AnorderwhichhadbeenissuedonourarrivalinCairoforwatchingthecriersofthemosqueshadforsomeweeksbeenneglected.AtcertainhoursofthenightthesecriesaddressprayerstotheProphet.Asitwasmerelyarepetitionofthesameceremonyoverandoveragain，inashorttimenonoticewastakenofit.TheTurks，perceivingthisnegligence，substitutedfortheirprayersandhymnscriesofrevolt，andbythissortofverbaltelegraph，insurrectionaryexcitementwastransmittedtothenorthernandsouthernextremitiesofEgypt.Bythismeans，andbytheaidofsecretemissaries，whoeludedourfeeblepolice，andcirculatedrealorforgedfirmansoftheSultandisavowingtheconcordbetweenFranceandthePorte，andprovokingwar，theplanofarevolutionwasorganisedthroughoutthecountry.
Thesignalfortheexecutionofthisplanwasgivenfromtheminaretsonthenightofthe20thofOctober，andonthemorningofthe21stitwasannouncedatheadquartersthatthecityofCairowasinopeninsurrection.TheGeneral—in—Chiefwasnot，ashasbeenstated，intheisleofRaeuddah：hedidnothearthefiringofthealarm—guns.Herosewhenthenewsarrived;itwasthenfiveo’clock.Hewasinformedthatalltheshopswereclosed，andthattheFrenchwereattacked.AmomentafterheheardofthedeathofGeneralDupuis，commandantofthegarrison，whowaskilledbyalanceinthestreet.Bonaparteimmediatelymountedhishorse，and，accompaniedbyonlythirtyguides，visitedallthethreatenedpoints，restoredconfidence，and，withgreatpresenceofmindadoptedmeasuresofdefence.
Heleftmeatheadquarterswithonlyonesentinel;buthehadbeenaccuratelyinformedofthesituationoftheinsurgents;andsuchwasmyconfidenceinhisactivityandforesightthatIhadnoapprehension，andawaitedhisreturnwithperfectcomposure.ThiscomposurewasnotdisturbedevenwhenIsawapartyofinsurgentsattackthehouseofM.
Esteve，ourpaymaster—general，whichwassituatedontheoppositesideofEzbekye’hPlace.M.Estevewas，fortunately，abletoresisttheattackuntiltroopsfromBoulaccameuptohisassistance.
Aftervisitingalltheposts，andadoptingeveryprecautionarymeasure，Bonapartereturnedtoheadquarters.Findingmestillalonewiththesentinel，heaskedme，smiling，\"whetherIhadnotbeenfrightened？\"——
\"Notatall，General，Iassureyou，\"repliedI.
——Itwasabouthalf—pasteightinthemorningwhenBonapartereturnedtoheadquarters，andwhileatbreakfasthewasinformedthatsomeBedouinArabs，onhorseback，weretryingtoforcetheirentranceintoCairo.Heorderedhisaidedecamp，Sulkowsky，tomounthishorse，totakewithhimfifteenguides，andproceedtothepointwheretheassailantsweremostnumerous.ThiswastheBab—el—Nasser，orthegateofvictory.CroisierobservedtotheGeneral—in—ChiefthatSulkowskyhadscarcelyrecoveredfromthewoundsatSalehye’h，andheofferedtotakehisplace.Hehadhismotivesforthis.Bonaparteconsented;butSulkowskyhadalreadysetout.Withinanhourafter，oneofthefifteenguidesreturned，coveredwithblood，toannouncethatSulkowskyandtheremainderofhispartyhadbeencuttopieces.Thiswasspeedywork，forwewerestillattablewhenthesadnewsarrived.
MortarswereplantedonMountMokatam，whichcommandsCairo.Thepopulace，expelledfromalltheprincipalstreetsbythetroops，assembledinthesquareoftheGreatMosque，andinthelittlestreetsrunningintoit，whichtheybarricaded.Thefiringoftheartilleryontheheightswaskeptupwithvigourfortwodays.
AbouttwelveoftheprincipalchiefsofCairowerearrestedandconfinedinanapartmentatheadquarters.Theyawaitedwiththecalmestresignationthedeaththeyknewtheymerited;butBonapartemerelydetainedthemashostages.TheagaintheserviceofBonapartewasastonishedthatsentenceofdeathwasnotpronounceduponthem;andhesaid，shrugginghisshoulders，andwithagestureapparentlyintendedtoprovokeseverity，\"Youseetheyexpectit.\"
Onthethirdtheinsurrectionwasatanend，andtranquillityrestored.
Numerousprisonerswereconductedtothecitadel.InobediencetoanorderwhichIwroteeveryevening，twelvewereputtodeathnightly.ThebodieswerethenputintosacksandthrownintotheNile.Thereweremanywomenincludedinthesenocturnalexecutions.
Iamnotawarethatthenumberofvictimsamountedtothirtyperday，asBonaparteassuredGeneralReynierinaletterwhichhewrotetohimsixdaysaftertherestorationoftranquillity.\"Everynight，\"saidhe，\"wecutoffthirtyheads.This，Ihope，willbeaneffectualexample.\"
Iamofopinionthatinthisinstanceheexaggeratedtheextentofhisjustrevenge.
SometimeaftertherevoltofCairothenecessityofensuringourownsafetyforcedthecommissionofaterribleactofcruelty.AtribeofArabsintheneighbourhoodofCairohadsurprisedandmassacredapartyofFrench.TheGeneral—in—ChieforderedhisaidedecampCroisiertoproceedtothespot，surroundthetribe，destroythehuts，killallthemen，andconducttherestofthepopulationtoCairo.Theorderwastodecapitatethevictims，andbringtheirheadsinsackstoCairotobeexhibitedtothepeople.EugeneBeauharnaisaccompaniedCroisier，whojoyfullysetoutonthishorribleexpedition，inhopeofobliteratingallrecollectionoftheaffairofDamanhour.
Onthefollowingdaythepartyreturned.ManyofthepoorArabwomenhadbeendeliveredontheroad，andthechildrenhadperishedofhunger，heat，andfatigue.Aboutfouro’clockatroopofassesarrivedinEzbekye’hPlace，ladenwithsacks.Thesackswereopenedandtheheadsrolledoutbeforetheassembledpopulace.IcannotdescribethehorrorIexperienced;butImustneverthelessacknowledgethatthisbutcheryensuredforaconsiderabletimethetranquillityandeventheexistenceofthelittlecaravanswhichwereobligedtotravelinalldirectionsfortheserviceofthearmy.
ShortlybeforethelossofthefleettheGeneral—inChiefhadformedthedesignofvisitingSuez，toexaminethetracesoftheancientcanalwhichunitedtheNiletotheGulfofArabia，andalsotocrossthelatter.TherevoltatCairocausedthisprojecttobeadjourneduntilthemonthofDecember.
BeforehisdepartureforSuez.BonapartegrantedthecommissarySucyleavetoreturntoFrance.Hehadreceivedawoundintherighthand，whenonboardthexebec’Cerf’.Iwasconversingwithhimondeckwhenhereceivedthiswound.Atfirstithadnoappearanceofbeingserious;
butsometimeafterhecouldnotusehishand.GeneralBonapartedespatchedavesselwithsickand—wounded，whoweresupposedtobeincurable，tothenumberofabouteighty.All，enviedtheirfate，andwereanxioustodepartwiththem，buttheprivilegewasconcededtoveryfew.However，thosewhowere，disappointedhad，nocauseforregret.Weneverknowwhatwewishfor.CaptainMarengo，wholandedatAugustainSicily，supposingittobeafriendlyland，wasrequiredtoobservequarantinefortwenty—twodays，andinformationwasgivenofthearrivalofthevesseltothecourt，whichwasatPalermo.Onthe25thofJanuary1799allonboardtheFrenchvesselweremassacred，withtheexceptionoftwenty—onewhoweresavedbyaNeapolitanfrigate，andconductedtoMessing，wheretheyworedetained.
