State of Egypt after the Battle of Heliopolis ... translated from the French. With a map of Lower Egypt

Front matter

STATE OF EGYPT AFTER. THE BATTLE OF HELIOPOLIS; PRECEDED »V GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE Pkyskal and Political CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. BY REYNIER, GENERAL OF DIVISION. TR4NSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. y/ira A Map of Lower Egypt. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. AND J. ROBINSON, "MTERNOSTER-ROW; By S. Hamilton, Falcon-Court, Flect-Strctt. 1802.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. Whatever the Author may say for himself the Translator will not answer for his im partiality in all cases. His account of the English will scarcely be received with implicit confidence in this country.

Preface

. A relation of all the battles, or rather victories, of the army of the East, up to the battle of Aboukir, has been published by General Berthier. Imperious circumstances have induced me to give an account of another epoch — that which followed the battle of Heliopolis. I have thought it my duty to collect accurate ma terials for the history of the latter period of the expedition to Egypt ; and, although it is difficult to preserve perfect imparti ality, when the writer treats of events in which he acted a part, I have made it my study never to lose sight of it. In speaking of the troops, I shall uniformly have occasion to trace their constancy and courage : but it is no longer a series of brilliant victories, like those under Bona parte, that I have to describe; nor a campaign, like that of Heliopolis ; — what I have to relate, is a series of disasters.

It is due to the character of the army of the East, to publish the causes of these misfortunes ; that it may be known that through out the troops showed themselves worthy of their former reputation. In the Introduction to this work, I have endeavoured to give the reader a general idea of the organisation of Egypt ; of the system of defence suitable to the country; the political state of its inhabitants ; and its interior administration. These general sketches, which I have made conducive to my principal object, will enable the reader sufficiently to understand the campaigns of the French, and the administration they introduced. A Map of Lower Egypt is prefixed to this work, laid down from the astronomical observations and the information col lected by learned men. This map is, in fact, the most accurate * that has yet ap peared. ' The government is about to publish, with the magnificence worthy of a great nation, the researches made in Egypt by the Com mission of Sciences and Arts ; in which may be studied with effect the ancient monu ments, natural history, and government of the country, as well as the manners and customs of the inhabitants. CONTENTS.

Introduction

. Pagt Cjteneral Observations on the Physical a?id Political Character of Egypt - - I Description of the Face of the Country - 2 System of War adopted by the French - 1 7 Fortifications constructed by the French - 2 1 The Roads, and the Marches of the French Army in ihe Interior of Egypt - - 39 Observations on the Civilisation of the various People that inhabit Egypt - - 42 The Arabs 43 Fellahs, or Cultivators ----- 59 Inhabitants of the Cities, the Mamalukes, and their Government - - - - -69 Summary of the Social Condition of the Inhabitants of Egypt - - - - - CONTENTS.

Part I

Affairs from the Month of Floreal, in the Eighth Year of the Republic (April and May) 1800, to Brumaire, Ninth Year, (October and November) 1801. CHAP. 1. Page Situation of the Army of the East; and Plans formed by General Kleber immediately preceding his Death 105 CHAP. II. Assassination of Kleber. General Menou takes the Command. His Conduct in ihe first Instance, and till the End of Fructidor (the Middle of September) 114 CHAP. III. Political Events - - - - - - -123 CHAP. IV. Disposition of the Inhabitants of Egypt. Military Events to the End of Brumaire (November) ----- 128 chap. v. Intrigues— -Origin of Dissensions in the French Army ---- - - 133 CHAP. VI. Innovations in the Civil Administration - CONTENTS. CHAP. VII. Page The Finances ------ - 161 CHAP. VIII. Administration of the Army. — Extraordinary Magazines ----- 167 CHAP. IX. Murmurs of the Army against General Menou. The Generals of Division remonstrate with him. His Confirmation in the Command in Chief - - 171

