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against the French General, Eppler, who, with a corps of 1200 men, had taken up a position on a high ridge of sand hills, his right defended by four pieces of artillery, his left covered by two batteries mounting 18pounders.

The order of march of the British was in three columns; the right column moved along the flat between the lake and ridge of hills, the centre was directed through the hills, and General Ludlow's brigade marched on the left on the flat near the harbour. The first battalion of the 27th, commanded by Colonel Graham, and a detachment of Lowenstein's chasseurs under Major Pepongay, with 200 of the guards commanded by Colonel Joliffe, formed the advanced guard. Immediately followed the six field-pieces, commanded by Major Cookson, and the dragoons marched in rear of the left. Captain Stevenson commanded the gunboats in the lake, Captain Cochrane those in the harbour.

Almost as soon as the movement commenced the advanced guard fell in with the picquets, when a scattered fire of musketry commenced on each side. A Turkish corvette bore down upon the battery on the right, which had begun firing as soon as the ships got under weigh; the corvette never returned a shot until quite close, when luffing up she discharged a broadside which effectually silenced the battery.

The French now opened from all their guns a heavy

The

fire; the British pieces unlimbered and played upon them whilst the army continued to advance. French finding that a serious attack was intended, and afraid of being forced with the bayonet, retired from their position, abandoning the heavy guns; they, however, formed again on another ridge, and maintained from thence a galling fire of musketry and grape.

General Coote had now succeeded in his first object, but anxious to push on to the works of Alexandria he ordered the march to be continued.

The French retired reluctantly, and had evidently not contemplated the chance of being forced to retreat, as they were obliged to abandon their tents and baggage. On arriving within 1400 yards of Alexandria, a halt was made to give time for the heavy artillery to arrive.

The French lost in this affair about 200, killed, wounded, and prisoners, with seven pieces of cannon; the loss of the British was three killed and forty wounded. The action was maintained entirely by the 27th Regiment, the Lowenstein Rangers, and the detachment of Guards with the Artillery; the rest of the army never fired a shot, although every part was exposed to the enemy's fire, which was very heavy (particularly in grape), and would have been very destructive but for the inequalities of the ground.

The view which now presented itself to the troops (quoting from Sir R. Wilson) was striking from its ani

BOLD POSITION OF COOTE'S DIVISION.

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mation and gaiety, as well as replete with historical interest; the town of Alexandria, with its busy harbour and quays, lay at their feet, while, at the same time, the eye rested on the catacombs of Alexandria, the temple of Diana, and the baths of Cleopatra.

No time was lost in communicating intelligence to General Hutchinson of the success which had been gained. The general-in-chief, on learning the boldness of the position taken up by General Coote, at once despatched a reinforcement, and apprehensive that before its arrival the enemy might make a vigorous sortie on General Coote, he therefore planned a feint on the eastern side, to divert their attention to self-defence.

On the morning of the 23d two batteries were ready to open against the redoubt Des Bains, the advanced work on the western side, but the platforms giving way the firing was suspended during the day; fortunately they were repaired in time to take part in the repulse of a determined sortie made by the French in the night, with a view to recover the ground they had lost.

On the morning of the 26th the English batteries on the eastern side, containing ten 24 pounders and six 12 pounders, and two howitzers, commenced playing on the right of the French position.

General Menon had expressed himself very indignant at the capitulation of General Belliard, and declared his determination to bury himself in the ruins of Alex