BeforeheconceivedtheresolutionofattackingtheTurkishadvancedguardinthevalleysofSyria，BonapartehadformedaplanofinvadingBritishIndiafromPersia.Hehadascertained，throughthemediumofagents，thattheShahofPersiawould，forasum，ofmoneypaidinadvanceconsenttotheestablishmentofmilitarymagazinesoncertainpointsofhisterritory.Bonapartefrequentlytoldmethatif，afterthesubjugationofEgypt，hecouldhaveleft15，000meninthatcountry，andhavehad30，000disposabletroops，hewouldhavemarchedontheEuphrates.HewasfrequentlyspeakingaboutthedesertswhichweretobecrossedtoreachPersia.
Howmany，timeshaveIseenhimextendedontheground，examiningthebeautifulmapswhichhehadbroughtwithhim，andhewouldsometimesmakemeliedowninthesamepositiontotracetomehisprojectedmarch.
Thisremindedhimofthetriumphsofhisfavouritehero，Alexander，withwhomhesomuchdesiredtoassociatehisname;but，atthesametime，hefeltthattheseprojectswereincompatiblewithourresources，theweaknessoftheGovernment;andthedissatisfactionwhichthearmyalreadyevinced.Privationandmiseryareinseparablefromalltheseremoteoperations.
ThisfavouriteideastilloccupiedhismindafortnightbeforehisdepartureforSyriawasdeterminedon，andonthe25thofJanuary1799
hewrotetoTippooSaibasfollows：——
Youareofcoursealreadyinformed，ofmyarrivalonthebanksoftheRedSea，withanumerousandinvinciblearmy.EagertodeliveryoufromtheironyokeofEngland，Ihastentorequestthatyouwillsendme，bythewayofMascateorMocha，anaccountofthepoliticalsituationinwhichyouare.IalsowishthatyoucouldsendtoSuez，orGrandCairo，someableman，inyourconfidence，withwhomI
mayconfer.
——[Itisnottrue，ashasoftenbeenstated，thatTippooSaibwrotetoGeneralBonaparte.Hecouldnotreplytoaletterwrittenonthe23thofJanuary，owingtothegreatdifficultyofcommunication，theconsiderabledistance，andtheshortintervalwhichelapsedbetweenthe25thofJanuaryandthefalloftheEmpireofMysore，whichhappenedonthe20thofAprilfollowing.ThelettertoTippoSaibcommenced\"Citizen—Sultan！\"——Bourrienne]——
CHAPTERXVII.
1798—1799.
Bonaparte’sdepartureforSuez——Crossingthedesert——PassageoftheRedSea——ThefountainofMoses——TheCenobitesofMountSinai——DangerinrecrossingtheRedSea——Napoleon’sreturntoCairo——MoneyborrowedatGenoa——NewdesignsuponSyria——DissatisfactionoftheOttomanPorte——PlanforinvadingAsia——Giganticschemes——GeneralBerthier’spermissiontoreturntoFrance——Hisromanticloveandtheadoredportrait——Hegivesuphispermissiontoreturnhome——LouisBonaparteleavesEgypt——ThefirstCashmereshawlinFrance——
Interceptedcorrespondence——DepartureforSyria——FountainsofMessoudish——Bonapartejealous——Discontentofthetroops——El—Arishtaken——AspectofSyria——Ramleh——Jerusalem.
Onthe24thofDecemberwesetoutforSuez，wherewearrivedonthe26th.Onthe25thweencampedinthedesertsomeleaguesbeforeAd—
Geroth.Theheathadbeenverygreatduringtheday;butaboutelevenatnightthecoldbecamesosevereastobepreciselyinaninverseratiotothetemperatureoftheday.Thisdesert，whichistherouteofthecaravansfromSuez，fromTorandthecountriessituatedonthenorthofArabia，isstrewedwiththebonesofthemenandanimalswho，foragespast，haveperishedincrossingit.Astherewasnowoodtobegot，wecollectedaquantityofthesebonesforfuel.MongehimselfwasinducedtosacrificesomeofthecuriousskullsofanimalswhichhehadpickeduponthewayanddepositedintheBerlinoftheGeneral—in—Chief.Butnosoonerhadwekindledourfiresthananintolerableeffluviumobligedusto，raiseourcampandadvancefartheron，forwecouldprocurenowatertoextinguishthefires.
Onthe27thBonaparteemployedhimselfininspectingthetownandportofSuez，andingivingordersforsomenavalandmilitaryworks.Hefeared—
whatindeedreallyoccurredafterhisdeparturefromEgypt——thearrivalofsomeEnglishtroopsfromtheEastIndies，whichhehadintendedtoinvade.Theseregimentscontributedtothelossofhisconquest.
——[SirDavidBaird，withaforceofabout7000mensentfromIndia，landedatCosseirinJuly1801.]——
Onthemorningofthe28thwecrossedtheRedSeadry—shod，togototheWellsofMoses，whicharenearlyamyriametrefromtheeasterncoast，andalittlesoutheastofSuez.TheGulfofArabiaterminatesatabout5，000
metresnorthofthatcity.NeartheporttheRedSeaisnotabove1，500
metreswide，andisalwaysfordableatlowwater.ThecaravansfromTorandMountSinaialwayspassatthatpart，——[IshallsaynothingoftheCenobitesofMountSinai，asIhadnotthehonourofseeingthem.NeitherdidIseetheregistercontainingthenamesofAli，Salah—Eddin，IbrahimorAbraham，onwhichBonaparteissaidtohaveinscribedhisname.IperceivedatadistancesomehighhillswhichweresaidtobeMountSinai.
Iconversed，throughthemediumofaninterpreter，withsomeArabianchiefsofToranditsneighbourhood.TheyhadbeeninformedofourexcursiontotheWells，andthattheymighttherethanktheFrenchGeneralfortheprotectiongrantedtotheircaravansandtheirtradewithEgypt.Onthe19thofDecember，beforehisdeparturefromSuez，Bonapartesignedasortofsafeguard，orexemptionfromduties，fortheconventofMountSinai.ThishadbeengrantedoutofrespecttoMosesandtheJewishnation，andalsobecausetheconventofMountSinaiisaseatoflearningandcivilisationamidstthebarbarismofthedeserts.——Bourrienne.]——
eitheringoingtoorreturningfromEgypt.Thisshortenstheirjourneynearlyamyriametre.AthightidethewaterrisesfiveorsixfeetatSuez，andwhenthewindblowsfreshitoftenrisestonineortenfeet.
WespentafewhoursseatedbythelargestofthespringscalledtheWellsofMoses，situatedontheeasternshoreoftheGulfofArabia.
Wemadecoffeewiththewaterfromthesesprings，which，however，gaveitsuchabrackishtastethatitwasscarcelydrinkable.
ThoughthewateroftheeightlittlespringswhichformtheWellsofMosesisnotsosaltasthatofmanywellsduginotherpartsofthedeserts，itis，nevertheless，exceedinglybrackish，anddoesnotallaythirstsowellasfreshwater.
BonapartereturnedtoSuezthatsamenight.Itwasverydarkwhenwereachedthesea—shore.Thetidewascomingup，andthewaterwasprettyhigh.Wedeviatedalittlefromthewaywehadtakeninthemorning;wecrossedalittletoolowdown;wewerethrownintodisorder，butwedidnotloseourselvesinthemarshesashasbeenstated.Therewerenone.
Ihavereadsomewhere，thoughIdidnotseethefact，nordidIhearitmentionedatthetime，thatthetide，whichwascomingup，wouldhavebeenthegraveoftheGeneral—in—Chiefhadnotoneoftheguidessavedhimbycarryinghimonhisshoulders.Ifanysuchdangerhadexisted.
allwhohadnotasimilarmeansofescapemusthaveperished.
Thisisafabrication.GeneralCaffarelliwastheonlypersonwhowasreallyindanger，forhiswoodenlegpreventedhissittingfirmlyonhishorseinthewater;butsomepersonscametohisassistanceandsupportedhim.
