Page images
PDF
EPUB

stry, he lost his office as one of the lords of trade, which was a serious diminution of his income. He again determined to visit his favorite Laussane, where he completed the remaining volumes of his history; but when the revolutionary mania began to rage on the continent, he quitted Lausanne, and sought for an asylum in England. He mortally hated innovations of every kind, whether necessary or not, as appears from the following exclamation: "I beg leave to subscribe my assent to Mr. Burke's creed on the revolution of France. I admire his eloquence, I approve his politics, I adore his chivalry, and can almost excuse his reverence for church establishments."

During his consoling visit to lord Sheffield, who had met with a trying domestic loss, his attention was called to the rapid progress of a distemper which had subsisted for about thirty years. A mortification at last ensued, which terminated his existence on the 16th of January, 1794, in the 67th year of

his age.

Mr. Gibbon gives himself a character which is perhaps pretty near the truth: I am endowed with a cheerful temper, a moderate sensibility, and a natural disposition to repose, rather than to activity: some mischievous appetites and habits have perhaps been corrected by philosophy or time. The love of study supplies each day, each hour, with a perpetual source of independant and rational pleasure." Mr. Gibbon possessed the manners and sentiments of a gentleman in an eminent degree; he was easy in society, of which he was extremely fond, and beloved by all who had the pleasure of intimately knowing him.

486

THE LIFE OF

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY, K.B.

[A. D. 1738, to 1801.]

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY, K.B. was the son of George Aber cromby, of Tullibody, esq. in the county of Clackmannan. He was born in 1738, and was one of five sons, all of whom rose to situations of eminence in different departments of the service of the state. He entered into the army as cornet of the 3d dragoon guards, in 1756; and ascending through the intermediate gra. dations of rank, he was appointed, in 1781, colonel of the 103d, or King's Irish infantry. This new raised regiment was reduced at the peace in 1783, when colonel Abercromby was placed on half

pay.

In 1787, he was removed to the command of the 7th regiment of dragoons. He acquired, during the long period of his military service, great knowledge and experience in his profession, having served in the Seven Years War, and in the war with America and its allies.

But the chief services which he rendered to his country were those occasioned by the great contest into which Great Britain entered with France, soon after the French revolution. He was promoted to the rank of major-general, and soon after to that of Fieutenant-general: and in the two campaigns on the continent, in which the British troops were commanded by the duke of York, he gave many proofs of his skill, vigilance and intrepidity. In the action on the heights of Cateau, he commanded the advanced guard, and was wounded at Nimeguen in the October following, (1794).

It has been sometimes remarked, that the talents as well as the temper of a commander are put to as severe a test in conducting a retreat, as in atchieving a victory. The truth of this lieutenant

general Abercromby experienced, when he was called upon to perform the painful but important duty, of couducting a part of the retreating army out of Holland, in the winter of 1794-5. The Guards, and all the sick, were on this occasion committed to his care; and in the disasterous march from Devanter, to Oldensal, he sustained the severest hardships, and experienced the most painful feelings, which had ever perhaps fallen to his lot. Harassed by a victorious army on his rear, obliged to conduct his troops with a rapidity beyond their strength, through bad roads, in the most inclement part of a winter uncommonly severe, and finding it alike difficult to procure food and shelter for his soldiers, the anguish he felt in seeing their number daily diminish by cold and fatigue, admits of no adequate description. His gallant spirit was ready to sink beneath the cares which oppressed him, before his arrival at the place of destination. He accomplished his object, however, as well as human judgment, united with humanity, could accomplish it, about the end of January, 1795.

In the autumn of the same year, he was appointed to succeed sir Charles Grey as commander-in-chief of the British forces in the West Indies. Previous to his arrival, the French had made considerable exertions to recover from their losses in that quarter ; and, besides recapturing several of their islands, they seized, to an immense amount, the property of the rich emigrants, who had fled thither from France. General Abercromby repaired to Southampton, to take the command of the troops destined for the West Indies. The expedition was unfortunately prevented from sailing till after the equinox, and several transports were lost in endeavouring to clear the channel. Every possible exertion was however made, and the general, with his troops, at length arrived at the place of destination.

