The capitulation was drawn up in the name of General Pigot, who had only commanded for a few weeks. Different arrangements occupied the time till the 2d of October, when the fleet sailed for Cadiz, for the purpose of landing there, and taking possession of the city and fleet in the harbour of Carraccas. The army under Sir James Pulteney, from Ferrol, formed a junction with Sir Ralph Abercromby; and the following morning a signal was made for landing to the westward of Cadiz. The reserve under General Moore, the Guards under General Ludlow, and General Craddock's brigade, were ordered for the first disembarkation. For this purpose, the Royal Highlanders, with part of the reserve, were put into the boats, and ordered to assemble round the Ajax, the Honourable Captain Alexander Cochrane, who was to conduct the debarkation. A body of 2500 men were already on board the boats, waiting with eager expectation for the signal to proceed to the shore, when, about two o'clock, a gun from Cadiz announced the approach of a flag of truce. The object of this communication was to deprecate any attack upon a town and people already suffering under the ravages of a pestilence, which had carried off thousands, and threatened destruction to the whole population. This was a powerful appeal. The Commanders-in-Chief resolved to suspend the attack, and signals were made to re-embark the troops. However judicious and proper this decision might be in such peculiar circumstances, the disappointment of the troops was extreme. They saw themselves doomed to remain on board the transports, without any apparent object, and without knowing when or in what manner they were to be employed. On the following morning, the fleet got under weigh for the Bay of Tetuan, on the coast of Barbary. But it had lain there only for a few days, when a violent gale came on to blow with great fury into the bay, and compelled it to run to sea with the utmost precipitation, and to take shelter under the lee of Cape Spartell. When the weather moderated, the fleet returned to Gibraltar. On the 29th of October, Sir James Pulteney, with those regiments whose service was limited to Europe, received orders for Portugal, while the Commander-in-Chief, with the other troops, proceeded to Malta. This was the first intimation of an extended field of service. SECTION X. Expedition to Egypt-Land on the 8th-Battle of the 13th—The 90th and 92d regiments lead the attack-Battle of the 21stDeath of Abercromby-Surrender of Cairo-Surrender of Alexandria-Indian Army. IN Malta it was ascertained that Egypt was the object of attack. This intelligence was joyfully received. All were elevated, both by the prospect of relief from the monotony of a soldier's life on board a transport, and by a debarkation in an interesting country, for the purpose of meeting a brave and hitherto invincible enemy; at least so far invincible, that their repeated victories on the continent of Europe seemed to entitle them to that honourable designation. On the 20th and 21st of December 1800, the fleet sailed in two divisions for Marmorice, a beautiful bay on the coast of Greece. The first division arrived on the 28th of December, and the second on the 1st of January 1801, to wait for a reinforcement of men and horses to be furnished by our allies, the Turks. The port of Marmorice was not less remarkable for its security and convenience, than for the magnificent scenery of the surrounding mountains, * In all cases where the running title at the top of the page is "Highland Regiments," the services of the 79th and 92d are included with the Royal Highlanders. covered to the top with majectic forests, and the most luxuriant verdure.* The Turkish supplies, deficient in every respect, having at length arrived, the fleet again put to sea on the 23d of February, and on Sunday morning, being the 1st of March, the coast of Egypt was descried, presenting in its white sandy banks, and tame uninteresting back-ground, a remarkable contrast to the noble elevations and luxuriant landscapes on the coast of Greece. While so much time had been lost in waiting for the Turkish reinforcements, a gale of wind, encountered on the passage, scattered the light and ill-managed vessels which conveyed their horses and stores. These took shelter in the nearest ports, and, while the fleet lay at Marmorice, waiting for the junction of so inefficient an aid, the enemy were more fortunate in the safe arrival from Toulon of two frigates, having on board troops, guns, ammunition, and all sorts of military stores,-a supply which they could not have received, had not the British been detained so long waiting for the Turks. One part of the reinforcement, which the enemy so opportunely received, consisted of nearly 700 artillerymen, a number more than equal to the whole artillery of the invading army. * Amongst the numbers that came to see the British armament was an unexpected visitor in the dress of a Turk. This was a gentleman of the name of Campbell, a native of the district of Kintyre, in Argyleshire. Early in life, he had been so affected by the death of a school-fellow, who had been killed by accident as they were at play together, that he fled from the country, and joined the Turkish army. He had served forty years under the standard of Islam, and had risen to the rank of General of Artillery. He went on board the ship where the 42d were embarked, to inquire about his family. When he saw the men in the dress to which he had been accustomed in his youth, the remembrance of former years, and of his native country, so affected him that he burst into tears. The astonishment of the soldiers may be easily imagined when they were addressed in their own language, (which he had not forgotten,) by a Turk in his full costume, and with a white beard flowing down to his girdle. 28th, Major Mackenzie, Col. the Hon. Edward Paget, 42d, or Royal High-2 Lieut.-Col. William Dickson, landers, 58th, Corsican Rangers, light dragoons, Do. of Homspech's regiment, } Lieut.-Col. William Houston, Captain Money, Lieut.-Col. Sir Robert Wilson, Major-General Brig. Gen. the Hon. Edward Finch. Brigadier-General Lawson. Deducting about 300 sick, the efficient force was 12,334, while that of the enemy was now ascertained to be more than 32,000 men, independently of several thousand native auxiliaries. The fleet first came to anchor in Aboukir bay, on the spot where the battle of the Nile had been fought nearly three years before. Scarcely had the General arrived at his destination, when he received intelligence of two unfortunate occurrences, neither of them unimportant to his future operations, and one-of them particularly vexatious. The first was the death of Major Mackerras,* and the capture of Major Fletcher of the engineers, who had been sent forward to reconnoitre the coast. The second was the entrance of a French frigate into the harbour of Alexandria, by a very adroit stratagem. This ship had got some British signals from an English vessel she had taken, and coming in sight of the fleet in the evening without any suspicion, had answered all signals with accuracy, till getting close to Alexandria, she hoisted French colours, and darted into the harbour. In the course of the night the French sloop of war Lodi, from Marseilles, also got into the harbour of Alexandria. In addition to these untoward and unlooked for incidents, the General received information that the enemy's force was at least 15,000 men more than was expected. At the commencement of such an arduous campaign, these events, together with the reinforcements recently landed by the frigates from Toulon, were in no small degree calamitous. The French had received additional supplies of able officers, of men, and of military stores; and, as if fortune and the elements had conspired against the British, while the enemy were securely making preparations to repel all attacks, after the fleet came to an anchor, on the night of the 1st of March, a gale sprung up so violent and so unremitting, that a disembarkation could not be attempted till • The eminent professional abilities and excellent personal qualities of Major Mackerras caused his death to be an object of particular regret to the whole army. |