French.  As for the grand vizier, he was not yet across the Taurus.  The English had their troops at Mahon, and were not at this moment aggressive.  At Kleber’s side was General Menou, who viewed everything under the most favourable colours, and believed the French to be invincible in Egypt, and regarded the expedition as the commencement of a near and momentous revolution in the commerce of the world.  Kleber and Menou were both honest, upright men; but one wanted to leave Egypt, the other to stay in it; the clearest and most authentic returns conveyed to them totally contrary significations; misery and ruin to one, abundance and success to the other.

In September, 1799, Desaix, having completed the conquest and subjugation of Upper Egypt, had left two movable columns for the pursuit of Murad Bey, to whom he had offered peace on condition of his becoming a vassal of France.  He then returned to Cairo by the order of Kleber, who wished to make use of his name in those negotiations into which he was about to enter.  During these proceedings, the army of the grand vizier, so long announced, was slowly advancing.  Sir Sidney Smith, who convoyed with his squadron the Turkish troops destined to be transported by sea, had just arrived off Dami-etta with eight thousand janizaries, and on the first of November, 1799, the landing of the first division of four thousand janizaries was effected.  At the first tidings of this disembarkation, Kleber had despatched Desaix with a column of three thousand men; but the latter, uselessly sent to Damietta, had found the victory won,—­the Turkish division having been completely destroyed by General Verdier,—­and the French filled with unbounded confidence.  This brilliant achievement ought to have served to encourage Kleber; unfortunately, he was swayed at once by his own lack of confidence and that of the army.  In this disposition of mind, Kleber had sent one of his officers to the vizier (who had entered Syria), to make new overtures of peace.  General Bonaparte, with a view to embroiling the vizier with the English, had previously entertained the idea of setting on foot negotiations, which, on his part, were nothing more than a feint.  His overtures had been received with great distrust and pride.  Kleber ’s advances met with a favourable reception, through the influence of Sir Sidney Smith, who was preparing to play a prominent part in the affairs of Egypt.  This officer had largely contributed to prevent the success of the siege of St. Jean d’Acre; he was proud of it, and had devised a ruse de guerre by taking advantage of a momentary weakness to wrest from the French their valuable conquest.  With this view, he had disposed the grand vizier to listen to the overtures of Kleber.  Kleber, on his part, despatched Desaix and Poussielgue as negotiators to Sir Sidney Smith; for, since the English were masters of the sea, he wished to induce them to take part in the negotiation, so that the return to France might