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and a dozen voices replied, "Hurry Doss, the best swimmer on the Burampooter; if man can save Williams, he can." Now he was near him, and every voice was hushed; it seemed as if a breath would have hurled him beyond the point he aimed at, which even his almost supernatural human power could not have regained. A minute more and he was on the spot. We all breathed again, and now listened attentively to my servant, who held the telescope. "There he is," said he, "safe enough, but I'm afraid it's all over with poor Mr. Williams; the water is up to his mouth, and the native can't undo the rope. Now he's drawn his great knife, and is trying to cut it. It's too late the water is over his head-no, he is loose, there they go together."

ate pursuit, and soon overtook the party to whom he had been consigned, and whom he had retarded in their flight. He was dropped on the ground, and the party escaped into the jungle. Williams was brought back more dead than alive. He had received no new outrage, for our enemies had been taught by severe retaliation to attempt no barbarities on their European prisoners too openly, and their treatment of him before had been perpetrat ed in the idea that it would remain undiscovered by us. But the exposure to the night air and rain had brought on the fever of the country, and he was evidently past recovery. We did all in our power to revive him, and our troop being much fatigued, we determined to rest them. He was placed on a couch The struggle had been visible to every one, in my tent, and took some food, after which and they were now seen rolling on, sometimes he seemed wouderfully recovered, and talked confounded with the foam on the river, and then a good deal. He said that, after he had been made visible above every thing by the strug- hurried off, a consultation was held, of which gles of Hurry Doss. Our fears now changed he knew only the result. He was taken soon their object; it appeared impossible that they after sunset to an island in the Erawadi, cocould reach the shore, and their liberation vered with trecs. To one trunk, taller than from the island, to which all our hopes had the rest, denuded of leaves and branches, he been directed now seemed to have ensured was firmly bound, to remain, as he supposed, their destruction. The movements of the pow- until starvation should give his body to the erful swimmers were no longer visible, and vultures. During the night it rained heavily, the rapid current whirled them from our eyes. but he had been almost insensible the We lamented them as lost, when a Burmese whole time. At sunrise the water reached his gilded war-boat was seen to shoot across the feet, and he felt sensation returning. “I felt,” stream, only visible to us from the reflection said he, "in a sost of delirium; I fancied my. of the sun from its guady ornaments, as the self at home, as I had been in happier days; distance would else have been too great to but I still saw the real objects around me, admit of our seeing. By the help of my though somewhat confusedly. Then my eyes glass, the two bodies were ascertained to be grew dim and my hearing painfully acute. taken on board without resistance, and the Each drop of rain was startling to my ear, boat, though conducted by men whose lives though the continued rush of the water, which are passed in rapid rivers, and who will had been before so loud, seemed scarcely auguide a boat safely where European rowers dible. When I saw no more the surrounding would be helpless, was hurled down the objects, the inward vision grew more distinct. stream, and with much difficulty reached a I saw Maria plainly, and my mother walking projecting point of the bank, when she with her. She said that she was coming to pergrounded high a-shore. We had almost re- form her promise, that she would now take joiced at the appearance of the war-boat, but me with her, and we should be no more direflection soon induced us to wish rather that vided. I was not in a dream, for I heard the our friends had fallen a prey to the waves dashing rain, and began to feel the water risthan to their perfidious enemies. The point ing at my feet. Then the sun shone out and was defended by a stockade and trench. We the rain ceased; my head was hot, and but rushed forward without much order to attack for the cooling water of the river I must have it, until stopped by trunks of trees, felled, and died under the heat. I think I became delisharpened, and placed in the most prominent rious. I was walking or rather flying over situations. The time passed in getting over immeasurable plains, with Maria still by my these obstacles allowing us to reflect; we re- side; then rushing with the same rapidity formed our little troop, and advanced with through long avenues of trees, and feeling regularity, though not much less impetuously the fanning of the branches over my head. than before. We soon reached their en- Then we seemed to rise into the cloudless trenchments, under the annoying fire of their sky, leaving the earth, which appeared like a zingals, which we had scarcely time to re- ball beneath our feet, more and more brilturn before we found ourselves on the ram- liant as we receded, until it shone like the parts. We saw the enemy czcaping as fast sun, and I could look on it no more. In this as possible by the narrow egress in the rear, sort of delirium I remained until roused by but not quick enough to avoid the shot which the shouts of my friends, and the name of poured on them from our guns. We were Hurry Doss, which I distinctly heard. This soon in full possession, and found as usual, man I had often noticed; he was a man of only the dead and dying. Among the former low caste, rather overbearing in manner, was the unfortunate Hurry Doss, pierced and quite opposite in every thing to other with a dozen spears by his savage capturers. Hindoos. I had twice or thrice interfered to But Williams was not found. Knowing him save him from the hostility of his fellows, to be in their power, we resolved on immedi- whom he had offended by his disregard for

