from the other columns were dubious; he could not learn whether the Russians had penetrated to Berghen, or where they were. So the aged, wearied-out General, after posting his troops on the best station he could find, instead of sleeping on a good bed, laid himself down on a wet sand-hill without a tent; and passed a miserable night from cold and anxiety.

But next morning the good news was brought him, that the centre and left wing, which had encountered less resistance, had also repelled their adversaries. For when the French General found that his left was completely turned, he drew back all his forces, and the Duke of York entered and took possession of Berghen and Alkmaer, which towns were the fruits of the victory.

An act of kindness of Sir Ralph Abercrombie on this occasion shall be noticed. Foreseeing the alarm and distress which the accounts of the action would raise in General Moore's family, he wrote the following letter from the field of battle to Dr. Moore :

6

'Although your son is wounded in the thigh, and in the cheek, I can assure you 'he is in no sort of danger; both wounds are slight. The public and myself are the greatest sufferers by these accidents.

'The General is a hero, with more sense 'than many others of that description. In that he is an ornament to his family, and 'to his profession. I hope Mrs. Moore and ' his sister will be easy on his account, and 'that you are proud of such a son.

Your's,

RALPH ABERCROMBIE.'

Moore was helped from the field to the rear, where his wounds were drest; he was then lifted on a horse, led by his groom, and conveyed back to his quarters, near ten miles distant. This journey he sustained with great difficulty, being exhausted with his exertions through the day, and faint from great loss of blood.

While he was confined to his bed, on account of his wounds, an incident occurred which might have proved fatal. Inflammation having spread around the wound through the cheek, the surgeons bathed the part with a strong solution of sugar-of-lead, and whey was recommended to him as a refreshing beverage. These two liquids were of a similar colour, and his servant one day, instead of the whey, placed the lotion near his bedside and when the General awoke from sleep, being thirsty, he took the bason which contained the poisonous solution, and swallowed it. He instantly discovered the mistake he had committed, called for his friend Anderson, who was in an adjoining room, and calmly told him what he had done; then, with that presence of mind which never forsook him, asked for a feathered pen he saw on the writing-stand. Anderson gave it him, and ran off for an oil cruet and water; by means of these he quickly threw the poison out of his stomach.

When sufficiently recovered to be removed

he was carried to the Helder, embarked in a frigate for England, and returned to the bosom of his family. His mother, transported to see him once more brought home alive, nursed him with the fondest affection; and in a few weeks I healed up his wounds.

While tending him, I often noticed that he was revolving the events of the war in his mind, and that his whole thoughts were bent on undertaking new enterprises for his character was of that stamp in which exertion amidst dangers and difficulties is preferred to idleness. Nor is he unprofitably employed who records worthy actions, which may animate others to imitate the virtues he attempts to describe.

CHAPTER X.

THE EXPEDITION TO CADIZ.

BEFORE Moore recovered from his wounds, his Majesty appointed him Colonel of the 52d regiment, a mark of the acceptance of his services in Holland. And he was hardly restored to health when he received an order from the Commander-in-Chief to proceed to Chelmsford, to take charge of, and discipline the troops assembled there.

Towards the end of this year Bonaparte escaped from Egypt, by that good fortune which so long attended him, and which beguiled him to imagine that his fate was superintended by a guardian star. The French nation, dazzled by the glory he had acquired in the field, submitted passively to his annihilating liberty, and usurping despotic power; although that was the false charge for which their innocent sovereign had been decapitated.