Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 3 | Page 4

Royal Artillery
1891

CONTENTS:
Chapter XV.
To
Chapter XXVI.
1799

CHAPTER XV.
1798.
Establishment of a divan in each Egyptian province--Desaix in Upper
Egypt--Ibrahim Bey beaten by Bonaparte at Balehye'h--Sulkowsky
wounded--Disaster at Abonkir--Dissatisfaction and murmurs of the
army--Dejection of the General-in-Chief--His plan respecting Egypt
--Meditated descent upon England--Bonaparte's censure of the
Directory--Intercepted correspondence.
From the details I have already given respecting Bonaparte's plans for
colonising Egypt, it will be seen that his energy of mind urged him to
adopt anticipatory measures for the accomplishment of objects which
were never realised. During the short interval in which he sheathed his
sword he planned provisional governments for the towns and provinces
occupied by the French troops, and he adroitly contrived to serve the
interests of his army without appearing to violate those of the country.
After he had been four days at Cairo, during which time he employed
himself in examining everything, and consulting every individual from
whom he could obtain useful information, he published the following
order:
HEADQUARTERS, CAIRO, 9th Thermidor, year VI.
BONAPARTE, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, AND
GENERAL-IN-CHIEF, ORDERS:
Art. 1. There shall be in each province of Egypt a divan, composed of
seven individuals, whose duty will be to superintend the interests of the
province; to communicate to me any complaints that may be made; to

prevent warfare among the different villages; to apprehend and punish
criminals (for which purpose they may demand assistance from the
French commandant); and to take every opportunity of enlightening the
people.
Art. 2. There shall be in each province an aga of the Janizaries,
maintaining constant communication with the French commandant. He
shall have with him a company of sixty armed natives, whom he may
take wherever he pleases, for the maintenance of good order,
subordination, and tranquillity.
Art. 3. There shall be in each province an intendant, whose business
will be to levy the miri, the feddam, and the other contributions which
formerly belonged to the Mamelukes, but which now belong to the
French Republic. The intendants shall have us many agents as may be
necessary.
Art. 4. The said intendant shall have a French agent to correspond with
the Finance Department, and to execute all the orders he may receive.
(Signed) BONAPARTE.
While Bonaparte was thus actively taking measures for the organization
of the country,
--[Far more thoroughly and actively than those taken by the English
Government in 1882-3-4]--
General Desaix had marched into Upper Egypt in pursuit of Mourad
Bey. We learned that Ibrahim, who, next to Mourad, was the most
influential of the bays, had proceeded towards Syria, by the way of
Belbeis and Salehye'h. The General-in-Chief immediately determined
to march in person against that formidable enemy, and he left Cairo
about fifteen days after he had entered it. It is unnecessary to describe
the well- known engagement in which Bonaparte drove Ibrahim back
upon El-Arish; besides, I do not enter minutely into the details of
battles, my chief object being to record events which I personally
witnessed.

At the battle of Salehye'h Bonaparte thought he had lost one of his
'aides de camp', Sulkowsky, to whom he was much attached, and who
had been with us during the whole of the campaign of Italy. On the
field of battle one object of regret cannot long engross the mind; yet, on
his return to Cairo, Bonaparte frequently spoke to me of Sulkowsky in
terms of unfeigned sorrow.
"I cannot," said he one day, "sufficiently admire the noble spirit and
determined courage of poor Sulkowsky." He often said that Sulkowsky
would have been a valuable aid to whoever might undertake the
resuscitation of Poland. Fortunately that brave officer was not killed on
that occasion, though seriously wounded. He was, however, killed
shortly after.
The destruction of the French squadron in the roads of Aboukir
occurred during the absence of the General-in-Chief. This event
happened on the 1st of August. The details are generally known; but
there is one circumstance to which I cannot refrain from alluding, and
which excited deep interest at the time. This was the heroic courage of
the son of Casablanca, the captain of the 'Orient'. Casablanca was
among the wounded, and when the vessel was blown up his son, a lad
of ten years of age, preferred perishing with him rather than saving
himself, when one of the seamen had secured him the means of escape.
I told the 'aide de camp', sent by General Kleber, who had the
command of Alexandria, that the General-in-Chief was near Salehye'h.
He proceeded thither immediately, and Bonaparte hastened back to
Cairo, a distance of about thirty-three leagues.
In spite of any assertions that may have been made to the contrary, the
fact is, that as soon as the French troops set foot in Egypt, they were
filled with dissatisfaction,