Page:History of Egypt.pdf/5

( 5 ) It is certain that be ſeizing and organising theſe countries, we ſhall be entitled to extend our views still farther, to, by degrees, the Engliſh East India , enter into it with advantage ourſelves. Ind finally into our hands, the whole commerce of Africa and Asia." We shall now give an account of Bonaparte's expedition, and the  that time.

In the month of May 1798. Bonaparte, having the ſlower of his army at Toulon, and being joined by 12.000 men from Genoa as many from Civita making in all above 40.000 land forces, he ſet ſail. leaving all Europe in anxious doubt and uncertainty in what country for a dreadful plague was ſent. After touching, at Malta and himſelf of it, he proceeded on to Alexandria, where he arrived in July, 2000 men he eaſily carried it by ſtorm. The other strengths of Egypt were reduced, but with greater and difficulty from he want of, than from army reſiſtance which the inhabitants could make, who see all equally hoſtile to him, and zealous in retarding his progreſs in a ſhort time the ranks of his army were thinned, that diſcontent and dialection became evident, which were freely expreſſed by clamorous againſt the framers of the expedition

The first of Auguſt ſunk them in despair; on the one hand they ſaw in the deſtruction of their fleet the poſſibility of their return cut off and on the other, the inhabitants were to exaſperated by the crucities exerciſed on, that whenever a French ſoldier wandered from the body if not by any of the natives he was killed.

Admiral Nelson living been detached from Lord St. cent with a fleet to watch the motions of Bonaparte, sailed direct for Alexandria, which place he reached before the French fleet and immediately returned to Syracuſe, where having refreſhed his fleet, and obtained certain information of his enemies, he proceeded again to Egypt and found their fleet at anchor in Aboukir Bay.

The admiral made the ſignal to prepare for battle, and that it was his intention to attack the enemy's van and centre as they lay at anchor, and according to the plan Afore devoloped. His Idea, in this diſpoſition of his force victory and then to make the