Onthemorningofthe1stofJulytheexpeditionarrivedoffthecoastofAfrica，andthecolumnofSeptimus—SeveruspointedouttousthecityofAlexandria.OursituationandframeofmindhardlypermittedustoreflectthatinthedistantpointwebeheldthecityofthePtolemiesandCaesars，withitsdoubleport，itspharos，andthegiganticmonumentsofitsancientgrandeur.Ourimaginationsdidnotrisetothispitch.
AdmiralBrueyshadsentonbeforethefrigateJunotofetchM.Magallon，theFrenchConsul.Itwasnearfouro’clockwhenhearrived，andtheseawasveryrough.HeinformedtheGeneral—in—ChiefthatNelsonhadbeenoffAlexandriaonthe28th——thatheimmediatelydispatchedabrigtoobtainintelligencefromtheEnglishagent.OnthereturnofthebrigNelsoninstantlystoodawaywithhissquadrontowardsthenorth—east.
ButforadelaywhichourconvoyfromCivitaVecchiaoccasioned，weshouldhavebeenonthiscoastatthesametimeasNelson.
ItappearedthatNelsonsupposedustobealreadyatAlexandriawhenhearrivedthere.Hehadreasontosupposeso，seeingthatweleftMaltaonthe19thofJune，whilsthedidnotsailfromMessinatillthe21st.
Notfindinguswhereheexpected，andbeingpersuadedweoughttohavearrivedtherehadAlexandriabeentheplaceofourdestination;hesailedforAlexandrettainSyria，whitherheimaginedwehadgonetoeffectalanding.Thiserrorsavedtheexpeditionasecondtime.
Bonaparte，onhearingthedetailswhichtheFrenchConsulcommunicated，resolvedtodisembarkimmediately.AdmiralBrueysrepresentedthedifficultiesanddangersofadisembarkation——theviolenceofthesurge，thedistancefromthecoast，——acoast，too，linedwithreefsofrocks，theapproachingnight，andourperfectignoranceofthepointssuitableforlanding.TheAdmiral，therefore，urgedthenecessityofwaitingtillnextmorning;thatistosay，todelaythelandingtwelvehours.HeobservedthatNelsoncouldnotreturnfromSyriaforseveraldays.
Bonapartelistenedtotheserepresentationswithimpatienceandill—
humour.Herepliedperemptorily，"Admiral，wehavenotimetolose.
Fortunegivesmebutthreedays;ifIdonotprofitbythemwearelost."
Hereliedmuchonfortune;thischimericalideaconstantlyinfluencedhisresolutions.
Bonapartehavingthecommandofthenavalaswellasthemilitaryforce，theAdmiralwasobligedtoyieldtohiswishes.
Iattestthesefacts，whichpassedinmypresence，andnopartofwhichcouldescapemyobservation.Itisquitefalsethatitwasowingtotheappearanceofasailwhich，itispretended，wasdescried，butofwhich，formypart，Isawnothing，thatBonaparteexclaimed，"Fortune，haveyouabandonedme？Iaskonlyfivedays！"Nosuchthingoccurred.
Itwasoneo’clockinthemorningofthe2dofJulywhenwelandedonthesoilofEgypt，atMarabou，threeleaguestothewestofAlexandria.Wehadtoregretthelossofsomelives;butwehadeveryreasontoexpectthatourlosseswouldhavebeengreater.
Atthreeo’clockthesamemorningtheGeneral—in—ChiefmarchedonAlexandriawiththedivisionsofKleber，Bon，andMenou.TheBedouinArabs，whokepthoveringaboutourrightflankandourrear，pickedupthestragglers.
HavingarrivedwithingunshotofAlexandria，wescaledtheramparts，andFrenchvaloursoontriumphedoverallobstacles.
ThefirstbloodIsawshedinwarwasGeneralKleber’s.Hewasstruckintheheadbyaball，notinstormingthewalls，butwhilstheadingtheattack.HecametoPompey’sPillar，wheremanymembersofthestaffwereassembled，andwheretheGeneral—in—Chiefwaswatchingtheattack.I
thenspoketoKleberforthefirsttime，andfromthatdayourfriendshipcommenced.Ihadthegoodfortunetocontributesomewhattowardstheassistanceofwhichhestoodinneed，andwhich，asweweresituated，couldnotbeprocuredveryeasily.
IthasbeenendeavouredtorepresentthecaptureofAlexandria，whichsurrenderedafterafewhours，asabrilliantexploit.TheGeneral—in—
Chiefhimselfwrotethatthecityhadbeentakenafterafewdischargesofcannon;thewalls，badlyfortified，weresoonscaled.Alexandriawasnotdelivereduptopillage，ashasbeenasserted，andoftenrepeated.
ThiswouldhavebeenamostimpoliticmodeofcommencingtheconquestofEgypt，whichhadnostrongplacesrequiringtobeintimidatedbyagreatexample.
Bonaparte，withsomeothers，enteredthecitybyanarrowstreetwhichscarcelyallowedtwopersonstowalkabreast;Iwaswithhim.Wewerestoppedbysomemusket—shotsfiredfromalowwindowbyamanandawoman.Theyrepeatedtheirfireseveraltimes.TheguideswhoprecededtheirGeneralkeptupaheavyfireonthewindow.Themanandwomanfelldead，andwepassedoninsafety，fortheplacehadsurrendered.
BonaparteemployedthesixdaysduringwhichheremainedinAlexandriainestablishingorderinthecityandprovince，withthatactivityandsuperiortalentwhichIcouldneversufficientlyadmire，andindirectingthemarchofthearmyacrosstheprovinceofBohahire’h.HesentDesaixwith4500infantryand60cavalrytoBeda，ontheroadtoDamanhour.
Thisgeneralwasthefirsttoexperiencetheprivationsandsufferingswhichthewholearmyhadsoontoendure.Hisgreatmind，hisattachmenttoBonaparte，seemedforamomentabouttoyieldtotheobstacleswhichpresentedthemselves.Onthe15thofJulyhewrotefromBohahire’hasfollows："Ibeseechyoudonotletusstoplongerinthisposition.Mymenarediscouragedandmurmur.Makeusadvanceorfallbackwithoutdelay.Thevillagesconsistmerelyofhuts，absolutelywithoutresources."
Intheseimmenseplains，scorchedbytheverticalraysofaburningsun，water，everywhereelsesocommon，becomesanobjectofcontest.Thewellsandsprings，thosesecrettreasuresofthedesert，arecarefullyconcealedfromthetravellers;andfrequently，afterourmostoppressivemarches，nothingcouldbefoundtoallaytheurgentcravingsofthirstbutalittlebrackishwaterofthemostdisgustingdescription.
——[SomeideaofthemiseryenduredbytheFrenchtroopsonthisoccasionmaybegatheredfromthefollowingdescriptionisNapoleon’sMemoirs，dictatedatSt.Helena：
"AstheHebrewswanderinginthewildernesscomplained，andangrilyaskedMosesfortheonionsandflesh—potsofEgypt，theFrenchsoldiersconstantlyregrettedtheluxuriesofItaly.Invainweretheyassuredthatthecountrywasthemostfertileintheworld，thatitwasevensuperiortoLombard;howweretheytobepersuadedofthiswhentheycouldgetneitherbreadnorwine？Weencampedonimmensequantitiesofwheat，buttherewasneithermillnoroveninthecountry.ThebiscuitbroughtfromAlexandriahadlongbeenexhausted;thesoldierswereevenreducedtobruisethewheatbetweentwostonesandtomakecakewhichtheybakedundertheashes.Manyparchedthewheatinapan，afterwhichtheyboiledit.
