A considerable body of troops arrived in the West Indies in 1703: but they were afterwards recalled to take part in the war in Europe. The TWENTY-SECOND regiment was left at the island of Jamaica, and during the reign of Queen Anne the regiment was employed in protecting Jamaica, and the other British settlements in the West Indies, which important duty it performed with reputation. [Sidenote: 1704] [Sidenote: 1705] While employed on this duty, the regiment received drafts from several other corps, and in 1705 an augmentation of two companies was made to its establishment. [Sidenote: 1712] Colonel Handasyd was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in December, 1705, and to that of Major-General in January, 1710. In 1712 he retired from the colonelcy, resigning his commission in favour of his son, Lieut.-Colonel Roger Handasyd, of the regiment. [Sidenote: 1713] [Sidenote: 1714] In the following year the treaty of Utrecht gave peace to Europe; and on the 31st of May, 1711, an order was issued for the men of the regiment fit for duty to be formed into two independent companies for service at Jamaica: the officers and staff returning to Europe to recruit. The two independent companies thus formed from the TWENTY-SECOND were the nucleus of the FORTY-NINTH regiment, which was formed of independent companies at Jamaica in 1743. [Sidenote: 1715] [Sidenote: 1718] The officers and the serjeants not required for the independent companies, having arrived in England, were actively employed in recruiting in 1715; and in 1718 the regiment proceeded to Ireland. [Sidenote: 1719] [Sidenote: 1726] The regiment was stationed in Ireland during the eight years from 1719 to 1726, and in the spring of the last-mentioned year, it proceeded to the island of Minorca, which had been captured by the English, in 1708, and was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, together with the fortress of Gibraltar. [Sidenote: 1727] In the beginning of 1727, the Spaniards besieged _Gibraltar_, and a detachment of the regiment, being sent to reinforce the garrison, had the honor to take part in the successful defence of that important fortress. When the Spaniards raised the siege, the detachment rejoined the regiment at Minorca. [Sidenote: 1730] Colonel Handasyd commanded the regiment with reputation until 1730, when he was removed to the Sixteenth foot, and was succeeded by Brigadier-General William Barrell, from the Twenty-eighth regiment. [Sidenote: 1734] Brigadier-General Barrell was removed to the Fourth foot in 1734, when King George II. conferred the colonelcy of the TWENTY-SECOND regiment on Colonel the Honorable James St. Clair, from Major in the First foot-guards. [Sidenote: 1737] On the 27th of June, 1737, Colonel the Honorable James St. Clair was removed to the First, the Royal regiment of foot, and his Majesty nominated Major-General John Moyle, from the Thirty-sixth, to the colonelcy of the TWENTY-SECOND regiment.