6

unpleasantly situated, going between this place, Tetuan Bay, and the west coast of 'Africa. In none of them is there safe ' anchorage for a fleet, and we have been 'obliged to shift from the one to the other, 'according as the wind blew. Our com'manders have been waiting for orders, 'which are only now come.

Before this reaches you, you will of ' course know that Sir James Pulteney goes ' with six battalions to Lisbon. The rest of 'the force, fifteen thousand, goes with Sir Ralph to Egypt. I belong to this last, and

away

expect to sail for Minorca to-morrow. Sir 'Ralph and the last of the troops will not be for several days. I know nothing of the policy which dictates this new service; I see many difficulties in the execution of 'it. I, however, have the greatest confidence in Sir Ralph's sagacity and judgment. Our ( army is not a bad one, and success against the French is more gratifying than against the miserable Spaniards. I once thought ' it probable I should see you this winter; of

'this there is now no chance, nor is there a 'possibility of saying when I am to have that 'pleasure. As these are not times for honour'able ease and retirement, I have no wish to be at home until the war is over. And it

6

must be a consolation to my mother and

you, that in following the course of my pro

fession, I am employed upon the service by

'much the most important that is going.

6

My love to my Mother and Jane.

'Believe me ever, my dear Father,

'Most affectionately,

'JOHN MOORE.'

It appears certain, that had the boats rowed to the shore, with Moore and the three thousand soldiers, they must all have been lost. Indeed, in war apparent mishaps are often fortunate. Had the fleet which bore Nicias and the flower of Athens to Syracuse, been blown back by adverse winds to the Piræus, they would have been mortified and certainly scoffed at with Attic raillery: but they would have escaped discomfiture, slavery, and death.

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.

My dear Mother,

'Malta, December 18th, 1800.

6

'I wrote to my father some days ago, expecting then to sail immediately.

We

' 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