sive, to see animals naturally so bad, and in such a shocking state, as to make the dragoons feel humiliation in being ordered to take charge of them. Every commanding officer solicited rather to serve with his corps as infantry; but the nature of the service the army was about to be employed on, rendered even such more desirable than none. However, out of several hundred horses, finally only two hundred were left for the cavalry, about fifty for the artillery, and the remainder shot, or sold for a dollar apiece. Miserable indeed would have been the state of the cavalry, had it not been amended by the horses purchased in the neighbourhood; but this supply was small, since it was a measure not pressed vigorously till too late; if previously adopted, it would have rendered the whole of the dragoons an effective force, and saved an enormous expence. On the 8th of February commenced the most violent thunderand hail storm ever remembered, and which continued two days and nights intermittingly. The hail, or rather the ice stones were, as big as large walnuts. The camps were deluged with a torrent. of them, two feet deep, which, pouring from the mountains, swept every thing before it. The scene of confusion on shore. by the horses breaking loose, and the men being unable to face the storm, or remain still in the freezing deluge, surpasses description. The ships in the harbour were in no less disorder. from driving, loss of masts, &c. and the Swiftsure was struck by lightning. At night the firmament was, from the increasing. flashes, in a state of constant and vivid illumination. To add to the terrific grandeur of this concussion of elements, signal guns of distress were frequently heard, and the howlings of wolves, jackalls, &c. re-echoed through the mountains at the back of the camp in the intervals, whenever the thunder ceased. It is not in the power of language to convey an adequate idea of such a tempest. On On the 16th of February General Moore, who had been sent from Marmorice on the 4th of January to the Grand Vizir's army at Jappa, returned with the same melancholy account of its wretched state, as Colonel Murray had brought in December. Weak as to numbers, without discipline, and infected with the plague, its co-operation scarcely offered an apparent advantage.* The appointed time for the arrival of the Captain Pacha and the gun-boats had long elapsed. Only a few of the latter had joined; and it appeared evident from the continued delays, that the Turkish armament could not be ready for some time. Every moment became of most serious import, and particularly since the intelligence was confirmed of the escape of two frigates into Alexandria, whilst our ships, previously cruizing off, were watering at Cyprus. This news was really alarming, since it had already been ascertained that the French force in Egypt consisted of a much greater strength than Government supposed it to be, whilst the unexpected state of the Turkish army considerably weakened the projected means of attack. But the order was positive, the object urgent, and the character of the British army rested on the attempt. The weather had been very violent for some time, and all the pilots, accustomed to the Egyptian coast, declared that till after the equinox it would be madness to attempt a landing. They were till then unacquainted with the daring of British seamen, and saw, to their astonishment, the army all embarked on the 20th of February, yet it was not till the 23d that the fleet could weigh anchor, when it sailed with a very fresh breeze. The quantity of vessels was * The Grand Vizir wished to muster the troops; but as each chief drew for as many rations as he chose to demand, which this inspection would have checked, a few shots were fired at his highness's tent in the morning it was to take place, which hint was well understood, and the muster was immediately countermanded. such, such, about 175 sail, as to require a complete day for the whole to assemble in the roads. A nobler sight could not be beheld. The number of ships, the gaiety of the brave men on board, exciting reflections on the awful destiny of the expedition, not only as relating to those immediately acting in it, but as affecting the dearest interests of Great Britain, afforded a scene for contemplation, in the highest degree gratifying and impressive. To the credit of the army during its stay at Marmorice, no complaint had ever been made by the inhabitants; on the contrary, the Turks seemed to be inspired, for the first time, with an esteem for Christians.* The army wanted for many comforts which that part of Asia Minor could not produce; although several vessels, taken on their way from France to Alexandria, had afforded a very seasonable supply, they being laden with all the epicurean luxuries she could send out.† The greatest misfortune was the total want of information respecting Egypt. Not a map to be depended upon could be procured, and the best draught from which information could be formed, and which was distributed to the generals, proved ridiculously incorrect. Sir Sydney Smith was the only officer who knew at all the locality of the coast, and he certainly, as far as he had seen, gave perfect information. But he had never been in the interior of the country. Captain Boyle, at Minorca, had given an idea of the disposition of the French army, which, considering the * The ladies of the army might boast of animating them with the tenderest sentiments of attachment. Some attempts were made at the embarkation to surprize and carry off several; and a French lady, taken on her way to Egypt, had a very narrow escape. + It is but too characteristic of the French, that on board of these ships, amongst many other fantastical packages, was a cargo of fans, most ingeniously indecent. caution it was necessary for him to use, and the vigilance which guarded him, did his zeal and address great honour.* Mr. Baldwin, the British consul at Alexandria, who had been sent for from Naples by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, on account of his respectable character and influence in Egypt, could not be supposed to give much military information. It is, however, a positive fact, extraordinary as it may appear, that so little was Sir Ralph Abercrombie acquainted with the strength of the enemy he was preparing to attack, that he rated their force, at the greatest calculation, at only ten thousand French, and five thousand auxiliaries, then exceeding the number stated in the official information sent from home, and on which the expedition was originally formed. The British army consisted of the following regiments, amounting to 15,330 men, including 999 sick, 500 Maltese, and all kinds and descriptions of people attached to an army except officers. Its effective force in the field could not be therefore, at the highest computation, above twelve thousand; and indeed that number, within two hundred, was the return given in to the Commander in Chief. * Captain Boyle was wrecked in the Cormorant off Damietta, when on his way to Alexandria in a cartel, and made prisoner, contrary to the usages of war. Detach. 11th Drag. Do. Hompesch's Reg.. 12th Dragoons 26th Dragoons }Brigadier General Finch. Artillery and Pioneers, Brigadier General Lawson. It must be allowed, even at the calculation of the supposed strength of the enemy, that to attack with such a force the possessors of a country, strengthened by the advantages of strong fortified posts, a numerous cavalry, powerful artillery, and a perfect acquaintance with those few points where a debarkation was practicable, was an enterprize of the most audacious character. What then must be the astonishment of all military men at the success of the expedition, when the real force of the enemy is ascertained? The fleet had not stood long on its course, before one of the Greek vessels, laden with mules, foundered, and one man alone was saved. That this was the only accident is surprising, considering the state of these ships. They were, however, in |