where we acted alone, we were victorious: in concert we were not vanquished, but were compelled to relinquish our objects. The history now comes to exploits and achievements of the British army, which have never been surpassed in the annals of war.

CHAP.
LXIX.

1801.

The French

The death of Kleber, and the succession of Menou to Egypt., the command, prevented the evacuation of Egypt. The French general resolved to violate the treaty, which had been concluded by his predecessor, and actually kept possession of the country, which it had been stipulated to abandon. Justi fiable reasons for transgression of compact are not to be found; but the motives for a deviation from good faith, were easily discovered. Egypt was well known to be a favourite object with Bonaparte, and that he attached much more importance to it, than the directorial government. Kleber had concluded the convention of El-Arish before intelligence had arrived that Bonaparte was supreme magistrate, with uncontrolled power; and was no sooner informed of the elevation of the general, than he began to make dispositious for retaining possession of Egypt still keep The misunderstanding with the British government respecting possession the capitulation allowed him a pretext for re-possessing strong holds. The British ministers, agreeably to the good faith of the nation, ratified the treaty as soon as they were assured that it had been actually concluded, The negotiation had been renewed, as we have seen, but the assassination of Kleber intervened before any decisive measure was effected, Besides the views of Bonaparte, the wishes of Menou himself were eager for retaining Egypt: he had declared himself a mussalman, married an Egyptian lady, was desirous of erecting Egypt into a colony, and extremely hostile to all who pro posed to return to France. Some asserted, that he even intended to render Egypt an independent principality, of which he himself might be the head. This opinion is not very probable; because without the protection of France, he could have no reasonable hopes of being able to maintain his ground; and there are no proofs that he ever had such an object in contemplation. But whatever might be his purpose in keeping Britain re possession of Egypt, it was an end of the first importance to dispossess the British government, to drive the French enemy from a set-them. tlement which was in itself advantageous and productive; and might pave the way for enabling them to annoy British India. To achieve such a momentous purpose, was the ultimate object of the expedition, in which sir Ralph Abercrom bie commanded the army, and lord Keith the fleet. After our Expedition armament had withdrawn from Cadiz, in October 1800, they of sir Ralph entered the Mediterranean, and during some time anchored in Abercrom the bay of Tetuan. On the 3d of November, part of the fleet bie and lord sailed for Minorca, and the remainder, with sir Ralph Aber that pur crombie to Malta, where it arrived on the 30th, and was join- pose. ed by lord Keith, with the other division, on the 14th of De

solves to

Keith, for

LXIX.

1801.

CHAP. cember. At Malta, the troops disembarked, while the ships were cleaning the abundance of fresh provisions, the comforts of the beautiful city of la Valette, and the luxuriancy of the scenery soon re-animated the troops, and rendered them completely fit for service. On the 20th and 21st, the first and second division sailed from Malta, and instead of proceeding directly to Egypt, bent their course to Asia Minor, and anArrive at chored in Marmorice bay, between the continent and the islMarmorice. and of Rhodes. The object of this diagonal movement was

Proceed to

to be assured of the military co-operation of the Turks, and
also their assistance in furnishing horses, gun-boats, and other
necessary articles here also they procured supplies of fresh
provisions. During the month of January, and a considera-
ble
part of February, the expedition continued in this station,
and every endeavour was employed to learn the nature and
local circumstances of the country, the force and disposition of
the enemy. On the first subject, the only officer that could
give them any information was sir Sidney Smith; the coasts
that commander had seen, surveyed with his usual accuracy,
and comprehended with his usual ability; but to the interior,
parts of the country his knowledge did not extend. Captain
Boyle, who had been wrecked off Damietta, and, contrary to
the usages of war, was made a prisoner, had omitted no op
portunity of learning the number, condition, and situation of
the French army; but it appears the intelligence actually re
ceived by the British commanders, from such confined sources,
was extremely imperfect, and the power of the enemy
was much greater than they had any reason to apprehend.
The French force which now possessed Egypt, it was after
wards found, amounted to thirty thousand, besides natives, who
were reckoned about fifteen thousand more. The Gallic troops
were habituated to the country, elated with success, ingred to
danger, aware of the importance of Egypt to their govern-
ment, determined to defend the possession of it, and encours-
ged in this determination, no less by the assurance of speedily
receiving effectual succours, than by the promise of reward,
and the love of glory. The English army that was to dis
possess this formidable force, amounted to fifteen thousand,
of whom from sickness only twelve thousand were effec-
tive; and thus twelve thousand troops, totally unacquainted
with the country, and unused to the climate, were to attack
what thirty thousand of the best troops of the continent of
Europe, thoroughly conversant in all the local advantages, and
familiarized to the climate, were to defend. Such was the rela
tive state of the parties: let us now follow them to their conduct
in that state. „ta