their prejudices, and sometimes from the ill- | And sadder scenes ye bring to mind, usage of the English, who are ready enough The moments ye renew

to catch all the prejudices of the natives When first the woodbine's wreaths I twined, against each other. But he never showed A loved one's grave to strew; any attachment-he was a solitary being. On the cold turf I weeping spread He would have been a hero, but the laws of My offering from the bowers, his caste forbad his being any thing among Ye seemed meet tribute to the dead, men, and he determined to be great amongst Pale, perishable flowers. the objects of nature. He would dash into the sea in its rage, and return unhurt; when the surf frightened the boldest seaman, and even the flexible native rafts were dashed in pieces,he was like a bubble on the stream. The tiger feared him, and the serpent coiled playfully about him. His name struck me, and I soon heard the dash of his arm on the waves. He soon reached me, and after a desperate struggle loosened the cords by which I was bound, we drifted away together, and I scarcely remember any thing further."

Here Williams stopped, and though he afterwards spoke again, nothing connected could be obtained from him. After some time he slept profoundly, and did not awake until long after midnight. I was by his side, having risen early to take measures for our morning's march. On his awaking he spoke inarticulately for some time without observing me. At last, when he saw me, he raised himself with some effort, and spoke as distinctly as he had done when he was in good health. He desired me to write down on a leaf of my pocket-book that he had left all his property and arrears of pay to his mother. I did so, and showed it to him. He took the pen, signed his name to it in a bold hand, and said, "I confide in you for the performance." It was his last effort; he laid down the pen, fell back, and spoke no more. His grave is on the shore of the great river, marked by no stone, but remembered by all his comrades, who wept over it. Early on the following day we joined our victorious army at Donabew.

E.

Yet speak ye not alone, fair band,
Of changefulness and gloom,
Ye tell me of God's gracious hand,
That clothes you thus in bloom,
And sends to soften and to calm
A sinful world like ours,
Gifts of such purity and balm
As ye, fresh dewy flowers.

And while your smiling ranks I view,
In vivid colors drest,

My heart, with faith confirmed and true,
Learns on the Lord to rest;
If He the lilies of the field

With lavish glory dowers,
Will he not greater bounties yield
To me, than to the flowers?

Still, still they speak-around my track,
Some faded blossoms lie,

Another spring shall bring them back,
Yet bring them, but to die :
But we forsake this world of strife,
To rise to nobler powers,
And share those gifts of endless life,

Withheld from earth's frail flowers.

O may I bear your lessons hence,
Fair children of the sod,
Yours is the calin, mute eloquence
That leads the thoughts to God:
And oft amid the great and wise,

My heart shall seek these bowers,
And turn from man's proud colloquies,
To commune with the flowers.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.

BY MRS. ABDY.

The mystic science is not mine
That Eastern records teach,

I cannot to each bud assign
A sentiment and speech;

Yet, when in yonder blossomed dell
I pass my lonely hours,
Methinks my heart interprets well
The eloquence of flowers.

