Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

chances may happen; but by their conduct they have rendered our prospects very 'doubtful.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

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.

[ocr errors]

Believe me, my dear Father,

• Most affectionately,

JOHN MOORE.'

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

[ocr errors]

'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.

[ocr errors]

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.

[ocr errors]

Yours ever,

ROBERT BROWNRIGG.

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

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

'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'ticular, are much the better for the summer 6 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

[ocr errors]

ground, under a soldier's tent. As soon as 'we were in possession of this place, and it

[ocr errors]

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 'leg is now resuming its natural colour, and

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

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. 'Vigoureux was wounded in the action of the '13th in the knee; his leg ought at first to

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]

Poor

have been amputated, it is now, I fear, too

late. There is very little hope of his reco

very.

The public papers will inform you of our

6

' 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 northwest winds have set in, in that quarter, it is

« PoprzedniaDalej »