Thiswasthebestwaytousethegrain;but，afterall，itwasnotbread.Theapprehensionsofthesoldiersincreaseddaily，androsetosuchapitchthatagreatnumberofthemsaidtherewasnogreatcityofcalm;andthattheplacebringthatnamewas，likeDamanhour，avastassemblageofmerehuts，destituteofeverythingthatcouldrenderlifecomfortableoragreeable.Tosuchamelancholystateofmindhadtheybroughtthemselvesthattwodragoonsthrewthemselves，completelyclothed，intotheNile，wheretheyweredrowned.Itisneverthelesstruethat，thoughtherewasneitherbreadnorwine，theresourceswhichwereprocuredwithwheat，lentils，meat，andsometimespigeons，furnishedthearmywithfoodofsomekind.Buttheevilwas，inthefermentofthemind.
Theofficerscomplainedmoreloudlythanthesoldiers，becausethecomparisonwasproportionatelymoredisadvantageoustothem.InEgypttheyfoundneitherthequarters，thegoodtable，northeluxuryofItaly.TheGeneral—in—Chief，wishingtosetanexample，triedtobivouacinthemidstofthearmy，andintheleastcommodiousspots.Noonehadeithertentorprovisions;thedinnerofNapoleonandhisstaffconsistedofadishoflentils.Thesoldierspassedtheeveningsinpoliticalconversations，arguments，andcomplaints.’Forwhatpurposearewecomehere？’saidsomeofthem，’theDirectoryhastransportedus.’’Caffarelli，’saidothers，’istheagentthathasbeenmadeuseoftodeceivetheGeneral—in—
Chief.’Manyofthem，havingobservedthatwherevertherewerevestigesofantiquitytheywerecarefullysearched，ventedtheirspiteininvectiveagainstthesavants，orscientificmen，who，theysaid，hadstartedtheideaofsheexpeditiontoordertomakethesesearches.Jestswereshowereduponthem，evenintheirpresence.
Themencalledanassasavant;andsaidofCaffarelliDufalga，alludingtohiswoodenleg，’Helaughsatallthesetroubles;hehasonefoottoFrance.’"
CHAPTERXIV.
1798.
Themirage——SkirmisheswiththeArabs——MistakeofGeneralDesaix’sdivision——Wretchednessofarichsheik——CombatbeneaththeGeneral’swindow——TheflotillaontheNile——Itsdistressanddanger——ThebattleofChebreisse——DefeatoftheMamelukes——Bonaparte’sreceptionofme——LettertoLouisBonaparte——SuccessoftheFrencharmy——
TriumphalentranceintoCairo——CivilandmilitaryorganisationofCairo——Bonaparte’slettertohisbrotherJoseph——Planofcolonisation.
Onthe7thofJulyGeneralBonaparteleftAlexandriaforDamanhour.InthevastplainsofBohahire’hthemirageeverymomentpresentedtotheeyewidesheetsofwater，while，asweadvanced，wefoundnothingbutbarrengroundfullofdeepcracks.Villages，whichatadistanceappeartobesurroundedwithwater，are，onanearerapproach，discoveredtobesituatedonheights，mostlyartificial，bywhichtheyareraisedabovetheinundationsoftheNile.Thisillusioncontinuallyrecurs;anditisthemoretreacherous，inasmuchasitpresentstotheeyetheperfectrepresentationofwater，atthetimewhenthewantofthatarticleismostfelt.ThismirageissoconsiderableintheplainofPelusiumthatshortlyaftersunrisenoobjectisrecognisable.Thesamephenomenonhasbeenobservedinothercountries.QuintusCurtiussaysthatinthedesertsofSogdiana，afogrisingfromtheearthobscuresthelight，andthesurroundingcountryseemslikeavastsea.Thecauseofthissingularillusionisnowfullyexplained;and，fromtheobservationsofthelearnedMonge，itappearsthatthemiragewillbefoundinalmosteverycountrysituatedbetweenthetropicswherethelocalcircumstancesaresimilar.
TheArabsharassedthearmywithoutintermission.Thefewwellsmetwithinthedesertwereeitherfilleduporthewaterwasrenderedunfitforuse.Theintolerablethirstwithwhichthetroopsweretormented，evenonthisfirstmarch，wasbutillallayedbybrackishandunwholesomewater.Thearmycrossedthedesertwiththerapidityoflightning，scarcelytastingadropofwater.Thesufferingsofthetroopswerefrequentlyexpressedbydiscouragingmurmurs.
Onthefirstnightamistakeoccurredwhichmighthaveprovedfatal.
Wewereadvancinginthedark，underfeebleescort，almostsleepingonourhorses，whensuddenlywewereassailedbytwosuccessivedischargesofmusketry.Wearousedourselvesandreconnoitred，andtoourgreatsatisfactiondiscoveredthattheonlymischiefwasaalightwoundreceivedbyoneofourguides.OurassailantswerethedivisionofGeneralDesaix，who，formingtheadvancedguardofthearmy，mistookusforapartyoftheenemy，andfireduponus.Itwasspeedilyascertainedthatthelittleadvancedguardoftheheadquartershadnotheardthe"Quivive？"ofDesaix’sadvancedposts.
OnreachingDamanhourourheadquarterswereestablishedattheresidenceofasheik.Thehousehadbeennewwhitened，andlookedwellenoughoutside，buttheinteriorwasinconceivablywretched.Everydomesticutensilwasbroken，andtheonlyseatswereafewdirtytatteredmats.
Bonaparteknewthatthesheikwasrich，andhavingsomewhatwonhisconfidence，heaskedhim，throughthemediumoftheinterpreter，why，beingineasycircumstances，bethusdeprivedhimselfofallcomfort.
"Someyearsago，"repliedthesheik，"Irepairedandfurnishedmyhouse.
WhenthisbecameknownatCairoademandwasmadeuponmeformoney，becauseitwassaidmyexpensesprovedmetoberich.Irefusedtopaythemoney，andinconsequenceIwasill—treated，andatlengthforcedtopayit.FromthattimeIhaveallowedmyselfonlythebarenecessariesoflife，andIshallbuynofurnitureformyhouse."Theoldmanwaslameinconsequenceofthetreatmenthehadsuffered.Woetohimwhointhiscountryissuspectedofhavingacompetency——ahundredspiesarealwaysreadytodenouncehim.Theappearanceofpovertyistheonlysecurityagainsttherapineofpowerandthecupidityofbarbarism.
AlittletroopofArabsonhorsebackassailedourheadquarters.
Bonaparte，whowasatthewindowofthesheik’shouse，indignantatthisinsolence，turnedtooneofhisaidesdecamp，whohappenedtobeonduty，andsaid，"Croisier，takeafewguidesanddrivethosefellowsaway！"InaninstantCroisierwasintheplainwithfifteenguides.A
littleskirmishensued，andwelookedonfromthewindow.InthemovementandintheattackofCroisierandhispartytherewasasortofhesitationwhichtheGeneral—in—Chiefcouldnotcomprehend."Forward，Isay！Charge！"heexclaimedfromthewindow，asifhecouldhavebeenheard.OurhorsemenseemedtofallbackastheArabsreturnedtotheattack;andafteralittlecontest，maintainedwithtolerablespirit，theArabsretiredwithoutloss，andwithoutbeingmolestedintheirretreat.