——[Bonaparteextricatedhimselfastheothersdidfromtherealdangerheandhisescorthadrun.AtSt.Helenahesaid，\"Profitingbythelowtide，IcrossedtheRedSeadry—shod.OnmyreturnIwasovertakenbythenightandwentastrayinthemiddleoftherisingtide.Iranthegreatestdanger.InearlyperishedinthesamemannerasPharaohdid.ThiswouldcertainlyhavefurnishedalltheChristianpreacherswithamagnificenttestagainstme.\"
——Bourrienne.]——
OnhisreturntoCairotheGeneral—in—ChiefwishedtodiscoverthesiteofthecanalwhichinancienttimesformedajunctionbetweentheRedSeaandtheNilebyBelbeis.M.Lepere，whowasamemberoftheEgyptianInstitute，andisnowinspector—generalofbridgesandhighways，executedonthespotabeautifulplan，whichmayconfidentlybeconsultedbythosewhowishtoformanaccurateideaofthatancientcommunication，andthelevelofthetwoseas.
——[SinceaccuratelyascertainedduringtheprogressoftheworksfortheSuezCanal.]——
OnhisarrivalatthecapitalBonaparteagaindevotedallhisthoughtstotheaffairsofthearmy，whichhehadnotattendedtoduringhisshortabsence.TherevenuesofEgyptwerefarfrombeingsufficienttomeetthemilitaryexpenditure.TodefrayhisownexpensesBonaparteraisedseveralconsiderableloansinGenoathroughthemediumofM.James.TheconnectionofJameswiththeBonapartefamilytakesitsdatefromthisperiod.
——[JosephBonapartesaysthatthefathersofNapoleonandofM.
Jameshadlongknownoneanother，andthatNapoleonhadmetJamesatAutun.（’Erreurs’，tomei，p.296）.]——
SincethemonthofAugusttheattentionofGeneralBonapartehadbeenconstantlyfixedonSyria.TheperiodofthepossiblelandingofanenemyinEgypthadnowpassedaway，andcouldnotreturnuntilthemonthofJulyinthefollowingyear.Bonapartewasfullyconvincedthatthatlandingwouldtakeplace，andhewasnotdeceived.TheOttomanPortehad，indeed，beenpersuadedthattheconquestofEgyptwasnotinherinterest.Shepreferredenduringarebelwhomshehopedonedaytosubduetosupportingapowerwhich，underthespeciouspretextofreducingherinsurgentbeystoobedience，deprivedherofoneofherfinestprovinces，andthreatenedtherestoftheempire.
OnhisreturntoCairotheGeneral—in—ChiefhadnolongeranydoubtastothecoursewhichthePorteintendedtoadapt.ThenumerousclassofpersonswhobelievedthattheOttomanPortehadconsentedtoouroccupationofEgyptweresuddenlyundeceived.It，wasthenaskedhowwecould，withoutthatconsent，haveattemptedsuchanenterprise？Nothing，itwassaid，couldjustifythetemerityofsuchanexpedition，ifitshouldproducearupturebetweenFrance，theOttomanempire，anditsallies.However，fortheremainderoftheyearBonapartedreadednothingexceptanexpeditionfromGazaandEl—Arish，ofwhichthetroopsofDjezzarhadalreadytakenpossession.Thisoccupationwasjustlyregardedasadecidedactofhostility;warwasthuspracticallydeclared.\"Wemustadoptanticipatorymeasures，\"thoughtNapoleon;
\"wemustdestroythisadvancedguardoftheOttomanempire，overthrowtherampartsofJaffaandAcre，ravagethecountry，destroyallherresources，soastorenderthepassageofanarmyacrossthedesertimpracticable.\"ThuswasplannedtheexpeditionagainstSyria.
GeneralBerthier，afterrepeatedentreaties，hadobtainedpermissiontoreturntoFrance.The’Courageuse’frigate，whichwastoconveyhimhome，wasfittingoutatAlexandria;hehadreceivedhisinstructions，andwastoleaveCairoonthe29thofJanuary，tendaysbeforeBonaparte’sdepartureforSyria.Bonapartewassorrytopartwithhim;
buthecouldnotenduretoseeanoldfriend，andonewhohadservedhimwellinallhiscampaigns，dyingbeforehiseyes，thevictimofnostalgiaandromanticlove.Besides，Berthierhadbeenforsometimepast，anythingbutactiveinthedischargeofhisduties.Hispassion，whichamountedalmosttomadness，impairedthefeeblefacultieswithwhichnaturehadendowedhim.Somewritershaverankedhimintheclassofsentimentallovers：bethisasitmay，thehomagewhichBerthierrenderedtotheportraitoftheobjectofhisadorationmorefrequentlyexcitedourmerrimentthanoursensibility.
OnedayIwentwithanorderfromBonapartetothechiefofhisstaff，whomIfoundonhiskneesbeforetheportraitofMadameVisconti，whichwashangingoppositethedoor.Itouchedhim，tolethimknowIwasthere.Hegrumbledalittle，butdidnotgetangry.
Themomentwasapproachingwhenthetwofriendsweretopart，perhapsforever.Bonapartewassincerelydistressedatthisseparation，andthechiefofhisstaffwasinformedofthefact.AtamomentwhenitwassupposedBerthierwasonhiswaytoAlexandria，hepresentedhimselftotheGeneral—in—Chief.\"Youare，then，decidedlygoingtoAsia？\"saidhe.——\"Youknow，\"repliedtheGeneral，\"thatallisready，andIshallsetoutinafewdays.\"——\"Well，Iwillnotleaveyou.IvoluntarilyrenounceallideaofreturningtoFrance.Icouldnotenduretoforsakeyouatamomentwhenyouaregoingtoencounternewdangers.Herearemyinstructionsandmypassport.\"Bonaparte，highlypleasedwiththisresolution，embracedBerthier;andthecoolnesswhichhadbeenexcitedbyhisrequesttoreturnhomewassucceededbyasincerereconciliation.
LouisBonaparte，whowassufferingfromtheeffectsofthevoyage，wasstillatAlexandria.TheGeneral—in—Chief，yieldingtothepacificviewsofhisyoungerbrother，whowasalsobeginningtoevincesomesymptomsofnostalgia，consentedtohisreturnhome.Hecouldnot，however，departuntilthe11thofMarch1799.IfelttheabsenceofLouisverymuch.
OnhisreturntoFranceLouispassedthroughSens，wherehedinedwithMadamedeBourrienne，towhomhepresentedabeautifulshawl，whichGeneralBerthierhadgivenme.This，Ibelieve，wasthefirstCashmerethathadeverbeenseeninFrance.LouiswasmuchsurprisedwhenMadamedeBourrienneshowedhimtheEgyptiancorrespondence，whichhadbeenseizedbytheEnglishandprintedinLondon.Hefoundinthecollectionsomelettersaddressedtohimself，andtherewereothers，hesaid，whichwerelikelytodisturbthepeaceofmorethanonefamilyonthereturnofthearmy.
Onthe11thofFebruary1799webeganourmarchforSyria，withabout12，000men.Ithasbeenerroneouslystatedthatthearmyamountedtoonly6000：nearlythatnumberwaslostinthecourseofthecampaign.
However，attheverymomentwewereonourwaytoSyria，with12，000men，scarcelyasmanybeingleftinEgypt，theDirectorypublishedthat，\"accordingtotheinformationwhichhadbeenreceived，\"wehad60，000
infantryand10，000cavalry;thatthearmyhaddoubleditsnumbersbybattles;andthatsinceourarrivalinEgypt，wehadlostonly300men.
Ishistorytobewrittenfromsuchdocuments？
Wearrived，aboutfouro’clockintheafternoon，atMessoudiah，or，\"theFortunateSpot.\"Herewewitnessedakindofphenomenon，whichwasnotalittleagreeabletous.MessoudiahisaplacesituatedonthecoastoftheMediterranean，surroundedwithlittledunesofveryfinesand，whichthecopiousrainsofwinterreadilypenetrate.Therainremainsinthesand，sothatonmakingwiththefingersholesoffourorfiveinchesindepthatthebottomoftheselittlehills，thewaterimmediatelyflowsout.Thiswaterwas，indeed，ratherthick，butitsflavourwasagreeable;anditwouldhavebecomeclearifwecouldhavesparedtimetoallowittorestanddeposittheparticlesofsanditcontained.
