CHAP. 1797. CHAPTER XXIV. EXPEDITION TO EGYPT. ARGUMENT. Great Political and Commercial importance of Egypt-Its Advantages of Situation-and Importance early perceived by Leibnitz-Alexander the Great and Napoleon equally appreciated its value-His Ideas are matured at Passeriano-Napoleon's Parting Address to the Italians-His triumphant Journey across Switzerland to Radstadt and Paris-Political objects of this Journey-Its ominous character for Switzerland-His retired manner of Life at Paris-His Public Reception by the Directory-Talleyrand's Speech-Napoleon's Answer-Successive Fêtes given by other Public Bodies-His Private Views in regard to his Future Life-Secret Views of the Directory-Their desire to get quit of Napoleon-Preparations for a Descent on England-Pompous Speech of Barras on giving him the command of the Army of England-Real Views of both Parties-Napoleon's growing Horror at the Revolutionary System-His Journey to the coasts of the Channel-Reasons which determined him against the English Expedition-Defensive Preparations of the British Government-Meanwhile Napoleon persuades the Directory to undertake the Egyptian Enterprise-Prodigious activity of Napoleon in preparing for that Expedition-The Treasure taken at Berne is sent to Toulon by his orders -Magnificent Preparations for the Expedition-Napoleon is driven to it by necessity-He takes the Command-His first Proclamation to his Soldiers-His last Act in Europe is one of Humanity At length the Expedition sails — -Arrives off Malta, which Capitulates without firing a shot-Its prodigious strength-Napoleon's Conversation during the remainder of the VoyageMovements of Nelson, who misses the French Fleet-Egypt is Discovered-Napoleon lands, and Advances against Alexandria, which is taken-His first Proclamation to his Troops-Description of Egypt-Astonishing Effects of the Inundation of the Nile-Productions of the Country-Its Foreign Commerce-Decay of its Population since Ancient Times-Importance of Alexandria-Account of the Inhabitants of the Country-Mamelukes—Janizzaries, or Turks—Arabs—Copts -Ibrahim Bey and Mourad Bey divided the Country between them-Policy of Napoleon on invading Egypt-His Proclamation to the Egyptians-His Arrangements for advancing to Cairo-March of the Advanced-Guard across the Desert -Their Sufferings-Arrive on the Nile-Actions with the Mamelukes-Combat at Chebriss-The Army advances towards Cairo-They arrive within sight of the Mameluke forces-Battle of the Pyramids-Lateral Movement of Napoleon-Furious Charge of Mourad Bey-He is totally defeated-Ibrahim Bey retires to Syria-Mourad Bey to Upper Egypt-Napoleon enters Cairo-His Pacific Measures -and able and impartial Civil Government-He affects the Mussulman FaithGrowing discontents of the Army-Calamitous Expedition to Salahieh, on the Syrian frontier-Ibrahim Bey retires across the Desert into Syria-Intrigues of Napoleon with Ali Pacha-Treachery of France towards Turkey-Its Manifesto of War-Naval operations-Movements of Nelson-He arrives at AlexandriaBrueys' position-Nelson's plan of Attack-Relative Forces on the two sides— Battle of the Nile-Dreadful nature of the Action-The L'Orient blows upGlorious Victory in which it terminates-Wound of Nelson-Heroic Deeds on board the French Squadron-Great Results of this victory-Terrible traces of the Action on shore - Honours bestowed on Nelson - Napoleon's Correspondence with Brueys, as to getting the Fleet into Alexandria-Disastrous consequences of this blow to the French Army-Courage of Napoleon and Kleber-Despair of the inferior Officers and Soldiers-It at once brings on a War between France and Turkey-Passage of the Hellespont by the Russian Fleet-Critical situation of the French Army-Vast efforts of Napoleon-Expedition of Desaix to Upper Egypt -Bloody Suppression of a Revolt at Cairo-Expedition of Napoleon to the Shores of the Red Sea-He resolves to penetrate into Syria-His vast Designs Limited extent of his Forces-Passage of the Syrian Desert-Storming of Jaffa-Four Thousand of the Garrison capitulate-Massacre of these Prisoners-Unpardonable Atrocity of this act The French advance to Acre-Description of that Fortress -Sir Sidney Smith's preparations for its Defence-Commencement of the Siege -Desperate Conflicts on the Breach-The Ottomans collect forces for its Relief— The French advance to meet them-Battle of Mont Thabor-Renewal of the Siege of Acre-Desperate Assaults of the Town-Napoleon at length Retreats-Vast Designs which this Defeat frustrated— Disastrous Retreat of the Troops to EgyptPoisoning of the Sick at Jaffa-Reflections on that Act-Army regains EgyptContests in Egypt during Napoleon's absence-The Angel El Mody-Conquest of Upper Egypt by Desaix-Great Discontents of the Army-Landing of the Turks in Aboukir Bay-Force of the Invaders-Position which the Turks occupied-Napoleon's Dispositions for an Attack-First Line carried-Second Line also forced, after a desperate struggle-Total destruction of the Turks-Napoleon is made acquainted with the Disasters of the Republic in Europe-He secretly sets sail for Europe from Alexandria-And stretches along the Coast of Africa to SardiniaHe lands at Ajaccio in Corsica-Sets sail, and avoids the English Fleet-Proof which the Egyptian Expedition affords of the Superiority of the Arms of Civilisation to those of Savage Life-General Reflections on the probable Fate of an Eastern Empire under Napoleon. "By seizing the Isthmus of Darien," said Sir Walter Raleigh, "you will wrest the keys of the world from Spain." The observation, worthy of his reach of thought, is still more applicable to the Isthmus of Suez and the country of