ral spirit of their warfare, like that of the ancient Scythians and the Arabs, was, to cut off fupplies, and harafs and destroy their enemy by repeated attacks, according to opportunities. But in different circumftances, their courage, as might be expected, was more or lefs impetuous and daring. The beys were not all of them, without exception, of Chriftian ori-, gir, as has been commonly fuppofed. Of late years the annual number of flaves from Georgia, Mingrelia, and Circaffia, has been greatly diminished. In 1762, five of the beys were of Mahometan defcent and from the caufe juft mentioned, the proportion of the Mahometan to what we may call the Chriftian beys, has probably become greater. The number of the beys, origirally four-and-twenty, by the encroachments of the more powerful over the weaker, had been reduced, it is faid, to eighteen or twenty but on that point the accounts vary. They had frequent quarrels with one another, but thefe did not lead to fach ferious and obftinate contefts as has been imagined. They did not draw the whole of their refources, whether of actual possession or credit, and many thoufands of anoffending people, into the vortex of protracted war, but quickly fettled their difputes by pitched encounters; in which they were accompanied and joined by the fmall corps of their refpective bodyguards. When the combat was over, the conqueror returned immediately to the capital, where moft of the bathaws refided. The vanquished party returned alfo thither, in a few days thereafter. If he fell in battle, another bey was chofen in his stead; and there was an end of the matter. So that on the whole the difputes among the Mammalukes were not of fuch an inveterate nature, as to prevent a ready union againft, a cominon enemy. There were about 10,000 Mammalukes clothed in one uniform, and which were at the difpofal of government; or rather that of the Beys, who feem to have confidered themfelves as forming, in fome respects, a kind of republic. But, befides thefe, each Mammaluke kept on foot, or could easily raise bodies of men among his own vaffals. There were in Egypt, befides the military and predominant cafte of the Mammalukes, a great number' of Arabs, Jews, Greeks, and Cophts, who were Chriftians, and the defeendents of the ancient Egyptians, The Bedouin Arabs were attached to the Mahometan faith, and hoftile to ftrangers: but neither abfolutely proof against the power of money, nor the ufual influence of a career of victory amongst barbarians. The After his firft fuccefles, the reduction of Alexandria, Rofetta, Damietta, and Cairo, and, above all, the battle of the Pyramids, there was ground for hope, that many of the Arabs might be drawn over to the fide of the conqueror. Jews, as ufual, were at the fervice of the best paymafter; not to make any account of the refentment they muft have felt at the treatment they received from the Turks and other Muficlmen. The Greeks and the Cophts, though greatly humbled in their minds, as in their fortunes, and the latter debafed almoft to brutality, by a long feries of tyranny and oppreffion, might yet be rouzed by kinder treatment, and better profpects, to a fenfe of natural dignity and freedom. The clouded profpects of Buonaparte were therefore, on the [BS] whole. whole, brightened up by gleams of hope, fufficient to call the powers of his inventive and active mind into full exertion. appearance of the British fleet, with wonderful celerity. The The first care of the general was to provide for the fupport of his The land-forces on board Buona- troops, and the prefervation of their parte's fleet, when he took poffeffion health. The Egyptians, by nature of Malta, infantry, artillery, and a foft and timid race, were naturally cavalry, amounted to near 40,000. ftruck, after the arrival of the Four thoufand were left to garrifon French, with terror. They fhut that ifland; but, in return, fome themfelves up in their own houses, thousands of the Maltefe failors and and concealed whatever they had foldiers joined him, as volunteers, in fit for being used as food. So that his expedition to Egypt. And the for feveral days the French were battle of Aboukir, which ruined the forced to fubfift on their own naval fleet, contributed to reinforce the ftores. But when the apprehenarmy. To the 36,000 that remain- fions of the natives were removed, ed, after leaving a garrifon in Malta, by the good difcipline of the French, he added the volunteers of that the markets of Alexandria were place, under the defignation of the fupplied with all forts of provifions, Maltefe legion: and the mariners, in the greatest abundance. who escaped from the wrecks of Delta was fully fufficient to fupply the fleet, to the number of 2 or all neceffaries, which could be con3,000, under that of the nautical veyed to the French magazines, hy legion. There were, on board the the Nile, or by canals. The old fhips of the line, frigates, and canal that conveyed the waters of other veffels of war, in the port of the Nile to Alexandria, with other Alexandria, about 4,000 men. The canals, were cleared and repaired. crews of the transports amounted to Wind-mills were conftructed for the 2,000, and thofe of a flotilla, equip grinding of corn, the only mills ped on the Nile, to 1,500. So that known to the natives being handthere ftill