Itwasacuriousspectacletobeholdusalllyingprostrate，diggingwellsinminiature;anddisplayingalaughableselfishnessinourendeavourstoobtainthemostabundantsource.Thiswasaveryimportantdiscoverytous.Wefoundthesesand—wellsattheextremityofthedesert，anditcontributed，innosmalldegree，torevivethecourageofoursoldiers;besides，whenmenare，aswasthecasewithus，subjecttoprivationsofeverykind，theleastbenefitwhichaccruesinspiresthehopeofanewadvantage.WewereapproachingtheconfinesofSyria，andweenjoyedbyanticipation，thepleasurewewereabouttoexperience，ontreadingasoilwhich，byitsvarietyofverdureandvegetation，wouldremindusofournativeland.AtMessoudiahwelikewisepossessedtheadvantageofbathinginthesea，whichwasnotmorethanfiftypacesfromourunexpectedwater—supply.
WhilstnearthewellsofMessoudiah，onthewaytoEl—Arish，IonedaysawBonapartewalkingalonewithJunot，ashewasofteninthehabitofdoing.Istoodatalittledistance，andmyeyes，Iknownotwhy，werefixedonhimduringtheirconversation.TheGeneral’scountenance，whichwasalwayspale，had，withoutmybeingabletodivinethecause，becomepalerthanusual.Therewassomethingconvulsiveinhisfeatures——awildnessinhislook，andheseveraltimesstruckhisheadwithhishand.
AfterconversingwithJunotaboutaquarterofanhourhequittedhimandcametowardsme.Ineversawhimexhibitsuchanairofdissatisfaction，orappearsomuchundertheinfluenceofsomeprepossession.Iadvancedtowardshim，andassoonaswemet，heexclaimedinanabruptandangrytone，\"So！IfindIcannotdependuponyou.——Thesewomen！——Josephine！
——ifyouhadlovedme，youwouldbeforenowhavetoldmeallIhaveheardfromJunot——heisarealfriend——Josephine！—andI600leaguesfromher——
yououghttohavetoldme.——Thatsheshouldthushavedeceivedme！——’Woetothem！——Iwillexterminatethewholeraceoffopsandpuppies！——Astoher——divorce！——yes，divorce！apublicandopendivorce！——Imustwrite！
——Iknowall！——Itisyourfault—yououghttohavetoldme！\"
Theseenergeticandbrokenexclamations，hisdisturbedcountenanceandalteredvoiceinformedmebuttoowellofthesubjectofhisconversationwithJunot.IsawthatJunothadbeendrawnintoaculpableindiscretion;andthat，ifJosephinehadcommittedanyfaults，hehadcruellyexaggeratedthem.Mysituationwasoneofextremedelicacy.
However，Ihadthegoodfortunetoretainmyself—possession，andassoonassomedegreeofcalmnesssucceededtothisfirstburst，IrepliedthatIknewnothingofthereportswhichJunotmighthavecommunicatedtohim;
thatevenifsuchreports，oftentheoffspringofcalumny，hadreachedmyear，andifIhadconsidereditmydutytoinformhimofthem，Icertainlywouldnothaveselectedforthatpurposethemomentwhenhewas600leaguesfromFrance.IalsodidnotconcealhowblamableJunot’sconductappearedtome，andhowungenerousIconsidereditthusrashlytoaccuseawomanwhowasnotpresenttojustifyordefendherself;thatitwasnogreatproofofattachmenttoadddomesticuneasinesstotheanxiety，alreadysufficientlygreat，whichthesituationofhisbrothersinarms，atthecommencementofahazardousenterprise，occasionedhim.
Notwithstandingtheseobservations，which，however，helistenedtowithsomecalmness，theword\"divorce\"stillescapedhislips;anditisnecessarytobeawareofthedegreeofirritationtowhichhewasliablewhenanythingseriouslyvexedhim，tobeabletoformanideaofwhatBonapartewasduringthispainfulscene.However，Ikeptmyground.
IrepeatedwhatIhadsaid.Ibeggedofhimtoconsiderwithwhatfacilitytaleswerefabricatedandcirculated，andthatgossipsuchasthatwhichhadbeenrepeatedtohimwasonlytheamusementofidlepersons;anddeservedthecontemptofstrongminds.Ispokeofhisglory.\"Myglory！\"criedhe.\"IknownotwhatIwouldnotgiveifthatwhichJunothastoldmeshouldbeuntrue;somuchdoIloveJosephine！
Ifshebereallyguiltyadivorcemustseparateusforever.Iwillnotsubmittobealaughing—stockforalltheimbecilesinParis.IwillwritetoJoseph;hewillgetthedivorcedeclared.\"
Althoughhisagitationcontinuedlong，intervalsoccurredinwhichhewaslessexcited.Iseizedoneofthesemomentsofcomparativecalmtocombatthisideaofdivorcewhichseemedtopossesshismind.
Irepresentedtohimespeciallythatitwouldbeimprudenttowritetohisbrotherwithreferencetoacommunicationwhichwasprobablyfalse.
\"Thelettermightbeintercepted;itwouldbetraythefeelingsofirritationwhichdictatedit.Astoadivorce，itwouldbetimetothinkofthathereafter，butadvisedly.\"
TheselastwordsproducedaneffectonhimwhichIcouldnothaveventuredtohopeforsospeedily.Hebecametranquil，listenedtomeasifhehadsuddenlyfeltthejusticeofmyobservations，droppedthesubject，andneverreturnedtoit;exceptthataboutafortnightafter，whenwewerebeforeSt.Jeand’Acre，heexpressedhimselfgreatlydissatisfiedwithJunot，andcomplainedoftheinjuryhehaddonehimbyhisindiscreetdisclosures，whichhebegantoregardastheinventionsofmalignity.IperceivedafterwardsthatheneverpardonedJunotforthisindiscretion;andIcanstate，almostwithcertainty，thatthiswasoneofthereasonswhyJunotwasnotcreatedamarshalofFrance，likemanyof，hiscomradeswhomBonapartehadlovedless.ItmaybesupposedthatJosephine，whowasafterwardsinformedbyBonaparteofJunot’sconversation，didnotfeelparticularlyinterestedinhisfavour.
Hediedinsaneonthe27thofJuly1813.
——[HoweverindiscreetJunotmightonthisoccasionhaveshownhimselfininterferinginsodelicateamatter，itisprettycertainthathissuspicionswerebreathedtonootherearthanthatofBonapartehimself.MadameJunot，inspeakingoftheill—suppressedenmitybetweenherhusbandandMadameBonaparte，saysthatheneverutteredawordeventoherofthesubjectofhisconversationwith，theGeneral—in—ChieftoEgypt.ThatJunot’stestimony，however，notwithstandingthecountenanceitobtainedfromBonaparte’srelations，oughttobecautiouslyreceived，thefollowingpassagefromtheMemoirsoftheDuchessed’Abrantes，vol.i.p.250，demonstrativeofthefeelingsofirritationbetweentheparties，willshow：
\"JunotescortedMadameBonapartewhenshewenttojointheGeneral—
in—ChiefinItaly.IamsurprisedthatM.deBourriennehasomittedmentioningthiscircumstanceinhisMemoirs.Hemusthaveknownit，sincehewaswellacquaintedwitheverythingrelatingtoJosephine，andknewmanyfactsofhighinterestinherlifeatthisperiodandsubsequently.HowhappensittoothathemakesnomentionofMademoiselleLouise，whomightbecalledher’demioselledecompagnie’ratherthanher’femmedechambre’？AttheoutsetofthejourneytoItalyshewassuchafavouritewithJosephinethatshedressedlikehermistress，ateattablewithher，andwasinallrespectsherfriendandconfidante.
