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Accession number
Transcription PortLLL
Rank .
Twelfth ( or the Prince of Wales's ) Regiment of ( Light ) Dragoons .
GEORGE ALLEN MADDEN .
DIE
Colonel
French Republic as that of admitting a British force into his dominions ; and after a few days ' suspense and consideration , he gee a civil refusal , with leave to purchase whatever supplies might be requisite for the use of the troops . Accordingly , from Leghorn it was obliged to go to Porto Ferrajo , in the Isle of Elba , where , not finding the forage necessary for a corps of cavalry , the same inconvenience existed ; and the regiment must have materially suffered , had not a voluntary invitation on the part of Pope Pius the 6th ( for the regiment to be sent to his dominions ) relieved its distress . The passage from Elba to the port of Civita Vecchia , in the Pope's territories , was not of long duration ; and the horses ( who had now been nearly nine suc cessive months constantly imprisoned on board the transports ) were at length landed at that place the 6th of March 1794 , and again restored to liberty and exercise . A rumour was circulated ( and pretty generally believed ) that the regiment had marched for , and was actually doing duty in Rome , and the ludicrous appellation of " Pope's Guards " was given it . But desirable as such a destination would have been , and anxious as the Corps ought to have been to show every sense of its gratitude and veneration for the liberality and attentions paid it by order of the Pope , yet it constantly continued quartered at Civita Vec chia , whilst in his Holiness's dominions ( without fulfilling the distinguished duty rumoured ) and the Officers only , who from curiosity or pleasure resorted to Rome , were granted the felicity of being personally presented to him . The sincere regard Pope Pius the 6th had for the British , was unequivocally expressed , not only by the kind and condescending reception he gave to all those individuals of the corps who were honored by a presen tation at Rome , but by the liberal and expensive entertain ments he ordered the Public Authorities at Civita Vecchia to provide for the whole corps during its stay there ; and lastly , by the more solid proof of his satisfaction and contentment immediately before its departure , when his Holiness conferred gold medals bearing his portrait on each of the officers , accom panied by a handsome letter , expressive of his highest appro bation of the conduct and discipline of the whole corps . These medals , by a public order of the late Lieut . - Gen . Sir Charles Stewart , then Com . - in - Chief in Portugal , were recommended to be constantly worn by the Officers , in ( ( commemoration and in admiration of the virtues of a Pontiff who had uni formly shewn his detestation of the influence and effects of the French revolution , and who had magnanimously preferred to share all danger with his subjects , rather than seek his personal safety by flight . " The seizure of the person of Pope Pius the
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Name .
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Robert Browne James Hare
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HOVD 197
James Steuart , Bt .
9Nov.1794 M.Gen . 120ct . 9 : Lieut . Colonel S Ja . St. Clair Erfkine , Bt . 14Mar . 1792 Col. 20May 95 Mervyn Archdall
1 Mar. 94
Regiment . Army .
111
1 Mar. 1794
19 Mar. 96
[ Overington Blunden George A. Madden
31 Mar. 1793 29 June
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