mpire, and thus assure the
peace of the world.[239]

Before this excellent advice was received, Napoleon astonished the
world by a daring stroke. On the 30th of January the "Moniteur"
printed in full the bellicose report of Colonel Sebastiani on his
mission to Algiers, Egypt, Syria, and the Ionian Isles. As that
mission was afterwards to be passed off as merely of a commercial
character, it will be well to quote typical passages from the secret
instructions which the First Consul gave to his envoy on September
5th, 1802:

"He will proceed to Alexandria: he will take note of what is in the
harbour, the ships, the forces which the British as well as the
Turks have there, the state of the fortifications, the state of the
towers, the account of all that has passed since our departure both
at Alexandria and in the whole of Egypt: finally, the present state
of the Egyptians.... He will proceed to St. Jean d'Acre, will
recommend the convent of Nazareth to Djezzar: will inform him that
the agent of the [French] Republic is to appear at Acre: will find
out about the fortifications he has had made: will walk along them
himself, if there be no danger."

Fortifications, troops, ships of war, the feelings of the natives, and
the protection of the Christians--these subjects were to be
Sebastiani's sole care. Commerce was not once named. The departure of
this officer had already alarmed our Government. Mr. Merry, our
_charge d'affaires_ in Paris, had warned it as to the real aims in
view, in the following "secret despatch:

"PARIS, _September 25th,_ 1802.

"... I have learnt from good authority that he [Sebastiani] was
accompanied by a person of the name of Jaubert (who was General
Bonaparte's interpreter and confidential agent with the natives
during the time he commanded in Egypt), who has carried with him
regular powers and instructions, prepared by M. Talleyrand, to
treat with Ibrahim-Bey for the purpose of creating a fresh and
successful revolt in Egypt against the power of the Porte, and of
placing that country again under the direct or indirect dependence
of France, to which end he has been authorized to offer assistance
from hence in men and money. The person who has confided to me this
information understands that the mission to Ibrahim-Bey is confided
solely to M. Jaubert, and that his being sent with Col