andria, but, on the morning of the 26th, he found himself reduced to propose an armistice for three days. An officer was sent instantly to General Coote, who arrived in time to prevent his making a lodgment on the hill above Pompey's Pillar. The occupation of that post would have secured the fall of Alexandria, as it is not above 150 yards from the walls of the old town, and it is also nearly equal in height to Forts Cretin and Caffarelli.

On the 31st August General Hope went into Alexandria to sign the capitulation. Sir R. Wilson says, "General Menon received him with every mark of attention, and invited him to dinner. The repast was only horse-flesh; but those who are acquainted with the French general well know that his society would amply compensate for the want of a more luxurious diet."

DUMBARTON CASTLE.

247

CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.

Marriage Serves on Staff in Scotland and Ireland-Letters.

IN November 1801 Lieutenant-Colonel Graham returned with his regiment to Malta, and, shortly after his arrival there, was sent home by the medical staff, in consequence of being threatened with the loss of the sight of his remaining eye.

Previous to his return to England, the Commanderin-Chief, as a mark of the sense he entertained of his services, had appointed him to the Lieutenant-Governorship of Dumbarton* Castle—a command reported vacant

*Pennant describes Dumbarton Castle as seated on a twoheaded rock of a stupendous height, rising in a strange manner out of the sands, and totally detached from every thing else. The sides of the rocks are immense precipices, and often overhang, except on the side where the Governor's house stands, which is defended by walls and a few cannon, and garrisoned by a few invalids. From its natural strength it was in former times deemed impregnable; so that the desperate but successful scalado of it in 1571 may vie with the greatest attempts of that kind— with the capture of the Numidian fortress in the Jugurthan War by Marius; or the more horrible surprise of Feschamps by the gallant Bois-rosé.

in consequence of the death of General Islay Ferrier. The announcement of the death of General Ferrier turned out to be incorrect, and the appointment was therefore cancelled; and, strange to say, General Ferrier lived to see his niece married to the identical officer thus abruptly appointed to take his place. The LieutenantGovernor was highly incensed at being so unceremoniously deprived of his life and his situation at one and the same time, and vented his indignation in the following laconic advertisement in the newspapers :—

"I, Islay Ferrier, am not dead."

The Lieutenant-Governorship of Stirling Castle becoming vacant soon after this occurrence, the appointment was immediately conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel Graham.

In 1802 Lieutenant-Colonel Graham was promoted to the rank of full colonel, and in 1804 was placed on the Staff in North Britain as brigadier-general.

This appointment to the Staff in Scotland was followed by his marriage to Jane, eldest daughter of James Ferrier, Esquire, one of the Principal Clerks of the Court of Session; an alliance productive of all the happiness which can be conferred on man by a sensible and devoted wife.

The personal attractions of Miss Ferrier having excited the muse of the immortal bard of Scotland

BURNS' LINES ON MRS. GRAHAM.

249

[Robert Burns], no memoir of the General would be complete without including such a tribute to the wife of his choice. The lines are as follows:

The concluding lines have reference to a copy of his

elegy on Sir J. H. Blair which the poet enclosed.

Owing to Mr. Ferrier's position as Clerk of Session, a friendly intercourse subsisted between his family and that of his illustrious contemporary in the Court of Session, Sir Walter Scott. A connection also existed between Mr. Ferrier's family and that of the late Professor Wilson (Christopher North), by the marriage of Mr. Ferrier's eldest son to the Professor's sister; and Mrs. Graham's own sister has since become well known as Miss Ferrier, authoress of "Marriage and Inheritance." Mrs. Graham was thus frequently brought into the society of the most celebrated literary people in Scotland of that day. One of the friends of her early life, the beautiful and accomplished Lady Charlotte Campbell, greeted her with the following note on her wedding-day::

"For Mrs. Brigadier-General Graham.

"This comes to felicitate J. C.

(Inside the cover) "Miss Ferrier,

per ultima volta. "Is it not strange that I should write for the last time to Jane Ferrier without sorrow? A thousand joys to Jane Graham. You have not time or power to read a long epistle. I merely trace these lines expressive of my best and kindest wishes that since I cannot in person be present at the ceremony my heart may wing its way to you. My husband, after his fashion, manifests his sincere joy, and would have been very witty if I had