Bonapartecouldnolongerrepresshisrage;andwhenCroisierreturnedheexperiencedsuchaharshreceptionthatthepoorfellowwithdrewdeeplymortifiedanddistressed.Bonapartedesiredmetofollowhimandsaysomethingtoconsolehim：butallwasinvain."Icannotsurvivethis，"
hesaid."Iwillsacrificemylifeonthefirstoccasionthatoffersitself.Iwillnotlivedishonoured."ThewordcowardhadescapedtheGeneral’slips.PoorCroisierdiedatSaintJeand’Acre.
Onthe10thofJulyourheadquarterswereestablishedatRahmahanie’h，wheretheyremainedduringthe11thand12th.AtthisplacecommencesthecanalwhichwascutbyAlexandertoconveywatertohisnewcity;andtofacilitatecommercialintercoursebetweenEuropeandtheEast.
Theflotilla，commandedbythebravechiefofdivisionPerree，hadjustarrivedfromRosette.Perreewasonboardthexebec’Cerf’.
——[Bonapartehadgreatconfidenceinhim.Hehadcommanded，undertheGeneral’sorders，thenavalforcesintheAdriaticin1797.——
Bourrienne]——
BonaparteplacedonboardtheCerfandtheothervesselsoftheflotillathoseindividualswho，notbeingmilitary，couldnotbeserviceableinengagements，andwhosehorsesservedtomountafewofthetroops.
Onthenightofthe14thofJulytheGeneral—in—Chiefdirectedhismarchtowardsthesouth，alongtheleftbankoftheNile.Theflotillasaileduptheriverparallelwiththeleftwingofthearmy.Buttheforceofthewind，whichatthisseasonblowsregularlyfromtheMediterraneanintothevalleyofthefile，carriedtheflotillafarinadvanceofthearmy，andfrustratedtheplanoftheirmutuallydefendingandsupportingeachother.TheflotillathusunprotectedfellinwithsevenTurkishgunboatscomingfromCairo，andwasexposedsimultaneouslytotheirfireandtothatoftheMamelukes，fellahs，andArabswholinedbothbanksoftheriver.Theyhadsmallgunsmountedoncamels.
Perreecastanchor，andanengagementcommencedatnineo’clockonthe14thofJuly，andcontinuedtillhalfpasttwelve.
AtthesametimetheGeneral—in—Chiefmetandattackedacorpsofabout4000Mamelukes.Hisobject，asheafterwardssaid，wastoturnthecorpsbytheleftofthevillageofChebreisse，andtodriveitupontheNile.
AbouteleveninthemorningPerreetoldmethattheTurksweredoingusmoreharmthanweweredoingthem;thatourammunitionwouldsoonbeexhausted;thatthearmywasfarinland，andthatifitdidnotmakeamovetothelefttherewouldbenohopeforus.SeveralvesselshadalreadybeenboardedandtakenbytheTurks，whomassacredthecrewsbeforeoureyes，andwithbarbarousferocityshowedustheheadsoftheslaughteredmen.
Perree，atconsiderablerisk，despatchedseveralpersonstoinformtheGeneral—in—Chiefofthedesperatesituationoftheflotilla.ThecannonadewhichBonapartehadheardsincethemorning，andtheexplosionofaTurkishgunboat，whichwasblownupbytheartilleryofthexebec，ledhimtofearthatoursituationwasreallyperilous.Hethereforemadeamovementtotheleft，inthedirectionoftheNileandChebreisse，beattheMamelukes，andforcedthemtoretireonCairo.AtsightoftheFrenchtroopsthecommanderoftheTurkishflotillaweighedanchorandsaileduptheNile.Thetwobanksoftheriverwereevacuated，andtheflotillaescapedthedestructionwhichashorttimebeforehadappearedinevitable.SomewritershaveallegedthattheTurkishflotillawasdestroyedinthisengagement.Thetruthis，theTurksdidusconsiderableinjury，whileontheirparttheysufferedbutlittle.Wehadtwentymenkilledandseveralwounded.Upwardsof1500cannon—shotswerefiredduringtheaction.
GeneralBerthier，inhisnarrativeoftheEgyptianexpedition，enumeratestheindividualswho，thoughnotinthemilitaryservice，assistedPerreeinthisunequalanddangerousengagement.HementionsMonge，Berthollet，Andreossy，thepaymaster，Junot，andBourrienne，secretarytotheGeneral—in—Chief.IthasalsobeenstatedthatSucy，thecommissary—
general，wasseriouslywoundedwhilebravelydefendingagunboatladenwithprovisions;butthisisincorrect.
Wehadnocommunicationwiththearmyuntilthe23dofJuly.Onthe22dwecameinsightofthePyramids，andwereinformedthatwewereonlyabout，tenleaguesfromGizeh，wheretheyaresituated.Thecannonadewhichweheard，andwhichaugmentedinproportionasthenorthwinddiminished，announcedaseriousengagement;andthatsamedaywesawthebanksoftheNilestrewedwithheapsofbodies，whichthewaveswereeverymomentwashingintothesea.Thishorriblespectacle，thesilenceofthesurroundingvillages，whichhadhithertobeenarmedagainstus，andthecessationofthefiringfromthebanksoftheriver，ledustoinfer，withtolerablecertainty，thatabattlefataltotheMamelukeshadbeenfought.ThemiserywesufferedonourpassagefromRahmahanie’htoGizehisindescribable.Welivedforelevendaysonmelonsandwater，besidesbeingmomentarilyexposedtothemusketryoftheArabsandthefellahs.Weluckilyescapedwithbutafewkilledandwounded.TherisingoftheNilewasonlybeginning.TheshallownessoftherivernearCairoobligedustoleavethexebecandgetonboardadjerm.WereachedGizehatthreeintheafternoonofthe23dofJuly.
WhenIsalutedtheGeneral，whomIhadnotseenfortwelvedays，hethusaddressedme："Soyouarehere，areyou？DoyouknowthatyouhaveallofyoubeenthecauseofmynotfollowingupthebattleofChebreisse？
Itwastosaveyou，Monge，Berthollet，andtheothersonboardtheflotillathatIhurriedthemovementofmyleftupontheNilebeforemyrighthadturnedChebreisse.Butforthat，notasingleMamelukewouldhaveescaped."
"Ithankyouformyownpart，"repliedI;"butinconsciencecouldyouhaveabandonedus，aftertakingawayourhorses，andmakingusgoonboardthexebec，whetherwewouldornot？"Helaughed，andthentoldmehowsorryhewasforthewoundofSucy，andthedeathofmanyusefulmen，whoseplacescouldnotpossiblybefilledup.
HemademewritealettertohisbrotherLouis，informinghimthathehadgainedacompletevictoryovertheMamelukesatEmbabeh，oppositeBoulac，andthattheenemy’slosswas2000menkilledandwounded，40guns，andagreatnumberofhorses.
TheoccupationofCairowastheimmediateconsequenceofthevictoryofEmbabeh.Bonaparteestablishedhishead—quartersinthehomeofElfyBey，inthegreatsquareofEzbekye’h.
ThemarchoftheFrencharmytoCairowasattendedbyanuninterruptedsuccessionofcombatsandvictories.WehadwonthebattlesofRahmahanie’h，Chebreisse，andthePyramids.TheMamelukesweredefeated，andtheirchief，MouradBey，wasobligedtoflyintoUpperEgypt.
