[5] “Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.”--_General Orders in 1801._ In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January 1809, it is stated:--“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves: and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield,--that no circumstances can appal,--and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.” HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE THIRTY-NINTH, OR THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT: CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT In 1702, AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES To 1853. COMPILED BY RICHARD CANNON, ESQ., ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS. Illustrated with Plates. LONDON: PRINTED BY GEORGE E. EYRE AND WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE. PUBLISHED BY PARKER, FURNIVALL, AND PARKER, MILITARY LIBRARY, 30, CHARING CROSS. 1853. ERRATA. Page 86, line 30,--_for_ “Thansi,” _read_ “Jhansi.” Do. line 34,--_for_ “Kurnool,” _read_ “Kurnaul.” Page 94, line 24,--_for_ “Captain Charles Campbell (Major of Brigade)” _read_ “Captain Marmaduke George Nixon (Major of Brigade).” THE THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR AND APPOINTMENTS THE MOTTO “PRIMUS IN INDIS,” TO DENOTE ITS HAVING BEEN THE FIRST KING’S REGIMENT EMPLOYED IN INDIA; AND THE WORD “PLASSEY,” IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS GALLANTRY IN THAT BATTLE, ON THE 23rd OF JUNE, 1757; THE WORD, “GIBRALTAR,” WITH THE DEVICE OF THE “CASTLE AND KEY,” AND THE MOTTO, “MONTIS INSIGNIA CALPÉ,” IN TESTIMONY OF ITS SERVICES DURING THE DEFENCE OF GIBRALTAR, FROM 1779 TO 1783;