\"Thejourneywaslong，muchtoolongforJunot，thoughhewasverymuchinlovewithMademoiselleLouise.Buthewasanxioustojointhearmy，fortohimhisGeneralwasalwaysthedearestofmistresses.Junothasoftenspokentome，andtomealone，ofthevexationsheexperiencedonthisjourney.HemighthaveaddedtohiscircumstantialdetailsrelativetoJosephinetheconversationheisreportedgohavehadwithBonapartetoEgypt;butheneverbreathedawordonthesubject，forhischaracterwasalwaysnobleandgenerous.ThejourneytoItalydidnotproducetheeffectwhichusuallyarisesfromsuchincidentsincommonlife;namely，acloserfriendshipandintimacybetweentheparties.Onthecontrary，MadameBonapartefromthatmomentevincedsomedegreeofill—humourtowardsJunot，andcomplainedwithsingularwarmthofthewantofrespectwhichhehadshownher，inmakinglovetoher’femmedechambre’beforeherface.\"
Accordingto’Erreurs（tomei.pp.4，50）JunotwasnottheninSyria.Onl0thFebruaryNapoleonwasatMessoudiah.JunotonlyarrivedfromEgyptatGazaonthe25thFebruary.Madamed’Abrantes（ii.32）treatsthisconversationasapocryphal.\"This（ananecdoteofherown）isnotanimaginaryepisodelikethat，forexample，ofmakingapersonspeakatMessoudiahwhoneverwasthere.\"]——
OurlittlearmycontinueditsmarchonEl—Arish，wherewearrivedonthe17thofFebruary.Thefatiguesexperiencedinthedesertandthescarcityofwaterexcitedviolentmurmursamongstthesoldiersduringtheirmarchacrosstheisthmus.Whenanypersononhorsebackpassedthemtheystudiouslyexpressedtheirdiscontent.Theadvantagepossessedbythehorsemenprovokedtheirsarcasms.Ineverheardtheverseswhichtheyaresaidtohaverepeated，buttheyindulgedinthemostviolentlanguageagainsttheRepublic，themenofscience，andthosewhomtheyregardedastheauthorsoftheexpedition.Neverthelessthesebravefellows，fromwhomitwasnotastonishingthatsuchgreatprivationsshouldextortcomplaints，oftencompensatedbytheirpleasantriesforthebitternessoftheirreproaches.
ManytimesduringthecrossingoftheisthmusIhaveseensoldiers，parchedwiththirst，andunabletowaittillthehourfordistributionofwater，piercetheleathernbottleswhichcontainedit;andthisconduct，soinjurioustoall，occasionednumerousquarrels.
El—Arishsurrenderedonthe17thofFebruary.Ithasbeenerroneouslystatedthatthegarrisonofthisinsignificantplace，whichwassetatlibertyonconditionofnotagainservingagainstus，wasafterwardsfoundamongstthebesiegedatJaffa.IthasalsobeenstatedthatitwasbecausethemencomposingtheEl—ArishgarrisondidnotproceedtoBagdad，accordingtothecapitulation，thatweshotthematJaffa.Weshallpresentlyseethefalsehoodoftheseassertions.
Onthe28thofFebruaryweobtainedthefirstglimpseofthegreenandfertileplainsofSyria，which，inmanyrespects，remindedusoftheclimateandsoilofEurope.Wenowhadrain，andsometimesrathertoomuch.Thefeelingswhichthesightofthevalleysandmountainscalled.
forthmadeus，insomedegree，forgetthehardshipsandvexationsofanexpeditionofwhichfewpersonscouldforeseetheobjectorend.Therearesituationsinlifewhentheslightestagreeablesensationalleviatesallourills.
Onthe1stofMarchwesleptatRamleh，inasmallconventoccupiedbytwomonks，whopaidusthegreatestattention.Theygaveusthechurchforahospital.ThesegoodfathersdidnotfailtotellusthatitwasthroughthisplacethefamilyofJesusChristpassedintoEgypt，andshowedusthewellsatwhichtheyquenchedtheirthirst.
——[Ramleh，theancientArimathea，issituatedatthebaseofachainofmountains，theeasternextremityofwhichiswashedbythePersianGulf，andthewesternbytheMediterranean.——Bourrienne.]——
Thepureandcoolwaterofthesewellsdelightedus.
WewerenotmorethanaboutsixleaguesfromJerusalem.
IaskedtheGeneralwhetherhedidnotintendtodirecthismarchbythewayofthatcity，socelebratedinmanyrespects.Hereplied，\"Ohno！
Jerusalemisnotinmylineofoperations.Idonotwishtobeannoyedbymountaineersindifficultroads.And，besides，ontheotheraideofthemountainIshouldbeassailedbyswarmsofcavalry.IamnotambitiousofthefateofCassius.\"
WethereforedidnotenterJerusalem，whichwasnotdisturbedbythewar.
AllwedidwastosendawrittendeclarationtothepersonsinpoweratJerusalem，assuringthemthatwehadnodesignagainstthatcountry，andonlywishedthemtoremainatpeace.Tothiscommunicationnoanswerwasreturned，andnothingmorepassedonthesubject.
——[SirWalterScottsays，speakingofBonaparte，thathebelievesthatlittleofficerofartillerydreamedofbeingKingofJerusalem.
WhatIhavejuststatedprovesthatheneverthoughtofsuchathing.The\"littleofficerofartillery\"hadafarmoresplendiddreaminhishead.——Bourrienne.]——
WefoundatRamlehbetweentwoandthreehundredChristiansinapitiablestateofservitude，misery，anddejection.OnconversingwiththemI
couldnothelpadmiringhowmuchthehopeoffuturerewardsmayconsolemenunderpresentills.ButIlearnedfrommanyofthemthattheydidnotliveinharmonytogether.Thefeelingsofhatredandjealousyarenotlesscommonamongstthesepeoplethanamongstthebetter—instructedinhabitantsofrichandpopulouscities.
CHAPTERXVIII
1799.
ArrivalatJaffa——Thesiege——BeauharnaisandCroisier——Fourthousandprisoners——Scarcityofprovisions——Councilsofwar——Dreadfulnecessity——Themassacre——Theplague——Lannesandthemountaineers——
BarbarityofDjezasi——ArrivalatStJeand’Acre，andabortiveattacks——SirSidneySmith——DeathofCaffarelli——Durocwounded——
Rashbathing——InsurrectionsinEgypt.
OnarrivingbeforeJaffa，wheretherewerealreadysometroops，thefirstperson.ImetwasAdjutant—GeneralGresieux，withwhomIwaswellacquainted.Iwishedhimgood—day，andofferedhimmyhand.\"GoodGod！
whatareyouabout？\"saidhe，repulsingmewithaveryabruptgesture;
\"youmayhavetheplague.Peopledonottoucheachotherhere！
\"ImentionedthecircumstancetoBonaparte，whosaid，\"Ifhebeafraidoftheplague，hewilldieofit.\"Shortlyafter，atSt.Jeand’Acre，hewasattackedbythatmalady，andsoonsankunderit.
Onthe4thofMarchwecommencedthesiegeofJaffa.Thatpaltryplace，which，toroundasentence，waspompouslystyledtheancientJoppa，heldoutonlytothe6thofMarch，whenitwastakenbystorm，andgivenuptopillage.Themassacrewashorrible.GeneralBonapartesenthisaidesdecampBeauharnaisandCroisiertoappeasethefuryofthesoldiersasmuchaspossible，andtoreporttohimwhatwaspassing.Theylearnedthataconsiderablepartofthegarrisonhadretiredintosomevastbuildings，asortofcaravanserai，whichformedalargeenclosedcourt.BeauharnaisandCroisier，whoweredistinguishedbywearingthe’aidedecamp’scarfontheirarms，proceededtothatplace.TheArnautsandAlbanians，ofwhomtheserefugeeswerealmostentirelycomposed，criedfromthewindowsthattheywerewillingtosurrenderuponanassurancethattheywouldbeexemptedfromthemassacretowhichthetownwasdoomed;ifnot，theythreatenedtofireonthe’aidesdecamp’，andtodefendthemselvestothelastextremity.Thetwoofficersthoughtthattheyoughttoaccedetotheproposition，notwithstandingthedecreeofdeathwhichhadbeenpronouncedagainstthewholegarrison，inconsequenceofthetownbeingtokenbystorm.Theybroughtthemtoourcampintwodivisions，oneconsistingofabout2500men，theotherofabout1600.