Of life's first thoughtless years they tell,
When half my joy and grief
Dwelt in a lily's opening bell,

A rosebud's drooping leaf

I watched for them the sun's bright rays.
And feared the driving showers,
Types of my girlhood's radiant days
Were ye, sweet transient flowers.

NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES.*

BY A NAVAL OFFICER.

LANDING OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN EGYPT.

On the 8th of March, 1801, at nine in the morning, all the boats of the British fleet under Vice-Admiral Lord Keith were assembled in a triple line, extending about a mile and a half, at a league distance from their intended place of debarkation, being that part of the sandy shore of Africa called Egypt, and in the Bay of Aboukier, or shoals near to the place celebrated for giving birth to Cleopatra. The centre line, composed of flats and launches, were crowded to excess with the flower of the British army: these were

* Continued from page 87.

towed by barges and pinnaces, while a line of jolly-boats and cutters moved in the rear, to assist the disabled. They were drawn up with beautiful precision, the captains of divisions in front, while the Honorable A. Cochrane, who commanded, was considerably in advance, with St. George's flag displayed: his barge led the whole of the triple lines. Op. posite, and immediately in front, lay the French army, on sand hills, whose ridges were strongly fortified with heavy pieces of ordnance, while here and there, between the hills, peeped out the flying artillery, and the cavalry showed in numbers between the masses of infantry, that looked sufficiently numerous to devour our small but heroic band. On their left lay Aboukier (now Nelson's) Island, strongly fortified with mortars. The scene was beautiful and imposing, the linc-of-battle ships lay in the distant perspective, with the bombs, sloops, and troopships on shore: the sun shone with great splendor, and its fierce rays shot down on our troops with intense heat. The light breeze that gently rippled the placid waters, was just sufficient to gaily waft the various flags and colors that decorated and distinguished our different divisions, while the heavy crescent of the Turks lay dormant to its staff.