Part II

From the Month of Brumaire to Ventose, in the Ninth Year of the Republic (from October 1800 to March 1801). chap. I. — n. Military and Political Events till the Commencement of the Campaign - 199 CHAP. III. Finances. Produce of the new Duties. Vices of the Innovations. Augmentation of the Expenditure of the Army. The Receipt of the Miri is retarded. The Treasury is empty at the Moment of taking the Field -- - - - 2 1 CONTENTS. CHAP. IV. Page The Magazines. The Administration of Subsistences. The Revenues in Kind - 225

Part III

Campaign against t/i£ English and Turks. CHAP. I. Arrival of the English Fleet. Military Dispositions - - -----230 CHAP. II. Debarkation of the English. Battle of the 22d of Ventose ( 1 3th of March) - 240 CHAP. III. Arrival of the Army at Alexandria. .Affair of the 30th of Ventose (21st of March) -- - - - - - -258 CHAP. IV. Movements after the Affair of the 30th of Ventose. Surrender of Rosetter and Rahmanieh. Passage of the Desert by the Visir -------- Page 304 328 CONTENTS. CHAP. V. March to reconnoitre the Visir s Army. Capture of a foraging Party from Alexandria. Evacuation of Damietta, Lesbeh, and Bourlos. Temper and Conduct of the Inhabitants of Egypt . and the Mamalukes. Death of Murad Bey. Investment of Cairo ; and Treaty for the Evacuation of that City ------- - - CHAP. VI. Blockade of Alexandria, till the entire Consumption of its Provisions FORCES AND STATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE EAST, On the TENTH of VENTOSE, NINTH YEAR of the REPUBLIC, {First of March, 1801).

(No. 1.) INFANTRY. CAVALRY. INFANTRY. CAVALRY. STATIONS NAMES STATIONS NAMES "Depots, Invalids, Sec. and Seamen employed in the Vessels on the Nile. HORSES OF THE Number Dcp6ts,Inva-' lids, Sec. doing Duty at the I Forts, and Seamen employed in the Vessels! on the Nile. HORSES OF THE OF the • Number of Number in a OF THE of Number in a CORPS. Condition to of Condition to TROOPS. effective TROOPS. CORPS. effective MEN. MEN. serve. MEN. serve. MEN. Brought over 7730 2744 1475 1163 9 th deml-brigade 13th ditto S5th ditto Detachment osthe22d light infantry 4th light ISth of the line 69th ditto 8Sth ditto Artillery men in garrison, and workmen Seamen employed on the Nile 1st battalion of invalids Depdtofthe 21st light Battalion of miners and labourers of engineers • •• - Dromedaries Guides Greek and Copt legions Detachment of the 2d ) and 32d 1 2d battalion of the j 25th j 7th regiment of hussars | 22d regiment of chasseurs 14th regiment of dragoons 15th ditto Detachment of the 3d of dragoons Mamalukes and Syrians 794 84-1 890 55 66 36 50 Cairo. 23+ 790 791, 859 833 83 34 45 30 46 Suez. r Detachment of the 9th Artillery and miners- • 100 Damietta, Lesbeh, Omfa- I kedje, Man- \ soura, Mit Kramk. 2d light 32d of the line 20th of dragoons Artillery and miners- • Seamen in the vessels at the mouth of the Nile, and on Lake Menzaleh Invalids 540 542 50 60 i 213 153 200 The Citadel. 583 200 I 160 60 Gizeh. 268 102 f 61st demi-brigade • • 75th ditto 1 3 th of dragoons Artillerymen Miners Seamen Invalids Detachment of the I 51st | 750 950 80 50 154 190 115 Alexandria | and \ 450 130 1400 240 l BOULAK, &C. 223 190 SO 72 Aboukir.

