vanished, Major Fletcher cried out that they would surrender; but the French fired a volley of musquetry, by which unfortunate discharge Major Makarras was killed; Major Fletcher and the boat's crew were then allowed quarter, and carried as prisoners into Alexandria, and from thence to General Menou at Cairo. The death of Major Makarras was, as well as the severest private loss, a public misfortune: his ability justly obtained the greatest confidence, and placed him in the high station he held in the army. His former services justified the hopes of his acquiring still greater character; and while the man was mourned by his friends, the loss of the officer was universally deplored. It is not to be supposed that the French commander could from cruel inhumanity disregard Major Fletcher's submission, rather let us hope it was not premeditated and wanton murder, but the inconsiderate act of the sailors.

The state of the weather was such as to prevent the possibility of landing, which appeared a fatal misfortune, since, on the capture of the boat, containing officers of engineers, no doubt could be supposed to remain on the minds of the enemy, as to the intention of the English; and the present delay gave them ample leisure for preparation. But if they had not already obtained sufficient information, another untoward occurrence must have assured them of every particular they could require.

On the morning of the 2d of March, a frigate was seen standing into Alexandria. Pursuit was unavailing; she reached the harbour, and hoisting French colours, proved unequivocally her nation. It will scarcely be credited that a French frigate, unexpectedly finding herself in the midst of an English fleet, should have been so capable directly to disguise herself, as to continue unsuspected on her course with it, which she did the whole day before, answering the various signals made, and yet never attract the smallest suspicion; nevertheless, it is fact, and

C 2

and must remain on record, as an honourable anecdote to the credit of the French captain of the Regenerée. During the night the brig the Lodi also entered, but which was not then known.

On the 7th, the weather moderating, the general went in a boat to reconnoitre the shore. Sir Sydney Smith at the' same time, with three armed launches, proceeded to the entrance of the lake; but whilst he was gone in his own boat to another point, a signal was made for the men to land. Lieutenant Brown, of the Foudroyant, instantly with his party jumped on shore, and drove off about fifty men, who defended the block-house, at the entrance of the lake Maadie; but a body of the enemy coming down, Lord Keith, who was on board the Fury bomb viewing this affair, threw out a signal for their return. They consequently came off, bringing with them some poultry and the ferry-man as their trophies. They had attempted to burn a gun-boat at the entrance of the lake, but the fire did not catch, and then they tried to scuttle her, in which they also failed: the next day she was taken. The ferry-man could not give much information; he had never troubled his head with any thing but aqua dente, a pernicious brandy, made of dates.

The wind continuing moderate, and the swell of the sea subsiding, on the morning of the 8th, at two o'clock, the first division of the army, consisting of the reserve under the orders of Major Gen. Moore, the brigade of Guards under Major Gen. Ludlow, and part of the 1st brigade, composed of the Royals, 1st battalion of the 54th, 200 of the 2d battalion, the whole amounting to about five thousand five hundred men, under the command of Major General Coote, assembled in the boats, the remainder of the 1st and 2d brigade being put into ships close to the shore, that a support might be quickly given after the first landing was effected. At three o'clock the signal was made

for

for their proceeding to rendezvous near the Mondovi, anchored about gun-shot from the shore; but the extent of the anchorage was so great, that the assembling and arrangement of the boats could not be completed till near nine o'clock. And here let the reader pause for a moment, to dwell on this solemn scene, and imagine to himself the feelings, the impatience, the suspence which agitated every mind; the hopes and fears which distracted the spectators; the anxiety of the gallant Sir Ralph Abercrombie for the success of this hardy enterprize, and the fate of the intrepid men who so cheerfully engaged to execute his orders. The heart of the brave man will beat high with enthusiasm; and may those who have hitherto with indifference regarded the service of the army, from this moment pay it that tribute of respect which is the recompence of the soldier. May those young men who are devoted to the military life seriously consider its important duties, and seek to render themselves capable of commanding, ever remembering that in the course of their service the fame and lives of such soldiers must be hazarded to their judgment.