their flying artillery, with their long train of horses, gallop to the beach, and open their brazen mouths on our still advancing boats. That venerable and veteran son of war, Sir Robert Abercrombie, commander-in-chief, in the Kent's barge, moving in the rear, now desired the lieutenant of the boat to pass through the gaps in our line, and place him in front of the fire. "I command you, sir," said the veteran; "my personal safety is nothing compared with the disgrace of the boats turning back. Example is needful in this tremendous fire, which exceeds all I ever saw. Oh, God! they waver-onward, brave Britons! onward!" This apparent wavering was occasioned by a shell sinking a flat boat with sixty soldiers in her, and by the rush of smaller ones to pick up the sinking soldiery. The lieutenant in command of the barge respectfully said, he had the orders of Sir Richard Bickerton, not to expose the general-inchief unnecessarily to fire, or land him till the second division were on shore. The British lines closing, to cover their heavy losses, rapidly approached the landing-place. The French infantry in heavy masses now lined the beach, and the roar of musketry was incessant and tremendous; Sir Ralph, in great agitation, again ordered the officer to put his The signal is thrown out to advance lei- boat in front of the triple line, and was met surely, but to keep strictly in line till under by that officer respectfully declaring that fire, and then use every exertion to land the "he would obey the orders of his admiral troops. Fountain of mercy and love! that alone." The old general made an abortive this splendid and bright scene of nature's attempt to jump overboard, saying, "Without sublimity should be marred and totally de- some striking example, human nature could faced by man! What answer shall be given not face such a fire;" and indeed the sea was to the question of the Eternal, "Man, why ploughed and strongly agitated by the innu sheddest thou thy brother's blood?" Alas! merable balls that splashed among the boats, alas! the wholesale slaughter of that day! all sometimes hiding them altogether by the that military skill could effect in making the spray they created. This was a most painintended place of our debarkation invulnera- ful scene even for a spectator: our friends ble, had been done by the French governor mowed down like corn before the reaper. of Alexandria; and for eight days had we, by Bnt now a change comes over it. A heart. our presence in this bay, given him due no. stirring cheer is given on the prows touching tice of our intention. To his commander-in- the beach: the soldiers, heartily tired of be chief, General Menou, he wrote, "that nothing ing shot at like rooks, spring from the boats with life could be thrown on his shores but a with great alacrity; that effective instru cat;" in fact, he had rendered the beach ment, the bayonet, is actively at work on both impregnable; and so it was to all but the sides. Our brave soldiers in landing, jumped steady valor of British bands. Imagine, fair on the French muskets, for the beach was reader! (if any of the loveliest part of God's firmly disputed, but the home thrusts of the creation honor me so far,) imagine ten thou- nervous British arm, and their dauntless sand of England's hardy sons, full of life and hearts, drove back the Frenchmen, who, in vigor, rushing into an unequal contest that, regaining their first position, opened for their in the space of one hour, would decimate cavalry to charge our line, then formed, and them. Hark! the first shell from Nelson's for the first time that day loaded their mus Island; the roar, the whistle, and explosion kets. It was an anxious moment for us, who among the boats, answered by the heart- were spectators, to see the fleet Arabian hors stirring cheers of the British lines. The es moving in a whirlpool of sand, upon our heavy artillery from the ridge of sand hills half-formed regiments. Onward they came, in front open their iron throats on the devoted like the lightning's flash. "Sare," said Lord boats. "Give way fore and aft," is the re- Keith, (in his own broad Scottish accent) to spondent cry to the shrieks of the wounded, the artillery officer of the bomb-ship he was the heavy groans of the dying, and the gur- in, lying as close in shore as the shoal water gling sounds of the drowning. Gaps are seen would permit, "geeve those incarnate deevils in our line, and the brave soldier struggling ane of your largest shells." The explosion, in the water, encumbered by his accoutre. in sweeping the French commanding-officer ments; his ammunition, his three days pro- and numerous others to their great account, vision and water, give him no chance of float- caused a halt and partial confusion amongst ing till the light boats can grasp him. Now them. The cool and determined front pr

rines on the quarter-deck forecastle and poop, load their muskets with ball, and fire on any person whatever his rank may be, who endeavors to quit the ship without orders."

sented by the Forty-second, might, in some trumpet; "and every other man and officer measure, have created delay in their furious remain at his quarters on pain of death. Ofcharge. The majority drew up, and the well-ficers of the guard, post detachments of madirected volley of the second and third ranks of our line over the front one, kneeling to receive the horses of the enemy on their bayonets, made them wheel about and retrograde in quick time, while about sixty furiously and rashly rode in on our troops. Man and horse disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, and the whole line heard the cheering orders, "Charge bayonets: advance in double quick time!"

This said in a stern commanding tone, withdrew the wandering glances I, with many others, cast at the placid waters around us; for the idea of standing over gunpowder enough to blow twenty such ships into myriads of atoms, was far from agreeable. Lord These were received with the truly Bri- Keith looked pale, and stood without his hat; tish shout that no nation can equal, the de- his feelings, from the recent loss of the Queen termined valor it expresses carrying dismay Charlotte, must have been acute. I saw the to the opposing force. I saw the British com- smoke rising from the fore hatchway, and manding officer in front, waving his men on- every now and then, from the strength of the ward with his hat-up the sandy hills they imagination alone, thought I felt the ship liftrushed, looking to me like a heavy wave, ing under me. "We will have the signal rolling up a sandy beach. The French ready of distress, and also for all the boats in forces appeared astounded, dismayed, and the fleet to assemble round the flag-ship, disheartened; and their want of that steady, Thompson," said I, addressing my brother persevering, and indomitable spirit, that signal-midshipman. nerves the brave man to encounter misfortune to the last, was now observable in their rctreat. They left some of their field-pieces in our hands, which proved most valuable, as they served to freshen up and accelerate the speed of their rear-guard. Our forces took possession of their first line of defence, and bivouacked on it for the night. In no event, during this eventful war of a quarter of a century, did the fine quality of our soldiers and sailors display themselves in brighter colors than during the landing in Egypt on the 8th of March, 1801.