BonapartefoundnoobstacletoopposehisentranceintothecapitalofEgypt，afteracampaignofonlytwentydays.
Noconqueror，perhaps，everenjoyedavictorysomuchasBonaparte，andyetnoonewaseverlessinclinedtoabusehistriumphs.
WeenteredCairoonthe24thofJuly，andtheGeneral—in—Chiefimmediatelydirectedhisattentiontothecivilandmilitaryorganizationofthecountry.Onlythosewhosawhiminthevigourofhisyouthcanformanideaofhisextraordinaryintelligenceandactivity.Nothingescapedhisobservation.Egypthadlongbeentheobjectofhisstudy;
andinafewweekshewasaswellacquaintedwiththecountryasifhehadlivedinittenyears.Heissuedordersforobservingthestrictestdiscipline，andtheseorderswerepunctuallyobeyed.
Themosques，thecivilandreligiousinstitutions，theharems，thewomen，thecustomsofthecountry—allwerescrupulouslyrespected.AfewdaysaftertheyenteredCairotheFrenchwerefreelyadmittedintotheshops，andwereseensociablysmokingtheirpipeswiththeinhabitants，assistingthemintheiroccupations，andplayingwiththeirchildren.
ThedayafterhisarrivalinCairoBonaparteaddressedtohisbrotherJosephthefollowingletter，whichwasinterceptedandprinted.Itsauthenticityhasbeendoubted，butIsawNapoleonwriteit，andhereadittomebeforehesentitoff.
CAIRO，7th.Thermidor（25thJuly1798）
YouwillseeinthepublicpapersthebulletinsofthebattlesandconquestofEgypt，whichweresufficientlycontestedtoaddanotherwreathtothelaurelsofthisarmy.Egyptisricherthananycountryintheworldincoin，rice，vegetables，andcattle.Butthepeopleareinastateofutterbarbarism.Wecannotprocuremoney，eventopaythetroops.ImaybeinFranceintwomonths.
Engageacountry—house，tobereadyformeonmyarrival，eithernearParisorinBurgundy，whereImeantopassthewinter.
——[Bonaparte’sautographnote，afterenumeratingthetroopsandwarlikestoreshewishedtobesent，concludedwiththefollowinglist：
1st，acompanyofactors;2d，acompanyofdancers;3d，somedealersinmarionettes，atleastthreeorfour;9th，ahundredFrenchwomen;
5th，thewivesofallthemenemployedinthecorps;6th，twentysurgeons，thirtyapothecaries，andtenPhysicians;7th，somefounders;8th，somedistillersanddealersinliquor;9thfiftygardenerswiththeirfamilies，andtheseedsofeverykindofvegetable;10th，eachpartytobringwiththem：200，000pintsofbrandy;11th，30，000ellsofblueandscarletcloth;12th，asupplyofsoapandoil.——Bourrienne.]——
（Signed）BONAPARTE
Thisannouncementofhisdeparturetohisbrotheriscorroboratedbyanotewhichhedespatchedsomedaysafter，enumeratingthesuppliesandindividualswhichhewishedtohavesenttoEgypt.Hisnoteproves，moreconvincinglythananyarguments，thatBonaparteearnestlywishedtopreservehisconquest，andtomakeitaFrenchcolony.Itmustbeborneinmindthatthenoteherealludedto，aswellastheletterabovequoted，waswrittenlongbeforethedestructionofthefleet.
EndofTheMemoirsofNapoleon，V2，1798
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneMemoirsofNapoleonBonaparte，V3
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneHisPrivateSecretaryEditedbyR.W.PhippsColonel，LateRoyalArtillery1891
CONTENTS：
ChapterXV.ToChapterXXVI.1799
CHAPTERXV.
1798.
EstablishmentofadivanineachEgyptianprovince——DesaixinUpperEgypt——IbrahimBeybeatenbyBonaparteatBalehye’h——Sulkowskywounded——DisasteratAbonkir——Dissatisfactionandmurmursofthearmy——DejectionoftheGeneral—in—Chief——HisplanrespectingEgypt——MeditateddescentuponEngland——Bonaparte’scensureoftheDirectory——Interceptedcorrespondence.
FromthedetailsIhavealreadygivenrespectingBonaparte’splansforcolonisingEgypt，itwillbeseenthathisenergyofmindurgedhimtoadoptanticipatorymeasuresfortheaccomplishmentofobjectswhichwereneverrealised.DuringtheshortintervalinwhichhesheathedhisswordheplannedprovisionalgovernmentsforthetownsandprovincesoccupiedbytheFrenchtroops，andheadroitlycontrivedtoservetheinterestsofhisarmywithoutappearingtoviolatethoseofthecountry.AfterhehadbeenfourdaysatCairo，duringwhichtimeheemployedhimselfinexaminingeverything，andconsultingeveryindividualfromwhomhecouldobtainusefulinformation，hepublishedthefollowingorder：
HEADQUARTERS，CAIRO，9thThermidor，yearVI.
BONAPARTE，MEMBEROFTHENATIONALINSTITUTE，ANDGENERAL—IN—CHIEF，ORDERS：
Art.1.ThereshallbeineachprovinceofEgyptadivan，composedofsevenindividuals，whosedutywillbetosuperintendtheinterestsoftheprovince;tocommunicatetomeanycomplaintsthatmaybemade;topreventwarfareamongthedifferentvillages;toapprehendandpunishcriminals（forwhichpurposetheymaydemandassistancefromtheFrenchcommandant）;andtotakeeveryopportunityofenlighteningthepeople.
Art.2.ThereshallbeineachprovinceanagaoftheJanizaries，maintainingconstantcommunicationwiththeFrenchcommandant.Heshallhavewithhimacompanyofsixtyarmednatives，whomhemaytakewhereverhepleases，forthemaintenanceofgoodorder，subordination，andtranquillity.
Art.3.Thereshallbeineachprovinceanintendant，whosebusinesswillbetolevythemiri，thefeddam，andtheothercontributionswhichformerlybelongedtotheMamelukes，butwhichnowbelongtotheFrenchRepublic.Theintendantsshallhaveusmanyagentsasmaybenecessary.
Art.4.ThesaidintendantshallhaveaFrenchagenttocorrespondwiththeFinanceDepartment，andtoexecutealltheordershemayreceive.
（Signed）BONAPARTE.
WhileBonapartewasthusactivelytakingmeasuresfortheorganizationofthecountry，——[FarmorethoroughlyandactivelythanthosetakenbytheEnglishGovernmentin1882—3—4]——
GeneralDesaixhadmarchedintoUpperEgyptinpursuitofMouradBey.WelearnedthatIbrahim，who，nexttoMourad，wasthemostinfluentialofthebays，hadproceededtowardsSyria，bythewayofBelbeisandSalehye’h.TheGeneral—in—Chiefimmediatelydeterminedtomarchinpersonagainstthatformidableenemy，andheleftCairoaboutfifteendaysafterhehadenteredit.Itisunnecessarytodescribethewell—
knownengagementinwhichBonapartedroveIbrahimbackuponEl—Arish;
besides，Idonotenterminutelyintothedetailsofbattles，mychiefobjectbeingtorecordeventswhichIpersonallywitnessed.
AtthebattleofSalehye’hBonapartethoughthehadlostoneofhis’aidesdecamp’，Sulkowsky，towhomhewasmuchattached，andwhohadbeenwithusduringthewholeofthecampaignofItaly.Onthefieldofbattleoneobjectofregretcannotlongengrossthemind;yet，onhisreturntoCairo，BonapartefrequentlyspoketomeofSulkowskyintermsofunfeignedsorrow.
