hope_ being entertained of discovering the long-wished for passage to India, which ten years afterwards was realised by Vasco de Gama, who doubled the Cape, and continued the voyage to the Malabar coast. For more than a century the Cape continued as a temporary rendezvous for European mariners. In July 1620, Humphrey Fitzherbert and Andrew Shillinge, two of the East India Company’s commanders, took formal possession of the place, in the name of King James I., but no settlement was formed. In 1650 the government of the Netherlands resolved to colonize the Cape, which remained in possession of the Dutch until July 1795, when it was taken by the British for the Prince of Orange, but was restored to its former possessors by the Peace of Amiens, concluded in 1802. It was again captured by the British in 1806, in whose possession it has since remained. [21] Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s narrative of his escape is inserted in the Appendix, page 158. [22] Lieut.-General Sir Harry Burrard landed during the action, but did not assume the command. Lieut.-General Sir Hew Dalrymple landed on the following day, and took command of the army. The force under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore was also disembarked during the negotiation, which subsequently took place, making the British army amount to thirty-two thousand men. [23] _Vide_ page 14. [24] _Vide_ general orders of the 18th of January and 1st of February 1809; also a list of regiments employed under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore at Corunna, inserted in pages 161, &c. of the _Appendix_. [25] The bonnet _cocked_ is the pattern cap to which allusion is made in the above letter. This was in accordance with Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s application; and with respect to retaining the pipes, and dressing the pipers in the Highland garb, he added, “It cannot be forgotten how these pipes were obtained, and how constantly the regiment has upheld its title to them. These are the honorable characteristics which must preserve to future times the precious remains of the old corps, and of which I feel confident His Majesty will never have reason to deprive the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment.” [26] The remaining four companies of the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment arrived in the Peninsula in the course of the year 1811, namely, two companies in March, and two in July 1811. [27] Major General William Carr Beresford, marshal in the Portuguese service, was appointed a Knight of the Bath on the 16th of October 1810. [28] Lieut.-General Rowland Hill was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Bath on the 22d of February 1812.