HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
548 
Our subsequent advices of July and August will have informed you of the appoint¬ 
ment of Mr. Jones to reside at the Court .of the Pacha of Bagdat, as well as the ob¬ 
ject of his mission, and of the reinforcements already sent and now sending out to 
India. 
Since the date of our letter of June last, above alluded to, the landing of Bona¬ 
parte in Egypt has been fully confirmed. By the glorious victory of Admiral NeU 
son over the French fleet near Alexandria, and the opposition made to their progress 
through Egypt, by the Arabs, under the authority of the Porte, the designs of the 
French have been considerably impeded; yet if, contrary to our hopes and expecta¬ 
tions, he should be able to establish himself in Egypt, we cannot but still be under 
apprehensions for the safety of our Indian possessions. These apprehensions are 
considerably increased in consequence of some hints lately suggested by the Right 
Honourable Henry Dundas, that if the French should be able to subdue Egypt, 
and to establish their authority in that country, it is likely their next progressive 
measure would be to secure the communication of the Red Sea with the Gulf of 
Cambay, at the narrow straits of Babelmandel; and, if in their power, to detach a 
sufficient force to take possession of the island of Perim, situate between the two 
points which include those straits. 
The possession of this station will be of the greatest importance to the French, in 
securing the advantages they propose to themselves in the conquest of Egypt, and 
consequently it is well deserving the utmost vigilance and exertion on the part of 
Great Britain, to defeat any plan they may entertain to get it into their hands. If 
we should succeed in making ourselves masters of that island, it would be impossible, 
in the first instance, for any ships to pass the straits against a superior naval force 
stationed there. It may then be secured and fortified by the application of su-ch ma¬ 
terials as its situation may afford, for completing its permanent defence, and for 
effectually commanding the channels through which ships must pass to the Indian 
ocean. 
We understand that the island of Perim is a low rocky substance, about five miles 
in length and two in breadth; that it possesses a good harbour; that the channel, 
which divides it from the African coast, though fourteen or fifteen miles across, is 
but little frequented, on account of the numerous rocks and shoals which obstruct it, 
insomuch as to render it necessary for vessels that do attempt it, to steer close under 
the western point of the island, and that the extreme breadth of the other channel 
