NAM.1988-06-28-1

18 letters and copies of two dispatches, 1800-1801. Including 15 letters, written by Gen Sir Eyre Coote (1762-1823) to FM William Frederick 2nd Duke of Gloucester (1776-1834), 1800-1801. Describing the campaign in Egypt, Wars of the French Revolution, Egypt (1799-1801). With three other letters and copies of two of Gen John Hely Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore's dispatches. The series commences at Malta, where he describes their keeness to proceed to Egypt and comments on the importance to Great Britain of the acquisition of the island. Once they reached Egypt, it was discovered that the Egyptian troops were a rabble and the horses they had promised the British were unsatisfactory. He described the landing at Aboukir Bay, the Battle of Alexandria and the death of Sir Ralph Abercromby, his command of the troops besieging Alexandria (including comments on their food supplies), the problems of eye disease among his force, the surrender of Cairo to Hutchinson, lack of money with which to pay the troops and the fall of Alexandria. The final letter to the prince was written while he was en route to Gibraltar, there to await further orders. With papers including: a note to Rear Adm Sir Richard Bickerton from Coote reporting that Hutchinson had gone to Cairo, 14 May; letter to Capt Sir Sidney Smith from Coote, reporting recent military developments 12 July; and letter to Smith from Gen J Hely-Hutchinson received 2 Aug on the Marmelukes; manuscript copy of Hutchinson's dispatch to Dundas, Camp near Alexandria, 3 April, relating to events since 21 March; and The London Gazette Extraordinary of 22 Oct 1801 containing Hutchinson's dispatch of 5 September, reporting on the surrender of Alexandria. Associated with the Wars of the French Revolution, Egypt (1799-1801).

Alexandria, Battle of, 1801 (Wars of the French Revolution, Egypt 1798-1801)