392 : JOSEPH FOURIER. 
Notwithstanding the precarious condition of Europe, 
the Directory decided upon denuding the country of its 
best troops, and launching them upon an adventurous 
expedition. The five chiefs of the Republic were then 
desirous of removing from Paris the conqueror of Italy, 
of thereby putting an end to the popular demonstrations 
of which he everywhere formed the object, and which 
sooner or later would become a real danger. 
On the other hand, the illustrious general did not 
dream merely of the momentary conquest of Egypt; he 
wished to restore to that country its ancient splendour ; 
he wished to extend its cultivation, to improve its system 
of irrigation, to create new branches of industry, to open 
to commerce numerous outlets, to stretch out a helping 
hand to the unfortunate inhabitants, to rescue them from 
the galling yoke under which they had groaned for ages, 
in a word, to bestow upon them without delay all the 
benefits of European civilization. Designs of such mag- 
nitude could not have been accomplished with the mere 
personnel of an ordinary army. It was necessary to 
appeal to science, to literature, and to the fine arts; it 
was necessary to ask the codperation of several men of 
judgment and of experience. Monge and Berthollet, 
both members of the Institute and Professors in the 
Polytechnic School, became, with a view to this object, 
the principal recruiting aids to the chief of the expedi- 
tion. Were our colleagues really acquainted with the 
object of this expedition? I dare not reply in the affirm- 
ative; but I know at all events that they were not per- 
mitted to divulge it. We are going to a distant country ; 
we shall embark at Toulon; we shall be constantly with 
you; General Bonaparte will command the army, such 
was in form and substance the limited amount of confi- 
