of the fortifications which fronted the Rhine, and with the other re-edified those which faced the plain. Not contented with these exertions, they had linked the works of the place to an island, which, though formed by the Rhine, is called Neckerau, the Isle of the Necker, and which they had likewise fortified with care. This chain of works defended the approaches of Manheim, and covered the bridge of boats upon the Rhine; without which, the possession of the town would have been of greater danger than utility.

The archduke, on the 18th, at break of day, attacked the village of Neckerau, which was accessible only by two bridges, defended by pallisadoed redoubts and abatis. The Austriaus experienced an obstinate resistance, and were exposed to a destructive fire. But their own fire becoming superior, and the soldiers being animated by the presence of the archduke, in a second at tack, carried the village and island. All sthe French which it contained were killed or taken. The success of this brilliant attack enabled the Austrians to take in flank a fortified post, named Hoitzof, situated upon the Rhine, between Manheim and Neckerau. It was still more briskly attacked and defended than the latter place, was taken and retaken twice, aud remained at last in the hands of the imperialists. The French, having no means of retreat, were cut to pieces or made prisoners. The Austrians having thus become masters of all the works which flanked Manheim, along the Rhine erected batteries upon the Holtzof, to cannonade and bombard the bridge, and at the same time assaulted the chain of works raised in front of Manheim on the land-side. These were carried with such impetuosity, that the imperial troops intermingled with the French, and all the latter, who had not passed the bridge, fell into the hands of the Austrians. The number of prisoners taken during the day, amounted to 1500, including two generals: the number of the killed and wounded was not less. Eighteen pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the victors, who purchased the honor and advantage of the day with the loss of 400 men. Few

affairs of posts have been more spirited or more worthy of remark. It was in the face of the French army ranged on the opposite side of the river, that the Austrians carried a fortified town with its formidable entrenchments.

After having left a garrison at Manheim, the outward entrenchments of which he ordered to be destroyed, the archduke stationed his head-quarters at Schwetzingen, and assembled the main body of his army in the extensive plain which surrounds the town. Having no more enemies on the right bank of the Rhine from Kehl to the Mein, he dispatched upon the latter river a corps of light troops with flying artillery. This assistance enabled the landsturm of Mentz to recover from the French the two banks of the Mein, to drive them back into Mentz, and to send out skirmishing parties in all directions. These excursions gained the landsturin prisoners and booty, inspired them with confidence, and inured them to the fatigues of war.

The position of the imperial troops in the countries which France had possessed at the commencement of the campaign; the magazines which the archduke was employed in forming at Schwetzingen; the presence ef more than 40,000 Austrians on the right bank of the Rhine; the grand attack which 45,000 English and Russians were at that time making on the north of Holland; and the expected march of Suwarrow into Switzerland, all tended to impress the political observer with a conviction, that the war already so extended, would take a still wider range; that the Lower Rhine would present a new theatre of hostilities; and that, before the end of the campaign, the flames of war would burn from the Zuyder-Zee to the banks of the Tiber. Such was the public expectation towards the end of September. French shut up in Meutz and Ehrenbreitstein, dared not to keep the field at those points; and general Muller, whom the war in Holland had deprived of his expected reinforcements, remained at Turckheim, where he waited with anxiety till the views and designs of prince Charles should be developed

The

His conjectures and uncertainty did not last long. On the 27th of September, the archduke received, at Schwetzingen, intelligence of the passage of the Limmat, and of other events in Switzerland, which

compelled him to abandon his offensive projects, and to return to Schaffhausen with greater expedition than that with which he had left it in the preceding month..

IN

N conformity with the extensive plan of operations adopted by the cabinets of London and St. Petersburgh, the preparations for an expedition to the north of Holland were rapid, energetic, and ef fectual. Early in August, 20 000 men were assembled on the coast of Kent, and 15,000 men were preparing to reach the same rendezvous. It was imagined that, independently of the utility of the enter prise as a powerful diversion in favor of our allies, it might enable the secret friends of the stadtholder to assert their rights and regain their independence. It was presumed, that even the numerous individuals, who had been seduced for a moment into subservience to the interests of France, would combine with their deliverers as soon as they could act with safety, according to their secret sentiments and wishes. Instead of the benefits 1799. expected from their nominal alliance with France, they had sustained the most enormous exaction, and experienced the most insulting demeanor, from their pretended friends. Their eyes it was imagined, were now opened to their true interests, and their sufferings would induce them to unite in delivering themselves from their miserable thraldom. With a view to the attainment of these objects, admiral Mitchel sailed, on the 13th of August, with a squadron from Deal, on board of which was the first division of the British forces,

consisting of 12,000 men. He was directed to join admiral Duncan in the north seas, and thence to proceed to the mouth of the Zuyder-Zee. The disembarkation was entrusted to the command of the gallant and veteran sir Ralph Abercrombie.