S50 \ 462 I 200 I Detachments inforcing the paymentofimposts at two or three days' journey from Cairo — about 600 men. 230 Detachment of the I Cist Ditto of the 25th ! 3d of dragoons Artillery - - - • Miners Seamen Invalids 150 100 50 50 270 249 Rosetta, Fort Julien, - and BOURLOS. 150 130 279 230 50 30 120 35 262 181 195 129 75 75 Rahmanieh, and j enforcing the J payment of the imposts in the Delta. 25th demi-brigade • • Detachment of the 75th Detachment of the 20th of drsgoons • • Artillery Speamen 5 SO I *•••• 253 133 SO 80 Belbeis. < Detachment of the 22d light Ditto of the 14th of dragoons Artillery and miners- ■ 80 25 25 25 100 32 Benisouef. 21st light 850 50 I Salahieh. < 22d light Dromedaries 14th of dragoons Syrians Artillery and miners- • 430 30 25 25 25 25 Upfer Egypt. 1 21st ligh Artillery Miners Seamen ■ 300 30 20 110 Total- • • • 13372 6294 2138 1661 Total- • • ■ 2744 1475 1163 7730 , , , , , v „» i Number of Troops fit merely for Garrison Duty.

Number of Troops capable of taking the held, but spread over Egypt. ■ P , - ,,« Infantry, artillery, &c. • • 6294 Infantry ' •* Dismounted horse -"7 Cavalry ' ''6*61 Total "^7 ! Total- .--•.. .-6771 N.B. This statement incWeson'y^^^ auxiliary corps. _____^______^_______ ORDER OF BATTLE. General C 22d Iiglit, 2 souros brigade ■< pounders Robin. ( 9th of the line, 2 — Genera General s 13th, 2 - jof divisk of brigade -J Fr; t_ Baudot. I 85th, 2 — A company of artillery, with 4 eight-pounders and 2 howitzi INFANTRY. General of divisions Reynier. General of division Friant. General („... „ four s General J 4th light, 2 fourof brigade 1 25th' j of brigade < pounders ZaSek.1 P°UnderS General Silfy . I 18th of the. L, 2 _ Genera. iCX*. 2- J^Sto J P^alf ' of brigade •{ T nn..«p | of brigade -j Dekgofgue-Uth, 2- LanU5Se- Valentm.

( 88th, 2- A company of artillery, with 4 A company of artdlery, with 4 eight-pounders and 2 howitzers. I eight-pounders and 2 howitzers. {General s2d light, fourof brigade 1 pounders Morand. /32d of the line, 2 — A company of light artillery, with 4 eight-pounders and 2 howitzers. CAVALRY. ii Generals without commands. Artillery. Engineers. ( General of division Songis, commandant. \ General of brigade Faultrier. {General of brigade Samson, commandant. General of brigade Bcrtrand. t General of division Beillard, commandant. I Generals of brigade j D*ranteau. »t. General of brigade Donzelot. Commanded by General of Brigade Roize. i C 3d regiment of dragoor General (7th regiment of hussars. General \ .^j, of brigades 22d of chasseurs. of brigade <j ]gth Bron. (. Mamalukes and Syrians. Bous>art. £20ln General of division Damas.

General of brigade Destfii. At Cairo. General of brigade Almeiras. 1 A company of light artillery, with 4 five-pounders and 2 howitzers. STATEMENT OF THE ENGLISH AND TURKISH FORCES Employed against EGYPT. ( No. 2. ) ENGLISH ARMY TROOPS FROM INDIA, Arrived by the Mediterranean. Arrived by the Red Sea. Commander in Chief, Sir Ralph Abercromby. Lieutenant-General Hutchinson. Commanded by Major-General Baird. INFANTRY. INFANTRY. CAVALRY. Colonel Murray. 5 SUhreg''ment ,00° ( 3 regiments of seapoys from Bengal .... 2000 Ludlovv.^ \ Guards' 2 battalions 2000 Men. FIRST BRIGADE. Major-general > , . , Baird. \ * reglments of seapoys from Bombay- . . . 3000 6000 Major-general* Ist ,reSiment 50° Coote. i*£ "00 (. 92d 900 SECOND BRIGADE. Major-general} 500 Craddock. J "J '00 C 90th 700 THIRD BRIGADE.

