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THE

AUGUST, 1812.

MILITARY BIOGRAPHY.

GENERAL SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE.

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE, K. B. a British officer of great bravery and talents, was the son of George Abercrombie, of Tillibodie, in Clackmannanshire, Esq. by Mary daughter of Ralph Dundas, of Manour, Esq. and was born about the year 1738, or, according to his epitaph at Malta, 1733; and, after a liberal education, went by choice into the army. His first commission was that of cornet in the third regiment of dragoon guards, dated March 23, 1756. In the month of February 1760, he obtained a lieutenancy in the same regiment, and in that of April, a company in the third regiment of horse. In this last regiment he rose to the rank of major and lieutenant-colonel. In November 1780, he was included in the list of brevet colonels, and in 1781 was made colonel of the 103d, or king's Irish infantry. On Sept. 26, 1787, he was promoted to the rank of major-general. Soon after the war broke out on the Continent in 1792-3, he was employ ed there, and had the local rank of lieutenant-general conferred upon him. He commanded the advanced guard in the action on the heights at Cateau, and was wounded at Nimeguen. On every occasion his bravery and skill procured him the warmest praise of the commander-in-chief, and of the army. In the unfortunate retreat from Holland, in the winter of 1794, the guards as well as the sick were left under his care, whom he conducted with the utmost humanity, amidst many painful scenes, during the disastrous march from Deventer to Oldensall. In 1795, he was made knight of the Bath, and appointed commander in-chief of the forces in the West Indies. On his arrival, he obtained possession of the island of Granada, in the month of March, and soon after of the settlements of Demarara and Essequibo, in South America. His next conquests were the islands of St. Lucia and St. Vincent's; and in February 1797, the Spanish island of Trinidad capitulated to him. This successful campaign being concluded, he returned to Europe, and had the command conferred upon him of the 2d, or North British dragoons, and had been before his arrival promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and was appointed lieutenant-governor of the Isle of Wight, from which he was in 1798 removed to the higher office of governor of Fort Augustus and Fort St. George. Previous to this he was appointed comVOL. IV. NO. 22.

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General Sir Ralph Abercrombie.

mauder un-chet in hieland. In this situation he laboured to maintain the discipline of the army, to suppress the rising rebellion, which had been concerted between the French government and a number of traitors at home; and he protected the people from the inconveniences of military government, with a care and skill worthy of the great general, and the enlightened and beneficent statesman. But circumstances rendering it necessary that the civil and military command of that country should be invested in the same person (the Marquis Cornwallis), he was removed to the chief command in Scotland, where his conduct gave universal satisfaction.

When the great, and, in its plan, highly judicious enterprise against Hol land was undertaken, Sir Ralph Abercrombie held a principal command under his Royal Highness the Duke of York; and it was confessed, even by the enemy, that no victory could have conferred more honour than the great talents, activity, and bravery he displayed in forwarding the purposes of that expedition, which failed, partly from the want of a judicious co-operation on the part of our allies, the Russians, but perhaps chiefly from the conduct of the Dutch themselves, who still were deluded by the professions and pretended amity of the French.

A more favourable enterprise, however, soon afforded our gallant hero an opportunity of immortalizing his name. This was the memorable expedition ordered in 1801 to dissposess the French of Egypt. To this destination, Sir Ralph conducted the English army and fleet in perfect health and spirits, and landed at Aboukir on the 8th of March 1801, after a severe battle, in which the English were victorious. The landing, the first dispositions, the attack, and the courage opposed to attack, the high confidence of the army in their general, and the decided superiority of the British infantry under his command over the French, which was thought the bravest and best disciplined infantry in Europe, all demonstrated that the best qualities of the greatest commanders were united in Sir Ralph Abercrombie. But it was his destiny to fall in the moment of victory. After having repulsed the French in a general attack upon our army near Alexandria, the French again, on the 21st March, made a second advance, which was contested with unusual obstinacy, and they were again forced to retreat. On this memorable occasion, he received a mortal wound in the thigh, which he concealed until the enemy were totally routed, when he fell from his horse through loss of blood. He was conveyed from the field of battle on board the admiral's ship, where he died on the 28th, and was interred under the castle of St. Elmo, in La Valetta, in the island of Malta. The following just and admired tribute to his memory was contained in the dispach from Lord Hutchinson, who succeeded him in the chief command:--" We have sustained an isreparable loss, in the person of our never to be sufficiently lamented commander-in-chief,, Si Ralph Abercrombie, who was mortally wounded in the action, and died on the 28th of March. I believe he was wounded early; but he concealed his situation from those about him, and continued in the

Lieutenant General Sir Rowland Hill.

field giving his orders 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 excused for for lamenting him more than any other person; but it is some consolation to those who tenderly loved him, that, as his life was honourable, so his death was 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." In private life, Sir Ralph in his manners had somewhat of reserve; but was truly amiable, honourable, and virtuous, attached to his country and to his profession, and in every relative duty most exemplary. He was one of a family distinguished for bravery or talents. His brother James, a heutenant-colonel in the 22d foot, was killed in America, 1774, at the battle of Bunker's Hill. The character and high rank of his surviving brother, Sir Robert Abercrombie, K. B. are well known. Another, Alexander, one of the Scotch Judges, died in 1795, a man of high reputation in the law, and not less distinguished for his taste in the belles lettres. He was the author of ten papers in the Mirror, and nine in the Lounger, two well-known periodical papers published at Edinburgh. Sir Ralph sat in three parliaments for the county of Clackmannan.

