should follow him with the horse. He answered, "I don't imagine I will require him any more this day." While all this was passing no officer was near him. The first officer he met was Sir Sidney Smith, and observing that his sword was broken, the General presented him with the trophy which he had gained. He betrayed no symptoms of personal pain, nor relaxed a moment the intense interest he took in the state of the field; nor was it perceived that he was wounded, till he was joined by some of the staff, who observed the blood trickling down his thigh. Even during the interval between the time of his being wounded and the last charge of cavalry, he walked with a firm and steady step along the line of the Highlanders, and General Stuart's brigade, to the position of the Guards, in the centre of the line, where, from its elevated situation, he had a full view of the whole field of battle. Here he remained, regardless of the wound, giving his orders so much in his usual manner, that the officers who came to receive them perceived nothing that indicated either pain or anxiety. These officers afterwards could not sufficiently express their astonishment when they came to learn the state in which he was, and the pain which he must have suffered from the nature of his wound. A musket ball had entered his groin, and lodged deep in the hip-joint. The ball was even so firmly fixed, that it required considerable force to extract it after his death. My respectable friend, Dr Alexander Robertson, the surgeon who attended him, assured me that nothing could exceed his surprise and admiration at the calmness of his heroic patient. With a wound in such a part, connected with, and bearing on every part of his body, it is a matter of surprise how he could move at all; and nothing but the most intense interest in the fate of his army, the issue of the battle, and the honour of the British name, could have inspired and sustained such resolution. As soon as the impulse ceased in the assurance of victory, he yielded to exhausted nature, acknowledged that

he required some rest, and lay down on a little sand-hil. close to the battery.

He was now surrounded by the Generals and a number of officers. At a respectful distance the soldiers were seen crowding round this melancholy group, pouring out their blessings on his head, and their prayers for his recovery. He was carried on board the Foudroyant, where he lingered for some days, still maintaining his usual serenity and composure. On the morning of the 28th of March his breathing became difficult and agitated, and in a few hours he expired." As his life was honourable, so his death was glorious. His memory will be recorded in the annals of his country, will be sacred to every British soldier, and embalmed in the memory of a grateful posterity."* The respect and affection with which this excellent man, and highly distinguished commander, was universally regarded, may be considered as a most honourable tribute to his talents and integrity. Though a rigid disciplinarian, when rigour was necessary, such was the general confidence in his judgment and in the honour and integrity of his measures, that, in the numerous armies which he at different periods commanded, not a complaint was ever heard, that his rigour bordered on injustice, or that his decisions were influenced by partiality, prejudice, or passion. Under such a commander no British soldier will ever be found to fail in his duty in the hour of trial. +

• London Gazette.

The different incidents in Sir Ralph Abercromby's life are well known; but, as every thing relative to such a man must be interesting, I cannot deny myself the satisfaction of delineating a few traits of his character. As a soldier, he displayed a strong and vigorous intellect, with a military genius which overcame the disadvantages of inexperience. It was at the age of 61 that General Abercromby first took the field, in 1793, in an active campaign, having seen but little service, except as a subaltern of dragoons, for a short time in Germany, in the Seven Years' War. At this age, when many men are retiring from the fatigues of life, he commenced an honourable and successful career of military duty. From the very outset, he displayed great talent. His appointment was a signal proof of the discernment of the late Lord Melville, who was in habits of inti

Thus I have endeavoured to give a plain and unvarnished narrative of the principal events of a series of engagements, interesting in themselves, and most important in their consequences. To rescue from a powerful enemy a country, in the previous conquest and preservation of which they had expended much blood and treasure, and by the permanent possession of which they calculated on the execution of great ultimate plans, was certainly an important achievement. But this result was less glorious than that of having destroyed the ideal invincibility of an army to which defeat was hitherto unknown, and which, from a continued career of success, had some reason for assuming such a proud distinction.

macy with him, and who, in reciprocal visits at their country residences, saw his value, and subsequently recommended him to the King. Thus, in a fortunate hour for his country, he was called from his retirement at that late period of life. Successful in every military movement or attempt where he could act from his own judgment, or was not deceived by false intelligence, as in the case of Porto Rico, by " his steady observance of discipline, his ever-watchful attention to the health of his troops, the persevering and unconquerable spirit which marked his military career, the splendour of his actions in the field, and the heroism of his death, he showed an example worthy the imitation of all who desire, like him, a life of honour and a death of glory.” ‹