IwaswalkingwithGeneralBonaparte，infrontofhistent，whenhebeheldthismassofmenapproaching，andbeforeheevensawhis’aidesdecamp’hesaidtome，inatoneofprofoundsorrow，\"Whatdotheywishmetodowiththesemen？HaveIfoodforthem？——shipstoconveythemtoEgyptorFrance？Why，inthedevil’sname，havetheyservedmethus？\"
Aftertheirarrival，andtheexplanationswhichtheGeneral—in—Chiefdemandedandlistenedtowithanger，EugeneandCroisierreceivedthemostseverereprimandfortheirconduct.Butthedeedwasdone.Fourthousandmenwerethere.Itwasnecessarytodecideupontheirfate.
Thetwoaidesdecampobservedthattheyhadfoundthemselvesaloneinthemidstofnumerousenemies，andthathehaddirectedthemtorestrainthecarnage.\"Yes，doubtless，\"repliedtheGeneral—in—Chief，withgreatwarmth，\"astowomen，children，andoldmen——allthepeaceableinhabitants;butnotwithrespecttoarmedsoldiers.Itwasyourdutytodieratherthanbringtheseunfortunatecreaturestome.Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththem？\"Thesewordswerepronouncedinthemostangrytone.
Theprisonerswerethenorderedtositdown，andwereplaced，withoutanyorder，infrontofthetents，theirhandstiedbehindtheirbacks.
Asombredeterminationwasdepictedontheircountenances.Wegavethemalittlebiscuitandbread，squeezedoutofthealreadyscantysupplyforthearmy.
OnthefirstdayoftheirarrivalacouncilofwarwasheldinthetentoftheGeneral—in—Chief，todeterminewhatcourseshouldbepursuedwithrespecttothemthecouncildeliberatedalongtimewithoutcomingtoanydecision.
Ontheeveningofthefollowingdaythedailyreportsofthegeneralsofdivisioncamein.Theyspokeofnothingbuttheinsufficiencyoftherations，thecomplaintsofthesoldiers——oftheirmurmursanddiscontentatseeingtheirbreadgiventoenemieswhohadbeenwithdrawnfromtheirvengeance，inasmuchasadecreeofdeath;inconformitywiththelawsofwar，hadbeenpassedonJaffa.Allthesereportswerealarming，andespeciallythatofGeneralBon，inwhichnoreservewasmade.Hespokeofnothinglessthanthefearofarevolt，whichwouldbejustifiedbytheseriousnatureofthecase.
Thecouncilassembledagain.Allthegeneralsofdivisionweresummonedtoattend，andforseveralhourstogethertheydiscussed，underseparatequestions，whatmeasuresmightbeadopted，withthemostsinceredesiretodiscoverandexecuteonewhichwouldsavethelivesoftheseunfortunateprisoners.
（l.）ShouldtheybesentintoEgypt？Coulditbedone？
Todoso;itwouldbenecessarytosendwiththemanumerousescort，whichwouldtoomuchweakenourlittlearmyintheenemy’scountry.How，besides，couldtheyandtheescortbesupportedtilltheyreachedCairo，havingnoprovisionstogivethemonsettingout，andtheirroutebeingthroughahostileterritory，whichwehadexhausted，whichpresentednofreshresources，andthroughwhichwe，perhaps，mighthavetoreturn，（2.）Shouldtheybeembarked？
Whereweretheships？——Wherecouldtheybefound？Allourtelescopes，directedovertheseacouldnotdescryasinglefriendlysailBonaparte，Iaffirm，wouldhaveregardedsuchaneventasarealfavouroffortune.
Itwas，and——Iamgladtohavetosayit，thissoleidea，thissolehope，whichmadehimbrave，forthreedays，themurmursofhisarmy.Butinvainwashelplookedforseaward.Itdidnotcome.
（3.）Shouldtheprisonersbesetatliberty？
TheyworldtheninstantlyproceedtoSt.Jeand’Acretoreinforcethepasha，orelse，throwingthemselvesintothemountainsofNablous，wouldgreatlyannoyourrearandright—flank，anddealoutdeathtous，asarecompenseforthelifewehadgiventhem.Therecouldbenodoubtofthis.WhatisaChristiandogtoaTurk？ItwouldevenhavebeenareligiousandmeritoriousactintheeyeoftheProphet.
（4.）Couldtheybeincorporated，disarmed，withoursoldiersintheranks？
Hereagainthequestionoffoodpresenteditselfinallitsforce.Nextcametobeconsideredthedangerofhavingsuchcomradeswhilemarchingthroughanenemy’scountry.WhatmighthappenintheeventofabattlebeforeSt.Jeand’Acre？Couldweeventellwhatmightoccurduringthemarch？And，finally，whatmustbedonewiththemwhenundertherampartsofthattown，ifweshouldbeabletotakethemthere？Thesameembarrassmentswithrespecttothequestionsofprovisionsandsecuritywouldthenrecurwithincreasedforce.
Thethirddayarrivedwithoutitsbeingpossible，anxiouslyasitwasdesired，tocometoanyconclusionfavourabletothepreservationoftheseunfortunatemen.Themurmursinthecampgrewloudertheevilwentonincreasing——remedyappearedimpossible——thedangerwasrealandimminent.Theorderforshootingtheprisonerswasgivenandexecutedonthe10thofMarch.Wedidnot，ashasbeenstated，separatetheEgyptiansfromtheotherprisoners.TherewerenoEgyptians.
Manyoftheunfortunatecreaturescomposingthesmallerdivision，whichwasfiredonclosetotheseacoast，atsomedistancefromtheothercolumn，succeededinswimmingtosomereefsofrocksoutofthereachofmusket—shot.Thesoldiersrestedtheirmusketsonthesand，and，toinducetheprisonerstoreturn，employedtheEgyptiansignsofreconciliationinuseinthecountry.They，cameback;butastheyadvancedtheywerekilled，anddisappearedamongthewaves.
Iconfinemyselftothesedetailsofthisactofdreadfulnecessity，ofwhichIwasaneye—witness.Others，who，likemyself，sawit，havefortunatelysparedmetherecitalofthesanguinaryresult.Thisatrociousscene，whenIthinkofit，stillmakesmeshudder，asitdidonthedayIbeheldit;andIwouldwishitwerepossibleformetoforgetit，ratherthanbecompelledtodescribeit.Allthehorrorsimaginationcanconceive，relativetothatdayofblood，wouldfallshortofthereality.
Ihaverelatedthetruth，thewholetruth.Iwaspresentatallthediscussions，alltheconferences，allthedeliberations.Ihadnot，asmaybesupposed，adeliberativevoice;butIamboundtodeclarethat.
thesituationofthearmy，thescarcityoffood，oursmallnumericalstrength，inthemidstofacountrywhereeveryindividualwasanenemy，wouldhaveinducedmetovoteintheaffirmativeofthepropositionwhichwascarriedintoeffect，ifIhadavotetogive.Itwasnecessarytobeonthespotinordertounderstandthehorriblenecessitywhichexisted.
War，unfortunately，presentstoomanyoccasionsonwhichalaw，immutableinallages，andcommontoallnations，requiresthatprivateinterestsshouldbesacrificedtoagreatgeneralinterest，andthatevenhumanityshouldheforgotten.ItisforposteritytojudgewhetherthisterriblesituationwasthatinwhichBonapartewasplaced.Formyownpart，I
haveaperfectconvictionthatbecouldnotdootherwisethanyieldtothedirenecessityofthecase.Itwastheadviceofthecouncil，whoseopinionwasunanimousinfavouroftheexecution，thatgovernedhim，IndeedIoughtintruthtosay，thatheyieldedonlyinthelastextremity，andwasoneofthose，perhaps，whobeheldthemassacrewiththedeepestpain.
