diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66990-0.txt | 5721 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66990-0.zip | bin | 133666 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66990-h.zip | bin | 369671 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66990-h/66990-h.htm | 7876 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66990-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 232525 -> 0 bytes |
8 files changed, 17 insertions, 13597 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f81c47 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66990 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66990) diff --git a/old/66990-0.txt b/old/66990-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c015251..0000000 --- a/old/66990-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5721 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Narrative of a Private Soldier in His -Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot, by George Billany - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of - Foot - -Author: George Billany - -Commentator: Ralph Wardlaw - -Release Date: December 21, 2021 [eBook #66990] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE -SOLDIER IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT *** - - - Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot - - - - - NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIER IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT. - - WRITTEN BY GEORGE BILLANY. - - DETAILING - - MANY CIRCUMSTANCES RELATIVE TO THE INSURRECTION IN - IRELAND IN 1798; THE EXPEDITION TO HOLLAND IN - 1799; AND THE EXPEDITION TO EGYPT IN 1801; - AND GIVING A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF - HIS RELIGIOUS HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE. - - WITH A PREFACE - - BY THE REV. RALPH WARDLAW, D. D. - - _First American edition._ - - PHILADELPHIA: - - PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNITED FOREIGN - MISSIONARY SOCIETY. - - 1822. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -Long prefaces to Narratives have seldom, I believe, the honour of being -read through. If the Narrative possess interest, a tedious -recommendation only detains the reader from his enjoyment; and if it -possess none, it aggravates his disappointment.--I shall, therefore, be -very brief. - -The subject of the following Memoir has been connected with the church -under my pastoral care, nearly since its formation, in the year -1803:--and, from this, as well as from a circumstance in his religious -history, which the reader will discover towards the close of the -narrative, it may perhaps be thought, that my recommendations are, in -some degree, dictated by feelings of partiality. I hope I shall never be -so dead to Christian sensibility, as to feel nothing of the peculiar -interest which the circumstance alluded to, is fitted to produce. Yet I -may say with truth, that the very consciousness of this interest has -made me the more jealous and scrupulous in giving the advice to publish; -an advice which I never should have given, unless from a sincere -conviction, that the Narrative is fitted both to please and to profit; -to gratify curiosity, and, through the blessing of God, to impart -instruction and spiritual benefit. - -The remarks of a private in the ranks, when he is a man of any -shrewdness and observation, on the incidents that come within his -notice, in the campaigns in which he is engaged, have in them a -particular interest.--Whilst we are pleased with the degree of -intelligence which they discover, we at the same time feel a satisfying -confidence, that they contain 'a plain unvarnished tale;' unaffected by -any temptation, either 'in aught to extenuate,' or 'to set down aught in -malice.' - -The _religious experience_ of the writer, I consider as especially -instructive.--It sets before us, I believe, in honest simplicity, the -workings of a sensible and thoughtful mind, and of a conscience, which -had never entirely lost its early impressions;--the convictions, and -distresses, and reasonings,--the self-righteous and self confident -resolutions, and the necessary failures and inconsistencies, of an -awakened but unrenewed state;--the natural reluctance of man to part -with _self_, to plead guilty, and to depend on grace; and yet the entire -inefficacy of every thing but this grace either to impart satisfactory -and steadfast peace to the conscience, or to produce in the heart a -principle of vigorous and cheerful, consistent and persevering -obedience. - -Of this grace, although, like every other good thing, it has been too -often perverted and abused by the self-deceiver and the hypocrite, the -native tendency is, to "teach" all who receive it, to "deny ungodliness, -and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in -this present world,"--I feel the delicacy of saying any thing in praise -of one, whose living eye the commendation is to meet, and who is still, -like all others, the subject of remaining corruption, and in danger of -injury from its evil propensities; yet, as it is not _himself_ I -commend, but the _grace_ that has made him what he is, and to which he -owns himself an entire and humble debtor, I feel at liberty to say, that -the subject of the following Narrative, since he was led to embrace the -doctrine of the cross, has been enabled,--amidst imperfections and -failures no doubt, of which he himself has been much more sensible than -others have been observant,--to "walk in newness of life," and to show, -that "the gospel of the grace of God" has been "the power of God unto -salvation," when every thing else had failed, and had led only to -despair. - -With the exception of occasional corrections in the use of words and in -the structure of sentences, unavoidable in revising for the press the -manuscript of one unaccustomed to composition, the _style_ is the -writer's own; the work, throughout, having been printed from his -autograph, without transcription:--and I pledge my word to the reader, -that a single additional _sentiment_ has not been introduced. - -I commend the little volume to the candour of the reader, and to the -blessing of God;--not without a pleasing hope, that while it may -benefit, in a temporal view, the family of one, whose wound received in -the service of his country, confined him again, even very recently, from -his daily occupation, for nearly four months; it may, at the same time, -produce higher and more valuable effects, in the instruction, -admonition, and salvation, of those who peruse it. - -RALPH WARDLAW. - -_GLASGOW, June 14th, 1819._ - - - - - ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. - - -The very kind reception which the public have given to the first -edition, has encouraged the Author to improve and enlarge the second. -The additions chiefly consist of a more detailed and combined account of -the Insurrection in Ireland, and the Expeditions to Holland and Egypt. -These additions, he hopes, will make the reading of the Narrative more -pleasant, particularly to young persons. He has divided it into -chapters, and inserted the number of the regiment he served in; but his -name can be of no consequence to the reader. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER I. - -Cause and design of writing the Narrative. Author attends the Sabbath -School of Dr. Balfour in Glasgow, in 1790. Enlists into the 92d foot, in -1796, and joins the regiment in Gibraltar in 1797. Behaviour while -there. Returns to England in 1798. - - -CHAPTER II. - -Regiment lands at Dublin, in June, 1798. State of that city during the -insurrection. Conveyed in coaches to Arklow. Surprises the insurgents on -the White Heaps, 5th July. Particulars of the pursuit and arrival at -Gorey. Instances of the ferocity of civil war. Kind behaviour of the -regiment to the inhabitants. Deserted state of Gorey, where the Author -is much in want of provisions. Distressing state of the surrounding -country. March to Blessington, and join the brigade of Sir John Moore, -and encamp in the glen of Eimal. Orders against swearing. State of the -insurgents in the Wicklow Mountains. March to oppose the French who had -landed at Killala. Lie in Athlone during the winter. The Author's -religious experience while there. March to Cork, and embark for England, -June, 1799. - - -CHAPTER III. - -Join the expedition under Sir R. Abercrombie, and sail for Holland, 6th -August. Land near the Helder on the 27th. Action among the sand-hills, -and capture of Helder. Surrender of the Dutch fleet. Advance to the long -dyke; with a description of it, and the surrounding country. Dutch -method of churning butter. Action on the long dyke, 10th Sept. Repulse -of the Duke of York and the Russians on the 19th. Action on the 2d -October, near Egmont. Lord Huntly wounded. Sir J. Moore wounded. -Singular action of cavalry. Spectacle of the dead, and severe loss of -the regiment. Singular death of a Highlander and Frenchman. March to -Alkmaar. Action of the 6th. Author escorts prisoners on the 7th. Army -retreats to the long dyke on the 8th. Armistice and convention for -leaving Holland. Author takes the ague. Regiment arrives in England, and -goes into Chelmsford Barracks. Religious experience of the Author while -there. - - -CHAPTER IV. - -Regiment embarks at Cowes on board the Diadem, 64, and Inconstant -frigate, 27th May, 1800; and sails for the coast of France. Anchors at -the Isle of Houet, 2d June. Singular occurrence on the 4th. Intended -attack on Belleisle. Religious seamen on board the Terrible, 74. Sails -for the Mediterranean. Arrival at Minorca on the 21st July. Regiment -leaves Minorca on board the Stately, 64. Intended attack upon Cadiz, 6th -October.--Dangerous storm in Tetuan bay. Touches at Minorca and Malta. -The fleet anchors in Marmorice Bay, preparatory to landing in Egypt. -Some account of that bay and the surrounding country. Author's state of -mind during the passage. He is seized with an infectious fever. His -religious experience during his sickness, and after his recovery. Sails -for Egypt. Objection against the truth of the Scriptures. - - -CHAPTER V. - -Account of the landing in Egypt, 8th March, 1801. Author seized with -night-blindness. Action of the 13th. Scarcity of water. Account of the -position of the army and Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needles. Battle -of the 21st, at which the Author is wounded and sent on board an -hospital ship. Condition and behaviour of the wounded. Author removed to -an hospital at Aboukir. Lord Hutchison goes with a part of the army to -Cairo. Author's wound gets worse. Troublesomeness of flies and vermin. -Sirocco, or hot wind, and rapid increase of the plague. Account of -several interesting cases. Behaviour of the wounded in Aboukir hospital, -and the Author's religious experience. - - -CHAPTER VI. - -Author embarks for Rosetta. Dangerous passage of the bar at the mouth of -the Nile. Rosetta hospital. Author dangerously ill. Death of his -comrade, &c. Inundation of the Nile. Skin bottles. Surrender of -Alexandria. Dress of the Sepoys and Egyptian peasants. Manner of eating -their meals. Mahomedan mosques. Gun fired at mid-day in Cairo by the -rays of the sun. Explosion of a powder chest kills several of the 13th -foot. Remarks on the state of mind in which many died. Produce and -manner of cultivating the Delta. Immense heaps of grain. Wretchedness of -the peasantry. Extracts from Sir R. Wilson and Dr. Clarke, on the -diseases and plagues of Egypt. The unavoidable evils of War. Author -leaves Rosetta, and sails for England. - - -CHAPTER VII. - -Arrival at Cork. Marches to Kilkenny. Proceeds to London and admitted an -out-pensioner of Chelsea. Arrives in Glasgow. Retrospect of his military -life. Distressing state of mind. Obtains peace of conscience by hearing -the gospel in Albion-street Chapel, and joins the church under the care -of Dr. Wardlaw. - - -POSTSCRIPT. - -Consists of an Address to readers in general, and to those in the army -in particular, of what the Author wishes them to learn from the -Narrative. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - -DEAR PASTOR, - -I shall now, according to the best of my ability, attempt to gratify the -wish you several years since expressed, that I would arrange into one -connected narrative, the various particulars I then communicated to you, -of my previous life, and the exercises of my mind; its various workings, -and conflicts, until the period when I was brought to the knowledge of -Jesus, as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. - -In drawing up this account of myself, my motive is, to record the -loving-kindness of the Lord to me a sinner; and if you deem it proper to -be brought before the public in any shape, the only object I would have -in view, is the good of my fellow sinners, particularly such as have -been, or are, in situations of life, similar to those I have been in, or -have experienced similar exercises of mind. - -Into the minutia of my early life, I do not intend to enter; and I would -make this general remark in the outset, that my chief object is, to give -a history of the workings of my mind, during the past part of my life, -rather than the particulars of my life itself; but I shall narrate as -much of these particulars as is necessary to account for, and -illustrate, the history of my mind. I will also notice, briefly, such -other things as may serve to entertain or inform the reader. - -I was born in Glasgow, in the year 1779.--When I was very young, the -belief of the omniscience of God, was frequently strongly impressed upon -my mind, and the thought of his all-seeing eye, often checked my -conscience and restrained me during early life, from gratifying my own -inclinations, to the extent I otherwise would have done. I pretty early -learned to read; and as I grew older I became increasingly fond of it, -even indeed to excess. I read whatever came in my way; but the Psalms of -David in metre, in use by the church of Scotland, and the Bible, being -the first books in which I learned to read, and having the benefit of -godly instruction and example at home, religious knowledge was that with -which I was most acquainted. When I was about eleven years of age, I -went to the Sabbath school, belonging to the Outer High Church parish, -Glasgow, then taught by Mr. Begg, (now minister of New Monkland parish,) -and superintended by the parish minister, the late Rev. Dr. Balfour. The -chief exercises of the school were, reading the Scriptures, and -repeating the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. Dr. Balfour frequently -visited the school, after the afternoon's service was over, and staid -sometimes an hour, and sometimes even to the conclusion at six o'clock. -When the Catechism was repeated, he interrogated us on the meaning of -the questions, and instructed us in their import. He questioned us upon -the sermons we had been hearing, and gave us doctrines to prove from -scripture, by collecting all the passages, that we thought contained -these doctrines. The doctrines were the fundamental articles of the -Christian religion; and as we read the passages, he would tell us when -they were in point, and when not. I was an adept at repeating the -Catechism; but as I had no margin Bible to point out the references, I -had to range through the whole scriptures, and exercise my judgment, -which of course was sometimes right, and sometimes wrong. When I was -shown that I had brought forward a passage that did not apply, it made -me think better next time; the passages I found out I remembered where -to find again; and those that were brought forward by others, I added to -my own stock. This was an exercise that did me more good, than all the -other exercises of the school: for, in after life, when I had forgotten -the Catechism, and the other things I had committed to memory, I did not -forget how to find in the Bible, those passages I had formerly known; -and if I happened to be reading the Bible, and came to any of those -passages that had been read in the school, it awakened in my mind the -remembrance of what had taken place there. I would then recollect -something of the impressions that had been made at the time on my mind, -and endeavoured to remember what was said by the minister on these -occasions; but I shall notice this again; in a future part of the -narrative. There were rewards sometimes given to any who repeated -chapters, psalms, or hymns. The most remarkable instance of this kind -that took place while I was in the school, was a present by a gentleman, -of Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, and Sermons to -Young Persons,[1] to be given as a reward to the boy (it was a school -for boys only) who repeated best, from memory, Dr. Watts' Divine Songs -for Children. We received copies of the hymns, and a time was fixed for -the trial. I was very eager to obtain the prize, and even made it a -matter of prayer. I wished to have the book, because I had conceived to -myself, that it would teach me how to get to heaven. When the day of -trial came, the minister was not present, but we were heard by one of -the elders. The greater part of the children were very young, and most -of them had learned only a few of the hymns. There were only four that -could go any length in them, and only three that could go completely -through them; and their merit was so equal, that it could not be said -which was best. I was one of those three; but as it could not be -determined who merited the book, it was deferred until next Sabbath -evening, when it was expected that the minister would be present. He -came, and we repeated the hymns to him with such equal accuracy, that he -declared he could not give the prize to one more than another; and to -make us equal, he procured other two copies of Doddridge's Rise and -Progress; but, as he could not find copies of his Sermons to Young -Persons, he bound in Boston's Fourfold State in their place, and I was -put in possession of one of them. - -I continued in the school about two years. - -In 1796, being about the age of seventeen, I enlisted as a soldier in -the 100th regiment of foot, or Gordon Highlanders, commanded by the -Marquis of Huntly,[2] then lying in the island of Corsica. When that -island was evacuated by the British, the regiment came to Gibraltar, and -I, along with the rest of the recruits, left Scotland and went to -Chatham, where we joined other parties of recruits belonging to -regiments lying in Gibraltar, for which place we embarked at Gravesend, -in Nov. 1796. But the convoy with which we sailed, was forced, by stormy -weather, to take shelter in Falmouth for six weeks; after which we -proceeded to Lisbon, where we lay ten weeks, because the Spanish fleet -was at sea, and ours inferior in number, was watching it. The battle of -Cape St. Vincent, was fought while we lay there, in which the Spanish -fleet was defeated, and four sail of the line taken, which were sent -into Lisbon. The British fleet soon followed, except a squadron left to -watch the Spanish fleet in Cadiz. As soon as the fleet had repaired its -damages, it set sail for Cadiz, and we went along with it for -protection. We left them when we came off Cadiz, and were escorted by -some frigates, through the straits to Gibraltar, where we landed in the -beginning of April, 1797, and joined the regiment. - -The general character of the army, for the profanation of God's holy -name, is well known: and the temptations a young man has to encounter, -from the very general practice of this vice, are very great. The -religious instructions I had received, and the knowledge I had of the -Scriptures, deterred me from acquiring a habit of swearing: I frequently -reproved my comrades for it; and having done so, pride of heart also -operated to prevent me from swearing myself, lest my comrades should, in -ridicule, retort my reproofs upon me; and this they did not fail to do, -if at any time I was guilty of an oath, or any thing approaching to it. - -During the time I had been a recruit, and the time I was in Gibraltar, I -neglected the reading of the scriptures. In the regiment, I met with a -variety of characters; amongst others with Deists, who attempted to -shake my belief of the truth of the scriptures. I was greatly disturbed -and perplexed in my mind by their arguments; but I was not drawn into -their opinions. Yet I still neglected my Bible, and continued gradually -losing the knowledge of it I formerly had. There was an argument, which -had a powerful effect upon my conscience, and with which I met all the -pleas and excuses for swearing;--I argued, that if there was no God, it -was an absurd thing to swear by the name of a being who had no -existence: and if there were a God, he certainly would punish the -dishonour done to him, by the profanation of his name. - -There was a society of Methodists in Gibraltar, chiefly composed of men -belonging to the different regiments in the garrison. They had a small -place, where they had stated meetings for prayer and exhortation; there -were a few of these Methodists in our regiment. Shortly after I joined -it, the commanding officer gave out an order for none of the regiment to -attend any of their meetings. What effect this order had in deterring -any from attending at the time it was issued, I know not: it had not at -least a permanent effect, for I know that several did attend afterwards, -and no notice was taken of it. I went to this meeting place only once -all the time I was in Gibraltar, and I was nearly a twelvemonth in the -place. This shows what a careless state of mind I was in; for I may say -it was the only religious exercise I was at, all that time. There were -indeed prayers read to the garrison, every Sunday morning on the grand -parade, when the weather was dry; but the chaplain was always at such a -distance, that I never heard a word he said. There was a chapel at the -governor's residence, where service was performed through the day, but I -never was in it. - -I began to fall into company which led me frequently to get intoxicated; -I did not indeed fall into a habit, nor acquire an inclination for -intoxicating liquors for their own sake; but had the same circumstances -continued, I have great reason to fear, that an appetite for them would -have been formed, and that I might have turned out a habitual drunkard. -Gibraltar has, indeed, peculiar temptations to produce a habit of -drunkenness. The wine is cheap; the place is warm; and in time of war -with Spain, there is very little fresh provisions, and what is fresh, is -very indifferent. There is a great deal of hard labour for the soldiers, -for part of which they get extra pay: by the evening, many of them are -fatigued, and actually need a refreshment beyond their ordinary -provisions; but those who need the refreshment, are not content to go -and get what they require for themselves; they often take one or two of -their comrades with them, and having once sat down in the wine-house, -they generally sit until either their money is exhausted, or their time; -(for the moment the gun fires for the men to be in their barracks, the -wine-houses must be emptied and shut, until after the new guards are -marched away to relieve the old ones next morning, that no soldier may -have it in his power to get drunk before guard mounting.) Those who are -treated one night, treat in their turn those who treated them, when they -get pay for work. - -Many of the barrack-rooms are uncomfortable on account of their size, -containing sixty or more men. This greatly destroys social comfort: for -one or two individuals can molest all the rest; so that select retired -conversation can not be enjoyed. Any thing of that kind is always ready -to be interrupted by the vicious and ignorant, who do not fail to scoff -and gibe at what they do not understand or relish themselves. Among so -many men too, there will always be found some who take a malicious -pleasure in making their neighbours unhappy. This renders the -barrack-room quite uncomfortable during the evening; which, as the -greater part are employed at work, or otherwise occupied during the day, -is the principal time when they can be together. This, along with other -things, induces those who have a little money, to spend the evening in -the wine-house with their more select companions. Different sorts of -vermin are very plenty in the barracks; and it is a common excuse for -drinking, that they can not get a sound sleep, unless they be half -drunk. It was customary at that time to settle the men's accounts once -in two months; and, as very little pay was given to the soldiers over -their rations during the intervals, the greater part had a considerable -sum to receive: and then drinking was so very common, that to prevent a -multiplicity of punishments, it was found necessary to have no parade, -excepting those for guard, in order that the money might be the sooner -done; and the different regiments in the garrison, had to take different -days to settle their men's accounts, that the garrison might not be -involved in one general state of intoxication at the same time. But I -hear that matters are differently managed now; the men are oftener -settled with, and get a larger proportion of their pay weekly, which -prevents them from having so much money to receive at once. The most -comfortable time I had, was when I was upon guard. There are many very -retired guard stations; some of them in elevated situations, on the very -summit of the rock, 1300 feet above the level of the sea, from which the -view is truly grand, and where a fine opportunity is afforded for -meditation. I sometimes took my Bible to guard with me, but I never made -much use of it. - -We left Gibraltar, and embarked for England in the beginning of March, -and landed at Portsmouth, 18th May, 1798, and went into Hilsea barracks. -During the voyage I read something more in my Bible, but much more still -in any other book I could find; sometimes it was a novel, sometimes a -history or play: sometimes it was a book of a religious cast; but this -was rare: I read any thing I could get, to the neglect of the Bible. - -Footnote 1: - - I have learned since the publication of the first edition, that these - Books were the gift of Mr. Auchincloss, a gentleman who took a very - lively interest in the Sabbath schools. He was constantly employed in - visiting them, and in giving rewards of various kinds to those who - behaved well, and repeated, from memory, psalms or chapters. - -Footnote 2: - - The number of the regiment was afterwards changed to the 92d, which is - the number of it at present. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -We embarked in the beginning of June for Ireland, on board of the Europa -of 60, and the Van Tromp of 54 guns. We had a narrow escape from running -ashore amongst the rocks, in a fog, upon the Irish coast: the fog, -however, cleared away just in time for us to see our danger. A new scene -began to open to us: Ireland was in a state of insurrection; and we were -but ill informed of the nature and extent of it. We were told by a -pilot, that we got upon the coast to conduct us into Dublin, that the -insurgents had taken Wexford. The prospect of being engaged in a civil -war, made me thoughtful, and agitated me not a little. On the 18th June -we anchored in Dublin bay, and landed at the Pigeon-house in the -evening. We were here met by Lord Huntly, our Colonel, who had been made -a Brigadier General on the Irish staff. We remained on the mole near the -Pigeon-house, which is about three miles from Dublin, until day-break -next morning, and then marched into the city with drums beating and -colours flying, announcing to the sleeping inhabitants, at the early -hour of three o'clock, the arrival of fresh troops for the support of -the government. - -As we now entered into a scene of civil war, I will take the liberty of -stating a few of the particulars of the Irish insurrection. - -The city of Dublin was under strict police: patrols of cavalry paraded -the streets during the day to prevent crowds from assembling. Numerous -and strong guards were posted through the city and suburbs, and upon all -the roads leading to the country. These guards were reinforced at night -with additional garrison troops, and large parties of volunteer -yeomanry, both horse and foot. Many citizens of the first -respectability, and not a few of the nobility, were in the ranks of the -yeomanry; and it was not an uncommon thing for a poor Highlander to have -a wealthy citizen, or noble lord, posted along with him on sentry. All -the inhabitants were ordered to be in their own houses by a set time at -night. Strong patrols then scoured the streets and made prisoners of all -they found upon them, and entered every house where they heard any -disturbance. Every house had a written list of the inmates upon the -door, and was liable to be visited during the night; and if any one was -amissing, the owner might be taken up; or if any were in the house whose -names were not on the door, or if any one was found in his neighbour's -house, he was taken up and fined before being set at liberty. Every -precaution was used, to prevent plots from being formed, and all means -was used to find them out. In such a state of society, opportunity is -afforded to private malice and ill-will, to injure the objects of their -enmity. When I was upon the Grand Barrack guard, two respectable old -citizens were brought in prisoners. They were men who were unfit, and -very unlikely to have any active hand in conspiracy against the state. -They were confined in the guard-room all that day and night; whether -they were liberated next day after I was relieved, or removed to some -other place, I know not. While they were in the guard-room, they were -exposed to the interrogatories of the ignorant and unthinking, who took -every such prisoner to be an insurgent. They were protected, however, by -the interposition of the more intelligent and humane. I had a little -conversation with them, and they told me it was their belief, that it -was an apprentice of theirs with whom they had a difference on account -of bad behaviour, who had, out of revenge, given false accusation -against them; such as, that they were holding correspondence with the -insurgents in the country, &c. They told me that such cases were -frequent. Every person accused was taken up, and kept until the case -should be examined: and as this, from the great number daily -apprehended, could not be instantly done, individuals often suffered -seriously, before they obtained their release. - -The conduct of persons, whose political sentiments or behaviour, were in -any measure suspicious, was closely watched. And when they were found -transgressing any of the police rules, their cases were strictly -examined. I saw an instance of this, in the case of a respectable -gentleman, who was confined in the same guard-room upon another day. He -had been found out of his own house after the appointed time at night. -He pled that he was only a short time in a neighbour's house: and that -the person in whose house he was, was himself a very loyal man, and a -yeoman. He said he had always been a very loyal man himself. He -acknowledged, that at a certain public meeting, (which had taken place -some time previous to this) where a certain political question had been -discussed, he had spoken warmly, _too warmly_; but that that was the -only thing in the course of his life, that could have any tendency to -create any suspicion of his loyalty. He remained in the common -guard-room during the day, and was removed to another place at night. He -was liberated next morning when I saw him, and he told me, that nothing -farther than his being out of his own house at night was brought against -him; and that he had gotten his liberty on condition of paying ten -pounds to the fund for the relief of the widows and children of soldiers -who had fallen in the insurrection. He said that he happened to have as -much money upon him, and that he paid it cheerfully; for those that were -to get it well deserved it. I mention these cases as certain evils -arising out of a state of civil war. - -During the time we lay in Dublin, the insurrection was raging in various -parts of the country, and much blood was shedding. Dublin itself was -kept in a state of tranquillity, by the vigilance of the police, and the -power of the military. Our stay in it was short. On the 1st of July, the -volunteer cavalry were employed in going through the city, pressing all -the coaches, gigs, and other vehicles, and collecting them in one of the -squares. At six o'clock at night we paraded, and went into them, and set -off for Arklow. We travelled all night. We were all accommodated at the -outset, but fell into considerable confusion on the way, by some of the -coachmen getting drunk, and striving to get past one another; which -caused several of the carriages to break down, and others, by running -into ditches, to upset. It was conjectured that some of the coachmen did -this wilfully, from aversion to the service they were upon. Numbers had -thus to walk in the rain, which was heavy; and several had their muskets -damaged, by the breaking down or upsetting of the carriages. One man had -his firelock completely bent; and when he was asked by the people of the -villages through which we passed, what kind of a gun _that_ was, he told -them it was one of a new construction, for the purpose of shooting round -corners. - -As we advanced into the country, we began to see the effects of the -insurrection. Burnt houses began to make their appearance in the -villages, and their number increased as we proceeded. The coaches -carried us to about three miles from Arklow, and then returned to -Dublin. We entered Arklow in the evening. The place had been attacked by -a large body of insurgents a few days before, who had been repulsed with -great slaughter. They had some pieces of artillery, with which they had -dismounted one of the guns of the military, and damaged some of the -houses. They had also burnt that part of the town that lay next the -sea-side, which was composed of low thatched houses, and was inhabited -by fishermen. It was a very pitiable sight to see this scene of -destruction; and those of my comrades who went to the ground where the -insurgents had stood during the action, said it was disgusting. Numbers -of dead bodies were still unburied; some of them lying in ditches, and -the swine feeding on them. There was a number of prisoners in the place, -who had been taken, whom they were trying by court-martial, and hanging; -but I was not an eye-witness to any executions in this place. A part of -the regiment was stationed in the church, which was not a large one. -This was a new kind of quarters, but every part was occupied, pulpit and -all; and the grave stones were the place where we cleaned our arms. - -The insurgents were still in a body upon one of the hills in the -vicinity, and kept the place in alarm; and we had frequently to stand to -our arms during the night. On the fourth of July, we paraded in the -street at 12 o'clock at night, in great haste. The right wing of the -regiment got three days bread served out, when we marched away in a -great hurry, without giving the left wing any. I was in the left wing, -and had only a few crumbs left of that day's rations. We marched very -quickly through by-roads; and when day began to break, we made a short -pause, and loaded our muskets,--the first time I had done so in the -expectation of fighting. There was a high hill before us, (called White -Heaps) whose top was covered with mist, and that side which was next to -us was very steep. The insurgents were said to be on the top of it. -Their number, we afterwards learned, was 5000; of whom 1500 had -firelocks, the rest pikes. There were about six troops of cavalry along -with us: but our whole number did not amount to 1200, without artillery. -We ascended the hill with difficulty, without being perceived by those -on the top, the mist concealing us from each other. When we had nearly -reached the summit, and had entered into the mist that covered it, our -front was challenged by the insurgent sentinels, who demanded the -countersign, to which the Lieutenant Colonel replied, "You shall have it -in a minute." We moved a little further and formed our line. The fog -cleared up a little for a minute, when we found that our left was near -the enemy, who were collecting themselves into three bodies. The ground -betwixt us and them was a wet bog; and the commander of the cavalry told -our commanding officer, that if he advanced, the cavalry would not be -able to act in such marshy ground as that before us. The fog again -covered us, so that we could not see them, and a gust of wind, with a -shower of rain, induced us to stand still. The insurgents then gave a -loud cheer, and then a second, and they began a third; but it died away, -and was not so full or loud as the others. We expected to be instantly -attacked, as this was their signal of attack. They, however, had -imagined that we were much stronger than what we were; and being -terrified by the suddenness of our appearance, in place of coming -forward to attack, they fled in great haste down the opposite side of -the hill. We stood in uncertainty for some time, as we could see -nothing; then hearing the fire of two guns, we moved in that direction, -and got out of the fog, and descended the hill on the side opposite to -that which we had ascended. We then learned that the insurgents had gone -down the hill; and, having fallen in with another division of the army, -had come upon them before they could get fully formed, and had come -close to the guns, when they were fired upon and repulsed. It had been -arranged, that different bodies of troops should have mounted the hill -on opposite sides at the same time; but we had been sooner than the -others, which disarranged the plan. The insurgents continued to fly, the -cavalry went forward in pursuit, and we followed with all possible -haste. When we reached the foot of the hill, I saw four of the -insurgents lying dead. We continued to march with great haste, and -frequently changed our route. We heard firing at no great distance; but -the parties were always gone before we came up. The road was strewed -with old clothes, oatmeal, oat bread, and dough, thrown away by the -insurgents in their flight. The dragoons killed a great number of them -in the fields. The insurgents, in their flight, fell in with some -baggage belonging to some of the other divisions; attacked the guard, -and killed and wounded several, before the rest of the army could come -to their assistance; the insurgents were then totally dispersed, and a -great many killed and wounded; but our regiment never could arrive in -time to take share in any of the actions. Several women were among the -dead, who were shot in the ranks of the insurgents. We had a most -fatiguing march, of upwards of thirty Irish miles. In the evening we -arrived at the town of Gorey, as did also two other divisions of the -army. - -One thing I would particularly notice here, is the _ferocity_ of civil -war; it has barbarities not now practised in the national wars of -Europe. In one spot, where seven had fled to a house, in which they were -killed, their bodies had been brought out to the road side, where they -lay, shamefully uncovered, and some of them mangled in a manner too -indelicate to mention. At another place, I saw an insurgent, who had -been taken and dragged by the hair of his head, which was long, for some -distance along the road, and then shot through the heart. It was said, -he was unwilling to inform upon the rest of the insurgents. Numerous and -shocking barbarities were committed on both sides, sometimes originating -in animosity, sometimes in wanton cruelty, and at other times in -retaliation. - -I was witness to a scene of the latter kind a few days after, in the -town of Gorey. A man was brought to the back of the camp, to be hanged -upon a tree on the road side, by a party of an English fencible -regiment. The man was scarcely suspended, when the officer of the party -fired the contents of two pistols into the body, and then drew his sword -and ran it into it. I then turned from the sight with disgust; but those -of my comrades who stayed, told me that the body was lowered down from -the tree upon the road; that the soldiers of the party perforated it -with their bayonets, cut off the head, cut it in pieces, and threw them -about, tossing them in the air, calling out, "Who will have this?" They -then dug a hole on the opposite side of the road, and buried the body -and the mangled pieces of the head, in the presence of a few of the -unhappy man's friends. I was informed that he had been a judge in the -insurgent army for trying their prisoners: that a brother of the officer -of the party had been taken prisoner by the insurgents, and had been -sentenced by this man to be piked to death: and that this was the reason -why he had been so used. - -Piking to death was what the insurgents practised upon those of the -king's troops that fell into their hands, particularly if they remained -firm in their allegiance. The common method was for "two to stand -behind, and two before the victim, and thrust their pikes into his body -at once, and raise it from the ground, holding it suspended, writhing -with pain, while any signs of life appeared. At other times, two men, -with pikes, would come before the victim, and begin to stab him in the -feet, and then the legs, and thighs, and belly, until they reached the -heart. At other times they literally perforated the body all over, with -pike wounds." Such barbarities could not fail to produce desire of -revenge. But, as our regiment had not been in the country during the -out-breaking of the insurrection, we had received no injury to provoke -our resentment. And as we had not been employed in the execution of any -of the rigorous measures resorted to by the government to prevent the -insurrection, no one had any ill will against us. We were called into -the service of suppressing this unhappy and calamitous insurrection, -after it had begun to decline, and we were rather witnesses of its -ruinous and distressing effects, than active hands in suppressing it by -force. For it so happened, that although we several times pursued -considerable bodies of the insurgents through the mountains, and were at -times pretty close upon them, yet no one of us fired a musket, with the -exception of one or two, who did it without orders, on the morning of -the 5th July, on the White Heaps: neither was a musket fired at us; and -the only loss the regiment sustained during this service, occurred one -morning when we were pursuing a body of insurgents among the mountains. -One of our men having fallen behind through weakness, was met by two or -three insurgents in women's clothes, carrying pails of milk on their -heads, as if returning from milking. They offered him drink; and, while -he was drinking, one of them seized his musket, and after threatening to -kill him, they allowed him to proceed to the regiment, with the loss of -his musket and ammunition. - -The sight of so many houses and villages, and parts of towns, burned and -destroyed, and the great number of women and children, who were in a -destitute state, because their husbands and fathers were either gone -with the insurgents, or were fled for safety, touched most powerfully -the sensibilities of our hearts, and diffused a feeling of generous -sympathy through the regiment. It so happened at that time, that we had -newly received a more than ordinary balance of arrears of pay, so that -every man was in possession of money, less or more; and although we were -very fond of milk, because we had been long living upon salt provisions, -before our arrival in Ireland, yet there were none who would accept of a -draught of milk for nothing, but would pay its price. And if the people -of the house would not take payment, they would give the value of what -milk they received to the children. - -As this conduct in soldiers is more rare than even conspicuous courage -in the field, the truth of what is here asserted, may be the more ready -to be questioned. I shall, therefore, take the liberty of inserting a -quotation from Gordon's History of the Irish Rebellion. The author of -that work is a clergyman, whose residence appears to have been in the -vicinity of Gorey, and who had a personal knowledge of what took place -there at that time. That author complains of the losses sustained by the -inhabitants from the insurgents and the soldiery: he says, "on the -arrival of the Marquis of Huntly, however, with his regiment of Scottish -Highlanders, in Gorey, the scene was totally altered. To the immortal -honour of this regiment, its behaviour was such, as, if it were -universal among soldiers, would render a military government amiable. To -the astonishment of the (until then miserably harassed) peasantry, not -the smallest trifle, even a drink of butter milk, would any of these -Highlanders accept, without the payment of at least the full -value."--Gordon's History of the Irish Rebellion, 2d edit Lond. p. 240. - -When we entered the town of Gorey, it was, in great part, deserted by -the inhabitants. Nothing was to be procured for money. After the very -fatiguing march we had on the day we entered it, we received one biscuit -and one glass of whiskey. On the next day we marched to a considerable -distance, in quest of the insurgents, and returned back; we got a -draught of milk, and one day's allowance of boiled beef, which had -arrived from Arklow; but no bread.--The day was very warm, and I was -considerably exhausted. That day passed over, and the next day, until -the evening, without any word of any more provisions. The dread of -having to pass another night in our present hungry state, determined -other two and myself, to go in quest of something that we could eat. We -saw some who had purchased some old potatoes at the mill of the place. -We made all haste to the mill; but the potatoes were all sold. We felt -disappointed; but, observing that the mill was at work, we entered it to -see what was grinding. We found a man attending the mill, who said he -was not the miller, but had just set the mill to work to grind some -barley. There were but a few handfuls ground; and we resolved, rather -than want, that we would wait until some greater quantity was done, when -we would endeavour to get it cleaned, so as to be capable of being -turned into food. After stopping a few seconds in the mill, I began to -look about, when I perceived a number of sacks that were, less or more, -filled with something: I said to my comrades, "Perhaps there may be -something in some of these sacks that will serve us: we had better -examine them and see." We were indeed loath to touch any thing; but we -were in absolute want of food, and were willing to pay for it. Observing -a sack about half full, standing beneath another that was full, and was -bent over it, we thought we would see what was in the broken sack first. -We instantly removed the full sack, and, to our great joy, we found the -other was about half full of excellent oatmeal, ready for use. The -miller's wife came in, in great agitation, and said, that she durst not -sell it, for it belonged to a gentleman in the neighbourhood, who was a -Captain of the Yeomen. I replied, that we were in absolute need, and -must have it; but that we would pay a fair market price for it, which -she could give to the gentleman who owned the meal; that he would likely -be able to procure a supply to himself elsewhere; that he perhaps was -not in the immediate want of it, but that we were, and did not know any -where else to find it; and that she might state this to the owner, and -that would remove all blame from her. She assented to the justice of -this; and said, that one shilling and six-pence was a fair price for the -stone weight. The weights were quickly erected; we weighed a stone, paid -the price, and set out to get it cooked, leaving a number more of our -comrades, who had come to the mill, to be supplied in the same way as we -had been. While passing along the street, looking for an inhabited -house, where we might get our meal cooked, we met other three of our -comrades, who had gone to the country in quest of provisions, but could -get nothing but milk, of which they had their canteens full. We agreed -that we would give them a share of our meal for a share of their milk. -We then went into a house, in which was a woman with one child. She said -her husband was a blacksmith, and that the insurgents had forced him to -go with them, to forge their pikes.[3] We told her that we wanted her to -make us some porridge, and that she should get a share of it for her -trouble. She instantly cleaned her pot, (which was but a small one,) and -got it on the fire. We procured some wood for fuel; and, the first pot -full being soon made, and poured into a dish to cool, we desired her to -make haste and get the second ready, for we were very hungry, and what -was in the dish would do little to fill us: we then sat down, all six, -to satisfy our hunger. What was in the dish would have been a very -scanty meal for three; yet, after we had eagerly swallowed a few -spoonfuls, we began to slacken our speed, and (although the milk and -porridge were exceedingly good) to swallow them slowly, and with -difficulty; and we were all reluctantly compelled to leave off before -our little mess was nearly finished, and the poor woman got the remains, -and the second pot full for her trouble. We told her, that we would call -back next day after parade, to get another meal. On returning to our -quarters, we found that our provisions had arrived in our absence; but -as we could not know that they were to arrive that night, we felt -satisfied with what we had done. We did call back at our cook's next -day; and, after taking a little more porridge, desired her to make use -of the rest of that meal as she needed it, for that we had now got -plenty of other provision, and were not likely to require it. - -The town and adjacent country were in a most distressing state. Numbers -of the cattle were going through the corn-fields, and destroying more -than they were eating. The milk-cows were lowing most piteously for want -of being milked. And as the town had been more than once in the hands of -the insurgents, the alternate movements of the army and the insurgents -created always fresh alarm to the peaceable and helpless, who were -liable to suffer by every change. The insurgents harassed those who did -not join with them; and when the insurgents had to fly, the soldiers -harassed those whom they found at home, on pretence that they were -friends or favourers of the insurgents: so that it was next to -impossible, for even those who were unable to take any part on either -side, to escape being involved in the distresses attendant on the -quarrel. - -The following circumstance will in part show this. Three of our men went -from Gorey, to the country, in quest of provisions; (I think it was the -same three that gave us milk formerly.) They went to a farm house, into -which they entered, but could find no one within. They went through all -the apartments, but could discover no one. They saw that the fire was -unextinguished; the milk, and every thing about the house, showed that -the inhabitants could not be far away. When they had waited a good -while, in the hope that some of them might make their appearance, a -young child came into the house. This convinced them that the mother -could not be far off. They spoke kindly to the child, and gave it a -penny. It then left them, and in a short time reappeared with its mother -and the rest of the women and children belonging to the house. The -soldiers told them that they wanted to buy some milk; to which they -replied, that they might take whatever they wanted, and welcome. The -soldiers said, they did not want any thing for nothing, but would pay -for what they got; but the women insisted that they should take freely -what they wanted, and said, that was not the way they had been used by -the soldiers that had visited them before, for they took what they -wanted without asking their liberty, and sometimes ill used themselves; -adding, "We saw you coming, and we were afraid, and went and hid -ourselves; but when the child came into our hiding-place, and showed us -a penny it had got from you, this encouraged us to make our appearance; -and God bless you, take what you want freely." The soldiers got their -canteens filled with milk, but the inhabitants had no other provisions -that they could spare. They then left them, (after giving the children -as many pence as they thought the milk was worth,) highly pleased with -their visit. - -We stayed in the town of Gorey a fortnight, during which time public -confidence was greatly restored. The bulk of the inhabitants had -returned, and the grocers' shops began to be replenished. There was no -whiskey, or drink of any kind, to be had when we entered it; but whiskey -was distilled and sold some days previous to our departure, which -consumed the soldiers' money much faster than the buying of milk did, -although the milk was by far the preferable article, had they been so -wise as to have contented themselves with it. We left Gorey, and had two -days march to Blessington, twelve miles from Dublin. Our route led us -through a part of the country that had suffered severely. Almost every -change of landscape presented to our view the roofless walls of cabins -and of gentlemen's country seats, many of which were spacious and -elegant. The populous village of Carnew, where we halted for a night, -had been almost totally burnt. The inhabitants had sheltered themselves -within the walls of their cabins the best way they could; but, in wet -weather, their condition was pitiful. A great part of the town of -Blessington had also been destroyed. We pitched our tents in the rear of -the Marquis of Downshire's fine house, which had also been burnt. A -large body of military was encamped in the pleasure grounds, and great -openings were made in the walls and hedges to admit of a ready -communication between the different parts of the camp, and every thing -was in a ruinous state. We were here put under the orders of Sir John -Moore, then a Major General, and in a few days he marched with our -regiment, and the Hompesch dragoons, and two pieces of artillery, and -encamped in the glen of Eimal, among the mountains of Wicklow; where -several detached bodies of insurgents were still in arms. When we -entered the glen, which was a fruitful valley of considerable extent, -the inhabitants kept their houses, because some of the military, who had -been there before us, had spread a report that we were uncommonly -ferocious. But this impression was of short duration; we were soon great -favourites with them, and our camp became a place of public resort, -particularly upon Sundays. The young men and women were entertained with -whiskey, music, and dancing; to which exercise they were encouraged by -the attendance and approbation of a neighbouring Catholic priest, who -excited the young women to dance with the military, even with very -profane language. This drew forth the remarks of the soldiers; and even -the most openly profane among them condemned their own sins when -committed by a priest.--A circumstance of a different kind took place -here, which was remarked as uncommon among us. Two of the soldiers -quarrelled, and had a long vociferous wrangle, consisting chiefly in -profane oaths and curses. They were not far from the Major's tent; (the -Major was a Catholic;) he was so disgusted at the horrid profanity of -their language, that he ordered them extra drill, as a punishment, and -complained to Lord Huntly, who gave out an order prohibiting the -practice, and threatening to put the Articles of War in force, and to -fine every man in a shilling for every oath. This was a temporary check -to the very public commission of it, but it was only of short duration; -for the practice was too general among all ranks, and the order was soon -as if it had never been. - -While we lay in this camp, Sir John Moore marched twice with us into the -interior of the mountains, where the insurgents still kept in small -bodies. They made a show of resistance, but fled when we got near them. -We pursued them slowly; Sir John did not allow any to fire at them, -though it might, at times, have been done. It appeared to be his -intention to intimidate them from remaining in arms, and by showing them -forbearance, to induce them to return to their allegiance. This wise -conduct of the general, along with the conciliatory behaviour of the -soldiers, had a happy effect. For, during the time that we were encamped -here, the greater part of them came in and delivered up their arms. The -whole would have submitted in the course of a day or two, if the French -had not landed at Killala. It was said, that the only remaining leaders -were in the camp, and had left it to fetch in their followers the next -day; but that the report of the French having landed[4] reaching them in -the evening, revived their hopes of a revolution: and, our marching -suddenly away next morning to oppose the French, confirmed them in the -belief that they were in great force. In consequence of this, they -remained in arms during the autumn and winter, committing petty -depredations, and skulking among the mountains. It was lamentable to see -the ignorance of the people who had been in arms. They were indeed no -judges of political questions. Petty local animosity, and an aversion to -Protestants, was all that operated with the great body of them; and -beyond these, they could not be made to look by those who saw farther. - -Their bigotry to the Romish religion was so strong, that although their -oaths, as united Irishmen, bound them to "persevere in endeavouring to -form a brotherhood of affection among Irishmen of _every_ religious -persuasion," they were no sooner up in arms, than they began to show -that Protestants would not be tolerated. They put many Protestants to -death, in the most cruel manner, some of whom were fighting in their own -ranks. And had they succeeded in overturning the government, they would -not have spared even those Protestant gentlemen that were their chief -leaders, nor yet those of their own communion that were favourers of -toleration. Their secular leaders, whether Protestant or Catholic, were -soon convinced, that because they did not approve of intolerance, their -lives would fall a sacrifice to their own party if it was successful. -They preferred surrendering themselves to the clemency of the -government, as soon as it was in their power, to staying among the -insurgents; for, although they had forfeited their lives by their -insurrection, they had a greater chance of being spared by the clemency -of the government, than of escaping the bigotry of those whom they -themselves had stirred up to rise in arms against it. One Garret Byrne, -a Roman Catholic gentleman, of landed property, surrendered after the -affair of the White Heaps, and was sent to our camp, and was employed by -Sir John Moore to guide us through the mountains, when we went in -pursuit of the insurgents. - -Disaffection had spread among the Protestants of the north, as well as -among the Papists of the south; but, as soon as the Protestants in the -north heard that the insurrection had taken a religious turn in the -south, they were glad to be quiet, for they instantly saw that their -safety (they being by far the fewer number) lay in the preservation of -the government. This freed the government from the resistance of the -Protestant insurgents of the north; who, from the superiority of their -intelligence, were more to be dreaded than the Catholics of the south. -Want of subordination in the insurgent armies, also, contributed -materially to render the insurrection abortive. Their notions of -liberty, for which they ignorantly pretended to be fighting, were of -such a nature as to render every attempt to train them to arms utterly -vain. They said, we are the sovereign people--we are free--we will not -be drilled like those slaves of government, the red coats. To be drilled -like a soldier was a degree of subordination which they had never been -subject to; and, when they had been persuaded by those who stirred them -up to insurrection, that they were slaves, and that they would obtain -freedom by rising in arms, they could not see the consistency of this, -with submitting to the slavery of being drilled like soldiers. Indeed, -their actions showed that the liberty for which _they were fighting_, -was a liberty to violate the laws of God and man, and indulge in -licentiousness, riot, and dissipation, and the cruelties of -superstition. - -We had a long fatiguing march to the opposite coast of Ireland. We never -came in contact with the French, but we were extremely glad when we -heard of their surrender, as we were weary with hard marching. We -escorted them as prisoners one day's march; their number was then, of -all ranks, somewhat about 800. When they landed, they were 1100, -(Gordon's History of the Irish Rebellion, p. 294.) There were several -amongst them who had been prisoners in Corsica when our regiment was -there, and they recognised some of our men as having been guards over -them there. - -They had brought a large quantity of arms, accoutrements, and clothing -from France, to equip the Irish insurgents, many of whom had joined them -after they had taken the town of Castlebar; but the major part left -them, and went away with the arms, accoutrements, and clothing they had -received, as soon as the French began to drill them. Muskets had been -given to five thousand five hundred in Castlebar, but there were only -about fifteen hundred that accompanied the French on their march from -that place to Ballinamuck, where the French surrendered, when 500 of -them were killed, and the rest dispersed. They were also dangerous as -well as useless allies to the French; for they were not disposed to give -quarter to prisoners. I heard of an instance of an insurgent who killed -a soldier that had been taken prisoner: one of the French cavalry -instantly cut the insurgent down with his sword. This restraint did not -suit the sanguinary temper of the insurgents; but the French well knew -that if their allies did not give quarter, no quarter would be given to -them. The alliance was also very incongruous; for the insurgents were -all bigotted Catholics, and the French enthusiastic infidels, who openly -boasted that they had lately driven Mr. Pope out of Italy, and had not -expected to find him so suddenly in Ireland. They smiled at the -simplicity of the Irish, when they heard them declare that they came to -take arms for France and the blessed Virgin. The priests were treated -with the utmost contempt by the French general, although it was his -interest to have acted otherwise. There can be no doubt that, although -the French had succeeded in revolutionizing Ireland, their religious -difference would have produced a new war between them and the Irish. - -We did not return to the Wicklow mountains; but encamped during the -autumn at Moat, twelve miles from Athlone, which is near the centre of -Ireland; and, when winter set in, we went into Athlone for winter -quarters. The number of the regiment was changed at this time from the -100th to the 92d. - -We lay there from the end of October, 1798, to June, 1799. In this place -it pleased God to lead my mind to serious and deep reflection, and to -begin a work of sharp conviction, such as I had never before -experienced. There was a Catholic Chapel, an English Church, and a -Wesleyan Methodist Meeting-house in the town. In the Methodist -Meeting-house, there were always public prayers evening and morning, and -sermon on the Lord's day, and often twice a week in the evenings. I -attended the Meeting-house pretty closely, and began to read my Bible -with more than common attention. I reviewed my past life, and found that -I was an exceeding great sinner in the sight of God: and God's goodness -as my Creator, and merciful Preserver, appeared to my view in a much -stronger light than ever it had done before. I read several religious -books, amongst which were Baxter's Call to the Unconverted, and Young's -Night Thoughts. The subject of life, death, and immortality, occupied my -thoughts very much; the conviction of my ingratitude, in sinning against -God, often made me weep in secret; and the fear of falling into the -hands of a justly offended God, frequently made me shudder. The words of -Scripture, "Repent and turn to the Lord," were strongly impressed upon -my mind. I saw there was no salvation without pardon, and no pardon -without repentance. I wept for my sins, and earnestly besought God to -forgive them. I read the Scriptures, and found, as I imagined, pardon -promised to the penitent. I followed, as far as circumstances permitted, -in point of form, Baxter's directions. I devoted myself to God, and -vowed to forsake sin, and to live a godly life for the future. I made -this resolution in sincerity of heart, my understanding being convinced -that it was my duty to hate sin, because God hated it; and that if I -regarded sin in my heart, God would not hear my prayers, nor pardon my -transgressions. I then began to attempt the performance of what I saw -was my duty. I began to hunger and thirst after personal holiness; but -of the nature of justification, by faith in the imputed righteousness of -Christ, I had no conception; and of the nature and design of his -sufferings, my ideas were very confused and erroneous. It was a sense of -sin that pained my conscience, and I sought for relief in personal -reformation, and founded my hope of pardon for the past, and of eternal -life, in the success of the reformation, I had now commenced. Being -convinced that I was liable to many and strong temptations, and that the -conquest of sin would be no easy work, I conceived that it was my -wisdom, as well as duty, to have recourse to every thing that could -strengthen me against temptation, and assist me in the arduous task of -working out what I conceived to be my salvation. - -When under this temper of mind, I happened, with a number of other -soldiers of the regiment, to be at the meeting-house one evening; and -after the ordinary service of praise and prayer was over, the preacher -desired the soldiers to remain, intimating that he had something to say -to us. He then addressed us, on the propriety of joining in a class -meeting, informing us how many soldiers had joined in a class meeting, -in a neighbouring town, in his circuit. He said that some of us might -scruple, because he was not of the same religious principles as those we -had been brought up in. This might be true; but he remarked that we had -no opportunity of joining with those, who were of the principles in -which we might have been educated, there being none in the place; that, -if we chose to form a class meeting, he did not require that we should -be of the same principles with him in every thing; but that if we were -concerned for the salvation of our souls, it would be for our benefit, -while we were absent from home, to be united together, for the purpose -of social worship and instruction.--I thought the proposal candid and -reasonable, and put down my name, as one willing to join in a class -meeting. I thought it would be a means of helping me in the work of -personal reformation. For a short time I went on pretty well in my own -estimation, abstaining from any thing that was open and flagrant; but -secret sins overcame me, although I had set myself to resist them with -all my might; and this broke my peace of mind. It happened, that there -were a number of the regiment, and amongst them some of my own comrades, -taken ill with dysentery; and several died of the disorder. This alarmed -me much. I began more seriously than ever, to contemplate the -uncertainty of life. I read seriously, and with great attention, those -portions of Young's Night Thoughts that treat on that subject. I entered -fully into the spirit of the poet, and applied to my conscience his -reflections. My security of life was completely broken. Every night I -lay down to sleep, I was afraid I might never awake, and every morning I -arose, I was afraid I might die before night. I would say to myself in -the morning, "Some of my fellow creatures, who are living at this -moment, will be dead before night; and how can I tell but I may be one -of them!" This subject never made so strong an impression on my mind as -at this time. I never was so much afraid of death, except on occasions -of evident danger. I could no longer place death at a distance. I saw -myself in danger of being snatched away every moment in numberless ways, -and put the question to myself, "Were I to die this moment, what hope -have I of escaping hell and getting to heaven?" and I concluded, that I -had no hope of heaven whatever, but every reason to fear that hell -should be my portion. - -I then began to look around me; and compare myself with the bulk of my -comrades. I thought I was not so bad as they were. I began to reason -with myself, that if God was to send _me_ to hell for _my sins_, surely -those that were worse than I was, would also be condemned; and, if that -was the case, how few would there be that would escape! I would fondly -have indulged the idea, that surely God would not be so severe, as to -condemn so many, and would fain have cherished the hope, that because I -was not so bad as the major part of those I knew, I should have a chance -to escape. But when I reviewed my past life in the light of the word of -God, I found nothing but condemnation; for I perceived that that word -took cognisance of the quality of sin, as well as the quantity, and -condemned both sins secret and sins open: I began to remember the means -that I had enjoyed above others, of religious instruction and -information; and the declaration of our Lord, "To whom much is given, of -them shall much be required," rang in my ears. I remembered the -impressions made upon my mind by early religious instructions; I -recollected the resolutions I had made to forsake sin, and the -convictions which had produced these resolutions; I thought of my -breaches of these resolutions, and my former forgetfulness and -indifference: and more particularly, my failing in keeping my last most -solemn vow. I began to meditate and consider of God's dealings with me -as an individual: and of the account he would require of me _as an -individual sinner_. I no longer durst compare myself with other men. I -knew not the extent, in number and heinousness, of any other man's sins. -I knew not their secret sins and evil purposes of heart; and as God -would bring all manner of sin into judgment, I durst no longer think in -my heart that I was a whit better than the most wicked and profane -person I knew; for I knew more evil of myself than I had known, or could -know of another. This led me to look more strictly into my own heart, -and to examine what was done in it, as I found that the word of God -discerned the thoughts of the heart. This led me to investigate the -_motives_ of my actions, and then I found that I did nothing that was -pure. I called to mind the past goodness of God, the many mercies and -deliverances he had given me; I reflected on my ungrateful behaviour, -and was filled with wonder and astonishment that a God of such awful -majesty, should have spared such an ungrateful and vile wretch so long; -I was led afresh to consider, "What shall I do to escape the just -vengeance of Almighty God?" and my resolution was to repent afresh of my -sins, and devote my future life, with greater resolution to his glory. I -durst not delay my repentance to a more convenient time, because the -fear of death stared me in the face; and I was convinced, that as death -left me, judgment would find me. I trembled at the thought of being -called, by death, before the awful tribunal of God. I had nothing to -look to on the one hand, but a broken law; and a holy, sin-avenging God -on the other. This made me earnestly wish for the pardon of my sins, and -I resolved that I would do any thing whatever that would procure it. - -I read the Scriptures, but chiefly in the Old Testament, often in -Isaiah. To the clearer light of the New Testament, I did not so much -attend. Its clear evangelical language did not strike my mind with that -force as to fix my attention upon it. From those parts of the Scripture -that caught my attention, I formed the following opinions:--that God -promised mercy to the penitent returning sinner: this gave me a gleam of -hope, which I believe prevented me from sinking into absolute despair; -but I did not understand the nature of evangelical repentance, or the -way by which the penitent should come to God, in order to be accepted. -The state of my mind at that time was this; I thought that if I -sincerely repented of my past sins, and did not commit sin for the -future, God would pardon my sins. I also promised myself, that if I -truly, and seriously, resolved to serve God for the future period of my -life, God would on this account, give me strength to resist every kind -of temptation, and to overcome every desire to sin. I promised myself, -that, by constant endeavours, and unremitting exertions, I should -overcome all obstacles, and finally merit eternal life. I saw that God -required of the penitent sinner, future obedience: I was convinced that -this was just: I thought that God did not require any thing but what he -had given us power to perform, if we were but willing to do so. I -resolved to be willing, and to try my strength to the utmost. I thought -that if I did meet with any thing that was too hard for my present -strength, God would give me additional strength; but that the only way -to honour God was to use the power that he had already given me. I -thought it would be affronting God to ask more, until I had first proved -the insufficiency of what I now possessed: and that it would be -insulting to divine goodness, to be seeking that which was already -bestowed upon me. Under this frame of mind, I set about the performance -of religious duties. I prayed more frequently and fervently; I read the -Scriptures with greater diligence and attention; I abstained from every -thing that was in my opinion sinful. But my past sins were still painful -to me, because I was not yet assured that they were or should be -pardoned. I was, however, certain that if I continued to commit sin, I -should get no pardon, but if I forsook sin, I _might_ obtain pardon. The -spirit of my prayers was, entreating God to pardon my sins, and -promising to lead a holy life in future. - -While in this state of mind, I went one evening to the meeting-house, -and as I was returning to the barracks, pondering in my mind my guilt, -as a sinner, and the goodness and sparing mercy of God, the powers of my -mind having been buoyed up by the fervour of the exhortations and -prayers I had heard, a sudden emotion started all at once into my mind, -that my sins were pardoned by God, that God had promised pardon to such -as me; and that all that was required was, that I should believe that -God had pardoned my sins; that God was faithful to his promise, and it -would be to me, even according to my faith. This emotion had a powerful -influence upon me. It gave peace to my mind, for I took it to be one of -those manifestations of the Spirit, spoken of by those who preached, -exhorted, and prayed, at the meeting-house. Under the impressions -produced by it, I went on very smoothly, abstaining from sins, to which -I had formerly been a slave. I now thought myself happy, and promised to -myself, that I would now be able to live such a life, as should be -pleasing to God, and should procure and retain his favour. - -But I must here add, that this impression that my sins were actually -pardoned, was not accompanied with any increase of light to my -understanding of the way in which God forgives sin. I was as blind to -the nature of the great doctrines of the justifying righteousness and -atoning blood of Christ, as I had been before. The views which at this -time I entertained of Christ's death, were, that he had died to procure -the pardon of such sins as were committed by sinners, while in a state -of ignorance and impenitence. I believed that had Christ not died, there -would have been no pardon for sin, but that his death had opened the -door of mercy to penitent sinners of all descriptions. I thought all the -design of God, was to bring men to a sense of their moral duty, and to -put them once more in a fair way of discharging their moral obligations -to him, as their Creator and Preserver; and that he had promised those -who repented, his assistance in all things that were difficult, and his -protection from outward danger; and that Christ's death justified God, -in granting pardon to penitent sinners, on account of their penitence. I -had some faint recollection of what I had read in Boston's Fourfold -State, and the instructions I had received in the Sabbath school, and -from others, and could discern that there was a difference between them -and the instructions I was now hearing, particularly on the doctrine of -election, and remaining corruption in believers; but I had no fixed -ideas on these topics, only just as much as prevented me from thinking -that the Methodists were right, in denying, that the doctrines of -election, and of remaining depravity in all believers, were taught in -the Bible. I thought they were, but they were not any part of my own -fixed belief. I read Wesley on Christian perfection, and, although I did -not think he gave a sound view of some Scripture texts, perfection was -the thing I was striving to obtain; a perfect obedience to the divine -law was what I had set out to accomplish; and the following lines of one -of Mr. Wesley's hymns, were, for a time, very frequent in my mouth, and -repeated in secret prayer to God; - - O grant that nothing in my heart - May dwell, but thy pure love alone; - -and I resolved that my life should be one scene of devotion and of -gratitude to God. I continued to go on pretty smoothly for about six -weeks, and I thought I had got the better of sinful inclinations; but -when I fancied I was strong, I soon had reason to be convinced that I -was weak, had I only been willing to learn; for I again fell into some -sins, which I had flattered myself I should never more be guilty of; and -this broke my peace of mind, and blasted all my hopes. I however found -means to heal the sore again, after having undergone considerable pain -of mind. I again set out by repenting, and trusting in the mercy of God, -and resolving on future obedience; but my conduct was not regular, and -secret sins, which lay at times very heavy upon my conscience, would -overcome me, although I strove against them with all my might. - -I continued to attend the various meetings, public and private, amongst -the Methodists, while we lay in Athlone. My attendance among them was -certainly of great benefit to me, in leading to a train of experience, -that materially contributed to make me acquainted with the deep -deceitfulness of my own heart. I was indeed slow to learn; but what took -place with me at that time, afforded matter for reflection afterwards. I -think upon it still, and see great reason for humility on account of my -blindness, in not seeing while I was there, that I was without strength -and without righteousness, without Christ, and without hope, I can not -tell how far the gospel was set before me by the Methodists; but I am -pretty certain, from some expressions that I have still a faint -recollection of, that Christ was set before me in a much clearer light -than I at that time apprehended him; I had, all the time I was there, -continued in a course of sinning and repenting, making resolutions and -breaking them; and, although I suffered great pain of conscience, I -succeeded in quieting it by the hope of better success the next time. -When we came to leave the place, I felt that I should not have the same -privilege, of the means of instruction and social worship, at least for -a while to come; and this gave me less hope of myself, and filled me -with a greater degree of fear, that I should be more liable to be -overcome by temptation, when I should not have the help of the means of -grace. - -I may here mention a simple incident that occurred while I was in -Athlone. One night I was placed sentinel over a prisoner, in the room in -which he slept. He was asleep, and I did not disturb him; a book lay -near me; I took it up and passed the two hours with it; it was a book of -sermons on Contentment, written by an old divine, (if I mistake not, a -Mr. Taylor of London,) but it matters not who the author was. He handled -it in a variety of lights, and applied the principle of contentment to -the good works of Christians. I forgot all that I read but the following -expressions; he said, that the genuine disciple of Christ was one, who -was willing to do every thing for the sake of Christ, and, at the same -time, was content to deny all he had done for Christ's sake. The author -pursued his subject in a spiritual sense, and I was taken with the book, -although I did not understand it. It was, however, written in such a -strain of piety, that I was struck with it; my memory kept hold of the -words, "do all for Christ, and deny all for Christ;" and I would at -times reflect upon them, as strange and mysterious. I could never -understand them, but I could not help being struck with them; and when -the Lord opened my eyes several years afterwards, I remembered I had -read them, and wondered how it was I did not understand them sooner; but -I was then carnal; and the things of the Spirit were foolishness to me, -for I had not spiritual discernment. - -We left Athlone, and marched to Cork, in June, 1799, to embark for -England, and join the army that was forming to invade Holland. After -leaving Athlone, I began to fall off in my attention to serious things. -I carried Gray's Sermons in my knapsack, to oblige a comrade who was a -Methodist, but who had not room for it in his. I carried it to the place -of our embarkation, and returned it to him, without having read any part -of it. I had read little or nothing of my Bible either, during the -march. I found out the Methodist meeting at Cashil, where we stopt a -day, and was at worship twice or thrice. - -We lay several weeks encamped at a place called Monkton, near Cork, -waiting for vessels to carry us to England. I was twice or thrice at a -prayer meeting during that time; but although the prospect of danger was -increasing, I was increasingly remiss in attending to religious duties; -and this was the case with the most part of those who had been joined -with the Methodists. There was only one man in the regiment who was -uniformly steady and consistent in these things. - -Footnote 3: - - They impressed into their service all the blacksmiths they could find. - -Footnote 4: - - Reports varied as to the number landed: some reports made them 15,000, - others, as high as 30,000. