forcements, and collected a train of artillery at Gibraltar, after various unexpected delays on the coast of Anatolia, proceeded, in conjunction with Lord Keith, towards the coast of Egypt; arrived off Alexandria, March 1, 1801, and the next day sailed for Aboukir Bay.
The sea running high, it was the 8th before any disembarkation could be attempted. Four thousand French troops were most advantageously posted, when the landing commenced under the superintendance of the Hon. Captain Cochrane, of the Ajax, and the enemy were driven from their position, with the loss of several pieces of artillery[1]. On the 12th the army, strengthened by a detachment of seamen and marines, under the command of Sir W. Sidney Smith, commenced its march. The following day the French were successfully attacked and pursued; and on the 21st was fought the memorable and decisive battle of Alexandria, in which the brave Abercromby fell, and the subject of this memoir was wounded[2], and had his horse shot from under him. This battle was fought about four miles from Alexandria, whither the main body of the army immediately advanced against Menou, who had possession of that city, while a division of British troops, and a body of Turks, proceeded against Rosetta, which soon capitulated. On the 22d June, Cairo surrendered on terms favorable to the besieged; and Alexandria was delivered up by Menou on the like conditions. Thus was Egypt rescued from the hands of the French; and its evacuation being effected on terms similar to those of the original convention of El-Arish, the republican army, with its baggage, was transported in ships of the allied powers, to the nearest French ports[3].
- ↑ See note †, at p. 259. On this occasion Sir Ralph Abercromby gave the most unequivocal praise to the whole of the naval officers and men, as well afloat as on shore; saying, that without their exertions he could not have brought his brave troops into action as he did.
- ↑ Sir W. Sidney Smith received a violent contusion from a musket ball, which glanced on his right shoulder.
- ↑ After the surrender of the French army, Sir W. Sidney Smith visited the Holy City, where the following anecdote of Buonaparte was related to him by the superior of a Convent: When General Dumas had advanced with a detachment of the French army within a few leagues of Jerusalem,
