After a service of twelve years in the eastern parts of the world, the EIGHTEENTH, ROYAL IRISH, regiment has received instructions to be prepared to return to its native country, on being relieved by the _ninety-sixth_ regiment from the New South Wales Colony.
In drawing this summary, the compiler could not conclude the record of the arduous services of so meritorious a regiment, without an endeavour to do justice to its loyalty and devotedness to ten successive sovereigns, and to its zeal and usefulness in the cause of its country, during a period of one hundred and sixty-five years.
ARTHUR FORBES, son of Sir Patrick Forbes, a Baronet of Nova Scotia, was a cavalry officer in the Royal army during the rebellion in the reign of King Charles I., and attained the rank of Colonel in 1646. In 1651 he held a considerable command in the north of Scotland, and after the defeat of the Scots army at Worcester on the 3rd of September, 1651, Colonel Forbes opposed the progress of the English under General Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle, but was eventually defeated, and fled to Ireland, where he was permitted by Oliver Cromwell to possess his paternal estate. He took an active part in bringing about the Restoration in 1660, and was appointed one of the commissioners of the Court of Claims in Ireland: he was also nominated captain of an independent troop of horse, and elected a member of Parliament for Mullingar. He took an active part in preventing the breaking out of a conspiracy against the government in Ireland, in 1663; in 1670 he was sworn a member of the Privy Council, and nominated Marshal of the army,--a rank not continued in the service; and in 1671 he was constituted one of the Lords Justices of Ireland. His services were rewarded, in 1675, with the dignity of Baron Clanehugh, and VISCOUNT OF GRANARD; and in April, 1684, his Lordship was nominated Colonel of one of the regiments, formed of independent companies in Ireland, at that period, now the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment. In September following he was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General, and two months afterwards he was advanced to the dignity of EARL OF GRANARD. In March, 1685, King James II. nominated the EARL OF GRANARD one of the Lords Justices of the kingdom, and he was also appointed Chairman of the Council; in 1686 his Lordship resigned the colonelcy of the regiment in favour of his son, Arthur Lord Forbes. Being pressed upon to proceed with unusual severity against the Protestants, he wrote to the King for permission to resign; but His Majesty wrote an answer with his own hand, requesting him to continue in office: he, however, advocated the cause of the Protestants with so much warmth, that he was dismissed by King James in March, 1689. The Earl of Granard attached himself to the interests of King William III. He was sworn of the Privy Council in December, 1690; and he commanded the troops at the reduction of Sligo, in 1691.