DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4794#0059
their position, and were considerably more
numerous than the British. Still the battle
produced one immediate benefit; and that
was, the impression made on the Bedouin
Arabs by British bravery. Thousands of
them are said to have seen the contest, and
such a one as their fathers never recorded.
A communication was therefore opened with
the interior of the country, and tlie market
was filled
army wa^
with every commodity,
compelled to live upon
In the mean while, the labour of fortifying
the camp, digging, &c. was very intense,
as it all depended on the bodily exertions of
the men.
Sir Sydney Smith, going to the French
Qtit-posts with a flag of truce, learned that
the soldiers by no means wished to stay in
Egypt ; and that they rather pitied than en-
vied the English, who had so fair a prospect of
succeeding them. They much lamented the
deaths of Generals Lanusse and Bodet,wounded
on the 21st, as well as most of the officers of
Menou’s staff, who had himself a horse
shot under him. But, as it was found that
no person could be allowed to pass the ad-
vanced posts, a letter was on that day sent
in by Sir Sydney, as from Lord Keith and
Sir Ralph Abercrombie, proposing the eva-
cuation of Egypt, by which the troops might
return to France, without being considered
as prisoners of war. But this the Governor
of Alexandria treated rather as an insult ;
for, in his answer, returned next morning,
numerous than the British. Still the battle
produced one immediate benefit; and that
was, the impression made on the Bedouin
Arabs by British bravery. Thousands of
them are said to have seen the contest, and
such a one as their fathers never recorded.
A communication was therefore opened with
the interior of the country, and tlie market
was filled
army wa^
with every commodity,
compelled to live upon
In the mean while, the labour of fortifying
the camp, digging, &c. was very intense,
as it all depended on the bodily exertions of
the men.
Sir Sydney Smith, going to the French
Qtit-posts with a flag of truce, learned that
the soldiers by no means wished to stay in
Egypt ; and that they rather pitied than en-
vied the English, who had so fair a prospect of
succeeding them. They much lamented the
deaths of Generals Lanusse and Bodet,wounded
on the 21st, as well as most of the officers of
Menou’s staff, who had himself a horse
shot under him. But, as it was found that
no person could be allowed to pass the ad-
vanced posts, a letter was on that day sent
in by Sir Sydney, as from Lord Keith and
Sir Ralph Abercrombie, proposing the eva-
cuation of Egypt, by which the troops might
return to France, without being considered
as prisoners of war. But this the Governor
of Alexandria treated rather as an insult ;
for, in his answer, returned next morning,