Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/514

 476 Readings in European History Felicitations of the Mo- hammedan muftis. who groan under oppression. Muftis, imams, mollahs, der- vishes, and kalenders : instruct the people of Egypt ; encour- age them to join in our labors to complete the destruction of the Beys and the Mamelukes. Favor the commerce of the Franks in your country and their endeavors to arrive at the ancient land of Brahma. Let them have storehouses in your ports, and drive far from you the English, accursed among the children of Jesus ! Such is the will of Moham- med. The treasures, industry, and friendship of the Franks shall be your lot till you ascend to the seventh heaven and are seated by the side of the black-eyed houris who are endowed with perpetual youth and maidenhood." The Mohammedan muftis in return called him an envoy of God, the favorite of Mohammed, the successor of Iskan- der [i.e. Alexander the Great] most valiant among the chil- dren of Jesus. " May the Prophet," said one of them, " cause thee to sit at his left hand on the day of resurrection, after the third sound of the trumpet." " At length," said another, " the dawn of happiness breaks upon us ; the time destined by God has arrived ; an atmosphere of felicity surrounds us. The resplendent star of victory, which guides the French warriors, has shed upon us its dazzling light ; fame and honor go before them ; good fortune and honor accompany them. The chief who marches at their head is impetuous and ter- rible ; his name terrifies kings. Princes bow their haughty heads before this invincible Bonaparte." 1 Madame de Remusat, whose husband was one of Napoleon's secretaries, gives, in her delightful and im- portant memoirs, a good account of Bonaparte's atti- tude toward the Egyptian adventure and his return to France. He said to her : When I returned to France I found public opinion in a lethargic condition. In Paris — and Paris is France — 1 Similar sentiments are expressed in some of Bonaparte's proclama- tions printed in his correspondence and in the extract from the memoirs of Madame de Remusat, given below.