to the left, confirmed the notice of attack. Soon after, the joint report of cannon and musquetry was heard from the same quarter; and from the faintness with which they were repeated, it was conjectured, with fortunate precision, that the right wing was intended to be the principal scene of contention. By degrees the shouts of the enemy grew louder and louder, as they ap proached in fight, until at last they deepened into a general roar, timed in its periods by a peal of guns, and echoed back by our troops, and the action set in with universal tumult. The attack was prosecuted with singular impetuosity; the infantry led the advanced shock, supported by charges of cavalry, and were opposed with the bravest obstinacy. Twice were they obliged to retreat before us, and as often they opened out their columns, and let the cavalry dash forward upon the infantry, but the diversification was nobly resisted. A third encounter ensued, and the French were again driven back, when a fresh body of reserve made a desperate assault upon our centre; but even that was constrained to retreat with loss, and the fortune of the day was then decided. The defeat was unequivocal, and a complete rout would have followed, but the poverty of our force in cavalry made it impossible to continue the pursuit, either with that sufficiency or effect which the state of the field demanded.

But the pride of victory was damped by the fate of the gallant Abercrombie. Upon the first shout of attack, he fled to the right wing, and pressed with ardour into the thickest of the fight; here, while exposed to every danger, and exhorting every charge, a musquet ball lodged in his thigh. The wound was mortal, and he was unhorsed: still he continued active in directions, and bold in conflict, until a French officer pierced his breast. Thus doubly wounded, he closed upon this antagonist, and disarmed him-what human nature could do, he had dared, and exhausted with the loss of blood, he had only strength to put the sword wrested from the Frenchman, into the hands of Sir Sidney Smith, when he sank lifeless into the arms of a soldier. From the field of battle, already red with victory, he was conveyed on board the flag-ship of Admiral Keith; where he lingered in great agony for a week. Every effort to extract the ball proved vain; a mortification ensued: and on the evening of the 28th, he expired, universally lamented.

It has already been mentioned, that the French, on their way to Africa, had seized upon Malta, and that Abercrombie had also recaptured the island, in his progress to repel the invasion. Thither his remains were escorted by his aid-de-camps, and interred, with the highest military honours, beneath the castle of St. Elmo. At home his loss was strongly felt and deeply regretted, while his memory was crowned with honours. Besides the public tribute of the monument in St. Paul's, his wife was created a baroness, with remainder to his issue male; and a pension of £2000 a year was voted by Parliament to support the dignity. Such was the career of a life, brave and honourable as any upon record, and such were the circumstances of a death not to be exceeded in glory. The memory of Sir Ralph Abercrombie is enrolled in the annals of his country, and held sacred by every soldier, and shall descend in gratitude to excite the emulation of an admiring posterity.

Numerous and talented were the tributes, both in verse and prose, to his gallantry, and the brave action in which he fell. Of these eulogies we insert one, which has only obtained the preference here, because it is the composition of a fellow-countryman. The following lines were written by Campbell, the classical author of "The Pleasures of Hope," for a Highland Society, which met in London every 21st of March, to commemorate the victory of Egypt.

PLEDGE to the much-loved land that gave us birth!
Invincible romantic Scotia's shore!

Pledge to the memory of her 'parted worth!

And first, amidst the brave, remember Moore!
And be it deemed not wrong that name to give
In festive hours, which prompts the patriot's sigh!
Who would not envy such as Moore to live-

And died he not as heroes wish to die?—

Yes, tho' too soon attaining glory's goal,
To us his bright career too short was given;

Yet in a mighty cause his phoenix soul
Rose on the flames of victory to heaven!

How oft (if beats in subjugated Spain
One patriot heart) in secret shall it mourn

For him! How oft on far Corunna's plain
Shall British exiles weep upon his urn!
Peace to the mighty dead! our bosom thanks

In sprightlier strains the living may inspire;
Joy to the chiefs that lead old Scotia's ranks
Of Roman garb, and more than Roman fire!
Triumphant be the thistle still unfurled,

Dear symbol wild! on Freedom's hills it grows;
Where Fingal stemmed the tyrants of the world,
And Roman eagles found unconquered foes.
Joy to the band this day on Egypt's coast,

Whose valour tamed proud France's tri-color,
And wrenched the banner from her bravest host,
Baptized Invincible' in Austria's gore!
Joy for the day, on red Niemen's strand,
When bayonet to bayonet opposed,

First of Britannia's host, her Highland band,

Gave but the death-shot once, and foremost closed.

Is there a son of generous England here,

Or fervid Erin? he with us shall join,

To pray that in eternal union dear

The rose, the thistle, and the shamrock twine!

Types of a race who shall th' invader scorn,

As rocks resist the billows round their shore ;-
Types of a race, who shall, to time unborn,

Their country leave unconquered as of yore!

* During his victorious wars with Austria, Napoleon Buonaparte gave his own legion the vain title of the Invincible;-at the battle of Aboukir, this regiment came opposed to the 42d Highlanders, who completely routed them, and captured their standard, which was shipped for England when the body of Abercrombie was embarked for interment at Malta.