CHAPTER XIII.

1798.

Departure of the squadron—­Arrival at Malta—­Dolomieu—­General Barguay d’Hilliers—­Attack on the western part of the island—­ Caffarelli’s remark—­Deliverance of the Turkish prisoners—­Nelson’s pursuit of the French fleet—­Conversations on board—­How Bonaparte passed his, time—­Questions to the Captains—­Propositions discussed —­Morning music—­Proclamation—­Admiral Brueys—­The English fleet avoided Dangerous landing—­Bonaparte and his fortune—­Alexandria taken—­Kleber wounded—­Bonaparte’s entrance into Alexandria.

The squadron sailed on the 19th of May.  The Orient, which, owing to her heavy lading, drew too much water, touched the ground; but she was got off without much difficulty.

We arrived off Malta on the 10th of June.  We had lost two days in waiting for some convoys which joined us at Malta.

The intrigues throughout Europe had not succeeded in causing the ports of that island to be opened to us immediately on our arrival.  Bonaparte expressed much displeasure against the persons sent from Europe to arrange measures for that purpose.  One of them, however, M. Dolomieu, had cause to repent his mission, which occasioned him to be badly treated by the Sicilians.  M. Poussielgue had done all he could in the way of seduction, but he had not completely succeeded.  There was some misunderstanding, and, in consequence, some shots were interchanged.  Bonaparte was very much pleased with General Baraguay d’Hilliers’ services in Italy.  He could not but praise his military and political conduct at Venice when, scarcely a year before, he had taken possession of that city by his orders.  General Baraguay d’Hilliers joined us with his division,—­which had embarked in the convoy that sailed from Genoa.  The General-in-Chief ordered him to land and attack the western part of the island.  He executed this order with equal prudence and ability, and highly to the satisfaction of the General-in-Chief.  As every person in the secret knew that all this was a mere form, these hostile demonstrations produced no unpleasant consequences.  We wished to save the honour of the knights—­that was all; for no one who has seen Malta can imagine that an island surrounded with such formidable and perfect fortifications would have surrendered in two days to a fleet which was pursued by an enemy.  The impregnable fortress of Malta is so secure against a ‘coup de main’ that General Caffarelli, after examining its fortifications, said to the General-in-Chief, in my presence, “Upon my word, General, it is luck:  there is some one in the town to open the gates for us.”

By comparing the observation of General Caffarelli with what has been previously stated respecting the project of the expedition to Egypt and Malta, an idea may be formed of the value of Bonaparte’s assertion at St. Helena: 

“The capture of Malta was not owing to private intrigues, but to the sagacity of the Commander-in-chief.  I took Malta when I was in Mantua!”