on the 26th of January 1797, permanent rank. Throughout those arduous and sometimes distressing campaigns, the conduct of Lieutenant-General Abercrombie was in every instance such as to entitle him to the well-deserved commendations which the liberal and discerning mind of the Commander-in-Chief so frequently bestowed. In full possession of the esteem, confidence, and friendship of that illustrious Prince, he continued to direct the arms of his countrymen against the common enemies of England and of man.

It was in the memorable action fought on the heights of Cateau on the 16th of April, 1794, the first affair of great importance in which he bore a part, that the great talents of General Abercrombie developed themselves; the General commanded the advanced-guard on that day, when he refreshed the Scottish laurels in the blood of England's enemies. The dispatches of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief relative to this brilliant action, mention General Abercrombie in the following honourable terms: "I have particular obligations to Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, as well as Major-General Abercrombie :" this dispatch is dated the 16th of April; a subsequent one of the 19th of May, again mentions this distinguished officer in terms of approbation: "the abilities and coolness with which Lieutenant-General Abercrombie, and Major-General Fox conducted their different corps under those trying circumstances, &c. &c. &c." In this short but severe action the troops of the French republic made a vigorous attack on he British lines at day-break on the 26th of April, but were repul: ed with considerable loss, their General Chapuy was made prisoner, 35 pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the British, whose troops, the cavalry in particular, covered themselves with glory. In this battle the British army had to lament the loss of a brave and most respectable officer, Major-General Mansell, who fell in the arms of victory. In the untoward affair before Nimeguen, about the middle of October in the following year, General Abercrombie was wounded, for the first time. The successes of the republican troops at that period naturally alarmed the fears of every court in Europe, and called into active display talents for the field, and for the cabinet, which, without such inventives, might have died with their possessors.

Circumstances of a most trying and painful nature, served to exhibit the mildness and excellence of this respectable officer's mind and heart. In the winter of 1794, after Lieutenant-General

Harcourt had retired into cantonments behind the river Ems, the sick and wounded of the army, as also the Guards, were entrusted to his command: in a melancholy march through an inhospitable country, and in a season of great severity, the active and humane mind of General Abercrombie had ample scope for exertion; he conducted the harassed army from Deventer to Oldensaal, through roads almost impassible, inclement weather, and surrounded by an infuriated enemy, an enemy licentious and overbearing, on whom neither the love of man nor the fear of heaven could make an impression. It was in the course of this arduous retreat that the unbounded philanthrophy of the veteran General was so strongly evinced, and it is to be lamented that the amiable bent of his mind rather operated to retard than to accelerate such dispositions in the forces under his command as might have rendered their situation less calamitous, and their final security more certain. However, after much mental suffering and bodily exertion, the General arrived with his army in Oldensaal at the end of January, 1795.

French intrigues and republican principles were beginning to disseminate themselves in every part of the civilized globe, and the existence of our colonies in the western hemisphere was seriously threatened. General Sir Charles Grey had successfully terminated the war in that quarter, but on the return of that officer to Europe affairs assumed a discouraging aspect. The tri-coloured flag was hoisted in the Islands of Grenada, St. Vincent, and Marie Galante ; the republicans had made reprisals of Guadaloupe and St. Lucia: the exigencies of circumstances demanded an able and enterprising Commander there, and the ministry fixed upon General Abercrombie, who had been appointed a Knight of the Bath, to carry the victorious banners of his country to those rich and important settlements. In the autumn of 1795, an armament for this purpose was assembled near Southampton, whither Sir Ralph Abercrombie repaired, but circumstances untoward and unforeseen occurred to retard the sailing of the expedition, and it was not until after the equinox had set in, that the convoy could be got under weigh. After many losses in the Channel, and other disasters incident to a winter voyage, General Abercrombie and his Staff arrived at their destination, when he immediately commenced his plan of operations. On the 24th of March, 1796, by a sudden and unexpected attack, the troops under bis command obtained complete possession of Grenada, and shortly after by his able and decisive

directions, the British flag was seen flying on the ramparts of Demerara and Issequibo, settlements in the important and extensive Dutch provinces of Surinam.

After the reduction of the above places, Sir Ralph Abercrombie completed his arrangements with Admiral Christian, the Naval Commander on the station, for the attack projected on the Island of St. Lucie. The armament intended for this service sailed on the 24th of April, and proceeded to attack the fortress of Morne. In this expedition the difficulties which presented themselves to the persevering Abercrombie were overcome by means of the most strenuous exertions and indefatigable endeavours, and on the 26th of May the garrison surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Pigeon Island also became a dependancy of Great-Britain. Having by a series of successful operations reduced the Island of St. Lucia, in addition to those already enumerated, Sir Ralph Abercrombie turned his attention towards that of Grenada, where hostilities were carrying on under the orders of Major-General Nicholls against the celebrated Fedon, whose courage, talents, and ferocity, rendered him a powerful and implacable enemy: the presence of the veteran Abercrombie, aided by the talents and zeal of General Nicholls, ensured complete success, and on the 19th of July, the British standard was erected on every post in the Island. The General now turned his attention to the Spanish settlement of Trinidada, and in conjunction with the gallant Rear-Admiral Harvey, dispositions were immediately made for investing this important place. As soon as the season for military operations commenced, the squadron sailed without loss of time; and on the 16th of February, 1797, the armament, consisting of ships of war and transports, passed through the Gulph of Paria, and the fortifications of Gaspar Grande: here the Spanish Admiral, with four sail of the line and a frigate, lay at anchor; the British frigates led the transports higher up in the bay, where they came to an anchorage, and arrangements were made for a general attack upon the Spanish squadron the next morning before break of day; however, the enemy's ships were discovered to be on fire, and the only one which escaped the devouring element fell to the boats of the British squadron. That part of the island was also evacuated by the enemy, and the British Commander landed his forces in order to reduce the town of Port d'Espagne, which was speedily effected, together with every defensible point, except two small forts whether the Spanish garrison had retired: the next day the whole island passed under the

