theatre; it consists of stone houses, with battlements on the top, and is protected by a fort. Notwithstanding the most obstinate resistance, and a violent fire, the village was carried by the bayonet. The enemy retired into the fort, but with such precipitation, that in shutting the gates they excluded about 200 men, who were killed or taken prisoners. General Regnier the same evening blockaded the fort of El-Arisch. At the same time he observed a reinforcement of cavalry and infantry of the enemy escorting a convoy with provisions for El-Arisch, and this reinforcement continually increased till the 25th, when the enemy, emboldened by their superiority in cavalry, encamped within half a league of El-Arisch, on a plain covered by a very steep ravine, where they considered themselves as safe from an attack.

'General Regnier having acquainted General Kleber, who had arrived with his division, with his project of surprising the enemy in their camp at El-Arisch, during the night, which project was approved by General Kleber.

Du

ring the night btween the 26th and 27th, a part of Regnier's division turned the ravine which covered the camp of the Mameluks, fell upon the enemy, killed or made prisoners such as could not escape by flight, and took a great number of horses and camels, together with a large quantity of provisions, stores, ammunition, &c.; two Beys, and some Califfs, were killed on the field of battle. The Commander in Chief had left Cairo on the 22d, and arrived on the 29th at El-Arisch, where at the same time were to join the park of artillery, the division of General Bon, and that of General Lanncs. General Regnier had ordered a few cannon shot to be fired against the fortress, and had already began to advance his line of attack; but not being furnished with a sufficient quantity of ammunition to batter it in breadth, he summoned the commander of the fort, and closed in the blockade; he had also advanced a mine under one of the towers, which, however, was countermined by the enemy. The army took a position before El-Arisch. On the 30th, Bonaparte ordered one of

the castle to be cannonaded; the breach being opened, he summoned the place to surrender. The garrison was composed of Arnautes and Maugrabins, all rude barbarians, without leaders, uninformed in any of the principles of war acknowledged by civilized nations. Their answer was, that they were willing to come out with their arms and baggage, as it was their wish to go to Acre. Bonaparte was anxious to spare the effusion of his soldiers' blood; he delayed the assault. At length, on the 2d March, the garrison, consisting of 1600 men, surrendered, on condition of being permitted to retire to Baydal, by the desert. Some of the Maugrabins entered into the French service. We found in the fortress about 250 horses, two dismounted pieces of artillery, and several days provisions. The guides led General Kleber astray in the desert, as also the divisions of Bon and Lannes, who had followed his steps. The troops suffered severely from thirst, and their absence alarmed Bonaparte, who retreated into the desert until the army was concentrated.

"On the 6th of March, the head-quarters of the army marched to Kan Jonnesse, the first village of Palestine, as you get out of the desert, and from which you discover the cultivated plain of Gaza. General Regnier's division had orders to remain at El-Arisch till dispositions were made for putting the fortress in a state of defence, and the park of artillery in motion. At a league and a half distance from Kan Jounesse, we discovered on the road a few columns of granite, and some fragments of marble dispersed here and there, which betokened the remains of an ancient monument, a well, bearing the name of which, is to be found in the neighbourhood; but, upon examination, it appeared more probable that, from the appearances of the remaining ruins, it was a place where the caravans stopped to take in water at the entrance of the desert which separates Syria from Egypt. Abdalla Pacha and the Mameluks encamped in the front of Kan Jounesse, informed of the approach of our army, raised their camp during the night of the 6th, and fell back upon Gaza.

'On the 7th the army marched against Gaza; at the distance of two leagues from that fortress, we perceived upon the heights a body of cavalry of the enemy. Bonaparte formed his three divisions, each into a square body; that of Kleber was ordered to march against Gaza; General Bon's division moved against the centre; that of General Lannes was to occupy the heights on our right, in order to turn those that were possessed by the enemy's cavalry. The enemy made several movements, and, from changing their positions, seemed undecided. They at length put themselves in motion to advance towards us; they however made immediately a retrograde movement; we marched against them with fixed bayonets, upon which they withdrew. Kleber's division cut off and killed several of their riflemen; our cavalry also manœuvred to entice and attack, but they could not succeed in engaging the hostile cavalry, who disappeared altogether at the close of the day. The army was at three quarters of a league in front of Gaza, which had been evacuated since the morning. The head-quarters were established at Gaza, and the army took its position upon the heights.