On the 23d of February, the fleet weighed anchor; the 'Egypt. number of vessels of every kind amounted to about a hundred

& Sir Robert Wilson; p. 6. ・

REIGN OF GEORGE II.

CHAP

LXIX.

and seventy-five sail; and, says the historian of the expedition, "a nobler sight could not be beheld. The greatness of the "armament, the gaiety of the brave men on board, exciting 180 "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 con"templation, in the highest degree gratifying and impressive." The armament steered a southern course: on the 1st of March the leading frigate discovered land, which proved to be the coast near Arabs Tower; and on the next morning the whole fleet moored in Aboukir bay, and the men of war occupied the very ground on which had been fought the battle of Nelson. beerangst to dinom bill gunner Brosiyong The coast from Aboukir bay round to the Nile presented an Attempt to Aboukir. appearance at once picturesque, striking, and formidable. The land at sea full of shoals rendered disembarkation extremely difficult, and even dangerous, though it should not be interrupted by an enemy. The shore and the adjacent country were covered with sand hills; among these the French were disposed in very great numbers and force, with batteries in front; towards the Nile to the left extremity of the British; and on our right along the promontory of Aboukir. The batteries and sand hills afforded to the artillery and musketry such positions as could dreadfully annoy our troops in their attempt to land, and be secure themselves: while they fired on our soldiers, our ships could not return the fire, because thereby they must bear upon their friends more than upon their foes. Tremendous as were these obstacles to landing, they served only to rouse the energy of British heroism: but for some days the extreme roughness of the surf prevented an attempt to disembarko On the 8th of March, the weather being less boisterous, it was resolved on that day to effect a landing. Early in the morning, the first division of the army, consisting of the reserve under the orders of major-general Moore; the brigade of guards under major general Ludlow; and part of the 1st brigade, composed of the royals, 1st battallion of the 54th, and two hundred of the 2d battallion; the whole amounting to about five thousand five hundred men, under the command of major-general Coote, as sembled 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 nine o'clock the signal was made for the boats to advance, and the troops proceeded towards the shore. The French, posted Battle and among the sand bills, and forming the concave arch of a circle, victory, looked with wonder at the preparation; and, as they after wards confessed, did not believe such an adventurous attempt

y Sir Robert Wilson, Putin pu

"1

z General Abercrombie's Letter, dated March 16th, 1801, in the London Gazette of May 9th; sir Robert Wilson, page 12.

LXIX.

1801.

CHAP, could be made: but when they saw the boats moving with extraordinary rapidity, they were convinced that the British were in earnest, and they immediately poured from the heights, and Aboukir castle, all the shot and grape-shot that their musketry and artillery could issue: the effect was tremendous; in a situation in which they could not return the fire, and seeing their comrades fall about them, under these fell messengers of multiplied death, instead of being dismayed, our heroic soldiers were the more indignantly eager to reach the shore, where, bringing arm to arm of Briton against Frenchman, they knew they would soon avenge their fellow countrymen. The boats arriv ed at the destined point: springing on land, in the face of cannon, our champions formed on the beach, and advanced in a line, which, in the deep sands, piles of sand hills, and in the face of the enemy, was as well observed as if they had been exercising on a parade. Marching coolly and steadily up to the foes, they were enabled to use the surest instrument of victory to British courage, supported by British muscular strength the bayonet. And now the artillery from our ships could operate against the batteries of Aboukir, without exposing our soldiers to danger. The French made a stand worthy of their national heroism: but when British sailors can use their cannon, and British soldiers their bayonets, the most valiant Frenchmen are destined to yield. In the conflict between such combatants, the battle was obstinate and bloody: but our heroes prevailed. The French found they had more formida ble foes to encounter than even those whom they had met at Lodi and Arcola, and that a British handful at Acre bad mere ly given a specimen of what they might expect from a British

army.

