Few years elapsed before the Spanish monarch again violated the peace of Europe. The possessions, of which he was deprived by the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, had been relinquished with reluctance, and towards the end of 1726, he assembled an army in Andalusia, under the command of the Count de la Torres, to make a determined effort for the re-capture of _Gibraltar_. [Sidenote: 1727] In February, 1727, the garrison of Gibraltar opened its fire on the besieging army; and the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment was, at this period, on its way from Ireland, to share in the honor of a successful defence of this important fortress. The regiment encountered a storm at sea, and lost several companies by shipwreck; six companies proceeded to Plymouth, and afterwards continuing their voyage, arrived at Gibraltar on the 26th of March, in company with the Twenty-fifth Regiment; they were followed by several other corps. The garrison made a very gallant defence of the fortress committed to their charge, against the storm of war, which raged against them with increasing fury until the thunder of one hundred cannon became almost incessant in the day time, and was partially continued throughout the night. The tremendous fire of the Spaniards produced little effect beyond the bursting of many of their own cannon, and rendering others useless; and many thousands of the besieging army perished in the attempt. In the early part of June, the fire slackened; on the 18th of that month hostilities ceased; and the fortress of Gibraltar continued to form one of the trophies of British prowess. [Sidenote: 1728] Peace having been concluded with Spain, the regiment was withdrawn from Gibraltar, and proceeded to Ireland, where it was conspicuous for its good conduct in quarters. [Sidenote: 1731] [Sidenote: 1732] Colonel Robert Hayes died at Jamaica, on the 7th of April, 1731, and the colonelcy of the regiment remained vacant until the 8th of January 1732, when King George II. conferred the appointment on Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Cornwallis, from the command of a company in the Foot Guards. [Sidenote: 1738] Colonel Cornwallis commanded the regiment until 1738, when he was removed to the Eleventh Foot, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord James Cavendish. [Sidenote: 1739] On the commencement of the war with Spain, in 1739, the establishment of the regiment was augmented, and in the autumn it was removed to England. [Sidenote: 1740] In 1740, a detachment of the regiment served on board the fleet, as marines. [Sidenote: 1741] [Sidenote: 1742] Colonel Lord James Cavendish died in November, 1741, and in 1742 the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Colonel the Honorable James Cholmondeley, from the Fifty-ninth, now Forty-eighth Regiment. [Sidenote: 1743] [Sidenote: 1744]