Tell my Father my Journal is stopped by

the finger*. Remember me affectionately 'to him and to all. The writer insists upon 'intruding his best wishes and regards.

'Ever, my dear Mother,

Your affectionate Son,

'JOHN MOOre.'

Shager Brugh, Holland, 28th September, 1799.

'My dear Mother,-My finger is so far. ' well as to admit of my holding the pen with 'the middle one; I avail myself to write to

'you, notwithstanding your marked silence ' and that of my father. I have heard from 'neither since I left England; a short letter 'from Charles, of the 18th, is all I can 'boast of. We were unsuccessful on the

19th. That day, or rather the night before, 'I was detached with Sir Ralph Aber'crombie to Hoorn, quite removed from the 'scene of action. We were ten thousand

men, and might perhaps have been more

❝ usefully employed, if kept more at hand.

*It was struck by a ball in the action.

'The intention was, that in the event of 'success elsewhere, we should fall upon the 'flank and rear of the enemy. The difficulty attending progress in this country is very great, almost insurmountable; for it is everywhere intersected with dykes and canals, more than England is with hedges, ' and there is an impossibility of moving but the roads. The Russians have a savage upon courage, but by their conduct in the last ' affair seem to want discipline, and not to 'be controllable. We shall, however, beat the French sufficiently to secure winter quarters; more must not be expected. Poor 'Anderson begins to complain of his side; 'the fatigue is too much for him; if he holds ' out till the end of the campaign, it is all; ' he must then go to a drier climate. I am, as usual, as strong as a horse, and thrive upon fatigue.

'Young Balfour's regiment suffered much on the 19th; his colonel told me he behaved 'with marked spirit and gallantry: let his · father and mother know this At a diffe

' rent part of the army, and occupied as I am,

I seldom see him; but you may assure them, that I inquire and attend to him, and

it is impossible for a young lad to do better, 'or to be in a better line; his colonel is a 'most respectable officer. Farewell, my

' dear Mother, keep up your spirits, and trust to that Providence which has hitherto averted those evils you most dread. Love to my 'Father and all.

'Believe me ever your affectionate Son, 'JOHN MOORE.

I have given above a tolerable specimen ' of my finger; I shall soon have the use of it, and it will not even be disfigured.

• God bless you.'

Dictated by General Moore, and written by Captain Anderson.

Shager Brugh, Holland, 3rd October, 1799,

'My dear Father,-If other circumstances had not made it evident, a letter which I wrote to you a few days ago, must have 'shown you, that one action more, at least,

was necessary to determine our situation in 'this country; unfavourable weather obliged 'it to be postponed until yesterday.

The public despatches and future letters 'will give you fuller details of the action in general. I belonged to the column com'manded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and

my brigade formed his advanced guard. 'Our march was along the beach, with a ' view to force and turn the enemy's left flank, 'whilst other columns attacked in front. The 'troops destined to flank our column, by moving in the sand hills, took some other direction-(such mistakes are but too frequent in action); and as we very soon found 'the enemy upon our left, I was obliged very early to detach* regiments of my brigade ' into the sandhills, and to be there very much 'myself. About seven in the morning we 'got into fire, and succeeded with tolerable

ease to push the enemy. I was wounded 'pretty soon in the thigh, but not so as to 'disable me, and I continued to do my duty *A word illegible.

on foot, and on horseback. My horse was 'afterwards shot in the shoulder: between ' twelve and one o'clock, after five hours' con'stant action, during which we had continued 'to advance, we fell in with a fresh corps of 'the enemy. Many of my brigade were

.

'killed and disabled, all of them much ex'hausted. Under a very heavy fire, the

enemy advanced upon us. I wished our 'people to charge them, but I could not pre'vail. The consequence was, that they gave

way; having no longer hopes of getting any

'good from them, I sent Anderson to Sir

Ralph Abercrombie, to beg that he would 'detach fresh troops from the column to 'support us, and to charge the enemy. 'Anderson had scarcely left me, when I saw 'the enemy within a few yards on every side

of me; afraid of being taken prisoner, I turned round to go off, and follow the men;

' at that instant I was shot; the ball entered 'at my cheek and went out behind

my ear. 'I fell flat on my face, and was so excessively

'stunned, probably from the man who shot