remained, at the difpofal mills, and here and there mills of the French commander, a force,wrought by oxen. The want of wine land and marine, of near 50,000 was found capable of being fupplied men. The land force was difpofed by a pit extracted from dates. along the courfe of the Nile, as far And the Egyptian inftitute, formed as Salachier, at the entrance of the on the plan of that of France, had it defert. Here a frong fort was in charge, from the commanderraifed with great expedition. The in-chief, to inquire whether Egypt old caffle of Cairo commanding that did not furnish a fubfiitute for hops great city, whole population has for the making of beer. At Alexanbeen calculated at 400,000, was dra, and Grand Cairo, boards were repaired, or rather rebuilt and intituted for inquiring into the bett firengthened, according to the rules means for the prevention of contaof modern fortification. Redoubts gious dilempers, and in general for were caft up in other places; and preferving the health of the feamen the entrance into the harbour of and foldiers: among the firft fruits Alexandria was defended by for- of which was the cleaning of thefe midable batteries, raifed, on the and other cities from many impuri ties, and a recommendation of the bath, with directions for ufing it, to the French foldiers. At Cairo, a theatre was established for the amufement of the French; and mufic was introduced on all occafions. But, in fpite of every effort of this kind, the French army muft be diminished by the accidents of war in the process of time, and that not very long, and by natural deaths and difeafe moulder away at laft to nothing, unless it thould, from time to time, be recruited by freth fupplies of men. Buonaparte,therefore, in imitation of the Romans, and of Alexander the Great, whofe examples were still before him, determined to arrange, under his ftandard, the inhabitants of the country, which, as yet he had over-run, and that only in part, rather than conquered. He allured into his fervice, by liberal pay and the profpect of plunder, corps of Arabs and Greeks, and even a company of Janiffaries. The fons of the Mammalukes, who had fallen in battle, or fled from the country, above eight but under fixteen years of age, as well as those of their flaves, white or black, he brought into the demi-brigades to fupply the place of the French drummers, and players on the fife, whom he placed in the ranks, as fafileers. The young Mammalukes, from fixteen to twenty-four, were incorporated with the battalions. The predominant paffions of the inhabitants of Egypt, were religious bigotry and fuperftition, and a jealoufy and indignation against any degree of familiarity with their women. Buonaparte, therefore, deemed it necellary to inftruct and caution his army on thefe two important and delicate subjects. In a proclamation, dated at head-quarters, on Loard the L'Orient, June 22, 1798, after declaring the object of the expedition, which was, to promote the general interefts of civilzation and commerce, and humble the naval power of England, and confidently promifing, after feveral fatiguing marches, and fome hoftile encounters, complete fuccefs, he told them, that the people, among whom they were going to live, were Mahometans; the first article of whofe religious creed was, that "There is no God, but God, and Mahomet is his prophet." Do not contradict them, faid he. Conduct yourselves, towards them, as we have done towards the Jews and the Italians. Shew refpect to their muftis and their imans, and the ceremonies prescribed by the Koran as you have fhewn to the rabbis and the bishops. Cherith the fame spirit of toleration for the mofques that you have entertained for the convents and the fynagogues, for the religion of Mofes, and of Jefus Chrift. The Roman legions protected all religions. You will find here ufages different from those of Europe. You will reconcile your felves to them by cuflom. ; The people of the land into which we are about to enter differ from us in their mode of their treatment of women: but, in every country, he who offers violence to the women is a monfter. Boraparte proceeded next to warn them againft giving way to a fpirit of plunder." Pillage, which can enrich only a very few, reflects dithonour on the whole; it dries up our refources, and converts into enemies thofe whom it is our inter eft to have for friends." In conclufion, he reminded them that the city they were going to attack was built by Alexander, and that grand recollections, fitted to excite the [B 4]. emulation emulation of Frenchmen, would be recalled to their minds at every ftep. At the fame time, orders were iffued that every individual of the army who fhould pillage or steal fhould be fhot; that the punishment of death fhould alfo be inflicted on every individual of the army who fhould impofe contributions on on towns, villages, or individuals, or fhould commit extortions of any kind; and that, when any individuals of a divifion fhould have committed any disorders in a country, the whole divifion, if the offender fhould not be difcovered, fhould be responsible, and pay the fum neceffary to indemnify the inhabitants for the lofs fuftained. Nothing but neceffaries for the foldiers, hofpitals, tranfports, and artillery, was to be put in requifition; and, when once the requifitions were made, the objects required were to be put into the hands of the different adminiftrations, who fhould give receipts for them, and receive others from thofe to whom they should diftribute them, and be accountable for every thing. Thus, in no cafe, could officers or foldiers receive directly the objects required. While Buonaparte was anxious to reftrain his officers and foldiers from giving any offence to the prople of Egypt, he was farther folicitous to gain their forbearance and good will by the strongest profeffions of regard for both their religious fentiments and civil interefts, endeavouring to perfuade them that day and the Great Nation could have no other than the fame objects in view, the fame friends, and he fame enemies. In a letter to the bafhaw of Egypt, June So, be "The executive directory of the French republic have 5 frequently applied to the Sublime Porte to demand the punishment of the beys of Egypt, who oppreffed, with their vexations, the merchants of France; but the Sublime Porte declared that the beys, an avaricious and fickle race, refufed to liften to the principles of juftice; and, not only, that the Perte did not authorize thefe infults, but withdrew their protection from the perfons by whom they were committed; the French republic has refolved to fend a powerful army to put an end to the exactions of the beys of Egypt, in the fame manner as it has been feveral times compelled, during the prefent century, to take thefe meafures against the beys of Tunis and Algiers. You, who ought to be the mafters of the beys, and yet are kept at Cairo, without power or authority. You ought to regard my arrival with pleafure; you are, doubtlefs, already apprifed that I come not to attempt any thing against the alcoran or the fultan. You know that the Frenchnation is the only ally which the fultan kas in Europe. Come, then, and meet me, and curfe along with me the impious race of the beys." On the fame day, the general-inchief, affuming the air and character of a true Muffelman, addressed a proclamation to the people of Egypt. As it ferves to difplay the character of the Egyptians, as well as that of Buonaparte, it may be acceptable to the reader that it fhould be inferted here, at full length, rather than receive a tincture of any other mind, even by abridgement. It is a curious fpecimen of that moral artillery with which Buonaparte, "becoming all things to all men," propofed to fpread the power of the French republic over the world, "In the gracious: "For a long time, the beys who govern Egypt have infulted the French nation, and oppreffed their merchants with exactions. "For a long time, this heap of flaves, purchased in the mountains of Caucafus and Georgia, have tyrannized over the fairest part of the world. "But God, upon whom all depends, has directed that their empire fhould ceafe. "Inhabitants of Egypt, when the beys tell you I come to deftroy your religion, believe them not: anfwer them, that I come to refcue the rights of the poor from the hands of their tyrants; and that the French refpect, more than the Mammalukes, God, his prophet, and the Koran. "Tell them that all men are equal in the eyes of God. Underftanding, ingenuity, and fcience alone, make a difference between them; and what wildom, what talents, what virtues, diftinguish the Mammalukes, that they thould have exclufively all that renders life fweet and pleasant? Is there a beautiful woman? fhe belongs to the Mammalukes. Is there a handfome flave, a fine horse, a fine houfe? they belong to the Mammalukes. "Is Egypt their farm? let them fhew the leafe which God has given them. But God is juft and merciful to all his people, All the Egyp tians are entitled to the poffeffion of all places. The wifeft, most enlightened, and most virtuous, will govern, and the people will be happy. You had once great cities, large canals, much trade: who has deftroyed them, but the avarice, injuftice, and tyranny, of the Mammalukes? Cadis, cheiks, imans, tcherbadjies, tell the people that we are the friends of true Muffelmen. Did we not deftroy the pope, who faw that it was neceffary to make war against the Mullelmen? Did we not deftroy the knights of Malta, because those foolish men thought that God wifhed war to be carried on against the Muffelmen? Have we not been, at all times, the friends of the grand feignior, (may God accomplish his wifhes!) and the foc of his foes? The Mammalukes, on the contrary, are not they ever revolting against the authority of the grand feignior, whom they still refufe to acknowledge? Thrice happy thofe who are with us! they fall profper in their fortune and rank; happy those who are neuter ! they will have time to learn, to know us, and will be with us. But miferable, thrice miferable thofe who fhall arm for the Mammalukes, and fight against us; there fhall be no hope for them, they fhall perih! Article I. All places which fall be three leagues difiant from the route of the French army fhall fend one of their principal inhabitants to the general, to declare that they fubmit, and will hoift the French flag, which is blue, white, and red. II. Every village which thall arm against the French army thall be burned to the ground. III. Every village which fhall fubmit to the French fhall hoift the French flag, and that of the Sublime Porte, their ally. IV. The |