TROOPS under the CAPITAN-PACHA. ,.» . i / 2d regiment SOsl Major-general ( S 500 LordCavan. j79lh 5(X) Albanians and janissaries 6000 FOURTH BR1GADI. C 1 8th regiment 400 Brigadier-gene- J 30th 300 ra. Doyle. J 44th 300 (89th 330 The VISIR's ARMY. FIFTH BRIGADE. English engineers and artillerymen 500 Brimdier-rene- 1 Regiment of Minorca 1 Ooo Brigadier gene » R„, ral Stuart. ) „.., , JKJKJ i Dillon s 600 Advanced-guard, commanded by Aboumarak, pacha of) Jerusalem J 4000 2000 RESERVE. Corps of Ibrahim, pacha of Aleppo 3000 3000 540th regiment 250 23d 600 Major-gene- (28th 600 ral Moore. \ 42d 900 (58th- • 600 ( Corsican Legion 400 Troops of the pacha of Damas, of Ismael Pacha, and of) Tahar Pacha- \ 5000 6000 Janissaries and other troops forming the Visir's guard. - 3000 1000 Mamalukes of Ibrahim Bey and Hassan Bey ....

SOq Total of the Visir's Army 1 5,500 1 2,800 CAVALRY. !1 ] th regiment of light dragoons 500-j I2th 450f 500 26th 450 (mounted. Hompech's hussars 300 / N. B. This army was greatly augmented after its arrival in Egpyt, and amounted to more than 35,000 men, exclusive of the Mukhtesims and Djendis, forming in Bregadier-gene- ( Five companies of artillery 450 ral Lawson. ( Pioneers 500 Egypt a species of militia, under the command of the Turks; the Arabs and the Fellahs who joined the visir; and the Mamalukes, who joined the English towards Marines for the service of artillery 500 Total of the English forces arrived on the \ 1 Oth Ventose (1st of March) witl. the fleet j 17'500 Men' the end of the campaign. [Not including 2000 men landed from the ships to aid the army in its first operations.]

Reinforcements arrived on the 1 9th Germinal. RECAPITULATION Guards 500 Of the Forces employed against the Army of the East. 24th regiment 600 25 th 600 English array arrived by the Mediterrsmean 23,400 Men. Troops from India g 0(50 26th 600 Corps of the Capitan-pacha 6,000 27th 600 Visir's army 23,?00 — 2900 Reinforcements arrived in Prairial and Messidor;.. namely, the 20th regiment, an Irish battalion, and 1 3000 men drafted from different corps; in all ) Total 63,700 5*900 If to these are added the men landed from the Eng- _ lish and Turkish fleets, amounting to 1 5,000 f from the fleet in the Red Sea 2,000 f 27'000 Troops joining the visir's army 10,000 J Total of English Troops arrived by the Medi-) „„ itA ,- terranean \ 23'400 Men- *>> it will be found that the number of men employed against *> Egypt amounts to about j 90'700 Men- (No. 3.)

STATEMENT OF THE FRENCH TROOPS BEFORE ALEXANDRIA On the 29th of VENTOSE, Year IX. (<20lh of March, 1801). INFANTRY. RIGHT WING. CENTRE. LEFT WING. Commanded by Reynier, General of Com anded by Rampon, Genera ofD vision. Commanded by Lanusse, General of Division. ivisio: . GENERALS OF GENERALS OF NAMES X H O 2 w H c/i TI ,LE Y. GENERALS OF NAMES OF THE CORPS. X H O A a h .TIL ,ER Y. GENERALS OF NAMES OF THE X H * O A t4 H TI ,LE Y. OF this o X 3 DIVISION. BRIGADE. CORPS. 12 BRIGADE. B 12 BRIGADE. CORPS. 4 12 Eppler, chief "- j brigade of 2 1st J'ght Greek grenadiers 2d company of grenadiers of the 25tli 1st company of carabiniersot'tho 21st 4th demi-brigade light I 18th of the line 600 600 o 4 2 1 3th demi-brigade of the line 840 3 3 1 100 120 80 Silly. s Damai. Baudot. 85th 860 2 1st and 2d battalion of the 21st light 700 Valentin. \ 69lh ditto I 83th ditto 800 700 1 '2 _ 3 2 Destin 1 Y% Friant.

