The regiment returned to Europe at a very critical period in our national history, when the rampant passions of revolution, as yet untamed by adversity, imperiously taxed the nations in their maintenance. It had no sooner arrived than it was sent to Scotland to recruit, and thence, in 1801, to Ireland. From the number of new regiments called into being at this period to meet the necessities of the times, recruiting went on but slowly. The respite from the dire calamity of war which the Peace of Amiens afforded, occasioned a reduction in the establishment of the Seventy-second. The resumption of hostilities in 1803, not only called for an immediate augmentation of its strength, but occasioned the addition of a second battalion, which was employed in various home garrisons, especially in Ireland, throughout the war, until disbanded in 1816. The immediate peril from a French invasion having passed away, the Seventy-second was ordered to join a secret expedition under Lieut.-General Sir Eyre Coote, K.B., but was ultimately included in the force under Major-General Sir David Baird, which sailed in 1805, and after viewing the beauties of Madeira, and landing for a few days’ refreshment at San Salvador in the Brazils, steered for the coast of Africa, when the object of the expedition was disclosed by an attack upon the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. In addition to its old comrades of the Seventy-first, the Seventy-second was associated with the Ninety-third Regiment in the Highland Brigade of the army. On the morning of the 6th January, 1806, the British effected a landing in Lospard’s Bay, despite the efforts of the Dutch to prevent it. The Highlanders in the van drove the enemy before them, and on attaining the summit of the Blue Mountains, beheld the Batavian army awaiting battle on the other side. The position of the enemy was well chosen, and maintained with determined bravery. The fate of the battle was only decided in our favour when the Highland Brigade was brought forward, and “Brigadier-General Ferguson gave the word ‘Charge.’ A loud British shout instantly rent the air, and the heroic Highlanders closed with bayonets upon their numerous adversaries, who instantly fled in dismay, pursued across the deep sands by the victorious Highland Brigade.” As the army advanced towards Cape Town, the Dutch retired. The conduct of Lieutenant MʻArthur and thirty men of the regiment in the capture of Hout’s Bay, was conspicuous for the gallantry it evinced. These repeated disasters convinced the Dutch of the hopelessness of resistance against troops accustomed to conquer. Accordingly, negotiations were entered into which resulted in the surrender of the colony to the British.