FROM ASIA MINOR TO EGYPT. 
165 
be given as be recived it, from the most impartial among the 
French, as well as 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 too as he was by the soldiers and sailors of the expedi¬ 
tion, could not be viewed without jealousy by 'the commanding 
officers both of the army and navy. The most unpardonable 
resistance was therefore opposed to his measures, and to his 
suggestions. His situation was, in truth, singular. Certain of 
the captains in the fleet felt umbrage because one of their pro¬ 
fession associated so much with landsmen, and was so often on 
shore ; while the generals of the army could ill brook counsel, 
or even assistance, from a naval officer. On this account, Uiey 
important project, recommended by him, of sending gunboats 
into the lake of Aboukir,* previous to the action of the thir¬ 
teenth of March, and the voluntary offer lie made of conduct¬ 
ing that operation, with a view to impede the retreat of the 
French, was not only rejected, but his information respecting 
that lake was scouted as false; it was even asserted, that there 
was not water sufficient in the lake for the free passage of boats 
of burden, fit for the conveyance of artillery or troops ; ah 
though Sir Sidney Smith had himself been there, in his ship’s 
cutter, and had sounded every part df it. One of his private 
letters, about this time, to his brother f in Constantinople, re¬ 
flects so much credit upon his patriotism and national charac¬ 
ter, that it deserves a place in the history of the expedition. 
Having stated the peculiarities of ills situation, and the obsta¬ 
cles he had to encounter in his earnest endeavours to serve his 
country, he added, “ it is true , I once held the helm where 1 
must now work a labouring oar ; hut I shall not pull less stout¬ 
ly on that account ,” 
The fleet with our army arrived pu Marmorice harbour, 
* In the extraordinary changes to which this part of Egypt has been liable, the 
•very limited observations of the author do not authorise even an attempt to reconcile 
the existing appearance of the country with the descriptions of ancient geographers, 
Strabo (lib. xvii. p. 1135. ed. Oxon.) journeying by land from the Canopian gate of 
Alexandria toward the east, arrives, after the distance of one hundred and twenty 
stadia (fifteen miles), at the city of Canopus. This seems to coincide with the posi¬ 
tion of Aboukir. Dut as to the present lake, tfie result of an inundation during th© 
year 1784, whether it cover the original course of the Aicopu^, by means whereof, as 
distinct from the Alexandrian canal, the annual voyage took place from Canopus to 
Alexandria; or occupy territory formerly inundated, in a similar manner, by tba 
sea; or whether the site of Aboukir may be not rather that of Taposiris than of 
Canopus , according to Forster’s conjecture, in his notes upon Granger, supported by 
the testimonies of Niebuhr; may remain for future determination. 
I John Spenser Smith, Esq. his majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister pleisi" 
potentiary, previous to the arrival of the earlefE^ui, at. the Qttorura Forte. 