dominion of His Britannic Majesty by capitulation of its Governor Don Josef Maria Chacun.

The navigation from the Leeward to the Westward Islands being infested by Spanish privateers, which found a safe and expeditious retreat in the harbour of Porto Rico, an expedition was planned against that place in about two months after the reduction of Trinidada, but from the natural barriers opposed to invasion, the strength of its fortifications, and the impossibility of bringing artillery to act therein, the project was wisely and humanely abandoned by Sir Ralph Abercrombie: the troops were in consequence of this result re-embarked with very trifling loss or molestation. This expedition concluded the services of Sir Ralph Abercrombie in those islands, and his campaigns of 1797.

On the return of Sir Ralph to Europe, his reception by his countrymen, and the ministers of His Majesty, gave him the most distinguishing proofs of the high estimation in which his zeal and talents were held, and in the domestic circle of an amiable and affectionate family, the veteran for a short time found repose after the toils of war and the vicissitudes of climate. But those endearing comforts so grateful to the husband, the father, and the friend, were not long permitted to the General; Ireland exhibited symptoms of anarchy, and the stifled flame of insurrection threatened to burst forth in all its devastating horrors. From the inflexible justice, calmness, prudence, and moderation of Sir Ralph, he was judged most ostensible to take the command in that kingdom: unfortunately a disposition to insubordination, and indeed actions bordering on licentiousness, had in some degree tarnished the character of the British troops serving there: the susceptible mind of Sir Ralph Abercrombie was keenly awakened by a disgrace which he felt as a soldier, and the strong language in which those feelings were expressed, although considered harsh and impolitic by some individuals, was nevertheless in strict unison with the proper and honourable sentiments of a man entrusted with the lives and honour of the army, and the interest of the King he served. Sound policy requiring that the civil and military government of that convulsed country should be united under one and the same commander, Sir Ralph was accordingly superseded by the late Marquis Cornwallis. The next appointment filled by the General was that of Commander-in-Chief of the forces in North-Britain. In consideration of his services, Sir Ralph was appointed on the 4th of January a Privy Counsellor.

In the summer of 1799, the British cabinet, actuated by the most

honourable feelings of generosity and national honour, prepared, in alliance with that of St. Petersburgh, to strike a vigorous blow for the emancipation of the States of Holland from her subjugators; and accordingly an expedition was prepared with almost unexampled rapidity.

On the 13th of August, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, accompanied by Admiral Mitchell, sailed from Deal: it may be said this General was never the favourite of the silver-footed Goddess, for in his passage the weather was more tempestuous than man could remember for the season: after a most dangerous and turbulent passage the ficct and transports made the Dutch coast on the 21st of the same month, and immediately prepared for landing, but was again baffled by adverse winds, nor did he until the 26th overcome the elementary obstacles he was opposed to, obstacles which neither the zeal, fortitude, nor perseverance of this officer could provide against: at day-break on the 27th the troops began to debark, covered by Admiral Mitchell, and directed by Sir Ralph, with all the vigour and intrepidity so eminently his own: the most cordial unanimity prevailed in the two services, and to use the expressive words of the gallant Admiral, they "pulled most heartily together." The British had no where sufficient ground to form more than a battalion in line, but in the opinion of Sir Ralph the position was not unfavourable, he having neither cavalry nor artillery. The enemy attacked the right flank of our army, and after a severe contest, in which the British lost 500 men, the enemy retreated to a position five miles distant. An attack on the Helder was resolved upon, but the garrison withdrawing, the town was on the 28th taken possession of by the Marquis of Huntley and Major-General Moore: reinforcements slowly arrived, and Sir Ralph considering the force, and strong position of the French and Batavian troops, prudently resolved to continue on the defensive until fresh supplies should enable him to attempt offensive warfare. Here the enemy attacked him on the 10th of September, and were repulsed with very considerable loss. His Royal Highness the Duke of York landed in Holland on the 13th of September, and reinforcements arriving, augmented the allied force to 35,000 men, of which 17,000 were Russians. A general attack was determined upon, and planned accordingly, the left column of which was commanded by the subject of this memoir, but owing to the impetuosity of the Russian troops, the whole of the admirably-planned order of battle was disorganized, and the division of Sir Ralph, which had advanced and taken possession of Thorn together with its gar