"Icannot，"saidheoneday，"sufficientlyadmirethenoblespiritanddeterminedcourageofpoorSulkowsky."HeoftensaidthatSulkowskywouldhavebeenavaluableaidtowhoevermightundertaketheresuscitationofPoland.Fortunatelythatbraveofficerwasnotkilledonthatoccasion，thoughseriouslywounded.Hewas，however，killedshortlyafter.
ThedestructionoftheFrenchsquadronintheroadsofAboukiroccurredduringtheabsenceoftheGeneral—in—Chief.Thiseventhappenedonthe1stofAugust.Thedetailsaregenerallyknown;butthereisonecircumstancetowhichIcannotrefrainfromalluding，andwhichexciteddeepinterestatthetime.ThiswastheheroiccourageofthesonofCasablanca，thecaptainofthe’Orient’.Casablancawasamongthewounded，andwhenthevesselwasblownuphisson，aladoftenyearsofage，preferredperishingwithhimratherthansavinghimself，whenoneoftheseamenhadsecuredhimthemeansofescape.Itoldthe’aidedecamp’，sentbyGeneralKleber，whohadthecommandofAlexandria，thattheGeneral—in—ChiefwasnearSalehye’h.Heproceededthitherimmediately，andBonapartehastenedbacktoCairo，adistanceofaboutthirty—threeleagues.
Inspiteofanyassertionsthatmayhavebeenmadetothecontrary，thefactis，thatassoonastheFrenchtroopssetfootinEgypt，theywerefilledwithdissatisfaction，andardentlylongedtoreturnhome.’
——[’Erreurs’objectstothisdescriptionofthecomplaintsofthearmy，butSavary（tomei.pp.66，67，andtomei.p.89）fullyconfirmsit，givingthereasonthatthearmywasnotahomogeneousbody，butamixedforcetakenfromRome，Florence，Milan，Venice，Genoa，andMarseilles;seealsoThiers，tomev.p.283.Butthefactisnotsingular.Forastrikinginstance，inthedaysoftheEmpire，ofthesoldiersin1809，inSpain，actuallythreateningNapoleoninhisownhearing，seeDeGonneville（tomei.pp.190—
193）："ThesoldiersofLapisse’sdivisiongaveloudexpressiontothemostsinisterdesignsagainsttheEmperor’sperson，stirringupeachothertofireashotathim，sadbandyingaccusationsofcowardicefornotdoingit."Hehearditallasplainlyaswedid，andseemedasifbedidnotcareabitforit，but"sentthedivisionintogoodquarters，whenthemenwereasenthusiasticastheywereformerlymutinous.In1796d’Entraigues，theBourbonspy，reports，"Asageneralrule，theFrenchsoldiergrumblesandisdiscontented.HeaccusesBonaparteofbeingathiefandarascal.
Butto—morrowtheverysamesoldierwillobeyhimblindly"（Iung’sBonaparte，tomeiii.p.152）.]——
Theillusionoftheexpeditionhaddisappeared，andonlyitsrealityremained.WhatbittermurmuringhaveInotheardfromMurat，Lannes，Berthier，Bessieres，andothers！Theircomplaintswere，indeed，oftensounmeasuredasalmosttoamounttosedition.ThisgreatlyvexedBonaparte，anddrewfromhimseverereproachesandviolentlanguage.
——[NapoleonrelatedatSt.Helenathatinafitofirritationherushedamongagroupofdissatisfiedgenerals，andsaidtooneofthem，whowasremarkableforhisstature，"youhaveheldseditiouslanguage;buttakecareIdonotperformmyduty.Thoughyouarefivefeettenincheshigh，thatshallnotsaveyoufrombeingshot."——Bourrienne.]——
Whenthenewsarrivedofthelossofthefleet，discontentincreased.
AllwhohadacquiredfortunesunderNapoleonnowbegantofearthattheywouldneverenjoythem.AllturnedtheirthoughtstoParis，anditsamusements，andwereutterlydisheartenedattheideaofbeingseparatedfromtheirhomesandtheirfriendsforaperiod，theterminationofwhichitwasimpossibletoforesee.
ThecatastropheofAboukircamelikeathunderboltupontheGeneral—in—
Chief.Inspiteofallhisenergyandfortitude，hewasdeeplydistressedbythedisasterswhichnowassailedhim.Tothepainfulfeelingsexcitedbythecomplaintsanddejectionofhiscompanionsinarmswasnowaddedtheirreparablemisfortuneoftheburningofourfleet.Hemeasuredthefatalconsequencesofthiseventatasingleglance.WewerenowcutofffromallcommunicationwithFrance，andallhopeofreturningthither，exceptbyadegradingcapitulationwithanimplacableandhatedenemy.Bonapartehadlostallchanceofpreservinghisconquest，andtohimthiswasindeedabitterreflection.Andatwhatatimedidthisdisasterbefallhim？Attheverymomentwhenhewasabouttoapplyfortheaidofthemother—country.
FromwhatGeneralBonapartecommunicatedtomepreviouslytothe1stofAugust，hisobjectwas，havingoncesecuredthepossessionofEgypt;toreturntoToulonwiththefleet;thentosendtroopsandprovisionsofeverykindtoEgypt;andnexttocombinewiththefleetalltheforcesthatcouldbesupplied，notonlybyFrance，butbyherallies，forthepurposeofattackingEngland.ItiscertainthatpreviouslytohisdepartureforEgypthehadlaidbeforetheDirectoryanoterelativetohisplans.HealwaysregardedadescentuponEnglandaspossible，thoughinitsresultfatal，solongasweshouldbeinferiorinnavalstrength;
buthehopedbyvariousmanoeuvrestosecureasuperiorityononepoint.
HisintentionwastoreturntoFrance.AvailinghimselfofthedepartureoftheEnglishfleetfortheMediterranean，thealarmexcitedbyhisEgyptianexpedition，thepanicthatwouldbeinspiredbyhissuddenappearanceatBoulogne，andhispreparationsagainstEngland，hehopedtoobligethatpowertowithdrawhernavalforcefromtheMediterranean，andtopreventhersendingouttroopstoEgypt.Thisprojectwasofteninhishead.HewouldhavethoughtitsublimetodateanorderofthedayfromtheruinsofMemphis，andthreemonthslater，onefromLondon.Thelossofthefleetconvertedalltheseboldconceptionsintomereromanticvisions.
Whenalonewithmehegavefreeventtohisemotion.Iobservedtohimthatthedisasterwasdoubtlessgreat，butthatitwouldhavebeeninfinitelymoreirreparablehadNelsonfalleninwithusatMalta，orhadhewaitedforusfour—and—twentyhoursbeforeAlexandria，orintheopensea."Anyoneoftheseevents，"saidI，"whichwerenotonlypossiblebutprobable，wouldhavedeprivedusofeveryresource.Weareblockadedhere，butwehaveprovisionsandmoney.LetusthenwaitpatientlytoseewhattheDirectorywilldoforus."——"TheDirectory！"exclaimedheangrily，"theDirectoryiscomposedofasetofscoundrels！theyenvyandhateme，andwouldgladlyletmeperishhere.Besides，youseehowdissatisfiedthewholearmyis：notamaniswillingtostay."
ThepleasingillusionswhichwerecherishedattheoutsetoftheexpeditionvanishedlongbeforeourarrivalinCairo.EgyptwasnolongertheempireofthePtolemies，coveredwithpopulousandwealthycities;itnowpresentedoneunvariedsceneofdevastationandmisery.
