476 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
destestation of the French, but, at the same time, declare that, if 
we will not protect them, so unsupportable is the yoke of the 
Albanians, that they will submit to any European power to get rid 
of it. The Beys have frequently offered either to hold the country 
subject to Great Britain; or, if we will assist them in driving away 
the Albanians, and placing them at the head of the government, 
that they will grant us such immunities and privileges as will, by 
placing the whole trade of the country in our hands, repay any 
expense we may incur. No answer has as yet been given, and the 
Consul General is obliged to act according to his own judgment, 
without having received a single instruction from home, by which 
he might regulate his conduct. 
It is painful indeed to me to add, that the popularity of the 
English name has since vanished in Egypt, from the result of our late 
fatal expedition to that country • that, instead of the tranquillity 
which Alexandria then enjoyed, it is now a prey to the extortions 
of the Albanians ; and that our friends the Arabs, instead of wishing 
for our re-appearance, are lamenting over the loss of their habita^ 
tations levelled with the ground, of their wives and parents mas- 
sacred in cold blood, and of their children sold to perpetual bon- 
dage. Deep, undoubtedly, were ihe curses with which we were 
followed from that shore, on which we were received with accla- 
mations, and indelible is the disgrace which has fallen upon us for 
having abandoned our friends to ruin and destruction : yet the whole 
business has been passed over in England with indifference, and no 
inquiry has been instituted to ascertain to whom the blame of failure 
ought to attach, and on whom ought to alight the deep obloquy of hav- 
ing sullied the British arms, and disgraced the national character. 