ALARM OF FIRE.

"What are the drums beating to quarters for?" called the reefers, as they hastily ascended the cock-pit ladder of the Foudroy

ant.

"Have you not heard," said a wag, the wit of the lower regions, "that Menou is swimming off, at the head of his army, to take our flag-ship by escalade ?"

66

Right, my boy; and will take our stand here, where we can easily jump overboard, if we find the grand magazine sending us stargazing-were you ever half-drowned?"

"A little experience that way,” said I.

He

"Now listen to my short yarn, while you keep a sharp eye on the fore-hatchway. Just previous to leaving school, I went to bathe with a favorite schoolfellow, in a pit whose bottom was composed of white sand, and about twelve or thirteen feet deep. Jacques was the first undressed, and sprang a good distance into the pit: all at once I heard his agonised cry of distress; and, with my lower garments on, rushed to his assistance. seemed to me cramped, and unable to struggle-his head and one hand alone above the water-that hand extended towards me, and his eyes, with the imploring look of despair, bent upon me. At once it rushed across my mind-may God forgive my cowardice and selfishness-that his clutch would drag me down with him. I hesitated, halted, and kept out of reach, while the poor youth was gradually sinking; but when the water reached his mouth, the impeded respiration forced the blood upwards and crimsoned his "Eat them for breakfast, before starting." pale forehead; his orbs of sight, that secmed "But this badinage was wofully changed starting from strangulation, assumed a rewhen the loblolly boy, looking like Shaks- proachful look of intense agony ;-the waters peare's starved apothecary, whispered in closed over his innocent head, while I, who solemn tones, "The ship is on fire in the gun- could have saved him, looked on paralysed ner's store-room." And as the said store--no other hand was near but mine, and that room was not very remote from the grand was nerveless. O, God! my feelings of hormagazine, the information created anything ror, fear, and shame, you may imagine, but I but pleasurable feelings. As each fell into cannot depict them. I called with all my the station assigned to him in battle, a fever-power for help-alas! none came-I swam ish state of nervous twitchings might be dis- into the circle caused by his sinking—I lookcerned by the curious observer. My place ed down, for the white sand gave a clearness on the poop in the signal department fully to the waters, and, O merciful God! I saw displayed before me the conduct of my supe- his right hand extend to reach my feet, his riors, commonly called by reefers the "big- head thrown back, and the same despairing wigs." Sir Philip Beaver, commanding the reproachful look that will ever remain fixed ship, was cool, collected, and active. "Let in my heart and mind while memory retains the boarders assist the firemen in handing her scat. I was mad with terror, and remainthe water below," called he, through his ed spell-bound to the spot where the unfortu

"But what has he done with Sir Ralph and his army?"

nate Jacques lay beneath me, his right hand | cited state, from the quantity of brandy that still extended, with the fingers clutched on must have been administered to them before its palm: he moved one of his legs, with a they left Alexandria. Now the heavy and convulsive motion, and half raised his body measured tread of the masses of infantry to a sitting posture. It was the last expiring broke on the silence of the stilly night, while effort of nature he fell on his back, and re- the neighing and prancing of the war horse mained motionless. I see by your averted gave intimation of the cavalry being in great looks that you hate me, but your hate cannot force on each flank of the advancing army. exceed my own; I have only to plead my The stillness of death prevailed in our camp, youth and a constitutional timidity, owing, I save and except the dashing of the aides-dethink, to excessive foresight or anticipation. camp in front of the line as they flew with "You perceive my nerves are as firmly the orders of the general-in-chief to the difstrung at this moment of peril as your own, ferent batteries not to throw away their fire, and I am confident I can meet danger and but reserve the grape and canister till the death with unshrinking fortitude; but I have enemy touched the muzzles of the guns. a hesitation of incurring that peril; and, as As our troops closed their files with bayonets my father truly observed, on the melancholy glittering, which might be distinguished by death of my friend Jacques, I am one more the watch-fires, that threw a lurid glare over inclined to act with prudence than rash our well-formed line, showing the firm deter. courage, which, in a sarcastic way, he denomination of the troops by their compressed minated the better half of valor."

