The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-27

" ~ oHShy Nv iEtt. III
gathered to his standard . rstinue Of the
learned, mostly members Of the Institute,
He would disseminate the civilization OF
the West In the effete Orient. En- route,
no would conquer Malta, still nominally
under the dominion Of the Knights. That
done, he would debark at Alexandria,
overthrow the dominion of the Mameluke
Boys, and conquer ID colonies the land
Of the Pharaohs.
Admiral Brueys was called TO the com
mapd of the feet. Napoleon ordered his
equipage to be prepared as for a ~conqueror,
q governor, q man OF letters. He made up
an extensive list OF books for bis camp H.
brary, and In doing so spelled Du Guesclin
thus-Ducecling, and Ossian thus-Oceanl
Strange that this astounding GEOGRAPHY
was not coincident or his part with igno-
rance Of the authors referred tol
The Egyptian expedition sailed from
Toulon on the 18th of May. The Generals
ship was the Orient. On the 10th OF Juno,
the squadron came TO Malta, and that
place, with Its strong defenses was-partly
by intrigue and partly by assault-taken
from the knights. The French flag was
raised over the fortress, and many OF tho
Knights Joined the expedition. Mean
while, an English feet, under command
OF Nelson, passed the French 6otilla with.
out discovering L.; sailed on to Alexan-
dria; paused there, and then turned to tho
northeast, believing that Brueys had
made for the coast Of Syria.
All this Injured TO the advantage OF the
French. Napoleon was able to reach Alex
andria without attack. On the lst of July
the column Of Septimus Ssvsrns, rising In
the distance, caught the sight of the
French commander, and gave token of a
safe arrival. The army was hastily do.
barked; but not sufficient care was taken
TO put the French feet In a defensible po-
sition. Without a moments delay, the
city was assailed by the invader, and after
some desultory fighting was captured.
The conqueror Of Italy easily made him
self master of the city which Alexander
had founded as the capital Of the world.
But all Egypt was not to be SO easily
taken. Bonaparte proclaimed his mission
rs that of iberator and paoifcator. The
Turks and Mamelukes should be expelled;
but the people of Egypt should otherwise
have peace. The nation should be raised
from tho dust. New institutions should be
founded; but the old institutions, and in
particular tho MoIpmmedan religion,
should be respected. EXTEND to the cere-
monies prescribed by the Koran, - said the
General to his soldiers, land to the
mosques the same liberation which you
have shown 10 tho s-ynagogues-to the re-
ligion of Moses and Of Jesus Christ"
Fol six days Bonaparte had his head
quarters In Alexandria. He then removed
TO tho house Of the sheik Of Damanhour,
and there ora1nized his expedition I'D the
Nile. "A hotilla was ordered To ascend the
river, while the army marched up the left
bank. BY a strong wind from the north
the boats were driven ahead, and the land
forces were obliged to advance without |
naval support. On the 1ith of July, the
Mamelukes, who, falling back from Alex
andria, had been organized into an army
under Murad Bey, made a stand at the |
villageo of Chebreisse, and wore forced from
that position by the French; bat the ac- |
ton was not decisive. Meanwhile, the |
fotilla was assailed by the enemy from
both banks OF the Nile. The Mamelukes
small cannon on cdmels, and in
ficted not n little loss on the Europeans.
The French boats, separated from the
army, were CALLED by these attacks. On
the 23rd OF July, a junction was effected,
but not until a great battle had decided
tho campaign.
The conflict occurred on the plain with.
III ciBHA VI AHt HJIuiiltS Vi 1iICn. III WAS |
the most picturesque battle of
modern times. The French army was
up In squares, on the Egyptian
The artillery was planted at tho
OF the squares. The commanders
were Generals Desaix, Kleber, Berthier.
md M~enou-upder the eye of the General
The plains round about were
covered with heavy masses Of Mameluke
Bonaparto addressed his sol.
Tiers after his manner, in n sort Of Pin
iario apostrophe. He called their atten.
Ion TO the setting of the scene, and re.
minded them that from the summit of
Ahufu's pyramid forty centuries uere
ooh1ng doicn upon them. The battle was
bloody and decisive. The Mamelukes were
overwhelmed by thousands. The officers
N the French ~flotilla, descending the river
IA the next day, saw on the bank literal
leaps OF the Mameluke dead which tho
lslng Nile was gathering and bearing out
o sea. Murad Bey fed to Upper Egypt.
nd tho French entered Cairo.
Without n moments delay Bonaparte
ct to work at the hercuIean task or reur.
anizing Egyptian society. He divided
no country into provinces, and over each
rovince appointed a divan, or council. of
even persons. To each he assigned a body
I Janizarios, Over each n civil intendant
Tas appointed to levy the taxes. A finance
apartment was organized, under direc
ION OF French officers. Desaix was order
to pursue Murad Bey into Upper Egypt.
'onararte himself marched against Ibra.
Bey, and, falling upon him at Sa.
defeated him and drove him back
n El.Arish. The French authority was [
'pidly widened and confirmed through
lt the country.
Four days after the battle of the Pyra. !
ids, Napoleon wrote to his brother 10.
'ph, saying, Egypt is richer tina any
country in the world in corn, rice. :
md cattle. But the people are :
n state Of utter barbarism. We can not |
rocure money. even to pay the troops. !
be az France ia ttco months. En-.
age for. me n country house near %aris or
Burgundy, where I mean 10 pass the
To this wos added q list of
Iings necessary TO be sent out from
rs follows: "A company Of actors;
company Of dancers; three or four deal.