1801 ment of Menou to the chief command. Such, however, was the effect of this acquisition, that Menou and Belliard, the one at Alexandria and the other at Cairo, were entirely cut off from all communication with each other, and the navigation of the Nile,† and, by it, a free communication with the interior country, was secured to the English army. Grand Cairo was now the general's next object.-Reflecting that many obstacles might impede his progress in the accomplishment of its reduction, and that the time was limited during which he could be assisted by the co-operation of the fleet, he proceeded with all possible dispatch, in defiance of the difficulties arising from natural obstructions. On their route over the intervening sandy, trackless deserts, the general and his troops were cheered with the intelligence that the grand vizier, assisted with a detachment under major Holloway, had gained a complete victory at El-hanca, ‡ over a body of forces sent by Belliard to oppose his march from Balbeis, and had pursued the enemy to the plains of Heliopolis. -This event, and the capture of two valuable convoys on their progress, which afforded the army a seasonable supply of provisions and camels,' and the intelligence that soon arrived of the surrender of fort Lesbé and the port of Damietta to our arms, animated the troops with sanguine hopes of the final success of the expedition." On the twenty-third day of may general Hutchinson had his first interview with the grand vizier, at Menouf, about thirty miles north of Cairo. With that venerable commander and the captain pacha he concerted his plan for the reduction of the city: and being, moreover, assured of the co-operation of the mamelukes by the arrival of several of the chief beys in his camp, among whom were Ibrahim, the rival of Murad, Osman Tambourgi, Mohamed Elfi, Hassan, and Osman Bardici, he lost not a moment in carrying it into execution.**-Having crossed the Nile on a The description of the vizier's camp and army, given by sir Robert Wilson, is well deserving our attention; and points out the circumstances in which the mamelukes differ from them. "The grand vizier's army presented a very different appearance to the Turks under the captain "pacha. Here was no regularity, no trace of discipline; each corps encamped confusedly around "its chieftain; horses and camels crowded all the intervals; tumbrils and cannon lay mixed 66 amongst 66 66 bridge constructed of small vessels, the general was preparing for an attack on the enemy's forces posted at Ghazah, when a flag of truce arrived from general Belliard. A conference in consequence took place between generals Moran and Hope, and a capitulation was settled by them, by which it was agreed, that the French forces should be conveyed to the "French ports in the Mediterranean, with their arms and effects, within fifty days from the date of the ratification; men of letters and naturalists were permitted to retain their papers and collections; an exoneration "was granted to such of the people as had adhered to the cause of France; "and it was stipulated that Menou might avail himself of these conditions. "for the surrender of Alexandria, provided his acceptance of them was "notified to the general commanding before Alexandria within ten days "from the date of the communication being made to him."-The subsequent ratification of this treaty † gave the British general full possession of all that the French had held in the interior parts of Egypt, and opened to him a fair prospect of finally dispossessing them of their settlement in this country. In the accomplishment of this purpose he was now to be assisted by a reinforcement of above 5000 troops brought by general Baird.-That officer had sailed from India, by the way of the Red-sea, in the month of december. On intelligence of the state of things in Egypt he had made the greatest exertions to reach Cairo in time to co-operate in the siege; but did not arrive till a few days after the capitulation was signed.* 66 During amongst them, and the whole formed a most disgusting chaos, whilst the dirt and filth of the camp certainly were amply sufficient to generate the plague, and every pestilential disease. "In the evening, when the gale of wind blew up the fine particles of soil, the atmosphere was "intolerable, and words fail to give a just description of the wretchedness. "The troops were composed of all nations, and such a rabble was never beheld. There is good "ground for asserting that near ten thousand Arabs, after the battle of Elhanca, joined the grand vizier, in hopes of the pillage of Cairo. The number of horses was prodigious, as each Turkish "soldier provided himself with one en route, and the wretched country was desolated with barba rous violence to afford them forage. The mamelukes, however, to the number of five hundred "and sixty, were encamped in a very superior manner; their lines were kept clear, and regularity 46 was visible throughout; their dress was very rich, their manners accomplished, and the general appearance corresponded with expectation."-Wilson's History of the Expedition. 116. 46 1801 ||June 22. + June 26. y Wilson. 128. 31. • Annual Register. 236. Wilson, 167. 71. 