Alexander also, on January 19th, 1803 (O.S.), charged his ambassador at Paris to declare that the existing system of Europe must not be further disturbed, that each Government should strive for peace and the welfare of its own people; that the frequent references of Napoleon to the approaching dissolution of Turkey were ill-received at St. Petersburg, where they were considered the chief cause of England’s anxiety and refusal to disarm.  He also suggested that the First Consul by some public utterance should dispel the fears of England as to a partition of the Ottoman Empire, and thus assure the peace of the world.[239]

Before this excellent advice was received, Napoleon astonished the world by a daring stroke.  On the 30th of January the “Moniteur” printed in full the bellicose report of Colonel Sebastiani on his mission to Algiers, Egypt, Syria, and the Ionian Isles.  As that mission was afterwards to be passed off as merely of a commercial character, it will be well to quote typical passages from the secret instructions which the First Consul gave to his envoy on September 5th, 1802: 

“He will proceed to Alexandria:  he will take note of what is in the harbour, the ships, the forces which the British as well as the Turks have there, the state of the fortifications, the state of the towers, the account of all that has passed since our departure both at Alexandria and in the whole of Egypt:  finally, the present state of the Egyptians....  He will proceed to St. Jean d’Acre, will recommend the convent of Nazareth to Djezzar:  will inform him that the agent of the [French] Republic is to appear at Acre:  will find out about the fortifications he has had made:  will walk along them himself, if there be no danger.”

Fortifications, troops, ships of war, the feelings of the natives, and the protection of the Christians—­these subjects were to be Sebastiani’s sole care.  Commerce was not once named.  The departure of this officer had already alarmed our Government.  Mr. Merry, our charge d’affaires in Paris, had warned it as to the real aims in view, in the following “secret despatch: 

     “PARIS, September 25th, 1802.

      “...  I have learnt from good authority that he [Sebastiani] was
     accompanied by a person of the name of Jaubert (who was General
     Bonaparte’s interpreter and confidential agent with the natives
     during the time he commanded in Egypt), who has carried with him
     regular powers and instructions, prepared by M. Talleyrand, to
     treat with Ibrahim-Bey for the purpose of creating a fresh and
     successful revolt in Egypt against the power of the Porte, and of
     placing that country again under the direct or indirect dependence
     of France, to which end he has been authorized to offer assistance
     from hence in men and money.  The person who has confided to me this
     information understands