Three or four weeks after Buonaparte's return from Syria, this flattering state of tranquility seemed on the point of being disturbed. Murad Bey, re-entering Upper Egypt with his Mamelukes and allies, descended the Nile in two bodies, one occupying each bank of the river. Ibrahim Bey made a corresponding movement towards the frontiers of Syria, as if to communicate with the right-hand division of Murad's army La Grange was despatched against the Mamelukes who occupied the right bank, while Murat marched against those who, under the Bey himself, were descending the Nile.

Meantime the cause of this incursion was explained by the appearance of a Turkish fleet off Alexandria, who disembarked 18,000 men at Aboukir. This Turkish army possessed themselves of the fort, and proceeded to fortify themselves, expecting the arrival of the Mamelukes, according to the plan which had previously been adjusted for expelling the French from Egypt. This news reached Buonaparte near the Pyramids, to which he had advanced, in order to ensure the destruction of Murad Bey. The arrival of the Turks instantly recalled him to Alexandria, whence he marched to Aboukir to repel the invaders. He joined his army, which had assembled from all points within a short distance of the Turkish camp, and was employed late in the night making preparations for the battle on the next morning.

Next morning, being the 25th of July, Buonaparte commenced an attack on the advanced posts of the enemy, and succeeded in driving them in upon the main body, which was commanded by Seid Mustapha Pacha. In their first attack, the French were eminently successful, and pursued the fugitive Turks to their entrenchments, doing great execution.— But when the batteries opened upon them from the trenches, whilst they were at the same time exposed to the fire from the gun-boats in the bay, their impetuosity was checked, and the Turks sallying out upon them with their muskets slung at their backs, made such havoc among the French with their sabres, poinards and pistols, as compelled them to retreat in their turn. The advantage was lost by the eagerness of the barbarians to possess themselves of the heads of their fallen enemies, for which they receive a certain reward. They threw themselves confusedly out of the entrenchments to obtain these bloody testimonials, and were in considerable disorder, when the French suddenly rallied, charged them with great fury, drove them back into the works, and scaled the ramparts along with them.

Wurat had made good his promise of the preceding evening, and had been ever in the front of the battle. When the French had surmounted the entrenchments, he formed a column which reversed the position of the Turks, and pressing them with the bayonet, threw them into utter and inextricable confusion. Fired upon and attacked on every point, they became, instead of an army, a confused rabble, who, in the impetuosity of animal terror, threw themselves by hundreds and by thousands into the sea, which at once seemed covered with turbans. It was no longer a battle, but a massacre; and it was only when wearied with slaughter that quarter was given to about six thousand men-the rest of the Turkish army, consisting of eighteen thousand, perished on the field or in the waves.

This splendid and most decisive victory of Aboukir concluded Napoleon's carcer in the East. It was imperiously necessary ere he could have ventured to quit the command of his army, with the hope of preserving his credit with the public; and it enabled him to plead that he left Egypt for the time in absolute security.

His military views had indeed been uniformly successful; and Egypt was under the dominion of France as completely as the sword could subject it. For two years afterwards, like the strong man in the parable, they kept the house which they had won, until there came in a stronger, by whom they were finally and forcibly expelled.

Admiral Gantheaume, who had been with the army ever since the destruction of the fleet, received the General's orders to make ready for sea, with all possible despatch, two frigates then lying in the harbor of Alexandria.

Meantime, determined to preserve his credit with the Institute, and to bring evidence of what he had done for the cause of science, Buonaparte commanded Monge, who is said to have suggested the expedition, and the accomplished Denon who became its historian, with Berthollet, to prepare to accompany him to Alexandria. Of military chiefs, he selected the generals Berthier, Murat, Lasnes, Marmont, Dessaix, Andreossi and Bessieres, the best and most attached of his officers. He left Cairo as soon as he heard the frigates were ready and the sea open, making a visit to Delta the pretext of his Kleber and Menou, whom he meant to leave first and second in command, were appointed to meet him in Alexandria. But he had an interview with the latter only.

tour.

Napoleon left behind him a short proclamation, apprising the

army that news of importance from France had called him to Europe, but that they should soon hear tidings of him.— He exhorted them in the meantime to have confidence in their new commander, who possessed, he said, his good opinion, and that of the government, and in these terms he bade them farewell. Two frigates, La Muiron and La Carere, being ready for sea, the General embarked from an unfrequented part of the beach on the 23d of August.

Ere the frigates were far from land, they were reconnoitred by an English corvette, a circumstance which seemed of evil augury. Buonaparte assured his companions, by his usual allusions to his own destiny, "We will arrive safe," he said; "Fortune will never abandon us-we will arrive safe in despite of the enemy."

The

To avoid the English cruisers, the vessels coasted the shores of Africa, and the wind was so contrary, that they made but an hundred leagues in twenty days. At length they ventured to stand northward, and on the 30th of September, they entered by singular chance, the port of Ajaccio in Corsica, and Buonaparte found himself near his native city. On the 7th of October, they again put to sea, but upon approaching the French coast, they found themselves in the neighborhood of a squadron of English men-of-war. admiral would have tacked about, to return to Corsica."To do so," said Buonaparte, "would be to take the road to England-I am seeking that to France." He probably meant that the manœuvre would attract the attention of the English. They kept on their course; but the peril of being captured seemed so imminent, that, though still several leauges from the shore, Gantheaume proposed to man his long-boat, in order that the General might attempt his escape in her. Buonaparte observed, that that measure might be deferred till the case was more desperate.

At length they passed, unsuspected and unquestioned, through the hostile squadron, and on the 9th of October, at ten in the morning, he on whose fate the world so long seemed to depend, landed at St. Rapheau, near Frejus. He had departed at the head of a powerful fleet, and a victorious army, on an expedition designed to alter the destinies of the most ancient nations of the world. The result had been far from commensurate to the means employed-the fleet had perished-the army was blockaded in a distant province, when their arms were most necessary at home. He returned clandestinely, and almost alone; yet Providence designed that, in

this apparently deserted condition, he should be the instru ment of more extensive and more astonishing changes, than the efforts of the greatest conquerors had ever before been able to effect upon the civilized world.

General rejoicing on the Return of Buonaparte. Political Revolution.Napoleon appointed to command the Military Force. He enters the Council of Five Hundred. His perilous situation. Buonaparte chosen First Consul. He resolves to bring back victory to the French Standards. Passes the Alps at Mont. St. Bernard. The Van-guard takes possession of Aosta. Town of Bard captured. Great BATTLE OF MARENGO, and complete Victory of the French. Buonaparte returns to Paris. An Armistice takes place, followed by a Treaty of

Peace.

BUONAPARTE set out, almost immediately from Frejus, where he landed, for Paris. During his journey, he was every where received with the strongest demonstrations of joy; the people surrounding, saluted him with the cry of peace! peace! an evidence how much the nation sighed for the greatest of all blessings, and that they looked to him as the only man capable of healing the wounds of their country, at which its life's blood so freely flowed. He reached the capital on the 16th of October; with the rapidity of lightning, the news spread over the city; all hastened to behold the hero whom they had once honored as the conqueror of Italy, and whom they now saluted as the " conqueror of Egypt;" the most rapturous joy was manifested, and each seemed desirous of outdoing the rest in welcoming home the hero of the nation, and in testifying his joy on the occasion. He arrived at a great crisis; when the flames of insurrection had been lighted up in the southern and eastern departments of France, and the torches of discord in the capital; when from the imbecility of the Government and the violence of the factions, the most alarming disorders every where prevailed; and at the very time that General Jourdan in the council of Five Hundred had proposed a decree, “declaring the country in danger."

The afflicted and critical condition of the nation undoubtedly contributed to the transports of joy manifested by the people at the return of Buonaparte, as in the agitation and alarm which prevailed, it was natural from his unexpected appearance, and the eclat attached to his name, for the people to regard him, as having returned for their deliverance. When the confidence in the government was in a great measure destroyed, and faction reigned in the capital, and insurrection in the departments, not knowing to what quarter to look for succor or security, all eyes were fixed upon the man who had done so much to extend the glory of his country; who in all his wars had never been defeated, and who had once "conquered a peace" with all their enemies on the continent.

Buonaparte did not fail to promote these feelings, in the people; he assumed an affability in his manners that he did not possess before he left France; he conversed freely with the people, and shook by the hand several soldiers, who had belonged to the "army of Italy." A tropical sun and the sands of Egypt, had bronzed his complexion; his hair was cut short and without powder; he was not in uniform, but had on a grey riding coat with a silk scarf over his shoulders, suspending a Turkish sabre; his whole appearance, novel and striking, suggested the idea of greater manliness and energy, than his physiognomy had formerly disclosed. On entering the city, amidst the acclamations of the populace, he passed along the courts and streets leading to the Luxembourg, and immediately had an interview with the directory.

Napoleon, seemed to give his exclusive attention to literature, and, having exchanged the usual visits of form with the ministers of the Republic, he was more frequently to be found at the Institute, or discussing with the traveller Volney, and other men of letters, the information which he had acquired in Egypt on science and antiquities, than in the haunts of politicians, or the society of the leaders of either party in the state. Neither was he to be seen at the places of popular resort-he went into no general company, seldom attended the theatres, and, when he did, took his seat in a private box.

He was not, however, inactive; he perceived that a crisis in the government was approaching, and determined to take advantage of the existing state of things. He knew that the feelings of the people were strongly in his favor, and considered that the best way to maintain his popularity was to seclude himself from the gaze of idle curiosity; every body talked of him, but few, if any, really knew him. He was ac