1801 During these successes in the interior, general Coote, whose judgment and experience well qualified him for the important trust, was invested with the command of the forces left to maintain the ground which the British army had occupied before Alexandria. His army, although reinforced with 1800 men from England, was too weak to enter upon active operations till the several divisions of the grand army were arrived from Cairo. When general Menou was informed of the surrender of that city, and particularly of the article in the treaty which concerned himself, he expressed much indignation. He blamed general Belliard, because he thought there were still several events which might have changed the state of their affairs; especially that of being relieved by admiral Gentheaume, who was waiting an opportunity to throw succours into Alexandria. And he declared that he would bury himself in the ruins of the city, rather than surrender it to the enemy. All the forces being assembled before it, the English gun-boats having passed through the cut from lake Aboukir to Mareotis to assist in the siege, and lord Keith being prepared to co-operate in the Mediterranean, their operations were commenced with great vigour. They had been carried on ten days, and considerable advances were made by the besiegers, when Menou, finding all his efforts fruitless, sent an aid de camp to desire an armistice for three days, which was granted him. He would willingly have renewed it. But general Hutchinson declared that he would recommence hostilities if an answer to the proposals were not instantly given. A capitulation was then concluded. of the same purport with that signed by Belliard, such," says sir Robert Wilson, "as embraced every desirable object, without unnecessarily degrad 66 ing the conquered."-We may form some idea of the strength of this city and the merit of the besiegers from these circumstances-that it had in its fortification 312 pieces of artillery, and that the garrison which surrendered amounted to 10,528 men.-Such was the happy termination of an expedition which, if viewed not only in its immediate effects but its remote consequences, must be considered as the most important of any that was ever undertaken by Great Britain. For by it our enemy's pride was humbled, his scheme for the conquest of our East India settlements was frustrated, and our trade to that country was secured. When Buonaparte was under the mortification arising from this disappointment, when all his hopes of forming a settlement in Egypt were blasted, and he saw with chagrin that there was still a power existing which not only dared to oppose him, but which had done it with success, he was consoled by the issue of his negotiations with the other powers which had been hostile to him.-Early in this year, a definitive treaty was signed at Luneville, between his imperial majesty and the French government, upon the basis of that of Campo Formio: and measures were, at the same time, entered upon, with the emperor's consent and intervention, for effecting a treaty for the settlement of all matters in dispute between France and the Germanic body. Having accomplished his views on the continent of Europe, the first consul breathed vengeance against England; and an invasion of that kingdom was now apparently his object.-Before the end of june he had assembled his forces in Flanders and Picardy, and formed them into three grand divisions; one encamped between Bruges and Ostend; another between Gravelines and Dunkirk; and another near Boulogne.-If preparations and menaces could have intimidated Great Britain, nothing could have been better calculated for that purpose than the present measures adopted by France. While nearly the whole force of the republic destined for active service, except the army of Egypt, was thus drawn to the coast opposite to England, every port in France was a scene of the most industrious exertion; where the workmen appeared to be straining every nerve to forward the construction of gun-boats and other apparatus for an invasion. A combined fleet of above fifty sail of the line assembled at Brest, to cover the descent. Two smaller fleets, one of eight and the other of five ships, commanded by Gentheaume and la Touche, were destined, it was supposed, to some secret expedition. Moreover, in order to facilitate. every measure that he might think proper to adopt, might bring every part of that military and naval system under his immediate orders by which he was preparing to subjugate France and annoy other states, the whole extent of 1801 1801 of the coast of France was divided into the six prefectures of Toulon, l'Orient, Rochefort, Havre de Grace, Brest, and Antwerp; and telegraphs were erected for the conveyance of intelligence to every part of them.' Nothing would have prevented the execution of the enemy's design but the excellent state of preparation in which the British kingdoms were held. The zeal and spirit of the nation in raising volunteer corps were unexampled: and, to give it the greatest effect, instructions were dispatched to the lord lieutenants of the several counties, for the regulation of the respective corps within their departments. Arrangements were also made respecting the routes which they were to take, if called into the field; and orders were distributed respecting the driving away of cattle, and other means to prevent distress to ourselves and to embarrass the enemy on his landing. It could not but afford the highest satisfaction to the sovereign, and to all who felt themselves warmly interested in the national welfare, to observe such a general spirit of loyalty and patriotism displayed throughout the kingdom, to see many of those who had been malecontents uniting with their countrymen in opposition to a foreign enemy, and the fell demon of rebellion hiding its head.-But it was to the naval force of the kingdom that men looked as their chief bulwark against the attempts of our proud foe. Formidable as his preparations appeared, the nation contemplated them without dismay when they reflected on the vast force of our navy and the superior character of our seamen; that the enemy's ports in the low countries were blocked up by the fleets of Dickson and Graves, that of Toulon by Warren, that of Brest by Cornwallis, that of Cadiz by Saumarez; that lord Nelson, on his return from the Baltic, was invested with the supreme command of the maritime force from the land's end to Yarmouth; and that a correspondence was formed between the different fleets by the squadrons and ships of war which were stationed at proper distances along the French and Dutch coasts, to watch the movements, and capture the vessels which ventured to put to sea. enemy's A reflection on past events, moreover, came to their aid. When their imagination presented to them the standard of Elizabeth upheld with such exemplary zeal by the nobles and men of all ranks, on the threatened invasion f Annual Register. 243. |