G42, 
pretension to honourable reputation, 
and submit, without a further strug- 
gle, to that odium which should at- 
tach to calumny, and a wilfui per- 
version of truth. 
But, Sir, I feel confident there is 
no individual who will not amply 
confirm all that F have written on 
this subject; and. perhaps Europe 
has a right to condemn me for not 
having made the accusations still 
stronger, when I can produce fre- 
quent general orders of the French 
army for the destruétion of villages, 
and their inhabitants; when I can 
prove, that above 20,000 of the 
natives perished by the swords of 
the French soldiery ; and that every 
act of violence was committed, and 
particularly in Upper Egypt, which 
e6uld outrage humanity, and disgrace 
the character of civilized nations.— 
When writing an history of the 
campaign, was it possible not to 
express indignation against the au- 
thors of such calamities? Would 
it have been natural not to have felt 
the animation of that virtuous pride, 
which a reflection on the different 
conduct of the British soldiery must 
inspire in the breast of every bri- 
ton? I have asserted that a British 
soldier could traverse alone through 
any part of Egypt, or even pene- 
trate into the Desart, secure from 
injury or insult. 1 have described 
the natives as considering the Bri- 
tish their benefactors and protectors, 
soliciting opportunitics to manifest 
their gratitude, and esteeming their 
uniform as sacred as the turban of 
mahometanism ; and I may venture 
to prediét, that, hereafter, the 
French traveller will be compelled 
to conceal the name of his nation, 
and owe his security to the assump- 
tion of the British character. 
But, sir, does the effect of colonel 
ANNUAL, REGISTER, 1803. - 
Sebastiani’s report justify the chief 
consul’s conclusion, ‘* that it is a 
complete refutation of what I have 
advanced, even if we attach to that 
report implicit belief in its candour 
and veracity?” Is it possible that 
the chief consul can suppose the 
world will trace respect for the 
French name in the circumstance 
which occurred to colonel Sebas- 
tiani at Cairo, and which rendered 
it necessary for him to demand pro- 
teétion from the vizier? or, would 
he imagine, that the apologue of 
d’Gezzar pacha was not intelligi- 
ble even previous to the instruétions 
being published, which M. Talley~ 
rand sent to the French commercial 
agents ? 
That illustrious senator, to whose 
virtues and stupendous talents Eng 
land owes so much of her prospe- 
rity, has declared that this report 
of colonel Sebastiani, in no case 
contradiéts my statement; and I 
should consider that high opinion as 
amply sufficient to remove any im-~ 
pression which the French ambassa- 
dor's note might otherwise have 
made, did I not think it a duty to 
press some observations on that 
part of the paragraph which alludes 
to the direét accusation against ge- 
neral Bonaparte; that the public 
may know I| was fully aware of the 
important responsibility which I had 
voluntarily undertaken, and in which 
much national honour was involved. 
I would wish the world seriously to 
examine, whether the accuser or ac~ 
cused have shrunk from the investi-« 
gation, and then hold him as guilty 
who has withdrawn from the tribue 
nal of inquiry. . 
IT avowed that I was his public 
accuser; I stood prepared to sup- 
port the charges. The courts of my 
country were open to that mode of 
trial 5 
