France.

Before Nelson's arrival, Buonaparte is said to have meditated returning
to France, for the purpose of extorting from the government those
supplies of various kinds which, on actual examination, he had perceived
to be indispensable to the permanent occupation of Egypt, and which he
well knew the Directors would refuse to any voice but his own. He
intended, it is also said, to urge on the Directory the propriety of
resuming the project of a descent on England itself, at the moment when
the mind of that government might be supposed to be engrossed with the
news of his dazzling successes in Egypt. All these proud visions died
with Brueyes. On hearing of the battle of Aboukir a solitary sigh
escaped from Napoleon. "To France," said he, "the fates have decreed the
empire of the land--to England that of the sea."

He endured this great calamity with the equanimity of a masculine
spirit. He gave orders that the seamen landed at Alexandria should be
formed into a marine brigade, and thus gained a valuable addition to his
army; and proceeded himself to organise a system of government, under
which the great natural resources of the country might be turned to the
best advantage. We need not dwell on that vain repetition of his faith
in Mahomet, to which he would not and could not give effect by openly
adopting the rules and ceremonies of the Koran; which accordingly but
amused his own followers; and which deceived none of the Mussulman
people. This was the trick of an audacious infidel, who wanted wholly
that enthusiasm without which no religious impostor can hope to partake
the successes of the Prophet of Mecca. Passing over this worthless
preliminary, the arrangements of the new administration reflect honour
on the consummate understanding, the clear skill, and the unwearied
industry of this extraordinary man.

He was careful to advance no claim to the sovereignty of Egypt, but
asserted, that having rescued it from the Mameluke _usurpation_, it
remained for him to administer law and justice, until the time should
come for restoring the province to the dominion of the Grand Seignior.
He then established two councils, consisting of natives, principally of
Arab chiefs and Moslem of the church and the law, by whose advice all
measures were, nominally, to be regulated. They formed of course a very
subservient senate. He had no occasion to demand more from the people
than they had been used to pay to the beys; and he