—­[Details on the question of the correspondence of Napoleon with France while he was to Egypt will be found in Colonel Iung’s work, Lucien Bonaparte (Paris.  Charpentler, 1882), tome i. pp. 251-274.  It seems most probable that Napoleon was in occasional communication with his family and with some of the Directors byway of Tunis and Tripoli.  It would not be his interest to let his army or perhaps even Bourrienne know of the disasters in Italy till he found that they were sure to hear of them through the English.  This would explain his affected ignorance till such a late date.  On the 11th of April Barras received a despatch by which Napoleon stated his intention of returning to France if the news brought by Hamelin was confirmed.  On the 26th of May 1799 three of the Directors, Barras, Rewbell, and La Reveillier-Lepeaux, wrote to Napoleon that Admiral Bruix had been ordered to attempt every means of bringing back his army.  On the 15th of July Napoleon seems to have received this and other letters.  On the 20th of July he warns Admiral Gantheaume to be ready to start.  On the 11th of September the Directors formally approved the recall of the army from Egypt.  Thus at the time Napoleon landed in France (on the 8th October), his intended return had been long known to and approved by the majority of the Directors, and had at last been formally ordered by the Directory.  At the most he anticipated the order.  He cannot be said to have deserted his post.  Lantrey (tome i. p. 411) remarks that the existence and receipt of the letter from Joseph denied by Bourrienne is proved by Miot (the commissary, the brother of Miot de Melito) and by Joseph himself.  Talleyrand thanks the French Consul at Tripoli for sending news from Egypt, and for letting Bonaparte know what passed in Europe.  See also Ragusa (Marmont), tome i. p. 441, writing on 24th December 1798:  “I have found an Arab of whom I am sure, and who shall start to-morrow for Derne . . . .  This means can be need to send a letter to Tripoli, for boats often go there.”]

Almost all those who endeavour to avert from Bonaparte the reproach of desertion quote a letter from the Directory, dated the 26th of May 1799.  This letter may certainly have been written, but it never reached its destination.  Why then should it be put upon record?

The circumstance I have stated above determined the resolution of Bonaparte, and made him look upon Egypt as, an exhausted field of glory, which it was high time he had quitted, to play another part in France.  On his departure from Europe Bonaparte felt that his reputation was tottering.  He wished to do something to raise up his glory, and to fix upon him the attention of the world.  This object he had in great part accomplished; for, in spite of serious disasters, the French flag waved over the cataracts of the Nile and the ruins of Memphis, and the battles of the Pyramids, and Aboukir were calculated in no small degree to dazzle; the imagination.  Cairo and Alexandria too were ours.  Finding. that the glory of his arms no longer supported the feeble power of the Directory, he was anxious to see whether:  he could not share it, or appropriate it to himself.