Insteadofbeingaidedbytheinhabitants，whomwehadruined，forthesakeofdeliveringthemfromtheyokeofthebeys，wefoundallagainstus：Mamelukes，Arabs，andfellahs.NoFrenchmanwassecureofhislifewhohappenedtostrayhalfamilefromanyinhabitedplace，orthecorpstowhichhebelonged.ThehostilitywhichprevailedagainstusandthediscontentofthearmywereclearlydevelopedinthenumerousletterswhichwerewrittentoFranceatthetime，andintercepted.
ThegloomyreflectionswhichatfirstassailedBonaparte，werespeedilybanished;andhesoonrecoveredthefortitudeandpresenceofmindwhichhadbeenforamomentshakenbytheoverwhelmingnewsfromAboukir.
He，however，sometimesrepeated，inatonewhichitwouldbedifficulttodescribe，"UnfortunateBrueys，whathaveyoudone！"
IhaveremarkedthatinsomechanceobservationswhichescapedNapoleonatSt.HelenaheendeavouredtothrowalltheblameoftheaffaironAdmiralBrueys.PersonswhoaredeterminedtomakeBonaparteanexceptiontohumannaturehaveunjustlyreproachedtheAdmiralforthelossofthefleet.
CHAPTERXVI.
1798.
TheEgyptianInstitute——FestivalofthebirthofMahomet——BonapartesprudentrespectfortheMahometanreligion——HisTurkishdress——
Djezzar，thePashaofAcre——ThoughtsofacampaigninGermany——WantofnewsfromFrance——BonaparteandMadameFours——TheEgyptianfortune—teller，M.Berthollet，andtheSheikElBekri——Theair"Marlbrook"——InsurrectioninCairo——DeathofGeneralDupuis——DeathofSulkowsky——Theinsurrectionquelled——Nocturnalexecutions——
DestructionofatribeofArabs——Convoyofsickandwounded——
MassacreoftheFrenchinSicily——projectedexpeditiontoSyria——
LettertoTippooSaib.
ThelossofthefleetconvincedGeneralBonaparteofthenecessityofspeedilyandeffectivelyorganisingEgypt，whereeverythingdenotedthatweshouldstayforaconsiderabletime，exceptingtheeventofaforcedevacuation，whichtheGeneralwasfarfromforeseeingorfearing.ThedistanceofIbrahimBeyandMouradBeynowlefthimalittleatrest.
War，fortifications，taxation，government，theorganizationofthedivans，trade，art，andscience，alloccupiedhisattention.Ordersandinstructionswereimmediatelydespatched，ifnottorepairthedefeat，atleasttoavertthefirstdangerthatmightensuefromit.Onthe21stofAugustBonaparteestablishedatCairoaninstituteoftheartsandsciences，ofwhichhesubsequentlyappointedmeamemberintheroomofM.deSucy，whowasobligedtoreturntoFrance，inconsequenceofthewoundhereceivedonboardtheflotillaintheNile.
——[TheInstituteofEgyptwascomposedofmembersoftheFrenchInstitute，andofthemenofscienceandartistsofthecommissionwhodidnotbelongtothatbody.Theyassembledandaddedtotheirnumberseveralofficersoftheartilleryandstaff，andotherswhobadcultivatedthesciencesandliterature.
TheInstitutewasestablishedinoneofthepalacesofthebey’s.
Agreatnumberofmachines，andphysical，chemical，andastronomicalinstrumentshadbeenbroughtfromFrance.Theyweredistributedinthedifferentrooms，whichwerealsosuccessivelyfilledwithallthecuriositiesofthecountry，whetheroftheanimal，vegetable，ormineralkingdom.
Thegardenofthepalacebecameabotanicalgarden.Achemicallaboratorywasformedatheadquarters;Mertholletperformedexperimentsthereseveraltimeseveryweek，whichNapoleonandagreatnumberofofficersattended（’MemoirsofNapoleon’）]——
InfoundingthisInstitute，Bonapartewishedtoaffordanexampleofhisideasofcivilisation.Theminutesofthesittingsofthatlearnedbody，whichhavebeenprinted，bearevidenceofitsutility，andofNapoleon’sextendedviews.TheobjectsoftileInstituteweretheadvancementandpropagationofinformationinEgypt，andthestudyandpublicationofallfactsrelatingtothenaturalhistory，trade，andantiquitiesofthatancientcountry.
Onthe18thBonapartewaspresentattheceremonyofopeningthedykeofthecanalofCairo，whichreceivesthewateroftheNilewhenitreachestheheightfiredbytheMequyas.
TwodaysaftercametheanniversaryfestivalofthebirthofMahomet.AtthisNapoleonwasalsopresent，incompanywiththesheikElBekri，’whoathisrequestgavehimtwoyoungMamelukes，Ibrahim，andRoustan.
——[TheGeneral—in—Chiefwenttocelebrate，thefeastoftheProphetatthehouseofthesheikElBekri.Theceremonywasbeganbytherecitalofakindoflitany，containingthelifeofMahometfromhisbirthtohisdeath.Aboutahundredsheiks，sittinginacircle，oncarpets，withtheirlegscrossed，recitedalltheverses，swingingtheirbodiesviolentlybackwardsandforwards，andaltogether.
Agranddinnerwasafterwardsservedup，atwhichtheguestssatoncarpets，withtheirlegsacross.Thereweretwentytables，andfiveorsixpeopleateachtable.ThatoftheGeneral—in—ChiefandthesheikElBekriwasinthemiddle;alittleslabofapreciouskindofwoodornamentedwithmosaicworkwasplacedeighteeninchesabovethefloorandcoveredwithagreatnumberofdishesinsuccession.
Theywerepillawsofrice，aparticularkindofroast，entrees，andpastry，allveryhighlyspiced.Thesheikspickedeverythingwiththeirfingers.Accordinglywaterwasbroughttowashthehandsthreetimesduringdinner.Gooseberry—water，lemonade，andothersortsofsherbetswereservedtodrink，andabundanceofpreservesandconfectionerywiththedessert.Onthewhole，thedinnerwasnotdisagreeable;itwasonlythemannerofeatingitthatseemedstrangetous.
Intheeveningthewholecitywasilluminated.AfterdinnerthepartywentintothesquareofElBekri，theilluminationofwhich，incolouredlamps，wasverybeautiful.Animmenseconcourseofpeopleattended.Theywereallplacedinorder，inranksoffromtwentytoahundredpersons，who，standingclosetogether，recitedtheprayersandlitaniesoftheProphetwithmovementswhichkeptincreasing，untilatlengththeyseemedtobeconvulsive，andsomeofthemostzealousfaintedsway（’MemoirsofNapoleon’）.]——
——[RoustanorRustan，aMameluke，wasalwayswithNapoleonfromthetimeofthereturnfromEgypttill1814，whenheabandonedhismaster.HesleptatornearthedoorofNapoleon.SeeRemusat，tomei，p.209，foranamusingdescriptionofthealarmofJosephine，andtheprecipitateflightofMadamedeRemusat，attheideaofbeingmetandkilledbythismaninoneofJosephine’snocturnalattacksontheprivacyofherhusbandwhenclosetedwithhismistress.]——
IthasbeenallegedthatBonaparte，wheninEgypt，tookpartinthereligiousceremoniesandworshipoftheMussulmans;butitcannotbesaidthathecelebratedthefestivalsoftheoverflowingoftheNileandtheanniversaryoftheProphet.TheTurksinvitedhimtothesemerelyasaspectator;andthepresenceoftheirnewmasterwasgratifyingtothepeople.Buthenevercommittedthefollyoforderinganysolemnity.
