Lieut.-Colonel Pack was thus enabled to join the troops which had landed near Monte Video in January 1807, under the command of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, and to afford assistance in the important operations then being carried on. Sir Samuel Auchmuty, at Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s request, directed a board of naval and military officers to inquire into the particulars of his escape, by whom it was unanimously approved, and he was declared free to serve.[21] [Sidenote: 2d bat.] The second battalion was removed from Ireland to Scotland in January 1807, but returned to Ireland in June following. [Sidenote: 1st bat.] In May 1807, a further removal to the interior of the prisoners took place. The officers were collected at a college belonging to the Jesuits, about forty leagues to the northward of Cordova, and entirely separated from their men. In this situation they remained until August following, when, just as they were ordered to prepare for a transfer to a station still more remote, the accounts of the convention entered into by Lieut.-General John Whitelocke were received, by which it was stipulated that the prisoners should be restored to liberty, on condition that all the British forces should be withdrawn. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the prospect of being restored to liberty and friends was greatly damped by the military events which produced it, and which completely extinguished the ardent hopes of success that had been entertained from the arrival of the last British force in South America. In September the whole of the officers and men were re-conducted to Buenos Ayres, from whence they were conveyed in boats to Monte Video, and there embarked in transports, with a view of returning to Europe. It is a circumstance highly creditable to the character of the soldiers of the SEVENTY-FIRST, that although so many and powerful allurements were held out to induce them to remain in South America, still not more than thirty-six individuals were found to swerve from their duty and allegiance to their king and country. The fleet sailed immediately, and after a tedious and rough voyage of three months the transports having the SEVENTY-FIRST on board put into Cork Harbour in December, and on the 27th of that month the whole were landed, without uniform, clothing, arms, or accoutrements, and marched to Middleton, under the command of Major Henry Tolley, Lieut.-Colonel Pack having previously returned to England from South America. [Sidenote: 1808.] In March 1808, the regiment proceeded from Middleton to Cork, where its equipment in every respect was completed. [Sidenote: 2d bat.] The second battalion embarked at Londonderry for Scotland on the 9th of April 1808, after transferring 200 men to the first battalion, which raised the strength of the latter to nearly 900 rank and file. [Sidenote: 1st bat.]