The right flank of the boats was protected by the Cruelle cutter and the Dangereuse and Janissary gun vessels; the left by the Entreprenant cutter, Malta schooner, and Negresse gun vessel; on each flank were also two launches of the fleet, armed to supply the place of the Turkish gun boats which had separated on the passage. Sir Sydney Smith, with a detachment of seamen directed to co-operate with the army, had charge of the launches, which contained the field artillery. The Tartarus and the Fury bomb vessels were placed in their proper situation, to cover with their fire the landing; and the Peterell, Camelion, and Minorca were moored with their broadsides to the shore. At nine o'clock the signal was made for the boats to advance. They sprung forwards at the same instant, and the whole scene

became

became animation. The French, to the number of two thousand men, posted on the top of the sand-hills, forming the concave arch of a circle on the front of about a mile, (in the centre of which elevated itself a nearly perpendicular heighth of 60 yards, apparently inaccessible,) had looked down with wonder at the preparation, and since confessed that they could not believe the attempt would even have been made; but when they saw the boats moving with extraordinary rapidity to the shore, and the armed vessels opening their guns, they could no longer doubt the seriousness of the intention, and directly poured all the fire which their artillery on the heights (12 pieces) and the castle of Aboukir could discharge. The quantity of shot and shells, and as the boats approached, the shower of grape and musquetry, seemed so to plough the surface of the water, that nothing on it could live: for a moment it even checked and compelled some of the boats rather to close upon the left;* but the impulse returned with increased ardour, and pressing through the storm they forced to the beach. The reserve leaped out of the boats on the shore, and formed as they advanced: the 23d and 40th rushed up the heights with almost supernatural energy, never firing a shot, but charging with the bayonet the two battalions which crowned it, breaking them and pursuing till they carried the two Nole hills in the rear, which commanded the plain to the left, taking at the same time three pieces of cannon. The 42d regiment had landed and formed as on a parade, then mounted the position, notwithstanding the fire from two pieces of cannon and a battalion of infantry. The moment they gained the height, two hundred French dragoons attempted to charge them, but were as quickly repulsed.

This little disorder was also occasioned by some of the boats being struck and sinking, when others stopped to save the men.

The

The boats of the Guards had scarce felt the beach, and the men began to jump out, before the same body of cavalry, who had rallied behind the sand hills, charged suddenly upon them. This unexpected attack caused a momentary disorder, but the 50th regiment, formed already on their right, by their fire checked the enemy, and gave time for the Guards to present a front, when the cavalry again retreated with considerable loss. The 54th and Royals,* from being in transport boats, did not reach the shore so soon as the others, but landed at the instant a column of six hundred infantry was advancing with fixed bayonets through a hollow against the left flank of the Guards. The French on seeing them hesitated, then firing a volley, retreated. This moment of exultation cannot be described, but the most callous mind must be sensible to its effect.

The French finding the British in full possession of the heights, and General Coote advancing with the Guards and his brigade, run from all points of their position, but in the rear sand hills maintained for about an hour and a half a scattered fire, when they were finally obliged to retreat, having lost three hundred men, eight pieces of cannon, and many horses. The boats returned immediately for the remainder of the army, which, by the great exertions of the navy, were all landed by the evening. Sir Ralph, impressed with the strongest feelings of gratitude and admiration, came on shore, and took up a position, distant about three miles, with his right to the sea, and left on Lake Maadie; at the same time occupying the battery on the tongue of land at the entrance of the lake, but not in time to prevent the escape of eighty French over the ferry. The loss of British amounted in this affair to near five hundred

* It is to be regretted that no provision is made for the sailors in the transport service who are wounded, or extraordinary encouragement given to them when employed on such dangerous duty as the disembarkation of troops. The measure would be politic and just.

men,