As a testimony of national regard, the House of Commons unanimously voted a monument to his memory in St. Paul's cathedral, and a pension of £2000 was settled on his family. His widow, Mary Anne, daughter of John Menzies, of Farnton, in Perthshire, Esq. was created Baroness Abercrombie, of Aboukir and Tillibodie, in the county of Clackmannan, with remainder to her issue male by her late husband. Sir Ralph left four sons: George, a barrister, heir-apparent to the barony; John, a major-general in the army; James, member of parliament for Midhurst; and Alexander, also a major in the army.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR ROWLAND HILL.

(Concluded from page 177).

SIR RICHARD was succeeded in his title and estates by his second brother, the present Sir John Hill, Bart. who is the father of Lieut-Gen. Hill.

The third Son of the late Sir Rowland is the Rev. Rowland Hill, who at a very early age, devoted his talents and his fortune to the reformation of mankind; who has been, in his holy labours, indefatigable: and, as he undertook the great cause of salvation with an ardour which induced him to sacrifice every other considerarion to his duty, and both by his preaching and living to set it forth and shew it accordingly, we understand that he has been concomitantly successful,

Lieutenant General Sir Rowland Hill.

Sir John Hill, the third and present baronet, was born July 21, 1740. He married one of the daughters and co-heiresses of John Chambre, of Petton, in Shropshire, Esq. by whom he has had sixteen children. He, for thirteen years, represented the town of Shrewsbury in parliament, in which situation we well remember him. As an able and upright senator, it is to be lamented that he should have ever been opposed!

Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, who is colonel of the 94th regiment, is the fourth son of the above-mentioned baronet. He was born August 1, 1772, and entered the army at an early period of his life. 'He passed through all the gradations of military rank with that credit and esteem which are the certain accompaniments of correct conduct and gentlemanly manners. He did not find it necessary to recommend himself to his younger companions by partaking with them in vicious and frivolous pursuits. He did not dissipate his time, and contract the habits of idleness by consuming his mornings at the billiard room: he relieved study and amusement by alternating them with each other. His piety assisted, rather than impeded bim in the performance of all the active duties of life; and, by a peculiar sweetness of temper, he shewed the practical fruit and effect which are ap pended to true religion, as their natural stock: and he recommended his example to the imitation of others by embellishing it with the ornamental graces of the manners of an officer and a gentleman.

General Hill accompanied General Abercrombie on the expedition to Egypt. It was certainly no slight distinction to be mentioned with peculiar praise, as one of the officers upon this service. The thanks of the houses of parliament were voted to the navy and army, and each regiment which had served during the campaign, was permitted to add an embroidered sphinx to its colours, and to have the word Egypt inscribed on them. The Grand Seignior likewise testified his gratitude, by instituting for this special purpose, the Order of the Crescent. The principal commanders were admitted to the honour of this knighthood, and gold medals were distributed among the field officers, captains, and subalterns of the victorious army.

General Hill's next service was in the war of the peninsula. In the battle of Talavera he eminently distinguished himself. He was wounded after having repulsed the French, in repeated attacks. It is well known that it is the established practice of the French generals to select some point in the enemy's line, and to endeavour to bear it down, as well by superior numbers as by repeated attacks. They not only usually commence their battles according to this practice, but in the course of the action, and in the attacks of the reserve, they govern themselves upon the same principle. The superiority of the English bayonet, which has enabled our men to support - themselves a longer time against a great superiority of numbers, and thereby afforded time for distant succour to be brought up, has hitherto foiled this manœuvre crowned with so much success against the Prussians and Austrians. But it evidently requires a very considerable degree of firmness and dexterity to support the first attack. It is for this firmness, therefore, that Gene

Military Education.

ral Hill deserves praise. He is said to have displayed it eminently in the battle of which we are speaking. Mr. Perceval moved the thanks of the House of Commons for this victory; he took occasion in his speech upon this subject to mention the distinguished manner in which General Hill had repulsed the French at the point of the bayonet. In the late affairs of the surprise of General Girard, and of the bridge of Almaraz, General Hill has crowned his former reputation; but as the documents of these actions have already been given in full in the Military Chronicle, we now pass them over.

MILITARY EDUCATION.

MR. EDITOR.-ST. PHILIP, your correspondent, appears to write with judgment on the confined system of Military Education in this country. Possibly one reason why those officers who have studied abroad are found more competent, is, because the very act of a temporary residence in a foreign land insensibly expands the mind, leads it to comparisons, and gives it some insight into men and manners. A restricted education is ill calculated to form a character of discrimination, and firinness; men so instructed will require a precedent for all their actions, and unless the able General Dundas, or some author of their acquaintance, has provided a remedy for any accidental dilemma, the dearth of grand and fertile conceptions renders them undecided, and their arrangements consequently without energy.

A solid foundation should therefore be laid of the elemental parts of learning; and as all the branches of knowledge have a mutual connection and dependance, the only way to prevent narrow prejudices in favour of one is to afford, at the same time, a prospect of several, and alternately to exercise the mind upon each. A general frames bis designs according to the measure of his talents and the means within his reach; the great and cultivated spirit rises superior to difficulties, and dares resources which would appal the weak and barren understanding. A Spanish couplet well expresses this idea

Si impossibles parecen empressas altas

Es glorioso en los hombres, solo ententarlas;

Alma resiste!

Por que en difficultates

Gloria consiste

I would maintain that an education on the plan now adopted cannot fit ą man for the command of an army, although it may render him competent to the mechanism of moving or fighting a brigade under the eye and orders of more comprehensive heads, any more than what is termed a classical education, viz, a knowledge of Latin and Greek, can form a statesman. Have we not a recent and lamentable example, that a fertile memory in capping verses is not a sufficient qualification for the representative of Majesty in a oreign cabinet.

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