Autograph letter signed : Gibraltar, to Sir James Pulteney, 1800 Mar. 28.

Concerning the reputation of the Regiment; expressing appreciation for the full and satisfactory reply to a letter he sent him signed by all the Officers" saying "I can assure you it has made us all very happy to find that no idea of disaffection has been imputed to us at home nor did we entertain a thought of it ourselves untill we heard it from Officers of different Corps coming from England. We do not presume to stipulate any kind of Service for, I will venture to say, that we shall embark on any His Majesty may require of us with the greatest alacrity;" assuring him of their loyalty and the best interests of the Regiment; expressing his pleasure that they will be getting additional men and asking, if a 2nd Battalion is created, that he be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; saying "from my being so young a Major, it may be thought improper my making the request, however I trust from some circumstances that I shall mention you will have the goodness to intercede in my behalf : I was born in the Royal Regiment of Ireland and have never been absent from it, except for about six years during which time I was at School, and have been constantly present with it the last 17 years, 13 of which I have been an Officer. I made every exertion in my power to purchase the Majority as I could not think of depriving my father of any thing, having so many Sisters - and consequently obtaining the next step will be the greatest thing possible for me as I have no means whatever of purchasing further. I must also beg leave to mention that our Three Senior Captains are all old Officers and by my promotion it will leave a Vacancy for them."