This distinguished officer was the descendant of a very antient and respectable family. Of his father's numerous issue, three sons distinguished themselves in the defence of their country. James, a lieutenant-colonel in the 22nd regiment of foot, fell at the memorable battle of Bunker's Hill, near Boston, in America: another sou, Robert, was for some time colonel of the 75th, or Highland regiment, stationed at Bombay, and was entitled to a considerable share of military fame for his vigorous exertions in forming a junction with lord Cornwallis, at the siege of Seringapatam, in 1792. Sir Ralph Abercombie entered the army in 1758, with a cornet's commission in the 3rd dragoon guards. On the 12th of February, 1760, he obtained a lieutenancy in the same regiment, in which he continued till the 24th of April, 1762, when he obtained a company in the 3rd regiment of horse. In this regiment he rose to the rank of major on the 6th of June, 1770, and, on the 19th of May, 1773, he was promoted to that of lieutenantcolonel. In November, 1780, he was a brevet colonel, and, on the 3rd of November, 1781, was made colonel of the 103rd,

or Irish infantry, a newly raised regiment. At the peace of 1783 this regiment was reduced, and the colonel placed on half pay. On the 28th of September, 1787, he was promoted to the rank of major-general; and on the 17th of September, 1790, obtained the command of the sixty-ninth regiment of foot, from which he was removed in April 1792 to the 6th regiment; and on the 5th of November again removed to the 7th regiment of dragoon guards. On the 25th of April 1793, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, in which station he served under his royal highness the duke of York on the continent. By his military skill and exertions, he acquired the esteem and confidence of that general, who, in his dispatches relative to the action on the heights of Cateau, April 16th, 1794, where sir Ralph commanded the advanced guard, remarks, "I have obligations to lieutenant-general sir William Erskine, as well as to lieutenantgeneral Abercrombie." In his dispatches of the 19th of May, his royal highness further says: "The ability and coolness with which lieutenant-general Abercrombie and major-general Fox conducted their different corps under these trying circumstances require that I should particularly notice them." On the 27th of October following, he was wounded at Nimeguen. In the succeeding winter, when the British army retreated into Holland, the care of the sick and wounded was confided to sir Ralph; and, in the execution of his difficult and important duty, his sensibility and humanity were conspicuous. Early in 1795, the success of the French in the West Indies claimed the attention of the English government; and a military force was sent out, of which the charge was given to sir Ralph Abercrombie, who was also appointed commander of the forces in the West Indies. I have already had occasion to record the various enterprises in which he was engaged in the two years during which he remained on that station. On the 2nd of November, 1796, sir Ralph, who had lately received the honour of knighthood, was presented, notwithstand ing his absence, to the second, or North

VOL. I.

British dragoons, commonly called the Scotch Greys; in the same year was made lieutenant-governor of the Isle of Wight, and was afterwards further rewarded with the lucrative governments of forts George and Augustus. Upon his return from the West Indies he was selected as a proper person to allay the discontents which prevailed in Ireland. In this, as in In this, as in every other cause in which he was engaged, he exerted his utmost efforts. Destined to take the chief command of the forces in that kingdom, he paid the strictest attention to the discipline of his army, and was anxious to restore to the soldiers that reputation which they had lost by, repeated acts of licentiousness. It was his frequent declaration, that their irregularity and insubordination had rendered them more formidable to their friends than to their enemies. Shortly after his arrival in Ireland, it was found expedient to unite the civil and military power of that kingdom in one person. Sir Ralph was, therefore, recalled and succeeded by marquis Cornwallis. On leaving Ireland he was appointed to the command of his majesty's forces in Great Britain, and soon afterwards nominated by his sovereign to the command of the troops employed on the present expedition.

The weather proving unusually stormy considering the season of the year, the fleet encountered great difficulties and danger in its voyage. It was not till Wednesday, the 21st of August, that they: came in sight of the Dutch coast on the 22nd they made preparations to land, but were forced out to sea by a heavy galė of wind. On Saturday the 24th, they were again within sight of the Texel; but the wea-ther was too boisterous and the sea too high to favour a landing, and it did not abate till the morning of Monday the 26th. On that day they came to anchor near the shore of Helder, a strong point in the northern extremity of the main land of Holland, commanding the Mars Diep, a channel whioh joins the Zuyder Zee with the German ocean, between the continent and the island of the Texel, and which is the principal passage to Amsterdam. Here they made preparations for effecting a 3.A.

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