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - -I continued in a very careless and listless state of mind during the -passage to England. We landed at Dover, and marched to Barham downs, -where we were encamped. About ten thousand troops were assembled at this -place in a few days, and Sir Ralph Abercrombie was appointed to command -them. Our regiment was put into a brigade under the command of Sir John -Moore. Lord Huntly went upon the expedition as Colonel of the regiment, -for he was not yet a General upon the English staff. We marched to -Ramsgate, and embarked on board of transports, on the 5th of August, and -sailed next day for Holland, under convoy of a fleet of war ships, -commanded by Admiral Mitchell. A short time after we sailed, the wind -became contrary and stormy, and continued so for about three weeks, -which was an uncommon circumstance at this season of the year; so that, -although the distance was short, the voyage was tedious. This delay -allowed time for reflection, but I did not improve it, for whatever were -the passing thoughts of my mind, I was not seriously impressed until a -few days before we landed. The wind becoming favourable and moderate, we -stood in for the coast of Holland, and anchored on the evening of the -24th, near the entrance to the Helder, and began to prepare to land. The -Dutch fleet, of eight sail of the line and three frigates, lay in our -sight in the outer road of the Helder; and the fleet of Admiral Duncan, -of about an equal number, lay at anchor a few miles from them. The fleet -under Admiral Mitchell had an imposing appearance; for it consisted of -fifteen sail of the line, and about fifty frigates, sloops of war, -cutters, and gun vessels, with about 130 transports. The wind, however, -became stormy again on the 25th, and the fleet, under Admiral Mitchell, -put to sea; but it moderated during the night, and we returned and -anchored nearer the shore than before, on the 26th, and prepared to land -next morning. The ships of war hoisted the English and Dutch flags -together, because the object of our intended invasion was to expel the -French and restore the former government. The troops on board of the -ships nearest the shore (of which the ship I was in was one) were -ordered to land first. Our danger was now more imminent than ever it had -been before; the probability of being suddenly called from time to -eternity, was more than ever apparent; and I began again to pray and to -meditate. We cooked three days' provisions, to carry with us, and were -served out with ammunition on the evening previous to our landing; we -did not go to rest that night, but kept on our accoutrements, to be -ready to go into the boats when a signal should be made. Such a period -is one of great agitation and anxiety. The prospect of landing in the -twilight of the morning, on an enemy's coast, ignorant of the nature and -extent of the danger, where one can not tell whether we may reach the -shore, or be driven back as soon as we land, or suddenly overpowered -before we can get assistance. These, and the like, are serious -considerations at a time like this. During the night I was often praying -in my mind for mercy, that the Lord would spare me: and I put on fresh -resolutions, that if I was spared, I would serve God with fidelity and -diligence. All my prayers were for the preservation of life: I durst not -resign myself to death, because I was conscious I was not prepared for -judgment. All my hopes for eternity, were founded in reformation of -character, and that I had yet to begin; for had I been cut off, at that -time, I had no hope of heaven. - -The province of North Holland is a peninsula, formed by the German ocean -on the west, and the Zuyder-sea on the east. The town of Helder stands -at the northern extremity, where the Zuyder-sea communicates with the -German ocean, between the Helder point and the Texel island, distant -about six miles. The city of Amsterdam stands on the south side of the -Zuyder-sea, the common passage to which is by the Helder. A range of -sand-hills runs along the coast of the German ocean, close to the beach, -and the country between them and the Zuyder-sea is nearly a perfect -flat. Large dykes, or mounds of earth, run along the shores of the -Zuyder-sea to protect the tide from overflowing the country, which is -below the level of high water. The sand-hills serve for an embankment on -the side of the German ocean. The principal arsenal for equipping and -repairing the Dutch fleet is near the town of Helder, the greater part -of which rendezvouses there; but they are built at Amsterdam and other -places in the interior, and floated down the Zuyder-sea, on account of -the shallowness of its water, and are fitted out for sea at Helder. - -We embarked in the boats early in the morning, and collected at the -stern of a gun vessel that lay nearest the shore, where we waited until -daylight began to make the coast visible; I continued at intervals -offering up ejaculatory prayers to God, for preservation and -deliverance. As soon as the coast was discernible, the gun vessel began -to fire her guns upon the shore, and the boats rowed off, giving three -loud cheers. The fire of the different vessels of war that lay along the -shore was dreadful: but as the shot and shells were all thrown at -random, the enemy not being visible, it did little damage; but it -probably prevented the enemy from appearing on the open beach, by which -means we got safely landed. The enemy's troops were posted among the -sand-hills at the different points opposite to our extended anchorage, -that were most favourable for landing. These points were chiefly at some -distance to the right of the place we landed at, where the beach, not -being so favourable, was not so strongly guarded. A part of his force -was also to our left, near the Fort at the entrance to the Helder, where -they had a camp. We formed on the beach as we landed, and began to -advance into the sand-hills. Our regiment was near the left of the line; -there were only a few of the enemy's picquets that appeared in _our_ -front, who retired as we advanced: but the troops on the right had not -proceeded far before they fell in with a division of the enemy, when a -smart action began. The enemy were quickly driven farther to the right, -but fresh columns soon arriving, the action became increasingly warm, -but our troops continued to press upon the enemy, and took up a position -across the sand-hills, to cover the right of the debarkation. Sir John -Moore's brigade, in which our regiment was, penetrated also across them -as soon as possible, and took up a position to cover the left. - -The sand-hills at this place are not of great breadth; the road from -Helder to the interior runs along the interior side of them, the -peninsula at this place is narrow, and the ground between the sand-hills -and the Zuyder-sea is a flat, in many parts swampy. As soon as the first -party of our regiment had reached the further side of the sand-hills, -they descried that part of the enemy's force that had been posted on our -left, passing along the Helder road to join their forces that were -engaged with our right. They were composed of horse artillery, cavalry, -and infantry. As soon as they observed our advance picquets, they left -the road, and made a circuit through the flat ground to their left: and -when they were out of the reach of musketry they made a pause, and fired -two field pieces at us, which did us no hurt, and then passed on and -joined their own troops. The fire of the ships of war that were anchored -to the right and left of the point of debarkation, prevented the enemy -from attempting to march along the beach to disturb the landing. They -also protected the right flank of the troops that were engaged with the -enemy, but he attacked their front with his infantry, and their left -flank with his artillery; which he kept upon the flat ground, on the -inside of the sand-hills, protected by his cavalry. Indeed infantry were -the only troops that were capable of fighting among the sand-hills. -Fresh columns continuing to arrive during the course of the day, to the -support of the enemy, he maintained the contest and renewed his efforts -to dislodge our troops, but as they also were reinforced by those that -continued to land, they repulsed all his attacks and gained ground; but, -as we had neither artillery nor cavalry, we dared not to attack his that -were posted in the plain, nor was it expedient to advance far until the -army should all be landed. The enemy continued his efforts from five -o'clock in the morning till four o'clock in the afternoon, when the army -was nearly all landed, and some pieces of artillery were brought to bear -upon the enemy's cavalry and artillery. The troops then charged his -infantry, and drove them beyond Challantes Ogg, a place where an -inundation of water from the Zuyder-sea contracts the peninsula nearly -to the breadth of the sand-hills. The enemy then retreated into the -interior, and left us in possession of our position, which separated him -from the Helder. Another fleet of transports, with five thousand -additional troops from England, appeared at sea in the afternoon, and -anchored in the evening. Our regiment was not engaged through this day; -but Sir John Moore's brigade was destined to attack the batteries and -town of Helder next morning, if the enemy's garrison still remained in -them. The loss of the army during this day's conflict was about a -thousand men killed and wounded. Our regiment lost sixteen men, who were -drowned in the act of landing, the boat having struck on a bank at some -distance from the shore; the men got out of the boat, but got into deep -water before they reached the beach, and the swell having increased at -the time they were landing, they, along with several seamen belonging to -the boat, were drowned. I knew most of them; one of them was a -particular acquaintance, whose death made a strong impression on my -mind. - -As soon as it was fully dark our brigade marched away for the Helder. -There is something impressive in a march under the cloud of night, in a -strange land, where we can not tell the danger we are in, and have to -move forward in solemn silence. It was ordered, that no man was to speak -above his breath during the march; and all orders to halt, or move -forward, were given the same way. We had frequent stops, which made us, -who were not in the front, often wonder what was the matter. Such a -march is a service in which the mind undergoes much harassing anxiety, -and the body much fatigue. Having come near to the Helder, we halted, -and lay under arms, in a state of great anxiety, until daylight; several -of their ships of war were then seen at anchor near the town, but they -got quickly under weigh, and their whole fleet anchored in the -Zuyder-sea, about 12 miles from the Helder; which was the farthest -distance they could go to on account of the shallowness of the water. -After waiting some time we obtained information that the enemy had -evacuated the various forts and batteries about the place. We sent out -small detachments, who found that it was so, and we then entered the -place, and put guards in the different works. When I reflected on the -dangers we had escaped, I was filled with wonder; but I soon forgot them -all; and during the few days that we lay in the town of Helder, my -conduct, in place of being better, was worse than ordinary. - -The transports, and a number of our frigates, came into the Helder next -day, and the artillery, cavalry, and stores, were landed in the harbour. -The day following the ships of the line came in, and admiral Mitchel -went forward to the Dutch fleet, with a squadron of nine sail of the -line, and five frigates. The Dutch fleet then surrendered without firing -a shot, and hoisted the orange flag. Their crews were in a state of -mutiny at the time, partly out of disaffection to the new republican -government, but more particularly for want of pay. When they were -ordered to prepare for action they refused to fight, and threw the balls -and cartridges into the sea. It would, indeed, have been a useless waste -of blood for them to have resisted, for if the squadron that went to -them had not been sufficient to have reduced them, there were more than -enough of war ships, of all descriptions, at hand to have completely -overwhelmed them; for after the batteries of the Helder were in our -possession, they had no way of saving their ships to their country but -by taking out their guns and masts to lighten them, and towing them -through the shallow water to some of the ports in the interior, out of -our reach. And why they did not do so is not easily accounted for. -Besides this fleet of eight sail of the line, three frigates, and a -sloop, there were two sail of the line, eleven frigates and smaller -vessels of war, and three East India ships lying in the harbour, in -various conditions. A large quantity of ammunition and stores, and a -great number of cannon for the equipment of ships, were found in the -arsenal, exclusive of the guns and mortars that were on the batteries, -many of which were brass. - -The army lay among the sand-hills, where it had fought on the day of -landing, until the 1st September, when the artillery and cavalry being -landed, it moved forward into the interior of the country. Our regiment -left the Helder, another occupying it, and joined the army, which took -up a position in the afternoon, upon one of those huge dykes that are in -Holland, which extended from the German Ocean, where we posted our -right, to the Zuyder-sea, where we posted our left, a distance of about -eight miles. We occupied it, at all the parts that were passable, and -threw up works upon it, particularly at the extremities. It formed a -most excellent position of defence in such a flat country, on account of -its thickness and height. The top of it was so broad that any carriages -had full liberty to pass, and was one of the best roads in the country; -and it was not made in a straight line, but bent in curves, like the -bastions of a garrison line wall. A large ditch runs the whole length in -front of it, with large reservoirs of water in the curves. The use of -this dyke was to prevent the rain that falls in the winter, on the south -side of it, from flooding the country on the north side, where the level -is lower. The reservoirs in the curves of the dyke receive the water, -and there are sluices that are opened to allow it to pass by degrees, -under the dyke, into a large canal, a little in the rear of it, from -whence it is let out into the sea, when the tide is low. We had no -tents, but were lodged in the farm houses, which, in Holland, are large, -and of a peculiar construction, having the byre, stable, hayloft, and -barn, under one large oblong square roof, made of thatch. A great number -of these houses were ranged at such regular distances, along the banks -of the canals, in the rear of the dyke, that they formed convenient -cantonments; and each house contained from one to two hundred, who slept -in a loft among the hay, without any other covering than their great -coats and the hay. The fields are all divided by broad and deep ditches, -in place of hedges, which are only to be seen upon parts of the road -sides, and round the orchards at the farm houses and gentlemen's seats. -All the ditches have communications with the large canals that -communicate with the sea. A great number of wind-mills are employed in -forcing the water up into the canals, which are above the level of the -ground in the winter time, and in forcing the water into the ditches -whose elevation is highest, from whence it flows over locks into the -lower ditches in the summer season, so that the ditches are always full. -The apparatus of the wind-mills is simple: a number of long broad -paddles are fixed in an axle, the lower ends of which dip into a box of -little more than their own breadth, into which the water of the lower -level flows, and the rapidity with which the paddles are driven makes -them throw the water off their flat sides, to all the height that is -needed. The country being below the level of the sea, there are no -spring-wells of fresh water in it. The rain that falls on the roofs of -their houses is conveyed into a cistern, built of brick, sunk in the -ground at the side of the door, or under one of the corners of the -house, and some of them have an opening into the cistern both within and -on the outside of the house. The Dutch are proverbial for their -cleanliness and ingenious industry. I admired, among other things, their -way of churning their butter. A large wheel, with a broad rim, the -spokes of which were fastened to the one side of the rim, was fixed upon -a nave in the wall, at one of the corners of the house, with the spokes -next to the wall; small pieces of wood were nailed across the inside of -the rim; a belt that was upon the rim turned a crank that was above it; -the churn stood on the floor under the crank which lifted the churn -staff up and down; there was a close lid upon the churn, with a slit in -the centre, in which the churn staff moved, so much of which was flat as -allowed it to move in the slit. The wheel was turned round by a dog, who -was put into the inside of the rim upon the open side; he catched the -small cross pieces of wood, that were on the inside of the fore part of -the rim, at some height, with his feet, and the weight of his body -turned the wheel. The poor dog was tied by a cord round his neck at such -a height, to an upright post at the side of the fore part of the wheel, -that if he did not work he would be hanged. There were generally two -dogs employed, the one relieving the other. - -The Dutchmen wear large small-clothes and cocked hats; the women wear -stays and hoops in their petticoats, and low crowned broad brimmed straw -hats; but I did not see any that were gaudy, or ragged, in any part of -the country I was in. - -On the 10th of September, 1799, the enemy, having received accessions to -their number, attacked us in our position. It was known to them, that we -were shortly to receive large reinforcements; and they determined to -attack us before these arrived. A strong party attacked the position -entrusted to our regiment, which was the first time that we were in -actual action with an enemy. The dyke sheltered us from their shot; for -when they drew near, we stood on the top of it and fired a volley or -two, which drove them back, and then we sheltered ourselves from the -fire of their artillery by sitting down on the near side of it. The shot -whistled over our heads, and fell, when its strength was spent, on the -ground in our rear. The enemy was repulsed at all points with loss. Our -regiment's loss was small; one man killed, and the captain of the -grenadiers, and three men wounded. General Moore was also slightly -wounded. When the main body of the enemy retreated, a number of their -riflemen remained behind them, under the cover of a house that was near -the dyke; one of them came from under the cover, and ran to join the -main body; he was instantly fired at I dare say by twenty; yet he got -clear off, without any appearance of being hurt. The risk that he ran -deterred the remainder from following him, and they surrendered -themselves prisoners of war, in number about one hundred. - -Shortly after the action of the 10th, a number of troops arrived from -England, along with the Duke of York, who took the chief command of the -army. A large body of Russian troops also joined us, which increased our -number to about thirty-five thousand. And on the 19th September the -whole moved forward to attack the enemy. Sir Ralph Abercrombie, with -about eight or ten thousand men, of which our brigade was a part, -marched the preceding night past the right flank of the enemy, and took -the town of Hoorn by surprise. We were now a good way in the rear of the -enemy's right, and it was intended that the Duke of York, with the main -body of the army, should dislodge the enemy from his positions, and that -we should then attack them on their flank and rear, and cut off their -retreat. - -The Duke was successful at the outset of the action, but the Russians -under his command falling into disorder, the enemy rallied upon them, -repulsed them, and took a great number of them prisoners, which -compelled the Duke to retreat. We heard the firing of the cannon while -we lay on our arms, waiting for orders to move, but, when word was -brought that the Duke of York had been driven back, we retired the same -way that we came, and were not engaged in this action. We began now to -say that we were a lucky regiment; various expressions were used by the -soldiers, when speaking of our good luck, (as it was called) some of -them very foolish, which I do not mention. Some said, that there were -too many old women in Scotland, praying for their children and friends, -to allow us to be exposed to great danger. I began to reflect seriously -upon our past preservation, and the bad improvement that we were making -of it; and the thought made me tremble: I thought, "It _may be_, that -God has been more favourable to us than to others, on account of the -prayers of godly relatives at home; but his kindness has a claim upon -_our gratitude_, and if it does not produce gratitude from _us to him_, -he may be provoked to punish us severely, and make his punishment in -proportion to his past kindness; and the longer that he bears with us, -the stroke may be the heavier when it comes; and although we have as yet -escaped more than other regiments, in the next battle it may be, that -for hardening ourselves in sin, and flattering ourselves with security, -on account of the prayers of godly relatives, we may suffer more -severely than any others:"--and my fears were not groundless. - -The sand-hills which run along the sea coast from Helder, terminated a -little in the rear of Patten, where our right was posted, and commenced -again about three miles farther south, in our front. An embankment of -sand fills up this breach, and prevents the sea from flowing over the -flat country. Tufts of strong straw are set in the sand in regular rows, -like plants in a garden, the whole breadth and length of the embankment. -The tops of the tufts rise upwards of a foot above the surface of the -sand, and the sand that is washed up by the tide or blown by the wind, -lodges about their roots, and as the tufts are regularly renewed, they -not only preserve this bank of light sand from diminishing, but also -increase its size and solidity. The left of the enemy's army was posted -at the commencement of the sand-hills. It was determined that Sir Ralph -Abercrombie, with a division of British troops, should attack the enemy -posted there, while the Duke of York, with the other division of the -army, should attack their positions in the flat country. We left our -cantonments before one o'clock of the morning of the 2d October, and -assembled before day-break on the beach in front of the enemy's lines. -At day-break we began to drive in their outposts; and continued to -advance along the sea-side, while another part of the army advanced -along the inland side of the sand-hills, with a line of communication -across them. The breadth of the beach along which we advanced was -various: (the attack had been several days delayed, on account of stormy -weather, which drove the sea so far upon the beach, as to leave no -passage betwixt the sand-hills and the water:) it admitted sometimes of -two or three companies to march abreast, and sometimes scarcely of one. -We had four pieces of cannon in front, which fired upon the enemy, who -retired along the beach as we advanced. I passed close by a man who had -been struck with a cannon ball upon the knee joint; the ball had carried -away the joint, and left a ligament of skin on each side of it, which -held the leg suspended to the thigh. A little farther, I passed near a -man who lay stretched upon his back, dead;--his eyes and countenance had -something in them peculiarly dreadful; yet he appeared to be only shot -through the thigh with a musket ball:--but it was the centre of it, and -it had proved instantly mortal. I was so struck with this man's ghastly -appearance, that I thought with myself, "Were I a poet, I would choose, -as my subject, the horrors of war, that I might persuade mankind not to -engage in it."--As we continued to advance, the sand-hills increased in -breadth, which required additional troops to fill up the line of -communication across them; we who remained upon the beach, saw nothing -that was doing in the interior of the sand-hills; and as the firing -there was only musketry, the roar of the sea upon the beach prevented us -from hearing it, except when it was close to us. We had frequent and -long pauses, waiting for the movement of others. There was a great deal -of bloodshed in the interior of the sand-hills, by the continued -skirmishing, and detached attacks upon particular points.--These -sand-hills were admirably adapted for this mode of warfare; the enemy -would have been much more easily driven out of trenches;--for the -sand-hills were the same as a succession of trenches, so that when the -enemy saw our troops advancing, they continued to fire upon us until -they saw that we were just near enough to allow them time safely to -retire to the next range of hills. The sand-hills are not much unlike -snow blown into wreaths, by a strong wind: they are various in their -heights and shapes; some being conical and steep, and others running in -winding ridges; and the sand is so light, as to be carried about with -the wind. It is extremely difficult to walk amongst it, being like dry -snow, a little hard on the surface, which when once broken, is almost -impassable: here and there, there are chasms, and hollow flats of -various extents among them. - -Towards the afternoon we drew near a place called Egmont, a small -fishing town among the sand-hills, near to where the battle of -Camperdown was fought. Here the enemy had drawn a number of fishing -sloops and schuyts upon the beach, in two lines, leaving intervals -between them, for their troops to pass. These formed a cover to their -columns from our shot, and concealed their cavalry from our view. During -the action they had received a reinforcement, which they pushed along -the sand-hills close to the beach. The line across these, owing to their -increased breadth, now occupied all the regiments of our division but -ourselves. The enemy began to press hard upon the troops that were near -us, and so posted themselves as to annoy us who were standing upon the -beach; we were a considerable time exposed to this, and had a number -both of officers and men wounded, amongst which was Lord Huntly, our -Colonel, and a son of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, who was at that time an -ensign in the regiment. A situation of this kind is the most irksome for -a soldier to be in; for when actively engaged, the fury and bustle of -action, to a considerable degree, banishes the dread of danger from the -mind. - -During the march along the beach, and the frequent pauses we made, my -mind had time for serious reflection; I was alive to a sense of present -danger; and having no well grounded hope for eternity should death be -the issue, was led to pray earnestly to God for mercy. While standing -exposed to the fire of the enemy, and the balls whistling over us and -amongst us, my former sins came into my mind, with all my broken vows -and resolutions; my past ingratitude stared me in the face, and made me -tremble, but a sense of present danger made me pray earnestly for mercy -to pardon my sins, and to preserve my life; I confessed that I did not -deserve what I sought, but I cast myself on the mercy of God, and with -increasing fortitude, as I thought, resolved once more to forsake every -sin, and live only to him.--The enemy having increased in numbers, the -troops in the sand-hills next to the beach began to give way. Four -companies detached from our regiment, with Sir John Moore at their head, -went to reinforce them; but they were also soon overpowered; and Sir -John was wounded in three parts of the body, and with difficulty escaped -being taken prisoner; the remaining six companies were then ordered to -form in three divisions, and march forward along the beach, and then to -wheel to our left, and charge the enemy. I was in the front division. We -marched forward, and passed a number of the enemy's troops, and came to -a place where there was a more than ordinary opening, and the sand rose -pretty high, in the form of a semicircle; into this opening we wheeled, -and were instantly exposed to a fire upon both our flanks and front. -This staggered us, and we began to fire upon the enemy, in place of -pushing instantly forward to that part of the height that was on our -right, driving the enemy from it, and taking up a position there, from -which we could have done them more harm, and not have been so much -exposed ourselves. We continued to stand still and fire for a few -seconds, and then began to move forward, firing as we advanced; the -other two divisions had wheeled into various openings in the sand-hills -in our rear, at the same time that we did. They were strongly opposed by -the enemy, who were very superior in number; but hearing the firing of -our division in their rear, the enemy who opposed them began to retreat -into the interior of the sand-hills; those who opposed us did the same, -and we continued to pursue them; but the action soon became on both -sides quite irregular; for the sand-hills separated us into parties, so -that the one party frequently did not see what the other was doing, and, -in some instances, parties of our troops came suddenly upon parties of -the enemy. In one instance, one of our parties having climbed to the top -of a sand ridge, found that a party of the enemy was just beneath, and -instantly rushed down the ridge upon them; but the side of the ridge was -so steep and soft, that the effort to keep themselves from falling -prevented them from making regular use of their arms. They were -involuntarily precipitated amongst the enemy, and the bottom of the -ridge was so narrow, and the footing on all sides so soft, that neither -party were able, for want of room, to make use of the bayonet; but they -struck at each other with the butts of their firelocks, and some -individuals were fighting with their fists.--For three quarters of an -hour we maintained a furious action, and drove the enemy to a -considerable distance; but so many had been killed, and wounded, and -scattered, that the officers could no longer collect any great number -into one body. We then began to retreat: the enemy turned upon us, and -we lost a number of men by their fire during the retreat. Our previous -advance had exhausted our bodily strength, and we were much in want of -water. I was very thirsty, and began to grow very weak. In the course of -the retreat we came to a pretty steep rise of sand. I felt myself unable -to go over it in a straight line, so had to make a circuit, to get over -it where it was lower; although it was almost a matter of life and death -with me, for a party of the enemy was close behind us. As I was making -this circuit, a party, I think in number about six or seven, fired at me -all at once; (I was their only object;) and I distinctly observed -several balls strike the sand ridge, both before and behind me, about -breast high. I really believe that had I been a span-breadth farther -forward or backwards from the spot where I at the moment was, there -would have been several balls through my body. Before any more fired at -me, I got over the ridge, which then secured me; and I joined the -regiment, which was near, and had taken up a position in the interior of -the sand-hills; and some fresh troops arriving, the enemy was repulsed. - -I no doubt had many hair-breadth escapes during the action, of which I -was insensible; but the one I have mentioned, appeared to me as a -wonderful mercy of Providence, and I looked upon it as laying me under -an additional obligation to devote my whole life to the service of God. -If I was bound to serve him, because he was my Creator, I was now doubly -bound to serve him, for my wonderful preservation; and I thought that -the ties by which I was now bound, would undoubtedly have this effect. I -thought I should never indulge in any thing that was sinful; but I was -still blind to my own weakness; I had thought the same thing, and had -promised accordingly, in prayer to God, at the outset of the action; yet -the action was scarcely begun, before I joined my comrades in furious, -opprobrious, and profane language against the enemy. Many sins were thus -unobserved by me, and did not affect my conscience at the time. - -During the time that we were engaged in the interior of the sand-hills, -the enemy, seeing no infantry on the beach to protect our guns, sent out -his cavalry, from their covert at Egmont, to seize them. Our cavalry had -gone into the chasms of the sand-hills, that were next the beach, a -little in the rear, to shelter themselves from the fire of the enemy's -cannon. They formed upon the beach, and sprang forward to meet the -enemy, who had, by this time, reached the guns. They charged the enemy -briskly, and drove them back with considerable loss, and pursued them -close to Egmont. But, what is something singular, the infantry parties -of French and British, that were on the sand-hills next the beach, -suspended, as it were by mutual consent, their firing, to become -spectators of the cavalry, and did not commence again until the contest -of the cavalry was decided. - -The firing ceased sometime before sunset; I was much in want of water, -and went along with another to search for it. We found it at last, in -the hollow of the opening of the sand-hills, into which we had wheeled -when we left the beach and engaged the enemy. There had been a good deal -of rain some days before: and the trampling of our feet upon the surface -of the sand had brought water to it, which being observed by some who -came to the place afterwards, they dug a small hole in the sand, and put -into it the sides of an empty broken ammunition box, which served for -cradling; and the hole was soon filled with good water. A number more of -such kind of wells were presently made, and plenty of water got, which -supplied both horse and foot. We filled our canteens; and then went to -look among the dead and wounded, for a comrade, of whom we could get no -certain account. The spectacle of the dead, the dying, and the wounded, -greatly affected me. The dead were lying stiff on the ground, in various -postures; but death had so altered their countenances, that of all that -I saw, belonging to the regiment, with many of whom I had been familiar, -I knew only two; and it was by peculiar marks, such as death could not -alter, that we distinguished even them. The groaning of the wounded was -very afflicting; for they were mostly bad cases, all that were able to -walk or crawl having removed farther to the rear; and all the assistance -that could be given to those who were unable to move, was to carry them -from the spot where they were lying, to a place of greater shelter. This -had been in part already done, and the wounded were lying in groupes, in -the best sheltered hollows adjacent to the beach. The universal cry of -these poor men was for water. I supplied them as far as I was able, both -enemies and friends, and amongst the rest one of our own officers, who -was most severely wounded. I had to hold him up and put the canteen to -his mouth, for he was unable to help himself; he died during the night. -We did not find the object of our search; but we got afterwards certain -account of his having been wounded, and probable accounts of his death; -and we never heard more of him. - -I returned to join the regiment, ruminating on the affecting sight I had -seen, and grieved for the loss of comrades and acquaintances. When the -regiment was mustered in the evening, about one half were amissing; but -about thirty joined in a day or two after, who had lost the regiment. We -were upwards of 600 strong; and our loss in killed, wounded and -prisoners (of whom there were 40), was 288. The company to which I -belonged, entered the field with 59 rank and file, and three serjeants, -out of which 5 were killed on the field, and 24 were wounded, 5 of whom -died in a few days, and three shortly after. Of the rest, few recovered, -so as to be fit for service. The regiment had suffered this severe loss -in about three quarters of an hour. There was a universal gloom upon -every countenance, when we looked to the smallness of our number, when -we were mustered; and there was no one, but what had lost comrades and -associates, and some had lost relatives. After it was dark, we planted -our picquets, and the remainder of us lay down among the sand. I -reflected upon my own escape--upon the great number who had already been -launched into eternity, and others whom I had seen groaning under the -pain of wounds, which would soon prove mortal to many of them. I thanked -God for his kindness to me, and promised to keep his commandments in -future. - -We lay three days among the sand hills: the weather was cold; the nights -stormy and wet.--We were waiting for the movements of the other -divisions of the army, in the interior of the country. The day after the -battle, we buried such of our dead as were adjacent to us. One man -belonging to the company I was in, was found dead, without any mark of -violence on his body. He was lying on the ascent of a sand-ridge, and -had fallen on the retreat. We conjectured, that fatigue and want of -water had occasioned his death. I was informed of another singular case: -A Frenchman and a Highlander had charged upon each other; the Frenchman -had parried the thrust of the Highlander, and run him through the body; -the Highlander had then let go his hold of the butt end of his piece -with his right hand, and seized, with a death-grasp, the throat of the -Frenchman; who, to extricate himself, had also let go the hold which he -had of his firelock with his right hand, and seized the wrist of the -Highlander, to pull it away from his throat; but he had been -unable:--the Frenchman had then staggered backwards, and had fallen on -his back; and the Highlander above him, still retaining hold of his -throat; and, in the struggle that had then taken place, the head of the -Highlander had projected so far over the head of the Frenchman, as to -bring that part of the body of the former in which the bayonet was, over -the mouth of the latter; and in this posture both had expired. Those who -saw it, said, the sight was truly shocking. The Frenchman was fairly -strangled; his eyes were out of their sockets; his tongue was greatly -swelled, and thrust far out of his mouth, into which the blood from the -wound of the Highlander was running. Each still held a firm hold of his -firelock with his left hand; and when the Highlander was removed from -the Frenchman, and laid along-side of him, he still kept such a firm -grasp of his throat, that he raised the body of the Frenchman from the -ground, and it was with difficulty it was extricated from the hold. - -The result of the battle of the 2d October compelled the enemy to -abandon his positions, and evacuate the town of Alkmaar, which was his -head quarters, and fall back nearer to Amsterdam.--Alkmaar was occupied -by our troops on the 3d, and as our brigade had been much reduced in -number, we were ordered to go there to form a part of its intended -garrison. The peninsula is here of considerable breadth, and the country -much superior to that on the north side of the long dyke, but it is -still intersected with deep broad ditches and canals, which greatly -impede military operations. The rain that had lately fallen had filled -the canals and ditches so full of water, that the edges and lower parts -of the roads were beginning to be covered, as we passed from Egmont to -Alkmaar; and as the roads, for want of stone, were made of earth, or a -slight layer of sand upon earth or clay, they were beginning to be deep. -There are narrow foot-paths laid with brick, between some of the towns. -Alkmaar is a town of considerable size, surrounded with a high mound of -earth and a canal; all the entrances to it are over drawbridges and -through gates, the principal of which have cannon mounted on them. The -streets are paved with whinstone in the centre, and on the sides with -brick or flags, and a number of large canals run through the centre of -the principal of them. - -We entered the town on the 5th, and next day, which was Sunday, the -garrison was taken to the church, to attend divine service. The Dutch -congregation had been dismissed; but their minister, and a number of -others, remained, to be a witness of our service. The church was large, -and of Gothic structure, and had the largest and most highly ornamented -organ I ever saw. The enemy had received reinforcements the day before, -and he commenced an attack upon the positions of the army, at the time -we were in the church. The prayers of the liturgy had been read, and the -minister had begun his sermon, when we began to hear the noise of cannon -at a distance; by the time the sermon was ended, the firing of cannon -had approached nearer the town and was beginning to be heavy, and the -musketry was heard to mingle in the roar; and the large organ played -Malbrouk as we left the church, to repair to our alarm posts. The action -continued to be warmly contested, until after it was dark; but the enemy -was repulsed, and fell back to his position, and one hundred and -eighty-eight prisoners were taken, and brought into Alkmaar on the -morning of the 7th. - -About two o'clock in the afternoon the prisoners were assembled, and a -captain and forty men, of whom I was one, were appointed to escort them -to our former head-quarters, on the north side of the long dyke. Only -thirty of the prisoners were French; the others were Dutchmen, and had -put up the orange cockade after they were made prisoners. Numbers of -them had money, with which they procured gin before we left the town; -and they drank and sung songs (which we believed were in praise of their -former government), as we went along the road. The Frenchmen, who were -enthusiastic republicans, scorned the Dutch for putting up the orange -cockade, and kept by themselves, on the front of the party. We kept them -all in good humour, and until the fatigue of travelling had exhausted -our strength, the march of the prisoners resembled more the merry air of -a wedding procession, than of that gloom which the thought of their -being under an escort of their enemies, and on the way to a prison in a -foreign land, might naturally be expected to produce. It continued to -rain upon us the greater part of the way, this, with the deepness of the -roads and the length of the journey, fatigued us exceedingly, and -scattered us into parties; yet, notwithstanding of this, and although a -great part of the journey was performed after it was dark, and although -the prisoners were in their own country, none of them attempted to -escape. When we had delivered them over to another guard, to watch them -through the night, we retired to rest in the expectation of returning to -Alkmaar next day, but we were surprised to hear in the morning, that the -army was retreating; and in a few hours, the various divisions arrived -and resumed the positions they had occupied previous to the battle of -the 2d. - -The reasons of this retrograde movement were the badness of the roads -from Helder to the interior. The army received its bread from the fleet, -and all the ammunition and military stores; the roads were becoming -impassable, and the farther we advanced, the difficulties of fetching -our supplies from the Helder were increasing. The French armies in -Switzerland, and on the Rhine, had gained decisive victories, which -enabled them to detach large bodies of troops, which were on their way, -to reinforce their army in Holland, which would then become so strong as -to be able to overpower us. It had, therefore, been determined to -retreat while the roads were passable, lest our retreat might be cut -off. The army retired from all its positions early in the morning, and -the rear guard left Alkmaar early in the day.--The enemy, after being -repulsed on the 6th, was apprehensive that we might attack him, and was -prepared, in that case, to retire to Haarlem; our retreating was not -expected by him, and it was about 10 o'clock in the forenoon before his -advanced cavalry picquets discerned that Alkmaar was evacuated, when -they entered and found a few drunken women and soldiers, whose -intoxication prevented them from knowing that the army had retreated. In -a few days after the retreat of the army, an armistice was agreed upon, -the conditions of which were, that we should evacuate Holland by the end -of November, and release eight thousand prisoners without exchange, as a -boon for our being allowed quietly to re-embark. This agreement put an -end to hostilities, and preparations were made to send home the troops -with all possible expedition; but, before we left the country, I caught -the ague, and after we had arrived in England, in the beginning of -November, 1799, I was put into the hospital in Chelmsford, twenty-six -miles from London. I was greatly reduced in body before I recovered, -which was not until the beginning of the next year, 1800.--God's mercy -in granting me a recovery from the ague, impressed my mind with the -additional obligations I was now laid under to serve him:--but, as -formerly, my resolutions of mind were soon broken; conscience soon found -matter of accusation against me; I was at times careless and listless, -and at other times thoughtful and pensive. The barracks in which we lay, -were about a mile from the town of Chelmsford. There was a tabernacle in -the town, where there was a sermon once a fortnight in the evening. I -went several times to it; and the sermons served to awaken my religious -impressions. One evening, the preacher described a case of conscience; -which I thought not unlike my own; and among other directions, he -exhorted the person who might be in such a case, to lay it before God in -prayer. After the service was over, I shunned my companions; returned to -the barracks alone, and prayed to God for light and direction as I went -along the road; and I set about reforming my conduct once more. But I -soon fell through it, and was thrown as far back as ever.--There were no -religious meetings in the regiment, from the time we left Ireland until -a good while after this. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - -We left Chelmsford on the 14th of April, and marched to the Isle of -Wight, where we lay until the 27th May. I was once in the Methodist -meeting house while we lay in the town of Newport. On the 27th May, -1800, we embarked on board the Diadem, 64 guns, and the Inconstant -frigate, both armed _en flute_ (_i. e._ partially armed), and fitted for -the reception of troops. We left all our women and heavy baggage in the -Isle of Wight; and as we were not informed where we were going, this -circumstance led us to conjecture, that we were destined for some -desperate and secret enterprise. We were joined by some more ships with -troops, and sailed down the English channel, until we fell in with the -Channel fleet, under the command of Sir John Jarvis. Sir Edward Pellew, -(now Lord Exmouth,) was sent along with us, with a squadron of eight -ships of war. It was a magnificent sight to see the Channel fleet in -regular order. They were in number forty-four ships of the line, (a -large proportion of them three-deckers) and a number of frigates. We -sailed along the cost of France until we came to the bay of Quiberon, -where we came to an anchor on the 2d June, near a small island called -Houet, lying betwixt the isle of Belleisle and the main land, about four -or five miles from the latter, and six or seven from Belleisle. - -On the 4th, which was the anniversary of his Majesty's birth, a singular -occurrence took place. A sloop of war, and a number of boats armed with -carronades, having detachments of troops in them, were despatched in the -morning, to attack a battery situated on a projecting point of the main -land, where it approaches nearest to Belleisle, and from which ships -coming to our present anchorage, were liable to be fired upon. It lay -about eight or ten miles from us: but as the wind was light, the sloop -of war and the boats did not get near the battery, until it was past -twelve o'clock. The battery then opened a fire from two 24 pounders, -which played briskly upon them. The day was fine and clear, which -permitted us to see the smoke of every gun that was fired, and where the -shot struck the water. We looked on with eager anxiety, and observed all -the movements of the sloop of war and the boats. It was near one o'clock -before she was in a position to return the fire of the battery, which -she did briskly. The armed boats then pulled towards the shore, under -cover of her fire. At one o'clock they were close to the battery, and -commenced a smart fire upon it from their carronades, and the contest -was at the hottest, just at the instant that the ships we were in, were -firing the salute in honour of his Majesty's birth day. The enemy -precipitately retired from the battery, and the troops and seamen -landed, dismounted the guns, broke the carriages, and did what other -damage they could, and then returned to the fleet. We all remarked the -singularity of the circumstance, that while we were saluting with blank -shot, they were saluting with round, double headed, and grape shot, in -real earnest, by which several lives were lost, and some were wounded, -besides other damages. - -We landed on the island of Houet on the 6th June. It was a small place, -almost destitute of cultivation, and only a little fishing village on -it. Some more ships arrived from England with troops, and preparations -were made for attacking Belleisle. On the 15th June, we were embarked on -board the ships of the line, in order to go near the island, and make -our debarkation from them, under the cover of their guns. Our regiment -was wholly on board of the Terrible, 74. We were five days in this ship; -and here there were a number of the sailors, who were serious, and -united together few prayer and praise; some of them were known to -several of our men; the seamen were all very kind, and uncommonly -obliging to us; every thing was orderly and quiet; religion appeared to -have so far prevailed in this ship, as to give a general tone to the -manners and conversation of the seamen; so that they were not like the -same kind of men that we met with in other ships of war. Those men, who -were not religious, did not make a mock at religion; and those who were -serious, were in the habit of having what might be called public prayers -between decks, at stated periods. This was intimated through the ship, -by two or more individuals going round and informing the sailors that -there were to be prayers at such a gun, say, No. 9 or 10, on the -starboard or larboard side. At these public meetings, I understood, that -one or other of them addressed their fellow seamen.--In these practices -they appeared to be protected by their officers; and they held a meeting -for prayer and praise, on the forecastle, evening and morning: I had -some conversation with some of them who were natives of Scotland; but I -was never actually present at any of the meetings. We were so crowded, -that it was with difficulty we could move from one part of the ship to -another; and we durst never be any time absent from the place where our -arms were, lest we should lose them, and not find them readily, as we -were under orders to be ready at a moment's notice to go into the boats. -Our coming to this ship, was one of the steps of divine Providence for -my good; for seeing and hearing something of religion in it, awakened -once more in my heart, a concern for my soul; and, although it wore off, -as before, it was a means of preventing me from becoming confirmed in a -state of careless indifference. - -On the 18th June, the Captain 74, while under sail, happened to approach -the shore, and went within reach of shot. When she put about, to stand -out from the shore, she was fired upon from several points nearly in the -same instant, and received some damage before she got out of reach. The -batteries which fired upon her were concealed from view; and we were -informed, that the shore was defended by batteries, at all the points -where it was convenient to land. We were waiting for the arrival of some -more troops from England, which were hourly expected, but did not -arrive.--On the 20th, the enterprise was given up. It was said, that -during the hazy weather, which had prevented us from seeing to any -distance, re-enforcements had been sent into Belleisle. We returned to -the isle of Houet, and to our tents, which had been left standing. Our -number was said to be about 5000. On the next day, orders arrived for us -to embark, which was done; and we sailed on the day following under -sealed orders, and left the ships of war that belonged to the Channel -fleet. - -We had a pleasant and quick passage to the Straits of Gibraltar, where -our Commodore informed us, that we were destined for the island of -Minorca, to join an expedition that was forming under Sir Ralph -Abercrombie, to assist the Austrians in Italy. We passed through the -Straits, but did not touch at Gibraltar. We arrived at Minorca on the -21st July. We then learned, that Sir Ralph Abercrombie had already been -at Leghorn; but that the Austrians having sustained a severe defeat from -the French, under Buonaparte, had made an agreement, which did not allow -of British troops being landed, and that Sir Ralph had brought back what -troops he had to Minorca. We landed for refreshment and exercise on the -7th of August, and the whole regiment embarked again, on the 30th, on -board of the Stately, 64. We sailed on the 31st for Gibraltar, where we -arrived on the 14th September. We were there joined by another -expedition, under the command of Sir James Pulteney. They had sailed -from England in the beginning of July, and had made a descent on the -coast of Spain at Ferrol, but had not effected any thing, except -alarming the country. There was now a large body of troops on board this -fleet; their number being about 25000. There were in all, upwards of 100 -sail of large ships; two-thirds of which were war vessels of one -description or other. We were in want of water, to get which, we went to -Tetuan bay, which is on the Barbary shore, to the south-east of -Gibraltar, belonging to Morocco. Here the whole fleet completed their -stores of provisions and water. We set sail on the 27th, with an -intention to pass the straits of Gibraltar; but the wind changed, and -after beating about, we put back to Tetuan on the 29th. On the 1st -October, the wind having become fair, we set sail, passed through the -Straits, and anchored next day near to Cadiz in Spain. On the 3d of -October we got orders to be in readiness to land. A flag of truce came -from the shore to the Admiral on the 4th, and returned back the same -day. On the 6th, the day being fine, we weighed anchor and stood across -the bay of Cadiz, with the intention of landing near the town of St. -Mary's. The dispositions having been made for landing, the ships of war, -intended to cover the debarkation, were moving towards the shore, and a -cutter had gone so near as to be fired upon. The first division of -troops were in the boats, and had rowed off for the shore: we were all -in readiness, and were receiving our ammunition; I had just got mine in -six parcels, of ten cartridges each, when a flag of truce, which we had -seen coming from the harbour, reached the Admiral's ship; and before I -had got the half of the cartridges into my pouch, a signal was made by -the Admiral, for the boats to return, and put the troops on board their -respective ships, the design of landing being relinquished.--We were -struck with the suddenness of the change. The flag of truce returned to -the shore; and a report was spread, that the place had been ransomed by -money; but whether there was any truth in this, or whether any political -concession had been made, can not be known. There was one thing, -however, and possibly it might be the only thing that prevented our -landing; the plague was raging in Cadiz at the time. - -I have been somewhat minute in detailing this circumstance; but it has -always appeared to me, a very striking occurrence in Providence; for, in -a very few minutes, the war vessels would have opened their broadsides -upon the troops and batteries on shore; the troops in the boats would -soon have been under the enemy's fire, and probably have effected a -landing; and, if hostilities had once commenced, it is difficult to -tell, but the enterprise might have been pushed, until Cadiz had been -taken, and their fleet of war-ships captured or destroyed, unless the -Spanish force had been too strong for us. - -This event once more awakened me, by a sense of apparent danger. The -prospect of having to contend with what troops might be in the field, -and of having to attack fortified places, and the likelihood, that -desperate efforts would be made to gain our purpose, before the -Spaniards should have time to collect a large force in the field, made -me apprehend that the undertaking was one of no ordinary danger. My -conduct on this occasion was similar to what it had been on former -occasions. I prayed for mercy and preservation. I still had no hope for -eternity, but what was to arise out of future reformation of character, -a reformation which was yet to begin. As formerly, I now again resolved -to set about it:--but we left the bay of Cadiz on the 7th, and returned -to Tetuan bay on the 12th, and part of the fleet put into Gibraltar: and -the danger I had dreaded being thus past, the resolution it had excited -was soon departed from. - -But another danger of a different kind was at hand. On the 15th, the -north-east wind had risen to a great height, so that our boats, which -had gone with empty casks to get water, were obliged to return to the -ship and leave their casks on shore; and the storm kept increasing as -the evening drew on. At 8 o'clock at night the splice of our cable -slipped, and we began to drift. As we had only one other anchor on -board, which was not sufficient to ride the storm with, we endeavoured -to put to sea. It was at a great risk that we effected this. We were in -the midst of a large fleet, and were every moment in danger of running -foul of one or other of the ships. With difficulty we got the fore-sail, -and some of the stay-sails set, and, although the night was very dark, -by the goodness of God, we got clear out from the fleet, and steered for -Gibraltar. When we came there, as we passed by the stern of the -Admiral's ship, we were ordered to pass through the Straits, and anchor -on the west side of Barbary. We accordingly put about, and passed -through the Straits before the wind, going at the rate of seven miles an -hour, under our bare poles. We had a large flat bottomed boat at our -stern, which the stormy weather did not permit us to hoist on board; and -by day-light in the morning, there was nothing of it remaining but the -keel with the ring-bolt, by which it was towed. Before day-break we had -cleared the Straits of Gibraltar. We then set some sail, and stood off -and on the Barbary coast, until the 17th, when, the weather moderating, -we cast anchor. On the 18th, the weather cleared up, and we perceived a -number of the fleet at anchor to windward of us, nearer the shore, at -about 20 miles distance. We weighed anchor and beat to windward to join -them; but the weather again got squally, and about one o'clock a squall -overtook us, which carried away our main-top, and top gallant, and mizen -top-gallant masts. We shortly after came to anchor near the fleet, and -the weather becoming moderate, in the course of next day, we got our -damages pretty well repaired, and received an additional anchor from the -Ajax man of war. On the 23d we set sail; passed once more through the -Straits of Gibraltar; anchored in Tetuan bay for the third time on the -26th; and after having completed our water, and received some more -provisions, we sailed on the 8th Nov. for Minorca, to get our provisions -and other ship stores completed. - -We now began to hear that we were bound for Egypt. At this we were all -very sorry, not knowing when we might return, or who might have the -happiness of seeing their native country again. I had often read and -heard of the dangerous nature of the climate of Egypt and of the -disasters of the French army there by the plague. The prospect now -before us made a strong impression on my mind. I became more serious; -religion began to be more attended to by several, and a party for prayer -and conversation was formed; but I was not one of the number, being too -proud to associate with them. - -We made the island of Minorca on the 16th; but the wind being strong and -contrary, we did not get into the harbour until the 21st; and having -obtained what we wanted, we set sail again on the 27th for Malta, where -we arrived on the 6th December. The day we made the island was very -fine, and as Malta was a place of note on various accounts, and amongst -others, as being the place where the apostle Paul suffered shipwreck, I -staid upon deck from the time we came in sight of it, which was in the -morning, until we were anchored in the harbour. As we sailed along the -island, I anxiously looked for the "_place where two seas met_." As we -passed by the small island of Comena, the _creek_ where the apostle says -they thrust in the ship, was easily discerned. It bears now the name of -St. Paul's bay, and the channels between Comena, Goza, and Malta, meet -at it, which marks it as the place which Paul describes. - -We left Malta on the 21st, and sailed for Marmorice bay in Asia. In our -voyage, we coasted along the whole length of the south side of the -island of Candia, which is ancient Crete, after which we came to the -isle of Rhodes, which is only about 20 miles distant from the coast of -Asia. I felt a more than usual interest in looking at those places, from -what I had read of them in history, particularly from what is said of -them in the Scriptures. Little did I think, in reading of them when a -boy, that I should one day see them, or that I should do the duty of a -soldier in the land of Egypt. - -From Rhodes we steered direct for the opposite coast of Asia, and, -entering into a passage of some length, between two high hills, we -wondered where we were going, for we did not see any place in this -opening fit for ships to lie in, and the land on both sides was rocky -hills, covered with wood, (except where the rocks were completely bare -of soil,) and appeared to be the habitations of wild beasts. When we -arrived very near the head of the inlet, we were surprised to see a ship -that was a little ahead of us, get out of our sight almost in an -instant; but when we had got a little farther, we found a passage which -turned to the right, round a very perpendicular hill, as suddenly as if -it had been the corner of a street. Into this passage we sailed. It was -but short, and in a few minutes we entered into one of the largest and -finest bays, it is said, in the world. Here we cast anchor on the 29th -December, 1800, and lay until the 23d February, 1801, making -arrangements for our attacking the French in Egypt; procuring horses for -the use of the artillery and cavalry: and cutting wood for fuel, and for -making fascines and pallisades in case they should be needed after we -landed. The bay is nearly surrounded with high hills, which, except in -and about the small town of Marmorice, are covered with wood, in general -very thick. There are great numbers of wild beasts in the woods, which -make so much noise in the night time as to be heard over the whole bay. -There was a small plain on one side of the bay, where we pitched tents -for those that were sick; but there was a necessity to have a guard, to -keep on fires in the rear of the tents, during the night; and some -nights the noise of the wild beasts indicated their being so near the -tents, that the sentinels fired to keep them at a distance. Some seamen -belonging to one of the war ships, who were cutting wood at one place, -ventured to stay all night on the shore; they were killed by the wild -beasts before morning. - -We were not long in this place until a market was erected on shore, and -vessels from the adjacent coast soon found their way to it, with all -kinds of fruit, and sheep and goats, and other useful articles; so that -that part of the shore assumed the appearance of one of our country -fairs. The soil around the bay is to all appearance fertile; but -cultivation has been on the decline for a long time past, which has -allowed the wood to extend, in several places, to the very shores. At -some distant period the shores seem to have been better peopled, and the -wood to have been farther back. I found the ruins of a house upon the -top of a small eminence, pretty far back in the woods. The walls were -partly standing; trees were growing out of the floor; a plot of ground, -which had been levelled for a garden, still retained its shape, and had -a fine spring of water running through it. Land turtle is in plenty in -the woods. - -I shall now return, to state what were the exercises of my mind during -the passage up the Mediterranean, and while we lay in this bay.--A book -upon the first principles of astronomy fell in my way. This gave me a -new view of creation: and at the same time a treatise on Philology came -into my hands, in which was a descant on the glory of God in the works -of nature. I had undergone some very sharp convictions of sin, my mind -had been strongly impressed with eternal things, and I had persuaded two -of my comrades to join with me in prayer; which we did on several -occasions, but fell off from it. After reading the above-mentioned -books, and several volumes of the Spectator, my mind fell into a strange -speculative frame, on the duty of the creature to glorify its Creator, -let the Creator do what he will to the creature. I reasoned thus with -myself:--That every thing that God did was wise and just, therefore it -was our duty to glorify God for all that he did to us, whether it was in -judgment or in mercy: did he deal with us in mercy--gratitude ought to -lead us to glorify him: did he deal with us in judgment--it was our own -sins that provoked him to do it: he did no more than what was just; and -we were as really bound to glorify him for his justice, as for his -mercy; and if we did not do so, we augmented our guilt. By reasoning in -this way, I came at last to a fallacious and very dangerous conclusion, -under the guise of wisdom. I concluded, that if I could not lessen what -guilt was already contracted, neither altogether avoid contracting more, -it would be wise to contract as little additional guilt as possible; and -that, should God deal with me in justice, I must not complain and -murmur; he is holy, just, and wise; he will not punish me above what I -deserve; whatever he does with me, his creature, it becomes me to -glorify his name, by a cheerful acquiescence in his divine procedure; -yea, to glorify Him, should I be for ever damned. By doing this, I may -possibly make hell more tolerable than otherwise it would be: if I can -not escape his justice, by his not granting me mercy, let me behave in -such a manner as may make the consequences of his wrath sit the lighter -upon me.--I shudder to think on this part of my experience at this day; -on the pain of mind with which it was accompanied, and the fallacious -and dangerous opiate which the conclusion contained to lull my -conscience asleep; for I did in consequence fall into a careless and -listless state of mind. But, by the goodness of God, I was not allowed -to remain long under it. It happened one day shortly after, that, from -eating salt provisions, and from the extreme scantiness of water, I -became exceedingly thirsty, and with great difficulty procured a little -to drink. A thought then shot across my mind:--if I am so impatient -under a temporary thirst, and so eager to procure relief, how shall I -preserve my patience in hell?--if I am so unhappy under the pressure of -so trivial a circumstance, how much more unhappy shall I be, if I be -cast into everlasting burnings, where I shall not have one drop of water -to cool my tongue! This broke the delusion, but it did not eradicate it. - -An infectious fever broke out among us. It was at first slow in its -progress, but after a short time it began to infect numbers. Our -condition on board the Stately contributed towards it; for we had no -hammocks, nor beds, but only our camp blankets to sleep in; we lay upon -the under deck, and, when the weather was stormy, so much water leaked -in by the edges of the ports, as made the lee side of the ship very wet. -When she tacked, the water that was lying in the lee side would then run -across the whole deck; and although we dried it the best way we could, -yet we were so crowded that we were often under the necessity of lying -down upon the damp deck. This was hurtful to us, causing us to feel -stiff, and our bones sore; and although it did not _produce_ the fever, -(for it was introduced by some recruits who came on board at Malta,) it -was, in my opinion, one cause of its spreading so rapidly at last. - -I caught this fever at the time it began to spread, and it was pretty -severe upon me. I got better, and relapsed, and the second turn of it -was worse than the first.[5] While under it I had time to consider -myself more fully. My present condition was so painful, that I would -have done all in my power, and given all I could possess, to be free -from it; and yet with my most sanguine hopes, I could not expect hell to -be one half so tolerable. What, thought I, is the glory of God to me as -a creature? If that same glory only renders me miserable, will the -misery of my condition if I am sent to hell, be in any measure -alleviated, by the consideration, that the justice of God is glorified -by my condemnation? It is true, I shall not cease to exist; but what -pleasure can I have in my existence, unless I reap some benefit by it, -by having some portion of happiness in it? If I am made completely -miserable, and have no prospect of any portion of happiness for the -future, my existence must prove my greatest misery. He who knows all -things has said, "Good were it for that man, if he had never been born." -If the justice of God dooms me to suffer for my sins, woe is me! I now -exist, and I can not annihilate myself; nor can I fly from God's -justice. I am a sinner, and if I receive not mercy, I must be for ever -miserable! How awful is his justice! How great is his power! How daring -and delusive the thought of hoping to find any portion of happiness in -that place, where he has declared all is perfect misery; where nothing -dwells but the terrors of the Almighty; where the subjects of his -justice are a terror to themselves, and to each other; where there is -nothing but weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth! - -As I began to recover, I turned my thoughts more closely than before, to -those places of Scripture which describe hell, the place of torment. I -examined what the Scripture has said of its awful nature; that it is "a -fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God;"--for "who -knoweth the power of his anger?" and "our God is a consuming fire." I -found, also, that the Scripture evidence of its being endless in its -duration, was as conclusive as that of the endless duration of the -happiness of heaven. He who said that the one was eternal, said the same -of the other. But, when contemplating this awful subject, I was at times -tempted to think, "It may be, that although God has said so, he may not -intend to execute his dreadful threatening to the full extent: there may -be a future period, in which he will extend mercy to his creatures, but -which he has kept hid from them, for wise purposes, that they might not -presume on his mercy, and spend their present lives in sin, and not -repent in this world, because there would be an opportunity to repent in -the next."--But this reasoning did not long deceive me; for I continued -to ponder the subject, and I saw that such a notion did not consist with -the veracity of God. He could not say one thing, while he intended -another; if I admitted that he said one thing and intended another, with -respect to the duration of punishment in hell, it would, with equal -consistency, apply to what he said of the endless happiness of heaven, -and so render uncertain any hope that might be built upon the promise of -it; and if the principle were in one case admitted, it would throw loose -all his promises and threatenings, respecting both this world and the -next; for we should still have room to think, God has said so, but he -does not mean so.--I also reflected, if God has said, that the -punishment of hell shall be eternal, and has a secret purpose of mercy -at some distant period, if this is a secret of his own, how can any one -know it? If he has not told it, how is it possible for any one to find -out that which God intends should be secret? Reflection upon this idea, -put an end to the speculation, as being a gross absurdity. I also -reflected on the nature of sin;--I said to myself, "Supposing I were -cast into hell for the sins of my present life, would I cease to commit -sin when there? and if I did what was in itself sinful in hell, would -the torments of the place excuse it? would the justice of God take no -cognisance of what I did there?" This was a piercing exercise to my -mind: but it was salutary; and I believe I was indebted to what I had -read in Boston's Fourfold State for it, although I was not aware of it -at the time. I answered the above queries in this way: If, when I am in -a state of partial sufferings here, I am not able to suffer without -being at least impatient and fretful, if I do not actually complain and -murmur--how can I expect to behave any better in hell? My present -sufferings do not excuse the sins I commit under them; I shall then, as -well as now, be a subject of the justice of God; and when I shall be -suffering for past sins, that will be no excuse for the commission of -new ones; if I am to make the debt of sin less by suffering for it, I -must not contract more debt at the time I am paying the old; for if I -do, I shall continue to be a debtor; and as long as I continue to commit -sin, I must continue to suffer for it, for the claims of Divine justice -are indispensable. Following out these reflections put a complete end to -all speculation, of the probability, or possibility, of ever finding any -portion of happiness, if I did not obtain the pardon of my sins, and -deliverance from sin itself, before I left this world, and appeared in -the presence of God.--These speculations show that my mind was ready to -catch at any thing, that appeared to furnish the least hope, however -delusive it might be; for when I looked forward to eternity, not having -the confidence that arises from faith in the Lord Jesus, as an -all-sufficient Saviour, and not discerning the doctrine of his complete -atonement and justifying righteousness, I was glad to lay hold of any -thing that appeared to afford the smallest glimpse of hope, rather than -be without hope altogether. - -Having, by the goodness of God, recovered from the fever, the effect of -it was to make me resolve once more to devote myself to his service. -Gratitude for his mercy in my recovery induced me to do this; and I -hoped for better success in my endeavours than heretofore: but alas! it -was not long before my conscience found matter of accusation against me; -and this threw me as far back as ever. I searched for a reason why I -failed in my attempts to serve God; but I did not find the true one. I -began to lay the blame on the example and conversation of my comrades; -and would fain have palliated the evil of my conduct on this ground, and -flattered myself that God would therefore be the less strict with me. -But then I reflected, that it would be a pernicious and fatal delusion -for me, to flatter myself with any thing that would not stand the test -of his judgment seat. I found no toleration for sin, in any situation, -in the word of God; and my conscience charged me, not only with wilful -sins, for which I could devise no excuse, but also with loving sin -itself, which God hateth. Yet, as experience had taught me that one -thing led to another, I determined to keep myself as much as possible -out of the company of the profligate, and profane, and loose talkers, -and to keep my mind as constantly fixed as possible on serious subjects. -I set heaven with all its charms before my mind, as the object to be -gained, and hell with all its terrors, as the object to be escaped. I -contrasted time with eternity, and said to myself, Surely eternity is of -such vast importance, as to be worth all the sufferings that can be -endured, and all the exertions that can be made, in the narrow bounds of -human life. I again set out in a new course of obedience, resolved to -watch all the avenues to temptation; and, under the influence of this -resolution, I avoided, as much as I could, in my present situation, -those whose conversation I wished to shun; but it was impossible to be -always out of the hearing of it;--all I could do, was not to mingle in -converse with them; and I have frequently stopped my ears with my -fingers, that I might not hear licentious and profane talk, when I knew -it was going on: but I could not do this on every occasion, and when I -did get it done, it gave me a proof of the deceitfulness of my own -heart; for evil thoughts and sinful desires would spring up in it even -at the time when I was stopping my ears, that I might not hear the -wicked conversation of others. To this, however, I was not sufficiently -attentive, but laid the blame, in some shape or other, on the -temptations with which I was surrounded, as being, either directly or -indirectly, the cause why I was not able to keep my own heart. This led -me to despair of my ever being able to serve God aright, and obtain his -favour by keeping his commandments while I remained in the army. I -therefore began to wish I were free of it, and placed in a situation -where I should have it in my power to enjoy solitude, and keep out of -the way of temptation. I thought that of a hermit a very favourable one; -not that I wished to be a hermit altogether, but I fancied if I were -only in a situation in which I could keep myself, in a great measure, -secluded from the world, and give myself to reading, meditation, and -devotion, I should then serve God in a perfect manner. Here again I -began to reflect--What if God cuts me off for my sins while I am in the -army? What shall become of me? Have I any hope if I should die, or be -slain, while in the army? To this perplexing question I could give no -answer; all I could do, was to pray to God to spare my life, to deliver -me from the army, and to bring me into a situation in which I should -have it in my power to serve him. But my mind soon misgave me, and led -me to suspect that this was not right; and on examining it, I became -convinced that I was equally bound to serve God in my present situation -as in any other. Our Lord's answer to Paul's prayer, "My grace is -sufficient for thee," and many other promises of God to his people came -into my mind; and, although I did not understand them aright, yet they -convinced me that my situation would not be an excuse for my sins; they -convinced me, that if I was one of God's children, his grace would be -sufficient to enable me to serve him acceptably, whatever situation his -providence might allot me. But knowing, at the same time, that bad -company had a great effect in confirming evil habits, I still thought, -that were I but free of the army, I should have a great deal less to -struggle with. Before I was free of the army, however, experience -convinced me that solitude was no antidote to a deceitful heart; for in -the solitary hours of night, while watching and on guard, and during the -sleepless nights passed in the hospital, I found abundance of sinful -thoughts and desires arise in my heart. - -I next went to the opposite extreme, and imagined a state of unremitting -activity was the best. I thought that were I discharged and at home, I -should then enjoy the means of grace on the Sabbath; that my work would -occupy my mind the greater part of my time through the week; and that I -should then have it in my power so to regulate my conduct, as to take up -my whole attention between lawful and serious things, and thus leave no -vacant room in my mind for evil thoughts, or what might lead me to the -commission of sin. - -Under these exercises of mind I continued until the time when we left -Marmorice Bay, which was on the 23d February, 1801, when the fleet -weighed anchor, and were all safely collected upon the coast, outside of -the bay, before sun-set, and then steered their course for Egypt. A -Turkish Admiral, with two or three frigates, had joined the fleet. A -number of Greek vessels also were with us, which had been hired to -transport the horses that had been procured at Marmorice, for the use of -the artillery, cavalry, and field officers. The wind was brisk, but the -evening was fine, and as our fleet consisted of near two hundred sail, -many of which were large and elegant ships, it had a grand and -interesting appearance. This interest was heightened by the -consideration of the sea, and the coast, that we were sailing on, for -the celebrated island of Rhodes was on our right, and the coast of Asia -Minor on our left. The various nations on board of this fleet, as seamen -and soldiers, was novel and striking, for there were Turks, Greeks, and -English, with Corsicans, and a brigade of soldiers in our service, -composed of men from various parts of Germany, but the part that the -soldier was destined to act in the enterprise before us, was to him the -most interesting contemplation, for his personal safety was the most -deeply involved in the undertaking. The wind continued to freshen, and -"the fleet had not stood long on its course before one of the Greek -vessels, laden with mules, foundered, and one man alone was saved." The -Turkish frigates and Greek vessels left us, and took shelter in the -nearest ports. The weather was not what we considered bad, but they were -not good navigators: their departure, however, was a serious loss to the -army, for the want of the horses on board of them. The weather became -moderate, and on the 28th we fell in with our squadron that was -blockading Alexandria, and on the 1st March discovered land somewhat to -the westward of that place. The wind had been light through the day, but -freshened during the night, and there were heavy showers of rain. This -made the soldiers remark, that if there was no rain in Egypt, there was -rain very near it; some who were of a deistical turn began to insinuate -that the Bible had not given a correct account of Egypt; and the -apparent contradiction made some of us rather at a loss to reconcile it. -During the course of conversation on this subject, I heard one observe, -that the Bible did not say directly that there never was any rain in -Egypt, but that when it spoke of there being no rain there, it referred -to the agriculture of Egypt, not depending, like that of other -countries, upon rain, but upon the annual inundations of the Nile.[6] -This is the fact; but it is also true, that although during the winter -season there are thunder storms and rain on the sea-coast, yet these -seldom go far into the country, and at Grand Cairo rain is a great -rarity. After the regiment had been at that city and returned, and after -we left Egypt, having staid in it six months, I never heard any one urge -the objection any more. All agreed that the scripture account of Egypt -was as true as general expressions could describe it; so that this, like -many other infidel objections, was founded on an apparent, not a real -contradiction. The universal remark upon the country was, that they -believed a remnant of the plagues of Moses still existed in it. - -Footnote 5: - - There were few of the regiment that escaped it; all relapsed after the - first recovery, and those who were longest of catching the infection - were worst. - -Footnote 6: - - Zech. xiv. 18. Deut. xi. 10, and connexion. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - -On the forenoon of the 2d March, we cast anchor in Aboukir Bay, the -place where the battle of the Nile was fought. Here we lay until the -8th, before the weather would permit us to land; a period of great -anxiety, for every hour was giving the enemy time to collect his forces, -and prepare the means of defence. This made the prospect increasingly -awful. Our regiment was intended to have been one of those which should -land first; but the fever having increased so much, that about one half -of our number were at this time sick, we were unfit to perform a -regiment's part, and another of equal strength was put in our place. The -bay was shallow, and the ships which contained the troops being in -general of a large size, had to anchor at a considerable distance from -the shore. On the 7th, a number of smaller vessels which had been loaded -with provisions, but whose cargoes were now nearly expended, were moved -to about three miles from the shore; and several regiments were put on -board of them, that support might be quickly given to those who landed -first. All of our regiment fit for duty were ordered into one of these -vessels in the evening. The weather was now favourable, and every thing -indicated that the landing would be attempted next morning. I slept -little or none during the night; but frequently employed myself in short -prayers to God to be merciful to me, and to spare me and protect me from -danger.--I was surprised this night with a want of my ordinary sight, -and heard numbers of my comrades say that they did not see so well as -usual, and yet they had no pain in their eyes. - -About two o'clock in the morning the signal was made for the first -division of the troops to get into the boats, and at three o'clock they -were ordered to row for their rendezvous in the rear of one of the light -war-vessels that was anchored about a gun-shot from the shore. This was -a very fatiguing service to the seamen; because the fleet was so widely -anchored, and many of the large ships so far from the shore, that it was -nine o'clock before they were all collected and arranged. The enemy -could see all our movements; and the unavoidable delays that took place, -gave them a fair opportunity to provide for their defence, for they now -knew the only point at which we could land. I contemplated the scene -with an anxious aching heart. The number of troops in the boats was -about 5500, and the whole army about 15,000, of which there were about -1000 sick at the time of landing, and of these about 400 belonged to our -own regiment.--There were two bomb ketches and three sloops of war, -anchored with their broadsides to the shore; on the right flank of the -boats there were a cutter, two Turkish gun-boats, and two armed -launches; and on the left flank, a cutter, a schooner, one gun-boat, and -two launches. These light vessels were to go as near the shore as the -water would admit, to annoy the enemy and protect the boats. - -At nine o'clock the signal was made for the boats to advance; and the -whole line advanced at the same instant, giving three loud cheers. "The -French, to the number of two thousand, were posted on the top of -sand-hills, forming the concave arc of a circle on the front of about a -mile, in the centre of which elevated itself, a nearly perpendicular -height of sixty yards, apparently inaccessible."[7] The left of this -rising ground was a continuation of sand-hills close to the shore, -gradually diminishing in their height until they ended in a long flat -tongue forming the entrance of Lake Maadie. The ground to the right of -the centre height on the shore was flat, but there were clusters of -thick bushes, (such as form the date or palm tree), which were -favourable for concealing the enemy; and on the extremity of the right -stood the castle of Aboukir, in which were several 10 inch mortars, and -a large Martello tower, having two brass 32 pounders on its top, and -which, from its position and height, commanded nearly the whole shore. -As soon as the boats set off for the beach, the two bomb ketches, and -the three sloops of war, began to throw their shot and shells upon the -shore; and the light vessels, stationed to protect the flanks of the -boats, moved along with them and began to fire. The bulk of the enemy's -field artillery was in the flat ground, to the right of the height -before mentioned, the rest was among the smaller sand-hills on the left -of it. As soon as the boats were within the reach of their shot, they -opened their fire on them; and it appeared to be their design, to make -their shot cross the boats in the centre. The heavy guns on the top of -the tower in Aboukir castle, and the mortars, commenced, at the same -time, their fire on the right flank of the boats. The scene now became -dreadful; the war vessels pouring whole broadsides; the bomb ketches -throwing shells, which, exploding in the air, formed numerous little -clouds; and the gun-boats and cutters on the flanks of the boats, -exerting themselves to the utmost. As none of these, however, could -approach the shore, so near as to be within the reach of grape-shot, or -even to have a certain aim, their exertions were of little benefit to -the boats; which pursued their progress towards the shore, whilst the -enemy's artillery, (12 pieces, exclusive of the large guns in Aboukir -castle), continued to play upon them with unremitting activity. All eyes -were directed towards the boats; every flash of the enemy's artillery -was noticed; and every eye on the stretch, to discern where the shot -might strike the water, to observe if it lighted among the boats, and if -any of them were damaged or sunk; and we too often had occasion to -picture to our minds, when we saw the shot strike in the middle of them, -and produce disorder, how many it might have killed, or wounded, or -drowned; for my own part, although I felt thankful that I was not myself -in the boats, yet my feelings for those that were, were nearly, if not -altogether, as painful, as if I had been in them; and I believe that -this was the case with the most of the spectators. But while we were -thus feeling for them, we became increasingly astonished to behold how -the boats pressed forwards towards the shore, although the wind, of -which there was a smart breeze, was against them; how well they -preserved their order under the terrible fire of the enemy's artillery; -and how quickly any disorder produced by the shot that fell amongst them -was remedied. The painful feelings of anxious apprehension and suspense -experienced by those in the boats, must have been greatly heightened by -the circumstance, that most of the shells and shot fired by our war -vessels were necessarily fired over their heads, they being between the -vessels and the enemy: so that an ill-directed shot from their own -ships, was as dangerous to them as one from the shore; and when buzzing -through the air over them, must have been apprehended as one from the -enemy, about to strike destruction amongst them. - -As the boats approached the shore, the enemy moved their artillery that -was on their right, and drew it nearer to their centre. It appeared to -be a part of their object, to keep the extreme right of the boats -betwixt their artillery and the war vessels, and thus prevent the war -vessels from having a clear opening to direct their fire: and indeed all -our fire, from all descriptions of vessels, did not seem to interrupt -for a moment that of the enemy, or to silence a single gun all the time -the troops were rowing to the beach. When they approached near to it, -the enemy having drawn their artillery from the right, planted it on the -top of the centre height, which now appeared to look directly down upon -the boats: and now came the most trying moment. From this elevated -position they poured down such a continued fire of shot, shell, and -grape, as made us, who were looking on, apprehend that few would reach -the shore. Some disorder too appearing among the boats increased our -fears; but at this instant we heard them begin to cheer, and saw them -press forward with redoubled vigour. We soon observed the right flank of -the boats reach the shore under the centre height,[8] and the men form -immediately on the beach; while the enemy from the top of the height -poured down grape shot, as well as the fire of musketry from a line of -infantry which was ranged along it. In a few seconds the 40th flank -companies, and the 23d regiment, were in line; and, without firing a -shot, ascended the height in the face of the enemy. This movement was -clearly seen by the whole fleet, and attracted all eyes.--The spectators -began to tremble, lest the enemy should drive them down again; but we -were astonished to see with what rapidity and order they mounted the -steep face of the height. They were soon close to the enemy, and charged -them with loud cheers, when the enemy fled, and in an instant both -parties were out of sight. The 42d regiment, which had landed and -formed, was now seen ascending the left of the height, and charging the -enemy opposed to them, who also fled and disappeared. We now turned our -attention more to the left, where part of the troops were forming on the -beach; but the left of the boats had not yet reached the shore. The -enemy, who had been posted among the smaller sand-hills, as soon as the -boats came near the shore, rushed down into the water, fired into them, -and endeavoured to prevent their landing. A party of cavalry also -charged those who were in the act of landing, which produced a temporary -confusion; but they were soon wholly repulsed. All the troops were -landed, and the beach, and the heights that lined it, cleared of the -enemy, I believe, in less than a quarter of an hour, and nothing to be -seen by the spectators, but the empty boats, hoisting their sails, and -proceeding with all possible speed to receive the second division. Some -of them soon reached the ship I was in, and with all haste we got into -them and rowed for the shore. On the way I saw some boats swamped, which -had been struck with large shot; but the men who were in them had been -picked up by the small boats, which followed those that had troops in -them, for this express purpose. The number of boats, that were seriously -damaged, was small, compared with what might have been expected; but -they were in general less or more perforated with grape shot and -musketry. The boat in which I was had an oar broken, and was otherwise -damaged; but none of the men were killed or seriously wounded in her. - -We soon reached the shore, at a place where it was deeper than common: -and with a leap I landed dry shod. The first thing I saw, as I passed -along the beach, was some Frenchmen lying dead within the edge of the -water. The beach was strewed with dead and wounded men, with horses, and -artillery taken from the enemy: but the action was over. We formed in a -hollow on the left of the centre height, where the 42d had repulsed a -charge of cavalry; some of the 42d, and also of the cavalry, with their -horses, were stretched dead upon the sand:--we were soon ready, and -advanced through the first range of sand-hills, and found the first -division formed with their artillery, which had landed along with them, -and was drawn by seamen. This circumstance had materially contributed to -the success of the landing; for the enemy were astonished to find that -our artillery was landed as soon as the troops, and began to fire upon -them as soon as the musketry of the infantry. Eight pieces of cannon -were taken from the enemy; but the army lost in this affair, one hundred -and two killed, five hundred and fifteen wounded, and thirty-five -missing; the loss of the navy was twenty-two killed, seventy-two -wounded, and three missing, making a total of seven hundred and -forty-nine, the greater part of which were killed or wounded in the -boats, previous to landing. - -During the course of the day the troops were all landed; we did not -however advance far that day, but took up a position at no great -distance from the shore. Our first concern was to learn whether water -could be got in this sandy desert; and we were glad to find that it -could be obtained in the hollows, by digging a little way in the sand. -When night came on we stationed our guards, and lay upon the sand, -covering ourselves with our blankets. This night I was surprised to find -that I could see nothing, and I continued to be in this state every -night, until the night of the 20d: in the day time I saw as well as ever -I did, and had no pain in my eyes. - -On the morning of the 9th our regiment, along with a party of Corsican -riflemen, advanced along the peninsula about three miles from where we -landed, to a place where it was contracted into less than half a mile in -breadth. Here was a redoubt and a flag-staff, for communicating signals -betwixt Aboukir castle and Alexandria: but the enemy had left it, and -thrown a large gun, intended to be mounted on it, into the ditch. In the -course of the day, the 42d regiment and others, came and occupied this -position, and we returned to our former one, where we remained until the -morning of the 12th, waiting for the landing of some horses, ammunition, -and provisions, from the fleet. We made booths of the branches of the -date (or palm tree), to shelter ourselves from the dew, which fell very -copiously, and we had sometimes heavy showers of rain and hail, which -made it pretty cold. The thermometer was frequently below 50. - -On the morning of the 12th, having filled our canteens with water, and -furnished ourselves with three days provisions, the whole army advanced. -Having proceeded a little beyond the narrow neck of the peninsula, the -enemy's cavalry began to skirmish; our march was slow and often -interrupted; the surface of the ground being very uneven, the sand very -deep, and the day very warm, parties were frequently sent to assist the -seamen with the guns, and even those guns which had horses to draw them, -were unable to get forward, for the horses had never been used to the -draught, and were often unmanageable.--Before evening we came within -sight of the enemy's army posted on a height. Their strength was about -6000 men, of which 600 were cavalry, with 20 to 30 pieces of cannon. As -it was too late to engage them that night, we halted, and began to dig -for water; for we had made use of all that we had, and were now very -thirsty. The place where we began to dig, was a deep soil of black -earth, and below it a clayish mixture. About four or five feet from the -surface, water began to appear in small quantities; each company dug a -well; but before the one to which I belonged had found water, the -regiment was ordered upon picquet. There was no help for it. We were -posted along the front of the army, only those who were blind were not -put on sentry, but left in groupes, a little in the rear. There were -nearly twenty of a company in this condition. We felt very unhappy; for -we had to remain in the spot where we were, until, when it was necessary -to shift our position, some one who had sight came to conduct us to -another place: we then took hold of one another, and were led in a -string; and, had a party of the enemy made a dash at the place where we -were, we were unable either to have resisted or fled. - -On the morning of the 13th we were ordered to advance in front of the -army, to form, along with the 90th regiment, the advanced guard. We had -no time to procure water, but got a little rum, and began our march, -leaving our knapsacks with a guard. We had not advanced far, before our -light company, which was in front, came upon the enemy's picquets, and a -skirmishing began, which increased as we advanced. The light company was -reinforced several times, the enemy's picquets getting stronger as they -retreated, being joined by those who were in their rear. The ground -through which we marched was interspersed with thick bushes; but we -approached a rising ground, on which the main body of the enemy's army -was drawn up in order of battle. The ascent to this height was entirely -bare, and also the ground to the left of it, which projected to Lake -Maadie.--Our regiment kept to the side of the lake; the 90th was on our -right; and the army followed us in two lines. Our parties in front -pressed eagerly upon the enemy's picquets, which caused the regiment to -march pretty quickly, in order to be near them for their support; and -this led us to get a considerable way in advance of the army, which -could not follow with the same speed.--There was one nine pounder -field-piece, and one four and a half inch howitzer, along with us; but -very little ammunition with them. Armed launches too had kept pace with -the left of the army upon the lake; but it was now so shallow that they -could not follow us farther.--As soon as the 90th regiment had cleared -the broken ground, and began to ascend the height on which the enemy's -army was posted, a heavy column of cavalry was observed coming forward -to charge them. The front section of the 90th halted, and the regiment -formed line with all expedition. The front section of the enemy's -cavalry wheeled, as soon as it came opposite the right of the 90th, and -began to form line. The two parties formed opposite and very near each -other, but the cavalry line was formed first. The rear sections of the -90th had not time to reach the extent of the line, and closed upon the -rear of the left, making it six or eight deep, but they had a clear view -of the horsemen who were on higher ground. The cavalry advanced upon -them with their swords raised; the 90th stood firm, until the cavalry -were so near the right of their line, that they were going to strike at -them with their swords; they then began to fire, and it ran from right -to left like a rattling peal of thunder. It was one of the most terrible -discharges of musketry I ever saw; and, from the nearness of the enemy, -it was dreadfully destructive. The cavalry instantly retreated, and many -horses ran away with empty saddles. During the time of this transaction, -which was over in a few seconds, our regiment made a momentary pause. On -the retreat of the cavalry we again advanced. The enemy then began to -open their artillery upon us from the heights. We still pressed on; but -as they saw all our movements, and perceived that we were considerably -advanced before the army, they formed the resolution to attack us with -all their force; and accordingly marched to their right down the height, -and, when on the plain, formed line, and came forward. When we perceived -their movement, we halted, formed five companies in line; posted the -other five in the rear of scattered bushes on the left towards the lake, -and awaited their approach. We cannonaded them with our two pieces, but -our ammunition being soon expended, the guns were drawn into the rear. - -During the time that we were advancing, I had frequently and earnestly -prayed to God, to spare and protect me. Our present situation was one of -imminent danger; part of the enemy's artillery were playing upon us from -the rising ground towards the right; and in front, the enemy, with the -rest of his artillery, was advancing in great force, in a line formed -like the blade of a scythe, the curved point to our left on the shore of -the lake, and that part of it appeared to be composed of cavalry.[9] It -seemed to be the enemy's intention to come round our left, and get into -our rear with that part of their line, while the rest of it attacked us -in front, and out-flanked us on the right, by which they would have -completely surrounded us, and either destroyed or carried us prisoners, -before the main body of the army could arrive to assist us. This was -their only object. They were too weak to attack the army on level ground -with any hope of success; but they were more than competent to take or -destroy our party, which did not amount to 500 men. I was near the left -of the line, and beheld the advance of the enemy with an anxious mind; -but as we were standing in a fixed position, I had some leisure for -reflection; and as death was once more staring me in the face, I began -to inquire "what hope have I for eternity, if I am cut off at this -time?" I confessed my sins in the words of the 51st Psalm; and besought -God to pardon them, and give me a new heart; I then thought, "If we are -mostly cut down at this time, and have to appear before God, will he -make no difference between me and those around me, many of whom, in -place of calling upon him, profane his name?" I then endeavoured to lay -hold on the mercies promised to the penitent and contrite in heart. I -thought I was sorry for my sins, and confessed them without guile, and -on this account I endeavoured to hope for mercy, thus resting partly on -the difference that I conceived to be between my own character and that -of others, and partly on my contrition and repentance before God. But my -mind was still dissatisfied; I still feared the worst; I knew not the -merits of a Saviour's righteousness; my hope was not built upon him but -on myself, and could not be satisfactory. I therefore cried to God to -spare me once more, and promised that my future life should be devoted -to his service. The Lord was pleased to hear my cry, and to protect me -during the awful scene that was just about to commence. The enemy's line -had advanced within about 300 yards, and brought two-field pieces in -front of the company I was in, and fired them at us. One of the balls -came skimming along the surface of the ground. I caught a view of it at -some distance, and thought it was coming directly to me. It grazed a -small hillock of rubbish a few yards in our front, and laid down the -second file on my right. It struck the left leg of the front rank man in -the centre, passing through it, and leaving a part of the skin on each -side. It grazed the calf of the rear rank man's left leg, tearing it, -and carrying part of it away. The small stones which it drove from the -rubbish-hillock hurt our faces, and a quantity of them entered into the -lacerated limbs of the wounded like hail. The one whose leg was broken -died some time after he had undergone amputation; the other also died -some months after in Rosetta. I thought that the hillock of rubbish had -perhaps altered the direction of the ball, else it might have struck me; -and while I felt for my comrades, I thanked God that I had escaped. - -We were now anxious for orders to commence firing, as the enemy were -still marching forwards; the ground in front was somewhat undulated, -rising a little, for about 200 yards in our front, and then gently -falling. Our commanding officer allowed them to advance, as far as to -the highest part in our front; and whenever we saw their feet -distinctly, gave orders to fire. This was eagerly done; and the moment -we began firing, the enemy's line, in place of rushing forward, and -destroying us in an instant, made a halt from right to left, and opened -their fire upon us. As we were most afraid of the two pieces of -artillery in front playing upon us with grape-shot, those around me -directed their fire chiefly at them, which I believe caused them to be -removed to one of the flanks. We then levelled at those directly in our -front; but the smoke soon covered them so much, that a particular object -was not visible. We then took aim at where we judged their line was; but -we were not so much afraid of those directly in our front, as of a body -which appeared to be cavalry, and which threatened to come round our -left into our rear.--In order to keep them back; those near me directed -nearly the one half of their fire against them; for we feared that those -who were posted in the rear of the bushes to our left, would not be able -to prevent them from advancing, the bushes being widely scattered, so -that they might have been easily passed. These men, however, did their -duty most admirably. The enemy opened a fire of grape-shot, from several -pieces of artillery, to dislodge them; but they bravely maintained their -post. Our ranks were now getting thinner; our commanding officer, -Lieutenant Colonel Erskine, was severely wounded with grape shot in -several parts of the body.[10] The officer commanding the company I was -in, was also wounded, and many more.--After we had fired about 12 -rounds, whilst I was in the act of loading, I was struck by a musket -ball in the left side, near the pit of the stomach, close to the ribs, -and was whirled round on my heels by the force of the stroke. I was -stunned and felt great pain; and, concluding that I was wounded, I stept -into the rear and grasped the place with my hand. I found the skin was -entire; and on shaking myself, the ball dropped at my feet. I then -resumed my place in the ranks, and continued to fire until I had -expended 22 rounds; when to our great joy, a party of marines, doing -duty on shore, arrived on our right, and Dillon's regiment on our left. -At the first fire of these troops, the enemy retreated with great -precipitation. We pursued them to some distance; and Dillon's regiment -coming up with a party of them, charged, and took two pieces of -cannon.--The enemy was so closely pressed that he divided his forces, -and part of them retreated to the left, through a shallow place of the -Lake Maadie, the other part retired direct upon Alexandria. Had we had a -proper proportion of cavalry, we might have captured all the enemy's -artillery, and even have taken Alexandria itself; for we could have -reached it before that part of the enemy's force which retreated to the -left, as we were nearer it than they. - -The army formed in line on the heights which the enemy had occupied in -the morning: they cannonaded us, and kept up a fire of sharp-shooters, -by which we lost a number of men. A division of the army was detached to -the left, to a height near to that of Alexandria; the reserve advanced -on the right, and another division in the centre. Our regiment was part -of the division sent to the left. The day was warm, and we suffered much -from want of water. I have seen a Spanish dollar offered for a draught, -and in many instances refused. The gunpowder which unavoidably got into -our mouths by biting the ends of our cartridges while loading, tended -greatly to augment our thirst. - -The enemy had now concentrated his forces on the heights of Alexandria. -When he saw our division advancing to the left, he sent a party with two -guns to cannonade us, and as we advanced nearer, he opened upon us a -heavy fire of shot and shell. Our order of march was in divisions of -companies; and, as we drew near the height, a cannon bail struck the -ground, close to the right of the division of the company I was in. The -ground happened to be soft mould; the ball lodged itself in the mould, -and we were covered with the dust and small fragments of stones which it -raised. It was a great mercy that the ground was not hard in that spot, -as it was in the greatest part of the adjacent ground; for the ball -would in that case have rebounded, and in all probability have laid down -the front rank of the division. I felt thankful for deliverance, and -continued to pray in my heart to God to spare and protect me.--We formed -in close columns upon the height. The bed of a canal, over which was a -bridge, lay in the bottom of the hollow that was betwixt us and the -enemy's position: the bridge was defended by a party of cavalry and -infantry, with two guns. The 44th regiment, being sent in front, charged -the enemy with the bayonet, and captured the bridge; and the party which -defended it retired into their own lines. During this operation the -columns advanced, and began to descend into the hollow. Our regiment was -in the front, the enemy played upon us with his artillery, to which we -were now dreadfully exposed; but, after we had descended some way down -the height, we were ordered to retire; and, as we retreated undercover -of the height, we were partly screened from his fire. After we had -remained in this position some time, our regiment was allowed to retire -to the rear of the right of the centre division of the army. This -division had been formed in line on the plain, and being wholly -unprotected from the enemy's shot, had suffered very severely. They were -still in this state; but they had now laid down their arms, and either -sat or lay on the ground, by which means they were not so much exposed. -We took up our position, and several men from each company were allowed -to go in quest of water. I was one of them; and, as no one knew where to -find it, we took different routes. After travelling some distance to the -rear, I got information where water was to be had; and having made all -haste to the spot, I found it, and instantly began to drink; but I -thought I should never be satisfied. Never was any thing so precious to -me in all my life as this water. After having drank a considerable -quantity, I began to fill the canteens (of which I had ten) which I had -brought to fetch it to those who remained; but many a drink I took -before I had filled them. I then began to feel a little hungry, having -eaten nothing from the preceding morning, lest it should increase my -thirst. I sat down and took a piece of biscuit and a bit of pork, and -began to eat; but still every mouthful required a little of the water; -and I wished to be fully satisfied, before leaving the place, that I -might not be under the necessity of drinking any of what I was carrying -away. The water was white and muddy, but not thick; it was in a part of -what had been the bed of a canal, or had been hollowed out by torrents -coming from the heights in the winter season, across the mouth of which -a bank had been thrown, which prevented the water from running into the -lake, to which it was near. Having satisfied my thirst, I returned with -a load of water to my comrades, to whom it was as acceptable as it had -been to myself. We remained until near sun-set in the same position; and -as the whole army was within reach of the enemy's shot, he continued -less or more to cannonade us. When our regiment got on their feet and -began to move, they fired at us from two of their heaviest guns. One of -the balls rebounded from the ground, nearly killed our Major, and passed -through the ranks: those opposite to it saw it, and were so fortunate as -to make an opening, through which it passed without touching any one. - -By sun-set the army took up its position on the heights from which the -enemy had been driven on the morning, with our right to the sea, and our -left to the canal that separated Lake Maadie from the bed of Lake -Marcotis.--As soon as our position was adjusted, and we had liberty to -pile our arms, the cry was for more water; and as I had been sent for it -before, and knew where it was to be found, I was sent along with others. -It was dusk before we reached the spot, which now presented a confused -but interesting scene. The cavalry and artillery horses, which had been -all day without water, were now there, and had gone into it with their -feet, where they were greedily drinking. This had stirred up the mud, -and made the water a perfect puddle; near the edge it was as thick as -paste. We had therefore to wade in among the horses to where it was -deeper; so that here were men and horses, standing promiscuously, knee -deep in the water, trying as it were which could drink fastest. By the -time I got my canteens filled, it was pretty dark; and, owing to the -confusion, as I could not see, I had great difficulty in finding the -regiment. - -I now lay down on the ground to take some rest. I reflected seriously on -the events of the past day, and thanked God for having heard my prayers, -and for having spared and protected me. I remembered the promises I had -made, and my conscience accused me of having broken them almost as soon -as made. Even during the time of the action, when many were falling -around me, and my danger was greatest, I had made use of improper -expressions: expressions which I was not guilty of using at other times, -and which, on such an occasion, above all others, I ought to have -avoided. This threw me into dejection of spirits, and into a train of -very serious reflections for several days; reflections which were -deepened by my being led to see more minutely the danger I had escaped. -Having occasion to shift my clothes, I observed that the ball which had -struck me on the side, had passed through my coat and cut my waistcoat -between the second and third button from the bottom; it had then grazed -my side, and had been obstructed in its passage outwards by a small -volume of poems, containing Pope's Essay on Man, Blair's Grave, and -Gray's Elegy, which I had in my side pocket. The corner of the binding -next to my side was shattered, and the greater part of the leaves much -bruised. I now discerned, that it had been the force with which the ball -struck the book that had wheeled me round. I was impressed with the -conviction, that if I had been standing square to my front, the ball -would have lodged in my left side; and that even in the oblique position -in which I stood, had it been one inch nearer the right, it would have -lodged in the body and proved mortal. There were few of my comrades that -had not their clothes cut in several places; and many had received -contusions that would have proved mortal wounds, if the French had -properly loaded their pieces. It was said that they did not use the -ramrod in loading, which enabled them to fire with greater rapidity; but -the charge being loose in their pieces, the shot did not fly so true to -its direction, and was in many cases weak; making only a contusion, in -place of perforating the body. This partly accounts for such a long -continued and tremendously superior fire, not being so destructive as -might have been apprehended. The regiment lost 125 killed and wounded; -but our wonder was how so many had escaped. - -The loss sustained by the army, was 156 killed, 1082 wounded; and of -seamen and marines there were 29 killed and 55 wounded, making a total -of 1322. Four pieces of cannon and some ammunition were taken from the -enemy. - -A great part of the grape-shot and cannon balls, that were fired by the -French, were made of a composition of brass. They had taken the -copper-sheeting and bells of a number of the ships in the harbour, and -the unserviceable brass guns in their possession, and had melted them -into balls, to prevent their ammunition from being exhausted; because -the blockade of Egypt by our ships of war, prevented them from receiving -regular supplies from France. But the grape-shot of this description -that lodged in the bodies of the wounded, had the tendency of making the -wounds foul. - -I continued to ponder over what had taken place; and my mind became -increasingly uneasy. Conviction of sin, and a sense of ingratitude to -God for his mercies, drove me almost to despair. I had my Bible with me, -but made no use of it: our duty and fatigues left almost no leisure to -do so, even had I been so inclined; and the dangerous nature of our -present situation agitated the mind, and prevented the composure needful -for the investigation of truth. One who previously knew the spiritual -import of the Scriptures, might have made some profitable use of a -Bible; but our circumstances were quite unfavourable for one like me. I -was left to ruminate upon what occurred to my memory. I recollected what -Manoah's wife said to her husband, when he was afraid that he should die -because he had seen God. "If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would -not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands;" -(Judges xiii. 23.) and was led to conclude, that I ought not to give -myself over to despair, seeing God had yet spared my life. I had also a -general recollection of the following passage of Young's Night Thoughts: - - ---- Time destroyed - Is Suicide, where more than blood is spilt. - Time flies, death urges, knells call, heav'n invites, - Hell threatens; all exerts: in effort, all; - More than creation labours!--Labours more? - And is there in creation, what, amidst - This tumult universal, wing'd despatch, - And ardent energy, supinely yawns?-- - _Man_ sleeps; and _Man_ alone; and _Man_ whose fate, - Fate irreversible, entire, extreme, - Endless, hair-hung, breeze-shaken, o'er the gulf - A moment trembles; drops! and _Man_ for whom - All else is in alarm! _Man_, the sole cause - Of this surrounding storm! and yet he sleeps, - As the storm rock'd to rest,--Throw _Years_ away? - Throw _Empires_, and be blameless. Moments seize,-- - Heaven's on their wing: a moment we may wish - When worlds want wealth to buy. Bid _Day_ stand still, - Bid him drive back his car, and re-import - The period past; regive the given hour: - Lorenzo, _more_ than miracles we want: - Lorenzo--O for yesterdays to come! - - Such is the language of the man _awake_; - His ardour such, for what _oppresses_ thee: - And is his ardour vain, Lorenzo?--No; - That _more_ than miracle the gods indulge; - _To-day_ is _yesterday_ return'd; return'd - Full-power'd to cancel, expiate, raise, adorn, - And reinstate us on the Rock of peace. - Let it not share its predecessor's fate; - Nor, like its elder sisters, die a fool. - Shall it evaporate in fume? fly off - Fuliginous, and stain us deeper still? - Shall we be poorer for the plenty pour'd? - More wretched for the clemencies of heav'n? - - NIGHT SECOND. - -While I had a general recollection of this passage on my mind, there -were a number of its particular expressions very frequently in my -memory. When I thought on the past dangers I had come through, and -looked at our present hazardous situation, the words - - ----"hair-hung, breeze-shaken, o'er the gulf - A moment trembles,"---- - -strongly impressed my mind with a sense of the critical nature of human -life in general, and of such a situation as I was now in, in particular; -and the words, - - ----"and yet he sleeps, - As the storm rock'd to rest"---- - -with the folly of being careless and unconcerned, in such a situation; -and when I thought on the misimprovement of past time, the words, - - ----"O for yesterdays to come!" - -spoke the feelings of my heart:--but the words, - - "Today is yesterday return'd; return'd - Full-power'd to cancel, expiate, raise, adorn, - And reinstate us on the Rock of peace," - -were often in my mind, and contributed, with the words of Manoah's wife, -to give me a partial ease; they led me to form a new resolution, of -setting out once more in attempting to lead a godly life, and keep the -divine commandments. Having formed this resolution, I set about the -performance of it with all due care, and my mind enjoyed a temporary -peace. I was frequent in prayer, as I hoped that by this means I should -prevent my mind from wandering. I had taken my present resolution so -strongly, that I thought if I did not keep it this time, I could never -hope to keep any resolution afterwards. - -We now got our tents on shore, and were busily employed in landing the -heavy artillery, and in raising breast-works and redoubts. The fatigues -of the army were very great; and as nearly the one half were now -affected with the night blindness, they were ordered to take their turn -of night duties. A blind and a seeing man were put to work together, to -carry two-handed baskets filled with earth to raise the breast-works, -the seeing one leading the blind; and as the sentries on the out-posts -were double, a blind and a seeing man were also put together: the blind -man was company to the other; for, although he could not see, he could -hear; and more depended upon that than upon seeing for the best sight -could not see an object at night at any distance. When upon sentry at -night, I discovered that when I looked a good while to the ground, I -could discern upon _it_ the shadows of persons that were approaching me; -but if I lifted up my head I could not see the persons themselves, -though they came close to my face. I continued, when out at night, to -look constantly to the ground, and my sight gradually got better, and -was quite recovered by the night of the 20d. - -During the march of the army from Aboukir, I had seen great quantities -of ruins; and while employed in working among them, and in building -breast-works and redoubts with the stones of ancient palaces, and the -earth that formed the banks of their far-famed canals, I could not but -reflect on the ancient glory of Egypt, of which there were so many -evidences, even in the barren peninsula of Aboukir. I saw in these ruins -the fulfilments of Jehovah's threatenings, and an evidence of the truth -of the Scriptures;--and from the description given of "populous No," -(Nahum. iii. 8, 9, 10. Ezekiel xxx. 14, 15, 16, which I had frequently -read during the passage up the Mediterranean,) I conceived that -somewhere in this vicinity, such a city must have stood. These -reflections gave an unusual degree of interest to our operations. We -were now upon Scripture ground: we had come from a distant island of the -sea, to the land of the proud Pharaohs, to carry on our military -operations where Nebuchadnezzar, and Alexander the Great, had carried on -theirs. The event was singular and striking: and our situation novel and -interesting. Our camp stretched from the sea to the lake; and on the -lake were numerous boats, bringing provisions, ammunition, and military -stores from the fleet; while parties of seamen and soldiers were -carrying or dragging through the deep sand, the various articles from -the landing place, distant about two miles from the position of the -army. And within four miles of our front, were the heights of -Alexandria, upon which the enemy's troops were posted, with the various -forts which they had constructed for their defence. On the right of -their position stood the beautiful and majestic column, known by the -name of "Pompey's Pillar;" and towards their left stood the stately -obelisk called "Cleopatra's Needle."[11] The old walls of Alexandria -were behind them, over which the masts of near 200 sail of ships were -visible, which had conveyed the army of Bonaparte from France, and had -been blockaded by the English since that time. And in the more distant -view to the sea, was the Isle of Pharos, at the entrance of the harbour, -on which once stood a light-house, mentioned by Rollin in his Ancient -History as one of the seven wonders of the world, but which was now -strongly fortified by the French, for the protection of the harbour, -before which a squadron of our fleet was kept constantly cruising. - -The Arabs began to bring us sheep and young onions for sale. The men of -the tent I was in, bought a sheep for a Spanish dollar, from an Arab, -whose only covering was a plaid thrown round his naked body, resembling -those worn by Highland shepherds. But our greatest difficulty was to -find wood to cook it with. The bark of the date tree was the only part -of it that would burn: its withered leaves, with the roots of a creeping -kind of brier, which we pulled out of the sandy soil, and with -difficulty got to burn, were the only fuel we could find. For a few days -we had far to travel for water; but every regiment dug wells in the flat -ground, on the left of the position, where a sufficient supply, although -somewhat brackish, was obtained. - -My mind continued pretty easy for three or four days; but I found that I -was not fulfilling the task that I had undertaken; that I was failing in -the performance of duty, and was not keeping God and eternity in view, -in the manner I had resolved to do. This began to make me again uneasy; -and, as my hopes rested on my own performances, when I found that these -performances were not what I had promised and resolved they should be, -these hopes were shaken. I had not, indeed, been guilty of any open and -notorious sins; but I had not done that which I had resolved to do, and -on the doing of which I had hoped for the forgiveness of past sins, the -favour of God, and eternal life; and this threw me back where I was -before. - -The regiment received orders on the 20d, to march early next morning to -Aboukir, to do the hospital duty, because we were too weak to do the -duty of a regiment in the line. We were accordingly under arms and -marched off an hour before daylight, and left our tents standing for a -regiment that was to come from the second line to occupy our place. But -we had not proceeded above a mile and a half, when we heard a discharge -of several muskets on the left; which caused us to halt and look to the -place where the firing had been. In a few seconds we saw a number more -muskets fired, (for the darkness made the flash of even the pan of every -musket distinctly visible,) and after that a field-piece, and then a -general discharge of about 300 muskets; when it ceased. We knew that -there was a guard of about 300 men, and a field-piece, with a working -party of as many more, on the spot; and as the firing had ceased, we -thought it might be a false attack to disturb the working party and -alarm the army.--After standing a little, and all continuing quiet, we -began with hesitation to proceed on our journey: but we had not moved -many steps, when we heard the discharge of a musket on the right of the -army: this produced a voluntary halt; and in a few seconds we heard the -discharge of two or three more. We were then ordered to return, and had -not proceeded far, before a number more discharges were heard in the -same direction. This quickened our march, and we made all expedition -towards the tent of the commander-in-chief, which was in the rear of the -right of the army. Before we got there the firing on the right was -beginning to be pretty thick. We were now ordered to resume the position -we had left. It was yet dark; but the firing of musketry began to be -heavy, and the artillery commenced playing, with the help of lighted -lanterns to let them see to load. By the time we got to our position, -the action was close and warm on the right, and the firing of musketry -and artillery very heavy, which the darkness of the morning made -peculiarly awful. There was now no doubt of a powerful and determined -attack from the enemy. When we arrived at our position in the line, the -day had begun faintly to dawn. The regiment which was to have taken our -place, had not done it; a column of the enemy having ascended the brow -of the hill in our front, were making towards the opening in the line -where we should have been. The regiment on the right was extending its -left, and the one on the left its right, and had filled up the one half -of the space when we arrived. On our arrival a part of us filled up the -opening, and began to fire on the enemy's column, which then retreated -under the brow of the hill, out of our sight and below the range of -shot. They left, however, a number of sharp-shooters on the edge of the -hill, who kept up a straggling fire upon our line. The regiments on the -right and left now closed their files, and we got all into line, and in -good order; when the enemy's column, having adjusted itself under the -brow of the hill, showed itself anew, and came forward to the attack. We -again opened our fire upon them, which they returned; but after the -second or third round, they again retreated as before, leaving a still -greater number of sharp-shooters, who ranged themselves along the edge -of the descent of the hill, which in part concealed them from us, but -allowed them to have a fair view of our line, upon which they kept up a -destructive fire. We returned a straggling fire upon them from the line, -having no sharp-shooters in front to engage them. - -When on the way back to the army, previously to entering upon this -action, the state of my mind was rather different from what it had been -before. I prayed earnestly for protection: but having so often failed in -the promises I had made, I was afraid to make any more. I began to be -diffident of myself. I did not plead with God on the promise of future -amendment, but prayed for mercy. I used indeed the name of Christ; but -had no right understanding, either of the true nature of the atonement -for the guilt of sin, by his blood, or of his righteousness to justify -the ungodly. My confidence was not placed in them for acceptance with -God; but should death be the issue, I cast myself, with trembling -hesitation, on his general mercy, and that with more resignation than -formerly. I confessed my past failures, and prayed that if God was not -pleased to preserve me unhurt, but if I was to be wounded, it might be -in a merciful way; and that, if death was to be the issue, my sins might -be pardoned. This was my prayer on entering the action, and as we had -intervals of firing, I repeated it. But great as my fear of death was, I -never thought of attempting to avoid it, by flinching from my duty as a -soldier in such times of danger. I looked upon such conduct as sinful, -and dared not seek present safety by an increase of guilt. I was also -convinced, that cowardice was attended with the greatest danger, and -that our greatest safety lay in every one doing his duty with steady -courage. I had fired about twelve rounds, when the sun was beginning to -appear in the horizon, and was in the act of ramming another cartridge, -when a shot from one of the sharp-shooters, struck upon the inner ancle -bone of my left foot; it turned round the back of the leg, passing -between the sinew of the heel and the leg bone, and lodged just under -the skin, a little above the bone of the outer ancle. It was there that -I felt the pain. I was stunned with the stroke; but from the part in -which I felt the pain, I did not think it was a ball, but that a large -shot or shell, having struck some of the stones that were lying in the -rear, a splinter from them had hit me in the back of the leg: I loaded -my piece, and then, on lifting up my leg to see what was the matter, saw -a musket-shot hole in the half-gaiter, and some appearance of blood. I -shouldered my piece, but the sharp-shooters directly in front of me had -disappeared. I stood a few seconds unresolved what to do; but feeling -the pain increase, and seeing the blood beginning to appear more on the -gaiter, and the officer commanding the company having come to the rear, -and observing that I was wounded, he called to me to fall out, and I was -induced to leave the ranks, but felt very reluctant to quit my comrades -before the battle was decided: not that I loved to stay in a place of -danger; but I did not like to leave them in the time of it; and had -there been firing at the time, I should have continued to fire while I -was able. As matters stood, however, I conceived it to be my duty, -seeing I was disabled from keeping my place in the ranks, to make the -best of my way, as long as I was able, to a place where I might be out -of the reach of shot, and get my wound dressed, that it might not -receive injury by delay. I got as quickly as I could to the rear, -keeping my arms, accoutrements, and knapsack which I had on when -wounded. The battle at this time was raging upon the right with terrible -fury; and the brigade of guards immediately on the right of ours, were -closely engaged. The roar of the artillery was dreadful. Daylight had -now made both parties visible to each other; but the smoke of the firing -obscured the distant view; so that, although the scene of contest was -but a short way off from me, I could neither see our own line nor that -of the enemy, all being covered with a thick cloud, through which -nothing was visible, but the dark red glare of the flashes of the -artillery. As I began to descend the height in the rear of the army, I -was in imminent danger. The position of the brigade of guards, (which -was on the right of ours,) and of the right of our own brigade, receded -considerably from the spot on which our regiment stood, owing to the -direction of the rising ground on which we were posted. In consequence -of this, and of the positions of the enemy's columns and artillery, a -large proportion of his shot, that had been fired at too high an -elevation, fell in the rear of our regiment's tents. As I did not at the -time observe this circumstance, I took the direct road from our own -rear, to the landing place on Lake Maadie, distant about two miles. I -was led by this route to cross the range of the falling shot. The musket -and grape shot was coming down in showers, and further on, the large -shot was striking and rebounding off the ground in rapid succession. I -used all possible exertion to get through this danger; and, by the -goodness of God, received no further hurt; while others, who, like -myself, were wounded and retiring to the rear, did not escape. The -exertion I had made, with the blood I was losing, which marked my steps -in the sand, began to exhaust me; but I had the happiness of having my -canteen full of water at the commencement of my retreat, which refreshed -me. My arms, at length, however, becoming too heavy for me, I left my -firelock in an erect posture, by running the bayonet into the ground, -after taking the powder out of the pan, to prevent accidents to those -that might find it. - -When I had got near to the landing place, I found several surgeons, on -the outside of an hospital tent that had been lately pitched for the -sick, busily engaged in dressing some of the wounded that had arrived -before me. I sat down to wait my turn to be dressed, which was not long, -for the number before me was not great. When I took the gaiter off my -leg, I pulled a piece of it out of the wound, and as the ball appeared -prominent under the skin, it was easily extracted, and another piece of -the gaiter was taken out, which was wrapped round it. The ball was -flattened, and a part of it turned over by the resistance of the ancle -bone; yet the bone was not broken. After I was dressed, I lay down at -the side of a bush, until I might learn what was to be done with the -wounded. By this time the firing of musketry had ceased on the field of -battle; a cannonade alone was heard; and we were all anxiety respecting -the success of the day, for if the army was compelled to retreat, the -situation of the wounded would be distressing and dangerous. Great -numbers of wounded were now arriving to be dressed, who brought -different reports, some of them saying, they did not think that the army -would be able to keep its ground. This made us look with anxiety to the -heights, to observe if any retrograde motion was made; but the cannonade -ceased; and we were informed that the enemy had been completely -repulsed, and had retreated back to Alexandria. The action terminated -about ten o'clock, A. M. - -This action, though short, was severe and bloody, and was sustained on -our part chiefly by the right wing of the army, the left having been -only partially engaged. The object of the enemy was to dislodge the -troops on the right, from the rising ground on which they were posted, -and then to drive the army into Lake Maadie. He expected to possess -himself of the rising ground before day-break; and being perfectly -acquainted with the place, and with the way in which we were posted, he -was at no loss to make his attack in the dark: but as it was our -practice to stand under arms from three o'clock in the morning till an -hour after day-break, we were not taken by surprise. The enemy's force -consisted of nine thousand seven hundred men, of which fifteen hundred -were cavalry; with forty-six pieces of cannon. Our army, by its losses -in the former actions, by parties absent at Aboukir on duty, and by -sickness, had been reduced to somewhat less than ten thousand, including -four hundred cavalry; with thirty-six pieces of cannon. When the enemy -retreated, he left seventeen hundred men dead and wounded on the field, -of whom a thousand and forty were buried the first two days: he lost -also four hundred horses. How many wounded retired, or had been removed, -could not be known; but military judges calculate the whole at about -four thousand men, which was more than a third of their whole number. We -had two hundred and forty-three killed, one thousand one hundred and -ninety-three wounded, and thirty-two missing, and four seamen killed, -and twenty wounded, making a total of 1493.--Our worthy -commander-in-chief, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, died on the 28th, of a wound -he received in the thigh, and was deeply regretted by the whole army. -General Moore also was again wounded, but recovered in a short time and -returned to his duty. The loss of our regiment was forty men. - -Having lain at the bush until about two o'clock, I then observed a -number of the wounded going on board of boats to be taken to the fleet. -I got up and went to the landing place, and having got on board one of -them, arrived at the fleet in the evening; where I was put on board a -two-decked ship, appropriated for the reception of the wounded, and got -into a berth with two more of the same regiment. Upwards of two hundred -wounded men were collected on board of this ship; and the wounds of many -of them being severe, numbers died during the first ten days. If any one -wishes to know what were the topics of conversation among so many men in -such circumstances, it pains me to state, that our conversation was -about any thing but that one thing which most concerned us, and which -ought to have engrossed our whole attention. About that world to which -so many of us were daily departing, and about that God before whom so -many were so soon to make their appearance, there was not a word to be -heard, except it was in taking his name in vain. The groans of the dying -were to be heard in various quarters of the ship, but no one either -asking or telling how a sinner could be saved. Nor was I better than -others. I did not improve my mercies. I had been wounded in a -comparatively merciful manner, but I forgot the God to whom I had made -my supplication, and neglected my Bible. I conversed with one of my -comrades, who was a Scottish Episcopalian, upon church government, and -he took some pains to inform me of the claims of Episcopacy, of which I -was ignorant. But what did such topics avail to dying men, whose -conversation ought to have been about the salvation of their souls? He -was badly wounded in the thigh, and did not live many weeks. The part of -my wound where the ball entered healed in about sixteen days; but the -part where it was extracted became inflamed, and the foot and ancle -swelled considerably. I was suspicious that the dirty water with which -it was sometimes washed was the occasion of the inflammation. An -erroneous opinion was entertained, that salt water would smart the -wounds: and as fresh water was not in plenty on board the ship, only a -small quantity of it was allowed for washing them. A great number were -washed with one basin-full, and, as many of the wounds were foul, this -was calculated to infect those that were clean. Had salt water been -used, a basin of clean water might have been taken to every one. I was -washed with salt water when in the hospital at Aboukir, and felt no -difference between it and fresh. By the end of three weeks my wound -began to mortify. I was then put into a boat to be taken to the hospital -at Aboukir, along with a number more whose cases were considered bad. -Two were so weak that they were unable to sit, and were laid upon -gratings in the bottom of the boat: one of them died before we reached -the shore, and the other died upon the beach. These cases made little -impression upon my mind; death was becoming familiar to me, and I looked -at it with a careless indifference. When the boat reached the shore I -was carried to the Hutts hospital; which was a building upon a height, -erected by the French to serve as barracks to their troops stationed at -Aboukir. - -It was formed of the trunks of date trees split down the middle; the -ends were sunk into the ground; the flat side of one tree was turned -outwards, and the flat side of the next inwards, and so alternately, the -round edges being made to overlap each other, and the crevices filled -with plaster lime. It was roofed in the same manner. A great many bats -had formed their nests in the holes, where the roof rested upon the -upright posts.--Here I was well taken care of; so that by the mercy of -God, the inflammation subsided, and in sixteen days the putrid flesh was -wholly cleaned away, leaving a pretty large orifice. A part of the -tendon of the heel seemed to have been eaten away by the inflammation, -but the damage did not appear to be very serious, and it began to heal -rapidly. - -While in this place, a small scorpion had got into my haversack, and as -I put my hand into it to get some bread it stung me in the point of my -thumb. This sensation resembled that which is produced by the sting of a -bee, but the pain was more violent, and lasted for twenty-four hours -before it subsided, but was attended by no other bad consequence. - -The regiment to which I belonged, being at this time encamped at -Aboukir, made an offer to accommodate their own wounded men, as the -general hospital was crowded. This offer was accepted, and those that -were in a condition to be moved were sent to the regimental hospital. I -remained a day or two there; but, being healthy, and my wound likely to -heal soon, I was removed to the convalescent tents, which, on account of -some cases of fever in the regimental hospital, were at some distance. -There I was left to dress my wound myself, which continued to mend, but -not so rapidly as before. That dreadful calamity, the plague, made its -first appearance at the Hutts hospital about the time that I left it; -and, a few days afterwards, a corporal went with a party and buried a -surgeon and two women in one hole, and seven others in another, that had -already fallen victims to it. - -The strength that the enemy brought to the field on the 21st March, -showed that they were far more numerous in Egypt than we had been led to -believe. The greatest number that had been calculated to be there was -15,000; but they had 27,000. As soon as the action of the 21st was over, -the army made trenches along the whole position, and completed and -increased the batteries and redoubts with all possible haste. The left -was the weakest part of the position. The bed of Lake Mareotis was in -front of it, but it was nearly dry, and passable in many parts both for -horse and foot. Lake Maadie[12] was in the rear of the left, being only -separated from the bed of Lake Mareotis by the banks of the canal[13] of -Alexandria; and its waters were considerably above the level of Lake -Mareotis and the surrounding country. On the 13th April a large opening -was made in the banks of the canal; the water rushed into Lake Mareotis -with a fall of six feet, and it continued to rush in for a month, when -it nearly found its level; but there continued always a fall of about a -foot, owing to the sand absorbing the water. By this measure a large -extent of country was inundated; the front of the position was -contracted, and the left protected from assault; and Lord Hutchison, who -had succeeded Sir Ralph Abercrombie, was enabled to proceed with a part -of the army to Rosetta, which had been previously taken by a detachment, -assisted by 4,000 Turks; General Coote being left with the remainder to -blockade Alexandria. The force assembling at Rosetta was destined to -march against Grand Cairo. The Grand Vizier was advancing with an army -from Syria to co-operate in the same object. Our regiment was ordered to -join the troops at Rosetta. Most of the men belonging to it, who had -been left on board ship sick of the fever, at the time we landed, had by -this time recovered, so that it was now pretty strong. I continued in -the convalescent tents about a fortnight. To enable me, when necessary, -to go abroad, I procured a rough piece of wood, upon which I got the -head of a tent mallet fastened, to serve for a crutch. By the help of -this, and a stick in the other hand, I made a shift to go out of the -tent; but, not being very expert at the use of the crutch, as I was -going out one day, the tent cords catched the lower end of it, and I -fell down, with the wounded leg undermost. This was to me a serious -accident; for my wound immediately began to get worse, and in a few days -it was greatly inflamed, and discharging black matter. I was then -removed to the hospital tents, to be near the surgeon. Orders came for -the regimental hospital to be moved to Rosetta, and such cases as were -not fit to be moved were sent to the general hospital, which was now an -extensive establishment; for the sick and wounded that were on board the -fleet were sent on shore, and lodged in large sheds. Into one of these I -was taken, along with another, who had been in the same convalescent -tent with me. He had been slightly wounded: a musket ball having grazed -the front of his leg; he was able to walk about with little -inconvenience, and was desired by the surgeon not to confine himself -close to the tent, but to take the air, and some little exercise. We -were not, however, aware of the extreme danger of having the skin broken -in Egypt, let the hurt be ever so slight. His wound had got much worse; -it was not to appearance so serious as mine, yet, after he was a few -days in the general hospital, it was found necessary to amputate his -leg, an operation which he did not survive long; for the stump -mortified, and he died after lingering about five weeks. His case -alarmed me not a little; and as my wound continued for some time to get -worse, the inflammation spreading, the lower part of the leg swelling -greatly, and the pain being excessive, I was the more apprehensive, and -prayed earnestly for mercy. God was pleased to hear my cry, and to spare -me once more. The inflammation by and by subsided; the pain became -moderate, my appetite, which was lost, returned; and the wound began to -clean and heal. - -The weather was now very warm. The shed in which I was, was so -constructed, as to combine the advantages of shade and air. The roof was -formed of boards, (brought I suppose from Marmorice,) and was supported -upon posts, made of the trunks of date trees, which were sunk into the -ground at certain distances; boards were nailed to these posts, and -about an inch left open betwixt each board, to the height of about four -feet, and then there was an opening of about two feet to the edge of the -roof. This shed was of great length, and was crossed by one or two -similar ones. In them all there were three rows of beds, two rows with -the ends of the beds to the sides of the shed, and one row set -length-ways in the centre. Although these structures were so open in the -sides we were sufficiently warm during the night. We were, however, much -troubled with fleas, of which the sandy floor was full, so that it was -impossible to get rid of them. Indeed the whole of the desert was full -of these vermin. There were also some crickets of a very large size, -which interrupted our sleep by the strong and constant sound of their -music; not unmelodious in itself, had it not been unseasonable. The -flies too gave us a vast deal of annoyance through the day. It was with -difficulty that we could keep them out of our eyes; and they were most -pernicious to those who had large putrid sores; for, as it was -impossible to keep them out of the wound while it was dressing, this -occasioned not only present trouble, but the breeding of maggots, which -increased the torture of many who were sinking to the grave. Even those -who were well, of all classes, found it needful to carry a small bunch -of rushes tied upon a handle, to be used like a fan, to drive them away. - -On the 23d of May, the hot wind came on. The air was darkened with mist, -which was so thick that it rendered breathing difficult. We were glad to -cover ourselves over the head with our blankets: for although the heat -was intense, and the blankets disagreeably warm and heavy, yet we found -our breathing more tolerable under them than when uncovered. The orderly -men, who had to go out of the shed for water, and on other necessary -business, complained of the heat of the wind, saying that it blew the -sand in their faces as hot as fire.[14] Towards evening the wind blew -from the sea; the air became clear; and the night was about its usual -coolness. But the consequences of this wind were dreadful to the -hospital. The plague now raged with redoubled fury, and made fearful -havoc among the nurses and orderly men, and those who had slight wounds. -The three nurses who attended the division of the shed I was in, were -infected one after the other, and were sent to the post hospital; where, -as I afterwards heard, they died. One set of nurses and orderly men -followed another in rapid succession for some weeks. It was observed, -that none of those who had large sores were infected by it; but such -sores after this period were more mortal, for mortifications now became -rapid in their progress, and baffled the power of medicine to arrest -them. Amputations were multiplied, but were mostly unavailing; and even -sores comparatively slight, mortified and proved fatal. Some of the -cases struck me forcibly.--A sailor who had a slight wound in one of his -legs, and who could move about, and be serviceable to those that were -bed-fast, went one night to the shore, which was not far off, to get -some drink; his leg immediately got worse; in a few days the entire calf -of it was one putrid ulcer, with numbers of maggots; poultices, spirits -of wine, and other strong liquors, and tinctures were profusely used, -but in vain--he died in about a week. Another, whose wound was cured, -and who was ordered to join his regiment, absented himself on the night -previous to the day appointed for his departure, and that of some -others. In a day or two after the party was gone, he appeared in his -place with a sore leg. It was believed that he had purposely scratched -his shin with a stone; but whatever way he had taken to make it sore, -the surgeon, who had not noticed his conduct, saw that it required -dressing, which was done without any particular inquiry; and as none -that knew his conduct liked spontaneously to inform upon him, he was not -called in question. It was manifest, however, that cowardice was the -cause of his injuring his leg, that he might remain in the hospital -until danger was over. But the very means he took to avoid danger, to -which he might never have, been exposed, proved his destruction. In -three or four days his leg became so much inflamed, that amputation was -rendered necessary. This was performed above the knee, but the -inflammation had reached the thigh. As he lay nearly opposite to me, I -saw the face of the stump when it was dressed. The skin never united; at -the second or third dressing the flesh of the thigh was detached from -the bone; so much so, that there was a large cavity underneath the bone, -which made it visible almost to the joint. He died before next day, -being about ten or twelve days from the time, he appeared with his leg -sore. At my left hand lay a young man, a sailor belonging to the -Northumberland 74, with a large ulcer in the under side of his right -arm, a little below the arm pit. I formed an attachment to this young -man; took a note of his own and his mother's name, and place of -residence, and of the time when his wages became due; and promised, if I -got safe to England, to inform them of these particulars, and of the -time and circumstances of his death, for he was sensible that death was -near. But there is one thing that gives me no small pain, when I reflect -upon it, to this day; that, although I saw he was dying, I was not able, -with all the religion I thought I had, to point my dying comrade to the -Saviour. Not having found a Saviour to my own soul, whatever I might say -about religion or religious subjects, a Saviour, properly so called, was -no part of my system. I who never beheld Jesus, as the Lamb of God which -taketh away the sin of the world, could not point him out, in that -soul-reviving character, to others; neither did there appear to be in -this house of death, any one that could point his dying comrades to a -Saviour, nor any among the dying throng, that were asking after a -Saviour. Whatever emotions might be passing through the minds of any, -the question as to what became of the soul after death, the hope of -heaven, or the fear of hell, the way to attain the one and escape the -other, never became a subject of conversation; and yet if ever -circumstances, (short of those of criminals condemned to die, without -any hope of mercy, upon a particular day,) could have forced such -conversation upon a company of sinful mortals, it must have been the -circumstances we were in. But every one seemed to indulge the hope of -life, until the cold hand of death was already on his heart, and left -him little time to think of that world to which he was going, and less -ability to communicate his thoughts to others, or to ask, or to receive -information. And this was the case, not in this hospital only, but in -all the hospitals I was in, both before and afterwards. I did indeed say -a few words to my dying comrade, about praying for mercy to his soul, -and made use of the name of Jesus in a formal way; and he continued for -several days before his death, to pray very earnestly to God for mercy, -and made use of that name: but whether he understood the character of -Jesus as a Saviour, and was led to place his dependence upon his merits, -is more than I can tell. It may be, that the Spirit of Christ, in his -sovereign grace, gave him a saving knowledge of that name that was used -at first in ignorance, and led him to trust in him for salvation; but if -this was the case, it was known only to himself; he was unable to make -it known to others; and, although he had been able to tell me if I -asked, I was unable to discern it; for he that has not been enlightened -by the Spirit of Christ himself, and brought out of darkness into -marvellous light, is ill qualified to discern when that change takes -place upon others.[15] - -Footnote 7: - - I quote these words from Sir R. Wilson's history, which contains a - degree of knowledge that I could not pretend to. The statements which - I give of the strength of the enemy, the number of cannon they had on - the field on the different days, and what we took from them, I also - state upon his authority. The account of the losses of the army I take - from the statements in the gazettes, which I believe to be pretty - correct, for I have found that they gave a true account of the loss of - my own regiment, and I have heard soldiers of other regiments say the - same of the gazette accounts of the loss of theirs. - -Footnote 8: - - The boats had gradually verged to the left during their progress, so - that this height, which before appeared to be opposite their centre, - was now opposite their right. - -Footnote 9: - - It was afterwards said that it was the dromedary corps. - -Footnote 10: - - He was taken on board one of the ships in the fleet, and had one of - his legs amputated, but he died in a few days, and was buried on - shore, at Aboukir. - -Footnote 11: - - For the information of such readers as have not access to large works, - I will take the liberty of inserting an account of the dimensions of - these celebrated and ancient monuments, from Sir R. Wilson's history. - - "Pompey's Pillar is of the Corinthian order, and eighty-eight feet six - inches in height; the shaft formed of a single block of granite, - retaining the finest polish, except where the wind on the north-east - front has chafed the surface a little; it is sixty-four feet in - height, and eight feet four inches in diameter. - - "About thirty yards in the rear of the French intrenchments, stands - Cleopatra's Needle, and one of equal magnitude is lying close by, - horizontally. The form of these obelisks is of considerable elegance, - and their magnitude is enormous, considering that each is only one - piece of granite; their height is sixty-eight feet three inches, and - their base seven feet seven inches by seven feet square; their sides - are covered with hieroglyphics, which, on the eastern front of the one - that is upright, are much effaced by the wind. - - "Tradition affirms that they ornamented the gate of Cleopatra's - palace. From the quantity of marble, &c. &c. found near the spot, - probably the residence of the sovereigns of Egypt was placed - there."--_History of the Expedition_, 2d vol. pp. 156, 158, 159. - - Dr. E. D. Clark, the traveller, who has paid great attention to the - study of the age and design of ancient monuments, thinks that the - _shaft_ of Pompey's Pillar "is of much earlier antiquity than either - the _capital_ or the _pedestal_." He gives probable reasons to believe - that the _shaft_ was made in the time of _Alexander the Great_, the - founder of _Alexandria_, and who was buried there, to be a sepulchral - pillar to the memory of that monarch; but that _Julius Caesar_ had set - it upon a _pedestal_, and had put a _capital_ upon it in honour of - Pompey, whose head he caused to be burnt with funeral honours, and the - ashes put into an _urn_, and placed on the top of the _pillar_: but - that the _pillar_ had likely fallen afterwards, and had been restored - by the emperor _Hadrian_.--_Clarke's Travels, 4th Edit._ 8vo. vol. v. - ch. vii. p. 361, &c. - -Footnote 12: - - Or Sed; "sometimes called the Lake of Aboukir. The passage into it at - Aboukir, is about two hundred yards wide, and was made about the year - 1782, by the sea breaking down the dyke, which had been built ages - back, to recover from the ocean that part of the country which now is - Lake Maadie." _History of the Expedition to Egypt_, p. 27. - -Footnote 13: - - This canal commences at Rhamanieh, on the banks of the Nile, and - passes over fifteen or sixteen leagues of country. The bed of it is - above the level of Egypt; the banks are formed of earth raised wholly - above the surface. There is no water in it, but at the time of the - inundation of the Nile. The beds of the canals in Egypt are all above - the level of the country, that, when cut, the water may run out of - them. They are properly canals of irrigation. - -Footnote 14: - - This wind was still more dreadful in the interior of the country; and - at the place where the army was on its march to Cairo; as appears by - the following extract from Sir R. Wilson's History of the Expedition - to Egypt, vol. 1. p. 177. - - _ALGUM, 23d May._ - - "This day will ever be remarkable to the Egyptian army; a sirocco wind - darkened with a burning mist the atmosphere; the thermometer was at - 120 in the shade; the ground was heated like the floor of a furnace; - every thing that was metallic, such as arms, buttons; knives, &c. - became burning hot; the poultry, exposed to the air, and several - horses and camels died; respiration was difficult, and the lungs were - parched with fiery particles. Had the heat continued forty-eight - hours, the effect would have been dreadful: but happily as night drew - on, the wind cooled, and at last changed to the north west. - - "At Balbeis, the thermometer was at 130; on the western side of the - Nile 120; at Alexandria 105." - - _Extract from a Journal written by one of my comrades._ - - "We had one day's hot wind from the south; it began to blow about 9 - o'clock; and wo be to him that is far from shelter, as neither man nor - beast can survive it three days! It came from the desert as hot as the - opening of an oven door, bringing small sand like mist along with it. - All the sentinels were called in, and the cattle crept close to the - ground and groaned for fear. The buffaloes took to the river, covering - themselves, all but the nose, in the water; and no man was able to - stir out of his tent until the evening." - -Footnote 15: - - The promise that I made of informing his relatives of the time and - circumstances of his death, I fulfilled when I came to Ireland, for - which I received a letter of thanks from his brother. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - -Preparations having been made for erecting a general hospital in the -town of Rosetta, all that were capable of being removed from Aboukir -were sent there. I left Aboukir, and was taken on board of a Germ on the -23d June; which sailed in the afternoon; and at day-break next morning, -we were near the entrance of the Rosetta branch of the Nile. The surf on -the bar, at the mouth of the river, was high; but the Arabs, who -navigated the vessel, risked the passage. The hazard on such occasions -is considerable, owing to the surf, and the shallowness of the water on -the bar: for the vessel is in danger of striking on the bottom between -the surges; and, when this takes place, the next wave that comes is apt -either to break over her and fill her with water, or to overset -her.--When we came opposite that part of the bar, which the Arabs -thought deepest, they pointed the bow of the vessel to it, and clued up -the sails that she might have little pitch, and might float as level as -possible; they then got out hand poles; and, as soon as she began to -lose head-way, they set the poles to the bottom, and pushed her forward -with all their power, making a great noise, until we got over the bar -into smooth water. There were several masts of vessels visible near -where we passed, that had recently been swamped in this dangerous -passage. Many British seamen lost their lives here, for they were -ignorant of its real danger, and would hardly be convinced of it, -because it had not at a distance a very dangerous appearance. It was not -until they had actually got upon the bar, that the extent and nature of -the danger were perceivable; and then, to attempt to return against the -wind and surge is vain; they must push through or perish. At the first I -wondered why the Arabs were making so much noise; but when we came upon -the bar my surprise ceased. I had never seen any thing like it; yet the -wind was not stormy, and if such was the state of this place with a -moderate wind, how terrible must it be in a storm.--As soon as we were -in smooth water, the large sails were again spread out to the wind, we -passed rapidly up the Nile, and in a short time were at Rosetta. - -I was soon taken into a large square building, having a square court in -the centre, and piazzas round about from the bottom to the top; the -ground flat, which was high in the roof, was occupied as cellars, -store-houses, &c. There were two flats above, the various apartments of -which communicated with piazza'd passages, round the centre square. This -building, from the largeness of its size, and the number of its -apartments, accommodated a great many patients, consisting of men of all -the different regiments, promiscuously lodged together. - -In coming into a place of this kind, among so many strange faces, and -various and opposite characters, it is a matter of some consequence to -meet with some one previously known, to whom you can talk, in whom you -can place confidence, and who will act the part of a comrade. In this -respect I was fortunate; falling in with a man of my own company, whose -bed was next to mine: a young man of agreeable dispositions. He was the -rear rank man of the second file from my right, in the battle of the -13th March, who got the calf of his leg grazed by the cannon ball, as -formerly related. His leg was now in a hopeful way; and being able to -move about with the help of a stick, he was serviceable to me who was -confined to bed. In this building we were more cool than on the sands of -Aboukir; the flies were not so excessively troublesome through the day; -and as the floor, which was upon arches, was paved with flat stones, or -large bricks, the fleas were not so numerous. But a new enemy attacked -us during the night, which we had not met with before--the mosquitoes. -They were very troublesome; and there was no way of securing ourselves -from their bite, which was very sharp, and for a while had an -inflammatory effect; so much so, that every one for some time after his -arrival, resembled a person in the height of the measles. Our -accommodation and attendance were much better here in many respects. We -were provided with sheets for our beds, which was very agreeable; for a -sheet was as much as one could bear for a covering during the night; nor -was even that needed so much for heat, as to be a partial defence -against the musquitoes. Our woollen blankets, which would have been -quite uncomfortable from their heat, were very useful now to put under -us; for our beds being made of branches of the date tree, put across -each other, with a slender matt, made of a particular kind of rushes, -laid over them to cover the holes, the cross spars soon became -prominent, and were very uneasy to lie upon. My knapsack was my pillow, -and my blanket, folded _four-ply_, I put under me. Without it indeed, it -would not have been possible to lie in the beds; and even with it, they -were very uncomfortable, especially for those who were long and close -confined to them. - -I had not been in Rosetta above a fortnight, when my wound again -inflamed and mortified in a most alarming degree; the leg swelled -excessively, and the wound became large and jet black, with a most -offensive smell. I was very much alarmed; I beheld many dying, whose -wounds were in a similar state, and some of them apparently not so bad; -the severity of pain deprived me of appetite: nor could I so much as -drink the wine that was allowed me. The pain continued to increase; the -discharge from the wound was great; I was reduced to a skeleton, and my -strength was failing fast; I was at the gates of death; and, with -eternity before me, I was destitute of that discernment of the merits -and grace of the Great Redeemer, which alone can form a sure ground of -confidence, and a true source of consolation to a poor sinner, ready to -perish. I again reflected on my past life, and accused myself of want of -firmness in my resolutions. I thought God had now afflicted me in order -to make me hate sin, and love righteousness; and that were I again -restored to health, and free from pain, nothing in this world would be -able to make me leave my duty: and I flattered myself that what I had -now suffered had destroyed the love of sin in my heart. Under this -persuasion, being in agony through the severity of pain, I exclaimed, -"Lord, let it suffice thee, for it is enough; take but thine hand from -me this once!" Although this was not a prayer becoming a sinner ready to -perish, which ought to have been a supplication for mercy for the sake -of Christ; yet God was pleased in his compassion to grant me the thing I -sought. He did remove his hand, and spare my life; the mortification, -after having raged about three weeks, subsided; the putrid flesh began -to fall away; the burning pain left the wound; and in about ten days it -was clean; but the mortification had detached, and wholly destroyed, the -greater part of the tendon of the heel. I now looked upon myself as one -that had been rescued from the grave, and the occurrences that took -place immediately, tended still more strongly to impress this upon my -mind. The wound of my comrade, who had been serviceable to me when I was -so ill, as I began to mend, grew worse, inflamed, and in a few days, -nearly the whole of the calf of his leg was one putrid mass. A -blood-vessel burst in it during the night; but he was in such pain, that -he was not sensible of the bleeding, which continued until day break; -when the floor under and around his bed was covered with blood. The -surgeon was sent for, to whom he said, "I believe Sir, I have been -bleeding to death in the night time, and was not sensible of it." The -bleeding had now ceased, but he was so weak that he was unable to speak; -and he died in a few hours, and was carried out and buried. The -Saviour's words, "One shall be taken and the other left," struck me -forcibly in these circumstances: when my comrade, who was so shortly -before in a fairer way of recovery than I was, was thus cut off, and I -was left as a monument of God's sparing mercy. - -His bed was not long empty. In a few days an Irish grenadier was brought -to it, whose case was truly hopeless. He had had a boil on the lower -part of the breast, which had mortified; the mortification had spread -over the breast, and had eaten a hole larger than a dollar into the -chest, so that when the dressing was off, the inside of the chest was -visible. He lived in great agony for about six days, and died; by which -time the hole into the chest was much larger.--In a few days after, the -same bed was filled by an artilleryman, a townsman of my own, who had -got the calf of one of his legs accidentally bruised. The leg inflamed; -amputation was resorted to; but, with all the attention the surgeons -paid to him, he also died in a very short time. My wound continued to -mend; and as soon as I was able to move, I got a crutch and a staff, and -a strap to support my leg, and got out of bed for a part of the day, -after having been confined to it nearly six months. - -This was about the middle of September, before the Nile had attained the -height of its inundation. I passed a part of the day, sitting in one of -the front windows which looked to the Nile, and remarked its daily -progress. As I grew stronger, I got upon the roof of the building, which -was flat, and had a view of the town and the surrounding country. In the -country, on the opposite side of the Nile, nothing was to be seen, as -far as the eye could reach, but water, with the trees standing in it. I -travelled about too, visiting my acquaintances in the hospital who -belonged to the same regiment with myself. - -Some of the Arab watermen were employed to supply the hospital with -water. They brought it from the Nile[16] upon their backs, in the skins -of goats slung across their shoulders. The skin had been sewed up after -being taken off the animal, and was in its natural shape; the neck part -being left open for filling and emptying. (This was simply twisted and -held together with the hand, when the skin was to be immediately -emptied; but it might be tied, when it was to be kept full, or carried -to a distance.) All kinds of liquids, even wine and honey are kept in -these skins.--This illustrates the parable of the new wine and old -bottles, Luke v. 37, 38. The bottles were _skins_: and, as wine is a -fermented liquor, the skin bottles, once used, would be so much -impregnated with the wine that had been in them, that if new wine were -put into them, it would cause it to ferment anew; and this would burst -them. The original inmates of the hospital were now greatly reduced; a -number having recovered, and a great many having died: but it was not -allowed in any part to remain empty. Grand Cairo having surrendered to -the British and Turkish forces on the 24th June, the sick of our own -army were sent down the Nile; and they filled up all the vacancies. -Cases of dysentery, and sore eyes, were so numerous, that a number of -buildings were fitted up in Rosetta for their reception. Many died of -the dysentery; but those afflicted with sore eyes were most numerous, -and much to be pitied.--Their torment was excessive: the pain in their -eyes was as if they had been filled with burning sand, they had no -respite from acute sufferings; and many lost their sight in spite of all -the power of medicine. About the end of August, my own eyes became -dreadfully inflamed in one night. The surgeon applied a very large -blister in the morning, and by next day the inflammation was greatly -subsided, but I did not get wholly free of it until I left Egypt, and -was several days at sea on the way to Malta. The Egyptian _ophthalmia_ -was one of the most dreadful calamities that ever befel the British -army. - -The French that were in Cairo, amounting to 13000, were embarked and -sent to France in the month of August. - -As my leg continued to mend, I felt grateful to God for his great mercy -to me; but it was not long, until I had to accuse myself of having -failed in duty, and come short of my promise; and this threw me into -dejection of mind; which however wore gradually off. As I had much -leisure time, I read more of my Bible than formerly; but the historical -parts attracted my attention more than the doctrinal. Happening to read -through the beginning of Exodus, I was struck when I found, that I had -made use of the same words that Pharaoh used to Moses, chap. ix. ver. -28, and which he afterwards repeated, chap. x. ver. 17. This made me -fear, lest I should prove like Pharaoh; and in place of being softened -by mercies, and bound by gratitude, become hardened by them and perish -in the end. I then recollected, that I had heard Dr. Balfour preach, -from Hebrews iii. 12, 13, I remembered the words, "_lest any of you be -hardened through the deceitfulness of sin_," and I turned to the passage -and read it. It led me to ponder on the deceitful nature, and dangerous -tendency of sin; which increased my fear that I might become hardened, -and made my mind very uneasy. I would sometimes think on the -instructions I had got, and the tasks I had learned at the Sabbath -school; which I had now almost forgotten: I remembered some little of -the seventeenth chapter of John, for the learning of which, myself and -others had received a penny. This led me to read it, and the fifty-third -of Isaiah, which also I had learned; but I did not understand its -import, although familiar with the words. I then turned over all the -parallel passages, that I had read, in proof of doctrines in the school; -and although I did not understand those that treated of the way of a -sinner's acceptance with God, by faith in the righteousness and -atonement of the great Redeemer, yet it helped to keep the words of -Scripture relative to these doctrines on my memory, which was of use to -me afterwards. But the doctrines of heaven, and hell, the resurrection, -and eternal judgment, are more readily apprehended: and these made -increasingly strong impressions on my mind. - -I was now pretty certain that I was unfit for military service; and from -Egypt, the land of bondage, I cast a longing eye to my native home, and -wished myself there, that I might enjoy the benefits of a Sabbath, the -instructions of religious teachers, and freedom from the society of the -wicked. All my hopes now centered in this, and had I despaired of it, I -would have given myself over for lost. - -After the French were embarked who had surrendered at Cairo, our troops -which had been there, rejoined the army that was blockading Alexandria. -Several regiments had lately come from England, so that it was now -pretty strong. Alexandria was immediately besieged in form, and the -operations pushed so vigorously, that the garrison was compelled to -surrender on the 1st September, on condition of retaining their private -property and being sent to France. Their number was about eleven -thousand, of all descriptions. This event terminated hostilities in -Egypt, and our troops prepared to leave it as soon as possible. Rosetta -was occupied during the siege by a division of British, and Sepoys, -natives of India, under the command of Sir David Baird, who had come -from the East Indies to our assistance, with about seven thousand men. -They had sailed up the Red sea, and marched through the desert, and -arrived at Cairo shortly after it had surrendered. The Sepoys, when off -duty, laid aside their uniforms, and walked about in the burning sun -with nothing on the body but a pair of very short white drawers. - -The dress of men and women of the common people of Egypt, consists of a -blue cotton gown resembling a woman's shift: some have an upper and -under garment. The men wear a sash or girdle round the middle; a turban -and slippers; but no stockings. The women have no girdle round the -middle; they wear vails; of which those that I saw were of coarse -net-work, resembling the texture of a serjeant's sash, and shaped like -the little bag nets used for catching trout in small rivers. The mouth -of them is put under the chin and over the forehead, and is fastened -behind: there are two holes opposite to the eyes, and the tapering end -hangs down the breast. They appear to think, that modesty lies in -concealing from public view the lower part of the face, whilst they are -very negligent in other respects, which are more essential to that -virtue. To Europeans the appearance of their faces, and particularly the -part that is usually concealed, is no way interesting.--Their complexion -is dark; their eyes, in general, are inflamed; and their cheeks and -chins are marked with the figures of half moons, stars, &c. in the way -that our sailors mark themselves. - -In some of the towns, girls, 14 years old, were seen going to the river -for water, in a state of complete nudity; and males of all ages were -seen mixed together in groupes, in the same state, without any sense of -shame. They anoint their bodies with olive oil, which prevents the sun -from blistering the skin. There are no stools or chairs for sitting upon -in Egypt; their common way of sitting is upon the hams of their legs, in -which posture they will remain for hours, apparently as much at their -ease as a European upon a chair; they eat their meals in a reclining -posture, but make no use of knives, forks or spoons; when they sup they -literally "dip their hand in the dish,"[17] and feed themselves with -their fingers in place of spoons. The above customs were practised in -the time of Christ, and still exists through the east. - -There are numbers of mosques, or Mahomedan churches, in the towns. They -have, in general, a particular kind of spires, called minarets, some of -which are very lofty: they are in shape at the top like an onion, but -have no weathercocks, nor clocks, nor bells; of which latter, the -Mahomedan religion prohibits the use. The minarets have all one or more -balustrades round them, into which a man ascends at the end of every -watch, and walks round, calling the people to prayers with as loud a -voice as he possibly can. In Egypt it is commonly a blind man who -performs this office. - -The uninterrupted sunshine at Cairo, afforded the French the means of -partly supplying the want of clocks and bells, by ascertaining exactly -when it was twelve o'clock. They mounted one of the guns in the citadel -upon a peculiar construction, and put some fine brass work at the -breech, in which was a burning glass just over the touch hole; by which -the rays of the sun, the instant he reached the meridian, kindled the -powder and fired the gun. This is a proof that clouds and rain are -seldom seen at Cairo; otherwise the firing of the gun could not have -been depended on. When the French left the citadel, the Turks got -possession of it; and some of them broke and stole the brass work of -this gun, supposing the polished metal to be gold. - -The heat of the country was very oppressive; and the army that went to -Cairo suffered much from it during their march. The perspiration came -through their clothes, and wetted their buff belts opposite the back, -just as if they had been soaked in water. - -About this time a very melancholy accident happened to some men of the -13th regiment of foot. Their regimental store house was in a building a -few yards from the hospital; some of them were employed sorting -cartridges in a room on the first floor, when one of them came in -smoking tobacco, and thoughtlessly held his head over an open chest into -which they were packing the cartridges; a spark fell from the pipe, and -the powder exploded and gave a violent shock to the hospital and -adjacent buildings; several men, and a serjeant's wife, were killed in -the house, and I think nine or ten more were much bruised and dreadfully -burned, and were brought into the hospital; their condition was more -pitiful than that of those who were severely wounded, because so much of -the skin of the face and body had been burned, that they had not sound -skin left to lie upon; five or six of them lingered about a week in -great agony, and died. I think that twelve or sixteen were killed or -severely injured by this accident. Some who were sitting in the bottom -of an open window, with their legs over the wall, were blown down into -the street, but were not much hurt. - -Towards the end of September, my wound was nearly whole, but my leg was -very much contracted. I was ordered to prepare to join my regiment at -Alexandria to go home with it. But before taking a final leave of the -hospitals, I would make a few further remarks upon the manner in which I -saw my fellow creatures depart this life. And it must be confessed, that -to all appearance many of them died _hardy_; they might groan through -extremity of bodily pain, but did not exhibit any anguish of mind at the -fear of death or judgment; but I could not discern any rational ground -for this apparent want of anxiety about futurity. To make a merit of -meeting death bravely, when it can not be avoided, is but a poor reason -for a rational, immortal, and accountable creature, to act upon. If man -is a sinner, and must render an account to his Maker when he dies, -surely to manifest no concern about the issue of death, is not to act -the part worthy of a rational creature. To shut out all concern about -eternity, in order to act the _hero_ at the last, is liker the conduct -of a blind madman than a true _hero_; for true courage in the hour of -death can only be founded on the knowledge of our being happier -hereafter; and this persuasion is only to be attained, by the reception -of the good news of salvation by Jesus Christ, revealed in the -Scriptures. Infidelity has said much against the superstition of the -Bible; but while it does this, it gives an accountable creature nothing -in the room of it upon which to found a reasonable hope for eternity. -Infidels have often said that the fears of hell which make men afraid to -die, are the produce of superstition. Were there none of those whom I -saw die, who had freed themselves of the fears produced by the Bible -account of a future state? It is likely that some of them had; for their -previous habits and behaviour were as opposite to the Scriptures, as if -they had never heard of such a book; and it was as little talked of, as -if it had never existed. If infidelity be _true_, the death of its -disciples ought to be more dignified and composed than that of any -others: their future prospects ought to be the most certain, -intelligent, and cheering to the immortal soul, when it is about to take -its flight into the world of spirits and return to God who gave it. A -dying infidel, if his system be _truth_, should be one that should -rejoice in death, that he had freed himself from the fears produced by -the Bible; he ought to be able to direct those around his dying bed to -the truth that supports his mind, and show, at the same time, that he -has a proper discernment of his own condition as an accountable -creature, and suitable conceptions of the moral character of his Maker -and Judge. But of all that I ever saw die, I never heard any rejoicing -in the assertions of infidelity: I saw many die apparently _hardy_; but -their deaths resembled more that of the beasts that perish, than of -accountable immortal creatures. I have since seen Christians die, but -the manner of their death was very different: their conceptions of the -majesty and holy purity of God were exalted; their sense of the evil of -their own sins, and the moral responsibility of their conduct, was deep; -but with all this full in their view, they had good hope through -trusting in Christ; and I never yet saw or heard of a dying Christian -who regretted that he had trusted too much to Christ, or thought too -highly of him; but the contrary. I have often heard them regret deeply -that they had thought too lowly of him, and of what he had done to save -sinners, and had trusted too little to him, and depended too little on -the promises of the Bible; and I have heard them pray earnestly for -forgiveness for this, as being the most heinous of all their -sins.--Reader, if ever your mind has been stumbled by the arguments of -infidelity, try it by this test,--what provision does it make for -eternity, to a sinful and accountable creature; and you will find that -in this most important of all other concerns it makes no provision -whatever: it is revelation alone that either does or can make any -provision for a certain ground of hope for futurity. God alone can tell -how he will forgive sin: he has done this in the Scriptures, and there -alone. O be sure you examine what is revealed in them upon this subject, -and build your hope for eternity only upon what God has revealed to a -sinner to trust in, that you may not die in despair, nor be deluded by a -false hope, and finally be disappointed: and for this purpose, I -earnestly entreat your serious consideration of what is said towards the -conclusion of this narrative. - -Before leaving the hospital, I feel bound in gratitude to acknowledge -the care and attention that was paid to the sick and wounded: all things -considered, every thing was done for them that could be done, and much -expense was incurred for medicines, attendance, and accommodation, and -every exertion made to procure suitable provisions. When I think upon it -to this day, I feel grateful for the care that was taken of the -helpless, and those who were rendered unfit to serve their country any -longer: by this means many were preserved to their families and their -friends, who otherwise would never have returned. - -On the 29th September, I embarked in a Germ on the Nile, which dropped -down the river, and lay near the entrance, to be ready to pass the bar -early in the morning, that being the most favourable time; for the wind -rises at sun rise, and blows from the sea up the river during the day, -with a steady, and sometimes strong breeze, and dies away in the -evening. Vessels going up the Nile carry a press of sail, and go at a -great rate during the day, and stop at night: vessels going down the -river lower their sails and yards, lay their broadside to the stream, -and drift along with it. On the morning of the 30th, the wind and surf -were so high, that it was unsafe to attempt passing the bar; so that we -returned to Rosetta and lay it the quay three days, waiting for moderate -weather. The Nile was still considerably above its banks: the extensive -fields of rice, and corn, particularly on the east side, excited my -admiration. The seed had been sown previously to the inundation, and had -taken root and grown up with the rise of the water; which made it to -have a compact and level surface, resembling that of a bowling-green, -for many miles. This crop would be ripe, by the time the inundation -would fall within the banks of the river; and another crop of wheat or -barley, and one of clover or vegetables, would be produced before the -return of the inundation next year.--Water is raised by buffaloes and -oxen from the river, into the canals;[18] the beds of which are above -the level of the country. It is let out into the fields during the -growth of the other two crops; and when the last one is reaped, this -labour is suspended. Then the heat of the sun soon dries the ground, and -rends it into numerous and deep fissures; some of them are from ten to -twenty feet deep. The army experienced considerable difficulty from this -cause, on its march back from Cairo; particularly at night, when both -men and horses were in danger of having their legs broke by falling into -them. - -While I lay at the quay, I was astonished at the great number of boats -discharging cargoes of grain, which was piled in huge heaps in the open -air, not far from the brink of the river;[19] a sight which reminded one -of the words of Jacob, "I have heard that there is _corn_ in Egypt." -But, with all this plenty, it is a miserable place. The common people -enjoy little of its abundance; their condition is the most wretched I -ever saw or heard of among civilized nations. The houses of the -peasantry are mere hovels, little if any thing better than the Kraals of -the wild Hottentots.[20] The inhabitants of the land of Egypt, which was -the house of bondage to the children of Israel, now suffer bondage in -their own land, little, if at all, interior to that which their -ancestors made the Israelites suffer. The government has for a long time -been in the hands of Turks or Mamelukes, who are always foreigners, and -who rule with rigour; and the inhabitants never take any interest in the -affairs of the government, but are entirely passive to every change that -takes place. The country abounds with Arabs. The Copts, its original -inhabitants, are the fewest in number; they profess Christianity, and -are the more liable, on that account, to be oppressed by their Mahomedan -masters. The prediction is now fully verified, that Egypt, once the -_first_ of nations, should become the _basest_ of kingdoms: Ezek. xxix. -15, 16. It is sunk so low in ignorance and wretchedness, that, if it -were not for the many elegant and stupendous remains of antiquity -existing in the country, the voice of history, strong as it is, could -scarcely be credited, that it was once the _first_ of nations, and the -seat of the arts and sciences. It is a land of pestilence and disease. -"In Cairo, last year, forty thousand were supposed to be infected with -the plague: and many of the French garrison died in that city, although -the disease was treated in their hospitals with the greatest ability. In -Upper Egypt sixty thousand perished during the same season,"[21] besides -those who died of it in other parts of the country. Among the British, -the plague was confined to the "hospital and troops stationary at -Aboukir, where it broke out on the 12th April, and terminated on the -26th August. Three hundred and eighty, in the course of that time, were -affected with it; one hundred and seventy-three died, and two hundred -and seven recovered. The deaths chiefly fell on the orderlies, nurses, -and other servants of the hospitals."[22] "The plague raged again at -Rosetta towards the fall of the year and numbers of the Sepoys died of -it."[23] When a person is infected with the pestilence, after the manner -of Egypt, (Amos iv. 10,) the disease is indicated by two boils which are -commonly in the groin. In addition to the plague, "Leprosy of the worst -species, and Elephantiasis, which swells the legs larger than a common -bolster," and a number of other diseases are very general. "The number -of blind is prodigious, nearly every fifth inhabitant has lost one eye, -and many both. All the children have sore eyes, and Europeans do not -escape better. The French at first had more than two thirds of their -army affected with this malady; and the English, during their short -stay, had one hundred and sixty totally blind, and two hundred that lost -one eye irrecoverably."[24] How many more were affected with this -dreadful malady among the troops that remained in the country until the -following year, when it was wholly evacuated, I can not tell; but have -reason to believe the number was considerable. Children must suffer much -during their infancy from the flies, because they are unable to drive -them from their eyes. I saw a woman going to the Nile for water, which -she carried in a pitcher upon her head: a naked child sat across her -shoulders; its little hands were employed in holding by the head of its -mother, to prevent itself from falling; its eye-lashes were literally -black with flies that were sucking at its eyes, as they would do at -sugar. They work themselves into the inner coating of the eyelids of -infants, which no doubt causes some of them to lose their sight in their -tender years. In addition to flies, gnats and mosquitoes, all other -kinds of vermin are incredibly numerous and troublesome; so much so, -that, although there were nothing else but them, they would make Egypt -an uncomfortable country to live in. Although the French used all the -freedom of conquerors, they were perfectly sick of it. When we landed, -they supposed, that, after we had expelled them, we intended to retain -possession of it; and they sincerely pitied the lot of their supposed -successors. They fought, indeed, bravely; but it was not out of love to -the country, but in subordination to military discipline, and for the -honour of their arms; but when compelled to surrender on condition of -being sent home to France, they rejoiced in the event as a happy -deliverance. And indeed it was no wonder; for, in addition to the -disagreeable nature of the climate, many of the military posts where -they did duty, being in lonely sandy deserts, were so ill accommodated, -and in all respects so uncomfortable, that to do service at them was -fitter for being a punishment to men banished for their crimes, than for -those who deserved well of their country. - -Dr. Clarke sailed up the Nile on the 10th of August, 1801, when the -river was beginning to overflow the country. The following extract -corroborates all that I had heard related by my comrades, after they had -returned from Cairo, and is so interesting, that it will gratify such -readers as have not access to his work. After passing Rachmanie, he -says, "Villages in an almost uninterrupted succession, denoted a much -greater population than we had imagined this country to contain. Upon -each side of the river, as far as the eye could reach, we saw fields of -corn and rice, with such beautiful groves, seeming to rise out of the -watery plains, and to shade innumerable settlements in the _Delta_, -amidst never-ending plantations of melons, and all kinds of garden -vegetables, that, from the abundance of its harvests, Egypt might be -deemed the richest country in the world. Such is the picture exhibited -to the native inhabitants, who are seasoned to withstand the disorders -of the country, and can bear with indifference the attacks of myriads of -all sorts of noxious animals; to whom mud and mosquitoes, or dust and -vermin, are alike indifferent; who, having never experienced one -comfortable feeling in the midst of their highest enjoyments, nor a -single antidote to sorrow in the depths of their wretchedness, vegetate, -like the _bananas_ and _sycamores_ around them. But strangers, and -especially the inhabitants of _Northern_ countries, where wholesome air -and cleanliness are among the necessaries of life, must consider Egypt -as the most detestable region upon earth. Upon the retiring of the Nile, -the country is one vast swamp. The atmosphere is impregnated with every -putrid and offensive exhalation, then stagnates, like the filthy pools -over which it broods. Then, too, the plague regularly begins; nor -ceases, until the waters return again.[25] Throughout the spring, -intermitting fevers universally prevail. About the beginning of May, -certain winds cover even the sands of the desert with the most -disgusting vermin.[26] The latest descendants of Pharaoh are not yet -delivered from the evils which fell upon the land, when it was smitten -by the hands of Moses and Aaron; the 'plague of frogs,' the 'plague of -lice,' the 'plague of flies,' the 'murrain, boils, and blains,' prevail -so, that the whole country is 'corrupted,' and '_the dust of the earth -becomes lice, upon man and upon beast, throughout the land of Egypt_.' -This application of the words of sacred Scripture affords a literal -statement of existing evils, such an one as the statistics of the -country do now warrant. In its justification, an appeal may be made to -the testimony of all those who have resided in the country during the -very opposite seasons of its prosperity and privation; during the -inundation, and when the flood has retired, or before it takes place, in -the beginning of the year. At the period of the overflow, persons who -drink the water become subject to a disorder called '_prickly heat_:' -this often terminates in those dreadful wounds alluded to in the sacred -writings, by the words '_boils and blains_.' During the months of -_June_, _July_, and _August_, many individuals are deprived of sight, -owing to a disorder of the eyes peculiar to this country. _Europeans_, -having no other name for it, have called it _ophthalmia_, from the -organs it affects. There was hardly an individual who did not suffer, -more or less, the consequences of this painful malady. At this season, -also, the dysentery begins to number its victims; and although some be -fortunate enough to escape the worst effects of this disorder, it proves -fatal in many instances."[27] - -Dr. Clarke's account of what he experienced at Cairo, in the middle of -August, is also interesting: "The mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer -seemed at this time fixed. It remained at 90 degrees for several days, -without the smallest perceptible change. Almost every European suffered -from inflammation of the eyes. Many were troubled with cutaneous -disorders. The prickly heat was very common. This was attributed to -drinking the muddy water of the Nile, the inhabitants having no other. -Their mode of purifying it, in a certain degree, is by rubbing the -inside of the water vessel with bruised almonds: this precipitates a -portion of the mud, but it is never quite clear. Many persons were -afflicted with sores upon the skin, which were called '_biles of the -Nile_;' and dysenterical complaints were universal. A singular species -of _lizard_ made its appearance in every chamber, having circular -membranes at the extremity of its feet, which gave it such tenacity, -that it walked upon window-panes of glass, or upon the surfaces of -pendent mirrors.[28] This revolting sight was common to every apartment, -whether in the houses of the rich or of the poor. At the same time, such -a plague of flies covered all things with their swarms, that it was -impossible to eat without hiring persons to stand by every table with -feathers, or flappers, to drive them away. Liquor could not be poured -into a glass; the mode of drinking was by keeping the mouth of every -bottle covered until the moment it was applied to the lips: and -instantly covering it with the palm of the hand, when removing it to -offer to any one else. The utmost attention to cleanliness, by a -frequent change of every article of wearing apparel, could not repel the -attacks of vermin which seemed to infest even the air of the place. A -gentleman made his appearance before a party he had invited to dinner, -with lice swarming upon his clothes. The only explanation he could give -as to the cause, was, that he had sat for a short time in one of the -boats upon the canal. Perhaps objection may be made to a statement even -of facts, which refers to no pleasing theme; but the author does not -conceive it possible to give _Englishmen_ a correct notion of the trials -to which they will be exposed in visiting this country, without calling -some things by their proper names."[29] - -Before losing sight of the contest that was in Egypt, it may not be -amiss to glance at the unavoidable evils of _war_. With the inhabitants -we had no quarrel: our sole object was to expel the French. But this -could not be done, without the peaceful inhabitants receiving, in many -cases, serious injury. The roads from town to town did not suit the -march of the army to and from Cairo; the troops generally took the -direct road through the corn-fields, and their encampments were -sometimes in fields of corn, tobacco, poppies, sego, melons, indigo, &c. -the produce of which, however valuable, was destroyed. Fuel was scarce; -and the soldiers were necessitated to use whatever would burn. Stalks of -tobacco, bean straw, and such like substances, were used to boil the -kettles;[30] and in places where dry straw was difficult to be had, it -was necessary to place guards at the entrances to the neighbouring -villages or towns, to prevent the soldiers from unroofing the houses for -wood to make fuel: and with all the attention of the officers, such was -the necessity of the case, that injury could not always be prevented. - -The discipline of the army was strict, and the general behaviour of the -troops good; but many instances of petty depredations and pilfering took -place, that were not known, and could not be prevented. Many instances -occurred of inhabitants, particularly Arabs, who sold bread, fruit, -eggs, &c. having their articles taken from them by "fellows of the baser -sort," without any payment, and sometimes with abuse into the bargain. -The Arabs when so used would throw dust upon their heads, and call upon -God, and the Prophet, and the Sultan. But as this usage was not general, -and as the army spent a considerable sum of good money among them,[31] -they were not deterred from following it with whatever they had to sell, -and I believe many of them made more money at that time, than ever they -had an opportunity of doing before or since. On the afternoon of the 2d -October, we again left Rosetta, and lay for the night near the mouth of -the river. The wind was moderate next morning; we passed the bar safely: -had a pleasant voyage across the bay of Aboukir, and through Like -Maadie; passed through the cut in the banks of the canal of Alexandria -into Lake Mareotis,[32] and landed not far from the place where the -battle of the 21st of March was fought, of which I had thus another -view, and which I never can forget. I joined the regiment on the heights -of Alexandria; we embarked next day at Aboukir, on board of two -frigates; sailed on the morning of the 7th October; and lost sight of -the celebrated land of Egypt by 12 o'clock. None regretted this. We -indeed regretted our countrymen and comrades, who had found a grave -there; but the country itself had no charms to make us regret leaving -it. All our thoughts were now fixed upon home; and we rejoiced to think, -that every day was bringing us nearer it. - -Footnote 16: - - During the time of the inundation, the water in the river is very - thick but as much pure water as served us for drinking, was procured - from some private wells in the town, which I suppose had a - communication with the river, which had the effect of filtering the - water. - -Footnote 17: - - Matthew xxvi. 23. - -Footnote 18: - - I saw the buffaloes at this employment, when I sailed up the river, on - the 24th June, when coming to Rosetta. The buffalo is much larger than - the ox; his bones are uncommonly large, even in comparison to the size - of his body, which is very lean; his strength must be much greater - than that of the ox. When he walks, he carries his head like the - camel, his nose being nearly as high as his horns, and is on the whole - a very dull looking animal; but, notwithstanding, he is capable of - being trained to this work, as well, if not better, than the ox, for I - saw them keeping a slow but steady pace at their work, without the - immediate presence of a driver. The water is raised by a wheel, upon - which buckets or earthen pitchers are fastened. - - Since the publication of the first edition, I have seen the 5th vol. - of Dr. Clarke's Travels in Egypt; and as his knowledge is more - extensive than mine, I take the liberty of inserting an extract, upon - the produce and manner of cultivating the Delta. Speaking of the - method of watering the ground, he says, "The land thus watered, - produces three crops in each year; the first of clover, the second of - corn, and the third of rice. The rice grounds are inundated, from the - time of sowing nearly to harvest. The seed is commonly cast upon the - water, a practice twice alluded to in sacred Scripture. _Balaam_ - prophesied of _Israel_, Numb. xxiv. 7, that 'his seed should be in - many waters.' In the directions given for charity, by the son of - _David_, it is written, Eccles. xi. 1. 'Cast thy bread (_i. e._ bread - corn) upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.' When - the rice plants are about two feet high they are transplanted."--Vol. - v. pp. 47, 48. - -Footnote 19: - - The grain was measured by an Arab into baskets, which were carried to - the heap by others, upon their shoulders. The measurer accompanied his - work with a song indicative of the quantity he put into each basket. - The owner stood upon the quay and received a bean or pea from the - carriers as they passed by him to the heap; and this was the method by - which he kept an account of the quantity landed. - -Footnote 20: - - I saw the exterior of some of these houses on the banks of the Nile, - but never had an opportunity of seeing their interior. Sir R. Wilson - says, in vol. i. pp. 156, 157, "All language is insufficient to give a - just idea of the misery of an Egyptian village; but those who have - been in Ireland, may best suppose the degree, when an Irish hut is - described as a palace, in comparison to an Arab's stye; for it can be - called by no other name. Each habitation is built of mud, even the - roof, and resembles in shape an oven: within is only one apartment, - generally of about ten feet square. The door does not admit of a man's - entering upright; but, as the bottom is dug out about two feet, when - in the room an erect posture is possible. A mat, some large vessels to - hold water, which is the constant occupation of the women to fetch; a - pitcher made of fine porous clay, found best in Upper Egypt, near - Cunei, and in which the water is kept very cool; a rice pan and coffee - pot, are all the ornaments and utensils. Here, then, a whole family - eat and sleep without any consideration of decency or cleanliness; - being, in regard to the latter, worse even than the beasts of the - field, which naturally respect their own tenements." - -Footnote 21: - - Sir R. Wilson's History, vol. ii. p. 116. - -Footnote 22: - - Ibid. pp. 115, 132. - -Footnote 23: - - Ibid. p. 119. - -Footnote 24: - - Ibid. p. 121. - -Footnote 25: - - "General _Le Grange_ assured us, when on board the _Braakel_, that the - ravages in the French army, caused by the plague, during the month of - April, at one time, amounted to an hundred men in a single day." - -Footnote 26: - - "Sir Sidney Smith informed the author (Dr. Clarke) that one night, - preferring a bed upon the sand of the desert to a night's lodging in - the village of Etko, as thinking he should be more secure from vermin, - he found himself, in the morning, entirely covered by them. Lice and - _scorpions_ abound in all the sandy desert near Alexandria." One of my - comrades informed me, that when some of the _date_ trees were split at - _Aboukir_, for making the hospital, there were so many lice in the - hearts of them that they might have been gathered in handfuls. The - frogs also were so abundant at some of the places where the army - halted between Rosetta and Cairo, that it was not possible to get at - the water in the river without treading upon them; and at one place - the camp ground was literally covered with black beetles, to the no - small annoyance of the soldiers in the tents, and the bed frames and - mats that we got new in the hospital in Rosetta in the end of June, - were so full of bugs by the end of September, that they were fit only - to be burnt. - -Footnote 27: - - Clarke's Travels, vol. v. pp. 56, 59. - -Footnote 28: - - "A similar membrane terminates each foot of a common fly: beneath - which a vacuum takes place, and the animal maintains a footing upon - ceilings, owing to the pressure of the external air upon this - membrane." - -Footnote 29: - - Clarke's Travels, vol. v. pp. 78, 80. - -Footnote 30: - - When their rations happened to be salt pork, they used to put a piece - of it under the kettle to burn with the straw. - -Footnote 31: - - With the exception of gold, which was in the hands of a few, the coin - circulating in Egypt was made of base metal, watered over with silver; - and was of little or no intrinsic value. There were large pieces of - this kind, some of them larger than a crown, which were of different - values: but a small coin, called a para, about the breadth of a - farthing, and no thicker than the scale of a fish, was the most - common; of which 120, and in some places 160, were given for a Spanish - dollar. The money expended by the army was gold and Spanish dollars. - -Footnote 32: - - The inundation in this lake extended farther than the eye could reach. - The banks of the canal formed a road for communicating with the - interior of the country; a bridge of boats united the banks, one of - the boats being moveable, for the purpose of allowing vessels to pass - in and out of Lake Mareotis. Before the army wholly left the country, - the boats forming the bridge were sunk in the cut, and served for a - foundation upon which the banks were rebuilt. When the British took - Alexandria, in March, 1807, a detachment was sent to take Rosetta; but - they were repulsed by those Turks who had accompanied the army on its - march to and from Cairo, and who had acquired a considerable portion - of British discipline. The rays of the sun had by this time so far - dried up the salt water in Lake Mareotis as to render it passable; but - the British again cut the banks of the canal, and admitted the sea - into it, to protect Alexandria from being attacked by the Turks. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - -After a pleasant passage, having light winds and fine weather, we -arrived at Malta on the 23d October. Here our joy was wonderfully -heightened by the news of peace. The news had come from France, but they -were credit worthy. The only cause of regret was, that such an important -and strongly fortified place as Malta, where we now lay, was to be given -up. We did not leave Malta until the 26th November, at which delay the -soldiers were vexed; but the naval officers were no way anxious to get -home, because they knew that the ship would be paid off, and they would -then lose their situations. Our own officers were apprehensive that the -regiment might be reduced, which would put them on half pay; but the men -rejoiced in the prospect.[33] We had a tedious passage down the -Mediterranean, and did not arrive at Gibraltar until the 20d December. -We left it on the 1st January, 1802, and arrived at the Cove of Cork on -the 23d, having had rough weather all the way, which on two occasions -increased to a tempest, and did the ship I was in considerable damage. -We had to ride quarantine until the 9th February. My leg had stretched -considerably during the passage, and I walked about the deck with the -help of a stick. The regiment landed, and marched into Cork on the 12th, -the wounded and baggage being conveyed by water. And here I found that, -although I could safely walk about with a stick on the level deck of a -ship, my leg was not sufficiently strong to travel the necessary -distances on land. My wound here broke out again; and when the regiment -left Cork for Kilkenny, although I rode upon the baggage, yet the -travelling from the places where the baggage halted to my billet, which -was sometimes more than a mile, was injurious to me. We came to Kilkenny -on the 21st, and lay in it about six weeks. The regiment was inspected -by the General and Surgeon of the district, and a great number ordered -to be discharged, of which I was one. - -My conduct in Kilkenny was not what it ought to have been; not that I -fell into open gross sin, but I did not improve my mercies as I ought, -and was guilty of what I disallowed in my own conscience, and felt my -weakness and inability to overcome the inward workings of corruption. I -here bought Young's Night Thoughts, that by reading it, I might fortify -my mind against temptation. I placed great confidence in the power of -the poet's language; but it had not the effect I wished and expected. I -was one evening at the Methodist chapel; but I did not pay that -attention to the Sabbath which I might have done. The regiment left -Kilkenny, and marched for Belfast; and when we came to Dublin, the -discharged men that were recommended to the benefit of Chelsea Hospital, -embarked for Liverpool, from which we proceeded to London; where I was -examined and admitted an out-pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, on the 27th -May, 1802. I left London on the 29th, and took a passage in one of the -Carron Company's brigs; landed at Queensferry on the 12th of June, and -arrived in Glasgow next day, happy to find myself restored to my -friends.--My wound was still open; I might have gone into York Hospital -in London, and been cured, previously to being discharged; and had I -been wise, I should have done this: but I was so anxious to be home, -that I did not do it, for fear it might delay me some time. - -My military life being now terminated, I desire to bless God, with a -grateful heart, for his goodness and care over me while in the army, in -a particular not before referred to. For during the six years that I was -a soldier, I was never confuted for any fault. My conduct was, in -general, good, in a military point of view; but there were times that I -was guilty of faults, for which I might have been punished, and which I -have reason to thank God for escaping. And what is a little singular, I -was never concerned in any court martial case, nor so much as a witness -against any man; on the whole, I passed comparatively easy and quietly -through the army, and without doubt, the remaining restraints of early -and religious instruction was one particular mean of preserving me from -many evils and dangers; and in this respect proved an invaluable -blessing to me, while I was a soldier. I mention this particular to show -what good early religious instruction may do, although it may not have -the effect of converting the soul. - -I had now attained my wishes, by being safely settled at home. God had -given me the desire of my heart. If I did not now find ability to keep -the commandments of God, in the way that I proposed to myself, and upon -which I founded my hope of meriting and enjoying his favour, I could not -expect to find any situation more favourable. I called to mind all the -promises I had made, and reflected on all the deliverances God had -graciously given me, and the gratitude that was due to him for them. -Circumstances led me to attend Mr. Ewing's ministry at the Tabernacle; -but, although I attended divine ordinances, and read religious books, I -was not a whit the better. I had also considerable opportunity of being -alone; but where I thought I would be strongest, there I found I was -weakest; and, when removed from outward temptation, inward corruption -increased, and baffled my utmost efforts. The more I strove to keep my -own heart and life from sin, the more sin triumphed over me. I found, in -my experience, that I was a slave to sin; for what I set myself to -overcome, overcame me. At the same time, the spirituality of God's law -increasingly opened on my mind; I daily saw more of the extent of the -work I had assigned to myself to perform, in order to obtain the favour -of God; and found that my practice, in place of getting nearer, was -getting farther from it. When I looked back on the mercies I had -received, and the promises and resolutions I had made, I saw that I had -all along been mocking God, having never fulfilled any of them. This -broke my peace of mind; I became more subject to the terrors of the law -than I had ever been; my conscience accused me of the blackest -ingratitude; I had no refuge to fly to; my sins became too heavy for me; -the justice of God stared me in the face; and now I saw that I was a -condemned criminal. I gave over all hope of obtaining the favour of God -by my own doings; I resolved to mock him with no more promises of -amendment of life; I confessed that hell was what I deserved; that the -law which condemned me was just: and, when I did this, the importance of -being delivered from such a dreadful situation was increasingly -impressed upon my mind: but how to obtain that deliverance I could not -tell. I saw by the Scriptures, that "unless a man be born again, he can -not enter into the kingdom of God," and that no unholy being shall enter -heaven. I prayed earnestly for the new heart and the right spirit, but -did not correctly understand in what this change consisted. I passed a -considerable time subject to sharp conflicts in my mind, during which, -the stings of conscience and the terrors of the law were beyond -description: but all was kept within my own breast, without being -discerned by any one. My leg continued bad until the beginning of 1803, -when I confined myself to bed for some weeks, and had the pleasure once -more of seeing it heal. I felt thankful to God for this new mercy; but -it added fresh torment to my mind, for it furnished my conscience with -new matter of accusation. In perusing Boston's "Fourfold State," I was -startled at reading how the branches are taken out of the natural stock. -I saw my own case pretty fully described; but as I did not understand -what it was to be "apprehended of Christ," and united to the vine, it -only increased my uneasiness. I also heard a man in conversation in my -company declare, that, before a sinner can be brought to God, the same -power behooved to be exerted that converted the apostle Paul. I did not -assent to what he said, because I did not believe it; but I marked the -saying. I became increasingly uneasy; I had no peace in my mind; -eternity was before me; I was without hope, and knew not how to obtain -it. "_What_," said I, "_shall become of me_!" I was agitated almost to -despair; all that prevented me from falling into it was the -consideration that I was yet in life, and that God had not forbidden me -to cry for mercy: and for mercy I did cry, if peradventure I might find -it. - -My leg now threatened to break out again.--This alarmed me more, and it -prevented me from going, as I had done, to the Tabernacle. The forenoon -of the second Sabbath after Albion-street chapel was opened, I passed -solitary at home; but I was in a most painful state of mind, of which -the agitations can not be described. My convictions of sin were so sharp -as to drive me into a state, which, if it was not absolute despair, -could hardly be distinguished from it. I could not bear my own presence, -and became afraid to be alone. "_What shall become of me!_" was the -unremitting thought of my agitated soul. It at length drove me to my -knees; where, with tears, I confessed my sins to God without reserve or -palliation; fully acknowledged the righteousness and justice of his law; -disclaimed all merit of my own; confessed that I never had any, nor any -ability to obtain it; that I was totally unable to do any thing to -procure his favour, or to recompense him for it, should he bestow it; -and that if I was saved from endless wo, it would be, because he would -have mercy on me, out of his own sovereign pleasure, and not on account -of any merit of mine. I cast myself upon his pure mercy, and confessed -that if there was not pure mercy for sinners, I could have no -hope.--When I arose from my knees, it was near the time of the -afternoon's service. I felt quite uneasy at home. I thought I would -venture as far as to Albion street chapel, because it was at no great -distance, and because I had heard my father speaking favourably of you -as a preacher. I was the more disposed too to go there, because I knew -you were in connexion with Mr. Ewing, of whom I had formed a favourable -opinion. When I got to the chapel, I was all attention. When you prayed, -I endeavoured to pray also. But nothing particularly affected me, until -you gave out your text, 1 Cor. ii. 2. "For I determined not to know any -thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified."--I was struck -with the text, and became anxiously attentive, to see if I could catch -any thing from the discourse which was to follow, that could give ease -to my troubled mind. You had preached from it the preceding sabbath, and -having recapitulated what you had gone over, you proceeded to the -remainder of the subject; the tenor of which was, _the nature of the -work that Christ had accomplished in the room of sinners, for their -salvation._ As you proceeded, I thought I began to discern something I -had not seen before.--But when you proved from the Scriptures, that the -work which Christ had finished on mount Calvary, was of itself -sufficient to save sinners, and that God had accepted his work as -satisfactory to him; that, therefore, the work of Christ being perfect, -nothing could be added to it; that it was impious to attempt to add any -thing to it, and that sinners ought to rest satisfied with that which -God had declared was satisfactory to him, seeing he knew best what was -necessary to satisfy his justice, and to secure his own honour in -pardoning sinners; that no good works were required of the sinner by -God, as _the ground of his acceptance with him_, either in whole or in -part, but that it was the merit of the work of Christ alone, that -justified sinners in the sight of a holy God, and that all the praise of -their salvation belonged to Christ, and to the grace of God in him; and -that sinners should believe this doctrine as good news, and put their -trust in it for the salvation they needed.--You I think spoke also of -the effect which the faith of this doctrine had on all them that -believed it, in leading them to love God, and to keep his commandments. -I was greatly enlightened by the whole discourse; but my mind -particularly catched the words, that the work of Christ was of itself -perfect; that nothing could be taken from it, or added to it; and that -it was impious to attempt to add any thing to it.--This doctrine -appeared new to me. I thought I had never heard it before. I left the -chapel when the service was over, repeating to myself the words, "_The -work of Christ is perfect, sufficient of itself to save a sinner_;" and, -as I repeated it, I said, "This is good news if it be true." Another -thought now started into my mind:--"If it be true that nothing can be -added to it, and that it is impious to attempt it, how guilty have I -been!"--My whole train of repentances, promises, resolutions, and -attempted reformations, has not only been sinful in the sight of God, on -account of their failures, but have been impious acts of rebellion; not -on account of my endeavouring to forsake sin, and to cultivate holiness, -but on account of the motive that produced them, which was a desire to -work out a righteousness of my own, to the rejecting of the -righteousness of Christ; placing my works on a level with his, nay, -above his; seeking to merit God's favour by my own doings; and when -doubting of their complete sufficiency, having recourse to the merits of -Christ, merely to make up the deficiency of mine; and even this, not -from voluntary choice, but from a feeling of necessity. This was a new -source of guilt to my conscience, which had never burdened it before. I -began to apprehend I had been guilty of the sin of unbelief, so often -spoken of in the Scriptures, and so strongly condemned. But while my -conscience accused me of this, a gleam of hope dawned on my soul, by -ruminating on the sufficiency of the work of Christ; and the more I -pondered on the subject, my hope increased, and the more my hope -increased, the stronger my sense of the sin of unbelief grew. These two -things kept pace with one another: and while hope cheered my heart, this -new sense of guilt made me humble. I did not think less of the guilt of -my other sins; but this sin seemed to outweigh them all, so that I -became increasingly vile in my own sight. - -I read the Scriptures, with prayer to God for light and direction, that -I might truly judge the doctrine I had been hearing, and not be led -astray by that which was not his own truth. I compared scripture with -scripture; and I now found the very great benefit of being acquainted -with the letter of the Bible, and of having much of it on my memory. My -meditations were greatly assisted by what was stored in it; for when -employed at my work, I often recollected passages, and compared them -together. All the drift of my thoughts, was to find if there was -evidence of the sufficiency of the work of Christ, for a sinner's -salvation; and in many of these passages I found such evidence: they -appeared to me in a new light; and the sense was so obvious, that I -wondered how I had not seen it before. This new discernment gradually -increased; and, as my wound did not break out, I continued to attend Mr. -Ewing's ministry, and was growing in knowledge by means of his sermons. -One of them was particularly blessed to me. It was an evening sermon -from Matth. iii. 17. "And lo, a voice from heaven, which said, This is -my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The moment the text was -read, I catched the words, "_in whom I am well pleased_." I saw them, as -containing a proof of God's satisfaction in the work of his Son on the -behalf of sinners; I followed the preacher through the discourse, and -was at no loss to comprehend his meaning; the doctrine was plain and -evident to me. I had still, however, some perplexity in my mind, about -the nature of the good works to be performed after believing. But this -was removed by a sermon from Mr. Greig[34] from Heb. iii. 14. "For we -are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence -steadfast unto the end." My mind now became decided; I saw that if a -sinner had Christ, he had all. I was sweetly constrained to give myself -wholly up to him; to be content to be saved by his merits, to the entire -and eternal exclusion of my own; to place my hope of acceptance with -God, both now and hereafter, solely upon _his_ perfect righteousness, -and complete atonement; and to commit my polluted soul to the gracious -influence of his Spirit, that he might so apply the blood of Christ, as -to "purge it from dead works, to serve the living God." I now saw that -deliverance from sin itself, was a part of the salvation of Christ: and -I was led to trust in him for sanctification, as well as for -righteousness and redemption. I now understood clearly what had puzzled -me, when I read the book on Contentment, in Athlone. I was no longer at -a loss to understand what it was to be willing to do all things for -Christ, and to be willing to _deny_ all things for Christ. I saw that -Christ is his people's strength; that the power which enables them to -perform duty, to resist temptation, and to overcome their spiritual -enemies, is wholly derived from him; that therefore when they conquer -their enemies, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness, the glory of -the conquest belongs to him through whose strength they have been -performed. I therefore esteem it my high privilege as well as duty, to -"count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ -Jesus my Lord;" for whom I trust I have, in a measure, been made willing -to "suffer the loss of all things, and to count them but dung, that I -may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness -which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the -righteousness which is of God by faith." Phil. iii. 9, 10. - -My next concern was, about the question,--What is the proper form of -church government?--I had been made a little acquainted with the claims -of Episcopacy, and they perplexed me a good deal. Upon the general -question, my stock of information was small. This much I knew, that all -parties referred a good deal to the Acts of the Apostles, for proofs of -their respective opinions; and, as Mr. Ewing had commenced a course of -lectures upon that book, I hoped to obtain such information, as should -enable me to come to a determination in my own mind. I continued to hear -him with a good deal of interest, until he had gone through the -fifteenth chapter. I then embraced his opinions on that subject; and, -feeling the want of Christian fellowship, I determined to make present -conviction the rule of present duty; and seeing that it was the will of -Christ that his people should be united together in fellowship, I -resolved to apply to Mr. Ewing, for admission to the church under his -care. Being at a loss from my ignorance of the mode of application, and -entire want of acquaintance with any of the members of his church, I -wrote him a letter. This introduced me to a conversation, with which he -was satisfied, and my case was to be mentioned to the church at their -next meeting. I had no sooner returned home, however, than the words of -Jesus, John iv. 36. "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth -fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth -may rejoice together," occurred to my mind.--This led me to remember -you, my dear Sir, through whom I had received the knowledge of the -truth, and to consider whether there was not a propriety, if not a duty, -rather to apply to the church under your care, for admission, than to -Mr. Ewing's. I determined to consider this point, and wrote to Mr. -Ewing, requesting him to delay mentioning my case to his church, as -something had occurred to my mind, which it appeared to be my duty -previously to consider, but as soon as I should come to a determination -I should let him know. I then attended your preaching, to see whether it -would be as beneficial to me as Mr. Ewing's. You were then lecturing in -the forenoons through the 1st Epistle of John. As I was but a babe in -Christ, doctrinal subjects were what I stood most in need of. I found -myself edified by your discourses, and I felt an increasing attachment -to you as my spiritual father; and, as we were of one mind on matters of -church order, it appeared clearly to be my duty to seek for admission -into your church. Every tie of spiritual affection seemed to require it. -You had, through the blessing of the great Head of the church, sowed to -me the words of eternal life: I, through his blessing, had reaped them; -and, as there was no obstacle betwixt us, love said it was most proper, -that he that sowed and he that reaped should rejoice together; for where -should a convert to the truth seek to be, but under the care of the -instrument that converted him? There must be a peculiarity of affection, -betwixt a spiritual father and his children, beyond that of others -placed under his care and instruction. This peculiar affection had now -begun to operate in my mind; for at first I had been so much taken up -with the discovery of the truth itself, that I had paid little attention -to the instruments who preached it; but I now found leisure to give them -a place, in their various degrees, in my affections, without losing any -regard for the truth, or for its great Author and object, Jesus Christ, -the Chief Shepherd of the sheep. In order therefore to strengthen your -hands in the work of an under shepherd, as well as for my own benefit, I -drew up a summary narrative of my life and experience, and of the way in -which it had pleased the Lord to lead me to a knowledge of his precious -truth, and sent it to Mr. Ewing, with the reasons why I thought it my -duty to apply for admission to your church. These reasons Mr. Ewing -approved of; he gave you that narrative to introduce me to you; and I -was soon favoured with being admitted under your pastoral care. The -narrative is now greatly enlarged; but before bringing it to a close I -wish to make a few general remarks. - -I would begin with stating, that the belief of that doctrine which gave -peace to my troubled conscience, gave also a degree of stability to my -conduct, such as I had never before been able, with my utmost efforts, -to attain. Not but that I have still to lament, that sin dwells in me; -but, by the grace of God, it does not reign over me, as formerly; and -the less I think of myself, and the lower I estimate my own strength, -and the more I trust to the gracious promise of imparted strength, from -the compassionate and all powerful Redeemer, the stronger I am. Whilst I -rejoice in the possession of the new man, I have still to mourn the -existence of the old; I find in my experience increasing evidence of the -deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the heart, and see increasing -reason to be vile in my own eyes, and to pray continually "God be -merciful to me a sinner," but I trust in his grace, that he will "fulfil -in me all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with -power," and "preserve me by his power, through faith unto salvation," -enabling me to maintain the war of the spirit against the flesh, until I -get a complete and eternal victory. - -And here I must express my gratitude to God, for the benefit of -Christian fellowship, and of pastoral care and instructions. It is now -about sixteen years since I first heard you preach, and became a member -of the church under your ministry. We have had our trials, to exercise -our forbearance and patience; but we have also had our comforts. I still -love the brethren, and while I say, "Grace be to all them who love our -Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," I wish for no other fellowship; and -while I love all who preach Christ crucified, as the only ground of a -sinner's acceptance with a holy God, yet I desire no other teacher than -he who first turned my wandering feet into the way that leadeth to life. -Your instructions and warnings have, I trust, enabled me to keep in that -way with my face Zionward. May the Lord grant, that we may continue to -walk together, and be, in our respective stations, comforts to each -other on the road, until we arrive at the heavenly Jerusalem;--and there -may I be one of those, who shall be to you, "a crown of joy and -rejoicing in the presence of the Lord!" There may we rejoice together, -in the rich mercy of the great Redeemer, and give him all the praise, -for converting and preserving grace, both in the convert and in him who -was the instrument of his conversion; and may you have many more in whom -to rejoice, besides the subject of this narrative! I thank God for the -success with which he has been pleased to bless your labours. There are -not a few, who now sit under your ministry, who have received the -knowledge of the truth by means of your preaching; and others, I -believe, have joined the church above. May the Lord grant you increasing -success in turning sinners to God, and in edifying saints; may he bless -the labours of all his servants and people; and may his own word have -free course and be glorified, by the overturning of the kingdom of sin -and of Satan in the world; and may the "kingdoms of this world soon -become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." Amen. - - I remain, Dear Pastor, - Your Affectionate Son - In the Faith of the Gospel, - G. B. - - _GLASGOW, January, 1819._ - To the Rev. RALPH WARDLAW. - -Footnote 33: - - The short duration of the peace, however, prevented the fulfilment of - it. - -Footnote 34: - - Then assistant to Mr. Ewing; now minister of the congregation in Crown - Court, London. - - - - - POSTSCRIPT. - - -Having now finished my narrative, may I take the liberty of adding a few -reflections, with a view to direct the minds of those who may read it, -to the lessons I should wish them to learn from it. - -There are two things which are conspicuous in it; the first is, a -sinner's _weakness_; the second is, a sinner's _blindness_.--It shows -how long and how often I attempted to cleanse my own heart. I made the -effort under all the variety of circumstances I have mentioned, but all -in vain. I acted under all the motives I could collect from a sense of -the glory, goodness, justice, and general mercy of God, as displayed in -the works of creation and providence; and also from what I had learned -from the Bible of the requirements of the moral law, which was often -like a fire in my conscience; and from a fear of hell and eternal -judgment, and a desire of heaven and eternal life; and from a sense of -mercy to myself in being so often protected when in imminent danger, -delivered out of trouble, and brought back from the very jaws of death -in answer to my prayers for mercy:--yet all these put together were -insufficient to keep me from breaking the commandments of God, and being -guilty of what I condemned in my own conscience.--And thus it will be -with every sinner, that sets himself to perform the same task. I do not -refer to my experience, as an exclusive proof of this; but I refer to it -as an instance of the truth of God's word, which declares that sinners -are "_without strength._" Rom. v. 6. Let any sinner undertake the same -task, and I can assure him from the word of God, that he will come no -better speed. He may attempt it again and again; but every new attempt -will only show his weakness and blindness; and, as he proceeds, he will -find that he was not aware of the ten thousandth part of the extent and -difficulty of the task. If he persevere in it, he will find it -necessary, after endeavouring to reform his outward conduct, to look -_within_, and there he will discover work he was not at first aware of. -He will find it absolutely indispensable to watch over his _heart_ if he -means to reform external conduct: for it is the heart that first yields -to temptation. And, let his resolutions be ever so strong, and his -intentions ever so sincere, he will find that the slightest temptations -are sufficient to overcome him. Nor will he be in danger from outward -temptations only; for although he were in the retirement of a hermit, -and totally secluded from the world, he would find temptations to sin -rising spontaneously out of _that very heart_ which had formed the -resolution not to commit it; he would find himself led like a captive to -the commission of it, and that in the face of the clear light of duty, -and in spite of the strongest remonstrances of conscience; thus giving -him the most convincing evidence, if he had eyes to see it, that "the -heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;" (Jer. -xvii. 9.) that "he that committeth sin is the servant (or slave) of -sin;" (John viii. 34,) and that "he that trusteth in his own heart is a -fool." (Prov. xxviii. 26.) So long, however, as a sinner has any -confidence in his own strength, he will not renounce it, in order to -depend upon strength to be imparted from another. So long as he fancies -any merit in his own works, he will trust to them to procure his Maker's -favour. But in this he only shows his blindness. O that I could convince -any into whose hands this narrative may fall, to renounce, as entirely -hopeless, all such efforts; and also as entirely worthless, all such -attempted reformations; and to flee to the all-mighty and -all-meritorious Redeemer! You need his perfect righteousness to justify -you, and his blood to atone for your sins; you need the gracious -influences of his Spirit to purify your hearts, and to give you strength -to walk in the ways of God; for the motive to obedience that alone can -enable you to walk with steadfastness and consistency, arises out of the -belief of the love of Christ, in giving himself a ransom for the guilty. -The belief of this will inspire you with love to him in return; and -this, and this alone, will set your souls at liberty from the slavery of -sin. It is to those who believe the love that he manifested in freely -giving himself a sacrifice for them, that he imparts strength to resist -temptation; and he warns all his disciples, that "without him they can -do nothing." He has promised his grace as sufficient for them that trust -in him in the most trying situations, and to perfect his strength in -their weakness:--nor is this an empty promise; for he, to whom it was -more immediately addressed, declared, that "he could do all things -through Christ who strengthened him;" and the way in which he obtained -the power was, by being conscious of his own weakness, and trusting -entirely to the promised strength of the Saviour; "for," says he, "_when -I am weak then am I strong._" 2 Cor. xii. 7-10, with Phil. iv. 13--Go -you and do as he did; and you will find that Christ will be the same to -you that he was to him, for the Saviour is unchangeable; "the same -yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8. - -I have been minute in detailing the exercises of my mind, much more so -than some may think there is need for. I have been induced to this in -order to show how long and how strenuously a sinner may go on in that -course, although his efforts are constantly failing; and fail they must, -so long as his hopes terminate on himself, and so long as he refuses to -put his entire confidence in the Saviour. He may give over the task in -despair, and sink into carelessness and indifference; but if, whilst he -finds his hopes of himself fruitless, he is still convinced of the -importance and necessity of the salvation of his soul, and feels that he -is one ready to perish; then the news of a Saviour will be glad tidings -to him indeed; and with the death of his legal hopes a life of -evangelical obedience will commence. I have been induced to be minute, -from a desire to show to others the folly of continuing to labour in the -fire, as I did, for very vanity; and that they may see the necessity of -fleeing directly to the Saviour. If you are saved at all you _must_ do -this at the last; and why not to-day as well as to-morrow, or any future -period? Jesus says, "To-day if ye will hear my voice, harden not your -hearts:" he says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, -and I will give you rest." And why will ye not hear his voice, and -accept of his invitation to-day? If you reject him to-day, you may not -live till to-morrow. All the offers of the gospel are _present_ offers; -there is no promise respecting to-morrow. Jesus is as able to-day as -to-morrow. He offers himself to-day. His salvation is a present -salvation. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of -salvation." - -If any read this narrative who are putting off the concerns of their -immortal souls to a death-bed, and are deluding themselves with the -notion, that the distress of a sick-bed and the fear of death will break -the power of sin in their hearts, and that they will then repent and -believe; while you think this, you show that you do not know what -repentance and faith are; for, did you know what they are, you would -already have repented and believed. You can not know them until you are -in actual possession of them. Your conduct is, therefore, ignorant and -presumptuous. Faith and repentance are present duties; and if you will -not repent of your sins _now_, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for -salvation, what security have you that you will do so hereafter? you may -be brought to a sick-bed; and there the approach of death, and the fear -of hell, and remorse of conscience, arising out of convictions of sin, -may greatly alarm you; but this will not change your heart, nor save -your soul. Such a state of mind is neither repentance nor conversion. -How often was I in danger, and imagined I repented; and, when I was at -the point of death, I thought I had repented in truth. But my conduct -after I had recovered showed that I had deceived myself; and had I died -in the state I then was in, I must have perished. When you are laid on a -sick-bed, you may find that you have no hope of heaven if you die at -present; you may wish to recover, that you may change your conduct; you -may cry to God to spare you; but he may not hear you; and when you see -that death is actually approaching, you may be driven to despair, and -die without hope: or, in order to calm a troubled conscience, you may -persuade yourselves, that you have repented, and that, as you are not -allowed to live, God will accept of the sincerity of your repentance; -and you may thus "go down to the grave with a lie in your right hand." -But if you despise the offer of a Saviour now, and put off these things -to a death-bed, which many never see, but are called suddenly out of the -world, the probability is, that when you are actually laid upon it, -however old you may be, and however evident the approach of your latter -end may be to all who see you, you will not think you are going to die -_yet_, but will still indulge the hope of longer life;--until death lays -his cold hand on your heart, and closes your eyes for ever on a present -world. - -Should this narrative fall into the hands of any who are in the army, I -would earnestly entreat them to lay the contents of it seriously to -heart, and to beware of the delusive idea that it is not needful to be -religious in the army. Although you are soldiers, you are still surely -under the government of your Creator. Your being in the army will not -excuse the sins you commit in it. There is no article of war that -commands you to swear, or to get drunk, or to be guilty of uncleanness, -or any other sin. There is no order that prohibits you from repenting of -your sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of -your invaluable souls, and living a life of faith upon the Son of God; -so that you are without excuse. Your being in the army does not give you -a greater security of long life to be an excuse for delay. On the -contrary, _you_, above all men, ought to secure the salvation of your -immortal souls. And blessed be God, that salvation is offered as freely -to you as to others. Jesus, the King of kings, offers you his free and -unmerited favour, in the same way that he does to others; and makes you -as welcome. Your souls are as precious to him, as those of any of the -human race: so that you are without excuse. Beware of another -delusion;--that the army is a place in which it is impossible to live a -godly life. This is not true. However hard it is, yet it _is_ possible, -and has been done. If indeed you attempt to live a godly life in your -own strength, as I did, you will fail; but remember, so would you in any -situation in which you could be placed. But if you believe in the Lord -Jesus, and take him for "righteousness and _strength_," he will fulfil -to you his promise, that "as your day is, so shall your strength be." -Remember that the way that leadeth to eternal life is a narrow way to -all; and that the same grace which enables others to travel that narrow -way is sufficient to enable you to travel it also; and that the same -power which brings others safely through, is able to carry you also in -safety to the end of the journey. Remember that it is the power of God -and not of man that enables _any_ to persevere unto the end; and will -you say that it is not in the power of the Almighty to enable a soldier -to serve him in the army, and to lead a Christian life in it? The idea -is blasphemous; it is a delusion of Satan; and it is an unjust charge -upon the army, bad as it is, and one of the greatest obstacles, if not -the very greatest, to its moral improvement; for it goes to prevent the -very attempt at improvement, as utterly hopeless, and consequently to -leave the individuals who compose it to be confirmed in all their evil -habits. If any soldier read this, let me beseech him to lay seriously to -heart the immense value of his soul, and to believe in the grace and -power of a Redeemer, and, although there should not be one godly person -in his regiment, let him not be afraid to believe in Jesus, and to -regulate his conduct by his word. Do not be afraid of the mocking of -your comrades: it is indeed not easy to bear; but if you really trust in -Christ, he will enable you to live down their reproaches by a consistent -and steady course of life. _Their_ reproaches are not to be put in -comparison with _his_ smiles; and if the King of kings smiles upon you, -what need you care who frowns? It will become you rather to pity, than -to be offended at them. Seek, by constant prayer, for that prudence and -wisdom which will enable you so to act as to put to silence their -foolish scoffings; and, if you persevere, you will extort from them so -much commendation as will repay you for all the reproaches you have -borne, or may still be subject to. But let your faith be constant and -your practice persevering. Do not take up religion by fits and starts. -Those who do so show that they have not yet understood what it is. -Unless your repentance be that of the Bible, and your faith in Jesus -genuine, arising from a scriptural understanding of your own character -as a guilty and helpless sinner in the sight of God, and a scriptural -discernment of the rich grace and almighty power of Christ, you will not -be able to stand: for the army is not a place for hypocrites, -formalists, and self-righteous professors, to prosper in. The -professions of such will generally vanish like smoke. The genuine -believer in Jesus alone is able to abide the trial; and he stands, -because he is upheld by the power of God through faith unto salvation. -Therefore, let no soldier neglect his salvation, through fear that the -temptations of the army will be too much for him. Great as they are, if -he trusts in Christ, he shall be made "more than a conqueror through him -that loved him;" and the more he can get his comrades to attend to the -same things, the temptations will diminish. And the more the religion of -Jesus prevails in the army, and the greater the number of genuine -disciples are in it, the greater improvement will be made in its -character, efficiency, and comfort. - -I rejoice that the army is beginning to be more attended to of late, in -a religious point of view. I rejoice to see Bible Societies in operation -for the benefit of the army and navy; and wish them an increasing -measure of success. The attention of the religious world has not yet -been sufficiently drawn to the importance of the object. I hope that the -stimulus that has been put in motion will continue to increase, and that -a succession of prudent measures will be adopted for the promotion of -the fear of God in the army and navy. The same means that are effectual -for the attainment of this great object amongst the other classes of -mankind will be effectual here. And what a blessing would it be to the -army and navy, were the fear of God their prevailing character! How -would it promote subordination, peace, sobriety, and chastity, and, in -so doing, prevent the frequency and necessity of punishments and -rigorous regulations, and the prevalence of those diseases which break -the constitutions of such numbers, renders them non-effectives, and -sends so many of them to an early grave!--And how much benefit would -instantly accrue to society, in the reduction of the contamination of -profanity, intemperance, and lewdness! How many female characters would -be preserved, and the consequent grief of parents prevented! How much of -the evil of prostitution would it reduce, which is so dangerous to youth -in sea-port towns, and large cities! If my feeble voice could be heard, -I would add it to that of those who have already appeared as advocates -of this cause, in supplicating British Christians to prosecute this -object with prudent but vigorous perseverance. I rejoice to see a -floating chapel provided upon the Thames for the instruction of seamen. -This, I hope, will be followed by similar measures wherever they are -necessary. The wisdom that devised this, is competent to devise all that -is wanting for the prosecution of this great cause, throughout the army -and navy. And the same motives are sufficient to carry those embarked in -it forward with zeal until the fear of God finally triumph. And its -triumph in the army and navy will remove one of the obstacles to its -prevalence in the world. And who knows but that genuine piety may not -only prevail but even shine most conspicuously in the army and navy, and -that the _last_ may become _first_. - -G. B. - -THE END. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Archaic and colloquial spelling and punctuation was retained. - -Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. - -Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and are linked for -ease of reference. Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores -(_italics_). - -Footnotes have been moved to follow the chapters in which they are -referenced. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIER -IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/66990-0.zip b/old/66990-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 055c5e7..0000000 --- a/old/66990-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/66990-h.zip b/old/66990-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c3a2811..0000000 --- a/old/66990-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/66990-h/66990-h.htm b/old/66990-h/66990-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 4b30b58..0000000 --- a/old/66990-h/66990-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7876 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" /> - <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot, by George Billany</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - body { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 8%; } - h1 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em; } - h2 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em; } - p { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: justify; } - sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } - .sc { font-variant: small-caps; } - .large { font-size: large; } - .xlarge { font-size: x-large; } - .xxlarge { font-size: xx-large; } - abbr { border-bottom-width: thin; border-bottom-style: dotted; } - abbr.spell { speak: spell-out; } - .lg-container-b { text-align: center; } - @media handheld { .lg-container-b { clear: both; } } - .linegroup { display: inline-block; text-align: left; } - @media handheld { .linegroup { display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; } } - .linegroup .group { margin: 1em auto; } - .linegroup .line { text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; } - div.linegroup > :first-child { margin-top: 0; } - .linegroup .in2 { padding-left: 4.0em; } - div.footnote {margin-left: 2.5em; } - div.footnote > :first-child { margin-top: 1em; } - div.footnote .label { display: inline-block; width: 0em; text-indent: -2.5em; - text-align: right; } - div.pbb { page-break-before: always; } - hr.pb { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-bottom: 1em; } - @media handheld { hr.pb { display: none; } } - .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } - .figcenter { clear: both; max-width: 100%; margin: 2em auto; text-align: center; } - .figcenter img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } - .id001 { width:60%; } - @media handheld { .id001 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - .ig001 { width:100%; } - .nf-center { text-align: center; } - .nf-center-c1 { text-align: left; margin: 1em 0; } - .c000 { margin-top: 1em; } - .c001 { page-break-before: always; margin-top: 1em; } - .c002 { margin-top: 4em; } - .c003 { page-break-before:auto; margin-top: 4em; } - .c004 { margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c005 { margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c006 { text-decoration: none; } - .c007 { margin-left: 5.56%; margin-top: 1em; font-size: 95%; } - .c008 { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c009 { margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - div.tnotes { padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; - border:1px solid silver;margin:1em 5% 0 5%;text-align:justify; } - abbr {border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; } - </style> - </head> - <body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot, by George Billany</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: George Billany</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Commentator: Ralph Wardlaw</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 21, 2021 [eBook #66990]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIER IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT ***</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'><b>NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIER IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT.</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xxlarge'><b>WRITTEN BY GEORGE BILLANY.</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>DETAILING</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>MANY CIRCUMSTANCES RELATIVE TO THE INSURRECTION IN</b></span></div> - <div><span class='large'><b>IRELAND IN 1798; THE EXPEDITION TO HOLLAND IN</b></span></div> - <div><span class='large'><b>1799; AND THE EXPEDITION TO EGYPT IN 1801;</b></span></div> - <div><span class='large'><b>AND GIVING A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF</b></span></div> - <div><span class='large'><b>HIS RELIGIOUS HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE.</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>WITH A PREFACE</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>BY THE REV. RALPH WARDLAW, D. D.</b></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b><i>First American edition.</i></b></span></div> - <div class='c000'>PHILADELPHIA:</div> - <div class='c000'>PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNITED FOREIGN</div> - <div>MISSIONARY SOCIETY.</div> - <div class='c000'>1822.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>PREFACE.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>Long prefaces to Narratives have seldom, I believe, -the honour of being read through. If the -Narrative possess interest, a tedious recommendation -only detains the reader from his enjoyment; -and if it possess none, it aggravates his disappointment.—I -shall, therefore, be very brief.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The subject of the following Memoir has been -connected with the church under my pastoral care, -nearly since its formation, in the year 1803:—and, -from this, as well as from a circumstance in -his religious history, which the reader will discover -towards the close of the narrative, it may -perhaps be thought, that my recommendations are, -in some degree, dictated by feelings of partiality. -I hope I shall never be so dead to Christian sensibility, -as to feel nothing of the peculiar interest -which the circumstance alluded to, is fitted to produce. -Yet I may say with truth, that the very consciousness -of this interest has made me the more -jealous and scrupulous in giving the advice to -publish; an advice which I never should have -given, unless from a sincere conviction, that the -Narrative is fitted both to please and to profit; to -gratify curiosity, and, through the blessing of God, -to impart instruction and spiritual benefit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The remarks of a private in the ranks, when he -is a man of any shrewdness and observation, on -the incidents that come within his notice, in the -campaigns in which he is engaged, have in them a -particular interest.—Whilst we are pleased with -the degree of intelligence which they discover, we -at the same time feel a satisfying confidence, that -they contain 'a plain unvarnished tale;' unaffected -by any temptation, either 'in aught to extenuate,' -or 'to set down aught in malice.'</p> - -<p class='c005'>The <i>religious experience</i> of the writer, I consider -as especially instructive.—It sets before us, I -believe, in honest simplicity, the workings of a -sensible and thoughtful mind, and of a conscience, -which had never entirely lost its early impressions;—the -convictions, and distresses, and reasonings,—the -self-righteous and self confident resolutions, -and the necessary failures and inconsistencies, -of an awakened but unrenewed state;—the -natural reluctance of man to part with <i>self</i>, to plead -guilty, and to depend on grace; and yet the entire -inefficacy of every thing but this grace either to -impart satisfactory and steadfast peace to the conscience, -or to produce in the heart a principle of -vigorous and cheerful, consistent and persevering -obedience.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Of this grace, although, like every other good -thing, it has been too often perverted and abused -by the self-deceiver and the hypocrite, the native -tendency is, to "teach" all who receive it, to -"deny ungodliness, and worldly desires, and to -live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present -world,"—I feel the delicacy of saying any -thing in praise of one, whose living eye the commendation -is to meet, and who is still, like all -others, the subject of remaining corruption, and in -danger of injury from its evil propensities; yet, as -it is not <i>himself</i> I commend, but the <i>grace</i> that has -made him what he is, and to which he owns himself -an entire and humble debtor, I feel at liberty -to say, that the subject of the following Narrative, -since he was led to embrace the doctrine of the -cross, has been enabled,—amidst imperfections -and failures no doubt, of which he himself has -been much more sensible than others have been -observant,—to "walk in newness of life," and to -show, that "the gospel of the grace of God" has -been "the power of God unto salvation," when -every thing else had failed, and had led only to -despair.</p> - -<p class='c005'>With the exception of occasional corrections in -the use of words and in the structure of sentences, -unavoidable in revising for the press the manuscript -of one unaccustomed to composition, the <i>style</i> is -the writer's own; the work, throughout, having -been printed from his autograph, without transcription:—and -I pledge my word to the reader, -that a single additional <i>sentiment</i> has not been introduced.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I commend the little volume to the candour of -the reader, and to the blessing of God;—not without -a pleasing hope, that while it may benefit, in a -temporal view, the family of one, whose wound received -in the service of his country, confined him -again, even very recently, from his daily occupation, -for nearly four months; it may, at the same -time, produce higher and more valuable effects, in -the instruction, admonition, and salvation, of those -who peruse it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>RALPH WARDLAW.</p> - -<p class='c005'><i>GLASGOW, June <abbr title='fourteenth'>14th</abbr>, 1819.</i></p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>The very kind reception which the public have -given to the first edition, has encouraged the Author -to improve and enlarge the second. The -additions chiefly consist of a more detailed and -combined account of the Insurrection in Ireland, -and the Expeditions to Holland and Egypt. These -additions, he hopes, will make the reading of the -Narrative more pleasant, particularly to young persons. -He has divided it into chapters, and inserted -the number of the regiment he served in; but his -name can be of no consequence to the reader.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c003'>CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap1'>CHAPTER <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Cause and design of writing the Narrative. Author attends -the Sabbath School of Dr. Balfour in Glasgow, in -1790. Enlists into the <abbr title='ninety-second'>92d</abbr> foot, in 1796, and joins the -regiment in Gibraltar in 1797. Behaviour while there. -Returns to England in 1798.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap2'>CHAPTER <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Regiment lands at Dublin, in June, 1798. State of that city -during the insurrection. Conveyed in coaches to Arklow. -Surprises the insurgents on the White Heaps, <abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr> -July. Particulars of the pursuit and arrival at Gorey. -Instances of the ferocity of civil war. Kind behaviour of -the regiment to the inhabitants. Deserted state of Gorey, -where the Author is much in want of provisions. -Distressing state of the surrounding country. March to -Blessington, and join the brigade of Sir John Moore, and -encamp in the glen of Eimal. Orders against swearing. -State of the insurgents in the Wicklow Mountains. -March to oppose the French who had landed at Killala. -Lie in Athlone during the winter. The Author's religious -experience while there. March to Cork, and -embark for England, June, 1799.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap3'>CHAPTER <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Join the expedition under Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Abercrombie, and sail -for Holland, <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr> August. Land near the Helder on the -<abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr>. Action among the sand-hills, and capture of Helder. -Surrender of the Dutch fleet. Advance to the -long dyke; with a description of it, and the surrounding -country. Dutch method of churning butter. Action on -the long dyke, <abbr title='tenth'>10th</abbr> Sept. Repulse of the Duke of -York and the Russians on the <abbr title='nineteenth'>19th</abbr>. Action on the <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> -October, near Egmont. Lord Huntly wounded. Sir <abbr class='spell'>J.</abbr> -Moore wounded. Singular action of cavalry. Spectacle -of the dead, and severe loss of the regiment. Singular -death of a Highlander and Frenchman. March -to Alkmaar. Action of the <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr>. Author escorts prisoners -on the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr>. Army retreats to the long dyke on -the <abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr>. Armistice and convention for leaving Holland. -Author takes the ague. Regiment arrives in England, -and goes into Chelmsford Barracks. Religious experience -of the Author while there.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap4'>CHAPTER <abbr title='fourth'>IV.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Regiment embarks at Cowes on board the Diadem, 64, and -Inconstant frigate, <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr> May, 1800; and sails for the -coast of France. Anchors at the Isle of Houet, <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> June. -Singular occurrence on the <abbr title='fourth'>4th</abbr>. Intended attack on Belleisle. -Religious seamen on board the Terrible, 74. -Sails for the Mediterranean. Arrival at Minorca on the -<abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> July. Regiment leaves Minorca on board the Stately, -64. Intended attack upon Cadiz, 6th October.—Dangerous -storm in Tetuan bay. Touches at Minorca -and Malta. The fleet anchors in Marmorice Bay, preparatory -to landing in Egypt. Some account of that -bay and the surrounding country. Author's state of -mind during the passage. He is seized with an infectious -fever. His religious experience during his sickness, -and after his recovery. Sails for Egypt. Objection -against the truth of the Scriptures.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap5'>CHAPTER <abbr title='fifth'>V.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Account of the landing in Egypt, <abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr> March, 1801. Author -seized with night-blindness. Action of the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr>. -Scarcity of water. Account of the position of the army -and Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needles. Battle -of the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr>, at which the Author is wounded and sent on -board an hospital ship. Condition and behaviour of the -wounded. Author removed to an hospital at Aboukir. -Lord Hutchison goes with a part of the army to Cairo. -Author's wound gets worse. Troublesomeness of flies -and vermin. Sirocco, or hot wind, and rapid increase -of the plague. Account of several interesting cases. -Behaviour of the wounded in Aboukir hospital, and the -Author's religious experience.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap6'>CHAPTER <abbr title='six'>VI.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Author embarks for Rosetta. Dangerous passage of the -bar at the mouth of the Nile. Rosetta hospital. Author -dangerously ill. Death of his comrade, &c. Inundation -of the Nile. Skin bottles. Surrender of Alexandria. -Dress of the Sepoys and Egyptian peasants. -Manner of eating their meals. Mahomedan mosques. -Gun fired at mid-day in Cairo by the rays of the sun. -Explosion of a powder chest kills several of the 13th -foot. Remarks on the state of mind in which many died. -Produce and manner of cultivating the Delta. Immense -heaps of grain. Wretchedness of the peasantry. Extracts -from Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson and Dr. Clarke, on the diseases -and plagues of Egypt. The unavoidable evils of War. -Author leaves Rosetta, and sails for England.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#chap7'>CHAPTER <abbr title='seven'>VII.</abbr></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Arrival at Cork. Marches to Kilkenny. Proceeds to London -and admitted an out-pensioner of Chelsea. Arrives -in Glasgow. Retrospect of his military life. Distressing -state of mind. Obtains peace of conscience by -hearing the gospel in Albion-street Chapel, and joins -the church under the care of Dr. Wardlaw.</p> -<p class='c004'><a href='#postscript'>POSTSCRIPT.</a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Consists of an Address to readers in general, and to those -in the army in particular, of what the Author wishes -them to learn from the Narrative.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap1' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Dear Pastor</span>,</p> - -<p class='c005'>I shall now, according to the best of my -ability, attempt to gratify the wish you several -years since expressed, that I would arrange into one -connected narrative, the various particulars I then -communicated to you, of my previous life, and the -exercises of my mind; its various workings, and -conflicts, until the period when I was brought to -the knowledge of Jesus, as the only and all-sufficient -Saviour.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In drawing up this account of myself, my motive -is, to record the loving-kindness of the Lord -to me a sinner; and if you deem it proper to be -brought before the public in any shape, the only -object I would have in view, is the good of my fellow -sinners, particularly such as have been, or are, -in situations of life, similar to those I have been -in, or have experienced similar exercises of mind.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Into the minutia of my early life, I do not intend -to enter; and I would make this general remark -in the outset, that my chief object is, to give -a history of the workings of my mind, during the -past part of my life, rather than the particulars of -my life itself; but I shall narrate as much of these -particulars as is necessary to account for, and illustrate, -the history of my mind. I will also notice, -briefly, such other things as may serve to -entertain or inform the reader.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I was born in Glasgow, in the year 1779.—When -I was very young, the belief of the omniscience -of God, was frequently strongly impressed -upon my mind, and the thought of his all-seeing -eye, often checked my conscience and restrained -me during early life, from gratifying my own inclinations, -to the extent I otherwise would have -done. I pretty early learned to read; and as I -grew older I became increasingly fond of it, even -indeed to excess. I read whatever came in my -way; but the Psalms of David in metre, in use by -the church of Scotland, and the Bible, being the -first books in which I learned to read, and having -the benefit of godly instruction and example at -home, religious knowledge was that with which I -was most acquainted. When I was about eleven -years of age, I went to the Sabbath school, belonging -to the Outer High Church parish, Glasgow, -then taught by Mr. Begg, (now minister of New -Monkland parish,) and superintended by the parish -minister, the late <abbr title='reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Dr. Balfour. The chief -exercises of the school were, reading the Scriptures, -and repeating the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. -Dr. Balfour frequently visited the school, -after the afternoon's service was over, and staid -sometimes an hour, and sometimes even to the -conclusion at six o'clock. When the Catechism -was repeated, he interrogated us on the meaning of -the questions, and instructed us in their import. -He questioned us upon the sermons we had been -hearing, and gave us doctrines to prove from scripture, -by collecting all the passages, that we thought -contained these doctrines. The doctrines were -the fundamental articles of the Christian religion; -and as we read the passages, he would tell us -when they were in point, and when not. I was -an adept at repeating the Catechism; but as I had -no margin Bible to point out the references, I had -to range through the whole scriptures, and exercise -my judgment, which of course was sometimes -right, and sometimes wrong. When I was shown -that I had brought forward a passage that did not -apply, it made me think better next time; the passages -I found out I remembered where to find -again; and those that were brought forward by -others, I added to my own stock. This was an -exercise that did me more good, than all the other -exercises of the school: for, in after life, when I -had forgotten the Catechism, and the other things -I had committed to memory, I did not forget how -to find in the Bible, those passages I had formerly -known; and if I happened to be reading the Bible, -and came to any of those passages that had been -read in the school, it awakened in my mind the -remembrance of what had taken place there. I -would then recollect something of the impressions -that had been made at the time on my mind, and -endeavoured to remember what was said by the -minister on these occasions; but I shall notice this -again; in a future part of the narrative. There -were rewards sometimes given to any who repeated -chapters, psalms, or hymns. The most remarkable -instance of this kind that took place -while I was in the school, was a present by a gentleman, -of Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion -in the Soul, and Sermons to Young Persons,<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c006'><sup>[1]</sup></a> -to be given as a reward to the boy (it was a school -for boys only) who repeated best, from memory, -Dr. Watts' Divine Songs for Children. We received -copies of the hymns, and a time was fixed -for the trial. I was very eager to obtain the prize, -and even made it a matter of prayer. I wished -to have the book, because I had conceived to myself, -that it would teach me how to get to heaven. -When the day of trial came, the minister was not -present, but we were heard by one of the elders. -The greater part of the children were very young, -and most of them had learned only a few of the -hymns. There were only four that could go any -length in them, and only three that could go completely -through them; and their merit was so equal, -that it could not be said which was best. I was -one of those three; but as it could not be determined -who merited the book, it was deferred until -next Sabbath evening, when it was expected that -the minister would be present. He came, and we -repeated the hymns to him with such equal accuracy, -that he declared he could not give the prize -to one more than another; and to make us equal, -he procured other two copies of Doddridge's Rise -and Progress; but, as he could not find copies of -his Sermons to Young Persons, he bound in Boston's -Fourfold State in their place, and I was put -in possession of one of them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I continued in the school about two years.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In 1796, being about the age of seventeen, I -enlisted as a soldier in the <abbr title='hundredth'>100th</abbr> regiment of foot, -or Gordon Highlanders, commanded by the Marquis -of Huntly,<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c006'><sup>[2]</sup></a> then lying in the island of Corsica. -When that island was evacuated by the -British, the regiment came to Gibraltar, and I, -along with the rest of the recruits, left Scotland -and went to Chatham, where we joined other parties -of recruits belonging to regiments lying in Gibraltar, -for which place we embarked at Gravesend, -in <abbr title='November'>Nov.</abbr> 1796. But the convoy with which we -sailed, was forced, by stormy weather, to take -shelter in Falmouth for six weeks; after which -we proceeded to Lisbon, where we lay ten weeks, -because the Spanish fleet was at sea, and ours -inferior in number, was watching it. The battle -of Cape <abbr title='saint'>St.</abbr> Vincent, was fought while we lay there, -in which the Spanish fleet was defeated, and four -sail of the line taken, which were sent into Lisbon. -The British fleet soon followed, except a squadron -left to watch the Spanish fleet in Cadiz. As soon -as the fleet had repaired its damages, it set sail -for Cadiz, and we went along with it for protection. -We left them when we came off Cadiz, and -were escorted by some frigates, through the straits -to Gibraltar, where we landed in the beginning of -April, 1797, and joined the regiment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The general character of the army, for the profanation -of God's holy name, is well known: and -the temptations a young man has to encounter, -from the very general practice of this vice, are -very great. The religious instructions I had received, -and the knowledge I had of the Scriptures, -deterred me from acquiring a habit of swearing: -I frequently reproved my comrades for it; and -having done so, pride of heart also operated to prevent -me from swearing myself, lest my comrades -should, in ridicule, retort my reproofs upon me; -and this they did not fail to do, if at any time I -was guilty of an oath, or any thing approaching to -it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the time I had been a recruit, and the -time I was in Gibraltar, I neglected the reading of -the scriptures. In the regiment, I met with a variety -of characters; amongst others with Deists, -who attempted to shake my belief of the truth of -the scriptures. I was greatly disturbed and perplexed -in my mind by their arguments; but I was -not drawn into their opinions. Yet I still neglected -my Bible, and continued gradually losing the -knowledge of it I formerly had. There was an -argument, which had a powerful effect upon my -conscience, and with which I met all the pleas and -excuses for swearing;—I argued, that if there was -no God, it was an absurd thing to swear by the -name of a being who had no existence: and if -there were a God, he certainly would punish the -dishonour done to him, by the profanation of his -name.</p> - -<p class='c005'>There was a society of Methodists in Gibraltar, -chiefly composed of men belonging to the different -regiments in the garrison. They had a small place, -where they had stated meetings for prayer and exhortation; -there were a few of these Methodists in -our regiment. Shortly after I joined it, the commanding -officer gave out an order for none of the -regiment to attend any of their meetings. What -effect this order had in deterring any from attending -at the time it was issued, I know not: it had -not at least a permanent effect, for I know that several -did attend afterwards, and no notice was -taken of it. I went to this meeting place only -once all the time I was in Gibraltar, and I was -nearly a twelvemonth in the place. This shows -what a careless state of mind I was in; for I may -say it was the only religious exercise I was at, all -that time. There were indeed prayers read to the -garrison, every Sunday morning on the grand parade, -when the weather was dry; but the chaplain -was always at such a distance, that I never heard -a word he said. There was a chapel at the governor's -residence, where service was performed -through the day, but I never was in it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I began to fall into company which led me frequently -to get intoxicated; I did not indeed fall -into a habit, nor acquire an inclination for intoxicating -liquors for their own sake; but had the same -circumstances continued, I have great reason to -fear, that an appetite for them would have been -formed, and that I might have turned out a habitual -drunkard. Gibraltar has, indeed, peculiar -temptations to produce a habit of drunkenness. -The wine is cheap; the place is warm; and in -time of war with Spain, there is very little fresh -provisions, and what is fresh, is very indifferent. -There is a great deal of hard labour for the soldiers, -for part of which they get extra pay: by the -evening, many of them are fatigued, and actually -need a refreshment beyond their ordinary provisions; -but those who need the refreshment, are not -content to go and get what they require for themselves; -they often take one or two of their comrades -with them, and having once sat down in the -wine-house, they generally sit until either their -money is exhausted, or their time; (for the moment -the gun fires for the men to be in their barracks, -the wine-houses must be emptied and shut, -until after the new guards are marched away to -relieve the old ones next morning, that no soldier -may have it in his power to get drunk before guard -mounting.) Those who are treated one night, -treat in their turn those who treated them, when -they get pay for work.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Many of the barrack-rooms are uncomfortable -on account of their size, containing sixty or more -men. This greatly destroys social comfort: for -one or two individuals can molest all the rest; so -that select retired conversation can not be enjoyed. -Any thing of that kind is always ready to be interrupted -by the vicious and ignorant, who do not -fail to scoff and gibe at what they do not understand -or relish themselves. Among so many men -too, there will always be found some who take a -malicious pleasure in making their neighbours unhappy. -This renders the barrack-room quite uncomfortable -during the evening; which, as the -greater part are employed at work, or otherwise -occupied during the day, is the principal time -when they can be together. This, along with -other things, induces those who have a little money, -to spend the evening in the wine-house with -their more select companions. Different sorts of -vermin are very plenty in the barracks; and it is -a common excuse for drinking, that they can not -get a sound sleep, unless they be half drunk. It -was customary at that time to settle the men's accounts -once in two months; and, as very little pay -was given to the soldiers over their rations during -the intervals, the greater part had a considerable -sum to receive: and then drinking was so very -common, that to prevent a multiplicity of punishments, -it was found necessary to have no parade, -excepting those for guard, in order that the money -might be the sooner done; and the different regiments -in the garrison, had to take different days to -settle their men's accounts, that the garrison might -not be involved in one general state of intoxication -at the same time. But I hear that matters are -differently managed now; the men are oftener settled -with, and get a larger proportion of their pay -weekly, which prevents them from having so much -money to receive at once. The most comfortable -time I had, was when I was upon guard. There -are many very retired guard stations; some of them -in elevated situations, on the very summit of the -rock, 1300 feet above the level of the sea, from -which the view is truly grand, and where a fine -opportunity is afforded for meditation. I sometimes -took my Bible to guard with me, but I never -made much use of it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We left Gibraltar, and embarked for England -in the beginning of March, and landed at Portsmouth, -<abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> May, 1798, and went into Hilsea -barracks. During the voyage I read something -more in my Bible, but much more still in any -other book I could find; sometimes it was a novel, -sometimes a history or play: sometimes it was a -book of a religious cast; but this was rare: I read -any thing I could get, to the neglect of the Bible.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span>I have learned since the publication of the first edition, -that these Books were the gift of Mr. Auchincloss, a gentleman -who took a very lively interest in the Sabbath -schools. He was constantly employed in visiting them, and -in giving rewards of various kinds to those who behaved -well, and repeated, from memory, psalms or chapters.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>The number of the regiment was afterwards changed -to the <abbr title='ninety-second'>92d</abbr>, which is the number of it at present.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap2' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>We embarked in the beginning of June for Ireland, -on board of the Europa of 60, and the Van -Tromp of 54 guns. We had a narrow escape -from running ashore amongst the rocks, in a fog, -upon the Irish coast: the fog, however, cleared -away just in time for us to see our danger. A new -scene began to open to us: Ireland was in a state -of insurrection; and we were but ill informed of the -nature and extent of it. We were told by a pilot, -that we got upon the coast to conduct us into Dublin, -that the insurgents had taken Wexford. The -prospect of being engaged in a civil war, made me -thoughtful, and agitated me not a little. On the -<abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> June we anchored in Dublin bay, and landed -at the Pigeon-house in the evening. We were -here met by Lord Huntly, our Colonel, who had -been made a Brigadier General on the Irish staff. -We remained on the mole near the Pigeon-house, -which is about three miles from Dublin, until day-break -next morning, and then marched into the -city with drums beating and colours flying, announcing -to the sleeping inhabitants, at the early -hour of three o'clock, the arrival of fresh troops -for the support of the government.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As we now entered into a scene of civil war, I -will take the liberty of stating a few of the particulars -of the Irish insurrection.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The city of Dublin was under strict police: -patrols of cavalry paraded the streets during the -day to prevent crowds from assembling. Numerous -and strong guards were posted through the city -and suburbs, and upon all the roads leading to the -country. These guards were reinforced at night -with additional garrison troops, and large parties -of volunteer yeomanry, both horse and foot. Many -citizens of the first respectability, and not a few of -the nobility, were in the ranks of the yeomanry; -and it was not an uncommon thing for a poor -Highlander to have a wealthy citizen, or noble -lord, posted along with him on sentry. All the -inhabitants were ordered to be in their own houses -by a set time at night. Strong patrols then scoured -the streets and made prisoners of all they found -upon them, and entered every house where they -heard any disturbance. Every house had a written -list of the inmates upon the door, and was -liable to be visited during the night; and if any -one was amissing, the owner might be taken up; -or if any were in the house whose names were not -on the door, or if any one was found in his neighbour's -house, he was taken up and fined before -being set at liberty. Every precaution was used, -to prevent plots from being formed, and all means -was used to find them out. In such a state of society, -opportunity is afforded to private malice and -ill-will, to injure the objects of their enmity. -When I was upon the Grand Barrack guard, two -respectable old citizens were brought in prisoners. -They were men who were unfit, and very unlikely -to have any active hand in conspiracy against -the state. They were confined in the guard-room -all that day and night; whether they were liberated -next day after I was relieved, or removed to -some other place, I know not. While they were -in the guard-room, they were exposed to the interrogatories -of the ignorant and unthinking, who -took every such prisoner to be an insurgent. They -were protected, however, by the interposition of -the more intelligent and humane. I had a little -conversation with them, and they told me it was -their belief, that it was an apprentice of theirs with -whom they had a difference on account of bad behaviour, -who had, out of revenge, given false accusation -against them; such as, that they were -holding correspondence with the insurgents in the -country, &c. They told me that such cases were -frequent. Every person accused was taken up, -and kept until the case should be examined: and -as this, from the great number daily apprehended, -could not be instantly done, individuals often suffered -seriously, before they obtained their release.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The conduct of persons, whose political sentiments -or behaviour, were in any measure suspicious, -was closely watched. And when they were -found transgressing any of the police rules, their -cases were strictly examined. I saw an instance -of this, in the case of a respectable gentleman, -who was confined in the same guard-room upon -another day. He had been found out of his own -house after the appointed time at night. He pled -that he was only a short time in a neighbour's -house: and that the person in whose house he was, -was himself a very loyal man, and a yeoman. He -said he had always been a very loyal man himself. -He acknowledged, that at a certain public meeting, -(which had taken place some time previous to -this) where a certain political question had been -discussed, he had spoken warmly, <i>too warmly</i>; -but that that was the only thing in the course of -his life, that could have any tendency to create -any suspicion of his loyalty. He remained in the -common guard-room during the day, and was removed -to another place at night. He was liberated -next morning when I saw him, and he told me, -that nothing farther than his being out of his own -house at night was brought against him; and that -he had gotten his liberty on condition of paying ten -pounds to the fund for the relief of the widows and -children of soldiers who had fallen in the insurrection. -He said that he happened to have as much -money upon him, and that he paid it cheerfully; for -those that were to get it well deserved it. I mention -these cases as certain evils arising out of a state -of civil war.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the time we lay in Dublin, the insurrection -was raging in various parts of the country, and -much blood was shedding. Dublin itself was kept in -a state of tranquillity, by the vigilance of the police, -and the power of the military. Our stay in it was -short. On the 1st of July, the volunteer cavalry were -employed in going through the city, pressing all -the coaches, gigs, and other vehicles, and collecting -them in one of the squares. At six o'clock at -night we paraded, and went into them, and set off -for Arklow. We travelled all night. We were all -accommodated at the outset, but fell into considerable -confusion on the way, by some of the coachmen -getting drunk, and striving to get past one -another; which caused several of the carriages to -break down, and others, by running into ditches, -to upset. It was conjectured that some of the -coachmen did this wilfully, from aversion to the -service they were upon. Numbers had thus to -walk in the rain, which was heavy; and several -had their muskets damaged, by the breaking down -or upsetting of the carriages. One man had his -firelock completely bent; and when he was asked -by the people of the villages through which we -passed, what kind of a gun <i>that</i> was, he told them -it was one of a new construction, for the purpose of -shooting round corners.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As we advanced into the country, we began to -see the effects of the insurrection. Burnt houses began -to make their appearance in the villages, and -their number increased as we proceeded. The -coaches carried us to about three miles from Arklow, -and then returned to Dublin. We entered -Arklow in the evening. The place had been attacked -by a large body of insurgents a few days -before, who had been repulsed with great slaughter. -They had some pieces of artillery, with which -they had dismounted one of the guns of the military, -and damaged some of the houses. They had -also burnt that part of the town that lay next the -sea-side, which was composed of low thatched -houses, and was inhabited by fishermen. It was -a very pitiable sight to see this scene of destruction; -and those of my comrades who went to the -ground where the insurgents had stood during the -action, said it was disgusting. Numbers of dead -bodies were still unburied; some of them lying in -ditches, and the swine feeding on them. There -was a number of prisoners in the place, who had -been taken, whom they were trying by court-martial, -and hanging; but I was not an eye-witness to -any executions in this place. A part of the regiment -was stationed in the church, which was not -a large one. This was a new kind of quarters, but -every part was occupied, pulpit and all; and the -grave stones were the place where we cleaned our -arms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The insurgents were still in a body upon one of -the hills in the vicinity, and kept the place in -alarm; and we had frequently to stand to our arms -during the night. On the fourth of July, we paraded -in the street at 12 o'clock at night, in great -haste. The right wing of the regiment got three -days bread served out, when we marched away in -a great hurry, without giving the left wing any. I -was in the left wing, and had only a few crumbs -left of that day's rations. We marched very -quickly through by-roads; and when day began to -break, we made a short pause, and loaded our -muskets,—the first time I had done so in the expectation -of fighting. There was a high hill before -us, (called White Heaps) whose top was covered -with mist, and that side which was next to us was -very steep. The insurgents were said to be on the -top of it. Their number, we afterwards learned, -was 5000; of whom 1500 had firelocks, the rest -pikes. There were about six troops of cavalry -along with us: but our whole number did not -amount to 1200, without artillery. We ascended -the hill with difficulty, without being perceived -by those on the top, the mist concealing us from -each other. When we had nearly reached the -summit, and had entered into the mist that covered -it, our front was challenged by the insurgent -sentinels, who demanded the countersign, to which -the Lieutenant Colonel replied, "You shall have -it in a minute." We moved a little further and -formed our line. The fog cleared up a little for a -minute, when we found that our left was near the -enemy, who were collecting themselves into three -bodies. The ground betwixt us and them was a -wet bog; and the commander of the cavalry told -our commanding officer, that if he advanced, the -cavalry would not be able to act in such marshy -ground as that before us. The fog again covered -us, so that we could not see them, and a gust of -wind, with a shower of rain, induced us to stand -still. The insurgents then gave a loud cheer, and -then a second, and they began a third; but it died -away, and was not so full or loud as the others. -We expected to be instantly attacked, as this was -their signal of attack. They, however, had imagined -that we were much stronger than what we -were; and being terrified by the suddenness of our -appearance, in place of coming forward to attack, -they fled in great haste down the opposite side of -the hill. We stood in uncertainty for some time, -as we could see nothing; then hearing the fire of -two guns, we moved in that direction, and got out of -the fog, and descended the hill on the side opposite -to that which we had ascended. We then learned -that the insurgents had gone down the hill; and, -having fallen in with another division of the army, -had come upon them before they could get fully -formed, and had come close to the guns, when they -were fired upon and repulsed. It had been arranged, -that different bodies of troops should have -mounted the hill on opposite sides at the same -time; but we had been sooner than the others, -which disarranged the plan. The insurgents continued -to fly, the cavalry went forward in pursuit, -and we followed with all possible haste. When -we reached the foot of the hill, I saw four of the -insurgents lying dead. We continued to march -with great haste, and frequently changed our route. -We heard firing at no great distance; but the parties -were always gone before we came up. The -road was strewed with old clothes, oatmeal, oat -bread, and dough, thrown away by the insurgents -in their flight. The dragoons killed a great number -of them in the fields. The insurgents, in their -flight, fell in with some baggage belonging to some -of the other divisions; attacked the guard, and -killed and wounded several, before the rest of the -army could come to their assistance; the insurgents -were then totally dispersed, and a great -many killed and wounded; but our regiment never -could arrive in time to take share in any of the -actions. Several women were among the dead, -who were shot in the ranks of the insurgents. We -had a most fatiguing march, of upwards of thirty -Irish miles. In the evening we arrived at the -town of Gorey, as did also two other divisions of -the army.</p> - -<p class='c005'>One thing I would particularly notice here, is -the <i>ferocity</i> of civil war; it has barbarities not now -practised in the national wars of Europe. In one -spot, where seven had fled to a house, in which -they were killed, their bodies had been brought out -to the road side, where they lay, shamefully uncovered, -and some of them mangled in a manner -too indelicate to mention. At another place, I saw -an insurgent, who had been taken and dragged by -the hair of his head, which was long, for some -distance along the road, and then shot through -the heart. It was said, he was unwilling to inform -upon the rest of the insurgents. Numerous -and shocking barbarities were committed on both -sides, sometimes originating in animosity, sometimes -in wanton cruelty, and at other times in retaliation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I was witness to a scene of the latter kind a -few days after, in the town of Gorey. A man -was brought to the back of the camp, to be hanged -upon a tree on the road side, by a party of an -English fencible regiment. The man was scarcely -suspended, when the officer of the party fired the -contents of two pistols into the body, and then -drew his sword and ran it into it. I then turned -from the sight with disgust; but those of my comrades -who stayed, told me that the body was lowered -down from the tree upon the road; that the -soldiers of the party perforated it with their bayonets, -cut off the head, cut it in pieces, and threw -them about, tossing them in the air, calling out, -"Who will have this?" They then dug a hole on -the opposite side of the road, and buried the body -and the mangled pieces of the head, in the presence -of a few of the unhappy man's friends. I -was informed that he had been a judge in the insurgent -army for trying their prisoners: that a brother -of the officer of the party had been taken -prisoner by the insurgents, and had been sentenced -by this man to be piked to death: and that this -was the reason why he had been so used.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Piking to death was what the insurgents practised -upon those of the king's troops that fell into -their hands, particularly if they remained firm in -their allegiance. The common method was for -"two to stand behind, and two before the victim, -and thrust their pikes into his body at once, and -raise it from the ground, holding it suspended, -writhing with pain, while any signs of life appeared. -At other times, two men, with pikes, would -come before the victim, and begin to stab him in -the feet, and then the legs, and thighs, and belly, -until they reached the heart. At other times they -literally perforated the body all over, with pike -wounds." Such barbarities could not fail to produce -desire of revenge. But, as our regiment had -not been in the country during the out-breaking of -the insurrection, we had received no injury to provoke -our resentment. And as we had not been -employed in the execution of any of the rigorous -measures resorted to by the government to prevent -the insurrection, no one had any ill will against -us. We were called into the service of suppressing -this unhappy and calamitous insurrection, after it -had begun to decline, and we were rather witnesses -of its ruinous and distressing effects, than -active hands in suppressing it by force. For it so -happened, that although we several times pursued -considerable bodies of the insurgents through the -mountains, and were at times pretty close upon -them, yet no one of us fired a musket, with the -exception of one or two, who did it without orders, -on the morning of the 5th July, on the White -Heaps: neither was a musket fired at us; and the -only loss the regiment sustained during this service, -occurred one morning when we were pursuing -a body of insurgents among the mountains. -One of our men having fallen behind through -weakness, was met by two or three insurgents in -women's clothes, carrying pails of milk on their -heads, as if returning from milking. They offered -him drink; and, while he was drinking, one of -them seized his musket, and after threatening to -kill him, they allowed him to proceed to the regiment, -with the loss of his musket and ammunition.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The sight of so many houses and villages, and -parts of towns, burned and destroyed, and the -great number of women and children, who were -in a destitute state, because their husbands and -fathers were either gone with the insurgents, or -were fled for safety, touched most powerfully the -sensibilities of our hearts, and diffused a feeling -of generous sympathy through the regiment. It so -happened at that time, that we had newly received -a more than ordinary balance of arrears of pay, so -that every man was in possession of money, less -or more; and although we were very fond of milk, -because we had been long living upon salt provisions, -before our arrival in Ireland, yet there were -none who would accept of a draught of milk for -nothing, but would pay its price. And if the people -of the house would not take payment, they -would give the value of what milk they received -to the children.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As this conduct in soldiers is more rare than -even conspicuous courage in the field, the truth of -what is here asserted, may be the more ready to -be questioned. I shall, therefore, take the liberty -of inserting a quotation from Gordon's History of -the Irish Rebellion. The author of that work is a -clergyman, whose residence appears to have been -in the vicinity of Gorey, and who had a personal -knowledge of what took place there at that time. -That author complains of the losses sustained by -the inhabitants from the insurgents and the soldiery: -he says, "on the arrival of the Marquis of -Huntly, however, with his regiment of Scottish -Highlanders, in Gorey, the scene was totally altered. -To the immortal honour of this regiment, its -behaviour was such, as, if it were universal among -soldiers, would render a military government -amiable. To the astonishment of the (until then -miserably harassed) peasantry, not the smallest -trifle, even a drink of butter milk, would any of -these Highlanders accept, without the payment of -at least the full value."—Gordon's History of the -Irish Rebellion, <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> edit <abbr title='London'>Lond.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 240.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When we entered the town of Gorey, it was, in -great part, deserted by the inhabitants. Nothing -was to be procured for money. After the very -fatiguing march we had on the day we entered it, -we received one biscuit and one glass of whiskey. -On the next day we marched to a considerable distance, -in quest of the insurgents, and returned -back; we got a draught of milk, and one day's -allowance of boiled beef, which had arrived from -Arklow; but no bread.—The day was very warm, -and I was considerably exhausted. That day -passed over, and the next day, until the evening, -without any word of any more provisions. The -dread of having to pass another night in our present -hungry state, determined other two and myself, -to go in quest of something that we could eat. -We saw some who had purchased some old potatoes -at the mill of the place. We made all haste -to the mill; but the potatoes were all sold. We -felt disappointed; but, observing that the mill was -at work, we entered it to see what was grinding. -We found a man attending the mill, who said he -was not the miller, but had just set the mill to -work to grind some barley. There were but a few -handfuls ground; and we resolved, rather than -want, that we would wait until some greater quantity -was done, when we would endeavour to get it -cleaned, so as to be capable of being turned into -food. After stopping a few seconds in the mill, I -began to look about, when I perceived a number -of sacks that were, less or more, filled with something: -I said to my comrades, "Perhaps there may -be something in some of these sacks that will -serve us: we had better examine them and see." -We were indeed loath to touch any thing; but we -were in absolute want of food, and were willing to -pay for it. Observing a sack about half full, standing -beneath another that was full, and was bent -over it, we thought we would see what was in the -broken sack first. We instantly removed the full -sack, and, to our great joy, we found the other was -about half full of excellent oatmeal, ready for use. -The miller's wife came in, in great agitation, and -said, that she durst not sell it, for it belonged to a -gentleman in the neighbourhood, who was a Captain -of the Yeomen. I replied, that we were in -absolute need, and must have it; but that we would -pay a fair market price for it, which she could -give to the gentleman who owned the meal; that -he would likely be able to procure a supply to -himself elsewhere; that he perhaps was not in the -immediate want of it, but that we were, and did -not know any where else to find it; and that she -might state this to the owner, and that would remove -all blame from her. She assented to the -justice of this; and said, that one shilling and six-pence -was a fair price for the stone weight. The -weights were quickly erected; we weighed a stone, -paid the price, and set out to get it cooked, leaving -a number more of our comrades, who had come -to the mill, to be supplied in the same way as we -had been. While passing along the street, looking -for an inhabited house, where we might get our -meal cooked, we met other three of our comrades, -who had gone to the country in quest of provisions, -but could get nothing but milk, of which they had -their canteens full. We agreed that we would -give them a share of our meal for a share of their -milk. We then went into a house, in which was -a woman with one child. She said her husband -was a blacksmith, and that the insurgents had -forced him to go with them, to forge their pikes.<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c006'><sup>[3]</sup></a> -We told her that we wanted her to make us some -porridge, and that she should get a share of it -for her trouble. She instantly cleaned her pot, -(which was but a small one,) and got it on the -fire. We procured some wood for fuel; and, the -first pot full being soon made, and poured into a dish -to cool, we desired her to make haste and get the -second ready, for we were very hungry, and what -was in the dish would do little to fill us: we then -sat down, all six, to satisfy our hunger. What was -in the dish would have been a very scanty meal -for three; yet, after we had eagerly swallowed a -few spoonfuls, we began to slacken our speed, and -(although the milk and porridge were exceedingly -good) to swallow them slowly, and with difficulty; -and we were all reluctantly compelled to -leave off before our little mess was nearly finished, -and the poor woman got the remains, and the -second pot full for her trouble. We told her, that -we would call back next day after parade, to get -another meal. On returning to our quarters, we -found that our provisions had arrived in our absence; -but as we could not know that they were -to arrive that night, we felt satisfied with what we -had done. We did call back at our cook's next -day; and, after taking a little more porridge, desired -her to make use of the rest of that meal as -she needed it, for that we had now got plenty of -other provision, and were not likely to require it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The town and adjacent country were in a most -distressing state. Numbers of the cattle were -going through the corn-fields, and destroying -more than they were eating. The milk-cows -were lowing most piteously for want of being -milked. And as the town had been more than -once in the hands of the insurgents, the alternate -movements of the army and the insurgents created -always fresh alarm to the peaceable and helpless, -who were liable to suffer by every change. The -insurgents harassed those who did not join with -them; and when the insurgents had to fly, the -soldiers harassed those whom they found at home, -on pretence that they were friends or favourers of -the insurgents: so that it was next to impossible, -for even those who were unable to take any part -on either side, to escape being involved in the distresses -attendant on the quarrel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The following circumstance will in part show -this. Three of our men went from Gorey, to the -country, in quest of provisions; (I think it was the -same three that gave us milk formerly.) They -went to a farm house, into which they entered, -but could find no one within. They went through -all the apartments, but could discover no one. -They saw that the fire was unextinguished; the -milk, and every thing about the house, showed -that the inhabitants could not be far away. When -they had waited a good while, in the hope that -some of them might make their appearance, a -young child came into the house. This convinced -them that the mother could not be far off. They -spoke kindly to the child, and gave it a penny. It -then left them, and in a short time reappeared -with its mother and the rest of the women and -children belonging to the house. The soldiers told -them that they wanted to buy some milk; to which -they replied, that they might take whatever they -wanted, and welcome. The soldiers said, they did -not want any thing for nothing, but would pay for -what they got; but the women insisted that they -should take freely what they wanted, and said, -that was not the way they had been used by the -soldiers that had visited them before, for they took -what they wanted without asking their liberty, -and sometimes ill used themselves; adding, "We -saw you coming, and we were afraid, and went -and hid ourselves; but when the child came into -our hiding-place, and showed us a penny it had -got from you, this encouraged us to make our appearance; -and God bless you, take what you want -freely." The soldiers got their canteens filled -with milk, but the inhabitants had no other provisions -that they could spare. They then left them, -(after giving the children as many pence as they -thought the milk was worth,) highly pleased with -their visit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We stayed in the town of Gorey a fortnight, -during which time public confidence was greatly -restored. The bulk of the inhabitants had returned, -and the grocers' shops began to be replenished. -There was no whiskey, or drink of any kind, to -be had when we entered it; but whiskey was distilled -and sold some days previous to our departure, -which consumed the soldiers' money much -faster than the buying of milk did, although the -milk was by far the preferable article, had they -been so wise as to have contented themselves with -it. We left Gorey, and had two days march to -Blessington, twelve miles from Dublin. Our route -led us through a part of the country that had suffered -severely. Almost every change of landscape -presented to our view the roofless walls of cabins -and of gentlemen's country seats, many of which -were spacious and elegant. The populous village -of Carnew, where we halted for a night, had been -almost totally burnt. The inhabitants had sheltered -themselves within the walls of their cabins -the best way they could; but, in wet weather, their -condition was pitiful. A great part of the town of -Blessington had also been destroyed. We pitched -our tents in the rear of the Marquis of Downshire's -fine house, which had also been burnt. A large -body of military was encamped in the pleasure -grounds, and great openings were made in the -walls and hedges to admit of a ready communication -between the different parts of the camp, and -every thing was in a ruinous state. We were here -put under the orders of Sir John Moore, then a -Major General, and in a few days he marched -with our regiment, and the Hompesch dragoons, -and two pieces of artillery, and encamped in the -glen of Eimal, among the mountains of Wicklow; -where several detached bodies of insurgents were -still in arms. When we entered the glen, which -was a fruitful valley of considerable extent, the -inhabitants kept their houses, because some of the -military, who had been there before us, had spread -a report that we were uncommonly ferocious. But -this impression was of short duration; we were -soon great favourites with them, and our camp -became a place of public resort, particularly upon -Sundays. The young men and women were entertained -with whiskey, music, and dancing; to -which exercise they were encouraged by the attendance -and approbation of a neighbouring Catholic -priest, who excited the young women to dance -with the military, even with very profane language. -This drew forth the remarks of the soldiers; -and even the most openly profane among -them condemned their own sins when committed -by a priest.—A circumstance of a different kind -took place here, which was remarked as uncommon -among us. Two of the soldiers quarrelled, -and had a long vociferous wrangle, consisting -chiefly in profane oaths and curses. They were -not far from the Major's tent; (the Major was a -Catholic;) he was so disgusted at the horrid profanity -of their language, that he ordered them extra -drill, as a punishment, and complained to Lord -Huntly, who gave out an order prohibiting the -practice, and threatening to put the Articles of -War in force, and to fine every man in a shilling -for every oath. This was a temporary check to -the very public commission of it, but it was only -of short duration; for the practice was too general -among all ranks, and the order was soon as if it -had never been.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While we lay in this camp, Sir John Moore -marched twice with us into the interior of the -mountains, where the insurgents still kept in small -bodies. They made a show of resistance, but fled -when we got near them. We pursued them slowly; -Sir John did not allow any to fire at them, though -it might, at times, have been done. It appeared -to be his intention to intimidate them from remaining -in arms, and by showing them forbearance, to -induce them to return to their allegiance. This -wise conduct of the general, along with the conciliatory -behaviour of the soldiers, had a happy -effect. For, during the time that we were encamped -here, the greater part of them came in and -delivered up their arms. The whole would have -submitted in the course of a day or two, if the -French had not landed at Killala. It was said, -that the only remaining leaders were in the camp, -and had left it to fetch in their followers the next -day; but that the report of the French having -landed<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c006'><sup>[4]</sup></a> reaching them in the evening, revived -their hopes of a revolution: and, our marching -suddenly away next morning to oppose the French, -confirmed them in the belief that they were in -great force. In consequence of this, they remained -in arms during the autumn and winter, committing -petty depredations, and skulking among -the mountains. It was lamentable to see the ignorance -of the people who had been in arms. They -were indeed no judges of political questions. Petty -local animosity, and an aversion to Protestants, -was all that operated with the great body of them; -and beyond these, they could not be made to look -by those who saw farther.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Their bigotry to the Romish religion was so -strong, that although their oaths, as united Irishmen, -bound them to "persevere in endeavouring -to form a brotherhood of affection among Irishmen -of <i>every</i> religious persuasion," they were no sooner -up in arms, than they began to show that Protestants -would not be tolerated. They put many -Protestants to death, in the most cruel manner, -some of whom were fighting in their own ranks. And -had they succeeded in overturning the government, -they would not have spared even those Protestant -gentlemen that were their chief leaders, nor yet -those of their own communion that were favourers -of toleration. Their secular leaders, whether -Protestant or Catholic, were soon convinced, that -because they did not approve of intolerance, their -lives would fall a sacrifice to their own party if it -was successful. They preferred surrendering themselves -to the clemency of the government, as soon -as it was in their power, to staying among the insurgents; -for, although they had forfeited their -lives by their insurrection, they had a greater -chance of being spared by the clemency of the -government, than of escaping the bigotry of those -whom they themselves had stirred up to rise in -arms against it. One Garret Byrne, a Roman -Catholic gentleman, of landed property, surrendered -after the affair of the White Heaps, and was -sent to our camp, and was employed by Sir John -Moore to guide us through the mountains, when we -went in pursuit of the insurgents.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Disaffection had spread among the Protestants -of the north, as well as among the Papists of the -south; but, as soon as the Protestants in the north -heard that the insurrection had taken a religious -turn in the south, they were glad to be quiet, for -they instantly saw that their safety (they being by -far the fewer number) lay in the preservation of -the government. This freed the government from -the resistance of the Protestant insurgents of the -north; who, from the superiority of their intelligence, -were more to be dreaded than the Catholics -of the south. Want of subordination in the -insurgent armies, also, contributed materially to -render the insurrection abortive. Their notions -of liberty, for which they ignorantly pretended to -be fighting, were of such a nature as to render -every attempt to train them to arms utterly vain. -They said, we are the sovereign people—we are -free—we will not be drilled like those slaves of -government, the red coats. To be drilled like a -soldier was a degree of subordination which they -had never been subject to; and, when they had -been persuaded by those who stirred them up to -insurrection, that they were slaves, and that they -would obtain freedom by rising in arms, they could -not see the consistency of this, with submitting to -the slavery of being drilled like soldiers. Indeed, -their actions showed that the liberty for which <i>they -were fighting</i>, was a liberty to violate the laws of -God and man, and indulge in licentiousness, riot, -and dissipation, and the cruelties of superstition.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We had a long fatiguing march to the opposite -coast of Ireland. We never came in contact with -the French, but we were extremely glad when we -heard of their surrender, as we were weary with -hard marching. We escorted them as prisoners -one day's march; their number was then, of all -ranks, somewhat about 800. When they landed, -they were 1100, (Gordon's History of the Irish -Rebellion, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 294.) There were several amongst -them who had been prisoners in Corsica when our -regiment was there, and they recognised some of -our men as having been guards over them there.</p> - -<p class='c005'>They had brought a large quantity of arms, -accoutrements, and clothing from France, to equip -the Irish insurgents, many of whom had joined -them after they had taken the town of Castlebar; -but the major part left them, and went away with -the arms, accoutrements, and clothing they had -received, as soon as the French began to drill -them. Muskets had been given to five thousand -five hundred in Castlebar, but there were only -about fifteen hundred that accompanied the French -on their march from that place to Ballinamuck, -where the French surrendered, when 500 of them -were killed, and the rest dispersed. They were -also dangerous as well as useless allies to the -French; for they were not disposed to give quarter -to prisoners. I heard of an instance of an insurgent -who killed a soldier that had been taken prisoner: -one of the French cavalry instantly cut the -insurgent down with his sword. This restraint did -not suit the sanguinary temper of the insurgents; -but the French well knew that if their allies did -not give quarter, no quarter would be given to -them. The alliance was also very incongruous; -for the insurgents were all bigotted Catholics, and -the French enthusiastic infidels, who openly boasted -that they had lately driven Mr. Pope out of Italy, -and had not expected to find him so suddenly in -Ireland. They smiled at the simplicity of the -Irish, when they heard them declare that they -came to take arms for France and the blessed -Virgin. The priests were treated with the utmost -contempt by the French general, although it was -his interest to have acted otherwise. There can -be no doubt that, although the French had succeeded -in revolutionizing Ireland, their religious -difference would have produced a new war between -them and the Irish.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We did not return to the Wicklow mountains; -but encamped during the autumn at Moat, twelve -miles from Athlone, which is near the centre of -Ireland; and, when winter set in, we went into -Athlone for winter quarters. The number of the -regiment was changed at this time from the <abbr title='hundredth'>100th</abbr> -to the <abbr title='ninety-second'>92d</abbr>.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We lay there from the end of October, 1798, -to June, 1799. In this place it pleased God to -lead my mind to serious and deep reflection, and -to begin a work of sharp conviction, such as I had -never before experienced. There was a Catholic -Chapel, an English Church, and a Wesleyan Methodist -Meeting-house in the town. In the Methodist -Meeting-house, there were always public -prayers evening and morning, and sermon on the -Lord's day, and often twice a week in the evenings. -I attended the Meeting-house pretty closely, -and began to read my Bible with more than common -attention. I reviewed my past life, and found -that I was an exceeding great sinner in the sight -of God: and God's goodness as my Creator, and -merciful Preserver, appeared to my view in a -much stronger light than ever it had done before. -I read several religious books, amongst which were -Baxter's Call to the Unconverted, and Young's -Night Thoughts. The subject of life, death, and -immortality, occupied my thoughts very much; the -conviction of my ingratitude, in sinning against -God, often made me weep in secret; and the fear -of falling into the hands of a justly offended God, -frequently made me shudder. The words of Scripture, -"Repent and turn to the Lord," were -strongly impressed upon my mind. I saw there -was no salvation without pardon, and no pardon -without repentance. I wept for my sins, and -earnestly besought God to forgive them. I read the -Scriptures, and found, as I imagined, pardon promised -to the penitent. I followed, as far as circumstances -permitted, in point of form, Baxter's -directions. I devoted myself to God, and vowed -to forsake sin, and to live a godly life for the future. -I made this resolution in sincerity of heart, -my understanding being convinced that it was my -duty to hate sin, because God hated it; and that if -I regarded sin in my heart, God would not hear -my prayers, nor pardon my transgressions. I then -began to attempt the performance of what I saw -was my duty. I began to hunger and thirst after -personal holiness; but of the nature of justification, -by faith in the imputed righteousness of Christ, I -had no conception; and of the nature and design -of his sufferings, my ideas were very confused and -erroneous. It was a sense of sin that pained my -conscience, and I sought for relief in personal reformation, -and founded my hope of pardon for the -past, and of eternal life, in the success of the reformation, -I had now commenced. Being convinced -that I was liable to many and strong temptations, -and that the conquest of sin would be no -easy work, I conceived that it was my wisdom, as -well as duty, to have recourse to every thing that -could strengthen me against temptation, and assist -me in the arduous task of working out what I conceived -to be my salvation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When under this temper of mind, I happened, -with a number of other soldiers of the regiment, to -be at the meeting-house one evening; and after -the ordinary service of praise and prayer was over, -the preacher desired the soldiers to remain, intimating -that he had something to say to us. He -then addressed us, on the propriety of joining in a -class meeting, informing us how many soldiers had -joined in a class meeting, in a neighbouring town, -in his circuit. He said that some of us might -scruple, because he was not of the same religious -principles as those we had been brought up in. -This might be true; but he remarked that we had -no opportunity of joining with those, who were of -the principles in which we might have been educated, -there being none in the place; that, if we -chose to form a class meeting, he did not require -that we should be of the same principles with him -in every thing; but that if we were concerned for -the salvation of our souls, it would be for our benefit, -while we were absent from home, to be united -together, for the purpose of social worship and -instruction.—I thought the proposal candid and -reasonable, and put down my name, as one willing -to join in a class meeting. I thought it would -be a means of helping me in the work of personal -reformation. For a short time I went on pretty -well in my own estimation, abstaining from any -thing that was open and flagrant; but secret sins -overcame me, although I had set myself to resist -them with all my might; and this broke my peace -of mind. It happened, that there were a number -of the regiment, and amongst them some of my -own comrades, taken ill with dysentery; and several -died of the disorder. This alarmed me -much. I began more seriously than ever, to contemplate -the uncertainty of life. I read seriously, -and with great attention, those portions of Young's -Night Thoughts that treat on that subject. I entered -fully into the spirit of the poet, and applied -to my conscience his reflections. My security of -life was completely broken. Every night I lay -down to sleep, I was afraid I might never awake, -and every morning I arose, I was afraid I might -die before night. I would say to myself in the -morning, "Some of my fellow creatures, who are -living at this moment, will be dead before night; -and how can I tell but I may be one of them!" -This subject never made so strong an impression -on my mind as at this time. I never was so much -afraid of death, except on occasions of evident danger. -I could no longer place death at a distance. -I saw myself in danger of being snatched away -every moment in numberless ways, and put the -question to myself, "Were I to die this moment, -what hope have I of escaping hell and getting to -heaven?" and I concluded, that I had no hope of -heaven whatever, but every reason to fear that -hell should be my portion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I then began to look around me; and compare -myself with the bulk of my comrades. I thought -I was not so bad as they were. I began to reason -with myself, that if God was to send <i>me</i> to hell for -<i>my sins</i>, surely those that were worse than I was, -would also be condemned; and, if that was the -case, how few would there be that would escape! -I would fondly have indulged the idea, that surely -God would not be so severe, as to condemn so -many, and would fain have cherished the hope, that -because I was not so bad as the major part of those -I knew, I should have a chance to escape. But -when I reviewed my past life in the light of the -word of God, I found nothing but condemnation; -for I perceived that that word took cognisance of -the quality of sin, as well as the quantity, and condemned -both sins secret and sins open: I began to -remember the means that I had enjoyed above -others, of religious instruction and information; -and the declaration of our Lord, "To whom much -is given, of them shall much be required," rang -in my ears. I remembered the impressions made -upon my mind by early religious instructions; I -recollected the resolutions I had made to forsake -sin, and the convictions which had produced these -resolutions; I thought of my breaches of these resolutions, -and my former forgetfulness and indifference: -and more particularly, my failing in -keeping my last most solemn vow. I began to -meditate and consider of God's dealings with me -as an individual: and of the account he would require -of me <i>as an individual sinner</i>. I no longer -durst compare myself with other men. I knew -not the extent, in number and heinousness, of any -other man's sins. I knew not their secret sins and -evil purposes of heart; and as God would bring all -manner of sin into judgment, I durst no longer -think in my heart that I was a whit better than -the most wicked and profane person I knew; for I -knew more evil of myself than I had known, or -could know of another. This led me to look -more strictly into my own heart, and to examine -what was done in it, as I found that the word of -God discerned the thoughts of the heart. This -led me to investigate the <i>motives</i> of my actions, -and then I found that I did nothing that was pure. -I called to mind the past goodness of God, the -many mercies and deliverances he had given me; -I reflected on my ungrateful behaviour, and was -filled with wonder and astonishment that a God of -such awful majesty, should have spared such an -ungrateful and vile wretch so long; I was led afresh -to consider, "What shall I do to escape the just -vengeance of Almighty God?" and my resolution -was to repent afresh of my sins, and devote my -future life, with greater resolution to his glory. I -durst not delay my repentance to a more convenient -time, because the fear of death stared me in -the face; and I was convinced, that as death left -me, judgment would find me. I trembled at the -thought of being called, by death, before the awful -tribunal of God. I had nothing to look to on the -one hand, but a broken law; and a holy, sin-avenging -God on the other. This made me earnestly -wish for the pardon of my sins, and I resolved -that I would do any thing whatever that would -procure it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I read the Scriptures, but chiefly in the Old -Testament, often in Isaiah. To the clearer light -of the New Testament, I did not so much attend. -Its clear evangelical language did not strike my -mind with that force as to fix my attention upon -it. From those parts of the Scripture that -caught my attention, I formed the following -opinions:—that God promised mercy to the penitent -returning sinner: this gave me a gleam of -hope, which I believe prevented me from sinking -into absolute despair; but I did not understand the -nature of evangelical repentance, or the way by -which the penitent should come to God, in order -to be accepted. The state of my mind at that -time was this; I thought that if I sincerely repented -of my past sins, and did not commit sin for the -future, God would pardon my sins. I also promised -myself, that if I truly, and seriously, resolved -to serve God for the future period of my life, -God would on this account, give me strength to resist -every kind of temptation, and to overcome -every desire to sin. I promised myself, that, by -constant endeavours, and unremitting exertions, I -should overcome all obstacles, and finally merit -eternal life. I saw that God required of the penitent -sinner, future obedience: I was convinced that -this was just: I thought that God did not require -any thing but what he had given us power to perform, -if we were but willing to do so. I resolved -to be willing, and to try my strength to the utmost. -I thought that if I did meet with any thing that -was too hard for my present strength, God would -give me additional strength; but that the only way -to honour God was to use the power that he had already -given me. I thought it would be affronting -God to ask more, until I had first proved the insufficiency -of what I now possessed: and that it -would be insulting to divine goodness, to be seeking -that which was already bestowed upon me. -Under this frame of mind, I set about the performance -of religious duties. I prayed more frequently -and fervently; I read the Scriptures with greater -diligence and attention; I abstained from every -thing that was in my opinion sinful. But my past -sins were still painful to me, because I was not -yet assured that they were or should be pardoned. -I was, however, certain that if I continued to commit -sin, I should get no pardon, but if I forsook -sin, I <i>might</i> obtain pardon. The spirit of my -prayers was, entreating God to pardon my sins, -and promising to lead a holy life in future.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While in this state of mind, I went one evening -to the meeting-house, and as I was returning to -the barracks, pondering in my mind my guilt, as a -sinner, and the goodness and sparing mercy of -God, the powers of my mind having been buoyed -up by the fervour of the exhortations and prayers I -had heard, a sudden emotion started all at once -into my mind, that my sins were pardoned by God, -that God had promised pardon to such as me; and -that all that was required was, that I should believe -that God had pardoned my sins; that God -was faithful to his promise, and it would be to me, -even according to my faith. This emotion had a -powerful influence upon me. It gave peace to my -mind, for I took it to be one of those manifestations -of the Spirit, spoken of by those who preached, -exhorted, and prayed, at the meeting-house. -Under the impressions produced by it, I went on -very smoothly, abstaining from sins, to which I had -formerly been a slave. I now thought myself -happy, and promised to myself, that I would now -be able to live such a life, as should be pleasing to -God, and should procure and retain his favour.</p> - -<p class='c005'>But I must here add, that this impression that -my sins were actually pardoned, was not accompanied -with any increase of light to my understanding -of the way in which God forgives sin. I was as -blind to the nature of the great doctrines of the -justifying righteousness and atoning blood of Christ, -as I had been before. The views which at this -time I entertained of Christ's death, were, that he -had died to procure the pardon of such sins as -were committed by sinners, while in a state of ignorance -and impenitence. I believed that had -Christ not died, there would have been no pardon -for sin, but that his death had opened the door of -mercy to penitent sinners of all descriptions. I -thought all the design of God, was to bring men to -a sense of their moral duty, and to put them once -more in a fair way of discharging their moral obligations -to him, as their Creator and Preserver; and -that he had promised those who repented, his assistance -in all things that were difficult, and his -protection from outward danger; and that Christ's -death justified God, in granting pardon to penitent -sinners, on account of their penitence. I had some -faint recollection of what I had read in Boston's -Fourfold State, and the instructions I had received -in the Sabbath school, and from others, and could -discern that there was a difference between them -and the instructions I was now hearing, particularly -on the doctrine of election, and remaining -corruption in believers; but I had no fixed ideas -on these topics, only just as much as prevented me -from thinking that the Methodists were right, in -denying, that the doctrines of election, and of remaining -depravity in all believers, were taught in -the Bible. I thought they were, but they were -not any part of my own fixed belief. I read Wesley -on Christian perfection, and, although I did -not think he gave a sound view of some Scripture -texts, perfection was the thing I was striving -to obtain; a perfect obedience to the divine law -was what I had set out to accomplish; and the -following lines of one of Mr. Wesley's hymns, -were, for a time, very frequent in my mouth, and -repeated in secret prayer to God;</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>O grant that nothing in my heart</div> - <div class='line'>May dwell, but thy pure love alone;</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>and I resolved that my life should be one scene of -devotion and of gratitude to God. I continued to -go on pretty smoothly for about six weeks, and I -thought I had got the better of sinful inclinations; -but when I fancied I was strong, I soon had reason -to be convinced that I was weak, had I only been -willing to learn; for I again fell into some sins, -which I had flattered myself I should never more -be guilty of; and this broke my peace of mind, and -blasted all my hopes. I however found means to -heal the sore again, after having undergone considerable -pain of mind. I again set out by repenting, -and trusting in the mercy of God, and resolving -on future obedience; but my conduct was not -regular, and secret sins, which lay at times very -heavy upon my conscience, would overcome me, -although I strove against them with all my might.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I continued to attend the various meetings, public -and private, amongst the Methodists, while we -lay in Athlone. My attendance among them was -certainly of great benefit to me, in leading to a train -of experience, that materially contributed to make -me acquainted with the deep deceitfulness of my -own heart. I was indeed slow to learn; but what -took place with me at that time, afforded matter -for reflection afterwards. I think upon it still, and -see great reason for humility on account of my -blindness, in not seeing while I was there, that I -was without strength and without righteousness, -without Christ, and without hope, I can not tell -how far the gospel was set before me by the Methodists; -but I am pretty certain, from some expressions -that I have still a faint recollection of, -that Christ was set before me in a much clearer -light than I at that time apprehended him; I had, -all the time I was there, continued in a course of -sinning and repenting, making resolutions and -breaking them; and, although I suffered great pain -of conscience, I succeeded in quieting it by the -hope of better success the next time. When we -came to leave the place, I felt that I should not -have the same privilege, of the means of instruction -and social worship, at least for a while to come; -and this gave me less hope of myself, and filled -me with a greater degree of fear, that I should be -more liable to be overcome by temptation, when I -should not have the help of the means of grace.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I may here mention a simple incident that occurred -while I was in Athlone. One night I was placed -sentinel over a prisoner, in the room in which he -slept. He was asleep, and I did not disturb him; -a book lay near me; I took it up and passed the -two hours with it; it was a book of sermons on -Contentment, written by an old divine, (if I mistake -not, a Mr. Taylor of London,) but it matters -not who the author was. He handled it in a variety -of lights, and applied the principle of contentment -to the good works of Christians. I forgot -all that I read but the following expressions; he -said, that the genuine disciple of Christ was one, -who was willing to do every thing for the sake of -Christ, and, at the same time, was content to deny -all he had done for Christ's sake. The author -pursued his subject in a spiritual sense, and I was -taken with the book, although I did not understand -it. It was, however, written in such a strain of -piety, that I was struck with it; my memory kept -hold of the words, "do all for Christ, and deny all -for Christ;" and I would at times reflect upon them, -as strange and mysterious. I could never understand -them, but I could not help being struck with -them; and when the Lord opened my eyes several -years afterwards, I remembered I had read them, -and wondered how it was I did not understand -them sooner; but I was then carnal; and the things -of the Spirit were foolishness to me, for I had not -spiritual discernment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We left Athlone, and marched to Cork, in June, -1799, to embark for England, and join the army -that was forming to invade Holland. After leaving -Athlone, I began to fall off in my attention to -serious things. I carried Gray's Sermons in my -knapsack, to oblige a comrade who was a Methodist, -but who had not room for it in his. I carried -it to the place of our embarkation, and returned it -to him, without having read any part of it. I had -read little or nothing of my Bible either, during the -march. I found out the Methodist meeting at -Cashil, where we stopt a day, and was at worship -twice or thrice.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We lay several weeks encamped at a place called -Monkton, near Cork, waiting for vessels to -carry us to England. I was twice or thrice at a -prayer meeting during that time; but although the -prospect of danger was increasing, I was increasingly -remiss in attending to religious duties; and -this was the case with the most part of those who -had been joined with the Methodists. There was -only one man in the regiment who was uniformly -steady and consistent in these things.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>They impressed into their service all the blacksmiths -they could find.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>Reports varied as to the number landed: some reports -made them 15,000, others, as high as 30,000.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap3' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>I continued in a very careless and listless state -of mind during the passage to England. We landed -at Dover, and marched to Barham downs, -where we were encamped. About ten thousand -troops were assembled at this place in a few days, -and Sir Ralph Abercrombie was appointed to command -them. Our regiment was put into a brigade -under the command of Sir John Moore. Lord -Huntly went upon the expedition as Colonel of the -regiment, for he was not yet a General upon the -English staff. We marched to Ramsgate, and -embarked on board of transports, on the <abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr> of -August, and sailed next day for Holland, under -convoy of a fleet of war ships, commanded by Admiral -Mitchell. A short time after we sailed, the -wind became contrary and stormy, and continued -so for about three weeks, which was an uncommon -circumstance at this season of the year; so -that, although the distance was short, the voyage -was tedious. This delay allowed time for reflection, -but I did not improve it, for whatever were -the passing thoughts of my mind, I was not seriously -impressed until a few days before we landed. -The wind becoming favourable and moderate, we -stood in for the coast of Holland, and anchored on -the evening of the <abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr>, near the entrance to the -Helder, and began to prepare to land. The Dutch -fleet, of eight sail of the line and three frigates, lay -in our sight in the outer road of the Helder; and -the fleet of Admiral Duncan, of about an equal -number, lay at anchor a few miles from them. -The fleet under Admiral Mitchell had an imposing -appearance; for it consisted of fifteen sail of the -line, and about fifty frigates, sloops of war, cutters, -and gun vessels, with about 130 transports. The -wind, however, became stormy again on the <abbr title='twenty-fifth'>25th</abbr>, -and the fleet, under Admiral Mitchell, put to sea; -but it moderated during the night, and we returned -and anchored nearer the shore than before, on -the <abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr>, and prepared to land next morning. The -ships of war hoisted the English and Dutch flags -together, because the object of our intended invasion -was to expel the French and restore the former -government. The troops on board of the ships -nearest the shore (of which the ship I was in was -one) were ordered to land first. Our danger was -now more imminent than ever it had been before; -the probability of being suddenly called from time -to eternity, was more than ever apparent; and I -began again to pray and to meditate. We cooked -three days' provisions, to carry with us, and were -served out with ammunition on the evening previous -to our landing; we did not go to rest that -night, but kept on our accoutrements, to be ready -to go into the boats when a signal should be made. -Such a period is one of great agitation and anxiety. -The prospect of landing in the twilight of the -morning, on an enemy's coast, ignorant of the nature -and extent of the danger, where one can not -tell whether we may reach the shore, or be driven -back as soon as we land, or suddenly overpowered -before we can get assistance. These, and the -like, are serious considerations at a time like this. -During the night I was often praying in my mind -for mercy, that the Lord would spare me: and I -put on fresh resolutions, that if I was spared, I -would serve God with fidelity and diligence. All -my prayers were for the preservation of life: I -durst not resign myself to death, because I was -conscious I was not prepared for judgment. All -my hopes for eternity, were founded in reformation -of character, and that I had yet to begin; for -had I been cut off, at that time, I had no hope of -heaven.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The province of North Holland is a peninsula, -formed by the German ocean on the west, and the -Zuyder-sea on the east. The town of Helder -stands at the northern extremity, where the Zuyder-sea -communicates with the German ocean, -between the Helder point and the Texel island, -distant about six miles. The city of Amsterdam -stands on the south side of the Zuyder-sea, the -common passage to which is by the Helder. A -range of sand-hills runs along the coast of the German -ocean, close to the beach, and the country -between them and the Zuyder-sea is nearly a perfect -flat. Large dykes, or mounds of earth, run -along the shores of the Zuyder-sea to protect the -tide from overflowing the country, which is below -the level of high water. The sand-hills serve for -an embankment on the side of the German ocean. -The principal arsenal for equipping and repairing -the Dutch fleet is near the town of Helder, the -greater part of which rendezvouses there; but they -are built at Amsterdam and other places in the interior, -and floated down the Zuyder-sea, on account -of the shallowness of its water, and are fitted -out for sea at Helder.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We embarked in the boats early in the morning, -and collected at the stern of a gun vessel that -lay nearest the shore, where we waited until daylight -began to make the coast visible; I continued -at intervals offering up ejaculatory prayers to God, -for preservation and deliverance. As soon as the -coast was discernible, the gun vessel began to fire -her guns upon the shore, and the boats rowed off, -giving three loud cheers. The fire of the different -vessels of war that lay along the shore was dreadful: -but as the shot and shells were all thrown at -random, the enemy not being visible, it did little -damage; but it probably prevented the enemy from -appearing on the open beach, by which means we -got safely landed. The enemy's troops were posted -among the sand-hills at the different points opposite -to our extended anchorage, that were most -favourable for landing. These points were chiefly -at some distance to the right of the place we landed -at, where the beach, not being so favourable, -was not so strongly guarded. A part of his force -was also to our left, near the Fort at the entrance -to the Helder, where they had a camp. We -formed on the beach as we landed, and began to -advance into the sand-hills. Our regiment was -near the left of the line; there were only a few of -the enemy's picquets that appeared in <i>our</i> front, -who retired as we advanced: but the troops on the -right had not proceeded far before they fell in with -a division of the enemy, when a smart action began. -The enemy were quickly driven farther to -the right, but fresh columns soon arriving, the action -became increasingly warm, but our troops -continued to press upon the enemy, and took up a -position across the sand-hills, to cover the right of -the debarkation. Sir John Moore's brigade, in -which our regiment was, penetrated also across -them as soon as possible, and took up a position to -cover the left.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The sand-hills at this place are not of great -breadth; the road from Helder to the interior runs -along the interior side of them, the peninsula at -this place is narrow, and the ground between the -sand-hills and the Zuyder-sea is a flat, in many -parts swampy. As soon as the first party of our -regiment had reached the further side of the sand-hills, -they descried that part of the enemy's -force that had been posted on our left, passing -along the Helder road to join their forces that were -engaged with our right. They were composed of -horse artillery, cavalry, and infantry. As soon as -they observed our advance picquets, they left the -road, and made a circuit through the flat ground to -their left: and when they were out of the reach of -musketry they made a pause, and fired two field -pieces at us, which did us no hurt, and then passed -on and joined their own troops. The fire of -the ships of war that were anchored to the right -and left of the point of debarkation, prevented the -enemy from attempting to march along the beach -to disturb the landing. They also protected the -right flank of the troops that were engaged with the -enemy, but he attacked their front with his infantry, -and their left flank with his artillery; which -he kept upon the flat ground, on the inside of the -sand-hills, protected by his cavalry. Indeed infantry -were the only troops that were capable of -fighting among the sand-hills. Fresh columns -continuing to arrive during the course of the day, -to the support of the enemy, he maintained the -contest and renewed his efforts to dislodge our -troops, but as they also were reinforced by those -that continued to land, they repulsed all his attacks -and gained ground; but, as we had neither artillery -nor cavalry, we dared not to attack his that -were posted in the plain, nor was it expedient to -advance far until the army should all be landed. -The enemy continued his efforts from five o'clock -in the morning till four o'clock in the afternoon, -when the army was nearly all landed, and some -pieces of artillery were brought to bear upon the -enemy's cavalry and artillery. The troops then -charged his infantry, and drove them beyond -Challantes Ogg, a place where an inundation of -water from the Zuyder-sea contracts the peninsula -nearly to the breadth of the sand-hills. The enemy -then retreated into the interior, and left us in -possession of our position, which separated him -from the Helder. Another fleet of transports, with -five thousand additional troops from England, appeared -at sea in the afternoon, and anchored in -the evening. Our regiment was not engaged -through this day; but Sir John Moore's brigade -was destined to attack the batteries and town of -Helder next morning, if the enemy's garrison still -remained in them. The loss of the army during -this day's conflict was about a thousand men killed -and wounded. Our regiment lost sixteen men, -who were drowned in the act of landing, the boat -having struck on a bank at some distance from the -shore; the men got out of the boat, but got into -deep water before they reached the beach, and -the swell having increased at the time they were -landing, they, along with several seamen belonging -to the boat, were drowned. I knew most of -them; one of them was a particular acquaintance, -whose death made a strong impression on my -mind.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As soon as it was fully dark our brigade marched -away for the Helder. There is something impressive -in a march under the cloud of night, in a -strange land, where we can not tell the danger we -are in, and have to move forward in solemn -silence. It was ordered, that no man was to speak -above his breath during the march; and all orders -to halt, or move forward, were given the same -way. We had frequent stops, which made us, -who were not in the front, often wonder what was -the matter. Such a march is a service in which -the mind undergoes much harassing anxiety, and -the body much fatigue. Having come near to the -Helder, we halted, and lay under arms, in a state -of great anxiety, until daylight; several of their -ships of war were then seen at anchor near the -town, but they got quickly under weigh, and their -whole fleet anchored in the Zuyder-sea, about 12 -miles from the Helder; which was the farthest -distance they could go to on account of the shallowness -of the water. After waiting some time -we obtained information that the enemy had evacuated -the various forts and batteries about the -place. We sent out small detachments, who found -that it was so, and we then entered the place, and -put guards in the different works. When I reflected -on the dangers we had escaped, I was filled -with wonder; but I soon forgot them all; and -during the few days that we lay in the town of -Helder, my conduct, in place of being better, was -worse than ordinary.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The transports, and a number of our frigates, -came into the Helder next day, and the artillery, -cavalry, and stores, were landed in the harbour. -The day following the ships of the line came in, -and admiral Mitchel went forward to the Dutch -fleet, with a squadron of nine sail of the line, and -five frigates. The Dutch fleet then surrendered -without firing a shot, and hoisted the orange flag. -Their crews were in a state of mutiny at the time, -partly out of disaffection to the new republican -government, but more particularly for want of pay. -When they were ordered to prepare for action -they refused to fight, and threw the balls and cartridges -into the sea. It would, indeed, have been -a useless waste of blood for them to have resisted, -for if the squadron that went to them had not -been sufficient to have reduced them, there were -more than enough of war ships, of all descriptions, -at hand to have completely overwhelmed them; -for after the batteries of the Helder were in our -possession, they had no way of saving their ships -to their country but by taking out their guns and -masts to lighten them, and towing them through -the shallow water to some of the ports in the interior, -out of our reach. And why they did not -do so is not easily accounted for. Besides this -fleet of eight sail of the line, three frigates, and a -sloop, there were two sail of the line, eleven -frigates and smaller vessels of war, and three East -India ships lying in the harbour, in various conditions. -A large quantity of ammunition and -stores, and a great number of cannon for the -equipment of ships, were found in the arsenal, exclusive -of the guns and mortars that were on the -batteries, many of which were brass.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The army lay among the sand-hills, where it -had fought on the day of landing, until the 1st -September, when the artillery and cavalry being -landed, it moved forward into the interior of the -country. Our regiment left the Helder, another -occupying it, and joined the army, which took up -a position in the afternoon, upon one of those huge -dykes that are in Holland, which extended from -the German Ocean, where we posted our right, to -the Zuyder-sea, where we posted our left, a distance -of about eight miles. We occupied it, at -all the parts that were passable, and threw up -works upon it, particularly at the extremities. It -formed a most excellent position of defence in -such a flat country, on account of its thickness -and height. The top of it was so broad that any -carriages had full liberty to pass, and was one of -the best roads in the country; and it was not -made in a straight line, but bent in curves, like -the bastions of a garrison line wall. A large ditch -runs the whole length in front of it, with large reservoirs -of water in the curves. The use of this -dyke was to prevent the rain that falls in the winter, -on the south side of it, from flooding the country -on the north side, where the level is lower. -The reservoirs in the curves of the dyke receive -the water, and there are sluices that are opened to -allow it to pass by degrees, under the dyke, into a -large canal, a little in the rear of it, from whence -it is let out into the sea, when the tide is low. -We had no tents, but were lodged in the farm -houses, which, in Holland, are large, and of a -peculiar construction, having the byre, stable, hayloft, -and barn, under one large oblong square roof, -made of thatch. A great number of these houses -were ranged at such regular distances, along the -banks of the canals, in the rear of the dyke, that -they formed convenient cantonments; and each -house contained from one to two hundred, who -slept in a loft among the hay, without any other -covering than their great coats and the hay. The -fields are all divided by broad and deep ditches, in -place of hedges, which are only to be seen upon -parts of the road sides, and round the orchards at -the farm houses and gentlemen's seats. All the -ditches have communications with the large canals -that communicate with the sea. A great number -of wind-mills are employed in forcing the water -up into the canals, which are above the level of -the ground in the winter time, and in forcing the -water into the ditches whose elevation is highest, -from whence it flows over locks into the lower -ditches in the summer season, so that the ditches -are always full. The apparatus of the wind-mills -is simple: a number of long broad paddles are -fixed in an axle, the lower ends of which dip into a -box of little more than their own breadth, into -which the water of the lower level flows, and the -rapidity with which the paddles are driven makes -them throw the water off their flat sides, to all the -height that is needed. The country being below -the level of the sea, there are no spring-wells of -fresh water in it. The rain that falls on the roofs -of their houses is conveyed into a cistern, built of -brick, sunk in the ground at the side of the door, -or under one of the corners of the house, and some -of them have an opening into the cistern both within -and on the outside of the house. The Dutch are -proverbial for their cleanliness and ingenious industry. -I admired, among other things, their way -of churning their butter. A large wheel, with a -broad rim, the spokes of which were fastened to -the one side of the rim, was fixed upon a nave in -the wall, at one of the corners of the house, with -the spokes next to the wall; small pieces of wood -were nailed across the inside of the rim; a belt -that was upon the rim turned a crank that was -above it; the churn stood on the floor under the -crank which lifted the churn staff up and down; -there was a close lid upon the churn, with a slit -in the centre, in which the churn staff moved, so -much of which was flat as allowed it to move in -the slit. The wheel was turned round by a dog, -who was put into the inside of the rim upon the -open side; he catched the small cross pieces of -wood, that were on the inside of the fore part of -the rim, at some height, with his feet, and the -weight of his body turned the wheel. The poor -dog was tied by a cord round his neck at such a -height, to an upright post at the side of the fore -part of the wheel, that if he did not work he would -be hanged. There were generally two dogs employed, -the one relieving the other.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Dutchmen wear large small-clothes and -cocked hats; the women wear stays and hoops in -their petticoats, and low crowned broad brimmed -straw hats; but I did not see any that were gaudy, -or ragged, in any part of the country I was in.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the <abbr title='tenth'>10th</abbr> of September, 1799, the enemy, -having received accessions to their number, attacked -us in our position. It was known to them, -that we were shortly to receive large reinforcements; -and they determined to attack us before -these arrived. A strong party attacked the position -entrusted to our regiment, which was the first -time that we were in actual action with an enemy. -The dyke sheltered us from their shot; for when -they drew near, we stood on the top of it and fired -a volley or two, which drove them back, and then -we sheltered ourselves from the fire of their artillery -by sitting down on the near side of it. The -shot whistled over our heads, and fell, when its -strength was spent, on the ground in our rear. -The enemy was repulsed at all points with loss. -Our regiment's loss was small; one man killed, -and the captain of the grenadiers, and three men -wounded. General Moore was also slightly wounded. -When the main body of the enemy retreated, -a number of their riflemen remained behind them, -under the cover of a house that was near the dyke; -one of them came from under the cover, and ran -to join the main body; he was instantly fired at I -dare say by twenty; yet he got clear off, without -any appearance of being hurt. The risk that he -ran deterred the remainder from following him, -and they surrendered themselves prisoners of war, -in number about one hundred.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Shortly after the action of the <abbr title='tenth'>10th</abbr>, a number -of troops arrived from England, along with the -Duke of York, who took the chief command of -the army. A large body of Russian troops also -joined us, which increased our number to about -thirty-five thousand. And on the <abbr title='nineteenth'>19th</abbr> September -the whole moved forward to attack the enemy. -Sir Ralph Abercrombie, with about eight or ten -thousand men, of which our brigade was a part, -marched the preceding night past the right flank -of the enemy, and took the town of Hoorn by surprise. -We were now a good way in the rear of -the enemy's right, and it was intended that the -Duke of York, with the main body of the army, -should dislodge the enemy from his positions, and -that we should then attack them on their flank and -rear, and cut off their retreat.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Duke was successful at the outset of the -action, but the Russians under his command falling -into disorder, the enemy rallied upon them, -repulsed them, and took a great number of them -prisoners, which compelled the Duke to retreat. -We heard the firing of the cannon while we lay -on our arms, waiting for orders to move, but, when -word was brought that the Duke of York had been -driven back, we retired the same way that we -came, and were not engaged in this action. We -began now to say that we were a lucky regiment; -various expressions were used by the soldiers, -when speaking of our good luck, (as it was called) -some of them very foolish, which I do not mention. -Some said, that there were too many old women -in Scotland, praying for their children and friends, -to allow us to be exposed to great danger. I began -to reflect seriously upon our past preservation, and -the bad improvement that we were making of it; -and the thought made me tremble: I thought, "It -<i>may be</i>, that God has been more favourable to us -than to others, on account of the prayers of godly -relatives at home; but his kindness has a claim -upon <i>our gratitude</i>, and if it does not produce gratitude -from <i>us to him</i>, he may be provoked to punish -us severely, and make his punishment in proportion -to his past kindness; and the longer that he -bears with us, the stroke may be the heavier when -it comes; and although we have as yet escaped -more than other regiments, in the next battle it -may be, that for hardening ourselves in sin, and -flattering ourselves with security, on account of -the prayers of godly relatives, we may suffer more -severely than any others:"—and my fears were -not groundless.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The sand-hills which run along the sea coast -from Helder, terminated a little in the rear of -Patten, where our right was posted, and commenced -again about three miles farther south, in -our front. An embankment of sand fills up this -breach, and prevents the sea from flowing over -the flat country. Tufts of strong straw are set in -the sand in regular rows, like plants in a garden, -the whole breadth and length of the embankment. -The tops of the tufts rise upwards of a foot above -the surface of the sand, and the sand that is washed -up by the tide or blown by the wind, lodges -about their roots, and as the tufts are regularly renewed, -they not only preserve this bank of light -sand from diminishing, but also increase its size -and solidity. The left of the enemy's army was -posted at the commencement of the sand-hills. It -was determined that Sir Ralph Abercrombie, with -a division of British troops, should attack the enemy -posted there, while the Duke of York, with -the other division of the army, should attack -their positions in the flat country. We left our -cantonments before one o'clock of the morning -of the <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> October, and assembled before day-break -on the beach in front of the enemy's -lines. At day-break we began to drive in their -outposts; and continued to advance along the sea-side, -while another part of the army advanced -along the inland side of the sand-hills, with a line -of communication across them. The breadth of -the beach along which we advanced was various: -(the attack had been several days delayed, on account -of stormy weather, which drove the sea so -far upon the beach, as to leave no passage betwixt -the sand-hills and the water:) it admitted sometimes -of two or three companies to march abreast, -and sometimes scarcely of one. We had four -pieces of cannon in front, which fired upon the -enemy, who retired along the beach as we advanced. -I passed close by a man who had been -struck with a cannon ball upon the knee joint; the -ball had carried away the joint, and left a ligament -of skin on each side of it, which held the -leg suspended to the thigh. A little farther, I -passed near a man who lay stretched upon his -back, dead;—his eyes and countenance had something -in them peculiarly dreadful; yet he appeared -to be only shot through the thigh with a musket -ball:—but it was the centre of it, and it had -proved instantly mortal. I was so struck with this -man's ghastly appearance, that I thought with myself, -"Were I a poet, I would choose, as my subject, -the horrors of war, that I might persuade -mankind not to engage in it."—As we continued -to advance, the sand-hills increased in breadth, -which required additional troops to fill up the line -of communication across them; we who remained -upon the beach, saw nothing that was doing in -the interior of the sand-hills; and as the firing -there was only musketry, the roar of the sea upon -the beach prevented us from hearing it, except -when it was close to us. We had frequent and -long pauses, waiting for the movement of others. -There was a great deal of bloodshed in the interior -of the sand-hills, by the continued skirmishing, -and detached attacks upon particular points.—These -sand-hills were admirably adapted for this -mode of warfare; the enemy would have been -much more easily driven out of trenches;—for the -sand-hills were the same as a succession of trenches, -so that when the enemy saw our troops advancing, -they continued to fire upon us until they -saw that we were just near enough to allow them -time safely to retire to the next range of hills. The -sand-hills are not much unlike snow blown into -wreaths, by a strong wind: they are various in -their heights and shapes; some being conical and -steep, and others running in winding ridges; and -the sand is so light, as to be carried about with the -wind. It is extremely difficult to walk amongst it, -being like dry snow, a little hard on the surface, -which when once broken, is almost impassable: -here and there, there are chasms, and hollow flats -of various extents among them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Towards the afternoon we drew near a place -called Egmont, a small fishing town among the -sand-hills, near to where the battle of Camperdown -was fought. Here the enemy had drawn a -number of fishing sloops and schuyts upon the -beach, in two lines, leaving intervals between -them, for their troops to pass. These formed a -cover to their columns from our shot, and concealed -their cavalry from our view. During the action -they had received a reinforcement, which they -pushed along the sand-hills close to the beach. -The line across these, owing to their increased -breadth, now occupied all the regiments of our -division but ourselves. The enemy began to press -hard upon the troops that were near us, and so -posted themselves as to annoy us who were standing -upon the beach; we were a considerable time -exposed to this, and had a number both of officers -and men wounded, amongst which was Lord -Huntly, our Colonel, and a son of Sir Ralph -Abercrombie, who was at that time an ensign in -the regiment. A situation of this kind is the most -irksome for a soldier to be in; for when actively -engaged, the fury and bustle of action, to a considerable -degree, banishes the dread of danger from -the mind.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the march along the beach, and the frequent -pauses we made, my mind had time for -serious reflection; I was alive to a sense of present -danger; and having no well grounded hope for -eternity should death be the issue, was led to pray -earnestly to God for mercy. While standing exposed -to the fire of the enemy, and the balls whistling -over us and amongst us, my former sins came -into my mind, with all my broken vows and resolutions; -my past ingratitude stared me in the face, -and made me tremble, but a sense of present danger -made me pray earnestly for mercy to pardon -my sins, and to preserve my life; I confessed that -I did not deserve what I sought, but I cast myself -on the mercy of God, and with increasing fortitude, -as I thought, resolved once more to forsake -every sin, and live only to him.—The enemy -having increased in numbers, the troops in the -sand-hills next to the beach began to give way. -Four companies detached from our regiment, with -Sir John Moore at their head, went to reinforce -them; but they were also soon overpowered; and -Sir John was wounded in three parts of the body, -and with difficulty escaped being taken prisoner; -the remaining six companies were then ordered to -form in three divisions, and march forward along -the beach, and then to wheel to our left, and -charge the enemy. I was in the front division. -We marched forward, and passed a number of the -enemy's troops, and came to a place where there -was a more than ordinary opening, and the sand -rose pretty high, in the form of a semicircle; into -this opening we wheeled, and were instantly exposed -to a fire upon both our flanks and front. -This staggered us, and we began to fire upon the -enemy, in place of pushing instantly forward to -that part of the height that was on our right, -driving the enemy from it, and taking up a position -there, from which we could have done them -more harm, and not have been so much exposed -ourselves. We continued to stand still and fire for -a few seconds, and then began to move forward, -firing as we advanced; the other two divisions had -wheeled into various openings in the sand-hills in -our rear, at the same time that we did. They -were strongly opposed by the enemy, who were -very superior in number; but hearing the firing of -our division in their rear, the enemy who opposed -them began to retreat into the interior of the sand-hills; -those who opposed us did the same, and we -continued to pursue them; but the action soon became -on both sides quite irregular; for the sand-hills -separated us into parties, so that the one party -frequently did not see what the other was doing, -and, in some instances, parties of our troops came -suddenly upon parties of the enemy. In one instance, -one of our parties having climbed to the top -of a sand ridge, found that a party of the enemy -was just beneath, and instantly rushed down the -ridge upon them; but the side of the ridge was so -steep and soft, that the effort to keep themselves -from falling prevented them from making regular -use of their arms. They were involuntarily precipitated -amongst the enemy, and the bottom of -the ridge was so narrow, and the footing on all -sides so soft, that neither party were able, for want -of room, to make use of the bayonet; but they -struck at each other with the butts of their firelocks, -and some individuals were fighting with -their fists.—For three quarters of an hour we -maintained a furious action, and drove the enemy -to a considerable distance; but so many had been -killed, and wounded, and scattered, that the officers -could no longer collect any great number into -one body. We then began to retreat: the enemy -turned upon us, and we lost a number of men by -their fire during the retreat. Our previous advance -had exhausted our bodily strength, and we -were much in want of water. I was very thirsty, -and began to grow very weak. In the course -of the retreat we came to a pretty steep rise of -sand. I felt myself unable to go over it in a straight -line, so had to make a circuit, to get over it where -it was lower; although it was almost a matter of -life and death with me, for a party of the enemy -was close behind us. As I was making this circuit, -a party, I think in number about six or seven, -fired at me all at once; (I was their only object;) -and I distinctly observed several balls strike the -sand ridge, both before and behind me, about -breast high. I really believe that had I been a -span-breadth farther forward or backwards from -the spot where I at the moment was, there would -have been several balls through my body. Before -any more fired at me, I got over the ridge, which -then secured me; and I joined the regiment, which -was near, and had taken up a position in the interior -of the sand-hills; and some fresh troops -arriving, the enemy was repulsed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I no doubt had many hair-breadth escapes -during the action, of which I was insensible; but -the one I have mentioned, appeared to me as a -wonderful mercy of Providence, and I looked upon -it as laying me under an additional obligation to devote -my whole life to the service of God. If I was -bound to serve him, because he was my Creator, -I was now doubly bound to serve him, for my -wonderful preservation; and I thought that the ties -by which I was now bound, would undoubtedly -have this effect. I thought I should never indulge -in any thing that was sinful; but I was still blind -to my own weakness; I had thought the same -thing, and had promised accordingly, in prayer to -God, at the outset of the action; yet the action -was scarcely begun, before I joined my comrades -in furious, opprobrious, and profane language -against the enemy. Many sins were thus unobserved -by me, and did not affect my conscience at -the time.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the time that we were engaged in the -interior of the sand-hills, the enemy, seeing no infantry -on the beach to protect our guns, sent out -his cavalry, from their covert at Egmont, to seize -them. Our cavalry had gone into the chasms of -the sand-hills, that were next the beach, a little in -the rear, to shelter themselves from the fire of the -enemy's cannon. They formed upon the beach, -and sprang forward to meet the enemy, who had, -by this time, reached the guns. They charged -the enemy briskly, and drove them back with considerable -loss, and pursued them close to Egmont. -But, what is something singular, the infantry parties -of French and British, that were on the sand-hills -next the beach, suspended, as it were by -mutual consent, their firing, to become spectators -of the cavalry, and did not commence again until -the contest of the cavalry was decided.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The firing ceased sometime before sunset; I was -much in want of water, and went along with -another to search for it. We found it at last, in -the hollow of the opening of the sand-hills, into -which we had wheeled when we left the beach -and engaged the enemy. There had been a good -deal of rain some days before: and the trampling -of our feet upon the surface of the sand had brought -water to it, which being observed by some who -came to the place afterwards, they dug a small -hole in the sand, and put into it the sides of an -empty broken ammunition box, which served for -cradling; and the hole was soon filled with good -water. A number more of such kind of wells were -presently made, and plenty of water got, which -supplied both horse and foot. We filled our canteens; -and then went to look among the dead and -wounded, for a comrade, of whom we could get -no certain account. The spectacle of the dead, -the dying, and the wounded, greatly affected me. -The dead were lying stiff on the ground, in various -postures; but death had so altered their countenances, -that of all that I saw, belonging to the -regiment, with many of whom I had been familiar, -I knew only two; and it was by peculiar marks, -such as death could not alter, that we distinguished -even them. The groaning of the wounded was -very afflicting; for they were mostly bad cases, all -that were able to walk or crawl having removed -farther to the rear; and all the assistance that -could be given to those who were unable to move, -was to carry them from the spot where they were -lying, to a place of greater shelter. This had been -in part already done, and the wounded were lying -in groupes, in the best sheltered hollows adjacent -to the beach. The universal cry of these poor men -was for water. I supplied them as far as I was -able, both enemies and friends, and amongst the -rest one of our own officers, who was most severely -wounded. I had to hold him up and put -the canteen to his mouth, for he was unable to -help himself; he died during the night. We did -not find the object of our search; but we got afterwards -certain account of his having been wounded, -and probable accounts of his death; and we never -heard more of him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I returned to join the regiment, ruminating on -the affecting sight I had seen, and grieved for the -loss of comrades and acquaintances. When the -regiment was mustered in the evening, about one -half were amissing; but about thirty joined in a -day or two after, who had lost the regiment. We -were upwards of 600 strong; and our loss in killed, -wounded and prisoners (of whom there were -40), was 288. The company to which I belonged, -entered the field with 59 rank and file, and -three serjeants, out of which 5 were killed on the -field, and 24 were wounded, 5 of whom died in a -few days, and three shortly after. Of the rest, -few recovered, so as to be fit for service. The -regiment had suffered this severe loss in about three -quarters of an hour. There was a universal gloom -upon every countenance, when we looked to the -smallness of our number, when we were mustered; -and there was no one, but what had lost comrades -and associates, and some had lost relatives. After -it was dark, we planted our picquets, and the -remainder of us lay down among the sand. I reflected -upon my own escape—upon the great number -who had already been launched into eternity, -and others whom I had seen groaning under the -pain of wounds, which would soon prove mortal to -many of them. I thanked God for his kindness -to me, and promised to keep his commandments -in future.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We lay three days among the sand hills: the -weather was cold; the nights stormy and wet.—We -were waiting for the movements of the other -divisions of the army, in the interior of the country. -The day after the battle, we buried such of our -dead as were adjacent to us. One man belonging -to the company I was in, was found dead, without -any mark of violence on his body. He was lying -on the ascent of a sand-ridge, and had fallen on -the retreat. We conjectured, that fatigue and -want of water had occasioned his death. I was -informed of another singular case: A Frenchman -and a Highlander had charged upon each other; -the Frenchman had parried the thrust of the Highlander, -and run him through the body; the Highlander -had then let go his hold of the butt end of -his piece with his right hand, and seized, with a -death-grasp, the throat of the Frenchman; who, -to extricate himself, had also let go the hold which -he had of his firelock with his right hand, and -seized the wrist of the Highlander, to pull it away -from his throat; but he had been unable:—the -Frenchman had then staggered backwards, and -had fallen on his back; and the Highlander above -him, still retaining hold of his throat; and, in the -struggle that had then taken place, the head of the -Highlander had projected so far over the head of -the Frenchman, as to bring that part of the body -of the former in which the bayonet was, over the -mouth of the latter; and in this posture both had -expired. Those who saw it, said, the sight was -truly shocking. The Frenchman was fairly strangled; -his eyes were out of their sockets; his tongue -was greatly swelled, and thrust far out of his -mouth, into which the blood from the wound of -the Highlander was running. Each still held a -firm hold of his firelock with his left hand; and -when the Highlander was removed from the -Frenchman, and laid along-side of him, he still -kept such a firm grasp of his throat, that he raised -the body of the Frenchman from the ground, and -it was with difficulty it was extricated from the -hold.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The result of the battle of the <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> October compelled -the enemy to abandon his positions, and -evacuate the town of Alkmaar, which was his head -quarters, and fall back nearer to Amsterdam.—Alkmaar -was occupied by our troops on the <abbr title='third'>3d</abbr>, -and as our brigade had been much reduced in number, -we were ordered to go there to form a part of -its intended garrison. The peninsula is here of -considerable breadth, and the country much superior -to that on the north side of the long dyke, but -it is still intersected with deep broad ditches and -canals, which greatly impede military operations. -The rain that had lately fallen had filled the canals -and ditches so full of water, that the edges -and lower parts of the roads were beginning to be -covered, as we passed from Egmont to Alkmaar; -and as the roads, for want of stone, were made of -earth, or a slight layer of sand upon earth or clay, -they were beginning to be deep. There are narrow -foot-paths laid with brick, between some of -the towns. Alkmaar is a town of considerable -size, surrounded with a high mound of earth and -a canal; all the entrances to it are over drawbridges -and through gates, the principal of which -have cannon mounted on them. The streets are -paved with whinstone in the centre, and on the -sides with brick or flags, and a number of large -canals run through the centre of the principal of -them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We entered the town on the <abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr>, and next day, -which was Sunday, the garrison was taken to the -church, to attend divine service. The Dutch congregation -had been dismissed; but their minister, -and a number of others, remained, to be a witness -of our service. The church was large, and of -Gothic structure, and had the largest and most -highly ornamented organ I ever saw. The enemy -had received reinforcements the day before, and -he commenced an attack upon the positions of the -army, at the time we were in the church. The -prayers of the liturgy had been read, and the minister -had begun his sermon, when we began to -hear the noise of cannon at a distance; by the time -the sermon was ended, the firing of cannon had -approached nearer the town and was beginning to -be heavy, and the musketry was heard to mingle -in the roar; and the large organ played Malbrouk -as we left the church, to repair to our alarm posts. -The action continued to be warmly contested, until -after it was dark; but the enemy was repulsed, -and fell back to his position, and one hundred and -eighty-eight prisoners were taken, and brought -into Alkmaar on the morning of the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr>.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About two o'clock in the afternoon the prisoners -were assembled, and a captain and forty men, of -whom I was one, were appointed to escort them to -our former head-quarters, on the north side of the -long dyke. Only thirty of the prisoners were -French; the others were Dutchmen, and had put -up the orange cockade after they were made prisoners. -Numbers of them had money, with which -they procured gin before we left the town; and -they drank and sung songs (which we believed -were in praise of their former government), as we -went along the road. The Frenchmen, who were -enthusiastic republicans, scorned the Dutch for -putting up the orange cockade, and kept by themselves, -on the front of the party. We kept them -all in good humour, and until the fatigue of travelling -had exhausted our strength, the march of -the prisoners resembled more the merry air of a -wedding procession, than of that gloom which the -thought of their being under an escort of their enemies, -and on the way to a prison in a foreign land, -might naturally be expected to produce. It continued -to rain upon us the greater part of the way, -this, with the deepness of the roads and the length -of the journey, fatigued us exceedingly, and scattered -us into parties; yet, notwithstanding of this, -and although a great part of the journey was performed -after it was dark, and although the prisoners -were in their own country, none of them attempted -to escape. When we had delivered them -over to another guard, to watch them through the -night, we retired to rest in the expectation of returning -to Alkmaar next day, but we were surprised -to hear in the morning, that the army was -retreating; and in a few hours, the various divisions -arrived and resumed the positions they had -occupied previous to the battle of the <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr>.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The reasons of this retrograde movement were -the badness of the roads from Helder to the interior. -The army received its bread from the fleet, -and all the ammunition and military stores; the -roads were becoming impassable, and the farther -we advanced, the difficulties of fetching our supplies -from the Helder were increasing. The -French armies in Switzerland, and on the Rhine, -had gained decisive victories, which enabled them -to detach large bodies of troops, which were on -their way, to reinforce their army in Holland, -which would then become so strong as to be able -to overpower us. It had, therefore, been determined -to retreat while the roads were passable, -lest our retreat might be cut off. The army retired -from all its positions early in the morning, -and the rear guard left Alkmaar early in the day.—The -enemy, after being repulsed on the <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr>, was -apprehensive that we might attack him, and was -prepared, in that case, to retire to Haarlem; our -retreating was not expected by him, and it was -about 10 o'clock in the forenoon before his advanced -cavalry picquets discerned that Alkmaar -was evacuated, when they entered and found a -few drunken women and soldiers, whose intoxication -prevented them from knowing that the army -had retreated. In a few days after the retreat of -the army, an armistice was agreed upon, the conditions -of which were, that we should evacuate -Holland by the end of November, and release eight -thousand prisoners without exchange, as a boon -for our being allowed quietly to re-embark. This -agreement put an end to hostilities, and preparations -were made to send home the troops with all -possible expedition; but, before we left the country, -I caught the ague, and after we had arrived in England, -in the beginning of November, 1799, I was -put into the hospital in Chelmsford, twenty-six -miles from London. I was greatly reduced in -body before I recovered, which was not until the -beginning of the next year, 1800.—God's mercy -in granting me a recovery from the ague, impressed -my mind with the additional obligations I was now -laid under to serve him:—but, as formerly, my -resolutions of mind were soon broken; conscience -soon found matter of accusation against me; I was -at times careless and listless, and at other times -thoughtful and pensive. The barracks in which -we lay, were about a mile from the town of Chelmsford. -There was a tabernacle in the town, where -there was a sermon once a fortnight in the evening. -I went several times to it; and the sermons served -to awaken my religious impressions. One -evening, the preacher described a case of conscience; -which I thought not unlike my own; and -among other directions, he exhorted the person -who might be in such a case, to lay it before God -in prayer. After the service was over, I shunned -my companions; returned to the barracks alone, -and prayed to God for light and direction as I -went along the road; and I set about reforming my -conduct once more. But I soon fell through it, -and was thrown as far back as ever.—There were -no religious meetings in the regiment, from the -time we left Ireland until a good while after this.</p> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap4' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='four'>IV.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>We left Chelmsford on the <abbr title='fourteenth'>14th</abbr> of April, and -marched to the Isle of Wight, where we lay until -the <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr> May. I was once in the Methodist -meeting house while we lay in the town of Newport. -On the <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr> May, 1800, we embarked on -board the Diadem, 64 guns, and the Inconstant -frigate, both armed <i>en flute</i> (<i>i. e.</i> partially armed), -and fitted for the reception of troops. We left all -our women and heavy baggage in the Isle of Wight; -and as we were not informed where we were going, -this circumstance led us to conjecture, that -we were destined for some desperate and secret -enterprise. We were joined by some more ships -with troops, and sailed down the English channel, -until we fell in with the Channel fleet, under the -command of Sir John Jarvis. Sir Edward Pellew, -(now Lord Exmouth,) was sent along with -us, with a squadron of eight ships of war. It was -a magnificent sight to see the Channel fleet in regular -order. They were in number forty-four ships -of the line, (a large proportion of them three-deckers) -and a number of frigates. We sailed -along the cost of France until we came to the bay -of Quiberon, where we came to an anchor on the -<abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> June, near a small island called Houet, lying -betwixt the isle of Belleisle and the main land, -about four or five miles from the latter, and six or -seven from Belleisle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the <abbr title='fourth'>4th</abbr>, which was the anniversary of his -Majesty's birth, a singular occurrence took place. -A sloop of war, and a number of boats armed with -carronades, having detachments of troops in them, -were despatched in the morning, to attack a battery -situated on a projecting point of the main -land, where it approaches nearest to Belleisle, and -from which ships coming to our present anchorage, -were liable to be fired upon. It lay about eight -or ten miles from us: but as the wind was light, -the sloop of war and the boats did not get near the -battery, until it was past twelve o'clock. The -battery then opened a fire from two 24 pounders, -which played briskly upon them. The day was -fine and clear, which permitted us to see the smoke -of every gun that was fired, and where the shot -struck the water. We looked on with eager anxiety, -and observed all the movements of the sloop -of war and the boats. It was near one o'clock -before she was in a position to return the fire of -the battery, which she did briskly. The armed -boats then pulled towards the shore, under cover of -her fire. At one o'clock they were close to the -battery, and commenced a smart fire upon it from -their carronades, and the contest was at the hottest, -just at the instant that the ships we were in, -were firing the salute in honour of his Majesty's -birth day. The enemy precipitately retired from -the battery, and the troops and seamen landed, dismounted -the guns, broke the carriages, and did -what other damage they could, and then returned -to the fleet. We all remarked the singularity of -the circumstance, that while we were saluting with -blank shot, they were saluting with round, double -headed, and grape shot, in real earnest, by which -several lives were lost, and some were wounded, -besides other damages.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We landed on the island of Houet on the <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr> June. -It was a small place, almost destitute of cultivation, -and only a little fishing village on it. Some -more ships arrived from England with troops, and -preparations were made for attacking Belleisle. -On the <abbr title='fifteenth'>15th</abbr> June, we were embarked on board -the ships of the line, in order to go near the island, -and make our debarkation from them, under the -cover of their guns. Our regiment was wholly on -board of the Terrible, 74. We were five days in -this ship; and here there were a number of the -sailors, who were serious, and united together few -prayer and praise; some of them were known to -several of our men; the seamen were all very kind, -and uncommonly obliging to us; every thing was -orderly and quiet; religion appeared to have so far -prevailed in this ship, as to give a general tone to -the manners and conversation of the seamen; so -that they were not like the same kind of men that -we met with in other ships of war. Those men, -who were not religious, did not make a mock at -religion; and those who were serious, were in the -habit of having what might be called public prayers -between decks, at stated periods. This was intimated -through the ship, by two or more individuals -going round and informing the sailors that -there were to be prayers at such a gun, say, <abbr title='number'>No.</abbr> 9 -or 10, on the starboard or larboard side. At -these public meetings, I understood, that one or -other of them addressed their fellow seamen.—In -these practices they appeared to be protected -by their officers; and they held a meeting -for prayer and praise, on the forecastle, -evening and morning: I had some conversation -with some of them who were natives of -Scotland; but I was never actually present at any -of the meetings. We were so crowded, that it -was with difficulty we could move from one part -of the ship to another; and we durst never be any -time absent from the place where our arms were, -lest we should lose them, and not find them readily, -as we were under orders to be ready at a moment's -notice to go into the boats. Our coming to this -ship, was one of the steps of divine Providence for -my good; for seeing and hearing something of religion -in it, awakened once more in my heart, a -concern for my soul; and, although it wore off, as -before, it was a means of preventing me from becoming -confirmed in a state of careless indifference.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> June, the Captain 74, while under -sail, happened to approach the shore, and went -within reach of shot. When she put about, to -stand out from the shore, she was fired upon from -several points nearly in the same instant, and received -some damage before she got out of reach. -The batteries which fired upon her were concealed -from view; and we were informed, that the -shore was defended by batteries, at all the points -where it was convenient to land. We were waiting -for the arrival of some more troops from England, -which were hourly expected, but did not -arrive.—On the <abbr title='twentieth'>20th</abbr>, the enterprise was given up. -It was said, that during the hazy weather, which -had prevented us from seeing to any distance, re-enforcements -had been sent into Belleisle. We -returned to the isle of Houet, and to our tents, -which had been left standing. Our number was -said to be about 5000. On the next day, orders -arrived for us to embark, which was done; and -we sailed on the day following under sealed orders, -and left the ships of war that belonged to the -Channel fleet.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We had a pleasant and quick passage to the -Straits of Gibraltar, where our Commodore informed -us, that we were destined for the island of Minorca, -to join an expedition that was forming under -Sir Ralph Abercrombie, to assist the Austrians in -Italy. We passed through the Straits, but did not -touch at Gibraltar. We arrived at Minorca on -the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> July. We then learned, that Sir Ralph -Abercrombie had already been at Leghorn; but -that the Austrians having sustained a severe defeat -from the French, under Buonaparte, had made -an agreement, which did not allow of British -troops being landed, and that Sir Ralph had -brought back what troops he had to Minorca. -We landed for refreshment and exercise on the 7th -of August, and the whole regiment embarked -again, on the <abbr title='thirtieth'>30th</abbr>, on board of the Stately, 64. -We sailed on the <abbr title='thirty-first'>31st</abbr> for Gibraltar, where we -arrived on the <abbr title='fourteenth'>14th</abbr> September. We were there -joined by another expedition, under the command -of Sir James Pulteney. They had sailed from -England in the beginning of July, and had made a -descent on the coast of Spain at Ferrol, but had -not effected any thing, except alarming the country. -There was now a large body of troops on -board this fleet; their number being about 25000. -There were in all, upwards of 100 sail of large -ships; two-thirds of which were war vessels of -one description or other. We were in want of -water, to get which, we went to Tetuan bay, -which is on the Barbary shore, to the south-east -of Gibraltar, belonging to Morocco. Here the -whole fleet completed their stores of provisions and -water. We set sail on the <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr>, with an intention -to pass the straits of Gibraltar; but the wind -changed, and after beating about, we put back to -Tetuan on the <abbr title='twenty-ninth'>29th</abbr>. On the <abbr title='first'>1st</abbr> October, the -wind having become fair, we set sail, passed -through the Straits, and anchored next day near -to Cadiz in Spain. On the <abbr title='third'>3d</abbr> of October we got -orders to be in readiness to land. A flag of truce -came from the shore to the Admiral on the 4th, -and returned back the same day. On the 6th, the -day being fine, we weighed anchor and stood across -the bay of Cadiz, with the intention of landing -near the town of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Mary's. The dispositions -having been made for landing, the ships of war, -intended to cover the debarkation, were moving -towards the shore, and a cutter had gone so near -as to be fired upon. The first division of troops were -in the boats, and had rowed off for the shore: we -were all in readiness, and were receiving our ammunition; -I had just got mine in six parcels, of -ten cartridges each, when a flag of truce, which -we had seen coming from the harbour, reached -the Admiral's ship; and before I had got the half -of the cartridges into my pouch, a signal was made -by the Admiral, for the boats to return, and put -the troops on board their respective ships, the design -of landing being relinquished.—We were -struck with the suddenness of the change. The -flag of truce returned to the shore; and a report -was spread, that the place had been ransomed by -money; but whether there was any truth in this, -or whether any political concession had been -made, can not be known. There was one thing, -however, and possibly it might be the only thing -that prevented our landing; the plague was raging -in Cadiz at the time.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I have been somewhat minute in detailing this -circumstance; but it has always appeared to me, -a very striking occurrence in Providence; for, in -a very few minutes, the war vessels would have -opened their broadsides upon the troops and batteries -on shore; the troops in the boats would soon -have been under the enemy's fire, and probably -have effected a landing; and, if hostilities had -once commenced, it is difficult to tell, but the enterprise -might have been pushed, until Cadiz had -been taken, and their fleet of war-ships captured -or destroyed, unless the Spanish force had been too -strong for us.</p> - -<p class='c005'>This event once more awakened me, by a sense -of apparent danger. The prospect of having to -contend with what troops might be in the field, -and of having to attack fortified places, and the -likelihood, that desperate efforts would be made to -gain our purpose, before the Spaniards should have -time to collect a large force in the field, made me -apprehend that the undertaking was one of no ordinary -danger. My conduct on this occasion -was similar to what it had been on former occasions. -I prayed for mercy and preservation. I -still had no hope for eternity, but what was to -arise out of future reformation of character, a reformation -which was yet to begin. As formerly, -I now again resolved to set about it:—but we left -the bay of Cadiz on the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr>, and returned to Tetuan -bay on the <abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr>, and part of the fleet put into -Gibraltar: and the danger I had dreaded being thus -past, the resolution it had excited was soon departed -from.</p> - -<p class='c005'>But another danger of a different kind was at -hand. On the <abbr title='fifteenth'>15th</abbr>, the north-east wind had risen -to a great height, so that our boats, which had -gone with empty casks to get water, were obliged -to return to the ship and leave their casks on shore; -and the storm kept increasing as the evening drew -on. At 8 o'clock at night the splice of our cable -slipped, and we began to drift. As we had only -one other anchor on board, which was not sufficient -to ride the storm with, we endeavoured to -put to sea. It was at a great risk that we effected -this. We were in the midst of a large fleet, and -were every moment in danger of running foul of -one or other of the ships. With difficulty we -got the fore-sail, and some of the stay-sails set, and, -although the night was very dark, by the goodness -of God, we got clear out from the fleet, and steered -for Gibraltar. When we came there, as we -passed by the stern of the Admiral's ship, we -were ordered to pass through the Straits, and anchor -on the west side of Barbary. We accordingly -put about, and passed through the Straits -before the wind, going at the rate of seven miles -an hour, under our bare poles. We had a large -flat bottomed boat at our stern, which the stormy -weather did not permit us to hoist on board; and -by day-light in the morning, there was nothing of -it remaining but the keel with the ring-bolt, by -which it was towed. Before day-break we had -cleared the Straits of Gibraltar. We then set -some sail, and stood off and on the Barbary coast, -until the <abbr title='seventeenth'>17th</abbr>, when, the weather moderating, we -cast anchor. On the <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr>, the weather cleared -up, and we perceived a number of the fleet at anchor -to windward of us, nearer the shore, at about -20 miles distance. We weighed anchor and beat -to windward to join them; but the weather again -got squally, and about one o'clock a squall overtook -us, which carried away our main-top, and -top gallant, and mizen top-gallant masts. We -shortly after came to anchor near the fleet, and -the weather becoming moderate, in the course of -next day, we got our damages pretty well repaired, -and received an additional anchor from the Ajax -man of war. On the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> we set sail; passed once -more through the Straits of Gibraltar; anchored -in Tetuan bay for the third time on the <abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr>; and -after having completed our water, and received -some more provisions, we sailed on the 8th Nov. -for Minorca, to get our provisions and other ship -stores completed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We now began to hear that we were bound for -Egypt. At this we were all very sorry, not knowing -when we might return, or who might have the -happiness of seeing their native country again. I -had often read and heard of the dangerous nature of -the climate of Egypt and of the disasters of the -French army there by the plague. The prospect -now before us made a strong impression on my -mind. I became more serious; religion began to be -more attended to by several, and a party for prayer -and conversation was formed; but I was not one of -the number, being too proud to associate with them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We made the island of Minorca on the <abbr title='sixteenth'>16th</abbr>; -but the wind being strong and contrary, we did -not get into the harbour until the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr>; and having -obtained what we wanted, we set sail again on -the <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr> for Malta, where we arrived on the <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr> -December. The day we made the island was -very fine, and as Malta was a place of note on -various accounts, and amongst others, as being the -place where the apostle Paul suffered shipwreck, -I staid upon deck from the time we came in sight -of it, which was in the morning, until we were -anchored in the harbour. As we sailed along the -island, I anxiously looked for the "<i>place where -two seas met</i>." As we passed by the small island -of Comena, the <i>creek</i> where the apostle says they -thrust in the ship, was easily discerned. It bears -now the name of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul's bay, and the channels -between Comena, Goza, and Malta, meet at it, -which marks it as the place which Paul describes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We left Malta on the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr>, and sailed for Marmorice -bay in Asia. In our voyage, we coasted -along the whole length of the south side of the -island of Candia, which is ancient Crete, after -which we came to the isle of Rhodes, which is -only about 20 miles distant from the coast of Asia. -I felt a more than usual interest in looking at -those places, from what I had read of them in -history, particularly from what is said of them in the -Scriptures. Little did I think, in reading of them -when a boy, that I should one day see them, or -that I should do the duty of a soldier in the land -of Egypt.</p> - -<p class='c005'>From Rhodes we steered direct for the opposite -coast of Asia, and, entering into a passage of some -length, between two high hills, we wondered -where we were going, for we did not see any -place in this opening fit for ships to lie in, and the -land on both sides was rocky hills, covered with -wood, (except where the rocks were completely -bare of soil,) and appeared to be the habitations of -wild beasts. When we arrived very near the head -of the inlet, we were surprised to see a ship that -was a little ahead of us, get out of our sight almost -in an instant; but when we had got a little farther, -we found a passage which turned to the right, -round a very perpendicular hill, as suddenly as if -it had been the corner of a street. Into this passage -we sailed. It was but short, and in a few -minutes we entered into one of the largest and -finest bays, it is said, in the world. Here we cast -anchor on the <abbr title='twenty-ninth'>29th</abbr> December, 1800, and lay until -the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> February, 1801, making arrangements -for our attacking the French in Egypt; procuring -horses for the use of the artillery and cavalry: and -cutting wood for fuel, and for making fascines and -pallisades in case they should be needed after we -landed. The bay is nearly surrounded with high -hills, which, except in and about the small town of -Marmorice, are covered with wood, in general -very thick. There are great numbers of wild -beasts in the woods, which make so much noise -in the night time as to be heard over the whole -bay. There was a small plain on one side of the -bay, where we pitched tents for those that were -sick; but there was a necessity to have a guard, -to keep on fires in the rear of the tents, during the -night; and some nights the noise of the wild beasts -indicated their being so near the tents, that the -sentinels fired to keep them at a distance. Some -seamen belonging to one of the war ships, who -were cutting wood at one place, ventured to stay -all night on the shore; they were killed by the -wild beasts before morning.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We were not long in this place until a market -was erected on shore, and vessels from the adjacent -coast soon found their way to it, with all -kinds of fruit, and sheep and goats, and other useful -articles; so that that part of the shore assumed -the appearance of one of our country fairs. The -soil around the bay is to all appearance fertile; -but cultivation has been on the decline for a long -time past, which has allowed the wood to extend, -in several places, to the very shores. At some -distant period the shores seem to have been better -peopled, and the wood to have been farther back. -I found the ruins of a house upon the top of a -small eminence, pretty far back in the woods. -The walls were partly standing; trees were growing -out of the floor; a plot of ground, which had -been levelled for a garden, still retained its shape, -and had a fine spring of water running through it. -Land turtle is in plenty in the woods.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I shall now return, to state what were the exercises -of my mind during the passage up the Mediterranean, -and while we lay in this bay.—A book -upon the first principles of astronomy fell in my -way. This gave me a new view of creation: and -at the same time a treatise on Philology came into -my hands, in which was a descant on the glory of -God in the works of nature. I had undergone -some very sharp convictions of sin, my mind had -been strongly impressed with eternal things, and -I had persuaded two of my comrades to join with -me in prayer; which we did on several occasions, -but fell off from it. After reading the above-mentioned -books, and several volumes of the -Spectator, my mind fell into a strange speculative -frame, on the duty of the creature to glorify its -Creator, let the Creator do what he will to the -creature. I reasoned thus with myself:—That -every thing that God did was wise and just, therefore -it was our duty to glorify God for all that he -did to us, whether it was in judgment or in mercy: -did he deal with us in mercy—gratitude ought to -lead us to glorify him: did he deal with us in judgment—it -was our own sins that provoked him to -do it: he did no more than what was just; and we -were as really bound to glorify him for his justice, -as for his mercy; and if we did not do so, we augmented -our guilt. By reasoning in this way, I -came at last to a fallacious and very dangerous -conclusion, under the guise of wisdom. I concluded, -that if I could not lessen what guilt was -already contracted, neither altogether avoid contracting -more, it would be wise to contract as -little additional guilt as possible; and that, should -God deal with me in justice, I must not complain -and murmur; he is holy, just, and wise; he will -not punish me above what I deserve; whatever he -does with me, his creature, it becomes me to glorify -his name, by a cheerful acquiescence in his -divine procedure; yea, to glorify Him, should I be -for ever damned. By doing this, I may possibly -make hell more tolerable than otherwise it would -be: if I can not escape his justice, by his not granting -me mercy, let me behave in such a manner as -may make the consequences of his wrath sit the -lighter upon me.—I shudder to think on this part -of my experience at this day; on the pain of mind -with which it was accompanied, and the fallacious -and dangerous opiate which the conclusion contained -to lull my conscience asleep; for I did in -consequence fall into a careless and listless state -of mind. But, by the goodness of God, I was not -allowed to remain long under it. It happened one -day shortly after, that, from eating salt provisions, -and from the extreme scantiness of water, I became -exceedingly thirsty, and with great difficulty procured -a little to drink. A thought then shot across -my mind:—if I am so impatient under a temporary -thirst, and so eager to procure relief, how -shall I preserve my patience in hell?—if I am so -unhappy under the pressure of so trivial a circumstance, -how much more unhappy shall I be, if I -be cast into everlasting burnings, where I shall -not have one drop of water to cool my tongue! -This broke the delusion, but it did not eradicate it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>An infectious fever broke out among us. It was -at first slow in its progress, but after a short time -it began to infect numbers. Our condition on -board the Stately contributed towards it; for we -had no hammocks, nor beds, but only our camp -blankets to sleep in; we lay upon the under deck, -and, when the weather was stormy, so much water -leaked in by the edges of the ports, as made -the lee side of the ship very wet. When she -tacked, the water that was lying in the lee side -would then run across the whole deck; and although -we dried it the best way we could, yet we -were so crowded that we were often under the -necessity of lying down upon the damp deck. -This was hurtful to us, causing us to feel stiff, and -our bones sore; and although it did not <i>produce</i> -the fever, (for it was introduced by some recruits -who came on board at Malta,) it was, in my -opinion, one cause of its spreading so rapidly at -last.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I caught this fever at the time it began to -spread, and it was pretty severe upon me. I got -better, and relapsed, and the second turn of it was -worse than the first.<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c006'><sup>[5]</sup></a> While under it I had time -to consider myself more fully. My present condition -was so painful, that I would have done all -in my power, and given all I could possess, to be -free from it; and yet with my most sanguine -hopes, I could not expect hell to be one half so -tolerable. What, thought I, is the glory of God -to me as a creature? If that same glory only -renders me miserable, will the misery of my condition -if I am sent to hell, be in any measure -alleviated, by the consideration, that the justice of -God is glorified by my condemnation? It is true, -I shall not cease to exist; but what pleasure can I -have in my existence, unless I reap some benefit -by it, by having some portion of happiness in it? -If I am made completely miserable, and have no -prospect of any portion of happiness for the future, -my existence must prove my greatest misery. He -who knows all things has said, "Good were it for -that man, if he had never been born." If the -justice of God dooms me to suffer for my sins, -woe is me! I now exist, and I can not annihilate -myself; nor can I fly from God's justice. I am a -sinner, and if I receive not mercy, I must be for -ever miserable! How awful is his justice! How -great is his power! How daring and delusive the -thought of hoping to find any portion of happiness -in that place, where he has declared all is perfect -misery; where nothing dwells but the terrors of -the Almighty; where the subjects of his justice are -a terror to themselves, and to each other; where -there is nothing but weeping, and wailing, and -gnashing of teeth!</p> - -<p class='c005'>As I began to recover, I turned my thoughts -more closely than before, to those places of Scripture -which describe hell, the place of torment. I -examined what the Scripture has said of its awful -nature; that it is "a fearful thing to fall into the -hands of the living God;"—for "who knoweth -the power of his anger?" and "our God is a consuming -fire." I found, also, that the Scripture -evidence of its being endless in its duration, was -as conclusive as that of the endless duration of the -happiness of heaven. He who said that the one -was eternal, said the same of the other. But, when -contemplating this awful subject, I was at times -tempted to think, "It may be, that although God -has said so, he may not intend to execute his -dreadful threatening to the full extent: there may -be a future period, in which he will extend mercy to -his creatures, but which he has kept hid from them, -for wise purposes, that they might not presume -on his mercy, and spend their present lives in sin, -and not repent in this world, because there would -be an opportunity to repent in the next."—But this -reasoning did not long deceive me; for I continued -to ponder the subject, and I saw that such a notion -did not consist with the veracity of God. He could -not say one thing, while he intended another; if I -admitted that he said one thing and intended -another, with respect to the duration of punishment -in hell, it would, with equal consistency, -apply to what he said of the endless happiness of -heaven, and so render uncertain any hope that -might be built upon the promise of it; and if the -principle were in one case admitted, it would -throw loose all his promises and threatenings, respecting -both this world and the next; for we should -still have room to think, God has said so, but he does -not mean so.—I also reflected, if God has said, -that the punishment of hell shall be eternal, and -has a secret purpose of mercy at some distant -period, if this is a secret of his own, how can any -one know it? If he has not told it, how is it possible -for any one to find out that which God intends -should be secret? Reflection upon this idea, put -an end to the speculation, as being a gross absurdity. -I also reflected on the nature of sin;—I -said to myself, "Supposing I were cast into hell -for the sins of my present life, would I cease to -commit sin when there? and if I did what was in -itself sinful in hell, would the torments of the -place excuse it? would the justice of God take no -cognisance of what I did there?" This was a -piercing exercise to my mind: but it was salutary; -and I believe I was indebted to what I had read -in Boston's Fourfold State for it, although I was -not aware of it at the time. I answered the above -queries in this way: If, when I am in a state of -partial sufferings here, I am not able to suffer without -being at least impatient and fretful, if I do not -actually complain and murmur—how can I expect -to behave any better in hell? My present sufferings -do not excuse the sins I commit under them; -I shall then, as well as now, be a subject of the -justice of God; and when I shall be suffering for -past sins, that will be no excuse for the commission -of new ones; if I am to make the debt of sin -less by suffering for it, I must not contract more -debt at the time I am paying the old; for if I do, I -shall continue to be a debtor; and as long as I -continue to commit sin, I must continue to suffer -for it, for the claims of Divine justice are indispensable. -Following out these reflections put a -complete end to all speculation, of the probability, -or possibility, of ever finding any portion of happiness, -if I did not obtain the pardon of my sins, -and deliverance from sin itself, before I left this -world, and appeared in the presence of God.—These -speculations show that my mind was ready -to catch at any thing, that appeared to furnish the -least hope, however delusive it might be; for when -I looked forward to eternity, not having the confidence -that arises from faith in the Lord Jesus, as -an all-sufficient Saviour, and not discerning the -doctrine of his complete atonement and justifying -righteousness, I was glad to lay hold of any thing -that appeared to afford the smallest glimpse of -hope, rather than be without hope altogether.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Having, by the goodness of God, recovered from -the fever, the effect of it was to make me resolve -once more to devote myself to his service. Gratitude -for his mercy in my recovery induced me to -do this; and I hoped for better success in my endeavours -than heretofore: but alas! it was not long -before my conscience found matter of accusation -against me; and this threw me as far back as ever. -I searched for a reason why I failed in my attempts -to serve God; but I did not find the true one. I -began to lay the blame on the example and conversation -of my comrades; and would fain have -palliated the evil of my conduct on this ground, -and flattered myself that God would therefore be -the less strict with me. But then I reflected, that -it would be a pernicious and fatal delusion for me, -to flatter myself with any thing that would not -stand the test of his judgment seat. I found no -toleration for sin, in any situation, in the word of -God; and my conscience charged me, not only with -wilful sins, for which I could devise no excuse, -but also with loving sin itself, which God hateth. -Yet, as experience had taught me that one thing -led to another, I determined to keep myself as -much as possible out of the company of the profligate, -and profane, and loose talkers, and to keep -my mind as constantly fixed as possible on serious -subjects. I set heaven with all its charms before -my mind, as the object to be gained, and hell with -all its terrors, as the object to be escaped. I contrasted -time with eternity, and said to myself, -Surely eternity is of such vast importance, as to -be worth all the sufferings that can be endured, -and all the exertions that can be made, in the narrow -bounds of human life. I again set out in a -new course of obedience, resolved to watch all the -avenues to temptation; and, under the influence of -this resolution, I avoided, as much as I could, in -my present situation, those whose conversation I -wished to shun; but it was impossible to be always -out of the hearing of it;—all I could do, was not -to mingle in converse with them; and I have frequently -stopped my ears with my fingers, that I -might not hear licentious and profane talk, when -I knew it was going on: but I could not do this -on every occasion, and when I did get it done, it -gave me a proof of the deceitfulness of my own -heart; for evil thoughts and sinful desires would -spring up in it even at the time when I was stopping -my ears, that I might not hear the wicked -conversation of others. To this, however, I was -not sufficiently attentive, but laid the blame, in -some shape or other, on the temptations with which -I was surrounded, as being, either directly or indirectly, -the cause why I was not able to keep my -own heart. This led me to despair of my ever -being able to serve God aright, and obtain his -favour by keeping his commandments while I remained -in the army. I therefore began to wish I -were free of it, and placed in a situation where -I should have it in my power to enjoy solitude, -and keep out of the way of temptation. I thought -that of a hermit a very favourable one; not that I -wished to be a hermit altogether, but I fancied if -I were only in a situation in which I could keep -myself, in a great measure, secluded from the -world, and give myself to reading, meditation, and -devotion, I should then serve God in a perfect -manner. Here again I began to reflect—What if -God cuts me off for my sins while I am in the -army? What shall become of me? Have I any -hope if I should die, or be slain, while in the -army? To this perplexing question I could give -no answer; all I could do, was to pray to God to -spare my life, to deliver me from the army, and to -bring me into a situation in which I should have -it in my power to serve him. But my mind soon -misgave me, and led me to suspect that this was -not right; and on examining it, I became convinced -that I was equally bound to serve God in -my present situation as in any other. Our Lord's -answer to Paul's prayer, "My grace is sufficient -for thee," and many other promises of God to his -people came into my mind; and, although I did not -understand them aright, yet they convinced me -that my situation would not be an excuse for my -sins; they convinced me, that if I was one of -God's children, his grace would be sufficient to -enable me to serve him acceptably, whatever situation -his providence might allot me. But knowing, -at the same time, that bad company had a great -effect in confirming evil habits, I still thought, that -were I but free of the army, I should have a great -deal less to struggle with. Before I was free of the -army, however, experience convinced me that -solitude was no antidote to a deceitful heart; for -in the solitary hours of night, while watching and -on guard, and during the sleepless nights passed in -the hospital, I found abundance of sinful thoughts -and desires arise in my heart.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I next went to the opposite extreme, and imagined -a state of unremitting activity was the best. -I thought that were I discharged and at home, I -should then enjoy the means of grace on the Sabbath; -that my work would occupy my mind the -greater part of my time through the week; and -that I should then have it in my power so to regulate -my conduct, as to take up my whole attention -between lawful and serious things, and thus leave -no vacant room in my mind for evil thoughts, or -what might lead me to the commission of sin.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Under these exercises of mind I continued until -the time when we left Marmorice Bay, which was -on the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> February, 1801, when the fleet weighed -anchor, and were all safely collected upon the -coast, outside of the bay, before sun-set, and then -steered their course for Egypt. A Turkish Admiral, -with two or three frigates, had joined the -fleet. A number of Greek vessels also were with -us, which had been hired to transport the horses -that had been procured at Marmorice, for the use -of the artillery, cavalry, and field officers. The -wind was brisk, but the evening was fine, and as -our fleet consisted of near two hundred sail, many -of which were large and elegant ships, it had a -grand and interesting appearance. This interest -was heightened by the consideration of the sea, -and the coast, that we were sailing on, for the -celebrated island of Rhodes was on our right, and -the coast of Asia Minor on our left. The various -nations on board of this fleet, as seamen and soldiers, -was novel and striking, for there were -Turks, Greeks, and English, with Corsicans, and -a brigade of soldiers in our service, composed of -men from various parts of Germany, but the part -that the soldier was destined to act in the enterprise -before us, was to him the most interesting -contemplation, for his personal safety was the most -deeply involved in the undertaking. The wind -continued to freshen, and "the fleet had not stood -long on its course before one of the Greek vessels, -laden with mules, foundered, and one man alone -was saved." The Turkish frigates and Greek -vessels left us, and took shelter in the nearest ports. -The weather was not what we considered bad, -but they were not good navigators: their departure, -however, was a serious loss to the army, for -the want of the horses on board of them. The -weather became moderate, and on the <abbr title='twenty-eighth'>28th</abbr> we -fell in with our squadron that was blockading -Alexandria, and on the 1st March discovered land -somewhat to the westward of that place. The -wind had been light through the day, but freshened -during the night, and there were heavy -showers of rain. This made the soldiers remark, -that if there was no rain in Egypt, there was rain -very near it; some who were of a deistical turn -began to insinuate that the Bible had not given a -correct account of Egypt; and the apparent contradiction -made some of us rather at a loss to reconcile -it. During the course of conversation on -this subject, I heard one observe, that the Bible -did not say directly that there never was any rain -in Egypt, but that when it spoke of there being no -rain there, it referred to the agriculture of Egypt, -not depending, like that of other countries, upon -rain, but upon the annual inundations of the Nile.<a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c006'><sup>[6]</sup></a> -This is the fact; but it is also true, that although -during the winter season there are thunder storms -and rain on the sea-coast, yet these seldom go far -into the country, and at Grand Cairo rain is a -great rarity. After the regiment had been at that -city and returned, and after we left Egypt, having -staid in it six months, I never heard any one urge -the objection any more. All agreed that the -scripture account of Egypt was as true as general -expressions could describe it; so that this, like -many other infidel objections, was founded on an -apparent, not a real contradiction. The universal -remark upon the country was, that they believed -a remnant of the plagues of Moses still existed -in it.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f5'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. </span>There were few of the regiment that escaped it; all -relapsed after the first recovery, and those who were -longest of catching the infection were worst.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f6'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. </span><abbr title='Zechariah'>Zech.</abbr> <abbr title='14'>xiv.</abbr> 18. <abbr title='Deuteronomy'>Deut.</abbr> <abbr title='11'>xi.</abbr> 10, and connexion.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap5' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='five'>V.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>On the forenoon of the <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> March, we cast anchor -in Aboukir Bay, the place where the battle -of the Nile was fought. Here we lay until the -<abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr>, before the weather would permit us to land; -a period of great anxiety, for every hour was giving -the enemy time to collect his forces, and prepare -the means of defence. This made the prospect -increasingly awful. Our regiment was intended -to have been one of those which should land first; -but the fever having increased so much, that about -one half of our number were at this time sick, we -were unfit to perform a regiment's part, and -another of equal strength was put in our place. -The bay was shallow, and the ships which contained -the troops being in general of a large size, -had to anchor at a considerable distance from the -shore. On the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr>, a number of smaller vessels -which had been loaded with provisions, but whose -cargoes were now nearly expended, were moved -to about three miles from the shore; and several -regiments were put on board of them, that support -might be quickly given to those who landed first. -All of our regiment fit for duty were ordered into -one of these vessels in the evening. The weather -was now favourable, and every thing indicated -that the landing would be attempted next morning. -I slept little or none during the night; but frequently -employed myself in short prayers to God -to be merciful to me, and to spare me and protect -me from danger.—I was surprised this night -with a want of my ordinary sight, and heard numbers -of my comrades say that they did not see so -well as usual, and yet they had no pain in their -eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About two o'clock in the morning the signal -was made for the first division of the troops to get -into the boats, and at three o'clock they were -ordered to row for their rendezvous in the rear of -one of the light war-vessels that was anchored -about a gun-shot from the shore. This was a -very fatiguing service to the seamen; because the -fleet was so widely anchored, and many of the -large ships so far from the shore, that it was nine -o'clock before they were all collected and arranged. -The enemy could see all our movements; and -the unavoidable delays that took place, gave them -a fair opportunity to provide for their defence, for -they now knew the only point at which we could -land. I contemplated the scene with an anxious -aching heart. The number of troops in the boats -was about 5500, and the whole army about 15,000, -of which there were about 1000 sick at the time -of landing, and of these about 400 belonged to our -own regiment.—There were two bomb ketches -and three sloops of war, anchored with their -broadsides to the shore; on the right flank of the -boats there were a cutter, two Turkish gun-boats, -and two armed launches; and on the left flank, a -cutter, a schooner, one gun-boat, and two launches. -These light vessels were to go as near the shore as -the water would admit, to annoy the enemy and -protect the boats.</p> - -<p class='c005'>At nine o'clock the signal was made for the -boats to advance; and the whole line advanced at -the same instant, giving three loud cheers. "The -French, to the number of two thousand, were -posted on the top of sand-hills, forming the concave -arc of a circle on the front of about a mile, -in the centre of which elevated itself, a nearly -perpendicular height of sixty yards, apparently inaccessible."<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c006'><sup>[7]</sup></a> -The left of this rising ground was -a continuation of sand-hills close to the shore, -gradually diminishing in their height until they -ended in a long flat tongue forming the entrance -of Lake Maadie. The ground to the right of the -centre height on the shore was flat, but there were -clusters of thick bushes, (such as form the date or -palm tree), which were favourable for concealing -the enemy; and on the extremity of the right stood -the castle of Aboukir, in which were several 10 -inch mortars, and a large Martello tower, having -two brass 32 pounders on its top, and which, from -its position and height, commanded nearly the -whole shore. As soon as the boats set off for the -beach, the two bomb ketches, and the three sloops -of war, began to throw their shot and shells upon the -shore; and the light vessels, stationed to protect -the flanks of the boats, moved along with them -and began to fire. The bulk of the enemy's field -artillery was in the flat ground, to the right of the -height before mentioned, the rest was among the -smaller sand-hills on the left of it. As soon as the -boats were within the reach of their shot, they -opened their fire on them; and it appeared to be -their design, to make their shot cross the boats in -the centre. The heavy guns on the top of the -tower in Aboukir castle, and the mortars, commenced, -at the same time, their fire on the right -flank of the boats. The scene now became dreadful; -the war vessels pouring whole broadsides; -the bomb ketches throwing shells, which, exploding -in the air, formed numerous little clouds; -and the gun-boats and cutters on the flanks of the -boats, exerting themselves to the utmost. As none -of these, however, could approach the shore, so -near as to be within the reach of grape-shot, or -even to have a certain aim, their exertions were of -little benefit to the boats; which pursued their progress -towards the shore, whilst the enemy's artillery, -(12 pieces, exclusive of the large guns in -Aboukir castle), continued to play upon them with -unremitting activity. All eyes were directed towards -the boats; every flash of the enemy's artillery -was noticed; and every eye on the stretch, to -discern where the shot might strike the water, to -observe if it lighted among the boats, and if any -of them were damaged or sunk; and we too often -had occasion to picture to our minds, when we -saw the shot strike in the middle of them, and -produce disorder, how many it might have killed, -or wounded, or drowned; for my own part, although -I felt thankful that I was not myself in the boats, -yet my feelings for those that were, were nearly, if -not altogether, as painful, as if I had been in them; -and I believe that this was the case with the most -of the spectators. But while we were thus feeling -for them, we became increasingly astonished to -behold how the boats pressed forwards towards the -shore, although the wind, of which there was a -smart breeze, was against them; how well they -preserved their order under the terrible fire of the -enemy's artillery; and how quickly any disorder -produced by the shot that fell amongst them was -remedied. The painful feelings of anxious apprehension -and suspense experienced by those in -the boats, must have been greatly heightened by -the circumstance, that most of the shells and shot -fired by our war vessels were necessarily fired over -their heads, they being between the vessels and -the enemy: so that an ill-directed shot from their -own ships, was as dangerous to them as one from -the shore; and when buzzing through the air over -them, must have been apprehended as one from -the enemy, about to strike destruction amongst -them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As the boats approached the shore, the enemy -moved their artillery that was on their right, and -drew it nearer to their centre. It appeared to be -a part of their object, to keep the extreme right of -the boats betwixt their artillery and the war vessels, -and thus prevent the war vessels from having -a clear opening to direct their fire: and indeed all -our fire, from all descriptions of vessels, did not -seem to interrupt for a moment that of the enemy, -or to silence a single gun all the time the troops -were rowing to the beach. When they approached -near to it, the enemy having drawn their artillery -from the right, planted it on the top of the -centre height, which now appeared to look directly -down upon the boats: and now came the most -trying moment. From this elevated position they -poured down such a continued fire of shot, shell, -and grape, as made us, who were looking on, apprehend -that few would reach the shore. Some -disorder too appearing among the boats increased -our fears; but at this instant we heard them begin -to cheer, and saw them press forward with redoubled -vigour. We soon observed the right -flank of the boats reach the shore under the centre -height,<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c006'><sup>[8]</sup></a> and the men form immediately on the -beach; while the enemy from the top of the height -poured down grape shot, as well as the fire of musketry -from a line of infantry which was ranged -along it. In a few seconds the <abbr title='fourtieth'>40th</abbr> flank companies, -and the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> regiment, were in line; and, -without firing a shot, ascended the height in the -face of the enemy. This movement was clearly -seen by the whole fleet, and attracted all eyes.—The -spectators began to tremble, lest the enemy -should drive them down again; but we were astonished -to see with what rapidity and order they -mounted the steep face of the height. They were -soon close to the enemy, and charged them with -loud cheers, when the enemy fled, and in an instant -both parties were out of sight. The <abbr title='forty-second'>42d</abbr> regiment, -which had landed and formed, was now -seen ascending the left of the height, and charging -the enemy opposed to them, who also fled and disappeared. -We now turned our attention more to -the left, where part of the troops were forming on -the beach; but the left of the boats had not yet -reached the shore. The enemy, who had been -posted among the smaller sand-hills, as soon as the -boats came near the shore, rushed down into the -water, fired into them, and endeavoured to prevent -their landing. A party of cavalry also charged -those who were in the act of landing, which -produced a temporary confusion; but they were -soon wholly repulsed. All the troops were landed, -and the beach, and the heights that lined it, cleared -of the enemy, I believe, in less than a quarter -of an hour, and nothing to be seen by the spectators, -but the empty boats, hoisting their sails, and -proceeding with all possible speed to receive the -second division. Some of them soon reached the -ship I was in, and with all haste we got into them -and rowed for the shore. On the way I saw some -boats swamped, which had been struck with large -shot; but the men who were in them had been -picked up by the small boats, which followed those -that had troops in them, for this express purpose. -The number of boats, that were seriously damaged, -was small, compared with what might have been -expected; but they were in general less or more -perforated with grape shot and musketry. The -boat in which I was had an oar broken, and was -otherwise damaged; but none of the men were -killed or seriously wounded in her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We soon reached the shore, at a place where it -was deeper than common: and with a leap I landed -dry shod. The first thing I saw, as I passed -along the beach, was some Frenchmen lying dead -within the edge of the water. The beach was -strewed with dead and wounded men, with horses, -and artillery taken from the enemy: but the action -was over. We formed in a hollow on the left of -the centre height, where the <abbr title='forty-second'>42d</abbr> had repulsed a -charge of cavalry; some of the <abbr title='forty-second'>42d</abbr>, and also of -the cavalry, with their horses, were stretched dead -upon the sand:—we were soon ready, and advanced -through the first range of sand-hills, and found -the first division formed with their artillery, which -had landed along with them, and was drawn by -seamen. This circumstance had materially contributed -to the success of the landing; for the -enemy were astonished to find that our artillery -was landed as soon as the troops, and began to fire -upon them as soon as the musketry of the infantry. -Eight pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy; -but the army lost in this affair, one hundred -and two killed, five hundred and fifteen wounded, -and thirty-five missing; the loss of the navy was -twenty-two killed, seventy-two wounded, and -three missing, making a total of seven hundred -and forty-nine, the greater part of which were killed -or wounded in the boats, previous to landing.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the course of the day the troops were all -landed; we did not however advance far that day, -but took up a position at no great distance from the -shore. Our first concern was to learn whether -water could be got in this sandy desert; and we -were glad to find that it could be obtained in the -hollows, by digging a little way in the sand. When -night came on we stationed our guards, and lay -upon the sand, covering ourselves with our blankets. -This night I was surprised to find that I -could see nothing, and I continued to be in this -state every night, until the night of the <abbr title='twentieth'>20d</abbr>: in -the day time I saw as well as ever I did, and had -no pain in my eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the <abbr title='ninth'>9th</abbr> our regiment, along -with a party of Corsican riflemen, advanced along -the peninsula about three miles from where we -landed, to a place where it was contracted into -less than half a mile in breadth. Here was a redoubt -and a flag-staff, for communicating signals -betwixt Aboukir castle and Alexandria: but the -enemy had left it, and thrown a large gun, intended -to be mounted on it, into the ditch. In the -course of the day, the <abbr title='forty-second'>42d</abbr> regiment and others, -came and occupied this position, and we returned -to our former one, where we remained until the -morning of the <abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr>, waiting for the landing of -some horses, ammunition, and provisions, from the -fleet. We made booths of the branches of the -date (or palm tree), to shelter ourselves from the -dew, which fell very copiously, and we had sometimes -heavy showers of rain and hail, which made -it pretty cold. The thermometer was frequently -below 50.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the <abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr>, having filled our -canteens with water, and furnished ourselves with -three days provisions, the whole army advanced. -Having proceeded a little beyond the narrow neck -of the peninsula, the enemy's cavalry began to -skirmish; our march was slow and often interrupted; -the surface of the ground being very uneven, -the sand very deep, and the day very warm, -parties were frequently sent to assist the seamen -with the guns, and even those guns which had -horses to draw them, were unable to get forward, -for the horses had never been used to the draught, -and were often unmanageable.—Before evening -we came within sight of the enemy's army posted -on a height. Their strength was about 6000 men, -of which 600 were cavalry, with 20 to 30 pieces -of cannon. As it was too late to engage them that -night, we halted, and began to dig for water; for -we had made use of all that we had, and were -now very thirsty. The place where we began to -dig, was a deep soil of black earth, and below it -a clayish mixture. About four or five feet from the -surface, water began to appear in small quantities; -each company dug a well; but before the one to -which I belonged had found water, the regiment -was ordered upon picquet. There was no help -for it. We were posted along the front of the army, -only those who were blind were not put on -sentry, but left in groupes, a little in the rear. -There were nearly twenty of a company in this -condition. We felt very unhappy; for we had to -remain in the spot where we were, until, when it -was necessary to shift our position, some one who -had sight came to conduct us to another place: we -then took hold of one another, and were led in a -string; and, had a party of the enemy made a dash -at the place where we were, we were unable either -to have resisted or fled.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the morning of the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr> we were ordered to -advance in front of the army, to form, along with -the <abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> regiment, the advanced guard. We had -no time to procure water, but got a little rum, and -began our march, leaving our knapsacks with a -guard. We had not advanced far, before our -light company, which was in front, came upon the -enemy's picquets, and a skirmishing began, which -increased as we advanced. The light company -was reinforced several times, the enemy's picquets -getting stronger as they retreated, being joined by -those who were in their rear. The ground through -which we marched was interspersed with thick -bushes; but we approached a rising ground, on -which the main body of the enemy's army was -drawn up in order of battle. The ascent to this -height was entirely bare, and also the ground to -the left of it, which projected to Lake Maadie.—Our -regiment kept to the side of the lake; the -<abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> was on our right; and the army followed us -in two lines. Our parties in front pressed eagerly -upon the enemy's picquets, which caused the regiment -to march pretty quickly, in order to be -near them for their support; and this led us to -get a considerable way in advance of the army, -which could not follow with the same speed.—There -was one nine pounder field-piece, and one -four and a half inch howitzer, along with us; but -very little ammunition with them. Armed launches -too had kept pace with the left of the army upon -the lake; but it was now so shallow that they -could not follow us farther.—As soon as the <abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> -regiment had cleared the broken ground, and began -to ascend the height on which the enemy's -army was posted, a heavy column of cavalry was -observed coming forward to charge them. The -front section of the <abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> halted, and the regiment -formed line with all expedition. The front section -of the enemy's cavalry wheeled, as soon as it -came opposite the right of the <abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr>, and began to -form line. The two parties formed opposite and -very near each other, but the cavalry line was -formed first. The rear sections of the <abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> had -not time to reach the extent of the line, and closed -upon the rear of the left, making it six or eight -deep, but they had a clear view of the horsemen -who were on higher ground. The cavalry advanced -upon them with their swords raised; the -<abbr title='ninetieth'>90th</abbr> stood firm, until the cavalry were so near the -right of their line, that they were going to strike -at them with their swords; they then began to fire, -and it ran from right to left like a rattling peal of -thunder. It was one of the most terrible discharges -of musketry I ever saw; and, from the nearness -of the enemy, it was dreadfully destructive. The -cavalry instantly retreated, and many horses ran -away with empty saddles. During the time of -this transaction, which was over in a few seconds, -our regiment made a momentary pause. On the -retreat of the cavalry we again advanced. The -enemy then began to open their artillery upon us -from the heights. We still pressed on; but as -they saw all our movements, and perceived that -we were considerably advanced before the army, -they formed the resolution to attack us with all -their force; and accordingly marched to their right -down the height, and, when on the plain, formed -line, and came forward. When we perceived -their movement, we halted, formed five companies -in line; posted the other five in the rear of scattered -bushes on the left towards the lake, and -awaited their approach. We cannonaded them -with our two pieces, but our ammunition being -soon expended, the guns were drawn into the rear.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the time that we were advancing, I had -frequently and earnestly prayed to God, to spare -and protect me. Our present situation was one of -imminent danger; part of the enemy's artillery -were playing upon us from the rising ground towards -the right; and in front, the enemy, with -the rest of his artillery, was advancing in great -force, in a line formed like the blade of a scythe, -the curved point to our left on the shore of the lake, -and that part of it appeared to be composed of cavalry.<a id='r9' /><a href='#f9' class='c006'><sup>[9]</sup></a> -It seemed to be the enemy's intention to -come round our left, and get into our rear with -that part of their line, while the rest of it attacked -us in front, and out-flanked us on the right, by -which they would have completely surrounded -us, and either destroyed or carried us prisoners, -before the main body of the army could arrive to -assist us. This was their only object. They -were too weak to attack the army on level ground -with any hope of success; but they were more than -competent to take or destroy our party, which did -not amount to 500 men. I was near the left of -the line, and beheld the advance of the enemy with -an anxious mind; but as we were standing in a -fixed position, I had some leisure for reflection; -and as death was once more staring me in the face, -I began to inquire "what hope have I for eternity, -if I am cut off at this time?" I confessed my -sins in the words of the <abbr title='fifty-first'>51st</abbr> Psalm; and besought -God to pardon them, and give me a new heart; I -then thought, "If we are mostly cut down at this -time, and have to appear before God, will he make -no difference between me and those around me, -many of whom, in place of calling upon him, profane -his name?" I then endeavoured to lay hold -on the mercies promised to the penitent and contrite -in heart. I thought I was sorry for my sins, -and confessed them without guile, and on this account -I endeavoured to hope for mercy, thus resting -partly on the difference that I conceived to be -between my own character and that of others, and -partly on my contrition and repentance before -God. But my mind was still dissatisfied; I still -feared the worst; I knew not the merits of a -Saviour's righteousness; my hope was not built -upon him but on myself, and could not be satisfactory. -I therefore cried to God to spare me once -more, and promised that my future life should be -devoted to his service. The Lord was pleased to -hear my cry, and to protect me during the awful -scene that was just about to commence. The -enemy's line had advanced within about 300 -yards, and brought two-field pieces in front of the -company I was in, and fired them at us. One of -the balls came skimming along the surface of the -ground. I caught a view of it at some distance, -and thought it was coming directly to me. It -grazed a small hillock of rubbish a few yards in -our front, and laid down the second file on my -right. It struck the left leg of the front rank man -in the centre, passing through it, and leaving a -part of the skin on each side. It grazed the calf -of the rear rank man's left leg, tearing it, and carrying -part of it away. The small stones which it -drove from the rubbish-hillock hurt our faces, -and a quantity of them entered into the lacerated -limbs of the wounded like hail. The one whose -leg was broken died some time after he had undergone -amputation; the other also died some months -after in Rosetta. I thought that the hillock of -rubbish had perhaps altered the direction of the -ball, else it might have struck me; and while I -felt for my comrades, I thanked God that I had -escaped.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We were now anxious for orders to commence -firing, as the enemy were still marching forwards; -the ground in front was somewhat undulated, rising -a little, for about 200 yards in our front, and then -gently falling. Our commanding officer allowed -them to advance, as far as to the highest part in -our front; and whenever we saw their feet distinctly, -gave orders to fire. This was eagerly done; -and the moment we began firing, the enemy's line, -in place of rushing forward, and destroying us in -an instant, made a halt from right to left, and -opened their fire upon us. As we were most afraid -of the two pieces of artillery in front playing upon -us with grape-shot, those around me directed their -fire chiefly at them, which I believe caused them -to be removed to one of the flanks. We then levelled -at those directly in our front; but the smoke -soon covered them so much, that a particular object -was not visible. We then took aim at where -we judged their line was; but we were not so -much afraid of those directly in our front, as of a -body which appeared to be cavalry, and which -threatened to come round our left into our rear.—In -order to keep them back; those near me directed -nearly the one half of their fire against -them; for we feared that those who were posted -in the rear of the bushes to our left, would not be -able to prevent them from advancing, the bushes -being widely scattered, so that they might have -been easily passed. These men, however, did -their duty most admirably. The enemy opened a -fire of grape-shot, from several pieces of artillery, -to dislodge them; but they bravely maintained their -post. Our ranks were now getting thinner; our -commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Erskine, -was severely wounded with grape shot in several -parts of the body.<a id='r10' /><a href='#f10' class='c006'><sup>[10]</sup></a> The officer commanding the -company I was in, was also wounded, and many -more.—After we had fired about 12 rounds, whilst -I was in the act of loading, I was struck by a -musket ball in the left side, near the pit of the -stomach, close to the ribs, and was whirled round -on my heels by the force of the stroke. I was -stunned and felt great pain; and, concluding that -I was wounded, I stept into the rear and grasped -the place with my hand. I found the skin was -entire; and on shaking myself, the ball dropped at -my feet. I then resumed my place in the ranks, -and continued to fire until I had expended 22 -rounds; when to our great joy, a party of marines, -doing duty on shore, arrived on our right, and -Dillon's regiment on our left. At the first fire of -these troops, the enemy retreated with great precipitation. -We pursued them to some distance; -and Dillon's regiment coming up with a party of -them, charged, and took two pieces of cannon.—The -enemy was so closely pressed that he divided -his forces, and part of them retreated to the left, -through a shallow place of the Lake Maadie, the -other part retired direct upon Alexandria. Had -we had a proper proportion of cavalry, we might -have captured all the enemy's artillery, and even -have taken Alexandria itself; for we could have -reached it before that part of the enemy's force -which retreated to the left, as we were nearer it -than they.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The army formed in line on the heights which -the enemy had occupied in the morning: they -cannonaded us, and kept up a fire of sharp-shooters, -by which we lost a number of men. A -division of the army was detached to the left, to a -height near to that of Alexandria; the reserve -advanced on the right, and another division in the -centre. Our regiment was part of the division -sent to the left. The day was warm, and we -suffered much from want of water. I have seen a -Spanish dollar offered for a draught, and in many -instances refused. The gunpowder which unavoidably -got into our mouths by biting the ends of -our cartridges while loading, tended greatly to -augment our thirst.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The enemy had now concentrated his forces on -the heights of Alexandria. When he saw our division -advancing to the left, he sent a party with -two guns to cannonade us, and as we advanced -nearer, he opened upon us a heavy fire of shot and -shell. Our order of march was in divisions of -companies; and, as we drew near the height, a -cannon bail struck the ground, close to the right -of the division of the company I was in. The -ground happened to be soft mould; the ball lodged -itself in the mould, and we were covered with -the dust and small fragments of stones which it -raised. It was a great mercy that the ground was -not hard in that spot, as it was in the greatest part -of the adjacent ground; for the ball would in that -case have rebounded, and in all probability have -laid down the front rank of the division. I felt -thankful for deliverance, and continued to pray in -my heart to God to spare and protect me.—We -formed in close columns upon the height. The -bed of a canal, over which was a bridge, lay in -the bottom of the hollow that was betwixt us and -the enemy's position: the bridge was defended by -a party of cavalry and infantry, with two guns. -The <abbr title='forty-fourth'>44th</abbr> regiment, being sent in front, charged -the enemy with the bayonet, and captured the -bridge; and the party which defended it retired -into their own lines. During this operation the -columns advanced, and began to descend into the -hollow. Our regiment was in the front, the enemy -played upon us with his artillery, to which we -were now dreadfully exposed; but, after we had -descended some way down the height, we were -ordered to retire; and, as we retreated undercover -of the height, we were partly screened from his -fire. After we had remained in this position some -time, our regiment was allowed to retire to the -rear of the right of the centre division of the army. -This division had been formed in line on the -plain, and being wholly unprotected from the -enemy's shot, had suffered very severely. They -were still in this state; but they had now laid -down their arms, and either sat or lay on the -ground, by which means they were not so much -exposed. We took up our position, and several -men from each company were allowed to go in -quest of water. I was one of them; and, as no -one knew where to find it, we took different -routes. After travelling some distance to the rear, -I got information where water was to be had; and -having made all haste to the spot, I found it, and -instantly began to drink; but I thought I should -never be satisfied. Never was any thing so precious -to me in all my life as this water. After -having drank a considerable quantity, I began to -fill the canteens (of which I had ten) which I had -brought to fetch it to those who remained; but -many a drink I took before I had filled them. I -then began to feel a little hungry, having eaten -nothing from the preceding morning, lest it should -increase my thirst. I sat down and took a piece -of biscuit and a bit of pork, and began to eat; but -still every mouthful required a little of the water; -and I wished to be fully satisfied, before leaving -the place, that I might not be under the necessity -of drinking any of what I was carrying away. -The water was white and muddy, but not thick; -it was in a part of what had been the bed of a -canal, or had been hollowed out by torrents coming -from the heights in the winter season, across the -mouth of which a bank had been thrown, which -prevented the water from running into the lake, to -which it was near. Having satisfied my thirst, I -returned with a load of water to my comrades, to -whom it was as acceptable as it had been to myself. -We remained until near sun-set in the same -position; and as the whole army was within reach -of the enemy's shot, he continued less or more to -cannonade us. When our regiment got on their -feet and began to move, they fired at us from two -of their heaviest guns. One of the balls rebounded -from the ground, nearly killed our Major, and -passed through the ranks: those opposite to it saw -it, and were so fortunate as to make an opening, -through which it passed without touching any one.</p> - -<p class='c005'>By sun-set the army took up its position on the -heights from which the enemy had been driven on -the morning, with our right to the sea, and our -left to the canal that separated Lake Maadie from -the bed of Lake Marcotis.—As soon as our position -was adjusted, and we had liberty to pile our arms, -the cry was for more water; and as I had been -sent for it before, and knew where it was to be -found, I was sent along with others. It was dusk -before we reached the spot, which now presented -a confused but interesting scene. The cavalry and -artillery horses, which had been all day without -water, were now there, and had gone into it with -their feet, where they were greedily drinking. -This had stirred up the mud, and made the water -a perfect puddle; near the edge it was as thick as -paste. We had therefore to wade in among the -horses to where it was deeper; so that here were -men and horses, standing promiscuously, knee -deep in the water, trying as it were which could -drink fastest. By the time I got my canteens filled, -it was pretty dark; and, owing to the confusion, -as I could not see, I had great difficulty in finding -the regiment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I now lay down on the ground to take some -rest. I reflected seriously on the events of the -past day, and thanked God for having heard my -prayers, and for having spared and protected me. -I remembered the promises I had made, and my -conscience accused me of having broken them -almost as soon as made. Even during the time of -the action, when many were falling around me, -and my danger was greatest, I had made use of improper -expressions: expressions which I was not -guilty of using at other times, and which, on such -an occasion, above all others, I ought to have -avoided. This threw me into dejection of spirits, -and into a train of very serious reflections for -several days; reflections which were deepened by -my being led to see more minutely the danger I -had escaped. Having occasion to shift my clothes, -I observed that the ball which had struck me on -the side, had passed through my coat and cut my -waistcoat between the second and third button -from the bottom; it had then grazed my side, and -had been obstructed in its passage outwards by a -small volume of poems, containing Pope's Essay -on Man, Blair's Grave, and Gray's Elegy, which -I had in my side pocket. The corner of the binding -next to my side was shattered, and the greater -part of the leaves much bruised. I now discerned, -that it had been the force with which the ball -struck the book that had wheeled me round. I -was impressed with the conviction, that if I had -been standing square to my front, the ball would -have lodged in my left side; and that even in the -oblique position in which I stood, had it been one -inch nearer the right, it would have lodged in the -body and proved mortal. There were few of my -comrades that had not their clothes cut in several -places; and many had received contusions that -would have proved mortal wounds, if the French had -properly loaded their pieces. It was said that they -did not use the ramrod in loading, which enabled -them to fire with greater rapidity; but the charge -being loose in their pieces, the shot did not fly so -true to its direction, and was in many cases weak; -making only a contusion, in place of perforating -the body. This partly accounts for such a long -continued and tremendously superior fire, not -being so destructive as might have been apprehended. -The regiment lost 125 killed and wounded; -but our wonder was how so many had escaped.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The loss sustained by the army, was 156 killed, -1082 wounded; and of seamen and marines there -were 29 killed and 55 wounded, making a total -of 1322. Four pieces of cannon and some ammunition -were taken from the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A great part of the grape-shot and cannon balls, -that were fired by the French, were made of a -composition of brass. They had taken the copper-sheeting -and bells of a number of the ships in -the harbour, and the unserviceable brass guns in -their possession, and had melted them into balls, -to prevent their ammunition from being exhausted; -because the blockade of Egypt by our ships of -war, prevented them from receiving regular supplies -from France. But the grape-shot of this -description that lodged in the bodies of the wounded, -had the tendency of making the wounds foul.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I continued to ponder over what had taken -place; and my mind became increasingly uneasy. -Conviction of sin, and a sense of ingratitude to -God for his mercies, drove me almost to despair. -I had my Bible with me, but made no use of it: -our duty and fatigues left almost no leisure to do -so, even had I been so inclined; and the dangerous -nature of our present situation agitated the mind, -and prevented the composure needful for the investigation -of truth. One who previously knew -the spiritual import of the Scriptures, might have -made some profitable use of a Bible; but our circumstances -were quite unfavourable for one like -me. I was left to ruminate upon what occurred to -my memory. I recollected what Manoah's wife said -to her husband, when he was afraid that he should -die because he had seen God. "If the Lord were -pleased to kill us, he would not have received a -burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands;" -(Judges <abbr title='13'>xiii.</abbr> 23.) and was led to conclude, that I -ought not to give myself over to despair, seeing -God had yet spared my life. I had also a general -recollection of the following passage of Young's -Night Thoughts:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>—— Time destroyed</div> - <div class='line'>Is Suicide, where more than blood is spilt.</div> - <div class='line'>Time flies, death urges, knells call, heav'n invites,</div> - <div class='line'>Hell threatens; all exerts: in effort, all;</div> - <div class='line'>More than creation labours!—Labours more?</div> - <div class='line'>And is there in creation, what, amidst</div> - <div class='line'>This tumult universal, wing'd despatch,</div> - <div class='line'>And ardent energy, supinely yawns?—</div> - <div class='line'><i>Man</i> sleeps; and <i>Man</i> alone; and <i>Man</i> whose fate,</div> - <div class='line'>Fate irreversible, entire, extreme,</div> - <div class='line'>Endless, hair-hung, breeze-shaken, o'er the gulf</div> - <div class='line'>A moment trembles; drops! and <i>Man</i> for whom</div> - <div class='line'>All else is in alarm! <i>Man</i>, the sole cause</div> - <div class='line'>Of this surrounding storm! and yet he sleeps,</div> - <div class='line'>As the storm rock'd to rest,—Throw <i>Years</i> away?</div> - <div class='line'>Throw <i>Empires</i>, and be blameless. Moments seize,—</div> - <div class='line'>Heaven's on their wing: a moment we may wish</div> - <div class='line'>When worlds want wealth to buy. Bid <i>Day</i> stand still,</div> - <div class='line'>Bid him drive back his car, and re-import</div> - <div class='line'>The period past; regive the given hour:</div> - <div class='line'>Lorenzo, <i>more</i> than miracles we want:</div> - <div class='line'>Lorenzo—O for yesterdays to come!</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in2'>Such is the language of the man <i>awake</i>;</div> - <div class='line'>His ardour such, for what <i>oppresses</i> thee:</div> - <div class='line'>And is his ardour vain, Lorenzo?—No;</div> - <div class='line'>That <i>more</i> than miracle the gods indulge;</div> - <div class='line'><i>To-day</i> is <i>yesterday</i> return'd; return'd</div> - <div class='line'>Full-power'd to cancel, expiate, raise, adorn,</div> - <div class='line'>And reinstate us on the Rock of peace.</div> - <div class='line'>Let it not share its predecessor's fate;</div> - <div class='line'>Nor, like its elder sisters, die a fool.</div> - <div class='line'>Shall it evaporate in fume? fly off</div> - <div class='line'>Fuliginous, and stain us deeper still?</div> - <div class='line'>Shall we be poorer for the plenty pour'd?</div> - <div class='line'>More wretched for the clemencies of heav'n?</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Night Second.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>While I had a general recollection of this passage -on my mind, there were a number of its particular -expressions very frequently in my memory. -When I thought on the past dangers I had come -through, and looked at our present hazardous -situation, the words</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>——"hair-hung, breeze-shaken, o'er the gulf</div> - <div class='line'>A moment trembles,"——</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>strongly impressed my mind with a sense of the -critical nature of human life in general, and of -such a situation as I was now in, in particular; -and the words,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>——"and yet he sleeps,</div> - <div class='line'>As the storm rock'd to rest"——</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>with the folly of being careless and unconcerned, -in such a situation; and when I thought on the -misimprovement of past time, the words,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>——"O for yesterdays to come!"</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>spoke the feelings of my heart:—but the words,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"Today is yesterday return'd; return'd</div> - <div class='line'>Full-power'd to cancel, expiate, raise, adorn,</div> - <div class='line'>And reinstate us on the Rock of peace,"</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>were often in my mind, and contributed, with the -words of Manoah's wife, to give me a partial ease; -they led me to form a new resolution, of setting -out once more in attempting to lead a godly life, -and keep the divine commandments. Having -formed this resolution, I set about the performance -of it with all due care, and my mind enjoyed a -temporary peace. I was frequent in prayer, as I -hoped that by this means I should prevent my -mind from wandering. I had taken my present -resolution so strongly, that I thought if I did not -keep it this time, I could never hope to keep any -resolution afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c005'>We now got our tents on shore, and were busily -employed in landing the heavy artillery, and in -raising breast-works and redoubts. The fatigues -of the army were very great; and as nearly the -one half were now affected with the night blindness, -they were ordered to take their turn of night -duties. A blind and a seeing man were put to -work together, to carry two-handed baskets filled -with earth to raise the breast-works, the seeing -one leading the blind; and as the sentries on the -out-posts were double, a blind and a seeing man -were also put together: the blind man was company -to the other; for, although he could not see, -he could hear; and more depended upon that than -upon seeing for the best sight could not see an -object at night at any distance. When upon sentry -at night, I discovered that when I looked a good -while to the ground, I could discern upon <i>it</i> the -shadows of persons that were approaching me; but -if I lifted up my head I could not see the persons -themselves, though they came close to my face. I -continued, when out at night, to look constantly -to the ground, and my sight gradually got better, -and was quite recovered by the night of the <abbr title='twentieth'>20d</abbr>.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the march of the army from Aboukir, I -had seen great quantities of ruins; and while employed -in working among them, and in building -breast-works and redoubts with the stones of ancient -palaces, and the earth that formed the banks -of their far-famed canals, I could not but reflect -on the ancient glory of Egypt, of which there were -so many evidences, even in the barren peninsula -of Aboukir. I saw in these ruins the fulfilments -of Jehovah's threatenings, and an evidence of the -truth of the Scriptures;—and from the description -given of "populous No," (Nahum. <abbr title='3'>iii.</abbr> 8, 9, 10. -Ezekiel <abbr title='30'>xxx.</abbr> 14, 15, 16, which I had frequently -read during the passage up the Mediterranean,) I -conceived that somewhere in this vicinity, such a -city must have stood. These reflections gave an -unusual degree of interest to our operations. We -were now upon Scripture ground: we had come -from a distant island of the sea, to the land of the -proud Pharaohs, to carry on our military operations -where Nebuchadnezzar, and Alexander the -Great, had carried on theirs. The event was -singular and striking: and our situation novel and -interesting. Our camp stretched from the sea to -the lake; and on the lake were numerous boats, -bringing provisions, ammunition, and military -stores from the fleet; while parties of seamen and -soldiers were carrying or dragging through the -deep sand, the various articles from the landing -place, distant about two miles from the position of -the army. And within four miles of our front, -were the heights of Alexandria, upon which the -enemy's troops were posted, with the various forts -which they had constructed for their defence. On -the right of their position stood the beautiful and -majestic column, known by the name of "Pompey's -Pillar;" and towards their left stood the -stately obelisk called "Cleopatra's Needle."<a id='r11' /><a href='#f11' class='c006'><sup>[11]</sup></a> The -old walls of Alexandria were behind them, over -which the masts of near 200 sail of ships were -visible, which had conveyed the army of Bonaparte -from France, and had been blockaded by -the English since that time. And in the more -distant view to the sea, was the Isle of Pharos, at -the entrance of the harbour, on which once stood -a light-house, mentioned by Rollin in his Ancient -History as one of the seven wonders of the world, -but which was now strongly fortified by the -French, for the protection of the harbour, before -which a squadron of our fleet was kept constantly -cruising.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Arabs began to bring us sheep and young -onions for sale. The men of the tent I was in, -bought a sheep for a Spanish dollar, from an Arab, -whose only covering was a plaid thrown round -his naked body, resembling those worn by Highland -shepherds. But our greatest difficulty was -to find wood to cook it with. The bark of the -date tree was the only part of it that would burn: -its withered leaves, with the roots of a creeping -kind of brier, which we pulled out of the sandy -soil, and with difficulty got to burn, were the only -fuel we could find. For a few days we had far to -travel for water; but every regiment dug wells in -the flat ground, on the left of the position, where -a sufficient supply, although somewhat brackish, -was obtained.</p> - -<p class='c005'>My mind continued pretty easy for three or four -days; but I found that I was not fulfilling the task -that I had undertaken; that I was failing in the -performance of duty, and was not keeping God -and eternity in view, in the manner I had resolved -to do. This began to make me again uneasy; and, -as my hopes rested on my own performances, -when I found that these performances were not -what I had promised and resolved they should be, -these hopes were shaken. I had not, indeed, been -guilty of any open and notorious sins; but I had -not done that which I had resolved to do, and on -the doing of which I had hoped for the forgiveness -of past sins, the favour of God, and eternal life; -and this threw me back where I was before.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The regiment received orders on the <abbr title='twentieth'>20d</abbr>, to -march early next morning to Aboukir, to do the -hospital duty, because we were too weak to do -the duty of a regiment in the line. We were accordingly -under arms and marched off an hour before -daylight, and left our tents standing for a -regiment that was to come from the second line -to occupy our place. But we had not proceeded -above a mile and a half, when we heard a discharge -of several muskets on the left; which -caused us to halt and look to the place where the -firing had been. In a few seconds we saw a -number more muskets fired, (for the darkness -made the flash of even the pan of every musket -distinctly visible,) and after that a field-piece, and -then a general discharge of about 300 muskets; -when it ceased. We knew that there was a guard -of about 300 men, and a field-piece, with a working -party of as many more, on the spot; and as the -firing had ceased, we thought it might be a false -attack to disturb the working party and alarm the -army.—After standing a little, and all continuing -quiet, we began with hesitation to proceed on our -journey: but we had not moved many steps, when -we heard the discharge of a musket on the right -of the army: this produced a voluntary halt; and -in a few seconds we heard the discharge of two -or three more. We were then ordered to return, -and had not proceeded far, before a number more -discharges were heard in the same direction. This -quickened our march, and we made all expedition -towards the tent of the commander-in-chief, which -was in the rear of the right of the army. Before -we got there the firing on the right was beginning -to be pretty thick. We were now ordered to resume -the position we had left. It was yet dark; -but the firing of musketry began to be heavy, and -the artillery commenced playing, with the help of -lighted lanterns to let them see to load. By the -time we got to our position, the action was close -and warm on the right, and the firing of musketry -and artillery very heavy, which the darkness of -the morning made peculiarly awful. There was -now no doubt of a powerful and determined attack -from the enemy. When we arrived at our position -in the line, the day had begun faintly to dawn. -The regiment which was to have taken our place, -had not done it; a column of the enemy having -ascended the brow of the hill in our front, were -making towards the opening in the line where we -should have been. The regiment on the right -was extending its left, and the one on the left its -right, and had filled up the one half of the space -when we arrived. On our arrival a part of us -filled up the opening, and began to fire on the -enemy's column, which then retreated under the -brow of the hill, out of our sight and below the -range of shot. They left, however, a number -of sharp-shooters on the edge of the hill, who -kept up a straggling fire upon our line. The -regiments on the right and left now closed their -files, and we got all into line, and in good order; -when the enemy's column, having adjusted itself -under the brow of the hill, showed itself anew, -and came forward to the attack. We again opened -our fire upon them, which they returned; but -after the second or third round, they again retreated -as before, leaving a still greater number of -sharp-shooters, who ranged themselves along the -edge of the descent of the hill, which in part concealed -them from us, but allowed them to have a -fair view of our line, upon which they kept up a -destructive fire. We returned a straggling fire -upon them from the line, having no sharp-shooters -in front to engage them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When on the way back to the army, previously -to entering upon this action, the state of my mind -was rather different from what it had been before. -I prayed earnestly for protection: but having so -often failed in the promises I had made, I was -afraid to make any more. I began to be diffident -of myself. I did not plead with God on the promise -of future amendment, but prayed for mercy. -I used indeed the name of Christ; but had no right -understanding, either of the true nature of the -atonement for the guilt of sin, by his blood, or of -his righteousness to justify the ungodly. My confidence -was not placed in them for acceptance -with God; but should death be the issue, I cast -myself, with trembling hesitation, on his general -mercy, and that with more resignation than formerly. -I confessed my past failures, and prayed that -if God was not pleased to preserve me unhurt, but -if I was to be wounded, it might be in a merciful -way; and that, if death was to be the issue, my -sins might be pardoned. This was my prayer on -entering the action, and as we had intervals of -firing, I repeated it. But great as my fear of -death was, I never thought of attempting to avoid -it, by flinching from my duty as a soldier in such -times of danger. I looked upon such conduct as -sinful, and dared not seek present safety by an increase -of guilt. I was also convinced, that cowardice -was attended with the greatest danger, and -that our greatest safety lay in every one doing his -duty with steady courage. I had fired about twelve -rounds, when the sun was beginning to appear in -the horizon, and was in the act of ramming another -cartridge, when a shot from one of the sharp-shooters, -struck upon the inner ancle bone of my left -foot; it turned round the back of the leg, passing -between the sinew of the heel and the leg bone, -and lodged just under the skin, a little above the -bone of the outer ancle. It was there that I felt -the pain. I was stunned with the stroke; but from -the part in which I felt the pain, I did not think it -was a ball, but that a large shot or shell, having -struck some of the stones that were lying in the -rear, a splinter from them had hit me in the back -of the leg: I loaded my piece, and then, on lifting -up my leg to see what was the matter, saw a -musket-shot hole in the half-gaiter, and some appearance -of blood. I shouldered my piece, but -the sharp-shooters directly in front of me had disappeared. -I stood a few seconds unresolved what -to do; but feeling the pain increase, and seeing -the blood beginning to appear more on the gaiter, -and the officer commanding the company having -come to the rear, and observing that I was -wounded, he called to me to fall out, and I was -induced to leave the ranks, but felt very reluctant -to quit my comrades before the battle was decided: -not that I loved to stay in a place of danger; but -I did not like to leave them in the time of it; and -had there been firing at the time, I should have -continued to fire while I was able. As matters -stood, however, I conceived it to be my duty, seeing -I was disabled from keeping my place in the -ranks, to make the best of my way, as long as I -was able, to a place where I might be out of the -reach of shot, and get my wound dressed, that it -might not receive injury by delay. I got as quickly -as I could to the rear, keeping my arms, accoutrements, -and knapsack which I had on when wounded. -The battle at this time was raging upon the -right with terrible fury; and the brigade of guards -immediately on the right of ours, were closely engaged. -The roar of the artillery was dreadful. -Daylight had now made both parties visible to -each other; but the smoke of the firing obscured -the distant view; so that, although the scene of -contest was but a short way off from me, I could -neither see our own line nor that of the enemy, -all being covered with a thick cloud, through -which nothing was visible, but the dark red glare -of the flashes of the artillery. As I began to descend -the height in the rear of the army, I was in -imminent danger. The position of the brigade of -guards, (which was on the right of ours,) and of -the right of our own brigade, receded considerably -from the spot on which our regiment stood, owing -to the direction of the rising ground on which we -were posted. In consequence of this, and of the -positions of the enemy's columns and artillery, a -large proportion of his shot, that had been fired at -too high an elevation, fell in the rear of our regiment's -tents. As I did not at the time observe -this circumstance, I took the direct road from our -own rear, to the landing place on Lake Maadie, -distant about two miles. I was led by this route -to cross the range of the falling shot. The musket -and grape shot was coming down in showers, and -further on, the large shot was striking and rebounding -off the ground in rapid succession. I used -all possible exertion to get through this danger; -and, by the goodness of God, received no further -hurt; while others, who, like myself, were wounded -and retiring to the rear, did not escape. The -exertion I had made, with the blood I was losing, -which marked my steps in the sand, began to -exhaust me; but I had the happiness of having -my canteen full of water at the commencement -of my retreat, which refreshed me. My arms, at -length, however, becoming too heavy for me, I -left my firelock in an erect posture, by running -the bayonet into the ground, after taking the powder -out of the pan, to prevent accidents to those -that might find it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When I had got near to the landing place, I -found several surgeons, on the outside of an hospital -tent that had been lately pitched for the sick, -busily engaged in dressing some of the wounded -that had arrived before me. I sat down to wait -my turn to be dressed, which was not long, for the -number before me was not great. When I took -the gaiter off my leg, I pulled a piece of it out of -the wound, and as the ball appeared prominent -under the skin, it was easily extracted, and another -piece of the gaiter was taken out, which was wrapped -round it. The ball was flattened, and a part -of it turned over by the resistance of the ancle -bone; yet the bone was not broken. After I was -dressed, I lay down at the side of a bush, until I -might learn what was to be done with the wounded. -By this time the firing of musketry had ceased -on the field of battle; a cannonade alone was -heard; and we were all anxiety respecting the -success of the day, for if the army was compelled -to retreat, the situation of the wounded would be -distressing and dangerous. Great numbers of -wounded were now arriving to be dressed, who -brought different reports, some of them saying, -they did not think that the army would be able to -keep its ground. This made us look with anxiety -to the heights, to observe if any retrograde motion -was made; but the cannonade ceased; and we -were informed that the enemy had been completely -repulsed, and had retreated back to Alexandria. -The action terminated about ten o'clock, -<abbr class='spell'>A. M.</abbr></p> - -<p class='c005'>This action, though short, was severe and bloody, -and was sustained on our part chiefly by the right -wing of the army, the left having been only partially -engaged. The object of the enemy was to -dislodge the troops on the right, from the rising -ground on which they were posted, and then to -drive the army into Lake Maadie. He expected -to possess himself of the rising ground before day-break; -and being perfectly acquainted with the -place, and with the way in which we were posted, -he was at no loss to make his attack in the dark: -but as it was our practice to stand under arms from -three o'clock in the morning till an hour after day-break, -we were not taken by surprise. The enemy's -force consisted of nine thousand seven hundred -men, of which fifteen hundred were cavalry; -with forty-six pieces of cannon. Our army, by its -losses in the former actions, by parties absent at -Aboukir on duty, and by sickness, had been reduced -to somewhat less than ten thousand, including -four hundred cavalry; with thirty-six pieces -of cannon. When the enemy retreated, he left -seventeen hundred men dead and wounded on the -field, of whom a thousand and forty were buried -the first two days: he lost also four hundred horses. -How many wounded retired, or had been removed, -could not be known; but military judges calculate -the whole at about four thousand men, which was -more than a third of their whole number. We -had two hundred and forty-three killed, one thousand -one hundred and ninety-three wounded, and -thirty-two missing, and four seamen killed, and -twenty wounded, making a total of 1493.—Our -worthy commander-in-chief, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, -died on the <abbr title='twenty-eighth'>28th</abbr>, of a wound he received in -the thigh, and was deeply regretted by the whole -army. General Moore also was again wounded, -but recovered in a short time and returned to his -duty. The loss of our regiment was forty men.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Having lain at the bush until about two o'clock, -I then observed a number of the wounded going -on board of boats to be taken to the fleet. I got -up and went to the landing place, and having got -on board one of them, arrived at the fleet in the -evening; where I was put on board a two-decked -ship, appropriated for the reception of the wounded, -and got into a berth with two more of the same -regiment. Upwards of two hundred wounded men -were collected on board of this ship; and the -wounds of many of them being severe, numbers -died during the first ten days. If any one wishes -to know what were the topics of conversation -among so many men in such circumstances, it -pains me to state, that our conversation was about -any thing but that one thing which most concerned -us, and which ought to have engrossed our -whole attention. About that world to which so -many of us were daily departing, and about that -God before whom so many were so soon to make -their appearance, there was not a word to be -heard, except it was in taking his name in vain. -The groans of the dying were to be heard in -various quarters of the ship, but no one either -asking or telling how a sinner could be saved. -Nor was I better than others. I did not improve -my mercies. I had been wounded in a comparatively -merciful manner, but I forgot the God to -whom I had made my supplication, and neglected -my Bible. I conversed with one of my comrades, -who was a Scottish Episcopalian, upon church -government, and he took some pains to inform me -of the claims of Episcopacy, of which I was ignorant. -But what did such topics avail to dying -men, whose conversation ought to have been about -the salvation of their souls? He was badly wounded -in the thigh, and did not live many weeks. The -part of my wound where the ball entered healed -in about sixteen days; but the part where it was -extracted became inflamed, and the foot and ancle -swelled considerably. I was suspicious that the -dirty water with which it was sometimes washed -was the occasion of the inflammation. An erroneous -opinion was entertained, that salt water -would smart the wounds: and as fresh water was -not in plenty on board the ship, only a small quantity -of it was allowed for washing them. A great -number were washed with one basin-full, and, as -many of the wounds were foul, this was calculated -to infect those that were clean. Had salt water -been used, a basin of clean water might have been -taken to every one. I was washed with salt water -when in the hospital at Aboukir, and felt no difference -between it and fresh. By the end of three -weeks my wound began to mortify. I was then -put into a boat to be taken to the hospital at -Aboukir, along with a number more whose cases -were considered bad. Two were so weak that -they were unable to sit, and were laid upon -gratings in the bottom of the boat: one of them -died before we reached the shore, and the other -died upon the beach. These cases made little impression -upon my mind; death was becoming -familiar to me, and I looked at it with a careless -indifference. When the boat reached the shore I -was carried to the Hutts hospital; which was a -building upon a height, erected by the French to -serve as barracks to their troops stationed at -Aboukir.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was formed of the trunks of date trees split -down the middle; the ends were sunk into the -ground; the flat side of one tree was turned outwards, -and the flat side of the next inwards, and -so alternately, the round edges being made to -overlap each other, and the crevices filled with -plaster lime. It was roofed in the same manner. -A great many bats had formed their nests in the -holes, where the roof rested upon the upright -posts.—Here I was well taken care of; so that by -the mercy of God, the inflammation subsided, and -in sixteen days the putrid flesh was wholly cleaned -away, leaving a pretty large orifice. A part of the -tendon of the heel seemed to have been eaten -away by the inflammation, but the damage did not -appear to be very serious, and it began to heal -rapidly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While in this place, a small scorpion had got -into my haversack, and as I put my hand into it -to get some bread it stung me in the point of my -thumb. This sensation resembled that which is -produced by the sting of a bee, but the pain was -more violent, and lasted for twenty-four hours before -it subsided, but was attended by no other bad -consequence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The regiment to which I belonged, being at this -time encamped at Aboukir, made an offer to -accommodate their own wounded men, as the -general hospital was crowded. This offer was -accepted, and those that were in a condition to be -moved were sent to the regimental hospital. I -remained a day or two there; but, being healthy, -and my wound likely to heal soon, I was removed -to the convalescent tents, which, on account of -some cases of fever in the regimental hospital, -were at some distance. There I was left to dress -my wound myself, which continued to mend, but -not so rapidly as before. That dreadful calamity, -the plague, made its first appearance at the Hutts -hospital about the time that I left it; and, a few -days afterwards, a corporal went with a party and -buried a surgeon and two women in one hole, and -seven others in another, that had already fallen -victims to it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The strength that the enemy brought to the -field on the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> March, showed that they were -far more numerous in Egypt than we had been -led to believe. The greatest number that had been -calculated to be there was 15,000; but they had -27,000. As soon as the action of the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> was -over, the army made trenches along the whole position, -and completed and increased the batteries -and redoubts with all possible haste. The left -was the weakest part of the position. The bed -of Lake Mareotis was in front of it, but it was -nearly dry, and passable in many parts both for -horse and foot. Lake Maadie<a id='r12' /><a href='#f12' class='c006'><sup>[12]</sup></a> was in the rear -of the left, being only separated from the bed of -Lake Mareotis by the banks of the canal<a id='r13' /><a href='#f13' class='c006'><sup>[13]</sup></a> of -Alexandria; and its waters were considerably -above the level of Lake Mareotis and the surrounding -country. On the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr> April a large -opening was made in the banks of the canal; the -water rushed into Lake Mareotis with a fall of -six feet, and it continued to rush in for a month, -when it nearly found its level; but there continued -always a fall of about a foot, owing to the sand -absorbing the water. By this measure a large -extent of country was inundated; the front of the -position was contracted, and the left protected -from assault; and Lord Hutchison, who had succeeded -Sir Ralph Abercrombie, was enabled to -proceed with a part of the army to Rosetta, which -had been previously taken by a detachment, assisted -by 4,000 Turks; General Coote being left -with the remainder to blockade Alexandria. The -force assembling at Rosetta was destined to march -against Grand Cairo. The Grand Vizier was -advancing with an army from Syria to co-operate -in the same object. Our regiment was ordered to -join the troops at Rosetta. Most of the men belonging -to it, who had been left on board ship -sick of the fever, at the time we landed, had by -this time recovered, so that it was now pretty -strong. I continued in the convalescent tents -about a fortnight. To enable me, when necessary, -to go abroad, I procured a rough piece of wood, -upon which I got the head of a tent mallet fastened, -to serve for a crutch. By the help of this, -and a stick in the other hand, I made a shift to -go out of the tent; but, not being very expert at -the use of the crutch, as I was going out one day, -the tent cords catched the lower end of it, and I -fell down, with the wounded leg undermost. This -was to me a serious accident; for my wound immediately -began to get worse, and in a few days -it was greatly inflamed, and discharging black -matter. I was then removed to the hospital tents, -to be near the surgeon. Orders came for the regimental -hospital to be moved to Rosetta, and such -cases as were not fit to be moved were sent to the -general hospital, which was now an extensive -establishment; for the sick and wounded that -were on board the fleet were sent on shore, and -lodged in large sheds. Into one of these I was -taken, along with another, who had been in the -same convalescent tent with me. He had been -slightly wounded: a musket ball having grazed -the front of his leg; he was able to walk about -with little inconvenience, and was desired by the -surgeon not to confine himself close to the tent, but -to take the air, and some little exercise. We were -not, however, aware of the extreme danger of -having the skin broken in Egypt, let the hurt be -ever so slight. His wound had got much worse; -it was not to appearance so serious as mine, yet, -after he was a few days in the general hospital, it -was found necessary to amputate his leg, an operation -which he did not survive long; for the -stump mortified, and he died after lingering about -five weeks. His case alarmed me not a little; and -as my wound continued for some time to get worse, -the inflammation spreading, the lower part of the -leg swelling greatly, and the pain being excessive, -I was the more apprehensive, and prayed earnestly -for mercy. God was pleased to hear my cry, and -to spare me once more. The inflammation by and -by subsided; the pain became moderate, my appetite, -which was lost, returned; and the wound -began to clean and heal.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The weather was now very warm. The shed -in which I was, was so constructed, as to combine -the advantages of shade and air. The roof -was formed of boards, (brought I suppose from -Marmorice,) and was supported upon posts, made -of the trunks of date trees, which were sunk into -the ground at certain distances; boards were nailed -to these posts, and about an inch left open betwixt -each board, to the height of about four feet, -and then there was an opening of about two feet -to the edge of the roof. This shed was of great -length, and was crossed by one or two similar -ones. In them all there were three rows of beds, -two rows with the ends of the beds to the sides of -the shed, and one row set length-ways in the -centre. Although these structures were so open -in the sides we were sufficiently warm during the -night. We were, however, much troubled with -fleas, of which the sandy floor was full, so that it -was impossible to get rid of them. Indeed the -whole of the desert was full of these vermin. -There were also some crickets of a very large -size, which interrupted our sleep by the strong -and constant sound of their music; not unmelodious -in itself, had it not been unseasonable. The -flies too gave us a vast deal of annoyance through -the day. It was with difficulty that we could -keep them out of our eyes; and they were most -pernicious to those who had large putrid sores; -for, as it was impossible to keep them out of the -wound while it was dressing, this occasioned not -only present trouble, but the breeding of maggots, -which increased the torture of many who were -sinking to the grave. Even those who were well, -of all classes, found it needful to carry a small -bunch of rushes tied upon a handle, to be used -like a fan, to drive them away.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> of May, the hot wind came on. -The air was darkened with mist, which was so -thick that it rendered breathing difficult. We -were glad to cover ourselves over the head with -our blankets: for although the heat was intense, -and the blankets disagreeably warm and heavy, -yet we found our breathing more tolerable under -them than when uncovered. The orderly men, -who had to go out of the shed for water, and on -other necessary business, complained of the heat -of the wind, saying that it blew the sand in their -faces as hot as fire.<a id='r14' /><a href='#f14' class='c006'><sup>[14]</sup></a> Towards evening the wind -blew from the sea; the air became clear; and the -night was about its usual coolness. But the consequences -of this wind were dreadful to the hospital. -The plague now raged with redoubled fury, -and made fearful havoc among the nurses and -orderly men, and those who had slight wounds. -The three nurses who attended the division of the -shed I was in, were infected one after the other, -and were sent to the post hospital; where, as I -afterwards heard, they died. One set of nurses -and orderly men followed another in rapid succession -for some weeks. It was observed, that -none of those who had large sores were infected -by it; but such sores after this period were more -mortal, for mortifications now became rapid in -their progress, and baffled the power of medicine -to arrest them. Amputations were multiplied, but -were mostly unavailing; and even sores comparatively -slight, mortified and proved fatal. Some of -the cases struck me forcibly.—A sailor who had -a slight wound in one of his legs, and who could -move about, and be serviceable to those that were -bed-fast, went one night to the shore, which was -not far off, to get some drink; his leg immediately -got worse; in a few days the entire calf of it was -one putrid ulcer, with numbers of maggots; poultices, -spirits of wine, and other strong liquors, and -tinctures were profusely used, but in vain—he -died in about a week. Another, whose wound was -cured, and who was ordered to join his regiment, -absented himself on the night previous to the day -appointed for his departure, and that of some -others. In a day or two after the party was gone, -he appeared in his place with a sore leg. It was -believed that he had purposely scratched his shin -with a stone; but whatever way he had taken to -make it sore, the surgeon, who had not noticed -his conduct, saw that it required dressing, which -was done without any particular inquiry; and as -none that knew his conduct liked spontaneously to -inform upon him, he was not called in question. -It was manifest, however, that cowardice was the -cause of his injuring his leg, that he might remain -in the hospital until danger was over. But the -very means he took to avoid danger, to which he -might never have, been exposed, proved his destruction. -In three or four days his leg became so -much inflamed, that amputation was rendered -necessary. This was performed above the knee, -but the inflammation had reached the thigh. As -he lay nearly opposite to me, I saw the face of the -stump when it was dressed. The skin never -united; at the second or third dressing the flesh -of the thigh was detached from the bone; so much -so, that there was a large cavity underneath the -bone, which made it visible almost to the joint. -He died before next day, being about ten or twelve -days from the time, he appeared with his leg sore. -At my left hand lay a young man, a sailor belonging -to the Northumberland 74, with a large ulcer -in the under side of his right arm, a little below -the arm pit. I formed an attachment to this young -man; took a note of his own and his mother's -name, and place of residence, and of the time -when his wages became due; and promised, if I -got safe to England, to inform them of these particulars, -and of the time and circumstances of his -death, for he was sensible that death was near. -But there is one thing that gives me no small -pain, when I reflect upon it, to this day; that, although -I saw he was dying, I was not able, with -all the religion I thought I had, to point my dying -comrade to the Saviour. Not having found a -Saviour to my own soul, whatever I might say -about religion or religious subjects, a Saviour, properly -so called, was no part of my system. I who -never beheld Jesus, as the Lamb of God which -taketh away the sin of the world, could not point -him out, in that soul-reviving character, to others; -neither did there appear to be in this house of death, -any one that could point his dying comrades to a -Saviour, nor any among the dying throng, that -were asking after a Saviour. Whatever emotions -might be passing through the minds of any, the -question as to what became of the soul after death, -the hope of heaven, or the fear of hell, the way -to attain the one and escape the other, never became -a subject of conversation; and yet if ever -circumstances, (short of those of criminals condemned -to die, without any hope of mercy, upon -a particular day,) could have forced such conversation -upon a company of sinful mortals, it must -have been the circumstances we were in. But -every one seemed to indulge the hope of life, until -the cold hand of death was already on his heart, -and left him little time to think of that world to -which he was going, and less ability to communicate -his thoughts to others, or to ask, or to receive -information. And this was the case, not in this -hospital only, but in all the hospitals I was in, -both before and afterwards. I did indeed say a -few words to my dying comrade, about praying -for mercy to his soul, and made use of the name -of Jesus in a formal way; and he continued for -several days before his death, to pray very earnestly -to God for mercy, and made use of that name: -but whether he understood the character of Jesus -as a Saviour, and was led to place his dependence -upon his merits, is more than I can tell. It may -be, that the Spirit of Christ, in his sovereign -grace, gave him a saving knowledge of that name -that was used at first in ignorance, and led him to -trust in him for salvation; but if this was the case, -it was known only to himself; he was unable to -make it known to others; and, although he had -been able to tell me if I asked, I was unable to -discern it; for he that has not been enlightened -by the Spirit of Christ himself, and brought out of -darkness into marvellous light, is ill qualified to -discern when that change takes place upon others.<a id='r15' /><a href='#f15' class='c006'><sup>[15]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f7'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. </span>I quote these words from Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson's history, which -contains a degree of knowledge that I could not pretend -to. The statements which I give of the strength of the -enemy, the number of cannon they had on the field on -the different days, and what we took from them, I also -state upon his authority. The account of the losses of the -army I take from the statements in the gazettes, which I -believe to be pretty correct, for I have found that they -gave a true account of the loss of my own regiment, and I -have heard soldiers of other regiments say the same of the -gazette accounts of the loss of theirs.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f8'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. </span>The boats had gradually verged to the left during their -progress, so that this height, which before appeared to be -opposite their centre, was now opposite their right.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f9'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r9'>9</a>. </span>It was afterwards said that it was the dromedary corps.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f10'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r10'>10</a>. </span>He was taken on board one of the ships in the fleet, -and had one of his legs amputated, but he died in a few -days, and was buried on shore, at Aboukir.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f11'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r11'>11</a>. </span>For the information of such readers as have not access -to large works, I will take the liberty of inserting an account -of the dimensions of these celebrated and ancient -monuments, from Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson's history.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"Pompey's Pillar is of the Corinthian order, and eighty-eight -feet six inches in height; the shaft formed of a single -block of granite, retaining the finest polish, except where -the wind on the north-east front has chafed the surface a -little; it is sixty-four feet in height, and eight feet four -inches in diameter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"About thirty yards in the rear of the French intrenchments, -stands Cleopatra's Needle, and one of equal magnitude -is lying close by, horizontally. The form of these -obelisks is of considerable elegance, and their magnitude -is enormous, considering that each is only one piece of -granite; their height is sixty-eight feet three inches, and -their base seven feet seven inches by seven feet square; -their sides are covered with hieroglyphics, which, on the -eastern front of the one that is upright, are much effaced -by the wind.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"Tradition affirms that they ornamented the gate of Cleopatra's -palace. From the quantity of marble, &c. &c. found -near the spot, probably the residence of the sovereigns of -Egypt was placed there."—<i>History of the Expedition</i>, <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> -<abbr title='pages'>pp.</abbr> 156, 158, 159.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Dr. <abbr class='spell'>E. D.</abbr> Clark, the traveller, who has paid great attention -to the study of the age and design of ancient monuments, -thinks that the <i>shaft</i> of Pompey's Pillar "is of much -earlier antiquity than either the <i>capital</i> or the <i>pedestal</i>." -He gives probable reasons to believe that the <i>shaft</i> was -made in the time of <i>Alexander the Great</i>, the founder of -<i>Alexandria</i>, and who was buried there, to be a sepulchral -pillar to the memory of that monarch; but that <i>Julius Caesar</i> -had set it upon a <i>pedestal</i>, and had put a <i>capital</i> upon it in -honour of Pompey, whose head he caused to be burnt with -funeral honours, and the ashes put into an <i>urn</i>, and placed -on the top of the <i>pillar</i>: but that the <i>pillar</i> had likely fallen -afterwards, and had been restored by the emperor <i>Hadrian</i>.—<i>Clarke's -Travels, <abbr title='fourth'>4th</abbr> Edit.</i> <abbr title='octavo'>8vo.</abbr> <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='5'>v.</abbr> <abbr title='chapter'>ch.</abbr> <abbr title='5'>vii.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> -361, &c.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f12'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r12'>12</a>. </span>Or Sed; "sometimes called the Lake of Aboukir. The -passage into it at Aboukir, is about two hundred yards -wide, and was made about the year 1782, by the sea -breaking down the dyke, which had been built ages back, -to recover from the ocean that part of the country which -now is Lake Maadie." <i>History of the Expedition to Egypt</i>, -p. 27.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f13'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r13'>13</a>. </span>This canal commences at Rhamanieh, on the banks of -the Nile, and passes over fifteen or sixteen leagues of -country. The bed of it is above the level of Egypt; the -banks are formed of earth raised wholly above the surface. -There is no water in it, but at the time of the inundation -of the Nile. The beds of the canals in Egypt are all above -the level of the country, that, when cut, the water may -run out of them. They are properly canals of irrigation.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f14'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r14'>14</a>. </span>This wind was still more dreadful in the interior of -the country; and at the place where the army was on its -march to Cairo; as appears by the following extract from -Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson's History of the Expedition to Egypt, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. -p. 177.</p> - -<p class='c005'><i>ALGUM, <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> May.</i></p> - -<p class='c005'>"This day will ever be remarkable to the Egyptian -army; a sirocco wind darkened with a burning mist the -atmosphere; the thermometer was at 120 in the shade; the -ground was heated like the floor of a furnace; every thing -that was metallic, such as arms, buttons; knives, &c. became -burning hot; the poultry, exposed to the air, and -several horses and camels died; respiration was difficult, -and the lungs were parched with fiery particles. Had the -heat continued forty-eight hours, the effect would have -been dreadful: but happily as night drew on, the wind -cooled, and at last changed to the north west.</p> - -<p class='c005'>"At Balbeis, the thermometer was at 130; on the western -side of the Nile 120; at Alexandria 105."</p> - -<p class='c005'><i>Extract from a Journal written by one of my comrades.</i></p> - -<p class='c005'>"We had one day's hot wind from the south; it began -to blow about 9 o'clock; and wo be to him that is far from -shelter, as neither man nor beast can survive it three days! -It came from the desert as hot as the opening of an oven -door, bringing small sand like mist along with it. All the -sentinels were called in, and the cattle crept close to the -ground and groaned for fear. The buffaloes took to the -river, covering themselves, all but the nose, in the water; -and no man was able to stir out of his tent until the evening."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f15'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r15'>15</a>. </span>The promise that I made of informing his relatives of -the time and circumstances of his death, I fulfilled when I -came to Ireland, for which I received a letter of thanks -from his brother.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap6' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='six'>VI.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>Preparations having been made for erecting -a general hospital in the town of Rosetta, all that -were capable of being removed from Aboukir were -sent there. I left Aboukir, and was taken on -board of a Germ on the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> June; which sailed -in the afternoon; and at day-break next morning, -we were near the entrance of the Rosetta branch of -the Nile. The surf on the bar, at the mouth of the -river, was high; but the Arabs, who navigated the -vessel, risked the passage. The hazard on such occasions -is considerable, owing to the surf, and the -shallowness of the water on the bar: for the vessel -is in danger of striking on the bottom between the -surges; and, when this takes place, the next wave -that comes is apt either to break over her and fill -her with water, or to overset her.—When we came -opposite that part of the bar, which the Arabs -thought deepest, they pointed the bow of the vessel -to it, and clued up the sails that she might -have little pitch, and might float as level as possible; -they then got out hand poles; and, as soon as -she began to lose head-way, they set the poles to -the bottom, and pushed her forward with all their -power, making a great noise, until we got over -the bar into smooth water. There were several -masts of vessels visible near where we passed, that -had recently been swamped in this dangerous passage. -Many British seamen lost their lives here, -for they were ignorant of its real danger, and -would hardly be convinced of it, because it had -not at a distance a very dangerous appearance. It -was not until they had actually got upon the bar, -that the extent and nature of the danger were perceivable; -and then, to attempt to return against -the wind and surge is vain; they must push -through or perish. At the first I wondered why -the Arabs were making so much noise; but when -we came upon the bar my surprise ceased. I had -never seen any thing like it; yet the wind was not -stormy, and if such was the state of this place -with a moderate wind, how terrible must it be in -a storm.—As soon as we were in smooth water, -the large sails were again spread out to the wind, -we passed rapidly up the Nile, and in a short time -were at Rosetta.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I was soon taken into a large square building, -having a square court in the centre, and piazzas -round about from the bottom to the top; the ground -flat, which was high in the roof, was occupied as -cellars, store-houses, &c. There were two flats -above, the various apartments of which communicated -with piazza'd passages, round the centre -square. This building, from the largeness of its -size, and the number of its apartments, accommodated -a great many patients, consisting of men -of all the different regiments, promiscuously lodged -together.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In coming into a place of this kind, among so -many strange faces, and various and opposite characters, -it is a matter of some consequence to meet -with some one previously known, to whom you -can talk, in whom you can place confidence, and -who will act the part of a comrade. In this respect -I was fortunate; falling in with a man of my own -company, whose bed was next to mine: a young -man of agreeable dispositions. He was the rear -rank man of the second file from my right, in the -battle of the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr> March, who got the calf of his -leg grazed by the cannon ball, as formerly related. -His leg was now in a hopeful way; and being able -to move about with the help of a stick, he was -serviceable to me who was confined to bed. In -this building we were more cool than on the -sands of Aboukir; the flies were not so excessively -troublesome through the day; and as the floor, -which was upon arches, was paved with flat stones, -or large bricks, the fleas were not so numerous. -But a new enemy attacked us during the night, -which we had not met with before—the mosquitoes. -They were very troublesome; and there -was no way of securing ourselves from their bite, -which was very sharp, and for a while had an inflammatory -effect; so much so, that every one for -some time after his arrival, resembled a person in -the height of the measles. Our accommodation -and attendance were much better here in many -respects. We were provided with sheets for our -beds, which was very agreeable; for a sheet was -as much as one could bear for a covering during -the night; nor was even that needed so much for -heat, as to be a partial defence against the musquitoes. -Our woollen blankets, which would have -been quite uncomfortable from their heat, were -very useful now to put under us; for our beds -being made of branches of the date tree, put across -each other, with a slender matt, made of a particular -kind of rushes, laid over them to cover the -holes, the cross spars soon became prominent, and -were very uneasy to lie upon. My knapsack was -my pillow, and my blanket, folded <i>four-ply</i>, I put -under me. Without it indeed, it would not have -been possible to lie in the beds; and even with it, -they were very uncomfortable, especially for those -who were long and close confined to them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I had not been in Rosetta above a fortnight, -when my wound again inflamed and mortified in -a most alarming degree; the leg swelled excessively, -and the wound became large and jet black, -with a most offensive smell. I was very much -alarmed; I beheld many dying, whose wounds -were in a similar state, and some of them -apparently not so bad; the severity of pain deprived -me of appetite: nor could I so much as -drink the wine that was allowed me. The pain -continued to increase; the discharge from the -wound was great; I was reduced to a skeleton, and -my strength was failing fast; I was at the gates of -death; and, with eternity before me, I was destitute -of that discernment of the merits and grace of -the Great Redeemer, which alone can form a sure -ground of confidence, and a true source of consolation -to a poor sinner, ready to perish. I again reflected -on my past life, and accused myself of want -of firmness in my resolutions. I thought God had -now afflicted me in order to make me hate sin, -and love righteousness; and that were I again restored -to health, and free from pain, nothing in this -world would be able to make me leave my duty: -and I flattered myself that what I had now suffered -had destroyed the love of sin in my heart. Under -this persuasion, being in agony through the severity -of pain, I exclaimed, "Lord, let it suffice thee, -for it is enough; take but thine hand from me -this once!" Although this was not a prayer becoming -a sinner ready to perish, which ought to -have been a supplication for mercy for the sake of -Christ; yet God was pleased in his compassion to -grant me the thing I sought. He did remove his -hand, and spare my life; the mortification, after -having raged about three weeks, subsided; the -putrid flesh began to fall away; the burning pain -left the wound; and in about ten days it was clean; -but the mortification had detached, and wholly -destroyed, the greater part of the tendon of the -heel. I now looked upon myself as one that had -been rescued from the grave, and the occurrences -that took place immediately, tended still more -strongly to impress this upon my mind. The -wound of my comrade, who had been serviceable -to me when I was so ill, as I began to mend, grew -worse, inflamed, and in a few days, nearly the -whole of the calf of his leg was one putrid mass. -A blood-vessel burst in it during the night; but he -was in such pain, that he was not sensible of the -bleeding, which continued until day break; when -the floor under and around his bed was covered -with blood. The surgeon was sent for, to whom -he said, "I believe Sir, I have been bleeding to -death in the night time, and was not sensible of -it." The bleeding had now ceased, but he was -so weak that he was unable to speak; and he died -in a few hours, and was carried out and buried. -The Saviour's words, "One shall be taken and -the other left," struck me forcibly in these circumstances: -when my comrade, who was so -shortly before in a fairer way of recovery than I -was, was thus cut off, and I was left as a monument -of God's sparing mercy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>His bed was not long empty. In a few days -an Irish grenadier was brought to it, whose case -was truly hopeless. He had had a boil on the -lower part of the breast, which had mortified; the -mortification had spread over the breast, and had -eaten a hole larger than a dollar into the chest, so that -when the dressing was off, the inside of the chest -was visible. He lived in great agony for about six -days, and died; by which time the hole into the -chest was much larger.—In a few days after, the -same bed was filled by an artilleryman, a townsman -of my own, who had got the calf of one of his -legs accidentally bruised. The leg inflamed; amputation -was resorted to; but, with all the attention -the surgeons paid to him, he also died in a very -short time. My wound continued to mend; and -as soon as I was able to move, I got a crutch and -a staff, and a strap to support my leg, and got out -of bed for a part of the day, after having been confined -to it nearly six months.</p> - -<p class='c005'>This was about the middle of September, before -the Nile had attained the height of its inundation. -I passed a part of the day, sitting in one -of the front windows which looked to the Nile, -and remarked its daily progress. As I grew -stronger, I got upon the roof of the building, which -was flat, and had a view of the town and the surrounding -country. In the country, on the opposite -side of the Nile, nothing was to be seen, as -far as the eye could reach, but water, with the -trees standing in it. I travelled about too, visiting -my acquaintances in the hospital who belonged to -the same regiment with myself.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Some of the Arab watermen were employed to -supply the hospital with water. They brought it -from the Nile<a id='r16' /><a href='#f16' class='c006'><sup>[16]</sup></a> upon their backs, in the skins of -goats slung across their shoulders. The skin had -been sewed up after being taken off the animal, -and was in its natural shape; the neck part being -left open for filling and emptying. (This was -simply twisted and held together with the hand, -when the skin was to be immediately emptied; -but it might be tied, when it was to be kept full, -or carried to a distance.) All kinds of liquids, -even wine and honey are kept in these skins.—This -illustrates the parable of the new wine and -old bottles, Luke <abbr title='5'>v.</abbr> 37, 38. The bottles were -<i>skins</i>: and, as wine is a fermented liquor, the skin -bottles, once used, would be so much impregnated -with the wine that had been in them, that if new -wine were put into them, it would cause it to ferment -anew; and this would burst them. The -original inmates of the hospital were now greatly -reduced; a number having recovered, and a great -many having died: but it was not allowed in any -part to remain empty. Grand Cairo having surrendered -to the British and Turkish forces on the -<abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr> June, the sick of our own army were sent -down the Nile; and they filled up all the vacancies. -Cases of dysentery, and sore eyes, were so -numerous, that a number of buildings were fitted -up in Rosetta for their reception. Many died of -the dysentery; but those afflicted with sore eyes -were most numerous, and much to be pitied.—Their -torment was excessive: the pain in their -eyes was as if they had been filled with burning -sand, they had no respite from acute sufferings; -and many lost their sight in spite of all the -power of medicine. About the end of August, my -own eyes became dreadfully inflamed in one night. -The surgeon applied a very large blister in the -morning, and by next day the inflammation was -greatly subsided, but I did not get wholly free of -it until I left Egypt, and was several days at sea -on the way to Malta. The Egyptian <i>ophthalmia</i> -was one of the most dreadful calamities that ever -befel the British army.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The French that were in Cairo, amounting to -13000, were embarked and sent to France in the -month of August.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As my leg continued to mend, I felt grateful to -God for his great mercy to me; but it was not long, -until I had to accuse myself of having failed in duty, -and come short of my promise; and this threw -me into dejection of mind; which however wore -gradually off. As I had much leisure time, I read -more of my Bible than formerly; but the historical -parts attracted my attention more than the doctrinal. -Happening to read through the beginning -of Exodus, I was struck when I found, that I had -made use of the same words that Pharaoh used to -Moses, <abbr title='chapter'>chap.</abbr> <abbr title='nine'>ix.</abbr> <abbr title='verse'>ver.</abbr> 28, and which he afterwards -repeated, <abbr title='chapter'>chap.</abbr> <abbr title='ten'>x.</abbr> <abbr title='verse'>ver.</abbr> 17. This made me fear, -lest I should prove like Pharaoh; and in place of -being softened by mercies, and bound by gratitude, -become hardened by them and perish in the end. -I then recollected, that I had heard Dr. Balfour -preach, from Hebrews <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 12, 13, I remembered -the words, "<i>lest any of you be hardened through -the deceitfulness of sin</i>," and I turned to the passage -and read it. It led me to ponder on the deceitful -nature, and dangerous tendency of sin; -which increased my fear that I might become -hardened, and made my mind very uneasy. I -would sometimes think on the instructions I had -got, and the tasks I had learned at the Sabbath -school; which I had now almost forgotten: I remembered -some little of the seventeenth chapter of -John, for the learning of which, myself and others -had received a penny. This led me to read it, and -the fifty-third of Isaiah, which also I had learned; -but I did not understand its import, although familiar -with the words. I then turned over all the -parallel passages, that I had read, in proof of doctrines -in the school; and although I did not understand -those that treated of the way of a sinner's -acceptance with God, by faith in the righteousness -and atonement of the great Redeemer, yet it helped -to keep the words of Scripture relative to these -doctrines on my memory, which was of use to me -afterwards. But the doctrines of heaven, and hell, -the resurrection, and eternal judgment, are more -readily apprehended: and these made increasingly -strong impressions on my mind.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I was now pretty certain that I was unfit for military -service; and from Egypt, the land of bondage, -I cast a longing eye to my native home, and -wished myself there, that I might enjoy the benefits -of a Sabbath, the instructions of religious -teachers, and freedom from the society of the -wicked. All my hopes now centered in this, and -had I despaired of it, I would have given myself -over for lost.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After the French were embarked who had surrendered -at Cairo, our troops which had been -there, rejoined the army that was blockading Alexandria. -Several regiments had lately come from -England, so that it was now pretty strong. Alexandria -was immediately besieged in form, and the -operations pushed so vigorously, that the garrison -was compelled to surrender on the 1st September, -on condition of retaining their private property and -being sent to France. Their number was about -eleven thousand, of all descriptions. This event -terminated hostilities in Egypt, and our troops prepared -to leave it as soon as possible. Rosetta was -occupied during the siege by a division of British, -and Sepoys, natives of India, under the command -of Sir David Baird, who had come from the East -Indies to our assistance, with about seven thousand -men. They had sailed up the Red sea, and -marched through the desert, and arrived at Cairo -shortly after it had surrendered. The Sepoys, -when off duty, laid aside their uniforms, and -walked about in the burning sun with nothing on -the body but a pair of very short white drawers.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The dress of men and women of the common -people of Egypt, consists of a blue cotton gown -resembling a woman's shift: some have an upper -and under garment. The men wear a sash or -girdle round the middle; a turban and slippers; -but no stockings. The women have no girdle -round the middle; they wear vails; of which those -that I saw were of coarse net-work, resembling -the texture of a serjeant's sash, and shaped like the -little bag nets used for catching trout in small -rivers. The mouth of them is put under the chin -and over the forehead, and is fastened behind: -there are two holes opposite to the eyes, and the -tapering end hangs down the breast. They appear -to think, that modesty lies in concealing from -public view the lower part of the face, whilst they -are very negligent in other respects, which are -more essential to that virtue. To Europeans the -appearance of their faces, and particularly the part -that is usually concealed, is no way interesting.—Their -complexion is dark; their eyes, in general, -are inflamed; and their cheeks and chins are -marked with the figures of half moons, stars, &c. -in the way that our sailors mark themselves.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In some of the towns, girls, 14 years old, were -seen going to the river for water, in a state of -complete nudity; and males of all ages were seen -mixed together in groupes, in the same state, -without any sense of shame. They anoint their -bodies with olive oil, which prevents the sun from -blistering the skin. There are no stools or chairs -for sitting upon in Egypt; their common way of -sitting is upon the hams of their legs, in which -posture they will remain for hours, apparently as -much at their ease as a European upon a chair; -they eat their meals in a reclining posture, but -make no use of knives, forks or spoons; when they -sup they literally "dip their hand in the dish,"<a id='r17' /><a href='#f17' class='c006'><sup>[17]</sup></a> -and feed themselves with their fingers in place of -spoons. The above customs were practised in -the time of Christ, and still exists through the east.</p> - -<p class='c005'>There are numbers of mosques, or Mahomedan -churches, in the towns. They have, in general, a -particular kind of spires, called minarets, some of -which are very lofty: they are in shape at the top -like an onion, but have no weathercocks, nor clocks, -nor bells; of which latter, the Mahomedan religion -prohibits the use. The minarets have all one or -more balustrades round them, into which a man -ascends at the end of every watch, and walks -round, calling the people to prayers with as loud a -voice as he possibly can. In Egypt it is commonly -a blind man who performs this office.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The uninterrupted sunshine at Cairo, afforded -the French the means of partly supplying the want -of clocks and bells, by ascertaining exactly when -it was twelve o'clock. They mounted one of the -guns in the citadel upon a peculiar construction, -and put some fine brass work at the breech, in -which was a burning glass just over the touch -hole; by which the rays of the sun, the instant he -reached the meridian, kindled the powder and fired -the gun. This is a proof that clouds and rain -are seldom seen at Cairo; otherwise the firing of -the gun could not have been depended on. When -the French left the citadel, the Turks got possession -of it; and some of them broke and stole the -brass work of this gun, supposing the polished metal -to be gold.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The heat of the country was very oppressive; -and the army that went to Cairo suffered much -from it during their march. The perspiration -came through their clothes, and wetted their buff -belts opposite the back, just as if they had been -soaked in water.</p> - -<p class='c005'>About this time a very melancholy accident -happened to some men of the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr> regiment of -foot. Their regimental store house was in a building -a few yards from the hospital; some of them -were employed sorting cartridges in a room on the -first floor, when one of them came in smoking tobacco, -and thoughtlessly held his head over an -open chest into which they were packing the cartridges; -a spark fell from the pipe, and the powder -exploded and gave a violent shock to the hospital -and adjacent buildings; several men, and a -serjeant's wife, were killed in the house, and I -think nine or ten more were much bruised and -dreadfully burned, and were brought into the hospital; -their condition was more pitiful than that -of those who were severely wounded, because so -much of the skin of the face and body had been -burned, that they had not sound skin left to lie -upon; five or six of them lingered about a week in -great agony, and died. I think that twelve or -sixteen were killed or severely injured by this accident. -Some who were sitting in the bottom of -an open window, with their legs over the wall, -were blown down into the street, but were not -much hurt.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Towards the end of September, my wound was -nearly whole, but my leg was very much contracted. -I was ordered to prepare to join my regiment -at Alexandria to go home with it. But before -taking a final leave of the hospitals, I would -make a few further remarks upon the manner in -which I saw my fellow creatures depart this life. -And it must be confessed, that to all appearance -many of them died <i>hardy</i>; they might groan through -extremity of bodily pain, but did not exhibit any -anguish of mind at the fear of death or judgment; -but I could not discern any rational ground for this -apparent want of anxiety about futurity. To -make a merit of meeting death bravely, when it -can not be avoided, is but a poor reason for a rational, -immortal, and accountable creature, to act -upon. If man is a sinner, and must render an -account to his Maker when he dies, surely to manifest -no concern about the issue of death, is not to -act the part worthy of a rational creature. To -shut out all concern about eternity, in order to act -the <i>hero</i> at the last, is liker the conduct of a blind -madman than a true <i>hero</i>; for true courage in the -hour of death can only be founded on the knowledge -of our being happier hereafter; and this persuasion -is only to be attained, by the reception of -the good news of salvation by Jesus Christ, revealed -in the Scriptures. Infidelity has said much -against the superstition of the Bible; but while it -does this, it gives an accountable creature nothing -in the room of it upon which to found a reasonable -hope for eternity. Infidels have often said that -the fears of hell which make men afraid to die, -are the produce of superstition. Were there none -of those whom I saw die, who had freed themselves -of the fears produced by the Bible account of a future -state? It is likely that some of them had; for -their previous habits and behaviour were as opposite -to the Scriptures, as if they had never heard -of such a book; and it was as little talked of, as -if it had never existed. If infidelity be <i>true</i>, the -death of its disciples ought to be more dignified -and composed than that of any others: their future -prospects ought to be the most certain, intelligent, -and cheering to the immortal soul, when it is about -to take its flight into the world of spirits and return -to God who gave it. A dying infidel, if his -system be <i>truth</i>, should be one that should rejoice -in death, that he had freed himself from the fears -produced by the Bible; he ought to be able to direct -those around his dying bed to the truth that -supports his mind, and show, at the same time, -that he has a proper discernment of his own condition -as an accountable creature, and suitable -conceptions of the moral character of his Maker -and Judge. But of all that I ever saw die, I never -heard any rejoicing in the assertions of infidelity: -I saw many die apparently <i>hardy</i>; but their -deaths resembled more that of the beasts that perish, -than of accountable immortal creatures. I -have since seen Christians die, but the manner of -their death was very different: their conceptions of -the majesty and holy purity of God were exalted; -their sense of the evil of their own sins, and the -moral responsibility of their conduct, was deep; -but with all this full in their view, they had good -hope through trusting in Christ; and I never yet -saw or heard of a dying Christian who regretted -that he had trusted too much to Christ, or thought -too highly of him; but the contrary. I have often -heard them regret deeply that they had thought too -lowly of him, and of what he had done to save -sinners, and had trusted too little to him, and depended -too little on the promises of the Bible; and -I have heard them pray earnestly for forgiveness for -this, as being the most heinous of all their sins.—Reader, -if ever your mind has been stumbled by -the arguments of infidelity, try it by this test,—what -provision does it make for eternity, to a sinful -and accountable creature; and you will find -that in this most important of all other concerns it -makes no provision whatever: it is revelation -alone that either does or can make any provision -for a certain ground of hope for futurity. God -alone can tell how he will forgive sin: he has -done this in the Scriptures, and there alone. O -be sure you examine what is revealed in them upon -this subject, and build your hope for eternity -only upon what God has revealed to a sinner to -trust in, that you may not die in despair, nor be -deluded by a false hope, and finally be disappointed: -and for this purpose, I earnestly entreat -your serious consideration of what is said towards -the conclusion of this narrative.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Before leaving the hospital, I feel bound in gratitude -to acknowledge the care and attention that -was paid to the sick and wounded: all things considered, -every thing was done for them that could -be done, and much expense was incurred for -medicines, attendance, and accommodation, and -every exertion made to procure suitable provisions. -When I think upon it to this day, I feel grateful -for the care that was taken of the helpless, and -those who were rendered unfit to serve their country -any longer: by this means many were preserved -to their families and their friends, who -otherwise would never have returned.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the <abbr title='twenty-ninth'>29th</abbr> September, I embarked in a Germ -on the Nile, which dropped down the river, and -lay near the entrance, to be ready to pass the bar -early in the morning, that being the most favourable -time; for the wind rises at sun rise, and -blows from the sea up the river during the day, -with a steady, and sometimes strong breeze, and -dies away in the evening. Vessels going up the -Nile carry a press of sail, and go at a great rate -during the day, and stop at night: vessels going -down the river lower their sails and yards, lay -their broadside to the stream, and drift along with -it. On the morning of the <abbr title='thirtieth'>30th</abbr>, the wind and -surf were so high, that it was unsafe to attempt -passing the bar; so that we returned to Rosetta -and lay it the quay three days, waiting for moderate -weather. The Nile was still considerably -above its banks: the extensive fields of rice, and -corn, particularly on the east side, excited my admiration. -The seed had been sown previously -to the inundation, and had taken root and grown -up with the rise of the water; which made it to -have a compact and level surface, resembling that -of a bowling-green, for many miles. This crop -would be ripe, by the time the inundation would -fall within the banks of the river; and another crop -of wheat or barley, and one of clover or vegetables, -would be produced before the return of the inundation -next year.—Water is raised by buffaloes and -oxen from the river, into the canals;<a id='r18' /><a href='#f18' class='c006'><sup>[18]</sup></a> the beds of -which are above the level of the country. It is -let out into the fields during the growth of the -other two crops; and when the last one is reaped, -this labour is suspended. Then the heat of the -sun soon dries the ground, and rends it into numerous -and deep fissures; some of them are from -ten to twenty feet deep. The army experienced -considerable difficulty from this cause, on its -march back from Cairo; particularly at night, -when both men and horses were in danger of having -their legs broke by falling into them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While I lay at the quay, I was astonished at the -great number of boats discharging cargoes of grain, -which was piled in huge heaps in the open air, -not far from the brink of the river;<a id='r19' /><a href='#f19' class='c006'><sup>[19]</sup></a> a sight which -reminded one of the words of Jacob, "I have -heard that there is <i>corn</i> in Egypt." But, with all -this plenty, it is a miserable place. The common -people enjoy little of its abundance; their condition -is the most wretched I ever saw or heard of among -civilized nations. The houses of the peasantry -are mere hovels, little if any thing better than the -Kraals of the wild Hottentots.<a id='r20' /><a href='#f20' class='c006'><sup>[20]</sup></a> The inhabitants -of the land of Egypt, which was the house of -bondage to the children of Israel, now suffer -bondage in their own land, little, if at all, interior -to that which their ancestors made the Israelites -suffer. The government has for a long time been -in the hands of Turks or Mamelukes, who are -always foreigners, and who rule with rigour; and -the inhabitants never take any interest in the -affairs of the government, but are entirely passive -to every change that takes place. The country -abounds with Arabs. The Copts, its original inhabitants, -are the fewest in number; they profess -Christianity, and are the more liable, on that account, -to be oppressed by their Mahomedan masters. -The prediction is now fully verified, that -Egypt, once the <i>first</i> of nations, should become the -<i>basest</i> of kingdoms: <abbr title='Ezekiel'>Ezek.</abbr> <abbr title='29'>xxix.</abbr> 15, 16. It is -sunk so low in ignorance and wretchedness, that, -if it were not for the many elegant and stupendous -remains of antiquity existing in the country, the -voice of history, strong as it is, could scarcely be -credited, that it was once the <i>first</i> of nations, and -the seat of the arts and sciences. It is a land of -pestilence and disease. "In Cairo, last year, forty -thousand were supposed to be infected with the -plague: and many of the French garrison died -in that city, although the disease was treated in -their hospitals with the greatest ability. In -Upper Egypt sixty thousand perished during the -same season,"<a id='r21' /><a href='#f21' class='c006'><sup>[21]</sup></a> besides those who died of it in -other parts of the country. Among the British, the -plague was confined to the "hospital and troops -stationary at Aboukir, where it broke out on the -<abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr> April, and terminated on the <abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr> August. -Three hundred and eighty, in the course of that -time, were affected with it; one hundred and -seventy-three died, and two hundred and seven -recovered. The deaths chiefly fell on the orderlies, -nurses, and other servants of the hospitals."<a id='r22' /><a href='#f22' class='c006'><sup>[22]</sup></a> -"The plague raged again at Rosetta towards the -fall of the year and numbers of the Sepoys died -of it."<a id='r23' /><a href='#f23' class='c006'><sup>[23]</sup></a> When a person is infected with the -pestilence, after the manner of Egypt, (Amos <abbr title='4'>iv.</abbr> -10,) the disease is indicated by two boils which -are commonly in the groin. In addition to the -plague, "Leprosy of the worst species, and Elephantiasis, -which swells the legs larger than a -common bolster," and a number of other diseases -are very general. "The number of blind is -prodigious, nearly every fifth inhabitant has lost -one eye, and many both. All the children have -sore eyes, and Europeans do not escape better. -The French at first had more than two thirds of -their army affected with this malady; and the -English, during their short stay, had one hundred -and sixty totally blind, and two hundred that -lost one eye irrecoverably."<a id='r24' /><a href='#f24' class='c006'><sup>[24]</sup></a> How many more -were affected with this dreadful malady among -the troops that remained in the country until the -following year, when it was wholly evacuated, I -can not tell; but have reason to believe the number -was considerable. Children must suffer much -during their infancy from the flies, because they -are unable to drive them from their eyes. I saw -a woman going to the Nile for water, which she -carried in a pitcher upon her head: a naked child -sat across her shoulders; its little hands were employed -in holding by the head of its mother, to -prevent itself from falling; its eye-lashes were -literally black with flies that were sucking at its -eyes, as they would do at sugar. They work -themselves into the inner coating of the eyelids of -infants, which no doubt causes some of them to -lose their sight in their tender years. In addition -to flies, gnats and mosquitoes, all other kinds of -vermin are incredibly numerous and troublesome; -so much so, that, although there were nothing else -but them, they would make Egypt an uncomfortable -country to live in. Although the French used -all the freedom of conquerors, they were perfectly -sick of it. When we landed, they supposed, that, -after we had expelled them, we intended to retain -possession of it; and they sincerely pitied the lot -of their supposed successors. They fought, indeed, -bravely; but it was not out of love to the country, -but in subordination to military discipline, and for -the honour of their arms; but when compelled to -surrender on condition of being sent home to -France, they rejoiced in the event as a happy deliverance. -And indeed it was no wonder; for, in -addition to the disagreeable nature of the climate, -many of the military posts where they did duty, -being in lonely sandy deserts, were so ill accommodated, -and in all respects so uncomfortable, that -to do service at them was fitter for being a punishment -to men banished for their crimes, than for -those who deserved well of their country.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Dr. Clarke sailed up the Nile on the 10th of -August, 1801, when the river was beginning to -overflow the country. The following extract corroborates -all that I had heard related by my comrades, -after they had returned from Cairo, and is -so interesting, that it will gratify such readers as -have not access to his work. After passing Rachmanie, -he says, "Villages in an almost uninterrupted -succession, denoted a much greater population -than we had imagined this country to -contain. Upon each side of the river, as far as -the eye could reach, we saw fields of corn and -rice, with such beautiful groves, seeming to rise -out of the watery plains, and to shade innumerable -settlements in the <i>Delta</i>, amidst never-ending -plantations of melons, and all kinds of -garden vegetables, that, from the abundance of -its harvests, Egypt might be deemed the richest -country in the world. Such is the picture exhibited -to the native inhabitants, who are seasoned -to withstand the disorders of the country, -and can bear with indifference the attacks of -myriads of all sorts of noxious animals; to whom -mud and mosquitoes, or dust and vermin, are -alike indifferent; who, having never experienced -one comfortable feeling in the midst of their -highest enjoyments, nor a single antidote to sorrow -in the depths of their wretchedness, vegetate, -like the <i>bananas</i> and <i>sycamores</i> around -them. But strangers, and especially the inhabitants -of <i>Northern</i> countries, where wholesome -air and cleanliness are among the necessaries -of life, must consider Egypt as the most -detestable region upon earth. Upon the retiring -of the Nile, the country is one vast swamp. -The atmosphere is impregnated with every -putrid and offensive exhalation, then stagnates, -like the filthy pools over which it broods. Then, -too, the plague regularly begins; nor ceases, until -the waters return again.<a id='r25' /><a href='#f25' class='c006'><sup>[25]</sup></a> Throughout the -spring, intermitting fevers universally prevail. -About the beginning of May, certain winds cover -even the sands of the desert with the most disgusting -vermin.<a id='r26' /><a href='#f26' class='c006'><sup>[26]</sup></a> The latest descendants of -Pharaoh are not yet delivered from the evils -which fell upon the land, when it was smitten -by the hands of Moses and Aaron; the 'plague -of frogs,' the 'plague of lice,' the 'plague of -flies,' the 'murrain, boils, and blains,' prevail -so, that the whole country is 'corrupted,' and -'<i>the dust of the earth becomes lice, upon man and -upon beast, throughout the land of Egypt</i>.' This -application of the words of sacred Scripture -affords a literal statement of existing evils, such -an one as the statistics of the country do now -warrant. In its justification, an appeal may be -made to the testimony of all those who have resided -in the country during the very opposite -seasons of its prosperity and privation; during -the inundation, and when the flood has retired, -or before it takes place, in the beginning of the -year. At the period of the overflow, persons -who drink the water become subject to a disorder -called '<i>prickly heat</i>:' this often terminates -in those dreadful wounds alluded to in the sacred -writings, by the words '<i>boils and blains</i>.' During -the months of <i>June</i>, <i>July</i>, and <i>August</i>, many individuals -are deprived of sight, owing to a disorder -of the eyes peculiar to this country. <i>Europeans</i>, -having no other name for it, have called -it <i>ophthalmia</i>, from the organs it affects. There -was hardly an individual who did not suffer, -more or less, the consequences of this painful -malady. At this season, also, the dysentery begins -to number its victims; and although some -be fortunate enough to escape the worst effects -of this disorder, it proves fatal in many instances."<a id='r27' /><a href='#f27' class='c006'><sup>[27]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Dr. Clarke's account of what he experienced at -Cairo, in the middle of August, is also interesting: -"The mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer seemed -at this time fixed. It remained at 90 degrees for -several days, without the smallest perceptible -change. Almost every European suffered from -inflammation of the eyes. Many were troubled -with cutaneous disorders. The prickly heat -was very common. This was attributed to -drinking the muddy water of the Nile, the inhabitants -having no other. Their mode of -purifying it, in a certain degree, is by rubbing -the inside of the water vessel with bruised -almonds: this precipitates a portion of the mud, -but it is never quite clear. Many persons were -afflicted with sores upon the skin, which were -called '<i>biles of the Nile</i>;' and dysenterical complaints -were universal. A singular species of -<i>lizard</i> made its appearance in every chamber, -having circular membranes at the extremity of -its feet, which gave it such tenacity, that it -walked upon window-panes of glass, or upon -the surfaces of pendent mirrors.<a id='r28' /><a href='#f28' class='c006'><sup>[28]</sup></a> This revolting -sight was common to every apartment, whether -in the houses of the rich or of the poor. At the -same time, such a plague of flies covered all -things with their swarms, that it was impossible -to eat without hiring persons to stand by every -table with feathers, or flappers, to drive them -away. Liquor could not be poured into a glass; -the mode of drinking was by keeping the mouth -of every bottle covered until the moment it was -applied to the lips: and instantly covering it -with the palm of the hand, when removing it to -offer to any one else. The utmost attention to -cleanliness, by a frequent change of every article -of wearing apparel, could not repel the attacks -of vermin which seemed to infest even -the air of the place. A gentleman made his -appearance before a party he had invited to -dinner, with lice swarming upon his clothes. -The only explanation he could give as to the -cause, was, that he had sat for a short time in -one of the boats upon the canal. Perhaps objection -may be made to a statement even of -facts, which refers to no pleasing theme; but -the author does not conceive it possible to give -<i>Englishmen</i> a correct notion of the trials to -which they will be exposed in visiting this country, -without calling some things by their proper -names."<a id='r29' /><a href='#f29' class='c006'><sup>[29]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Before losing sight of the contest that was in -Egypt, it may not be amiss to glance at the unavoidable -evils of <i>war</i>. With the inhabitants we -had no quarrel: our sole object was to expel the -French. But this could not be done, without the -peaceful inhabitants receiving, in many cases, -serious injury. The roads from town to town did -not suit the march of the army to and from Cairo; -the troops generally took the direct road through -the corn-fields, and their encampments were sometimes -in fields of corn, tobacco, poppies, sego, -melons, indigo, &c. the produce of which, however -valuable, was destroyed. Fuel was scarce; -and the soldiers were necessitated to use whatever -would burn. Stalks of tobacco, bean straw, -and such like substances, were used to boil the -kettles;<a id='r30' /><a href='#f30' class='c006'><sup>[30]</sup></a> and in places where dry straw was difficult -to be had, it was necessary to place guards at -the entrances to the neighbouring villages or towns, -to prevent the soldiers from unroofing the houses -for wood to make fuel: and with all the attention -of the officers, such was the necessity of the case, -that injury could not always be prevented.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The discipline of the army was strict, and the -general behaviour of the troops good; but many -instances of petty depredations and pilfering took -place, that were not known, and could not be prevented. -Many instances occurred of inhabitants, -particularly Arabs, who sold bread, fruit, eggs, &c. -having their articles taken from them by "fellows -of the baser sort," without any payment, and -sometimes with abuse into the bargain. The -Arabs when so used would throw dust upon their -heads, and call upon God, and the Prophet, and -the Sultan. But as this usage was not general, -and as the army spent a considerable sum of good -money among them,<a id='r31' /><a href='#f31' class='c006'><sup>[31]</sup></a> they were not deterred from -following it with whatever they had to sell, and I -believe many of them made more money at that -time, than ever they had an opportunity of doing -before or since. On the afternoon of the 2d October, -we again left Rosetta, and lay for the night -near the mouth of the river. The wind was -moderate next morning; we passed the bar safely: -had a pleasant voyage across the bay of Aboukir, -and through Like Maadie; passed through the cut -in the banks of the canal of Alexandria into Lake -Mareotis,<a id='r32' /><a href='#f32' class='c006'><sup>[32]</sup></a> and landed not far from the place -where the battle of the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> of March was fought, -of which I had thus another view, and which I -never can forget. I joined the regiment on the -heights of Alexandria; we embarked next day at -Aboukir, on board of two frigates; sailed on the -morning of the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr> October; and lost sight of the -celebrated land of Egypt by 12 o'clock. None -regretted this. We indeed regretted our countrymen -and comrades, who had found a grave there; -but the country itself had no charms to make us -regret leaving it. All our thoughts were now fixed -upon home; and we rejoiced to think, that every -day was bringing us nearer it.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f16'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r16'>16</a>. </span>During the time of the inundation, the water in the -river is very thick but as much pure water as served us -for drinking, was procured from some private wells in the -town, which I suppose had a communication with the river, -which had the effect of filtering the water.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f17'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r17'>17</a>. </span>Matthew <abbr title='26'>xxvi.</abbr> 23.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f18'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r18'>18</a>. </span>I saw the buffaloes at this employment, when I sailed -up the river, on the <abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr> June, when coming to Rosetta. -The buffalo is much larger than the ox; his bones are uncommonly -large, even in comparison to the size of his body, -which is very lean; his strength must be much greater than -that of the ox. When he walks, he carries his head like -the camel, his nose being nearly as high as his horns, and -is on the whole a very dull looking animal; but, notwithstanding, -he is capable of being trained to this work, as -well, if not better, than the ox, for I saw them keeping a -slow but steady pace at their work, without the immediate -presence of a driver. The water is raised by a wheel, -upon which buckets or earthen pitchers are fastened.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Since the publication of the first edition, I have seen the -<abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr> <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> of Dr. Clarke's Travels in Egypt; and as his knowledge -is more extensive than mine, I take the liberty of -inserting an extract, upon the produce and manner of cultivating -the Delta. Speaking of the method of watering -the ground, he says, "The land thus watered, produces -three crops in each year; the first of clover, the second of -corn, and the third of rice. The rice grounds are inundated, -from the time of sowing nearly to harvest. The -seed is commonly cast upon the water, a practice twice -alluded to in sacred Scripture. <i>Balaam</i> prophesied of -<i>Israel</i>, <abbr title='numbers'>Numb.</abbr> <abbr title='24'>xxiv.</abbr> 7, that 'his seed should be in many -waters.' In the directions given for charity, by the son of -<i>David</i>, it is written, <abbr title='Ecclesiasticus'>Eccles.</abbr> <abbr title='eleven'>xi.</abbr> 1. 'Cast thy bread (<i>i. e.</i> -bread corn) upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after -many days.' When the rice plants are about two feet -high they are transplanted."—<abbr title='volume'>Vol.</abbr> <abbr title='five'>v.</abbr> <abbr title='pages'>pp.</abbr> 47, 48.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f19'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r19'>19</a>. </span>The grain was measured by an Arab into baskets, -which were carried to the heap by others, upon their -shoulders. The measurer accompanied his work with a -song indicative of the quantity he put into each basket. -The owner stood upon the quay and received a bean or -pea from the carriers as they passed by him to the heap; -and this was the method by which he kept an account of -the quantity landed.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f20'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r20'>20</a>. </span>I saw the exterior of some of these houses on the banks -of the Nile, but never had an opportunity of seeing their -interior. Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson says, in <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> <abbr title='pages'>pp.</abbr> 156, 157, "All -language is insufficient to give a just idea of the misery of -an Egyptian village; but those who have been in Ireland, -may best suppose the degree, when an Irish hut is described -as a palace, in comparison to an Arab's stye; for it -can be called by no other name. Each habitation is built of -mud, even the roof, and resembles in shape an oven: within -is only one apartment, generally of about ten feet square. -The door does not admit of a man's entering upright; but, -as the bottom is dug out about two feet, when in the room -an erect posture is possible. A mat, some large vessels to -hold water, which is the constant occupation of the women -to fetch; a pitcher made of fine porous clay, found best in -Upper Egypt, near Cunei, and in which the water is kept -very cool; a rice pan and coffee pot, are all the ornaments -and utensils. Here, then, a whole family eat and sleep -without any consideration of decency or cleanliness; being, -in regard to the latter, worse even than the beasts of the -field, which naturally respect their own tenements."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f21'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r21'>21</a>. </span>Sir <abbr class='spell'>R.</abbr> Wilson's History, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 116.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f22'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r22'>22</a>. </span>Ibid. <abbr title='pages'>pp.</abbr> 115, 132.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f23'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r23'>23</a>. </span>Ibid. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 119.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f24'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r24'>24</a>. </span>Ibid. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 121.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f25'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r25'>25</a>. </span>"General <i>Le Grange</i> assured us, when on board the -<i>Braakel</i>, that the ravages in the French army, caused by -the plague, during the month of April, at one time, -amounted to an hundred men in a single day."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f26'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r26'>26</a>. </span>"Sir Sidney Smith informed the author (Dr. Clarke) -that one night, preferring a bed upon the sand of the -desert to a night's lodging in the village of Etko, as -thinking he should be more secure from vermin, he -found himself, in the morning, entirely covered by them. -Lice and <i>scorpions</i> abound in all the sandy desert near -Alexandria." One of my comrades informed me, that -when some of the <i>date</i> trees were split at <i>Aboukir</i>, for -making the hospital, there were so many lice in the hearts -of them that they might have been gathered in handfuls. -The frogs also were so abundant at some of the places -where the army halted between Rosetta and Cairo, that it -was not possible to get at the water in the river without -treading upon them; and at one place the camp ground -was literally covered with black beetles, to the no small -annoyance of the soldiers in the tents, and the bed frames -and mats that we got new in the hospital in Rosetta in -the end of June, were so full of bugs by the end of September, -that they were fit only to be burnt.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f27'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r27'>27</a>. </span>Clarke's Travels, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='five'>v.</abbr> <abbr title='pages'>pp.</abbr> 56, 59.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f28'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r28'>28</a>. </span>"A similar membrane terminates each foot of a common -fly: beneath which a vacuum takes place, and the -animal maintains a footing upon ceilings, owing to the -pressure of the external air upon this membrane."</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f29'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r29'>29</a>. </span>Clarke's Travels, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='five'>v.</abbr> pp. 78, 80.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f30'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r30'>30</a>. </span>When their rations happened to be salt pork, they -used to put a piece of it under the kettle to burn with the -straw.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f31'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r31'>31</a>. </span>With the exception of gold, which was in the hands -of a few, the coin circulating in Egypt was made of base -metal, watered over with silver; and was of little or no intrinsic -value. There were large pieces of this kind, some -of them larger than a crown, which were of different -values: but a small coin, called a para, about the breadth -of a farthing, and no thicker than the scale of a fish, was -the most common; of which 120, and in some places 160, -were given for a Spanish dollar. The money expended -by the army was gold and Spanish dollars.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f32'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r32'>32</a>. </span>The inundation in this lake extended farther than the -eye could reach. The banks of the canal formed a road -for communicating with the interior of the country; a -bridge of boats united the banks, one of the boats being -moveable, for the purpose of allowing vessels to pass in -and out of Lake Mareotis. Before the army wholly left -the country, the boats forming the bridge were sunk in -the cut, and served for a foundation upon which the banks -were rebuilt. When the British took Alexandria, in March, -1807, a detachment was sent to take Rosetta; but they -were repulsed by those Turks who had accompanied the -army on its march to and from Cairo, and who had acquired -a considerable portion of British discipline. The rays -of the sun had by this time so far dried up the salt water -in Lake Mareotis as to render it passable; but the British -again cut the banks of the canal, and admitted the sea into -it, to protect Alexandria from being attacked by the -Turks.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chap7' class='c003'>CHAPTER <abbr title='seven'>VII.</abbr></h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>After a pleasant passage, having light winds and -fine weather, we arrived at Malta on the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> October. -Here our joy was wonderfully heightened -by the news of peace. The news had come from -France, but they were credit worthy. The only -cause of regret was, that such an important and -strongly fortified place as Malta, where we now -lay, was to be given up. We did not leave Malta -until the <abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr> November, at which delay the soldiers -were vexed; but the naval officers were no -way anxious to get home, because they knew that -the ship would be paid off, and they would then -lose their situations. Our own officers were apprehensive -that the regiment might be reduced, -which would put them on half pay; but the men -rejoiced in the prospect.<a id='r33' /><a href='#f33' class='c006'><sup>[33]</sup></a> We had a tedious passage -down the Mediterranean, and did not arrive -at Gibraltar until the <abbr title='twentieth'>20d</abbr> December. We left -it on the <abbr title='first'>1st</abbr> January, 1802, and arrived at the -Cove of Cork on the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr>, having had rough -weather all the way, which on two occasions increased -to a tempest, and did the ship I was in -considerable damage. We had to ride quarantine -until the <abbr title='ninth'>9th</abbr> February. My leg had stretched -considerably during the passage, and I walked -about the deck with the help of a stick. The -regiment landed, and marched into Cork on the -<abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr>, the wounded and baggage being conveyed -by water. And here I found that, although I could -safely walk about with a stick on the level deck -of a ship, my leg was not sufficiently strong to -travel the necessary distances on land. My wound -here broke out again; and when the regiment left -Cork for Kilkenny, although I rode upon the baggage, -yet the travelling from the places where the -baggage halted to my billet, which was sometimes -more than a mile, was injurious to me. We came -to Kilkenny on the <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr>, and lay in it about six -weeks. The regiment was inspected by the -General and Surgeon of the district, and a great -number ordered to be discharged, of which I was -one.</p> - -<p class='c005'>My conduct in Kilkenny was not what it ought -to have been; not that I fell into open gross sin, -but I did not improve my mercies as I ought, and -was guilty of what I disallowed in my own conscience, -and felt my weakness and inability to -overcome the inward workings of corruption. I -here bought Young's Night Thoughts, that by -reading it, I might fortify my mind against temptation. -I placed great confidence in the power of -the poet's language; but it had not the effect I -wished and expected. I was one evening at the -Methodist chapel; but I did not pay that attention -to the Sabbath which I might have done. The -regiment left Kilkenny, and marched for Belfast; -and when we came to Dublin, the discharged men -that were recommended to the benefit of Chelsea -Hospital, embarked for Liverpool, from which we -proceeded to London; where I was examined and -admitted an out-pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, on -the <abbr title='twenty-seventh'>27th</abbr> May, 1802. I left London on the <abbr title='twenty-ninth'>29th</abbr>, -and took a passage in one of the Carron Company's -brigs; landed at Queensferry on the <abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr> -of June, and arrived in Glasgow next day, happy -to find myself restored to my friends.—My wound -was still open; I might have gone into York Hospital -in London, and been cured, previously to -being discharged; and had I been wise, I should -have done this: but I was so anxious to be home, -that I did not do it, for fear it might delay me -some time.</p> - -<p class='c005'>My military life being now terminated, I desire -to bless God, with a grateful heart, for his goodness -and care over me while in the army, in a -particular not before referred to. For during the -six years that I was a soldier, I was never confuted -for any fault. My conduct was, in general, good, -in a military point of view; but there were times -that I was guilty of faults, for which I might have -been punished, and which I have reason to thank -God for escaping. And what is a little singular, -I was never concerned in any court martial case, -nor so much as a witness against any man; on the -whole, I passed comparatively easy and quietly -through the army, and without doubt, the remaining -restraints of early and religious instruction was -one particular mean of preserving me from many -evils and dangers; and in this respect proved an -invaluable blessing to me, while I was a soldier. -I mention this particular to show what good early -religious instruction may do, although it may not -have the effect of converting the soul.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I had now attained my wishes, by being safely -settled at home. God had given me the desire of -my heart. If I did not now find ability to keep -the commandments of God, in the way that I proposed -to myself, and upon which I founded my -hope of meriting and enjoying his favour, I could -not expect to find any situation more favourable. -I called to mind all the promises I had made, and -reflected on all the deliverances God had graciously -given me, and the gratitude that was due to him -for them. Circumstances led me to attend Mr. -Ewing's ministry at the Tabernacle; but, although -I attended divine ordinances, and read religious -books, I was not a whit the better. I had also -considerable opportunity of being alone; but where -I thought I would be strongest, there I found I -was weakest; and, when removed from outward -temptation, inward corruption increased, and baffled -my utmost efforts. The more I strove to keep -my own heart and life from sin, the more sin -triumphed over me. I found, in my experience, -that I was a slave to sin; for what I set myself to -overcome, overcame me. At the same time, the -spirituality of God's law increasingly opened on -my mind; I daily saw more of the extent of the -work I had assigned to myself to perform, in order -to obtain the favour of God; and found that my -practice, in place of getting nearer, was getting -farther from it. When I looked back on the mercies -I had received, and the promises and resolutions -I had made, I saw that I had all along been -mocking God, having never fulfilled any of them. -This broke my peace of mind; I became more -subject to the terrors of the law than I had ever -been; my conscience accused me of the blackest -ingratitude; I had no refuge to fly to; my sins became -too heavy for me; the justice of God stared -me in the face; and now I saw that I was a condemned -criminal. I gave over all hope of obtaining -the favour of God by my own doings; I -resolved to mock him with no more promises of -amendment of life; I confessed that hell was what -I deserved; that the law which condemned me -was just: and, when I did this, the importance of -being delivered from such a dreadful situation was -increasingly impressed upon my mind: but how to -obtain that deliverance I could not tell. I saw by -the Scriptures, that "unless a man be born again, -he can not enter into the kingdom of God," and -that no unholy being shall enter heaven. I prayed -earnestly for the new heart and the right spirit, but -did not correctly understand in what this change -consisted. I passed a considerable time subject to -sharp conflicts in my mind, during which, the -stings of conscience and the terrors of the law -were beyond description: but all was kept within -my own breast, without being discerned by any -one. My leg continued bad until the beginning -of 1803, when I confined myself to bed for some -weeks, and had the pleasure once more of seeing -it heal. I felt thankful to God for this new mercy; -but it added fresh torment to my mind, for it furnished -my conscience with new matter of accusation. -In perusing Boston's "Fourfold State," I -was startled at reading how the branches are -taken out of the natural stock. I saw my own -case pretty fully described; but as I did not understand -what it was to be "apprehended of Christ," -and united to the vine, it only increased my uneasiness. -I also heard a man in conversation in -my company declare, that, before a sinner can be -brought to God, the same power behooved to be -exerted that converted the apostle Paul. I did not -assent to what he said, because I did not believe -it; but I marked the saying. I became increasingly -uneasy; I had no peace in my mind; eternity -was before me; I was without hope, and knew not -how to obtain it. "<i>What</i>," said I, "<i>shall become -of me</i>!" I was agitated almost to despair; all that -prevented me from falling into it was the consideration -that I was yet in life, and that God had -not forbidden me to cry for mercy: and for mercy -I did cry, if peradventure I might find it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>My leg now threatened to break out again.—This -alarmed me more, and it prevented me from -going, as I had done, to the Tabernacle. The -forenoon of the second Sabbath after Albion-street -chapel was opened, I passed solitary at home; but -I was in a most painful state of mind, of which -the agitations can not be described. My convictions -of sin were so sharp as to drive me into a -state, which, if it was not absolute despair, could -hardly be distinguished from it. I could not bear -my own presence, and became afraid to be alone. -"<i>What shall become of me!</i>" was the unremitting -thought of my agitated soul. It at length drove -me to my knees; where, with tears, I confessed my -sins to God without reserve or palliation; fully -acknowledged the righteousness and justice of his -law; disclaimed all merit of my own; confessed -that I never had any, nor any ability to obtain it; -that I was totally unable to do any thing to procure -his favour, or to recompense him for it, should -he bestow it; and that if I was saved from endless -wo, it would be, because he would have -mercy on me, out of his own sovereign pleasure, -and not on account of any merit of mine. I cast -myself upon his pure mercy, and confessed that if -there was not pure mercy for sinners, I could have -no hope.—When I arose from my knees, it was -near the time of the afternoon's service. I felt -quite uneasy at home. I thought I would venture -as far as to Albion street chapel, because it was at -no great distance, and because I had heard my -father speaking favourably of you as a preacher. I -was the more disposed too to go there, because I -knew you were in connexion with Mr. Ewing, of -whom I had formed a favourable opinion. When I -got to the chapel, I was all attention. When you -prayed, I endeavoured to pray also. But nothing -particularly affected me, until you gave out your -text, 1 <abbr title='Corinthians'>Cor.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> 2. "For I determined not to know -any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him -crucified."—I was struck with the text, and became -anxiously attentive, to see if I could catch -any thing from the discourse which was to follow, -that could give ease to my troubled mind. You -had preached from it the preceding sabbath, and -having recapitulated what you had gone over, you -proceeded to the remainder of the subject; the -tenor of which was, <i>the nature of the work that -Christ had accomplished in the room of sinners, for -their salvation.</i> As you proceeded, I thought I began -to discern something I had not seen before.—But -when you proved from the Scriptures, that the -work which Christ had finished on mount Calvary, -was of itself sufficient to save sinners, and that God -had accepted his work as satisfactory to him; that, -therefore, the work of Christ being perfect, nothing -could be added to it; that it was impious to -attempt to add any thing to it, and that sinners -ought to rest satisfied with that which God had -declared was satisfactory to him, seeing he knew -best what was necessary to satisfy his justice, and -to secure his own honour in pardoning sinners; that -no good works were required of the sinner by God, -as <i>the ground of his acceptance with him</i>, either in -whole or in part, but that it was the merit of the -work of Christ alone, that justified sinners in the -sight of a holy God, and that all the praise of their -salvation belonged to Christ, and to the grace of -God in him; and that sinners should believe this -doctrine as good news, and put their trust in it for -the salvation they needed.—You I think spoke also -of the effect which the faith of this doctrine had -on all them that believed it, in leading them to -love God, and to keep his commandments. I was -greatly enlightened by the whole discourse; but -my mind particularly catched the words, that the -work of Christ was of itself perfect; that nothing -could be taken from it, or added to it; and that it -was impious to attempt to add any thing to it.—This -doctrine appeared new to me. I thought I -had never heard it before. I left the chapel when -the service was over, repeating to myself the -words, "<i>The work of Christ is perfect, sufficient of -itself to save a sinner</i>;" and, as I repeated it, I said, -"This is good news if it be true." Another -thought now started into my mind:—"If it be true -that nothing can be added to it, and that it is impious -to attempt it, how guilty have I been!"—My -whole train of repentances, promises, resolutions, -and attempted reformations, has not only been sinful -in the sight of God, on account of their failures, -but have been impious acts of rebellion; not on -account of my endeavouring to forsake sin, and to -cultivate holiness, but on account of the motive -that produced them, which was a desire to work -out a righteousness of my own, to the rejecting of -the righteousness of Christ; placing my works on -a level with his, nay, above his; seeking to merit -God's favour by my own doings; and when doubting -of their complete sufficiency, having recourse -to the merits of Christ, merely to make up the deficiency -of mine; and even this, not from voluntary -choice, but from a feeling of necessity. This -was a new source of guilt to my conscience, which -had never burdened it before. I began to apprehend -I had been guilty of the sin of unbelief, -so often spoken of in the Scriptures, and so strongly -condemned. But while my conscience accused -me of this, a gleam of hope dawned on my soul, -by ruminating on the sufficiency of the work of -Christ; and the more I pondered on the subject, -my hope increased, and the more my hope increased, -the stronger my sense of the sin of unbelief -grew. These two things kept pace with one another: -and while hope cheered my heart, this new -sense of guilt made me humble. I did not think -less of the guilt of my other sins; but this sin seemed -to outweigh them all, so that I became increasingly -vile in my own sight.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I read the Scriptures, with prayer to God for -light and direction, that I might truly judge the -doctrine I had been hearing, and not be led astray -by that which was not his own truth. I compared -scripture with scripture; and I now found -the very great benefit of being acquainted with the -letter of the Bible, and of having much of it on my -memory. My meditations were greatly assisted -by what was stored in it; for when employed at -my work, I often recollected passages, and compared -them together. All the drift of my thoughts, -was to find if there was evidence of the sufficiency -of the work of Christ, for a sinner's salvation; and -in many of these passages I found such evidence: -they appeared to me in a new light; and the sense -was so obvious, that I wondered how I had not -seen it before. This new discernment gradually -increased; and, as my wound did not break out, I -continued to attend Mr. Ewing's ministry, and -was growing in knowledge by means of his sermons. -One of them was particularly blessed to -me. It was an evening sermon from Matth. iii. -17. "And lo, a voice from heaven, which said, -This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." -The moment the text was read, I catched the -words, "<i>in whom I am well pleased</i>." I saw them, -as containing a proof of God's satisfaction in the -work of his Son on the behalf of sinners; I followed -the preacher through the discourse, and -was at no loss to comprehend his meaning; the -doctrine was plain and evident to me. I had still, -however, some perplexity in my mind, about the -nature of the good works to be performed after -believing. But this was removed by a sermon -from Mr. Greig<a id='r34' /><a href='#f34' class='c006'><sup>[34]</sup></a> from <abbr title='Hebrews'>Heb.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 14. "For we are -made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning -of our confidence steadfast unto the end." My -mind now became decided; I saw that if a sinner -had Christ, he had all. I was sweetly constrained -to give myself wholly up to him; to be content -to be saved by his merits, to the entire and eternal -exclusion of my own; to place my hope of acceptance -with God, both now and hereafter, solely -upon <i>his</i> perfect righteousness, and complete -atonement; and to commit my polluted soul to the -gracious influence of his Spirit, that he might so -apply the blood of Christ, as to "purge it from -dead works, to serve the living God." I now saw -that deliverance from sin itself, was a part of the -salvation of Christ: and I was led to trust in him -for sanctification, as well as for righteousness and -redemption. I now understood clearly what had -puzzled me, when I read the book on Contentment, -in Athlone. I was no longer at a loss to -understand what it was to be willing to do all -things for Christ, and to be willing to <i>deny</i> all -things for Christ. I saw that Christ is his people's -strength; that the power which enables them to -perform duty, to resist temptation, and to overcome -their spiritual enemies, is wholly derived -from him; that therefore when they conquer their -enemies, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness, -the glory of the conquest belongs to him through -whose strength they have been performed. I -therefore esteem it my high privilege as well as -duty, to "count all things but loss for the excellency -of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord;" -for whom I trust I have, in a measure, been -made willing to "suffer the loss of all things, and -to count them but dung, that I may win Christ, -and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness -which is of the law, but that which is -through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which -is of God by faith." <abbr title='Philippians'>Phil.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 9, 10.</p> - -<p class='c005'>My next concern was, about the question,—What -is the proper form of church government?—I -had been made a little acquainted with the claims of -Episcopacy, and they perplexed me a good deal. -Upon the general question, my stock of information -was small. This much I knew, that all parties referred -a good deal to the Acts of the Apostles, for proofs -of their respective opinions; and, as Mr. Ewing had -commenced a course of lectures upon that book, I -hoped to obtain such information, as should enable -me to come to a determination in my own mind. -I continued to hear him with a good deal of interest, -until he had gone through the fifteenth chapter. -I then embraced his opinions on that subject; and, -feeling the want of Christian fellowship, I determined -to make present conviction the rule of present -duty; and seeing that it was the will of -Christ that his people should be united together in -fellowship, I resolved to apply to Mr. Ewing, for -admission to the church under his care. Being at -a loss from my ignorance of the mode of application, -and entire want of acquaintance with any of -the members of his church, I wrote him a letter. -This introduced me to a conversation, with which -he was satisfied, and my case was to be mentioned -to the church at their next meeting. I had no -sooner returned home, however, than the words of -Jesus, John <abbr title='four'>iv.</abbr> 36. "And he that reapeth receiveth -wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; -that both he that soweth and he that reapeth -may rejoice together," occurred to my mind.—This -led me to remember you, my dear Sir, through -whom I had received the knowledge of the truth, -and to consider whether there was not a propriety, -if not a duty, rather to apply to the church under -your care, for admission, than to Mr. Ewing's. I -determined to consider this point, and wrote to -Mr. Ewing, requesting him to delay mentioning my -case to his church, as something had occurred to -my mind, which it appeared to be my duty previously -to consider, but as soon as I should come to -a determination I should let him know. I then -attended your preaching, to see whether it would -be as beneficial to me as Mr. Ewing's. You were -then lecturing in the forenoons through the 1st -Epistle of John. As I was but a babe in Christ, -doctrinal subjects were what I stood most in need -of. I found myself edified by your discourses, and -I felt an increasing attachment to you as my spiritual -father; and, as we were of one mind on matters -of church order, it appeared clearly to be my -duty to seek for admission into your church. Every -tie of spiritual affection seemed to require it. You -had, through the blessing of the great Head of the -church, sowed to me the words of eternal life: I, -through his blessing, had reaped them; and, as -there was no obstacle betwixt us, love said it was -most proper, that he that sowed and he that reaped -should rejoice together; for where should a -convert to the truth seek to be, but under the care -of the instrument that converted him? There must -be a peculiarity of affection, betwixt a spiritual -father and his children, beyond that of others -placed under his care and instruction. This peculiar -affection had now begun to operate in my -mind; for at first I had been so much taken up -with the discovery of the truth itself, that I had -paid little attention to the instruments who preached -it; but I now found leisure to give them a place, -in their various degrees, in my affections, without -losing any regard for the truth, or for its great -Author and object, Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd -of the sheep. In order therefore to strengthen -your hands in the work of an under shepherd, as -well as for my own benefit, I drew up a summary -narrative of my life and experience, and of the way -in which it had pleased the Lord to lead me to a -knowledge of his precious truth, and sent it to Mr. -Ewing, with the reasons why I thought it my duty -to apply for admission to your church. These -reasons Mr. Ewing approved of; he gave you -that narrative to introduce me to you; and I was -soon favoured with being admitted under your -pastoral care. The narrative is now greatly enlarged; -but before bringing it to a close I wish to -make a few general remarks.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I would begin with stating, that the belief of -that doctrine which gave peace to my troubled conscience, -gave also a degree of stability to my -conduct, such as I had never before been able, -with my utmost efforts, to attain. Not but that I -have still to lament, that sin dwells in me; but, -by the grace of God, it does not reign over me, as -formerly; and the less I think of myself, and the -lower I estimate my own strength, and the more -I trust to the gracious promise of imparted strength, -from the compassionate and all powerful Redeemer, -the stronger I am. Whilst I rejoice in the possession -of the new man, I have still to mourn the -existence of the old; I find in my experience increasing -evidence of the deceitfulness and desperate -wickedness of the heart, and see increasing reason -to be vile in my own eyes, and to pray continually -"God be merciful to me a sinner," but I trust in -his grace, that he will "fulfil in me all the good -pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith -with power," and "preserve me by his power, -through faith unto salvation," enabling me to -maintain the war of the spirit against the flesh, -until I get a complete and eternal victory.</p> - -<p class='c005'>And here I must express my gratitude to God, -for the benefit of Christian fellowship, and of pastoral -care and instructions. It is now about sixteen -years since I first heard you preach, and -became a member of the church under your ministry. -We have had our trials, to exercise our -forbearance and patience; but we have also had -our comforts. I still love the brethren, and while -I say, "Grace be to all them who love our Lord -Jesus Christ in sincerity," I wish for no other fellowship; -and while I love all who preach Christ -crucified, as the only ground of a sinner's acceptance -with a holy God, yet I desire no other teacher -than he who first turned my wandering feet into -the way that leadeth to life. Your instructions -and warnings have, I trust, enabled me to keep in -that way with my face Zionward. May the Lord -grant, that we may continue to walk together, and -be, in our respective stations, comforts to each -other on the road, until we arrive at the heavenly -Jerusalem;—and there may I be one of those, -who shall be to you, "a crown of joy and rejoicing -in the presence of the Lord!" There may we -rejoice together, in the rich mercy of the great -Redeemer, and give him all the praise, for converting -and preserving grace, both in the convert and -in him who was the instrument of his conversion; -and may you have many more in whom to rejoice, -besides the subject of this narrative! I thank God -for the success with which he has been pleased to -bless your labours. There are not a few, who -now sit under your ministry, who have received -the knowledge of the truth by means of your -preaching; and others, I believe, have joined the -church above. May the Lord grant you increasing -success in turning sinners to God, and in edifying -saints; may he bless the labours of all his -servants and people; and may his own word have -free course and be glorified, by the overturning of -the kingdom of sin and of Satan in the world; and -may the "kingdoms of this world soon become the -kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." Amen.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, Dear Pastor,</div> - <div class='line'>Your Affectionate Son</div> - <div class='line'>In the Faith of the Gospel,</div> - <div class='line'>G. B.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><i>GLASGOW, January, 1819.</i></div> - <div class='line'>To the Rev. <span class='sc'>Ralph Wardlaw</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='footnote c000' id='f33'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r33'>33</a>. </span>The short duration of the peace, however, prevented -the fulfilment of it.</p> -</div> -<div class='footnote' id='f34'> -<p class='c005'><span class='label'><a href='#r34'>34</a>. </span>Then assistant to Mr. Ewing; now minister of the congregation -in Crown Court, London.</p> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='postscript' class='c003'>POSTSCRIPT.</h2> -</div> -<p class='c004'>Having now finished my narrative, may I take -the liberty of adding a few reflections, with a view -to direct the minds of those who may read it, to -the lessons I should wish them to learn from it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>There are two things which are conspicuous in -it; the first is, a sinner's <i>weakness</i>; the second is, -a sinner's <i>blindness</i>.—It shows how long and how -often I attempted to cleanse my own heart. I made -the effort under all the variety of circumstances I -have mentioned, but all in vain. I acted under -all the motives I could collect from a sense of the -glory, goodness, justice, and general mercy of God, -as displayed in the works of creation and providence; -and also from what I had learned from the -Bible of the requirements of the moral law, which -was often like a fire in my conscience; and from -a fear of hell and eternal judgment, and a desire -of heaven and eternal life; and from a sense of -mercy to myself in being so often protected when -in imminent danger, delivered out of trouble, and -brought back from the very jaws of death in answer -to my prayers for mercy:—yet all these put -together were insufficient to keep me from breaking -the commandments of God, and being guilty -of what I condemned in my own conscience.—And -thus it will be with every sinner, that sets -himself to perform the same task. I do not refer -to my experience, as an exclusive proof of this; -but I refer to it as an instance of the truth of God's -word, which declares that sinners are "<i>without -strength.</i>" <abbr title='Romans'>Rom.</abbr> <abbr title='five'>v.</abbr> 6. Let any sinner undertake -the same task, and I can assure him from the word -of God, that he will come no better speed. He -may attempt it again and again; but every new -attempt will only show his weakness and blindness; -and, as he proceeds, he will find that he was -not aware of the ten thousandth part of the extent -and difficulty of the task. If he persevere in it, -he will find it necessary, after endeavouring to reform -his outward conduct, to look <i>within</i>, and there -he will discover work he was not at first aware of. -He will find it absolutely indispensable to watch -over his <i>heart</i> if he means to reform external conduct: -for it is the heart that first yields to temptation. -And, let his resolutions be ever so strong, -and his intentions ever so sincere, he will find that -the slightest temptations are sufficient to overcome -him. Nor will he be in danger from outward -temptations only; for although he were in the retirement -of a hermit, and totally secluded from the -world, he would find temptations to sin rising spontaneously -out of <i>that very heart</i> which had formed -the resolution not to commit it; he would find -himself led like a captive to the commission of it, -and that in the face of the clear light of duty, and -in spite of the strongest remonstrances of conscience; -thus giving him the most convincing -evidence, if he had eyes to see it, that "the -heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately -wicked;" (<abbr title='Jeremiah'>Jer.</abbr> <abbr title='17'>xvii.</abbr> 9.) that "he that committeth -sin is the servant (or slave) of sin;" (John <abbr title='8'>viii.</abbr> -34,) and that "he that trusteth in his own heart is -a fool." (<abbr title='Proverbs'>Prov.</abbr> <abbr title='28'>xxviii.</abbr> 26.) So long, however, as -a sinner has any confidence in his own strength, he -will not renounce it, in order to depend upon -strength to be imparted from another. So long as he -fancies any merit in his own works, he will trust to -them to procure his Maker's favour. But in this he -only shows his blindness. O that I could convince -any into whose hands this narrative may fall, to renounce, -as entirely hopeless, all such efforts; and also -as entirely worthless, all such attempted reformations; -and to flee to the all-mighty and all-meritorious -Redeemer! You need his perfect righteousness -to justify you, and his blood to atone for your sins; -you need the gracious influences of his Spirit to -purify your hearts, and to give you strength to -walk in the ways of God; for the motive to obedience -that alone can enable you to walk with -steadfastness and consistency, arises out of the belief -of the love of Christ, in giving himself a ransom -for the guilty. The belief of this will inspire -you with love to him in return; and this, and this -alone, will set your souls at liberty from the slavery -of sin. It is to those who believe the love that -he manifested in freely giving himself a sacrifice -for them, that he imparts strength to resist temptation; -and he warns all his disciples, that "without -him they can do nothing." He has promised his -grace as sufficient for them that trust in him in the -most trying situations, and to perfect his strength -in their weakness:—nor is this an empty promise; -for he, to whom it was more immediately addressed, -declared, that "he could do all things through -Christ who strengthened him;" and the way in -which he obtained the power was, by being conscious -of his own weakness, and trusting entirely -to the promised strength of the Saviour; "for," -says he, "<i>when I am weak then am I strong.</i>" 2 -<abbr title='Corinthians'>Cor.</abbr> <abbr title='twelve'>xii.</abbr> 7-10, with <abbr title='Philipians'>Phil.</abbr> <abbr title='four'>iv.</abbr> 13—Go you and -do as he did; and you will find that Christ will -be the same to you that he was to him, for the -Saviour is unchangeable; "the same yesterday, -and to day, and for ever." <abbr title='Hebrews'>Heb.</abbr> <abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 8.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I have been minute in detailing the exercises of -my mind, much more so than some may think -there is need for. I have been induced to this in -order to show how long and how strenuously a -sinner may go on in that course, although his efforts -are constantly failing; and fail they must, so long -as his hopes terminate on himself, and so long as -he refuses to put his entire confidence in the Saviour. -He may give over the task in despair, and -sink into carelessness and indifference; but if, -whilst he finds his hopes of himself fruitless, he is -still convinced of the importance and necessity of -the salvation of his soul, and feels that he is one -ready to perish; then the news of a Saviour will -be glad tidings to him indeed; and with the death -of his legal hopes a life of evangelical obedience -will commence. I have been induced to be minute, -from a desire to show to others the folly of continuing -to labour in the fire, as I did, for very -vanity; and that they may see the necessity of -fleeing directly to the Saviour. If you are saved -at all you <i>must</i> do this at the last; and why not -to-day as well as to-morrow, or any future period? -Jesus says, "To-day if ye will hear my voice, -harden not your hearts:" he says, "Come unto -me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I -will give you rest." And why will ye not hear -his voice, and accept of his invitation to-day? If -you reject him to-day, you may not live till to-morrow. -All the offers of the gospel are <i>present</i> -offers; there is no promise respecting to-morrow. -Jesus is as able to-day as to-morrow. He offers -himself to-day. His salvation is a present salvation. -"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, -now is the day of salvation."</p> - -<p class='c005'>If any read this narrative who are putting off the -concerns of their immortal souls to a death-bed, -and are deluding themselves with the notion, that -the distress of a sick-bed and the fear of death -will break the power of sin in their hearts, and that -they will then repent and believe; while you think -this, you show that you do not know what repentance -and faith are; for, did you know what they -are, you would already have repented and believed. -You can not know them until you are in actual -possession of them. Your conduct is, therefore, -ignorant and presumptuous. Faith and repentance -are present duties; and if you will not repent of -your sins <i>now</i>, and believe in the Lord Jesus -Christ for salvation, what security have you that you -will do so hereafter? you may be brought to a sick-bed; -and there the approach of death, and the fear -of hell, and remorse of conscience, arising out of -convictions of sin, may greatly alarm you; but this -will not change your heart, nor save your soul. -Such a state of mind is neither repentance nor -conversion. How often was I in danger, and -imagined I repented; and, when I was at the point -of death, I thought I had repented in truth. But -my conduct after I had recovered showed that I -had deceived myself; and had I died in the state -I then was in, I must have perished. When you -are laid on a sick-bed, you may find that you have -no hope of heaven if you die at present; you may -wish to recover, that you may change your conduct; -you may cry to God to spare you; but he -may not hear you; and when you see that death is -actually approaching, you may be driven to despair, -and die without hope: or, in order to calm -a troubled conscience, you may persuade yourselves, -that you have repented, and that, as you -are not allowed to live, God will accept of the -sincerity of your repentance; and you may thus -"go down to the grave with a lie in your right -hand." But if you despise the offer of a Saviour -now, and put off these things to a death-bed, -which many never see, but are called suddenly -out of the world, the probability is, that when you -are actually laid upon it, however old you may be, -and however evident the approach of your latter -end may be to all who see you, you will not think -you are going to die <i>yet</i>, but will still indulge the -hope of longer life;—until death lays his cold -hand on your heart, and closes your eyes for ever -on a present world.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Should this narrative fall into the hands of any -who are in the army, I would earnestly entreat -them to lay the contents of it seriously to heart, -and to beware of the delusive idea that it is not -needful to be religious in the army. Although you -are soldiers, you are still surely under the government -of your Creator. Your being in the army -will not excuse the sins you commit in it. There -is no article of war that commands you to swear, -or to get drunk, or to be guilty of uncleanness, or -any other sin. There is no order that prohibits -you from repenting of your sins, and believing on -the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of your invaluable -souls, and living a life of faith upon the -Son of God; so that you are without excuse. Your -being in the army does not give you a greater -security of long life to be an excuse for delay. On -the contrary, <i>you</i>, above all men, ought to secure -the salvation of your immortal souls. And blessed -be God, that salvation is offered as freely to you -as to others. Jesus, the King of kings, offers you -his free and unmerited favour, in the same way -that he does to others; and makes you as welcome. -Your souls are as precious to him, as those of any -of the human race: so that you are without excuse. -Beware of another delusion;—that the army is a -place in which it is impossible to live a godly life. -This is not true. However hard it is, yet it <i>is</i> -possible, and has been done. If indeed you attempt -to live a godly life in your own strength, as -I did, you will fail; but remember, so would you -in any situation in which you could be placed. -But if you believe in the Lord Jesus, and take -him for "righteousness and <i>strength</i>," he will fulfil -to you his promise, that "as your day is, so shall -your strength be." Remember that the way that -leadeth to eternal life is a narrow way to all; and -that the same grace which enables others to travel -that narrow way is sufficient to enable you to -travel it also; and that the same power which -brings others safely through, is able to carry you -also in safety to the end of the journey. Remember -that it is the power of God and not of man -that enables <i>any</i> to persevere unto the end; and -will you say that it is not in the power of the -Almighty to enable a soldier to serve him in the -army, and to lead a Christian life in it? The idea -is blasphemous; it is a delusion of Satan; and it -is an unjust charge upon the army, bad as it is, -and one of the greatest obstacles, if not the very -greatest, to its moral improvement; for it goes to -prevent the very attempt at improvement, as utterly -hopeless, and consequently to leave the individuals -who compose it to be confirmed in all their evil -habits. If any soldier read this, let me beseech -him to lay seriously to heart the immense value of -his soul, and to believe in the grace and power of -a Redeemer, and, although there should not be -one godly person in his regiment, let him not be -afraid to believe in Jesus, and to regulate his conduct -by his word. Do not be afraid of the mocking -of your comrades: it is indeed not easy to -bear; but if you really trust in Christ, he will -enable you to live down their reproaches by a -consistent and steady course of life. <i>Their</i> reproaches -are not to be put in comparison with <i>his</i> -smiles; and if the King of kings smiles upon you, -what need you care who frowns? It will become -you rather to pity, than to be offended at them. -Seek, by constant prayer, for that prudence and -wisdom which will enable you so to act as to put -to silence their foolish scoffings; and, if you persevere, -you will extort from them so much commendation -as will repay you for all the reproaches -you have borne, or may still be subject to. But -let your faith be constant and your practice persevering. -Do not take up religion by fits and -starts. Those who do so show that they have not -yet understood what it is. Unless your repentance -be that of the Bible, and your faith in Jesus -genuine, arising from a scriptural understanding -of your own character as a guilty and helpless -sinner in the sight of God, and a scriptural discernment -of the rich grace and almighty power of -Christ, you will not be able to stand: for the army -is not a place for hypocrites, formalists, and self-righteous -professors, to prosper in. The professions -of such will generally vanish like smoke. -The genuine believer in Jesus alone is able to -abide the trial; and he stands, because he is -upheld by the power of God through faith unto -salvation. Therefore, let no soldier neglect his -salvation, through fear that the temptations of the -army will be too much for him. Great as they -are, if he trusts in Christ, he shall be made "more -than a conqueror through him that loved him;" -and the more he can get his comrades to attend -to the same things, the temptations will diminish. -And the more the religion of Jesus prevails in the -army, and the greater the number of genuine disciples -are in it, the greater improvement will be -made in its character, efficiency, and comfort.</p> - -<p class='c005'>I rejoice that the army is beginning to be more -attended to of late, in a religious point of view. I -rejoice to see Bible Societies in operation for the -benefit of the army and navy; and wish them an -increasing measure of success. The attention of -the religious world has not yet been sufficiently -drawn to the importance of the object. I hope -that the stimulus that has been put in motion will -continue to increase, and that a succession of prudent -measures will be adopted for the promotion -of the fear of God in the army and navy. The -same means that are effectual for the attainment -of this great object amongst the other classes of -mankind will be effectual here. And what a -blessing would it be to the army and navy, were -the fear of God their prevailing character! How -would it promote subordination, peace, sobriety, -and chastity, and, in so doing, prevent the frequency -and necessity of punishments and rigorous -regulations, and the prevalence of those diseases -which break the constitutions of such numbers, -renders them non-effectives, and sends so many of -them to an early grave!—And how much benefit -would instantly accrue to society, in the reduction -of the contamination of profanity, intemperance, -and lewdness! How many female characters -would be preserved, and the consequent grief of -parents prevented! How much of the evil of prostitution -would it reduce, which is so dangerous to -youth in sea-port towns, and large cities! If my -feeble voice could be heard, I would add it to that -of those who have already appeared as advocates of -this cause, in supplicating British Christians to -prosecute this object with prudent but vigorous -perseverance. I rejoice to see a floating chapel -provided upon the Thames for the instruction of -seamen. This, I hope, will be followed by similar -measures wherever they are necessary. The wisdom -that devised this, is competent to devise all -that is wanting for the prosecution of this great -cause, throughout the army and navy. And the -same motives are sufficient to carry those embarked -in it forward with zeal until the fear of God -finally triumph. And its triumph in the army and -navy will remove one of the obstacles to its prevalence -in the world. And who knows but that -genuine piety may not only prevail but even shine -most conspicuously in the army and navy, and that -the <i>last</i> may become <i>first</i>.</p> - -<p class='c005'>G. B.</p> - -<p class='c005'>THE END.</p> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<p class='c009'>Transcriber's Notes:</p> - -<p class='c005'>Archaic and colloquial spelling and punctuation was retained.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and are linked for ease of reference.</p> - -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF A PRIVATE SOLDIER IN HIS MAJESTY'S 92D REGIMENT OF FOOT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> -<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most - other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions - whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms - of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online - at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you - are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws - of the country where you are located before using this eBook. - </div> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> - </body> - <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57c (with regex) on 2021-12-22 00:48:44 GMT --> -</html> diff --git a/old/66990-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/66990-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1b75a2b..0000000 --- a/old/66990-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null |