HeneitherlearnednorrepeatedanyprayeroftheKoran，asmanypersonshaveasserted;neitherdidheadvocatefatalism，polygamy，oranyotherdoctrineoftheKoran.BonaparteemployedhimselfbetterthanindiscussingwiththeImaumsthetheologyofthechildrenofIsmael.Theceremonies，atwhichpolicyinducedhimtobepresent，weretohim，andtoallwhoaccompaniedhim，meremattersofcuriosity.Heneversetfootinamosque;andonlyononeoccasion，whichIshallhereaftermention，dressedhimselfintheMahometancostume.Heattendedthefestivalstowhichthegreenturbansinvitedhim.Hisreligioustolerancewasthenaturalconsequenceofhisphilosophicspirit.
——[FromthisSirWalterScottinfersthathedidnotscrupletojointheMusselmansintheexternalceremoniesoftheirreligion.Heembellisheshisromancewiththeridiculousfarceofthesepulchralchamberofthegrandpyramid，andthespeecheswhichwereaddressedtotheGeneralaswellastothemuftisandImaums;andheaddsthatBonapartewasonthepointofembracingIslamism.AllthatSirWaltersaysonthissubjectistheheightofabsurdity，anddoesnotevendeservetobeseriouslyrefuted.Bonaparteneverenteredamosqueexceptfrommotivesofcuriosity，（seecontradictioninpreviousparagraph.D.W.）andbeneverforonemomentaffordedanygroundforsupposingthathebelievedtothemissionofMahomet.——
Bourrienne.]——
DoubtlessBonapartedid，ashewasboundtodo，showrespectforthereligionofthecountry;andhefounditnecessarytoactmorelikeaMussulmanthanaCatholic.Awiseconquerorsupportshistriumphsbyprotectingandevenelevatingthereligionoftheconqueredpeople.
Bonaparte’sprinciplewas，ashehimselfhasoftentoldme，tolookuponreligionsastheworkofmen，buttorespectthemeverywhereasapowerfulengineofgovernment.However，IwillnotgosofarastosaythathewouldnothavechangedhisreligionhadtheconquestoftheEastbeenthepriceofthatchange.AllthathesaidaboutMahomet，Islamism，andtheKorantothe，greatmenofthecountryhelaughedathimself.
HeenjoyedthegratificationofhavingallhisfinesayingsonthesubjectofreligiontranslatedintoArabicpoetry，andrepeatedfrommouthtomouth.Thisofcoursetendedtoconciliatethepeople.
IconfessthatBonapartefrequentlyconversedwiththechiefsoftheMussulmanreligiononthesubjectofhisconversion;butonlyforthesakeofamusement.ThepriestsoftheKoran，whowouldprobablyhavebeendelightedtoconvertus，offeredusthemostampleconcessions.
Buttheseconversationsweremerelystartedbywayofentertainment，andnevercouldhavewarrantedasuppositionoftheirleadingtoanyseriousresult.IfBonapartespokeasaMussulman，itwasmerelyinhischaracterofamilitaryandpoliticalchiefinaMussulmancountry.
Todosowasessentialtohissuccess，tothesafetyofhisarmy，and，consequently;tohisglory.Ineverycountryhewouldhavedrawnupproclamationsanddeliveredaddressesonthesameprinciple.InIndiahewouldhavebeenforAli，atThibetfortheDalai—lama，andinChinaforConfucius.
——[OnthesubjectofhisallegedconversiontoMahometanismBonaparteexpressedhimselfatSt.Helenaasfollows：
"Ineverfollowedanyofthetenetsofthatreligion.Ineverprayedinthemosques.Ineverabstainedfromwine，orwascircumcised，neitherdidIeverprofessit.IsaidmerelythatwewerethefriendsoftheMussulmans，andthatIrespectedMahomettheirprophet，whichwastrue;Irespecthimnow.IwantedtomaketheImaumscauseprayerstobeofferedupinthemosquesforme，inordertomakethepeoplerespectmestillmorethantheyactuallydid，andobeymemorereadily.TheImaumsrepliedthattherewasagreatobstacle，becausetheirProphetintheKoranhadinculcatedtothemthattheywerenottoobey，respect，orholdfaithwithinfidels，andthatIcameunderthatdenomination.Ithendesiredthemtoholdaconsultation，andseewhatwasnecessarytobedoneinordertobecomeaMusselman，assomeoftheirtenetscouldnotbepractisedbyus.That，astocircumcision，Godhadmadeusunfitforthat.That，withrespecttodrinkingwine，wewerepoorcoldpeople，inhabitantsofthenorth，whocouldnotexistwithoutit.
Theyconsultedtogetheraccordingly，andinaboutthreeweeksissuedafetham，declaringthatcircumcisionmightbeomitted，becauseitwasmerelyaprofession;thatastodrinkingwine，itmightbedrunkbyMussulmans，butthatthosewhodrankitwouldnotgotoparadise，buttohellIrepliedthatthiswouldnotdo;thatwehadnooccasiontomakeourselvesMussulmansinordertogotohell，thatthereweremanywaysofgettingtherewithoutcoiningtoEgypt，anddesiredthemtoholdanotherconsultation.AfterdeliberatingandbattlingtogetherforIbelievethreemonths，theyfinallydecidedthatamanmightbecomeaMussulman，andneithercircumcisenorabstainfromwine;butthat，inproportiontothewinedrunk，somegoodworksmustbedone.IthentoldthemthatwewereallMussulmansandfriendsoftheProphet，whichtheyreallybelieved，astheFrenchsoldiersneverwenttochurch，andhadnopriestswiththem.ForyoumustknowthatduringtheRevolutiontherewasnoreligionwhateverintheFrencharmy.Menou，"continuedNapoleon，"reallyturnedMahometan，whichwasthereasonIlefthimbehind."
——（VoicesfromSt.Helena.）]——
TheGeneral—in—ChiefhadaTurkishdressmade，whichheonceputon，merelyinjoke.Onedayhedesiredmetogotobreakfastwithoutwaitingforhim，andthathewouldfollowme.Inaboutaquarterofanhourhemadehisappearanceinhisnewcostume.Assoonashewasrecognisedhewasreceivedwithaloudburstoflaughter.Hesatdownverycoolly;buthefoundhimselfsoencumberedandillateaseinhisturbanandOrientalrobethathespeedilythrewthemoff，andwasnevertemptedtoasecondperformanceofthemasquerade.
AbouttheendofAugustBonapartewishedtoopennegotiationswiththePashaofAcre，nicknamedtheButcher.HeofferedDjezzarhisfriendship，soughthisinreturn，andgavehimthemostconsolatoryassurancesofthesafetyofhisdominions.HepromisedtosupporthimagainsttheGrandSeignior，attheverymomentwhenhewasassuringtheEgyptiansthathewouldsupporttheGrandSeignioragainstthebeys.ButDjezzar，confidinginhisownstrengthandintheprotectionoftheEnglish，whohadanticipatedBonaparte，wasdeaftoeveryoverture，andwouldnotevenreceiveBeauvoisin，whowassenttohimonthe22dofAugust.AsecondenvoywasbeheadedatAcre.TheoccupationsofBonaparteandthenecessityofobtainingamoresolidfootinginEgyptretardedforthemomenttheinvasionofthatpashalic，whichprovokedvengeancebyitsbarbarities，besidesbeingadangerousneighbour.
FromthetimehereceivedtheaccountsofthedisasterofAboukiruntiltherevoltofCairoonthe22dofOctober，Bonapartesometimesfoundthetimehangheavilyonhishands.Thoughhedevotedattentiontoeverything，yettherewasnotsufficientoccupationforhissingularlyactivemind.Whentheheatwasnottoogreatherodeonhorseback;andonhisreturn，ifhefoundnodespatchestoread（whichoftenhappened），noorderstosendoff;ornoletterstoanswer，hewasimmediatelyabsorbedinreverie，andwouldsometimesconverseverystrangely.Oneday，afteralongpause，hesaidtome：
"DoyouknowwhatIamthinkingof？"——"Uponmyword，thatwouldbeverydifficult;youthinkofsuchextraordinarythings."——"Idon’tknow，"
continuedlie，"thatIshalleverseeFranceagain;butifIdo，myonlyambitionistomakeagloriouscampaigninGermany——intheplainsofBavaria;theretogainagreatbattle，andtoavengeFranceforthedefeatofHochstadt.AfterthatIwouldretireintothecountry，andlivequietly."
HethenentereduponalongdissertationonthepreferencehewouldgivetoGermanyasthetheatreofwar;thefinecharacterofthepeople，andtheprosperityandwealthofthecountry，anditspowerofsupportinganarmy.Hisconversationsweresometimesverylong;butalwaysrepletewithinterest.
——[Soearlyas1794NapoleonhadsuggestedthatAustriashouldalwaysbeattackedinGermany，notinItaly."ItisGermanythatshouldbeoverwhelmed;thatdone，ItalyandSpainfallofthemselves.Germanyshouldbeattacked，notSpainorItaly.Ifweobtaingreatsuccess，advantageshouldneverbetakenofittopenetrateintoItalywhileGermany，unweakened，offersaformidablefront"（Iung’sBonaparte，tomeii.p.936），HewasalwaysopposedtothewildplanswhichhadruinedsomanyFrencharmiesinItaly，andwhichtheDirectorytriedtoforceonhim，ofmarchingonRomeandNaplesaftereverysuccessinthenorth.]——
IntheseintervalsofleisureBonapartewasaccustomedtoretiretobedearly.Iusedtoreadtohimeveryevening.WhenIreadpoetryhewouldfallasleep;butwhenheaskedfortheLifeofCromwellIcountedonsittingupprettylate.Inthecourseofthedayheusedtoreadandmakenotes.HeoftenexpressedregretatnotreceivingnewsfromFrance;
forcorrespondencewasrenderedimpracticablebythenumerousEnglishandTurkishcruisers.Manyletterswereinterceptedandscandalouslypublished.Notevenfamilysecretsandcommunicationsofthemostconfidentialnaturewererespected.
AboutthemiddleofSeptemberinthisyear（1798），BonaparteorderedtobebroughttothehouseofElfyBeyhalfadozenAsiaticwomenwhosebeautyhehadheardhighlyextolled.Buttheirungracefulobesitydispleasedhim，andtheywereimmediatelydismissed.AfewdaysafterhefellviolentlyinlovewithMadameFoures，thewifeofalieutenantofinfantry.Shewasverypretty，andhercharmswereenhancedbytherarityofseeingawomaninEgyptwhowascalculatedtopleasetheeyeofaEuropean.BonaparteengagedforherahouseadjoiningthepalaceofElfyBey，whichweoccupied.Hefrequentlyordereddinnertobepreparedthere，andIusedtogotherewithhimatseveno’clock，andleavehimatnine.
Thisconnectionsoonbecamethegeneralsubjectofgossipathead—
quarters.ThroughafeelingofdelicacytoM.Foures，theGeneral—in—
ChiefgavehimamissiontotheDirectory.HeembarkedatAlexandria，andtheshipwascapturedbytheEnglish，who，beinginformedofthecauseofhismission，weremaliciousenoughtosendhimbacktoEgypt，insteadofkeepinghimprisoner.BonapartewishedtohaveachildbyMadameFoures，butthiswishwasnotrealised.
AcelebratedsoothsayerwasrecommendedtoBonapartebytheinhabitantsofCairo，whoconfidentiallyvouchedfortheaccuracywithwhichhecouldforetellfutureevents.Hewassentfor，andwhenhearrived，I，Venture，andasheikwerewiththeGeneral.TheprophetwishedfirsttoexercisehisskilluponBonaparte，who，however，proposedthatIshouldhavemyfortunetoldfirst，towhichIaccededwithouthesitation.
ToaffordanideaofhispropheticskillImustmentionthatsincemyarrivalinCairoIhadbeeninaveryweakstate.ThepassageoftheNileandthebadfoodwehadhadfortwelvedayshadgreatlyreducedme，sothatIwasmiserablypaleandthin.
Afterexaminingmyhands，feelingmypulse，myforehead，andthenapeofmyneck，thefortune—tellershruggedhisshoulders，and，inamelancholytone，toldVenturethathedidnotthinkitrighttoinformmeofmyfate.Igavehimtounderstandthathemightsaywhathepleased，asitwasamatterofindifferencetome.Afterconsiderablehesitationonhispartandpressingonmine，heannouncedtomethattheearthofEgyptwouldreceivemeintwomonths.
Ithankedhim，andhewasdismissed.WhenwewerealonetheGeneralsaidtome，"Well，whatdoyouthinkofthat？"Iobservedthatthefortune—
tellerdidnotrunanygreatriskinforetellingmydeath，whichwasaveryprobablecircumstanceinthestateinwhichIwas;"but，"addedI，"ifIprocurethewineswhichIhaveorderedfromFrance，youwillsoonseemegetroundagain."
Theartofimposingonmankindhasatalltimesbeenanimportantpartoftheartofgoverning;anditwasnotthatportionofthescienceofgovernmentwhichBonapartewastheleastacquaintedwith.HeneglectednoopportunityofshowingofftotheEgyptiansthesuperiorityofFranceinartsandsciences;butithappened，oftenerthanonce，thatthesimpleinstinctoftheEgyptiansthwartedhisendeavoursinthisway.Somedaysafterthevisitofthepretendedfortune—tellerhewished，ifImaysoexpressmyself，toopposeconjurertoconjurer.ForthispurposeheinvitedtheprincipalsheikstobepresentatsomechemicalexperimentsperformedbyM.Berthollet.TheGeneralexpectedtobemuchamusedattheirastonishment;butthemiraclesofthetransformationofliquids，electricalcommotionsandgalvanism，didnotelicitfromthemanysymptomofsurprise.Theywitnessedtheoperationsofourablechemistwiththemostimperturbableindifference.Whentheywereended，thesheikElBekridesiredtheinterpretertotellM.Bertholletthatitwasallveryfine;"but，"saidhe，"askhimwhetherhecanmakemebeinMoroccoandhereatoneandthesamemoment？"M.Bertholletrepliedinthenegative，withashrugofhisshoulders."Oh！then，"saidthesheik，"heisnothalfasorcerer."
Ourmusicproducednogreatereffectuponthem.Theylistenedwithinsensibilitytoalltheairsthatwereplayedtothem，withtheexceptionof"Marlbrook."Whenthatwasplayedtheybecameanimated，andwereallinmotion，asifreadytodance.