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  AN

  Historical Review

  OF THE

  _ROYAL MARINE CORPS._


  PRICE ONE GUINEA IN BOARDS.




  AN

  HISTORICAL REVIEW

  OF THE

  _ROYAL MARINE CORPS_,

  FROM ITS

  ORIGINAL INSTITUTION DOWN TO THE PRESENT ERA,

  1803.


  DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION,

  TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.


  BY ALEXANDER GILLESPIE,

  FIRST LIEUTENANT AND UPWARDS OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AN OFFICER IN IT.

  [Illustration: "PER MARE, TERRAMQUE VINCIMUS."]


  BIRMINGHAM:

  PRINTED AND SOLD BY M. SWINNEY, No. 75, HIGH-STREET;

  SOLD ALSO BY T. EGERTON, MILITARY-LIBRARY, WHITEHALL; MESSRS. RICHARDSON,
  ROYAL EXCHANGE; MESSRS. LONGMAN AND REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
  AND T. OSTELL, AVE-MARIA-LANE, LONDON.

  1803.


[Illustration: _St. Jean d'Acre in Syria._

_Memorable for its Gallant Defence by a Body of Seamen, and Marines
under Sr. Sidney Smith, & Colonel, now Sr. John Douglas Knt.
&c. &c. against BUONOPARTE, & the Flower of the French Egyptian
Army._]


[Illustration]

_Most Gracious Prince_,

With mixed sentiments of Loyalty and Gratitude, I now lay the
following Work under your Royal Shelter.

In having deigned to become its Patron your Royal Highness
has placed me under a double tie, as it is a precious mark of
condescension bestowed upon myself, enhanced in value from its
being a sure earnest of predilection for my Corps.

To cherish Patriotism, Subordination and Allegiance, is the bounden
duty of every subject; but more peculiarly so, during times of
public danger, and of general convulsion. This has been my leading
aim, not by the displays of Theory, but of Facts.

Conscious that such were my predominant motives, and anxious to
maintain consistency throughout, I looked around for a Protector
who united within himself all those exalted endowments which I have
laboured to establish. My eyes turned towards your Royal Highness,
and my pen did not solicit in vain.

With talents filled for an honorable discharge of the most
important trusts; early trained in the hardy employs of a
profession which has long been the prop of the British Empire;
and a Prince of the greatest Realm on