Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 3 | Page 6

that it would have been
infinitely more irreparable had Nelson fallen in with us at Malta, or had
he waited for us four-and-twenty hours before Alexandria, or in the
open sea. "Any one of these events," said I, "which were not only
possible but probable, would have deprived us of every resource. We

are blockaded here, but we have provisions and money. Let us then
wait patiently to see what the Directory will do for us."--"The
Directory!" exclaimed he angrily, "the Directory is composed of a set
of scoundrels! they envy and hate me, and would gladly let me perish
here. Besides, you see how dissatisfied the whole army is: not a man is
willing to stay."
The pleasing illusions which were cherished at the outset of the
expedition vanished long before our arrival in Cairo. Egypt was no
longer the empire of the Ptolemies, covered with populous and wealthy
cities; it now presented one unvaried scene of devastation and misery.
Instead of being aided by the inhabitants, whom we had ruined, for the
sake of delivering them from the yoke of the beys, we found all against
us: Mamelukes, Arabs, and fellahs. No Frenchman was secure of his
life who happened to stray half a mile from any inhabited place, or the
corps to which he belonged. The hostility which prevailed against us
and the discontent of the army were clearly developed in the numerous
letters which were written to France at the time, and intercepted.
The gloomy reflections which at first assailed Bonaparte, were speedily
banished; and he soon recovered the fortitude and presence of mind
which had been for a moment shaken by the overwhelming news from
Aboukir. He, however, sometimes repeated, in a tone which it would be
difficult to describe, "Unfortunate Brueys, what have you done!"
I have remarked that in some chance observations which escaped
Napoleon at St. Helena he endeavoured to throw all the blame of the
affair on Admiral Brueys. Persons who are determined to make
Bonaparte an exception to human nature have unjustly reproached the
Admiral for the loss of the fleet.

CHAPTER XVI.
1798.
The Egyptian Institute--Festival of the birth of Mahomet--Bonapartes

prudent respect for the Mahometan religion--His Turkish dress--
Djezzar, the Pasha of Acre--Thoughts of a campaign in
Germany--Want of news from France--Bonaparte and Madame
Fours--The Egyptian fortune-teller, M. Berthollet, and the Sheik El
Bekri--The air "Marlbrook"--Insurrection in Cairo--Death of General
Dupuis--Death of Sulkowsky--The insurrection quelled--Nocturnal
executions-- Destruction of a tribe of Arabs--Convoy of sick and
wounded-- Massacre of the French in Sicily--projected expedition to
Syria-- Letter to Tippoo Saib.
The loss of the fleet convinced General Bonaparte of the necessity of
speedily and effectively organising Egypt, where everything denoted
that we should stay for a considerable time, excepting the event of a
forced evacuation, which the General was far from foreseeing or
fearing. The distance of Ibrahim Bey and Mourad Bey now left him a
little at rest. War, fortifications, taxation, government, the organization
of the divans, trade, art, and science, all occupied his attention. Orders
and instructions were immediately despatched, if not to repair the
defeat, at least to avert the first danger that might ensue from it. On the
21st of August Bonaparte established at Cairo an institute of the arts
and sciences, of which he subsequently appointed me a member in the
room of M. de Sucy, who was obliged to return to France, in
consequence of the wound he received on board the flotilla in the Nile.
--[The Institute of Egypt was composed of members of the French
Institute, and of the men of science and artists of the commission who
did not belong to that body. They assembled and added to their number
several officers of the artillery and staff, and others who bad cultivated
the sciences and literature.
The Institute was established in one of the palaces of the bey's. A great
number of machines, and physical, chemical, and astronomical
instruments had been brought from France. They were distributed in
the different rooms, which were also successively filled with all the
curiosities of the country, whether of the animal, vegetable, or mineral
kingdom.
The garden of the palace became a botanical garden. A chemical

laboratory was formed at headquarters; Merthollet performed
experiments there several times every week, which Napoleon and a
great number of officers attended ('Memoirs of Napoleon')]--
In founding this Institute, Bonaparte wished to afford an example of his
ideas of civilisation. The minutes of the sittings of that learned body,
which have been printed, bear evidence of its utility, and of Napoleon's
extended views. The objects of tile Institute were the advancement and
propagation of information in Egypt, and the study and publication of
all facts relating to the natural history, trade, and antiquities of that
ancient country.
On the 18th