Having arranged his plans, he waited the proper season for their execution; and on March 24, 1796, a detachment of his army suddenly attacked and obtained possession of the island of Grenada. He soon after became master of the Dutch settlements of Demerara and Essequibo, in South America. Towards the end of April, the admiral had the necessary ships in readiness for conveying the troops designed for an attack on the island of St Lucia.

Here the enemy had a number of well-disciplined black and white troops, who defended the garrison of Morne Fortune with considerable gallantry. After experiencing much obstruction from the exertions of the enemy, favoured by the nature of the country, a suspension of arms took place on the 24th of May, and a capitulation was entered into on the 26th, by which the fortress was surrendered to the British, and the troops became prisoners of war. The island of St. Vincent was next attacked, and yielded to the British arms about the middle of June. This short and brilliant campaign was concluded by the commander-in-chief in the island of Grenada, where his presence became necessary to quell the insurgents who had taken arms against the British, and were headed by the fierce and enterprizing Fedon. After the arrival of Abercromby, hostilities were speedily brought to a termination; and on the 19th of June, full possession was obtained of every post in the island, and the haughty chief, Fedon, with his troops, were reduced to unconditional submission.

Early in the following year, (1797), the general sailed with a considerable fleet of ships of war and transports, against the Spanish island of Trinidad; and on the 16th of February, he appro ched the fortifications of Gasper Grande, under cover of which a Spanish squadron consisting of four sail of the line and a frigate, were found lying at anchor. On perceiving the approach of the British, the Spanish fleet retired further into the bay. General Abercromby made arrangements for attacking the town and ships of war early in the following morning. The Spanish, however, anticipated his intentions; and dreading the impending conflict, set fire to their own ships, and retired to a different part of the island. On the following day, the troops landed; and soon after the whole colony submitted to the British arms. Having performed these important services in so gallant a manner, and having failed only in his attempt on the Spanish island of Porto Rico, the commander-in-chief returned soon after to England, where he was received with every mark of honor and public respect. During his absence on these enterprizes, he was invested with the Red Ribband, and soon after his return, he received the appointments of governor of Fort George and Fort Augustus.

In times of public peril, a commander so justly respected for his valour and humanity, could not expect long to enjoy the delights of domestic retirement. These, his gentle manners and unambitious character rendered peculiarly dear to him. But he was reserved for other active duties, to which the service of his country called him.

men.

Ireland had been long a subject of solicitude to British statesThe great majority of its inhabitants, being attached to the catholic religion, and having been accustomed to view with a jealous eye the superior privileges enjoyed by their protestant brethern, were deemed the fit objects of French artifice and intrigue. The leaders of the French revolution employed these religious animosities, as well as the political discontents of the Irish, to inflame their minds against their sovereign and the British constitution. When party disputes had arisen to such a height as to be attended by frequent outrages, and to threaten that country with open rebellion, sir R. Abercromby was selected to fill the important station of commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in Ireland. He arrived there in that character about the middle of November, 1797. Finding that the conduct of some of the British troops had too much tended to increase the spirit of insubordination, he issued a proclamation on the subject soon after his arrival, proclamation, which is written in a simple and impressive strain of indignant sensibility, he laments and reproves the occasional excesses into which they had fallen, and which had rendered them more formidable to their friends than to their enemies; and he declares his firm determination to punish, with exemplary severity, any similar outrage, of which they might be guilty in future. Though much has been insinuated against the policy of this proclamation at such a crisis, there can exist only one opinion, as to the motives by which it was dictated. Nor can we cease to regard it as forming a most marked and decisive proof of the manly independence of his mind, and of the genuine benevolence of his

heart.

He did not long retain his command in Ireland. The incon vencies arising from the delegation of the highest civil and military authority to different persons, had been felt to occasion much per

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »