344 EGYPT. 
solely owing to the weather. A pnncipal source 
of it might be referred to another cause. Major 
M' Arras, chief engineer, had been forwarded, 
in. a vessel, previous to the sailing of our fleet 
from the Bay of Marmorice, in order to recon- 
noitre the country, and to obtain information 
necessary for expediting the landing of our, 
troops. This officer had been twice on shore, 
either in the Penelopes or the Petrelfs boat 
and with the greatest success. He had ob- 
served the Lake of Ahoukir ; had surveyed all, 
the adjoining territory ; ascertained the different , 
heights ; and selected a convenient place for 
landing. Having finished all his plans, he, 
unfortunately ventured on shore the third time, , 
to confirm the accuracy of certain observations ; 
and was observed by a French, armed boat, . 
in- the very instant when he was putting off to 
return to his ship. The wind was against him ; 
and the crew of his boat finding every effort 
ineffectual, suffered it to fall alongside, and sur- . 
Death of rendered. By a most dastardly instance of 
M'Arras. cruclty ou tlic part of the French, they poured a 
volley of musketry into the boat, after the 
surrender had taken place; by which Major 
M'Arras was killed. Soon after this disaster^ 
our fleet arrived ; and the Commander-in-chief, 
instead of obtaining the information confidently 
expected, was reduced to the dilemma of waiting 
