342 EGYPT. 
CHAP, it sailed for Egypt on the twenty-second' of 
February. The troops, burning for action, in 
excellent health and spirits, arrived in Ahouhir 
Bay upon the second of March, at ten o'clock 
A. M. A sham descent had been practised in 
Marmorice, to exercise the soldiers. By this it 
was found, that six thousand men might be 
landed, in the most perfect order, and ready for 
immediate action, in the short space of twenty- 
three minutes. Their passage had been bois- 
terous. Several Greek transports parted from the 
fleet during a gale of wind, and disappeared 
for many days, with part of the twelfth, the 
twenty-sixth, and HompescKs, regiments of Dra- 
goons. Owing perhaps to this circumstance, or 
finding that it was too late to land the troops 
upon the day of their arrival, the undertaking- 
was postponed until the next: an unfortunate 
circumstance, although perhaps unavoidable, as 
an opportunity was thereby lost, not to be after- 
wards recovered. Had the landing been then 
effected, it is now known that we should have 
encountered no opposition; and it is also cer- 
tain that the reserve at least might have been 
put on shore. The enemy, although long 
(1) According to Sir R. Wilsoii's Narrative, this happened on the 
twenty -third. Tlvc author gives his information as he received it from 
the captains of the fleet, and from the log-books of their sliips. 
