* General Hutchinson succeeds him, who is 'an accomplished man, and a man of sense. 'He succeeds to a command, the brilliant part ' of which, I fear, is over; indeed, with our numbers, I do not see how he can go farther. Inferior as we are in force, and in resources 'to the enemy, how is it possible we can force ' a strong position, and then carry on the siege ' of Alexandria?

'Sir Ralph saw his situation in the most unpromising light; and had, I know, no ' hope of final success, but from events which ' were not in his power to command.

It is owing to the uncommon gallantry ' and good conduct of our troops, that we are 'thus far, and have been able to surmount 'the difficulties which have occurred. A 'check would have been fatal. The expe'dition was planned upon very wrong infor"mation of the situation of the French in *this country, and in the expectation of a

co-operation of the Turks; which, from the miserable state of that power, it is unable to give.

'I have been on board here since the 21st,

with General Oakes and Anderson. Some 'cloth carried into my wound, caused inflam'mation, and has for some days made me ' uncomfortable; it is now something better, 'but I do not expect to be fit for duty these 'three weeks. Anderson's wound gives him pain; but with time and patience we shall 'both do.

You have all been extremely silent since 'I left you; I have not had a line from one ' of the family since I sailed from Gibraltar.

I am glad to have had an opportunity of 'meeting the French in the field equal

handed, to convince them that we in red ' are as stout fellows as our brothers in blue; 'but that satisfaction over, I do not see what ' benefit we are to derive from this contention 'prolonged. As it seems an object, for the security of India, that the French should 'be driven from Egypt, our good ministers 'had better have sent us reinforcements in 'time; we should then have done it for them.

We have still to hope that favourable

'chances may happen; but by their conduct

they have rendered our prospects very 'doubtful.

'Farewell; you will grieve for the death of poor Sir Ralph; it has affected the whole

army. My love to my Mother, Jane, &c., &c. 'Tell James that Mr. Morrell delivered me 'his letters within these few days only. 'Believe me, my dear Father,

6

Sir Robert Brownrigg to Dr. Moore.

'Horse Guards, London: Friday, 15th May, 1801. My dear Sir,-Dispatches have been re'ceived from the army in Egypt, giving an

account of the action of the 21st March.

And I hasten to inform you from authority, 'that my friend General Moore's wound is 'not dangerous. The officer of the navy 'who brought the dispatches, says that he was able to return to his duty before he left

Egypt (the 6th of April). The action of the

'21st March appears to have been one of the

'best fought, and most serious of the war;

' our victory was decisive, with the melan

choly and afflicting allay, however, of the

loss of that most inestimable and distin

guished officer, Sir Ralph Abercrombie. 'He there received a mortal wound, of which 'he died on the 28th of the same month. He

was wounded early in the action, but never ' mentioned it, and it was only made known by his falling from his horse from the loss of blood, after the battle was over.

'God bless you, my dear Sir; let me see you whenever you come to town. The dis'patches received, give encouragement to hope for ultimate success. The whole French force was engaged on the 21st, and 'which (one or two detachments excepted) 'is now at Alexandria.

6 • Yours ever,

ROBERT BROWNRIGG.

'Mrs. B. and her child are doing well.'

'ther and Jane of the 28th and 29th January, ' which I received three weeks ago, contain 'the latest account of the family. I have the 'satisfaction of knowing that then you were 'all well. My Mother says, that you, in par

6

ticular, are much the better for the summer

you have passed in the country. She says 'Graham was well on the 11th November, 'but he had not been very successful. When 'I was wounded, I went on board ship, because, at that time, we had possession of 'the sandy peninsula of Aboukir only, and 'there was no option but the ship, or the 'ground, under a soldier's tent. As soon as

we were in possession of this place, and it 'was considered as sufficiently secure, my

wishes coincided with the medical advice; I 'landed, and have been here with Anderson ' about a fortnight. My leg is at last nearly 'well; another sinus and collection made 'an opening necessary soon after I came on shore, but it will be the last. The original wounds made by the ball are closed. My