“The survivors of the Indian campaigns were decorated with their medals. After the usual routine of parading the old colours, and giving them up, the band playing ‘_Auld lang syne_,’ the Regiment formed a hollow square, and the Garrison Chaplain repeated the prescribed formula for the occasion. The New Colours were then handed to Ensigns Christian and Brown, when His Royal Highness the Prince George of Cambridge briefly addressed the Regiment, stating his gratification at having this pleasing duty to perform. He had not seen service himself, and the task would have fallen more appropriately upon one who had. In encouraging the troops to the performance of their duty, he related the anecdote of the Serjeant who, when the Ensign bearing the old colour had fallen mortally wounded, seized it,--carried it onwards,--and victory resulted. The non-commissioned officer was promoted to an ensigncy in the Eighteenth, Royal Irish, regiment.[36] “The corps then formed in line, and gave a Royal salute, the band playing ‘_God save the Queen_.’ The day was remarkably fine, and after the ceremony the regiment marched into its quarters in the Linen-Hall Barracks.” Certain of the distinguished officers of the garrison of Dublin were entertained by the officers of the regiment at dinner in the evening; but His Royal Highness Prince George was prevented from attending by an expected disturbance in the city. [Sidenote: 1849] On the 1st of February, 1849, the establishment of the regiment was reduced from eight hundred to seven hundred and fifty rank and file. On the 20th of July, 1849, Lieut.-Colonel Spence retired, after a lengthened service of forty-one years, and Major George Staunton was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel James Spence.[37] During the year 1849 the regiment remained at Athlone. [Sidenote: 1850] In April, 1850, the regiment proceeded from Athlone to Dublin, where it continued to be stationed at the conclusion of the Historical Record. FOOTNOTES: [6] Colonel Thomas Saunderson’s Marine Corps, now 30th Regiment. Colonel George Villiers’s do. now 31st do. Colonel Edward Fox’s do. now 32nd do. Colonel Harry Mordaunt’s do. disbanded in 1713. Colonel Henry Holl’s do. do. do. Colonel Viscount Shannon’s. do. do. do.