179 
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO EGYPT, 1798-9, 
COMMUNICATED BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL H. W. L. HIME. 
X. 
PROCLAMATION of Buonaparte to bis army before landing in 
Egypt, 28th June, 1798. 1 2 
“ Soldiers ! 
Yon are about to make a conquest the effects of which upon 
civilisation and commerce are incalculable ;—a conquest that, pending 
your delivery of tier death-blow, will inflict a certain and serious wound 
on England. 3 
******* 
The people we are going among are Moslims, the chief article of 
whose faith is :— “ There is no God but the God, and Mohammed is his 
Prophet.” Do not gainsay them; act with them. Show to the 
doctrines and ceremonies of the Qur’an the same toleration you have 
already shown to the religion of Moses and of Jesus Christ. The 
Roman legions protected all religions. 
******* 
Women are not treated here as in Europe. He who violates one in 
any country is a monster. 
******* 
Only the few are enriched by pillage. It dishonours us ; it destroys 
our resources; it makes enemies of the people of whom it is our 
interest to make friends.” 
XX. 
Having landed, Buonaparte issued a proclamation to the people of 
Egypt on the 1st July, 1798. 3 
“ Long have the Beys who govern Egypte insulted the French 
nation and harassed its merchants : the hour of their punishment is 
come. Long has this gang of Circassian and Georgian slaves tyrannized 
over the fairest country in the world : God has decreed that their 
rule is ended. 
1 Paraphrased from Miot’s “ Memoires pour servir a Vhistoire des expeditions en Egypte et en 
Syne.” Paris, 1814. 
2 We delivered our answer to this menace five weeks afterwards at the battle of the Nile 1 Aua- 
1798. ’ 
3 From Baron de Sacy’s “ CJirestomathie Arabe ,” III, 139, 
4, VOL. xxv. 
