Page:Life of Napoleon Bonaparte.pdf/11

Rh pursuit of him. During the night of the 22nd of June, (the French having departed from Malta on the 19th), the English fleet passed within six leagues of the French fleet! What myriads of human beings would have been preserved had Nelson that night espied his enemy. The squadron, however, escaped, and on the 30th arrived safe before Alexandria. The French immediately commenced an attack upon the town, which capitulated, after a dreadful carnage.

From Alexandria the army took the road to Cairo, and, on the morning of the 10th of July, came in sight of the Pyramids. Napoleon having issued his orders, placed himself in front of his army, and with extended arm, pointing to the Pyramids, exclaimed in the most vehement manner: “Soldiers, think, that from the summits of those monuments, forty ages are at this moment surveying our conduct!" The army, full of enthusiasm, cried out to be led to action; when, being speedily ranged in order of battle, a decisive victory over the quadruple numbers of the enemy was the consequence. This brilliant victory was followed by the surrender of Cairo, on the 22nd of July.

On the 1st of August, 1798, the battle of Aboukir, so fatal to the French navy, took place. On that momentous day for England, nine of the enemy's ships were captured, one frigate sunk; while another vessel and frigate were burnt by their respective crews. Two ships and two frigates were all that escaped falling into the hands of the gallant Nelson. The effect produced by this maritime disaster, it is not for us to conceive.

On the 11th February, 1799, the army marched for Syria, and after traversing the desert, which divides Africa from Asia, took possession of the fortress of El Arish. Gaza next became conquered, and on the 28th the army encamped before Jaffa (the Joppa of the scriptures) where the enemy had