1807.] 
On 595 4 
STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN JUNE. 
Containing oficial and authentic Documents. 
= TEE Pe 
GREAT BRITAIN, 
‘HE, following intelligence has been 
received hy Viscount C astlereagh, 
one of his Majesty’s principal secretaries 
of State, from J Major- General Alexander 
M‘Kenzie Fraser, commanding his Ma- 
Jesty’s Land Forces in Egypt, transmit- 
ted in aletter from the Right. Hon. Ge- 
neral Fox, to the Right lion. W. Wind- 
ham. 
Extract of the Copy of a Letter, from Major 
General Fraser, tothe Right Hon W Wind- 
hain, dated Ale xandria, April 6, 1807, trans- 
mitted to bim. by General Fox, the Original 
nor having Leen received. / 
red 
SIR, 
My letter of the 27th ultimo has already 
informed you, that in consequence of the 
Stronz representation of Major Misset, his 
Majesty’s resident here, (a copy of which 
J then transmitted) stating the risk the in- 
habitants ef Alexandria run of being starved, 
uniess Rosetta and Rahmonie were ens 
possess ion of by his Majesty’ stroops, 1 had 
with the concurrence of Rear-Admiral Sir 
John Duckworth, detached the Sist regi- 
ment and Chasseurs Britanniques, under Maj. 
Gen. Wauchope and Brigadier Gen. Meade, 
for that purpose. 
iam now under the disagreeable necessity 
of acguainting you that, contrary toall ex- 
pectalion, this measure did not succeed. Our 
troops took possesion of the heights of Abour- 
mandour (which command the town) with- 
out any loss; but, from circumstances as 
yet unexplained, the General, instead of 
keeping his post there, unfortunately was 
tempted to go into the town, with his whole 
force, Wika any previous examination of 
it, when the troops were so severely handled 
from the windows and tops of the houses, 
without ever seeing their enemy, that it was 
thought expedient to retire, more especially 
as Major General Wauchope was unfortu- 
nately killed, aud. the second in command, 
Brigwtes Geicral Meade severely wounded. 
The treops, I understand, although cer- 
tainly placed in a most trying and perilous 
situation, behaved extremely well 5 and after 
having suffered, ] am sorry to say, very 
materially in killed and wounded, (as you 
will see by the annexed return) retired to 
Aboukir, in good order, without molestation, 
from whence I directed them to return to 
Ale xandria 
This certainly has been a very heavy and 
unexpected stroke upop us, more especially 
as every information ied me te conclude, that 
\ 
the opposition, if any, would be trifling ; and 
every precaution was recommended that pru- 
dence could suggest. 
Finding, however, by the renewed repre- 
sentation of Major Misset, corroborated by 
the personal application of the sorbagi, or 
chief magistrate, in the name of the people 
at large, that a famine would be the certain 
and immediate consequence of our remaining 
at Alexandria without #he occupation of 
Rosetta, I have, with the concurrence, ad- 
vice and co-operation of Rear Admiral Sir 
Thomas Louis, (who commands the squa- 
dron here since the departure of Sir John 
Duckworth) detached another corps, under 
the command of the Hon. Brigadier General 
Stewart and Colonel Oswald, (as per mar- 
gin*) to efect this pwasose, without which 
it appears impossible that’ the measure pro- 
posed by his majesty’s ministers, of keeping 
possessions of Alexandria, can be accomplish- 
ec. 
Extract of a D: spatch from Major-General Fras 
rita Geren pe Rizht Hon. H. E Fox; 
id on board his W4ajesiy’s Ship Canopusy 
Aboukir Bay, April 24, 1807. 
I have the mortification to acquaint you, 
that the second attempt that 1 thought -ne- 
cessary to make against Rosetta has failed, 
owing toa great reinforcement of the enemy 
being sent down the: Nite from Cairo, which 
overpowered our troops, and obliged them 
to tall back with the loss (J am grieved to 
say) of nearly 1000 men, in killed, wounded, 
and missing, Among the latter are Lieu- 
tenant Colonel M‘Loed, Major Vogelsang, 
and Major Mohr. Brigadier General Stew- 
art, who commanded tie troops on this ser- 
vice, is only now upon his march towards 
Alexandria with the remainder of his force, 
and has not yet sent me the details, but, as 
the admiral thinks it necessary to dispatch 
the Wizard brig immediately from this bay 
to Messina, I tink it necessary to give you 
ail the information I am at present in pos- 
session of, and shal! send you the particulars 
of this unfortunate affair by his majesty’s 
ship Thunderer, which will leave Alexandria 
very soon; and.as I haye not time to ac- 
quaint his majesty’s nrnisters of this event 
by this opportunity, E must request you to 
have the goodness to do it as soun as possible. 
Soy Seas SSL IPE Mea ACD 
* Detachment of royal artillery, detach- 
ment of 20th light dragoons, detachment of 
seamen, lightinfantry battalion, ist battalion 
of 35th regiment, ¢d battalion of 78th regis 
ment de Roll amounting in the whole to 
avout 2500 men. 
4G Q Return 