"Gaza has a circular fort, in good condition, forming in the interior a pentagon of about 40 toises (240 feet) in diameter. It contained 15,000 lb. of powder, several cannon, a quantity of carcases, cartridges, with a large store of warlike provisions. In the town were also found about 100,000 rations of biscuit, with much rice, tobacco, many tents, and a large quantity of barley. The inhabitants had sent commissioners to meet Bonaparte, and were threrefore treated as friends. The Com ́mander in Chief passed two days in organizing the place and the country, both in a civil and military point of view. A Divan was formed of the principal Turks inhabiting the town. The provisions and ammunition found here were so much the more acceptable, as the supplies which were to have been sent after us from Cathick were greatly delayed, from the difficulty of conveyance across the desert.

"The main body of the army began to advance towards Jaffa, where the enemy were collecting their forces, for the purpose of making a stand. We encamped on the 11th at Esdodes, and on the 12th at Ramlay, a town inhabited for the greater part by Christians. We there found some magazines of biscuit, which the enemy had not time to remove. We also found some at the village of Ledda. Some of the roving Arabs attempted to plunder these villages, but were repulsed by our advanced parties. The division under General Kleber, which formed the advanced guard, marched to Jaffa. The enemy, on his arrival, entered the body of the place, and cannonaded his division, whilst it took its position. Bonaparte and the other bodies of the army arriving in succession, Kleber's division and the cavalry were ordered to advance to the banks of Lahoya, about two leagues on the way to Acre, for the purpose of covering the siege of Jaffa.

"The following day the division of Bon and Lasne formed the investment of the place. They were encamped on the adjoining heights, from which, in the evening, the town was reconnoitered. The point of attack was fixed on to the south of the town, where the heights make an approach to the highest and strongest part of the fortifications. Jaffa is enclosed by a wall, but without any fosse, and flanked by towers provided with cannon. Towards the sea are two forts, which defend the harbour and the road. The place appeared well provided with the means of defence.

In the preceding night the trenches were opened, and exertions were used to open a battery in breach against the most commanding of the square towers, and two counter batteries. Another battery was also erected to the north of the place, to make a diversion by a false attack. The 16th, as well as the preceding day, was employed in completing our works. The enemy attempting two sallies, but were driven back with considerable loss. The batteries then opened their fire, and at four o'clock in the evening a breach was made, which appeared to be practicable. An assault was ordered, and the 22d brigade

of light carbineers was the first to advance. They were led by the Adjutants-General Rambeaud and Netherwood, with Vernois, an officer of the engineers. They had with them the workmen of the engineers, and of the artillery: the chief of the brigade was killed. Our brave fellows flew to the breach, and ascended it in spite of a flanking fire, which we could not by any means subdue. They made a lodgment in the square tower, and hoisted our flag. The enemy made every effort to attack and repulse our troops; but these being supported by the division of General Lannes, and by our artillery, which fired grape-shot into the town, following the progress made by our troops, advanced from roof to roof, and from street to street, until they took and hoisted our flag on the fort. They at length reached the harbour, and terror seized the garrison, the greater part of which was put to the sword. About 300 Egyptians, who escaped from the assault, were sent to Egypt, and restored to their families. We lost about 30 men killed in the breach and in the town, and had also several wounded.

'The garrison was composed of about 1200 Turkish gun'ners, about 2500 Maugrabins, or Arnauts, and some Egyptians. We found in the place ten pieces of cannon, and 16lb. howitzers for the field equipage, sent by the Grand Segnior to the Dgezzar Pacha, and twenty bad brass and iron pieces, which were placed on the ramparts.

'Bonaparte being master of all the forts, ordered that the inhabitants should be spared; and General Robin took the command of the place. He succeeded in extinguishing the disorders which naturally follow an assault, resisted with obstinacy by barbarians, ignorant of the usages of warfare amongst civilized nations. The inhabitants were protected, and immediately returned to their own habitations. In the harbour we found 15 small trading vessels. Bonaparte formed a Divan, consisting of the most distinguished Turks in the place: he took the necessary measures for restoring it to a state of defence, and also established an hospital. Jaffa was