CHAPTER XI.

THE CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT.

AFTER the fleet was driven from the anchorage off Cadiz, with the loss of some cables and anchors, it beat about the mouth of the Mediterranean, till fresh orders should arrive from England. And the soldiers cooped up in crowded transports were tossed about in that tempestuous season in a comfortless and perilous condition. Despatches with decisive orders arrived at last, directing five thousand men to be landed in Portugal, for the defence of that kingdom, and the remainder of the army to proceed up the Straits of Gibraltar to be employed in the invasion of Egypt. To retain that conquest had been a favourite object of Bonaparte; who, at great risk, had sent vessels there with supplies of arms and stores of all kinds wanted; most of which had escaped the vigilance of the British cruisers. But intercepted letters

from the French officers, filled with complaints and disgust at the country, raised expectations that the army was much reduced : these, together with the danger which menaced India from that quarter, prompted the British government to resolve to restore the country, if possible, to the Turks. It was believed, from the best intelligence that had been procured, that the French forces then remaining in Egypt did not exceed thirteen or fourteen thousand men: whereas, it was afterwards found that they exceeded thirtytwo thousand infantry and cavalry, and were furnished with above a thousand pieces of artillery. The whole force which Sir Ralph Abercrombie was enabled to muster for this undertaking, exclusive of the sick, did not amount to fifteen thousand soldiers. Had the French strength been known, the project would never have been attempted; it was proceeded on from misinformation.

It was in the latter end of the autumn, that

*History of the British Expedition to Egypt,' by Sir Robert Wilson.-pp. 255, 256.

Major-General Moore sailed with the first division of the troops for Minorca, and after a short stay, passed on to Malta; his sentiments on entering upon this daring enterprise, appear in a letter to his mother.

'Malta, December 18th, 1800.

'My dear Mother,

We

'I wrote to my father some days ago, expecting then to sail immediately. have been detained by contrary winds; the wind now is fair; the signal for all persons

belonging to the first division to repair on board, is this instant made. If they get ' off this afternoon, we of the second division 'will certainly follow to-morrow.

'I received your letter of the 2nd October, ' at Gibraltar. There is but a distant prospect of my making one of

your Richmond parties; the business we are now going

upon, must occupy us until midsummer; ' and then, if the war continues, some other 'work will be found for us.

so much made up upon this

My mind is

subject, that

I hardly wish to return until there is peace.

I hope then to meet Graham, and to pass 'some years comfortably with you, in the 'neighbourhood of Marsh Gate*. We do 'not consider this Egyptian expedition in 'the melancholy light that you do at home. The army, I think, rather like it. I, in particular, prefer it to anything that 'has yet offered. I am persuaded of the necessity of driving the French from Egypt, before we can make peace. Sir Ralph

is quite keen about it, and is ten years

younger since he left England. We are all

healthy, and there is a greater chance of our 'continuing so, as the men get daily more ' accustomed to the climate, and habituated to the diet on board ship. I was tired of the

sailing in the Mediterranean, whilst there 'seemed to be no determined object; so that we

were roving in quest of adventures, and the chapter of accidents. But now that tedium 'is over, the mind is fully occupied with the 'ultimate object; and the stoppage here, and

*Near Richmond, where Dr. Moore lived.

6

in Greece, countries quite new to us, breaks

in upon the sameness of a sea voyage, and

prevents its being tiresome.

'Farewell, and believe me,

'My dear Mother,

'Your's ever affectionately,

'J. M.'

Before the whole of the troops arrived, Sir Ralph had many confidential, serious consultations with Moore respecting the plan of the campaign; and whether it would be preferable to attempt landing near Alexandria to besiege it; or in the vicinity of Damietta, and sail up that branch of the Nile to attack Grand Cairo. All the information he could procure respecting the coast, the harbours, roads, and winds, were well weighed by this very able and most considerate General. But the more the business was examined into, the more difficulties were discovered; and it began to be suspected, that the French army was more numerous than had been reported. But Sir Ralph, steady to his determination, sailed to Marmorice Bay, the