The country in which this astonishing landing was effected, is an oblong peninsula; having on the east a branch of the Nile; on the north the ocean on the south the canal of Alexandria, called by the French lake Maadie; and on the west, situated on the isthmus, the city of Alexandria. The peninsula was from two to three miles in width, from the sea to the canal: from the vanguard of the army, now facing the west, to Alexandria, the space was about sixteen miles, but full of ruins, and other posts of very strong defence. On the right was the sea, with the British fleet at anchor in the bay; behind was the Nile; on the left the canal; and in from sand hills, terminated by the metropolis, flanked by its sublimely towering Pharos.

On the 9th of March the army advanced to the westward, leaving two regiments to blockade Aboukir, which refused to

a Lienzenant-colonel James Stewart, of the 42d regiment, told me he had. never seen the ranks more exactly dressed, or a better and inore harmoniour list on a review day, than was here formed and maintained in the face of so many obstacles and dangers. That gentleman himself, with colonel Dickson, the tirat Lieutenant-colonel, were wounded in this cngagements rána

REIGN OF GEORGE II.

surrender. The 10th and 11th were employed in reconnoitring CHAP the enemy, bringing stores from the ships, and forming hospitals and depots. On the 12th some partial skirmishes took place, but with no material consequences. The French army was posted on a ridge of heights, about four miles from Alexandria; the British resolved to attack them in this positions and on the 13th commenced the assault, by the left of our Battle of army, hoping to turn, the right flank of their antagonists. The the 13th of enemy made a very vigorous resistance, and by their cavalry and artillery cut off a great number of our men, and prevented us from attacking them in flank; but the British, forming in two lines, made such a charge in the front, as compelled them to kn retire to the heights, before Alexandria. Ardent to pursue their victory, the gallant British pushed on to force the strong position of the enemy; but the French artillery played with such tremendous effect, that it was found prudent to desist; and the loss of our troops in this arduous enterprise was very considerable. The detachment that was employed in the siege of Aboukir proceeded in its operations, and on the 17th day that fortress surrendered. The army was meanwhile employed in getting their heavy cannon on shore, and procuring supplies of water and provisions. Menou was now arrived from Cairo, and the whole force of the French was concentrated at Alexandria. By his memorable defence of Acre, sir Sidney Smith had obtained very great influence among the Arabs, who communicated to him every information which they deemed im portant. On the evening of the 20th, an Arab chief sent a Menou proletter to this commander, acquainting him that general Menou jects a night was arrived, and intended the next morning to attack the British camp. Sir Sidney believed the intelligence: the commanders did not think it probable that such an attempt would be made: but the information proved authentic.polynesi

The British army, at this time was encamped across the peninsula, about four miles from Alexandria; the right consisted of various regiments, in front of which, on the extremity, was the 28th; in a redoubt the 42d to the left, a little more advanced, with Stewart's foreign regiment on the left in front; immediately behind, the 28th, the 23d, and 58th, and about five other regiments farther back. Such was the plan of our right division: between which and the left there intervened a considerable space. Between the right of the British and the beach there was a narrow tract of ground; in day-light covered by the British frigates and gunboats that were nearest the shore, but at night, without such a collateral defence. Menou propo sed to turn the right flank of our right division on the one hand, and attack the left flank of the sanie division on the other, so as to surround that part of the army, and cut it off ronding wi

b Sir Robert Wilson, p. 29.
e See Sir Robert Wilson's plan of the Battle of the 21st.