Two squadrons were ordered to Portsmouth to embark for Egypt, but the order was countermanded, and they rejoined the head-quarters at Swinley, near Windsor, where the regiment was encamped during the summer.
This year a second Lieut.-Colonel was added to the establishment, which was augmented to ten troops.
After encamping on Bagshot heath, in the summer of 1800, the regiment was employed in suppressing riots, occasioned by the high price of provision, and it exhibited much forbearance under many aggravated assaults from the populace, especially at Duffield, where many soldiers were hurt, and several men of the regiment were afterwards invalided in consequence of the injuries received on this and other occasions: Captain Werge received a shot through his helmet.
At a general muster at Manchester, in 1801, the regiment had upwards of a thousand non-commissioned officers and soldiers on parade, and nearly a thousand horses: but at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, the establishment was reduced to eight troops. The horses of one of the reduced troops were valued, by a dealer, at an average of forty guineas each.
Having embarked for Ireland in May, 1803, the regiment experienced much severe weather on the passage; it landed at Dublin, and war with France having been resumed, two troops were added to the establishment.
Four troops joined the force encamped, under Lord Cathcart, on the Curragh of Kildare, in August, 1804.
In the winter of 1805 the regiment embarked for England, in the expectation of engaging in active warfare on the Continent; but the results of the victory gained by Buonaparte over the Austrians and Russians at Austerlitz, occasioned the order to proceed on foreign service to be countermanded.
On landing in England the head-quarters proceeded to Northampton, where the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir Henry Warde, who informed the commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Evan Lloyd, that he had been sent to examine the regiment in consequence of it being supposed to be unfit for service; but that he should report it composed of the finest men, the best horses, and equipped with the best appointments of any corps he had inspected.
In April, 1806, the SEVENTEENTH marched to the vicinity of London, and were reviewed on Wimbledon common by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of York. The Prince of Wales most graciously shook hands with Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd, and wished him joy on so fine a corps, as did also several other general officers present on that occasion, and the Duke of York expressed his gratification in very strong terms, at witnessing the appearance of the corps and its correct manœuvring.