Egypt. It is remarkable that its importance has never been duly appreciated, but by the greatest conquerors of an CHAP. XXIV. 1797. CHAP. XXIV. 1797. mercial im cient and modern times, Alexander the Great, and Napoleon Bonaparte. The geographical position of this celebrated counGreat politi- try has destined it to become the great emporium cal and com- of the commerce of the world. Placed in the centre portance of between Europe and Asia, on the confines of Eastern Egypt. wealth, and Western civilisation; at the extremity of the African continent, and on the shores of the Mediterranean sea, it is fitted to become the central point of communication for the varied productions of these different regions of the globe. The waters of the Mediterranean bring to it all the fabrics of Europe; the Red Sea wafts to its shores the riches of India and China; while the Nile floats down to its bosom the produce of the vast and unknown regions of Africa. Though it were not one of the most fertile countries in the world, though the inundations of the Nile did not annually cover its fields with riches, it would still be, from its situation, one of the most favoured spots on the earth. The greatest and most durable monument of human industry, accordingly, the earliest efforts of civilisation, the sublimest works of genius have been raised in this primeval seat of mankind. The temples of Rome have decayed, the arts of Athens have perished; but the Pyramids "still stand erect and unshaken above the floods of the Nile." When, in the revolutions of ages, civilisation shall have returned to its ancient cradle,— when the desolation of Mahometan rule shall have ceased, and the light of religion illumined the land of its birth, Egypt will again become one of the great centres of human industry; the invention of steam will restore the communication with the East to its original channel; and the nation which shall revive Gibbon. Its advan tages of situation. 1 XXIV. 1797. the canal of Suez, and open a direct communication CHAP.. between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, will pour into its bosom those streams of wealth, which in every age have constituted the principal sources of European opulence. 66 you tance early perceived by Leibnitz. The great Leibnitz, in the time of Louis XIV., addressed to the French monarch a memorial, which Its imporis one of the noblest monuments of political foreSire," said he, "it is not at home that sight. will succeed in subduing the Dutch: you will not cross their dykes, and you will rouse Europe to their assistance. It is in Egypt that the real blow is to be struck. There you will find the true commercial route to India; you will wrest that lucrative commerce from Holland, you will secure the eternal dominion of France in the Levant, you will fill Christianity with joy." These ideas, however, were be- Th. ix. 63. yond the age, and they lay dormant till revived by the genius of Napoleon. 1 the Great appreciated The eagle eye of Alexander the Great, which fitted him to have been as great a benefactor as he was a Alexander scourge of the species, early discerned the vast capa- and Napobilities of this country; and to him was owing the leon equally foundation of that city, the rival of Memphis and its value. Thebes, which once boasted of 3,000,000 of inhabitants, and rivalled Rome in the plenitude of its power, and still bears, amidst ruins and decay, the name of the conqueror of the East. Napoleon was hardly launched into the career of conquest before he perceived the importance of the same situation; and when still struggling in the plains of Italy with the armies of Austria, he was meditating an expedition into those eastern regions where alone, in his apprehension, great things could be achieved; where kingdoms lay open to private adventure; and fame, XXIV. 1797. CHAP. rivalling that of the heroes of antiquity, was to be obtained. From his earliest years he had been influenced by an ardent desire to effect a revolution in the East: he was literally haunted by the idea of the glory which had been there acquired, and firmly convinced that the power of England could never be effectually humbled but by a blow at its Indian 1 D'Abr. iv. possessions. "The Persians," said he, "have blockup the route of Tamerlane, I will discover an 263. Bour. ii. 411. ed It was his favourite opinion through life, that Egypt was the true line of communication with India; that it was there that the English power could alone be seriously affected; that its possession would ensure the dominion of the Mediterranean, and convert that sea into a "French lake." From that central point armaments might be detached down the Red Sea, to attack the British possessions in India; and an entrepôt established, which would soon turn the commerce of the East into the channels which nature had formed for its reception-the Mediterra2 Th. ix. 62. nean and the Red Sea.2 It was at Passeriano, however, after the campaign His ideas are was concluded, and when his energetic mind turned Passeriano abroad for the theatre of fresh exploits, that the con matured at ception of an expedition to Egypt first seriously occupied his thoughts. During his long evening walks in the magnificent park of his mansion, he spoke without intermission of the celebrity of those countries, and the illustrious empires which have there disappeared, after overturning each other; but the memory of which still lives in the recollections of mankind. "Europe," said he, "is no field for glorious exploits; no great empires or revolutions are to be found but in the East, where there are 600,000,000 |