such an opportunity of distinguishing themselves,—and he, for the gallantry which had surmounted all obstructions, "with an intrepidity scarcely to be paralleled. + By the

• While the army lay in Marmorice Bay, the Minotaur, Captain Louis, the Northumberland, Captain George Martin, and the Penelope, Captain Henry Blackwood, were ordered to cruize off Alexandria, to prevent the entrance of any ships or supplies from France. Soon after the arrival of this blockading squadron on the coast, several vessels sent out from Alexandria were taken. On board of these were a number of officers, of all ranks, returning to France on leave of absence. All these were taken on board the commodore's ship, the Minotaur. Captain Louis treated them with the greatest hospitality and politeness, taking the general officers, and as many others as he could accommodate, to his own table, while the rest were entertained in the ward-room with the officers. I was also a guest at Captain Louis's hospitable table, having been sent on board at Malta with 200 men of the Highlanders, in consequence of the disabled state of the ship in which they had embarked from Minorca. For some time, the French officers were in bad humour at their capture, assumed a distant air, and did not appear disposed to be communicative; but the manner in which they were received and entertained, together with the good cheer, had a wonderful effect in softening their disappointment, and in opening their minds. In the course of conversation, and without any intention on their part, nay, perhaps unconscious of what they were doing, they communicated much important information on the state of their army, and of the country in general. Their estimate of the numbers of the army was not at first credited, but the correctness of their statements was soon confirmed. As intimacy increased, they expressed much regret that so many brave men should be sacrificed in a desperate attempt, which, they were sure, could not be successful. On the morning of the 8th, twò young French field-officers went up the rigging as the boats made the last push for landing, to witness, as they said, the last sight of their English friends; but when they saw the troops land, ascend the hill, and force the defenders at the top to fly, the love of their country, and the honour of their arms, overcame their new friendship. They burst into tears, and, with a passionate exclamation of grief and surprise, ran down below, and did not again appear on deck during the day.

When the fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay, I went on board the flagship, to communicate to the General the intelligence I had received. He heard me with great attention, and after I had finished asked many questions. He then ordered a boat, and rowed towards the beach to reconnoitre, but returned very soon. I waited on board till he came back, and accompanied Colonel Abercromby, who followed his father, into the ca+ Gazette.

great exertions of the navy, the whole army were landed the same evening.*

During three days the army were engaged in landing provisions and stores. This necessary delay enabled the enemy to collect more troops, so that the British, on moving forward in the evening of the 12th, found them strongly fortified among sand-hills and a thicket of palm and date trees, to the number of more than 5000 infantry, 600 cavalry, and 30 pieces of artillery, well appointed.

On the morning of the 13th, the troops moved forward to the attack in three columns of regiments, the 90th or Perthshire regiment forming the advance of the first column; and the 92d, or Gordon Highlanders, that of the second; the reserve marching in column, covering the movements of the first line, and running parallel with it. When the army had cleared the date-trees, the enemy quitted the heights, and, with great boldness, moved down on the 92d, which by this time had formed in line. The French opened a heavy fire of cannon and musketry, which the 92d quickly returned, firmly resisting the repeated attacks of the French line, (supported as it was by a powerful artillery,) and singly

bin, when he asked his opinion of the landing place. The answer was short. We must be in possession of yonder sand hills to-morrow morning; but, as I have stated, it was not till that day se'night that an attempt could be made.

• When the men had laid down to rest after the action, I walked to the rear to inquire after some of my company who had fallen behind, being either killed or wounded. Observing some men digging a hole, and a number of dead bodies lying around, I stept up to one of them, and touching his temple, felt that it retained some warmth. I then told the soldiers not to bury him, but to carry him to the surgeon, as he did not appear to be quite dead. "Poh! Poh !" said one of them," he is as dead as my grandfather, who was killed at Culloden;" and, taking the man by the heels, proceeded to drag him to the pit. But I caused him to desist. The wounded man was so horridly disfigured as to justify his companion in the judgment he had formed. A ball had passed through his head, which was in consequence greatly swelled, and covered with clotted blood. He was carried to the hospital, where he revived from his swoon, and recovered so rapidly, that in six weeks he was able to do his duty.

maintaining their ground till the line came up. At the same time, the French cavalry, with the greatest impetuosity, charged down a declivity on the 90th regiment. This corps, standing with the coolest intrepidity, allowed them to approach within fifty yards, when, by a well-directed fire, they so completely broke the charge, that only a few reached the regiment, and most of them were instantly bayoneted; the rest fled off to their left, and retreated in the greatest confusion. The 90th regiment being dressed in helmets, as a corps of light infantry, were mistaken for dismounted cavalry, and the enemy believing them out of their element, attacked with the more boldness, as they expected less resistance. +

The two divisions now formed line, the reserve remaining in column to cover the right flank. The whole moved forward in this order, suffering from the enemy's flying artillery, which, having six horses to each gun, executed their movements with the greatest celerity; while the British, with only a few badly appointed cavalry, and no artillery horses, had their guns dragged by sailors, occasionally assisted by the soldiers, through sands so loose and so deep, that the wheels sunk sometimes to the axle. Yet, slow as the movements were, the enemy could offer no effectual resistance, as our troops advanced, and retreated to their lines in front of Alexandria. These lines Sir Ralph Abercromby determined to force. To accomplish this important object, General Moore, with the reserve, was ordered to the right, and General Hutchinson with the second line to the left, while the first line remained in the centre. From the formidable and imposing appearance of the enemy's defences, this seem

• Colonel (now Lord) Hill's life was saved by his helmet. A musquet ball struck it on the brass rim with such force, that he was thrown from his horse to the ground, and the brass completely indented. Without this safeguard, the ball would have passed through his head.

At this time, Sir Ralph Abercromby, who was always in front, had his horse shot under him, and was nearly surrounded by the enemy's cavalry, a situation from which he was rescued by the 90th regiment.

ed a bold attempt. Not knowing their relative positions, or whether, after being successively gained, they could be maintained without proper artillery, if the one commanded the other, our commander found it necessary to reconnoitre with care. In this state of doubt and delay the troops suffered exceedingly from a galling fire, without having it in their power to return a shot, while the French had leisure to take cool aim. On this trying occasion the intrepidity and discipline of the British remained unshaken. Eager to advance, but restrained till it could be done with success, and with the least loss of lives, they remained for hours exposed to a fire that might have shaken the firmness of the best troops. At length the difficulties of the attack appearing insurmountable, they were ordered to retire, and occupy that position which was afterwards so well maintained on the 21st of March, and in which they avenged themselves for their present disappointment.

The loss was severe, 6 officers, 6 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 143 rank and file, being killed; and 66 officers, 61 serjeants, 7 drummers, and 946 rank and file, wounded. The loss of the Royal Highlanders, who were not engaged, but only exposed to distant shot, was 3 rank and file killed; and Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, Captain Archibald Argyle Campbell, Lieutenant Simon Fraser, 3 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 23 rank and file, wounded. *

men.

• The loss of the 42d on this day was the more to be regretted, as, except the wound of Colonel Dickson and one or two more, the whole might have been avoided, had it not been for the idle curiosity of some young While the General was in consultation whether he should pursue the enemy to the walls of Alexandria, General Moore, who was never absent when his presence was required, had ordered the 42d up to the right, to form in the closest possible order, immediately under a steep hill, which would effectually conceal them, while they would be ready, on the first signal, to dash up the hill upon the enemy. The battalion, accordingly, lay close under the hill, without being perceived by the enemy; and the most positive orders were given, that every man should sit down, with his firelock between his knees, ready to start up at a moment's warning; and on no account was any person to quit the column, lest the position should

Thus ended the battle of the 13th of March, which exemplified in the strongest manner the difficulties under which

be discovered by the enemy, who had covered with guns the top of the hill immediately above. In this situation, the regiment lay in perfect silence, till three young men, seized with an irresistible curiosity to see what the rest of the army were doing, crept out unperceived by Colonel Alexander Stewart, the commanding officer. They were descried by the enemy, who quickly brought their guns to bear on the regiment, and in an instant three shots were plunged into the centre of the column. This being repeated before the men could be removed to the right, under cover of a projecting hill, thirteen men were left on the ground, either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Simon Fraser lost his left hand, and Captain Archibald Campbell was severely wounded in the arm and side. Thus a foolish, and, on such an occasion, an unpardonable, curiosity caused death or irreparable injury to several officers and soldiers.

One of the young men killed was of my company. A six-pound shot struck through both hips as he lay on the ground, and made such a horrible opening as if he had been cut in two. He cried out, "God bless you, Captain Stewart, come and give me your hand before I die, and be sure to tell my father and mother that I die like a brave and good soldier, and have saved money for them, which you will send home." He said something else, which I could not understand, and dropping his head he expired.

A strong instance of fear was at this time exhibited by a half-witted creature, one of those who, for the sake of filling up the ranks, although incapable of performing the best duties of a soldier, could not be discharged. When the regiment was again placed under cover, I returned, with a few men, to assist in carrying away the wounded. After this was done, I observed in a small hollow, at a little distance, a soldier lying close on his face, with his legs and arms stretched out as if he had been glued to the ground. I turned his face upwards, and asked him if he was much hurt: he started up, but fell back again, seemingly without the power of his limbs, and trembling violently. However, I got him on his legs, and being anxious to get away, as the enemy's shot were flying about, I was walking off, when I perceived the surgeon's case of instruments, which had been somehow left in the hurry of the last movement. Sensible of its value, I took it up to carry it with me, when I perceived my countryman standing up, having by this time recovered the power of his limbs. I put the chest on his back, telling him it would shelter him from the shot. At this instant a twelve pound shot plunged in the sand by our side. My fellow soldier fell down one way, and the box the other; and, on my again endeavouring to get him on his legs, I found his limbs as powerless as if every joint had been dislocated. The veins of his wrist and forehead were greatly swollen; and he was incapable of speaking, and in a