Delcgorguc. 25th 650 2 Adjntant-cslWmandant Sornet. Carabiniers of the 2d light '. Grenadiers of the 32d of the line • • 32d demi-brigade of the line Total- • • - 180 150 2700 4 61st • 500 2 700 2 Foot guides and artillery- ■ Reserve of artillery Miners 150 a 3 1 f 75th 600 1 50 *- Total Total- - - - Total- • • • 3450 2030 200 2 / CAVALRY. RECAPITULATION. Comi landed by Roize, General of Brij ;ade. Right wing 3450 men. Eight-pounders. Howitz- Centre 2030 GENERALS OF BRIGADE. NAMES OF THE CORPS. STRENGTH. ers. Left wing 2700 Bron. | 7 th regiment os huuars -J-2d regiment of chasseurs 200 150 Guides, artillery, and miners 200 Reserve of cavalry 900 Boussart. < 3d regiment of dragoons 1 Uh ■ 350 200 250 Corps of cavalry detached to the right 350 Dromedaries 130 Roize -J 15th I8tb 20th 1.50 100 200 1 /-4-pounders 20 Cann.on \ 8 ditto is and J Howitzers. J 12 ditto 3 vHowitzers 7 / you Total 9760 Men. 46 Cannon, &c. Dromedaries

INTRODUCTION.

. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL CHARACTER OF EGYPT. Ji'GYPT has been described by various tra vellers ; and Volney has given a faithful out line of the physical and political charac ter of the country. But no writer has been led, by his profession and peculiar situation, to consider Egypt with a view to military operations and an internal administration con nected with a state of war., An acquaint ance with these objects, however, is neces sary to the forming a just opinion of the military and political events of which it was recently the theatre; to appreciate the san guine expectations formed by France of ex tending the boundaries of civilisation and en larging her commerce in the Mediterranean and India, which were the natural effects of her brilliant expedition to Egypt j and, finally,to comprehend the causes of her loss of that conquest.

Continually engaged in military occupa tions, I have not been able to regard with mi nuteness all the political circumstances of the country: but the learned men who partook of the labours of the army of the East, and were enabled, under its protection, to dedicate their time wholly to interesting researches, will de velope these to the public. My design at present is to give, to such of my readers as are unacquainted with Egypt, a general descrip^ tion of its resources for defence against an enemy, and the political condition of its in habitants. Description of the Face of the Country. Egypt is inclosed by natural barriers. Separated from Asia by deserts, a small number of lower grounds, in which brackish water is found, are the only routes by which an army can approach on that side. The flat shore of Egypt on the Mediterranean, and the mouths of the Nile embarrassed with bars of sand, afford only a few places proper to land troops.

Bounded on the west by immense deserts, Egypt is subject on that side only to irruptions of the Arabs of Barbary. Separated from the Red Sea by a desert, she has little reason to dread attack from that quarter j since the two ports of that sea offer no resource to an invading army, which could scarcely procure fresh water there, and must obtain from Egypt itself the provisions and camels necessary to pass the desert. On each side of the Nile, in higher Egypt, is a chain of barren mountains. The valley in which the river flows between these mountains is from four to five leagues in breadth, and is covered with water at the periodical inundations of the Nile. This valley alone is cultivated and inhabited. The chain of mountains on the eastern side, which separates the Nile from the Red Sea, is of greater height than the western.

It terminates toward the valley by precipices, which in many places have the appearance of a high and immense wall, broken here and there by narrow valleys, formed by sudden and temporary winter torrents, which serve for paths to pass over these mountains. The western chain, which separates the valley of the Nile from that of Ouasis, generally declines in a gradual b manner. Towards Siout, however, it is more abrupt ; and from the angle which the Nile forms near Hennh, it is steep, like the eastern chain, till it reaches Sienna, where the mountains rise still higher, and leave only a narrow passage to the river. In the neighbourhood of Cairo, the distance between these two chains of mountains increases. The eastern terminates towards the extremity of the Red Sea, without any appearance of connexion with the moun tains of Arabia, which terminate in the same manner *.

