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 cooperation of several men of 

 judgment and of experience. Monge and Berthollet, 

 both members of the Institute ar>d 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- 



