the rooms absolute dungeons; in the fort twelve French guns and abundance of ammunition were found. The garrison amounted to 190 men, although the Gazette return, from some error, states only 140.

It will not be totally irrelevant to correct Buonaparte's account of the victory he gained over the Turks at Aboukir, which describes their force as amounting to seventeen thousand men, the whole of which he states to have been either killed or taken.

The consequent importance of such a conquest attached certainly much credit to the commander, and from the circumstances of the times proved of infinite advantage to his interests. But this, like most other French dispatches, had no other authority than the ipse dixit of the writer to justify it. Instead of seventeen thousand, there were not quite eight thousand, four thousand of which were killed and wounded in the action, near two thousand were carried off by the boats at the time, or during the sicge of the castle, and the remainder capitulated in the fort. Such is the fact, and so has the world been deceived!

On the 19th the supply in the market altogether failed, from the advance of General Menou, whose patroles had fallen in with and killed several Arabs bringing sheep.

On the 20th a column of infantry and cavalry was perceived passing over the ground adjacent to Lake Mareotis into Alexandria; and an Arab chief sent in a letter to Sir Sydney Smith,* acquainting him of the arrival of General Menou with a large army, and that it was his intention to surprise and attack the British camp the next morning; but much confidence was not placed in the communication at head-quarters, although Sir Sydney was convinced in his own mind of the honesty and truth of the information, and assured his friends of that event taking place.

* See the Appendix.

On

On the night of the 20th the position of the army had been strengthened by a battery not closed in the rear, erected a little in front and to the left of the ruins of Ptolemy's Palace, from whence the space to the sea was open, and no works filled up the broken apertures in the exterior wall of the ruins. In front of the right of the Guards was a redoubt; on their left a large battery, where the signal staff was hoisted, which was afterwards called the citadel; on the left of the line a redoubt, and on the canal of Alexandria two works. On the whole line were two 24 pounders, and 34 field pieces. General Reynier states the position to have been defended by 42 pieces.

On the memorable 21st of March the army as usual was under arms at three o'clock in the morning; all was quiet till half past three o'clock, when the report of a musquet was heard at the extremity of the left. Instantly afterwards a cannon fired, scattered musquetry succeeded, and then two more guns. For a moment attention was directed to that quarter. All were convinced that a general attack was commencing, but it was immediately evident that the firing was too feeble on the left, to believe that to be the point of the enemy's serious object. Indeed this was the universal sentiment; and General Moore, who as general officer of the night, on the first alarm proceeded to the left, was so impressed with this idea, that he turned back to the right.

For a few minutes all was still; but it was the awful suspense of anxious expectation, not of apprehension. Every eye was painfully extended forwards through the gloomy mist of the atmosphere, and the ears strained to catch the smallest sound. Occasionally the eastern horizon was anxiously regarded; but though the grey of the morning was perceptible, it seemed reluctantly to break. On a sudden loud shouts were heard in front of the right, which fully certified the enemy's intention,

a roar

a roar of musquetry immediately succeeded, and the action there became general.

The enemy, covered by the unequal surface of the ground, had advanced unperceived as far as the videttes, and continued to press on with them and the retiring piquets of infantry to the main position with all possible celerity; one column directed itself upon the ruins where the 58th were posted, the front of which was considerably more extensive than the front of the regiment; but some parts of the wall still standing, it admitted of the regiment's dividing itself, but scarcely notwithstanding did the troops fill up the different openings. Colonel Houston who commanded, faintly perceived the column of the enemy advancing with beat of drums and huzzas; but fearing lest the English piquets might be preceding, he allowed it to approach so close that the glazed hats were clearly distinguished, when he ordered the grenadiers to fire, which was followed by the whole regiment, and repeated with several rounds. These continued and well-directed discharges not only checked but made the enemy's column retire quickly into a hollow some distance in their rear, when it shortly afterwards wheeled to the right, and endeavoured to force round the redoubt in front of its left, with another column, directing its march upon the battery. The 28th regiment stationed there opened a heavy fire on that part of the enemy which attempted to storm the redoubt in front; but the main body of the two columns now joined to a third, forced in behind the redoubt, and whilst some remained to attack it thus. in the rear, the rest penetrated into the ruins. Colonel Crowdjye, who commanded the left of the 58th, observing their advance through the openings, wheeled back two companies, and after two or three rounds of fire advanced on the enemy with the bayonet. At this instant the 23d regiment appeared to support, having moved for that purpose from its

station,