At this moment one of the junior officers came hastily up the quarter-deck ladder, calling to Captain Beaver not to be frightened, as the fire was got under.

"Pray, sir," said our gallant chief, "what sort of a sensation is fear? I know it not, but I see how it looks. Beat the retreat and pipe to dinner."

THE DEATH OF ABERCROMBIE.

lips and the nervous grasp by which they held their muskets, their long and hard drawn breath, the left foot slightly advanced, and the whole carriage betokening a firm deter mination to do or die, convinced the observ. ing that their nerves were well braced to the coming deadly encounter. "Silence and steady, men," were the words of command heard along the line. Their trumpet sound. ed a charge, and every thing was in wild commotion.

The British cheer rung high above the sharp volleys of musketry, the batteries threw On the 20th of March a Bedouin Arab in their death-dealing round, but the French sought Sir Sidney Smith in the British camp, army advanced in rapid style, overthrowing established before Alexandria. These Arabs all before them, till the British bayonets trans(who are the robbers of the Desert) came in- fixed their front rank; even that did not force to the camp every morning thousands strong, them back. The survivors rush on, and forming a daily market of mutton, fowl, but when day broke, never were hostile armies falo beef, and vegetables, which under excel- more intermingled; here a Frenchman and lent regulations, were sold at a very reasona- there an Englishman. Now came the deadble rate. Their appearance was wild and ly strife of man to man; and the brave veteinteresting, and the son frequently led the ran who commanded in chief (he was upass that conveyed his blind father, numbers wards of seventy!) was engaged hand to having lost their sight from the "ophthalmia," hand with a young French dragoon, and that dreadful scourge of the Egyptian shore. would have fallen under the weight of his The Arab's information was important; he sabre cuts, had not a friendly bayonet lifted was sent by his chief to say, that a large re- the man out of his saddle, leaving his sword inforcement of Frenchmen, with the com- entangled in Sir Ralph's clothes. The galmander-in-chief, Menou, had been tracked lant veteran seized the sword, and shortly and harassed by his band from Grand Cairo afterwards was shot close up to the hip joint, to Alexandria, into which place they had by a musket bail lodging in the bone. The thrown themselves last night. On this im- anguish must have been acute; but no sympportant information the order of the day com- toms, not even a groan, made known that he manded the assembling of the troops two was suffering; when obliged to acknowledge hours before the usual time, (which had hi-himself wounded, he called it slight, and retherto been daylight.) fused to retire to the rear.

On the following morning the men were Captain Lord Proby, now addressing the mustering in the trenches and batteries, when commander in chief, to whom he was aidethe videttes rode in at a furious rate, their de-camp, reported the enemy to be retreat. horses covered with foam. Their informa-ing, covered by their cavalry; "but good tion convinced us of the discernment of Sir God, general, you are seriously wounded, Sidney Smith in anticipating their measures. your saddle is saturated with blood; let me A numerous French army were advancing support you to the rear, and for all our sakes rapidly against us, stealing upon us in the let the surgeons examine him." darkness of the night. In came our advanc- My lord, I thank you," said the veteran, ed posts, who had been ordered to retire on with a faint voice; "but in these stirring the main body, if overpowered. This was times the general should be the last person now the case, and they stated the advancing to think of self. My lord, order a forward enemy to be in great force, and in a most ex-movement, and hang fiercely on the retiring

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