Particulars of an Obtinate Battle, fought in Egypt,
by the English and French Troops : in which Sir
Ralph Abercromby unfortunately received a mortal
Wounds, of which he died,

W
ITH pleasure we lay before the
public, a historical narrative of
a most obtinate battle fought in
Egypt, between the army under the com-
mand of Sir Ralph Abercromby and the
the French under Menou.

The account of this battle, as also the
particulars of the surrender of the castle
of Aboukir, which capitulated on the 19th
of March, was brought to town yester-
morning by Lieutenant Corbett, who had
arrived at Portsmouth in the Flora frigate,
with dispatches from Lord Keith, &c.

The Park and Tower guns were fired
on the occasion; and in the evening an
Extraordinary Gazette was published, con-
taining an account of our successes.

The French army, under General Menou, having been considerably reinforced, made a general attack on the English army, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, on the 21st of March, with nearly the whole of their collected force, amounting to nearly 12,000 men: the whole of their infantry, with the exception of one regiment, were all engaged.

The enemy attacked our troops before
day-break, and the attack was consequent-
ly unexpected on our part; however, the
enemy were repulsed in all directions, and
after a most desperate contest, driven from
the field of battle. They fought with a
courage and perseverance that excited the
admiration of our own troops; and which
would most likely have ultimately proved
successful, had they not had British troops
to contend with.

Few more severe actions have ever been
fought, confidering the numbers on both
fides. The celebrated French corps, dig-
nified by the name of BONAPARTE'S
INVINCIBLES, fought with the fury of
madmen. They refused all quarter, and
were cut to pieces, chiefly by the 42d re-
giment (Highlanders) which particularly
distinguished itself.

The standard of the Invincibles, we un-
derstand, was taken, and has been brought
to England on board the Flora.

The lofs on both fides is considerable,
but particularly on the part of the enemy:
their lofs is calculated at 3000 killed,
wounded, and prisoners: Roize, the Ge-
neral of Cavalry was killed in the field.
Lanufe and Bodett are since dead of their
wounded. General Regaier, one of their

best officers, is also laid to have been left
dead on the field.

The total of the killed and wounded on
our part are :—10 officers, 9 ferjeants, 224
rank and file, 2 horfes killed; 60 officers,
48 ferjeants, 3 drummers, 1082 rank and
file, 3 horfes, wounded; 3 officers, 1 fer-
jeant, 28 rank and file miffing.

Among the British officers whose lofs
we have to deplore, is that excellent and
gallant officer, Sir Ralph Abercromby,
commander in Chief. He did not fall in
the engagement, but died in confequence
of the severe wound which he unfortu-
nately received in the action of the 21st,
on board the Foudroyant, lying in the bay
of Aboukir, on the 28th. Sir Ralph was
compelled, by the confusion infeparable
from the sudden attack of the enemy, to
perform both the duties of a soldier and a
General. His bravery, as an individual,
was the subject of universal admiration,
and his preference of mind and judgment,
as a Commander in Chief, peculiarly con-
tributed to decide the fate of that impor-
tant day. We cannot beftow higher com-
pliments to his memory than those con-
tained in Gen. J. H. Hutchinson's letter
to government, who succeded Sir Ralph
Abercromby as Commander in Chief.—
He fays:

"We have suftalned an irreparable lofs
in the perfon of our never sufficiently to be
lamented Commander in Chief, Sir Ralph
Abercromby, who was mortally wounded in
the action, and died on the 28th of March.
I believe he was wounded early, but con-
cealed his situation from thofe about him,
and continued in the field, giving his or-
ders with that coolneſs and perſpicuity,
which had ever marked his character, till
long after the action was over, when he
fainted through weakneſs and loſs of blood.
Were it permitted for a ſoldier to regret
any one who has fallen in the ſervice of
his country, I might be excufed for la-
menting him, more than any other perſon;
but it is ſome confolation to thofe who ten-
derly loved him, that as his life was honor-
able, so was his death glorious. His memory
will be recorded in the annals of his country
—will be ſacred to every British ſoldier,
and embalmed in the recollection of a
grateful poſterity."

Among the officers wounded are, Gen.
More, Gen. Hope, Gen. Oakes, General
Lawfon, Sir Sydney Smith, &c.

Dovenport, Printer, George's-court.