The western chain declines towards Fay oum, and near Cairo takes its direction to * The manner in which the chain of mountains on each coast of the Red Sea terminates, and the low lands which form a species of valley in the isthmus of Suez — a valley inclosed on each side with sand-hills, stretching to the foot of the mountains, particularly on the side of Asia — would lead ks to suppose that in former times there was a communication between the two seas by a strait, since filled with sands brought thither by the opposing currents, and the accumulation of the mud of the Nile at the mouths of that river. Some extraordinary change which has altered the level of the Mediterranean — since that is twenty-five feet lower than the Red Sea — may have contributed to the first formation of the isthmus, which has since been greatly increased by the mud of the Nile. the north-west, and afterwards to the west, where it forms the coast of the Mediterra nean.

The rocks in the neighbourhood of Alexandria and Aboukir appear to be an isle detached from this chain of mountains. In the space which hes between these two chains and the sea is the plain of Lower Egypt, formed in great part of the deposited earth of the Nile, by the branches of which river, and numerous canals cut for ir rigation, it is intersected. The seven branches by which the Nile formerly spread itself, through the Delta, to the sea are at present reduced to two princi- The moving sand-hills extend (as will be seen in the map) from Abouroak and Bir-deodar beyond El-Arish. They occupy the entire space lying between the Mediterranean and the mountains of Arabia Petrea, whose base they cover. The winds, which in this country are considerably uniform, have given the same direction to all the sand-hills.

They stretch generally from the north-west to the south-east, and are separated by narrow valleys. It is "only in the lower of these sand-hills, usually lying at the foot of higher ground of the same nature, that water is found by sinking wells of several feet in depth. Palm-trees, which grow on these sands, are a sure indication of water. These moving sands, and the inequality of their surface, render a march particularly ' toilsome, and are the greatest obstacle to the passage of the desert by an army. pal branches — those of Rosetta and Damietta. One or two canals, navigable only part of the year, are the only remains of the other branches. The canal of Moez is the ancient Tanitic branch ; and that of Achmoun the Mendesian. Their mouths are still to be traced at Omfaredje, and at Dibeh.

The canals of Karinen and Tabanieh, which fall inter the sea at Bourlos, are the vestiges of the ancient Sebennitic branch. Fewer traces are found of the Pelusiac and Canopic branches; which, approaching each other near the desert, are widely separated in the Delta. The traces of the Pelusiac branch are how ever very distinct in the province of Char kieh; and its mouth is at Tineh, near the ruins of Pelusium. It is probable that, when the seven branches of the Nile existed together, they severally contained nearly an equal body of water. The subsequent unequal division of water, canals cut in directions to affect the equili brium of the waters, canals whose channels were neglected, and other causes, having di minished the body of water in one of these branches, the water naturally falling at its mouth, the sea rushed in, drove back the fresh water, and completely mingled with it.

The brackish quality of the water of this branch, after this revolution, destroyed the fertility of the land it overflowed, and com pelled the cultivator to abandon it. An ignorance of the cause of the sterility of the land, or the interest of cantons more fa voured and popular, have prevented the re establishment of the equilibrium of the water; and the preservation of the canals has been neglected in proportion as the cultivators retired from their banks to more fertile parts of the country. This effect is sometimes observed in the branches of Rosetta and Damietta. The breach of a dyke, or other circumstances, increasing the body of water in one of the branches at the expense of the other, the sea penetrates into that which falls in its level, impregnat ing the land with salt, and compelling the cultivator to desert it,- till, the equilibrium being established, the fresh water imbues the land sufficiently to restore its fertility.

Other causes have contributed to destroy the Pelusiac branch. The crusades, by burning and destroying the city of Pelusium and other principal cities of that canton, drove the inhabitants from that frontier pro vince, exposed to all the miseries of war. The Pelusiac branch was no longer preserved. The cultivators inhabiting other branches, eager to engross the waters of the Nile, di verted them to their own lands ; and, the equilibrium thus destroyed, the sea flowed into this branch. The land, abandoned, and no longer irrigated with fresh water, was ini* bued with salt, and extensive cantons became sterile deserts. It cannot be doubted that Lower Egypt in great part owes its existence to the accumu lation of earth deposited by the Nile. — The agitated matter which that river did not leave on its banks must settle where the equilibrium of the contending motions of the river and the sea produced a calm.

