Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-20

Loaf. The "Corcovado" situated behind the
city, about four miles from the coast, is the
hi CHEST point of land about Rio, being 1900
feet above the level of the sea.
BONAPARTE AND THE MAMELUKES.
From Walter SCOTS Life of Napoeon.
Upon the 5th July, The army marched from
Alexandria against the Mamelukes. Their
course was up the Nile, and small ho,ila OF
gun-boats assembled the river to protect their
right flank, while the infantry ,raverseI desert
Of burning sands. at distance from the stream,
and without drop of water to relieve their
,ormenling thrs, The army of Italy, accus.
toned 10 the enjoyments of that delicious coun-
try, were astonished at the Gesolation they saw
around them is this they said, the country
in which we are TO receive our farms Of seven
acres each? The General might have allowed
US 10 take as much as we choose-no one would
have abused the privilege Their officers, too,
expressed horror and disgust, and even generals
of such celebrity as Murat and Lannes threw
their hats on the sand and lroc on their cock
AIDES. 1t required all Buonaparte' authority to
maintain order, sn much were the French dis
gusted with the commencement Of the expedl-
ton.
To add TO their embarrassment, the enemy
began 10 appear around them. Mamelukes and
Arabs, concealed behind the hillocks of sand,
interrupted their march al every opportunity,
and woe to the soldier who struggled from the
ranks, were it bu, fifty yards Some OF these
hcrsemen were sure to dash at him Stay him on
the spot, and make off before musket could
be discharged at them. AT length, however,
the audaGi,y Of these incursions was checked
by skrsh Of some liIs imP9 2s nf near
serted their military superiority.
An encounter also took place on the river, be-
tween the French 1otilla and number Of arm.
ed vessels belonging to the Mamelukes Vic
tory first inclined 10 the later, but at length de.
termined in favor of the French, who took,
however, only single galiot.
Meanwhile, the French were obliged to march
with The utmost precaution. The whole plain
was now covered with Mamelukes, mounted on
the finest Arabian horses, and armed with pis-
tolls, carabines, and blunderbusses, OF the best
English workmanship-the plumed turbans
waving in the air, and their rich dresses and
arms glitering in the sun. Entertaining high
conemp: for the French force, as consisting al
most entirely Of infantry, this splendid barba-
rio chivalry watched every opportunity for
charging them, nor did single straggler es-
cape the unrelentng edge of their sabres -
Their charge was almost as swift as the wind,
and as their severe bits enabled them to halt, or
wheel their horses at full gallop, their retreat
was as rapid as their advance. Even the prac-
tised veterans Of Italy were al first embarrass-
ed by this new mode Of fighting, and lost seve-
raj men; especially when fatigue caused any one
10 fall out Of the ranks, in which case his fate
became certain. But they were soon reconcil-
ed TO fighting the Mamelukes, when they dis
covered that each Of these horsemen carrie!
about him his fortune, and that it not uncom-
monty amounted to considerable sums in gold.
During these alarms, the French love Of the
ridiculous was not abated by the fatigues or dan
gers of the Journey. The servants had been
supplied with asses, and beasts of burden east
est attained in Egypt, to transport their persons
and philosophical apparatus. The General had
given orders 10 attend to their personal safety,
which were Of course obeyed. But as these
civilians had little importance in the eyes of
the military, loud shouts of laughter used 10
burst from the ranks, while forming 10 receive
the Mamelukes, as the general Of division call
ed out, with military precision, Let the asses
and the servants enter within the square, The
asses demi.servanls. In times Of discomfort,
these unlucky servants Of science had their full
share Of the soldiers reproaches, who imagin-
ed, that this unpopular expedition had been un.
dertaken to crafty their passion for researches,
in which the military took very slender interest.
Under such circumstances, it may be doubt.
ed whether even the literati themselves were
greatly delighted, when, after seven days of
such marches as we have described, they arri.
we'd indeed within six leagues of Cairo, and be
held at distance the celebrated Pyramids but
learned at the same time that Murad Bey, with
twenty-five of his brethren, at the head of their
had formed an entrenched camp
at place called Embabeh, with the purpose Of
covering Cairo, and giving battle to the French.
On the 18th ofJuly, as the French continued to
advance, they saw their enemy in the field and
in full force. A splendid line of cavalry under
Murad and the other Beys, displayed the whole
strength of the Mamelukes. Their right rest
ed on the imperfectly entrenched camp in
- = IL n -