was in the secret. They were detained by contrary winds till the
24th, when they quitted the road of Aboukeer. A sealed packet,
to be opened twenty-four hours after the departure of the vessels,
was delivered to general Kleber likewise. In this he was appointed
to the chief command, and general Desaix to the command
of Upper Egypt-
Previous to his departure Bonaparte had attempted to open a
negotiation with the grand vizier, by which he expected at least
to retard the proceedings of an enemy by no means alert, and
this negotiation Kleber was directed to pursue. Harassed indeed
as the french had been by repeated actions with a desperate
though unskilful foe, forced marches in such a climate, and wants
of every kind; while even their victories were continually diminishing
their numbers, which they had no hope of reinforcing now
their fleet was destroyed; it required no small degree of bravery
in the troops, and no ordinary qualifications in the commander,
to maintain their footing in the country. Mourad bey had again
descended the Nile; been driven back by general Morand; overtaken,
surprised in his camp, and defeated by him at Samanhout:
when general Desaix, in order if possible to get rid of him entirely,
went in pursuit of him with two flying columns, composed
of infantry mounted on dromedaries, cavalry, and artillery; one
commanded by himself, the other by adjutant general Boyer. On
the 10th of October Boyer came up with him in the desert of Se-
diman. The mamalukes began the attack with great fury, but
were defeated as usual; and the french pursued them on their
dromedaries, but the deserts again secured their retreat.
In the mean time a second maritime expedition was preparing
to attack Egypt. A body of trdops from Constantinople, under
the command of Seid Ali bey, on board a squadron conducted by
sir W . Sidney Smith, appeared at the mouth of the Damietta
branch of the Nile; while the army of the grand vizier was approaching
by the way of the desert. On the eastern side of the
entrance of the N ile was a ruined castle, insulated by the inundation
of the river, though the passage was fordable. Of this the
boats of the Tigre took possession, and displayed the ottoman
flag, which was the signal for the turkish gunboats to advance,
and the french to open their fire. A carronade mounted in a
breach of the' castle, and field pieces in the boats, continued to
annoy the french, and prevent their working at an entrenchment
they were throwing up to prevent the disembarkation, which was
not effected till the 1st of november, though an interchange of
shot had continued With little intermission the three preceding
days. As soon as the first division of the turks had landed, the
french advanced to charge them with the bayonet; but the turks,
instead of waiting for the attack, rushed on, and in an instant
completely routed the first line. Pursuing the fugitives with
too much ardour, however, they were met by the reserve of the
french in perfect order, and at the same time taken in flank by
their cavalry. Thus they were put to the rout in their turn,
rushed into the sea, and as many as could not be taken off by
the boats were killed or made prisoners. The ships continued on
the coast a few days longer, when they were obliged-to quit it
by the weather.
9 B