The matter thus deposited formed bars or sand banks, which the different movements of the water extended to the right and left. In creased successively by the action of the winds and water, they at length formed the chains of sand-banks which lie between the various mouths of the Nile. These sand-banks would long remain separated from the land accumulated from the direct deposits of the river, by intervals or lakes formed by the influx of the sea, although receiving the river water at the period of trie inundations. But such lakes must diminish in proportion as the growth of land, formed by the agitation of the river, filled up the channels by which the sea entered. As the mud of the river naturally first overflows the low grounds nearest its bed, its banks would be the first to rise above the level of the other land ; the growth of land from deposited mud would be slower in its progress in more distant parts ; and hence there would remain lakes towards the coasts lying at the greatest distance from the point where the Nile branches into several canals.

Thus there have always been marshes near Pelusium ; and the bed of the lake Mareotis continues to lie very low. The land growing from the Nile tends naturally to fill these lakes, enlarge Lower Egypt, and gain on the sea. The sea op poses this tendency. The growth of land from the Nile is perhaps arrived at that point where it no longer gains in one quarter but by losing in another. It has been observed that, for many centuries past, more land has been gained by the sea than accumulated from the mud of the Nile. It is even to be foreseen that, if art does not direct the operations of nature, if the body of water is suffered to spread, and the beds of the principal branches of the river to be enlarged, and the equilibrium of water at the mouths of the river neglected, the sea will gain new lands from the cultivator, instead of yielding any.

This is in truth the fate that menaces Egypt, if that country remains in the hands of an igno rant people. It has before been observed, that, when a diminution of water in one of the branches of the river permits an influx of the sea into its channel, the salt water spreads over the low grounds and into the lakes bordering on the river. Sometimes aided by storms on the coast, the sea water extends the boundaries of the lakes, overflows the land which (having accumulated from the deposits of the Nile) separates the lakes from the branches of the river, and compels the cultivator to abandon a territory rendered sterile by these inundations. By this process may be explained the formation of the shallow and marshy lakes which lie on the coasts of Egypt. The largest of these, Lake Menzaleh, now covers a great part of the land formerly watered by the Pelusiac, Tanitic, and Mendesian branches.

Lake Bourlos is near the mouth of the ancient Sebennitic branch, and canals cut from the branch of Rosetta. Lake Ma adieh is near the ancient Canopic mouth. Lake Etko, a new lake, formed during the inundation of the 9th year (l80l), was occa sioned by the opening of the canal of Deirout by the inconsiderate orders of general Menou. The water of the canal spreading in a large body over the neighbouring low grounds, forced it self a passage among the sand-hills to the sea. After the usual inundation, when the level of the fresh water had fallen, the channel it had formed near la maison quarrte being no longer full, the sea rushed in by that passage and formed a new lake. Lake Mareotis was too far distant from the Nile to be filled with its mud. The canal cut to convey water-to Alexandria, and after wards the neglect to keep open the canals of Bahireh which flow into the lake, diverted the waters of the Nile from the lake ; and its communication with the sea being choked up, the water of the lake evaporated.

Lake Mareotis had therefore been dry for a long period; but there still remained in its bed brackish mud and a moving sand ; and, receiving the rain in winter and small quantities of the Nile during the inundation through the ca nals of Bahireh, it is marshy during a great part of the year. The English, during the last campaign, having cut the dyke of the canal of Alexan dria* which separates the canal from lake Madieh, that lake was again overflown by the sea. It extends through a valley parallel to the sea, from which it is separated only by a hill whose breadth in some places is no more than 500 toises: it stretches beyond the tower of the Arabs. * This operation of the English almost entirely separafes Alexandria from the rest of Egypt- The breach they made in the dyke of that canal deprives the city of water, and w*ill inevitably occasion its ruin, if not speedily repaired.