in this capital of Ireland. You are an old and distinguished
regiment; raised originally for service in India as the Royal Madras and
Royal Bombay Fusiliers. During the time that you bore this name and the
numbers 102 and 103, you took a very honourable part in all those great
battles that assured us the conquest of India. Now, since the year 1881,
you have become closely associated not only with Ireland, but with its
capital. Your first service since you became the Royal Dublin Fusiliers
was in South Africa, and through the arduous services in that country
you, men, whom I have now the honour of addressing, nobly maintained the
traditions of those fine soldiers who went before you. When you were
sent from India amongst the first reinforcements of the troops in South
Africa in 1897--soon afterwards the war broke out--you took a leading
part in the Battle of Talana. You then went back to Ladysmith, and after
falling back across the Tugela, you were attached to the army of Sir
Redvers Buller, in the Irish Brigade under General Hart. During all
those weary months on the Tugela, you took a leading part in every
action that took place, and you distinguished yourselves so much at
Pieter's Hill that when the relief force of Ladysmith marched in, the
general officer commanding gave you the post of honour, and you led the
troops that marched into Ladysmith. (Cheers.) Men of the Royal Dublin
Fusiliers, this occasion is one of especial pleasure and satisfaction to
myself, as His Majesty has done me the great honour of appointing me
your Colonel-in-Chief--(cheers)--and I hope that in this you will
recognise not only His Majesty's high appreciation of the distinguished
services you have rendered to his throne and his empire, but also that
you will see in it his wish that you will have some special mark of
distinction when he has made me, his only brother, Colonel-in-Chief of
the regiment. I hope I shall long have the honour to be your
Colonel-in-Chief, and to have a connection with a regiment of which
every Irishman feels so proud.' (Cheers.)

Colonel G. T. Plunkett, C.B., read the following letter, received from
the Earl of Meath, H.M.L. for the County and City of Dublin:--

'_Ottershaw, Chertsey._

'MY DEAR PLUNKETT,--Owing to absence from Ireland, I shall be unable
to be present in person with you on the 13th, when you and the
Reception Committee entertain the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusi