last; old Sir Ralph, "the good and the fond division were on shore. The British lines, brave". -as the song, "O the broad swords closing, to cover their heavy losses, rapidly apof old Scotland," has it,-coming out in the proached the landing-place. The French inpicture in all his proper dimensions and fantry in heavy masses now lined the beach, and the roar of musketry was incessant and tremenattributes. All the boats of the British dous. Sir Ralph, in great agitation, again or fleet under the command of Lord Keith are dered the officer to put his boat in front of the assembled in a triple line, "extending about triple line, and was met by that officer respecta mile and a half at a league distance from fully declaring that "he would obey the orders their intended place of debarkation." The of his admiral alone." The old general made centre line is composed of flats and launches, an abortive attempt to jump overboard, saying, "Without some striking example, human nature crowded to excess with the flower of the could not face such a fire;" and indeed the sea British army. These are towed by barges was ploughed and strongly agitated by the inand pinnaces, with a line of jolly-boats in numerable balls that splashed among the boats, the rear to assist the disabled. The signal sometimes hiding them altogether by the spray is given to advance leisurely, "but to keep they created. This was a most painful scene strictly in line till under fire, and then use for a spectator; our friends mown down like But now a change every exertion to land the troops." But corn before the reaper. all that military skill could effect had been comes over it. A heart-stirring cheer is given on the prows touching the beach; the soldiers, done to render the place of debarkation heartily tired of being shot at like rooks, spring invulnerable; the French having for eight from the boats with great alacrity; that effectdays been preparing for the event. The ive instrument, the bayonet, &c. &c. French Governor of Alexandria is reported to have said, "that nothing with life could be thrown on his shores but a cat." Immediately in front, too, lies the enemy's army on hills which are strongly fortified, while between these ridges, peep out the flying artillery, the cavalry also showing themselves in numbers between the masses of infantry, sufficient, they look, to devour our small band.

* * *

The death of Abercrombie :

The Hon. Captain Proby, now addressing the commander-in-chief, to whom he was aide-decamp, reported the enemy to be retreating, covered by their cavalry. "But good God, general, you are seriously wounded, your saddle is saturated with blood. Let me support you to the rear, and for all our sakes let the surgeons examine you."

spurs

Captain Proby, I thank you," said the veteImagine ten thousand of England's hardy ran, with a faint voice; "but in these stirring sons, full of life and vigor, rushing into an une-times the general should be the last person to qual contest that, in the space of one hour, would think of self. Captain Proby, order a forward decimate them. Hark! the first shell from Nel- movement, and hang fiercely on the retiring foe. son's island; the roar, the whistle, and explosion Desire Hompesh's dragoons to cut through their among the boats, answered by the heart-stirring rear-guard, and follow them closely to the walls cheers of the British lines. The heavy artillery of Alexandria." Seeing hesitation and great from the ridge of sand hills in front open their concern in the ingenuous, youthful countenance iron throats on the devoted boats. "Give way of Captain Proby, Sir Ralph added with sternfore and aft!" is the respondent cry to the shrieks ness, "See my orders instantly obeyed, Sir." of the wounded, the heavy groans of the dying, And the aide-de-camp, dashing his into and the gurgling sounds of the drowning. Gaps the flanks of the swift Arabian, flew along the are seen in our lines. Now their fly-line, vociferating the orders of "Forward! foring artillery, with their long train of horses, gal-ward!" at the same time despatching the first lop to the beach, and open their brazen mouths dragoon he met with to Colonel Abercrombie, on our advancing boats. That most venerable and veteran son of war, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, commander in-chief, in the Kent's barge, moving in the rear, now desired the officer of that boat to pass through the gaps in our line, and place him in front of the fire. "I command you, sir," said the veteran; my personal safety is nothing compared with the national disgrace of the boats turning back. Example is needful in this tremendous fire, which exceeds all I ever saw. Oh, God! they waver,-onward, brave Britons, onward!" This apparent wavering was Sir Ralph, who was sinking fast from loss occasioned by a shell sinking the Foudroyant's of blood, now turned affectionately to the manly flat boat with sixty soldiers in her, and by the form of his son, who stood at his side in a visible rush of smaller ones to pick up the sinking sol-agony of suspense, muttered the words-" A diery. The lieutenant in command of the barge flesh wound-a mere scratch!" and fell fainting respectfully said he had the orders of Sir Rich-into his arms.

stating his opinion that his father was bleeding to death on the field with a gunshot wound. Sir Ralph, seeing Sir Sidney Smith's horse shot under him, now desired his orderly to remount him. Sir Sidney, thinking it would inconvenience the general, refused to mount, till a ball from the retreating artillery decided the question by killing the orderly. While Sir Sidney (who was wounded) was thanking the general, Colonel Abercrombie galloped up-" Dear father, has your wound been examined?"

ard Bickerton, not to expose the general-in-chief He was quickly borne by orderly sergeants to unnecessarily to the fire, or land him till the sec- the rear, where the wound was pronounced of a

dangerous nature. Fortunately the Foudroy- | pair of penetrating black eyes, an intelliant's launch had just reached the beach with gent countenance, with a gentlemanly air, boats of the fleet to convey the wounded off to expressive of good nature and kindness of the shipping; and the hero of sixty-three, in an insensible state, was consigned to the tender heart." Captain Selby of the El Carmen care of his son, exposed to the fierce sun, whose was ordered to England, to announce the rays shot down hot enough to melt him. Colo- British success in Egypt. The frigate nel Abercrombie held one of his hands, while however made tardy progress, having, by tender commiseration clouded his manly brow. the advice of Sir Sidney, hugged the BarI saw this gallant and good old warrior extended bary coast close," in hopes of receiving on a grating, coming alongside the flag ship, his the land wind at night. The leewind, howsilvery hair streaming in the breeze that gently rippled the waters-his venerable features con"blew hard ever, upon us and nearly vulsed with agony, while the sun darted fiercely wrecked the old tub off Cape Dern." The on him its intense rays, combining with his wound hero of Acre was coming home a passenger to occasion the perspiration to pour down his fore-in the frigate. The extract now to be prehead like heavy drops of rain; yet he command-sented exhibits him characteristically, voled not only his groans, but even his sighs, lest unteering to board an American vessel in they should add to the evident anguish depicted distress during a gale :in Colonel Abercrombie's countenance, as he wiped the perspiration from his father's face."We are near the Foudroyant, my dear sir; swallow a little of the contents of my canteen, it will enable you the better to bear the motion of being hoisted in."

On the following morning, the wind having moderated, we bore up and shook a reef out of the topsails, dropped the foresail, and stood under the stern of a large ship laboring heavily, with top-gallant yards across, on a topping sea, and American colors reversed.

"Send the quarter-master below to sling the general," said Lord Keith, "and select careful "I am in a sinking state," said brother Jonahands to the whip," and his lordship's counten- than, “and I calculate I shall only be able to ance expressed the deepest commiseration. keep her up two hours or so: the people are Now, whip handsomely,-bear off the side, frightened and I am in a bit of a shake, theregentlemen,-for God's sake do not let the grat-fore, Britisher, I will take it as a compliment if ing come in contact with any thing. High you will send your boat (mine are washed away) enough-lower handsomely-see that the bear-and save us from being drowned like rats in this ers are equally tall. Now rest the grating tarnation leaky hooker." gently on their shoulders:" and his lordship gazed on the suffering countenance of the ancient soldier.

"I am putting you to great inconvenience," said Sir Ralph; and added in faltering accents, "I am afraid I shall occasion you much more trouble."

"The greatest trouble, general," and Lord Keith took hold of one of the wounded man's hands, "is to see you in this pitiable situation." Lord Keith pressed, relinquished the hand, and burst into tears; nor was there a dry eye that witnessed the sufferings of this venerated and venerable warrior. He lingered in acute pain three days, and his body was sent down to Malta.

"I will stay by you," said Captain Selby, "but no boat will live in this sea."

Upon this declaration Jonathan Corncob spat twice as fast as ever, and observed, "You might oblige us with a boat, Captain."

His passengers and crew did not take it in the same cool way their master did, but raised a great outcry, and threw up their hands to a superior power for aid, while, despairingly, they tried to induce us to send a boat. Sir Sidney's kind heart was touched by the scene.

"Captain Selby, if you will risk your leequarter cutter I will save, by the help of Heaven, those despairing creatures. Give me choice men,-good boatmen, Mr. Landon, and with your captain's permission, I will take you in the boat."

of care, for, as officer of the watch, it was my This speech relieved me from a heavy weight duty to share the risk with Sir Sidney, but I had no inclination to be drowned even in such good company, and his choice fell on the first lieutenant, (there is no accounting for taste.) It set both heart and mind at rest, for I fully con

We meet with "the breeze that gently rippled the waters," and similar repetitions of fine writing rather too frequently to accord well with a veteran sailor's phrase ology. But, to let that pass, we hasten to glean some notices and anecdotes of another wrrior, whose name will live long incurred with my captain in opinion that no boat history, the chivalrous but eccentric Sir spring into the lee-cutter. Captain Selby havcould live. Sir Sidney was the first man to Sidney Smith. This knight of the sword, ing remonstrated against his risking so valuable says Lieut. Parsons, "I remember well, life, was answered gaily by the gallant hero and have him in my mind's eye,' as he calling to our first luff, Mr Landon, if your stepped on the quarter-deck of H. M. fri. tackle-falls give way you will be drowned for gate El Carmen,' lying in Aboukir Bay, your carelessness, as I intend to be lowered in the boat, and her tackle falls should always be Egypt, in the latter part of the year He was then of middling stature, good stern-last well attended, and your two best quarready to bear any weight. Now for a bow and looking, with tremendous moustachios, a termasters at the falls. Watch her roll, nien,

1801.

a

when I give the word, for on your attention and field's tuition." "He was the life of the skill depend the lives of the cutter's crew, your ship, composed songs and sang them; full first luff, to say nothing of my own, and Chips, of anecdote, so well told, that you lost the carpenter, whom with your leave, Captain Selby, I will take on board Jonathan, who I sight of the little bit of egotism they smacksuspect is not so bad as stated, but rather lost ed of." He "shortened his moustachios in his reckoning. Additional stretchers in the daily, according to our run made in the boat, Mr. Landon,-each man with these in his night, fully determined to get rid of them hands to bear us off the side. Now, Captain by our arrival in England." Sir Sidney Selby, place your frigate close on her weather "asserted that rats fed cleaner and were quarter, to make a lee for us." And every man better eating than pigs or ducks, and, held his breath with consternation, as the gallant hero, watching the lee roll, loudly gave the agreeably to his wish, a dish of these beauword to lower away roundly, still louder to let tiful vermin were caught daily with fishgo and unhook, on the celerity of which depended hooks, well-baited, in the provision hold, all their lives. I drew my breath freely when for the ship was infested with them, and the boat showed her stern to the mountainous served up at the captain's table." The waves, impelled by her oars, as each billow knight, we are also informed, was a perfect threatened to engulph her, and the cool magna- Nimrod at running; for so fleet a-foot he nimity of Sir Sidney, as he steered alongside the wall-sided monster of a Yankee, who rolled awfully as he sprang on board.

"I guess you are the captain of that there Britisher," said Jonathan Corncob, addressing the hero of Acre, "and I take your conduct as most particularly civil."

"I am only a passenger in yon frigate, and am called Sir Sidney Smith. But let your carpenter show mine where he thinks the leak is, and I shall be glad to look at your chart." "You shall see it, Sidney Smith, (we do not acknowledge titles in our free country,") and Jonathan unrolled a very greasy chart before Sir Sidney.

"I do not see any track pricked off. What was your longitude at noon yesterday? and what do you think your drift has been since that time ?"

Why, to tell you the truth, Sidney Smith, I havn't begun to reckon yet, but mate and I was about it when the gale came on; I think we are about here;" and Jonathan Corncob covered

many degrees with the broad palm of his hand;

"Mate thinks we are more to the eastward."

This convinced Sir Sidney that he rightly guessed that the man was lost. Americans, long, long ago, were not pre-eminent as now in navigation, and were generally and irreverently called God's ships. The carpenter by this time had diminished the leak, and Sir Sidney, giving Captain Corncob the bearings and distance of Brest, only a day's sail dead to leeward, offered to take him and his crew on board the El Carmen, leaving the boat's crew to run the tarnation leaky hooker into Brest, and claiming half her value as salvage.

But Jonathan gravely demurred; and calling to mate, "Reverse our stripes and place our stars uppermost again where they should be," while he kindly slapped Sir Sidney on the shoulder, calling him an honest fellow from the old country, and in the fulness of his gratitude offered him a quid of tobacco and a glass of brandy.

Sir Sidney got on board without accident, and Jonathan Corncob made sail for Brest, where I trust (but never heard) that he safely arrived.

Sir Sidney's manners, we are told, "would have done honor to Lord ChesterVOL. III. No. II. 17

was, that when reconnoitering the French army before Acre, and the enemy's sharp shooters had been thrown forward with a desire to make him their target, "he would enter the breach in the walls, where Jezza Pacha made his bed every night during the siege, before his companions were half way.

We have now given samples of the staple of the "Reminiscences.' What more can we do to insure the popularity of the book?

THE SPIRIT OF POETRY.

WHERE art thou not, fair spirit, in this world
Of light and shade?-there may be those who say
But these are few. Beneath thy pow'r unfurl'd
They see thee not, nor feel thy glorious sway:

We walk this earth. Ah! even when we deem
The sunshine of thy presence far removed,
A thought, a hope, will show us that thy beam
Is near us still. How often hast thou proved
Our saving guide!--the heart led on by thee

Has found at last what worldly wisdom ne'er
Could give alone-a spring of faith-to be

For ever tasted and for ever clear.
And mirror'd on its waters we behold
All that the heart hath laid within its inmost fold.
EMMA B.

WHAT PLEASURE IT IS TO PAY ONE'S DEBTS.

I remember to have heard Sir T. Lyttleton make the same observation. It seems to flow from a combination of circumstances, each of which is productive of pleasure. In the first place, it removes that uneasiness which a true spirit feels from dependence and obligation. It affords pleasure to the creditor, and therefore gratifies our social affection. It promotes that future confidence which is so very interesting to an honest mind; it opens a prospect of being readily supplied with what we want on future occasions; it leaves a consciousness of our own virtue; and it is a measure we know to be right, both in point of justice and of sound economy. Finally, it is the main support of simple reputation.-Shenstone.

any circumstances, to offer him one. He became, in his neighbourhood, (and as far "TEXI- as a man can become such, in that part of the world,) an object at once fearful, detestable, and arrogant in the extreme. Few men but wished him killed off-hand, or hoped, that at the earliest convenient opportunity, he might find his match.

FRANKLY admitting that duels of every common kind, and some of a very uncommon description also, have been written upon until the very name, when seen in print, bears very much the unsavory character of a literary nuisance, I yet venture 1 to add another to the number, since it may deservedly be considered the crowning fight, both for its singularity and its barbarity, of all hitherto placed on record. Savage and deadly as is the general character of duelling in the Southern States of Americaepidemical as it is decidedly stated to be in some places, (Orleans, for instance,) increasing materially in the heats of summer, and declining as the weather cools, and in the face of all we have heard concerning Kentucky "gouging" and biting off of ears and noses, this "Fight in the Dark," which took place in Florida, stands pre-eminent and alone. Germany cannot match it, and by its side, an English duel is mere child's play! That poor humanity should ever become excited to such an act will appear marvellous-but it is no less true. At least, it is no fiction of mine-and a very savage kind of imagination must any novelist have possessed who could have purely invented it.

The young man, who, on the occasion I am about to relate, eventually entered the field with this uncivilized fellow, happened, neither by reputation nor in fact, to possess the horrible accomplishments of the colonel. He was a quiet, unassuming citizen, with no further title to the character of a duellist than many attach to the majority of his fellow-men in those fighting regions.

The inn, or liquor-store, in which the scene took place, stood by the forest, although an extensive patch of roughly-cleared ground surrounded it, and the night of its occurrence having suddenly proved very rainy and dark, many of those who had previously assembled there were detained beyond their time, while occasional wayfarers, to avoid the storm, added to their numbers. Amongst these latter were two individuals, one of whom, before his entrance, was overheard, by some in the entrance, to say to his companion, with a fearful oath peculiar to certain people in the South

"By! Major, I'll raise a fight to-night, before I go!"

The parties in this affair were Colonel"

and a young man, I believe a surgeon, whom he chanced accidentally to meet, one evening, at a liquor-store. Whether the colonel was of the regular army," as Webb, of New York, designates himself, or only one of those very numerous colonels in America who never either handled a sword or rode in the field, even of a review, my informant did not state; though, from his insolent and quarrelsome disposition, I should, as an Englishman, naturally conclude he was no soldier. This, however, at least he was one of those not uncommon characters to be met with in the South -a man who had accquired for himself a "first-rate" reputation as not only a dead shot with either pistol or rifle, but also as being equally au fait and formidable in the uses of the bowie-knife. Whichever he might fight with, was a matter of perfect indifference to him-as in any one of the three cases, his antagonist generally enjoyed some three or four chances, to the colonel's one, of losing his life. Hence, few cared to receive an insult from him, or, under almost

"No, no, colonel!" replied the otherstop a moment. Is there any man here you have a difficulty with ?"

"No-not that I know of; but what does that matter?"

"Then why go into a bar for the sake of picking a quarrel with a stranger, either to kill him or get killed yourself?"

"Kill me !—ah! ah! major, don't grind coffee on my nose!-you couldn't do it yourself! Let any man try, and the way I'll use him up shall be a caution, I tell you!"

And so saying, the colonel strode in, and made his way towards the bar, where he ordered brandy, and while drinking it, cast his eyes around upon a respectable body of men there assembled-a body commonly called, according to this kind of classical American, "a tallish kind of a crowd."

His general insolence of demeanor soon attracted attention, but for a while he failed to fix upon any particular individual as his intended victim.

Meantime, his friend the major,-probably another such major as he himself a colonel-was observed to address him earnestly, but in a low tone of voice, though

seemingly with the intention of keeping The latter, thereupon, deliberately rose him quiet. These efforts failed-and with from his seat, and advancing, with the ut more brandy came more determination. most apparent composure, towards his an Eventually, his eye fell upon two persons, tagonist, (who, probably, had no idea of such one the young man who was to be slaugh a salutation from such a man,) struck him tered, to whom allusion has already been boldly in the face with his fist, and instantly made, and the other an aged one-perhaps fell back, to stand upon his defence with the his father. They were engaged in close knife. private conversation, the younger of the two being then the speaker. The colonel seemed to listen attentively, and having drawn somewhat nearer, very soon exclaimed aloud

"It is not the case!"

Many turned their heads towards the speaker, with a slight expression of surprise, as being unconscious who he was addressing; his friend, who now stood aloof, but kept his eyes upon him, beckoned him back, but in vain, while the individual really most interested in this commencement of the at. tack was too absorbed in his own discourse to hear, or to remark, the exclamation at all.

The colonel rushed forwards, like a tiger, but his friend, the major, seized him, and all interfered to prevent the immediate effusion of blood. This being effected, a challenge was immediately given by the colonel, and accepted, and the morrow morning was proposed as the period for the meeting. To the surprise, however, of some of the bystanders, the challenged party insisted on an immediate decision, and that the combat should terminate only with life. "To kill or be killed," said he, "is now my only alternative, and the sooner one or the other is done the better."

On hearing this, the colonel also furiously demanded an instantaneous settlement of

By and by, the colonel a second time the affair, said his friends had no right to spoke, but in a louder key

"I say it's false !"

On this occasion, the young man almost involuntarily looked up, and his eyes met those of the colonel, for towards him were many directed. But he seemed not yet to comprehend that his private conversation with his aged friend was alluded to. It was, therefore, immediately afterwards continued.

prevent it, and swore that if he did not conclude the business at the first shot, he would consent to stand as a target only the following two times. Both parties were, of course, by this period, highly excited. Different propositions were loudly vociferated by as many different parties present, until more than one case of "difficulty" of this kind appeared likely to be brought to its

sum total" before the morning sun. It By this time, scarcely another voice in was suggested that they should go out on the room was heard-suspense as to the re- to the clearing, have two blazing fires made sult, and curiosity concerning this unac- at a proper distance, the combatants being countable conduct, having produced consid-placed between them, so that they could see erable silence.

each other against the light behind-or that they should fight by the blaze of pitch-pine splinters-or decide the question, at once, across a table.

In the midst of all this uproar, the young man challenged was questioned, by several of the more temperate persons present, as to his knowledge of the character and reputation enjoyed by his antagonist, the colonel. He replied that he knew nothing whatever concerning him, and had never even seen him before; two facts which, in his opinion, highly aggravated the repeated and intentional insults he had received. They accordingly advised him on the subject of the colonel's prowess, and urgently recommended him to adopt the following two courses, to select no other weapon than the rifle, and to defer the decision until daylight. By no other arrangement could he possibly have a chance.

All was in vain, as he firmly adhered to