DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4794#0080
The next circumstance, which is depicted
as still more inexcusable, is, that Bonaparte
finding the hospitals at Jaffa Crowded with
his own sick, sent for a physician, to whom
he communicated the dire intention of getting
rid of them by poison. But this gentleman
expressing his horror and detestation at the
proposal, Bonaparte found, perhaps, a poorer
apothecary, or one fearing his power, who
consented to do his pleasure ; and accord-
ingly, at night, in the vehicle of grateful
food, a large portion of opium was distri-
buted ; and, in a few hours, 580 soldiers,
who had bled and suffered for their country,
were cut off from all hope of recovery and
existence. Bonaparte’s apology for this last
act was, that he destroyed the sick to prevent
contagion, and save them from falling into
the hands of the Turks.
We now pass over the reflections suggested
by the first impressions made by these me-
lancholy facts, to advert to the movements
introductory to the battle of Rahmanieh.
On the morning of the 7th, it was found
that the French had quitted the position of
El Aft, which was, about the same time, oc-
cupied by an English patrole. In. the even-
ing, a movement was made by Colonel Stuart
to Surasa. Hie British main body were
moving to occupy the post just abandoned
by the enemy, when, to prevent the infec-
tion of the plague, the huts occupied by the
French were ordered to be burnt. The num-
ber of flies which, at this time, filled the
as still more inexcusable, is, that Bonaparte
finding the hospitals at Jaffa Crowded with
his own sick, sent for a physician, to whom
he communicated the dire intention of getting
rid of them by poison. But this gentleman
expressing his horror and detestation at the
proposal, Bonaparte found, perhaps, a poorer
apothecary, or one fearing his power, who
consented to do his pleasure ; and accord-
ingly, at night, in the vehicle of grateful
food, a large portion of opium was distri-
buted ; and, in a few hours, 580 soldiers,
who had bled and suffered for their country,
were cut off from all hope of recovery and
existence. Bonaparte’s apology for this last
act was, that he destroyed the sick to prevent
contagion, and save them from falling into
the hands of the Turks.
We now pass over the reflections suggested
by the first impressions made by these me-
lancholy facts, to advert to the movements
introductory to the battle of Rahmanieh.
On the morning of the 7th, it was found
that the French had quitted the position of
El Aft, which was, about the same time, oc-
cupied by an English patrole. In. the even-
ing, a movement was made by Colonel Stuart
to Surasa. Hie British main body were
moving to occupy the post just abandoned
by the enemy, when, to prevent the infec-
tion of the plague, the huts occupied by the
French were ordered to be burnt. The num-
ber of flies which, at this time, filled the