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 Abercromby for the success of this hardy enterprize, and the fate of the intrepid men who so chearfully engaged to execute his orders. The heart of the brave man will beat high with enthusiasm; and may those who have hitherto regarded with indifference 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 Cruélle 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 height of sixty 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 the rowers 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 præternatural 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 58th regiment, formed already on their right, by their fire checked the enemy, and time for the Guards to present a gave

3

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 possessson of the heights, and General Coote advancing with the Guards and his brigade, ran 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 before night. 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,

men, amongst whom were several gallant officers.* General Reynier asserts, that the infantry laid down in the bottom of the boats, whilst the sailors, indifferent to the French artillery, rowed with vigour to the shore. What kind of boats must those flats have been, which would have allowed of such an extension? Is it possible that any one can be ignorant of the necessity of troops in all debarkations, wedging as close as possible together in an upright position, or how could fifty men be carried in each boat? Malignity should always thus defeat itself.

No British soldier would detract in the smallest degree from praise justly conferred on the navy; but the seamen themselves will indignantly reject such ungenerous and malevolent applause.

From a consideration of the enemy's strength, and an observation of the map, military men must pronounce that a landing in the face of such a position was nearly impracticable, where both parties did their duty; but it would be unjust to insinuate that the French did not behave with spirit and resolution. Their defence was strictly good, and the conquest one of those singular phænomena, which occasionally occur to animate the brave with a confidence, that brilliant exertions, supported by persevering courage, may surmount mathematical improbabilities, and snatch a victory where cold calculation would predict a certain defeat. The event, however, does not in all cases justify the councils; but Sir Ralph Abercrombie's peculiar situation must be considered, and weigh heavily in the enquiry. Had he been alarmed at the formidable appearance of the position, it is too much to be feared that his prudence, however just, would

* Captain Warren of the Guards, the son of Sir John Borlase Warren, was particularly lamented, as one of the most promising young men in the army.

have involved himself and army in eternal and irretrievable obloquy.

Aboukir Bay was the only port where the debarkation could have been made on the Egyptian coast, for there only could the shipping remain in safety; and it was absolutely necessary that the communication with the fleet, even daily, should be preserved, for on it the army not only was to depend for provisions, stores, &c. but, as it was first supposed, for water.

It is true Buonaparte landed near Arabs Tower, and trusted to his fortune; but he had no European force to dispute his progress, and he well knew the paltry resistance which Alexandria could then oppose to him *.

Some may suppose that the bay of Jaffa offered a securer point of debarkation; but the state of the Grand Vizier's army must be considered, and the obstacles which the Desart presented to Europeans, unaccustomed to the climate.

Sir Sydney Smith, who had landed and reconnoitred this ground the year before, proposed that the battery at the entrance of Lake Maadie† should be maintained, when carried in the evening of the 7th, or its assault combined at all events with the operations of the landing. Such a manœuvre would certainly have been masterly, as in either case its advantages must have been decisively great. If fifteen hundred men had passed into the lake, and made for the narrow neck of the isthmus,

* The author does not write to detract from the French; but it is the duty of an historian to correct false statements. The boasted assault of Alexandria was a contemptible as well as cruel action, unworthy altogether of Buonaparte's fame. Policy may excuse the gasconade of his dispatches, but not the wanton storm of a city, for the sake of striking terror, and fixing an impression of the French name throughout Egypt. The murder of the garrison was a barbarous violence, and the indulgence granted to his troops, of a three hours' sacking of the place, an act of unjustifiable inhumanity.

†The passage is about two hundred yards wide, and was made about eighteen years since by the sea breaking down the dyke, which had been built ages back to recover from the ocean that country now Lake Maadie.