' is firm and sound. The opening made last 'by the surgeon is not quite, but will be closed, he says, in three or four days. I

then have to get the better of weakness and ‘of about an inch-and-half's contraction.

The heel, when standing, does not meet the 'ground by that much, but this, the surgeon

says, will soon be accomplished by gentle 'exercise. My health is perfectly good, and 'I hope in a fortnight to join the army. An'derson's wound is also nearly closed, but he 'will be some time, probably months, before ' he has the perfect use of his hand.

• This last wound has been much more trou'blesome and painful than what I got in Hol'land; but when I consider the action, and look 'round me to see what others have suffered,

I have to thank God it was no worse.

Poor

Vigoureux was wounded in the action of the * 13th in the knee; his leg ought at first to ' have been amputated, it is now, I fear, too 'late. There is very little hope of his reco

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progress since the death of poor Sir Ralph.

The French are now confined to Alexandria ' and Cairo. The whole of the Delta is in our possession. I thought they would have 'stood at Rhamanie. To them it was a most 'important port. It secured the communica'tion of Alexandria with the country and 'with Cairo, and by covering the course of 'the Nile enabled them at all times to throw supplies into Alexandria. By retiring be'fore us from Rhamanie, they show that they ' are determined never to stand another 'action with us in the field. They will fight

'us behind the works of those places, which

are strong and well provisioned, and take 'the chance of the havoc which sickness may 'make amongst us in the hot months.Hitherto we are healthy.

'Admiral Blanket has been at Suez some ' time, and it was understood that a land force 'from India, under General Baird, had 'reached Suez likewise. This unfortunately

proves not to be the case, and as the north'west winds have set in, in that quarter, it is

thought it will be impossible for Baird

to get up the Red Sea. With the assist

ance of this force, which is stated at five

thousand men, there is no doubt but we 'should have forced the French from Egypt; without it, I fear, we can do nothing more than we have done. The Turks, though

6

numerous, are banditti, and not to be de'pended on; to the surprise, however, of

every body, they lately forced back, with 'nine thousand, a body of four thousand French who marched out of Cairo to attack 'them. This is considered as so extraordi

nary, that some French prisoners who are

here, not only will not believe it, but fall a laughing whenever it is mentioned.

One-half of our army at present occupies 'the camp before Alexandria, which has been 'strengthened considerably since the action of the 21st. The other half, with a body of

6

Turks, is upon the Nile, within thirty or forty miles of Cairo. General Hutchinson ' had advanced that far, with a view of sup

'porting the Vizir, who is upon the Damietta

'branch of the Nile, and to facilitate the 'junction of General Baird; but on finding

that the latter had not reached Suez, he

halted. I expect to hear from him daily. 'As yet I know not his further determina⚫tion. But as I said before, I fear, with his present force, he can do little. Our num'bers, and those of the French, are too equal, ' and with equal numbers it is impossible to 'force fortified posts. It will be found that, 'when we landed, the French had not less 'than eighteen thousand soldiers. They are 6 very stout men. We have taken above two ⚫ thousand of them. They are tired of the 'country, and wish to be back to France.

No wonder! but they all allow the country 'to be fertile, and that it affords, on the cheapest terms, every necessary. They 'seem to want for nothing, and have all a good deal of money.

'The revenues were collected by an armed 'force, and every act of violence used. When

they had extorted what was due to govern

'ment, I suppose they insisted upon some

thing for themselves. As we treat the in'habitants well, and pay them, we shall soon 'gain their affection; but our allies the Turks 'pillage, murder, and destroy, and are worse than the French. It is heart-breaking to 'think that, if we are successful, we are 'to hand over the poor inhabitants to such • banditti.

The Turkish government has subsisted 'too long.

'Love to my Mother, and to all.

• Camp before Alexandria, Sept. 2, 1801.

My dear Mother,-Our grenadiers took possession this day of the principal works ❝ of Alexandria; the garrison have capitulated, ' and are to embark in ten days for France. Egypt will then be completely evacuated by the French; the country in our possession; and the object of the campaign accom