Early in the following year (1797) the general sail ed, with a considerable fleet of ships of war and trans ports, against the Spanish island of Trinidad, and, on the 16th of February, approached the fottifications of Gasper Grande, under cover of which, a Spanish squa dron, consisting of four sail of the line and a frigate, were found lying at anchor. On perceiving the ap proach of the British, the Spanish fleet retired further into the bay. General Abercromby made arrange ments for attacking the town and ships of war early in the following morning. The Spaniards, however, an ticipated his intentions ; and, dreading the impending conflict, set fire to their own ships, and retired to a dif ferent part of the island. On the following day, the troops landed ; and soon after, the whole colony sub mitted to the British arms. Having- performed these important services in so gallant a manner, and having failed only in his attempt on the Spanish island of Por to Rico, the commander in chief returned soon after to England, where lie was received with every mark of honour and public respect. During his absence on these enterprises, he was invested with the red rib band, and soon alter his return, lie received the appoint ments of governor of Fort George and Fort Augustus.
In times of public peril, a commander so justly re spected for his valour and humanity, could not ex pect long to enjoy the delights of domestic retirement. These, his gentle manners and unambitious character rendered peculiarly dear to him. But he was reser ved for other active duties, to which the service of his country called him.
0°7 Ireland had been long a htlbjt•C t of solicitude to Critish statesmen. The great majority of its inha bitants, being attached to the Catholic religion, and having been accustomed to view with a jealous c) the superior privileges enjoyed by their Protestant brethren, were deemed the ht object., of French arti fice and intrigue. The leaders of the French Revo lution employed these religious animosities, as well as the political discontents of the Irish, to inflame their minds against their sovereign and the con stitution. When party disputes had arisen to such a height as to be attended by frequent outrages, and to threaten that country with open rebellion, Sir It. Aher cromby was selected to fill the important station of commander in chief of his majesty's forces in Ireland. He arrived there in that character, about the middle of November 1797. Finding that the conduct of some of the British troops had too much tended to increase the spirit of insubordination, he issued a proclama tion on the subject soon after his arrival. In this proclamation, which is written in a simple and impres sive strain of indignant sensibility, he laments and re proves the occasional excesses into which they had fallen, and which had rendered them more formidable to their friends than to their enemies ; and he declares his firm determination to punish, with exemplary severity, any similar outrage, of which they might be guilty in future. Though much has been insinua
ted against the policy of this proclamation at such a crisis, there can exist only one opinion, as to the mo tives by which it was dictated. Nor can we cease to regard it as forming a most marked and decisive proof of the manly independence of his mind, and of the ge nuine benevolence of his heart. He did not long re tain his command in Ireland. The inconveniences, arising from the delegation of the highest civil and military authority to different pet sons, had been felt to occasion much perplexity in the management of public affairs, at that season of agitation and alarm. Sir R. Abercromby, therefore, resigned the command, and marquis Cornwallis was appointed his successor, with the additional honour of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
In the summer of the same year, Sir. R. Abercrom by was appointed commander in chief of his majesty's forces in Scotland ; and, for a short time, the cares of his military duty were agreeably blended with the en dearments of kindred, and the society of early friends.
In the autumn of 1799, he was employed in the ex pedition to Holland, as next in command to the duke of York. On this occasion he gave new and ample proofs of his skill and valour. But the lateness of the season, at which the expedition sailed, the extreme wetness of the weather, the advanced state of the enemy's preparations for defence, and the unexpected refusal of the Dutch people to receive the British as their deliverers from the yoke of France, all combined to render success hopeless. The military talents of the generals there fore were chiefly employed to secure to the British ar my a strong and impregnable position, capable of being supplied by sea with provisions and stores. Having done this, they were enabled to concluide a convention with the enemy ; by which they were permitted to re embark unmolested, and return to Britain.
In the following year (1800) the attention of the pub lic was drawn towards a great naval and military ex pedition, which was fitted out by the English govern ment at an immense expense. It sailed from England early it summer ; the naval force under the command of admiral lord Keith, and the army commanded by sir Abe reromby. Alter threatening Cadiz, and linger ing lot a considerable time in the Mediterranean, orders at length arrived front England for the Ileet.to proceed to Eg) pt, and the two divisions rendezvoused at Malta on the 11th December. Thence they sailed on the nth and 21st of the same month, carrying along with them 500 Maltese recruits, who were designed to act as pioneers. The fleet, in place of sailing direct for Egypt, which sound policy, we apprehend, should have dictated, again rendezvoused, on the 1st January, 1801, in Marmoriss Bay. The fleet, to the number of 175 sail, weighed anchor on the 23d February; and on the 1st March, it came in sight of the coast of Egypt, and on the following morning anchored in Aboukir Bay, in the very place where, a few years before, Nelson had added to the naval triumphs of his country.