There was something remarkable in this family. The father, who was born in 1704, lived to see his four sons honoured and respected and at the head of their different professions. While his eldest son, Sir Ralph, was Commander-in-Chief in the West Indies, his second son, Sir Robert, held the same station in the East; Lord Abercromby, the third son, was an eminent, learned, and virtuous judge; and the fourth died in possession of an independent fortune, acquired in the service of the East India Company. Three of his daughters were married to gentlemen of family and fortune, who resided so near him, that he could dine with either any day he chose; and his fourth daughter, continuing unmarried, devoted her days to the declining years of her father. Latterly he lived with his son. I happened to be in Edinburgh in May 1800, and dined with Lady Abercromby on the day Sir Ralph left her to embark on that expedition from which he never returned. A King's messenger had arrived from London the day before, and Sir Ralph, only waiting for a few family arrange

⚫ Letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of York.

I must here observe, however, that to describe a battle of any duration and extent, in a manner satisfactory to all who were present, is extremely difficult, if not impossible, since events and objects vary in their appearances according to the position of the observer. The weight of the battle was sustained by the reserve on the right, the Guards, two regiments of the first brigade, on the centre, and the brigade of General Stuart, which gave to the Highlanders such timely and effectual support, making the sum-total of the British actually engaged somewhat less than 6000 men. Yet from the narrowness of the ground, from the nearness of their opponents, and from part of the line being broken and mixed with the enemy, (as was the case with the Highlanders,) in a conflict where men were personally opposed, and victory depended on dexterity and strength of arm, and where the struggle was so long and so obstinately maintained, as was the case in this important battle, it will appear surprising, on a comparison of the numbers who fell on this day and on the previous battle of the 13th, that the loss on both occasions should be so nearly equal; while, on the 13th, the loss of the French was less by one-half than that of the British, and on this occasion it was so much greater, that 1700 men were left on the field, either killed or desperately wounded. To this must be added the number that was

ments, set out on the following morning. When at dinner with the family after his departure, I was affected in a manner which I can never forget, by the respectable old gentleman's anxiety about his son, and his observations and inquiries about his future intentions, and what service was intended for him. His particular destination was not known at that time, but it was suspected that he would be immediately employed. "They will wear him out," said he, " too soon," (the son was then in his 68th year,)" and make an old man of him before his time, with their expeditions to Holland one year, and the West Indies the next; and, if he would follow my advice, he would settle at home and take his rest." And when Lady Abercromby observed that she was afraid that he must go abroad, "Then," said he, "he will never see me more." The verification of this melancholy prediction was to be expected from his great age, being then in his 97th year. He died in the month of July following, eight months before his son, whose absence he regretted so much.

killed and wounded within and in front of the French line, which, calculated in the usual proportion of wounded to killed, will be found to have been very considerable. Indeed, while the number of British killed amounted to 224 soldiers, there were buried of the enemy 1040 men on the field of battle. Allowing, therefore, three wounded for every one killed, (and, on reference to our returns of casualties, there will be found in many instances a much greater proportion of wounded,) the total loss of the enemy that day, exclusive of prisoners, must have been upwards of 4000 men.

I have been the more minute in this calculation, because it serves to illustrate a position interesting to every soldier, that the loss of men will always be smaller, and success more certain, according as the energy and alacrity with which an attack is made, or the cool and steady intrepidity with which it is received, are more conspicuous. Thus we have seen, that, on the 13th, when there was no close fighting, (except the charges made on the 90th and 92d,) and when, from causes already noticed, the slow advance, and the hesitation in following up the attack and pushing the enemy to the walls of Alexandria, allowed them full opportunity to take cool aim on the extended line, the loss in killed and wounded on our part was nearly equal to that of the succeeding engagement. On the 21st of March, there was no hesitation, but, on the contrary, the most determined and effective resistance was made to the boldest attacks of the enemy, and the promptest and most rapid advance, when it was necessary to prevent their nearer approach. The cool and steady manner in which our line reserved their fire till the object was within reach, had undoubtedly the most appalling influence on the enemy, producing a trepidation which rendered a steady aim impossible; and when their cavalry, after charging through the Highlanders, still saw themselves followed and attacked, they certainly seemed paralyzed; for they galloped about, flourishing their sabres in the air, and ready to cut at any enemy that came