THE OLD COLORS OF THE 57th REGIMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2195, 22 April 1874, Page 3

THE OLD COLORS OF THE 57th REGIMENT.

An unusual but interesting ceremony was observed at the Mansion House on the 23rd January, in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, and a few private friends. In conformity with a previous arrangement, a detachment of the 67th (West Middlesex) Regiment, nnder the command of Major Shortt, waited npon the Lord Mayor, on their way to St. Paul's Cathedral, bearing the colors of the regiment, which as may be remembered, had fought at Albuera, Vittoria, the Peninsula, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and New Zealand. The ceremony was held in the saloon of the Mansion Honse, the Lord Mayor being attended on the occasion by the corporation, aword and mace bearers, and by Major Campbell, the City Marshal. Major Shortt, addressing the Lord Mayor, said he had reason to know that his lordship had been previously informed that new colors had been presented to the regiment, and that the old ones were to be lodged in St. Paul's Cathedral. Assuming that to be so, he had now to ask, on the part of the officers of the regiment, that the Lord Mayor would allow the old colors to be borne through the city with fixed bayonets, and unfurled on the way to the Cathedral. The Lord Mayor expressed the pleasure he felt in acceding to a request so reasonable and honourable. He knew the service which the regiment had rendered to the country from time to time, and it was gratifying to know that the trophies of their valour were to be deposited within the great metropolitan cathedral. He added that the City of London had at all times been prond of the army, and had never been slow to recognise its services in defence of the honour and interests of the country. These flags, the trophies of the past exploits of the 57th Regiment, were to be lodged beneath the dome of St. Paul's, and there long might they reman, to excite the emulation of the citizens. Major Sbortt thanked the Lord Mayor for the readiness he had evinced to do honour to the occasion, and he was snre it would afford the officers and men of the regiment much gratification. The ceremony then terminated. The following- letter, addressed to the Editor of the Times, cannot fail to infuse into the breast of every Englishman who reads it a glow of pleasure : — " Sir, — Between 1 and 2 o'clock to-day, the 21st January, was seen a small military detatchment in uniform marching from Cannon-street to the Mansion House. A field-officer, three other officers, and about eight non-commis-sioned officers and men, were taking to their final resting place, in St. Paul's Cathedral, the old colours of the 57th Regiment— the West Middlesex — the 'Diebards.' They were cordially received by the Lord Mayor, and with equal cordiality at the Cathedral, where, after a short impressive ceremony, the colours were placed on its walls. They were the colonrs of the Crimea, and especially of Inkerrnan. They were accompanied on their last march by the condition that 'no expense was thereby to be entailed on the public' As this detachment of honour passed from the Mansion House and along Cbeapside, little did the rich and busy crowd think that the officers' private purses had saved to the country the railway fare from Woolwich, and thus added to our economical, if it had not quite to our military, credit. Your obedient servant, W. J. Codrington. Eaton-square, January 22." There is nothing (says the Pall Mall Gazette) like maintaining amongst our soldiery a sober enthusiasm for Queen and country ; and by our own feelings, as we read of this apparently trifling but truly significant little incident, we may judge of the sentiments that animated that small company of soldiers as they marched to the Cathedral — without parade ; without ostentation ; indeed, rather sneaking than marching — to place the colours that waved at Inkerman in their final resting-place. Every heart beat high with the thought that although the dear flag was being carried throngb the streets as a pauper corpse is trotted to the grave, the noblest principles of government were vindicated in an almost pathetic manner — " no expense was thereby entailed on the public."