AfterthesiegeofJaffetheplaguebegantoexhibititselfwithalittlemorevirulence.Welostbetweensevenandeighthundred，menbythecontagionduringthecampaignofSyria’
——[SirWalterScottsays，thatHeavenseatthispestilenceamongstustoavengethemassacreofJaffa]——
DuringourmarchonSt.Jeand’Acre，whichwascommencedonthel4thofMarch，thearmyneitherobtainedthebrillianttriumphsnorencounteredthenumerousobstaclesspokenofincertainworks.NothingofimportanceoccurredbutarashskirmishofGeneralLanneswho，inspiteofcontraryorders，fromBonaparte，obstinatelypursuedatroopofmountaineersintothepassesofNabloua.Onreturning，hefoundthemountaineersplacedinambushingreatnumbersamongstrocks，thewindingsofwhichtheywerewell，acquaintedwith，whencetheyfiredcloseuponourtroops;whosesituationrenderedthemunabletodefendthemselves.Duringthetimeofthisfoolishanduselessenterprise;especiallywhilethefiringwasbrisk，Bonaparte，exhibitedmuchimpatience，anditmustbeconfessed，hisangerwasbutnatural：TheNablousianshaltedattheopeningsofthemountaindefiles.BonapartereproachedLannesbitterlyforhavinguselesslyexposedhimself，and\"sacrificed，withoutanyobject，anumberofbravemen.\"Lannesexcusedhimselfbysayingthatthemountaineershaddefiedhim，andhewishedtochastisetherabble.\"Wearenotinaconditiontoplaytheswaggerer，\"repliedNapoleon.
InfourdayswearrivedbeforeSt.Jeand’Acre，wherewelearnedthatDjezzarhadcutofftheheadofourenvoy，Mailly—de—Chateau—Renaud，andthrownhisbodyintotheseainasack.Thiscruelpashawasguiltyofagreatnumberofsimilarexecutions.Thewavesfrequentlydrovedeadbodiestowardsthecoast，andwecameuponthemwhilstbathing.
Thedetails：ofthesiegeofAcrearewellknown.Althoughsurroundedbyawall，flankedwithstrongtowers，andhaving，besides，abroad—anddeepditchdefendedbyworksthislittlefortressdidnotappearlikelytoholdoutagainstFrenchvalourandtheskillofourcorpsofengineersandartillery;buttheeaseandrapiditywithwhichJaffahadbeentakenoccasionedustooverlookinsomedegreethecomparativestrengthofthetwoplaces，andthedifferenceoftheirrespectivesituations.AtJaffawehadsufficientartillery：atSt.Jeand’Acrewehadnot.AtJaffawehadtodealonlywithagarrisonlefttoitself：atSt.Jeand’Acrewewereopposedbyagarrisonstrengthenedbyreinforcementsofmenandsuppliesofprovisions，supportedbytheEnglishfleet，andassistedbyEuropeanScience.SirSidneySmithwas，beyonddoubt，themanwhodidusthegreatestinjury.
——[SirSidneySmithwastheonlyEnglishmanbesidestheDukeofWellingtonwhodefeatedNapoleoninmilitaryoperations.ThethirdEnglishmanopposedtohim，SirJohnMoore，wascompelledtomakeaprecipitateretreatthroughtheweaknessofhisforce]——
MuchhasbeensaidrespectinghiscommunicationswiththeGeneral—in—
Chief.Thereproacheswhichthelattercastuponhimforendeavouringtoseducethesoldiersandofficersofthearmybytemptingofferswerethemoresingular，eveniftheywerewellfounded，inasmuchasthesemeansarefrequentlyemployedbyleadersinwar.
——[AtonetimetheFrenchGeneralwassodisturbedbythemastoendeavourtoputastoptothem;whichobjectheeffectedbyinterdictingallcommunicationwiththeEnglish，andsignifying，inanorderoftheday，thattheirCommodorewasamadman.This，beingbelievedinthearmy，soenragedSirSidneySmith，thatinhiswrathhesentachallengetoNapoleon.Thelatterreplied，thathehadtoomanyweightyaffairsonhishandstotroublehimselfinsotriflingamatter.Hadit，indeed，beenthegreatMarlborough，itmighthavebeenworthyhisattention.Still，iftheEnglishsailorwasabsolutelybentuponfighting，hewouldsendhimabravofromthearmy，andshowthemasmellportionofneutralground，wherethemadCommodoremightland，andsatisfyhishumourtothefull.——
Editorofl836edition.）]——
AstotheembarkingofFrenchprisonersonboardavesselinwhichtheplagueexisted，theimprobabilityofthecircumstancealone，butespeciallythenotoriousfactsofthecase，repellthisodiousaccusation.IobservedtheconductofSirSidneySmithcloselyatthetime，andIremarkedinhimachivalricspirit，whichsometimeshurriedhimintotriflingeccentricities;butIaffirmthathisbehaviourtowardstheFrenchwasthatofagallantenemy.Ihaveseenmanyletters，inwhichthewritersinformedhimthatthey\"wereverysensibleofthegoodtreatmentwhichtheFrenchexperiencedwhentheyfellintohishands.\"
LetanyoneexamineSirSidney’sconductbeforethecapitulationofEl—
Arish，andafteritsrupture，andthentheycanjudgeofhischaracter.
——[Napoleon，whenatSt.Helena，inspeakingofthesiegeofAcre，said，——SidneySmithisabraveofficer.HedisplayedconsiderableabilityinthetreatyfortheevacuationofEgyptbytheFrench.HetookadvantageofthediscontentwhichhefoundtoprevailamongsttheFrenchtroopsatbeingsolongawayfromFrance，andothercircumstances.HemanifestedgreathonourinsendingimmediatelytoKlebertherefusalofLordKeithtoratifythetreaty，whichsavedtheFrencharmy;ifhehadkeptitasecretsevenoreightdayslonger，CairowouldhavebeengivenuptotheTurks，andtheFrencharmynecessarilyobligedtosurrendertotheEnglish.HealsoshowedgreathumanityandhonourinallhisproceedingstowardstheFrenchwhofeltintohishands.HelandedatHavre，forsome’sotttice’ofabethehadmade，accordingtosome，togotothetheatre;otherssaiditwasforespionage;howeverthatmaybe，hewasarrestedandconfinedintheTempleasaspy;andatonetimeitwasintendedtotryandexecutehim.ShortlyafterIreturnedfromItalyhewrotetomefromhisprison，torequestthatIwouldintercedeforhim;but，underthecircumstancesinwhichhewastaken，Icoulddonothingforhim.Heisactive，intelligent，intriguing，andindefatigable;butIbelievethatheis’mezzopazo’.
\"ThechiefcauseofthefailureatAcrewas，thathetookallmybatteringtrain，whichwasonboardofseveralsmallvessels.
Haditnotbeenforthat，IwouldhavetakenAcreinspiteofhim.
