SIR WILLIAM SYDNEY SMITH FOR THE REPULSE OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE AND A POWERFUL ARMY FROM ACRE, AFTER A SIEGE OF SIXTY DAYS, MAY 21, 1799.

(Unprecedented to a partizan.)

There is so much of all that constitutes heroism, and invites fame in every variety, in the singularly striking effort, which occupies the present section, that, to use the language of the late Lord Melville, one is struck with an amazement and surprise at the account of it, from which it is difficult to

recover.

To speak of it as disclosing, first, the most eminent talents of a sea-officer, nextly those requisite to the most difficult of all military services by land; and lastly, a most wonderful exertion of diplomacy, is only to characterise it in the meanest and most general terms; without reference to time, place, or political circumstance, never was there altogether so fine an effort of a

partizan, or on so grand a scale. The manner in which it was recognised by Parliament speaks for itself.

As the thanks of Parliament to Lord Hood only followed those of Lord Howe, though for services of an anterior date, so were these, anterior and all distinguished as they were, only apparently introduced as incidental during the vote of those to Admiral Mitchell and Sir Ralph Abercromby for the succeeding occasion. Captain Sir Sydney Smith was however so junior an officer in his date of service that it was no disparagement to him to follow in their honours, these veterans whose united powers his genius and spirit more than emulated to possess in himself.

Lord Nelson had derived from the destruction of the Fleet that conveyed this romantic expedition to Egypt, the noble reward which his country had bestowed on him by its thanks," and had told that country that he felt it as he ought;"" it

1 Answer of Lord Nelson, p. 103.

remained for this noble son of ocean to give a check to the army which was to colonize Egypt, and invade India, under its renowned and romantic chief!

The present article is marked by the peculiar circumstance, as it refers to an individual, of being first distinguished by His Majesty in his most gracious Speech on opening the Session of Parliament on the 24th September, 1799. Speaking of the discomfiture of the French arms in Egypt, it is thus observed:

"The desperate attempt which they have lately made to extricate themselves from their difficulties has been defeated by the courage of the Turkish forces, directed by the skill, and animated by the heroism of a British officer with a small portion of iny naval force under his command.".

Lord Buckingham enlarged on the disgrace of the conqueror and hero, (Napoleon Bonaparte) who regularly besieging an inconsiderable and ill-fortified town with his army, was seen to retreat loaded with dis

grace by a handful of British sailors, who on that occasion were converted into soldiers; and by the few Turks whom the presence of our small naval force, and the exertions of that able and gallant officer who commanded the expedition, inspired with a degree of courage which otherwise they never would have displayed.

Earl Spencer followed in similar terms, and after confessing that there was no precedent for conferring this high honour on services performed by "a force so inconsiderable in point of numbers," described the splendour of such an exploit against an army which had already over-run a great part of Europe, a fine portion of Africa, and attempted also the conquest of Asia, as eclipsing all former examples, and not to be subjected to ordinary rules. His Lordship confident of approbation, moved

"That the thanks of the House be given to Captain Sir William Sydney Smith, and the British Seamen under his command, for their gallant and successful Defence of Saint

Jean d'Acre against the desperate assaults of the French army under the command of General Buonaparte.”

To this was added Thanks to the British Officers, Seamen and Troops under Sir Sydney Smith, and the whole was carried unanimously.

The motion in the Commons was rather different. It was moved by Mr. Dundas, (afterwards Lord Melville) who thus admirably increased its value by recurrence to the difficulties, which genius and talent must encounter in the earlier stages of their progress to fame. "He had heard," he said, "that Sir Sydney Smith, who had his difficulties, had sometimes been lightly spoken of by some persons; whoever they were they were inconsiderate, and might now be left to their inward shame, if they did not recant." Rejoicing in the opportunity of saying this, he moved

"That the Thanks of the House be given to Captain Sir William Sydney Smith, for the conspicuous skill and heroism, by which with