EGYPT. 339 
entertain of Egypt, and of the situation in which chap. 
the French were there placed. In fact, eveiy \ ' ■ 
one possessed more information than the con- 
ductors of the British armament. There was 
not a clerk in the factory of Constantinople or of 
Smyrna who was not better informed. Instead 
of the flat sands they expected to find between 
Ahoukir and Alexandria, they discovered a coun- 
try full of eminences and advantageous posts : 
the French, when defeated, had therefore only 
to fall back from one strong position to another. 
Once having effected a landing, our troops were 
told — and they believed the tale — that they 
might march without interruption to the walls 
of Alexandria. It may be important to the in- 
terests of our empire to state the truth, at this 
distance of time ; and to afford a brief record 
of this memorable campaign, as far as it can be 
communicated by a writer destitute of any 
military science : it will be given as he received 
it, from the most impartial among the French, 
as well as from the most candid of his own 
countrymen. 
The divisions and cabals among the Chiefs on 
both sides, were productive, often of failure, 
and sometimes of disaster. The rare military 
talents and valour of Sir Sidney Smith, beloved sir .<r/d«fy 
too as he was by the soldiers and sailors of the 
