The violence of the wind, from the 1st to the 7th of Mai ch, rendered a landing impracticable ; and the re sult of the inquiries, which were made during that in terval, was, that there was no part of the coast so fa vourable for the attempt as Aboukir Bay. The weath er becoming calmer on the 7th, that day was spent in reconnoitring the shore ; a service in which sir Sid ney Smith displayed great skill and activity.
Meanwhile the French, who, availing themselves of the delay of the British, obtained naval and military rein forcements from Europe, and were fully aware of the at tempt, which was soon to be made, though ignorant of the precise point of landing, used every exertion to counteract its success. Two thousand of their men were strongly intrenched on the sand-hills near the shore, and formed, in a concave figure, opposite to the British ships. The main body of the French army was stationed at and near Alexandria, within a few miles. At two o'clock, on the morning of the 8th, the British troops began to assemble in the boats ; at three, the signal was given for them to rendezvous near the Mondovi, anchored within gunshot of the shore ; and it was not till about nine in the morning, that the boats were assembled and arranged. At that hour, the sig nal for landing was given. The boats rushed forward with one great impulse, and the work of destruction be gan. Twelve pieces of cannon placed on the sand hills, within gunshot of the boats, and the castle of Aboukir, opened a dreadful fire on our gallant sol diers, who, crowded in the boats, were utterly unable to make the least resistance. As they approached the shore with a rapidity that seems in such circumstan ces incredible, a torrent of grape and musketry as sailed them, and even their enemies were confounded by the boldness of the attempt. Unappalled by this tempest of death, which, for a short time, made dread ful havock among our troops, the 2.3d and 40th regi ments, which first reached the shore, leaped from the boats, formed as on parade, mounted the heights, which seemed inaccessible, in the face of the enemy's fire, without returning a shot, charged with the bayonet two battalions, who were stationed on the summit, put them to flight, and took three pieces of cannon. In vain did the enemy endeavour to rally his troops ; in vain did a body of cavalry charge suddenly on the Guards, the moment of their debarkation. They gave way at all
points, maintaining, as they retreated, a scattered, and inefficient fire. The boats returned for the remaining part of the army, which was lauded before the close of the same day. The troops were employed the next day in searching for water, in which they happily suc ceeded ; and the castle of .Aboukir refusing to surren der, two regiments were ordered to blockade it. On the 13th, the general, desirous of forcing the heights near Alexandria, on which a body of French, amount ing to 6000, was posted, marched his army to the at tack ; and, after a severe conflict, compelled them to retire. Wishing to follow up his first success, and to drive the enemy from his new position, the general pro ceeded to reconnoitre, and, dm ing his absence, the cen tre of his army was exposed to a most destructive lire, from which they had no shelter, and to which they could oppose scarcely any resistance. At length, the attempt to force the enemy's lines was deemed impracticable, and the army retired with great loss to that position, which was soon to be the theatre of struggle and of victory. Why sir Ralph Abercromby did not either remain contented with gaining his first object on the 13th, or keep his men out of the reach of the enemy's cannon, while he was in suspense about making a se cond attack, it is not easy to conjecture. The loss of the English, on that unfortunate day, in killed and wound ed, was upwards of 1000 ; and the general himself had a horse shot under him. Alter the 13th, Aboukir cas tle, which had hitherto been only blockaded, was be sieged, and, on the fifth day of the siege, it was sur rendered. On the 20th, a considerable body of the enemy was seen advancing toward Alexandria ; and an Arab chief gave information to sir Sidney Smith, that the French general, Menou, meant, next morning, to surprise and attack the British camp. Sir Sidney Smith, who, unwilling to confine his exertions for his country to one element, partook of all the dangers of the field, communicated this intelligence at head quarters, to gether with his own belief of its truth. The position of the French army, however, was so strong by nature and art, and it seemed so much their interest to remain on the defensive, that sir R. Abercromby could not give credit to the report. Every precaution, however, had already been used to secure and strengthen the posi tion of his army.