The British army in Egypt had equalled the most sanguine expectations of their country; and when ages have passed, the story of the gallant achievements of the soldiers who fought under the brave Sir Ralph Abercromby will stimulate to heroic actions the future warriors of the British empire. The English army had proved to the world that French soldiers were not invincible; the expectations of Buonaparte had been defeated, and negociations for a treaty of peace were commenced.
1802
The Thirteenth regiment remained in Egypt until the 13th of January, 1802, when it embarked from Alexandria for the island of Malta, where it arrived on the 2nd of March.
The regiment was stationed at Malta twelve months, during which time a treaty of peace was concluded at Amiens, on the 25th March, 1802, in which the British government agreed to give up Malta; but the conduct of Buonaparte, then First Consul of France, was marked by so many acts of aggression, that the government considered itself justified in refusing to deliver up the island.
1803
In March, 1803, when hostilities were on the eve of re-commencing, the regiment embarked for Gibraltar, to relieve the second battalion of the royal regiment of foot from garrison duty at that fortress.
1804
On the decease of General Ainslie, in 1804, King George III., conferred the colonelcy of the Thirteenth foot on Lieut.-General Sir Alexander Campbell, (who had commanded the seventh West India regiment which was disbanded in 1802,) by commission dated the 11th of July, 1804.
While the regiment was stationed at Gibraltar, a fever of a very fatal character broke out in the town and garrison, and during the months of September, October, and November, the regiment lost four officers, and one hundred and twenty-six non-commissioned officers and private soldiers.
1805
1806