Hebehavedverybravely，andwaswellsecondedbyPhillipeaux，aFrenchmanoftalent，whohadstudiedwithmeasanengineer.TherewasaMajorDouglasalso，whobehavedverygallantly.TheacquisitionoffiveorsixhundredseamenasgunnerswasagreatadvantagetotheTurks，whosespiritstheyrevived，andwhomtheyshowedhowtodefendthefortress.Buthecommittedagreatfaultinmakingsorties，whichcostthelivesoftwoorthreehundredbravefellowswithoutthepossibilityofsuccess.ForitwasimpossiblehecouldsucceedagainstthenumberoftheFrenchwhowerebeforeAcre.Iwouldlayawagethathelosthalfofhiscrewinthem.HedispersedProclamationsamongstmytroops，whichcertainlyshooksomeofthem，andIinconsequencepublishedanorder，statingthathewasread，andforbiddingallcommunicationwithhim.Somedaysafterhesent，bymeansofaflagoftruce，alieutenantoramidshipmanwithalettercontainingachallengetometomeethimatsomeplacehepointedoutinordertofightaduel.Ilaughedatthis，sadsenthimbackanintimationthatwhenhebroughtMarlboroughtofightmeIwouldmeethim.Not，withstandingthis，Ilikethecharacteroftheman.\"（VoicesfromSt.Helena，vol.4，p.208）.]——
Allourmanoeuvres，ourworks，andattacksweremadewiththatlevityandcarelessnesswhichover—confidenceinspires.Kleber，whilstwalkingwithmeonedayinthelinesofourcamp，frequentlyexpressedhissurpriseanddiscontent.\"Thetrenches，\"said，he，\"donotcomeuptomyknees.\"
Besiegingartillerywas，ofnecessity，required：wecommencedwithfieldartillery.Thisencouragedthebesieged，whoperceivedtheweaknessofourresources.Thebesiegingartillery，consistingonlyofthreetwenty—
fourpoundersandsix，eighteenpounders，wasnotbroughtupuntiltheendofApril，andbeforethatperiodthrewassaultshadtakenplacewithveryseriousloss.Onthe4thofMayourpowderbegantofailus.Thiscrueleventobligedustoslackenourfire.Wealsowantedshot;andanorderofthedayfixedapricetobegivenforallballs，accordingtotheircalibre，whichmightbepickedupafterbeingfiredfromthefortressorthetwoshipsoftheline，the’Tiger’and’Theseus’，whichwerestationedoneachsideoftheharbour：Thesetwovesselsembarrassedthecommunication，betweenthecampandthetrenches;butthoughtheymademuchnoise，theydidlittleharm.Aballfromoneofthem;killedanofficerontheeveningthesiegewasraised.
Theenemyhadwithinthewallssomeexcellentriflemen，chieflyAlbanians.Theyplacedstones，oneovertheother，onthewalls，puttheirfirearmsthroughtheinterstices，andthus，completelysheltered，firedwithdestructiveprecision.
Onthe9thofAprilGeneralCaffarelli，sowellknownforhiscourageandtalents，waspassingthroughthetrench，hishandrestingashestoopedonhiship，topreservetheequilibriumwhichhiswoodenleg，impaired;
hiselbowonlywasraisedabovethetrench.Hewaswarnedthattheenemy’sshot，firedcloseuponusdidnotmissthesmallestobject.
Hepaidnoattentiontoanyobservationofthiskind，andinafewinstantshiselbowjointwasfractured.Amputationofthearmwasjudgedindispensable.TheGeneralsurvivedtheoperationeighteendays.
Bonapartewentregularlytwiceadaytohistent.Byhisorder，addedtomyfriendshipforCaffarelli，Iscarcelyeverquittedhim.Shortlybeforeheexpiredhesaidtome，\"MydearBourrienne，besogoodastoreadtomeVoltaire’sprefaceto’EspritdesLois’.\"WhenIreturnedtothetentoftheGeneral—in—Chiefheasked，\"HowisCaffarelli？\"I
replied，\"Heisnearhisend;butheaskedmetoreadhimVoltaire’sprefacetothe’EspritdeLois’，hehasjustfallenasleep.\"Bonapartesaid，\"Bah！towishtohearthatpreface？howsingular！\"HewenttoseeCaffarelli，buthewasstillasleep.Ireturnedtohimthateveningandreceivedhislastbreath.Hediedwiththeutmostcomposure.Hisdeath.
wasequallyregrettedbythesoldiersandthemenofscience，whoaccompaniedus.Itwasajustregretduetothatdistinguishedman，inwhomveryextensiveinformationwasunitedwithgreatcourageandamiabledisposition.
Onthe10thofMay;whenanassaulttookplace，Bonaparteproceededatanearlyhourtothetrenches.
——[SirSidneySmith，inhisOfficialreportoftheassaultofthe8thofMay，saysthatNapoleonwasdistinctlyseendirectingtheoperation.]——
Croisier，whowasmentionedonourarrivalatDamanhourandonthecaptureofJaffa，hadinvaincourteddeathsincethecommencementofthesiege.LifehadbecomeinsupportabletohimsincetheunfortunateaffairatJaffa.HeasusualaccompaniedhisGeneraltothetrenches.
Believingthattheterminationofthesiege，whichwassupposedtobenear，wouldpostponeindefinitelythedeathwhichhesought，hemountedabattery.Inthissituationhistallfigureuselesslyprovokedall，theenemy’sshots.\"Croisier，comedown，Icommandyou;youhavenobusinessthere，\"criedBonaparte，inaloudandimperativetone.Croisierremainedwithoutmakinganyreply.Amomentafteraballpassedthroughhisrightleg.Amputationwasnotconsidered，indispensable.Onthedayofourdeparturehewasplacedonalitterswhichwasbornebysixteenmenalternately，eightatatime.IreceivedhisfarewellbetweenGazaandEl—Arish，where，hediedoftetanus.Hismodesttombwillnotbeoftenvisited.
ThesiegeofSt.Jeand’Acrelastedsixtydays.Duringthattimeeight—
assaultsand—twelvesortiestookplace.Intheassaultofthe8thofMaymorethan200menpenetratedintothetown.Victorywasalreadyshouted;
butthebreachhavingbeentakeninreversebytheTurks，itwasnotapproachedwithoutsomedegreeofhesitation，andthemenwhohadenteredwerenotsupported.Thestreetswerebarricaded.Thecries，thehowlingsofthewomen，whorantroughthestreetsthrowing，accordingtothecustomofthecountry，dustinthe，air，excitedthemaleinhabitantstoadesperateresistance，whichrenderedunavailing，thisshortoccupationofthetown，byahandfulofmen，who，findingthemselvesleftwithoutassistance，retreatedtowardsthebreach.Manywhocouldnotreachitperishedinthetown.
DuringthisassaultDuroc，whowasinthetrench，waswoundedintherightthighbytheasplinterfromashellfiredagainstthefortifications.Fortunatelythisaccidentonlycarriedawaythefleshfromthebone，whichremaineduntouched.Hehadatentincommonwithseveralother’aidesdecamp’;butforhisbetteraccommodationIgavehimmine，andIscarcelyeverquittedhim.Enteringhistentonedayaboutnoon，Ifoundhiminaprofoundsleep.Theexcessiveheathadcompelledhimtothrowoffallcovering，andpartofhiswoundwasexposed.Iperceivedascorpionwhichhadcrawledupthelegofthecamp—bedandapproachedveryneartothewound.Iwasjustintimetohurlittotheground.ThesuddenmotionofmyhandawokeDuroc.
Weoftenbathedinthesea.SometimestheEnglish，perhapsaftertakingadoubleallowanceofgrog，wouldfireatourheads，whichappearedabovewater.Iamnotawarethatanyaccidentwasoccasionedbytheircannonade;butaswewerebeyondreachoftheirguns，wepaidscarcelyanyattentiontothefiring.Itwasseenasubjectofamusementtous.
HadourattackonSt.Jeand’Acrebeenlessprecipitate，andhadthesiegebeenundertakenaccordingtotherulesofwar;theplacewouldnothaveheldoutthreedays;oneassault，likethatofthe8thofMay，wouldhavebeensufficient.If，inthesituationinwhichwewereonthedaywhenwefirstcameinsightoftherampartsofAcre;wehadmadealessinconsiderateestimateofthestrengthoftheplace;ifwehadlikewisetakenintoconsiderationtheactiveco—operationoftheEnglishandtheOttomanPorte;ourabsolutewantofartilleryofsufficientcalibre;ourscarcityofgunpowderandthedifficultyofprocuringfood;wecertainlyshouldnothaveundertakenthesiege;andthatwouldhavebeenbyfarthewisestcourse.
TowardstheendofthesiegetheGeneral—in—ChiefreceivedintelligenceofsometriflinginsurrectionsinnorthernEgypt.Anangelhadexcitedthem，andtheheavenlymessenger，whohadcondescendedtoassumeaname，wascalledtheMahdi，orElMohdy.Thisreligiousextravagance，however，didnotlastlong，andtranquillitywassoonrestored.AllthatthefanaticMahdi，whoshroudedhimselfinmystery，succeededindoingwastoattackourrearbysomevagabonds，whoseillusionsweredissipatedbyafewmusketshots.