BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF JOHN WESLEY WRIGHT, ESQ. CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY

Summary

THE retreat of Buonaparté from Acré was, in fact, conducted wholly in the spirit of cruelty generated by disappointed pride in the mind of a man whose means of resentment, mighty as they were, still were less ample than his will for all the purposes of atrocious mischief. He was also but too successful in infusing the like spirit in the mass of his deluded followers–who being actuated by no impulse of public feeling, but like their leader, impelled by selfish considerations only; they had not even the common sense of commiseration for their unfortunate companions, who were at this time (and it has been said were brought to the siege with that direful visitation) afflicted with the pestilence. Mr. Miot says:–

“At Tentoura, I first saw the plague in its most frightful character. Our sick and wounded were brought here from the hospitals at Kerdanné and Mount Carmel. From Tentoura they were carried in small vessels to Iaffa, and from thence to Damietta. There were still in the cabins upon the shore some poor wretches, who were waiting to be removed. Among them, a soldier was seized with the plague; and in the delirium which sometimes accompanies the agony, he imagined, without doubt, upon seeing the army march at beat of drum, that he was to be abandoned; his imagination made him perceive the extent of his misery if he fell into the hands of the Arabs. […]