vi translator's preface. 



an 



ambition of the Kings of France has more th 

 once threatened the liberties of Europe ; but the 

 little finger of a modern Citizen of that country 

 is thicker than the loins of kings. They must 

 have a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto 

 heaven : Fiance must be aggrandized, and Paris 

 embellished, at whatever rate. 



The publication of M. Sonnini's Travels throws 

 considerable light on Buonaparte's expedition. 

 Louis XVI. employed the former of these gentle- 

 men to travel through Egypt, merely in the view 

 of physical and commercial arrangements ; the 

 Directory send thither the hero of Italy, with a 

 vast army, to make a conquest of the country. 

 How it has sped the world by this time knows. 

 Caesar's laconic boast is now curtailed of its third 

 limb. The Republican General can go no far- 

 ther than the vent, vidi : but the vici lies buried 

 without the walls of Saint- Jean d'Acre. Our au- 

 thor is a very good observer of what is, but he 

 knows nothing of what will be: he is an excel- 

 lent naturalist, but a most wretched prophet : he 

 has mistaken the fond dreams of a patriotic ima- 

 gination 



