CHAP. XII.--View of the respective Situations of Great Britain and France, at the Period of Napoleon's return from Italy--Negotiations at Lisle--broken off--Army of England decreed, and Buonaparte named to the Command--He takes up his Residence in Paris--Public Honours--The real Views of the Directory discovered to be the expedition to Egypt--Armies of Italy and the Rhine, compared and contrasted--Napoleon's Objects and Motives in heading the Egyptian Expedition--Those of the Directory regarding it--Its actual Impolicy--Curious Statement by Miot--The Armament sails from Toulon, on 19th May, 1798--Napoleon arrives before Malta on 10th June--Proceeds on his course, and, escaping the British Squadron, lands at Alexandria on the 1st July--Description of the various Classes who inhabit Egypt:--1. The Fellahs and Bedouins--2. The Cophts--3. The Mamelukes--Napoleon issues a Proclamation against the Mamelukes--Marches against them on the 7th July--Discontent of the French Troops--Battle of the Pyramids on 21st of July--Cairo surrenders, 192 CHAP. XIII.--French Fleet--Conflicting Statements of Buonaparte and Admiral Gantheaume--BATTLE OF ABOUKIR on 1st August 1798--The French Admiral, Brueyes, killed, and his Ship, L'Orient, blown up--The Victory complete--Effects of this disaster--Means by which Napoleon proposed to establish himself in Egypt--His Administration, in many respects, praiseworthy--in others, his Conduct absurd--He aspires to be regarded an Envoy of the Deity--His endeavours to propitiate the Porte--The Fort of El Arish falls into his hands--Massacre of Jaffa--Admitted by Buonaparte himself--His Arguments in its defence--Replies to them--General Conclusions--Plague in the French Army--Napoleon's Humanity and Courage upon this occasion--Proceeds against Acre to attack Djezzar Pacha--Sir Sidney Smith--His Character--Captures a French Convoy, and throws himself into Acre--French arrive before Acre on 17th March, 1799, and effect a breach on the 28th, but are driven back--Assaulted by an Army of Moslems assembled without the Walls of Acre, whom they defeat and disperse--Personal Misunderstanding and Hostility between Napoleon and Sir Sidney Smith--Explained--Buonaparte is finally compelled to raise the Siege, 216