It was at Passeriano that, seeing the approaching termination of his labours in Europe, he first began to turn serious attention to the East.  During his long strolls in the evening in the magnificent park there he delighted to converse about the celebrated events of that part of the world, and the many famous empires it once possessed.  He used to say, “Europe is a mole-hill.  There have never been great empires and revolutions except in the East, where there are 600,000,000 men.”  He considered that part of the world as the cradle of all religious, of all metaphysical extravagances.  This subject was no less interesting than inexhaustible, and he daily introduced it when conversing with the generals with whom he was intimate, with Monge, and with me.

Monge entirely concurred in the General-in-Chief’s opinions on this point; and his scientific ardour was increased by Bonaparte’s enthusiasm.  In short, all were unanimously of one opinion.  The Directory had no share in renewing the project of this memorable expedition, the result of which did not correspond with the grand views in which it had been conceived.  Neither had the Directory any positive control over Bonaparte’s departure or return.  It was merely the passive instrument of the General’s wishes, which it converted into decrees, as the law required.  He was no more ordered to undertake the conquest of Egypt than he was instructed as to the plan of its execution.  Bonaparte organised the army of the East, raised money, and collected ships; and it was he who conceived the happy idea of joining to the expedition men distinguished in science and art, and whose labours have made known, in its present and past state, a country, the very name of which is never pronounced without exciting grand recollections.

Bonaparte’s orders flew like lightning from Toulon to Civita Vecchia.  With admirable precision he appointed some forces to assemble before Malta, and others before Alexandria.  He dictated all these orders to me in his Cabinet.

In the position in which France stood with respect to Europe, after the treaty of Campo-Formio, the Directory, far from pressing or even facilitating this expedition, ought to have opposed it.  A victory on the Adige would have been far better far France than one on the Nile.  From all I saw, I am of opinion that the wish to get rid of an ambitious and rising man, whose popularity excited envy, triumphed over the evident danger of removing, for an indefinite period, an excellent army, and the possible loss of the French fleet.  As to Bonaparte, he was well assured that nothing remained for him but to choose between that hazardous enterprise and his certain ruin.  Egypt was, he thought, the right place to maintain his reputation, and to add fresh glory to his name.

On the 12th of April 1798 he was appointed General-in-Chief of the army of the East.

It was about this time that Marmont was married to Mademoiselle Perregaux; and Bonaparte’s aide de camp, La Valletta, to Mademoiselle Beauharnais.