But an event, important to the present peace of Eu rope, had occurred a few days before the action of Co penhagen, which, if known sooner, might have saved the lives and limbs of many thousands. This was the death of the insane Emperor Paul, who was strangled by a con spiracy of the nobles in his own palace. The accession of Alexander opened the path to immediate conciliation between the northern powers and this country. Britain, by a few salutary concessions, maintained the right of searching neutrals, and commerce returned to its wont ed channels. A convention with Russia was signed on the 17th of June, to which Denmark and Sweden acced ed, receiving back from us their captured ships and co lonies.
The affairs of the French in Egypt had begun to wear a more promising aspect, when the poinard of an assas sin deprived the French army of their able and popular commander Kleber. General Menou, his successor, had still nearly 30,000 regular troops, independent of Copts, Greeks, and Arabs, on whose fidelity, however, small reliance could be placed, to defend the new colony, when a plan was adopted by the new coalition, for invading it with three different armies. It was concerted between the powers interested in the recovery of Egypt, that the grand vizier should lead a body of Turks across the desert. An English army, commanded by General Baird, was to be brought from India by the Red Sea, while the main army of the English was to be landed on the opposite shores. This last and most important body coPzeted at Malta in November 1800. The command of them being declined by General Sir Charles Stuart, K. B. devolved on Sir Ralph Abercromhy. Embarking from Malta in December, the British remained for some time on the coast of Caramania, and having encountered severe gales, reached the bay of Aboukir on the 2d of March 1301. There they effected a landing upon the 8th, in the face of a numerous opposing body of the French. On the 13th, they fought another spirited ac tion with the advanced body of the French near Alex dria, whom they drove back to the heights of Nicopolis. In a few days the fort of Aboukir surrendered; while Melton, arriving from Cairo with his whole disposable force, was on the 20th of March concentrated at Alexan dria, and prepared for a decisive battle on the following day. The British occupied a position about four miles from Alexandria, having a sandy plain in their front,the sea on their right, and the lake of Aboukir and the canal of Alexandria (at that time dry) on their left. The ac
tion began two hours before day light. A feint attack upon the left of the British was succeeded by a furious onset of the French upon their right. After an obstinate conflict, the repulse of two charges left the British mas ters of the field ; the French returning under the protec tion of their cannon. The deficiency of ammunition prevented an effective pursuit of them; but the fire of sonic of our vessels in the harbour gave considerable celerity to the retreat of 1\lenou. Above 3000 of the enemy were killed, wounded, or taken. On the side of the British 1200 men, including the justly lamented Abercromby, were the price of the victory. See ABED. CROMBY.
The chief command, after the death of Abercromby, devolved on General Hutchinson. The battles of his predecessor had opened the way to the conquest of Egypt, but had not secured it. For some time the ope rations of the new commander were slow and cautious. Rosetta, however, was taken; and the Turks, who had now joined the English, gained some advantages over the enemy at Ramanich. These successes, and the ex emplary behaviour of our troops, encouraged both the Arabs and the Mamelukes to join our army in great numbers. While their progress was marked with vic tory on the left bank of the Nile, they made advances in the Delta, till, possessing both shores of the river, they traversed the burning desert, and, coming in sight of the pyramids, proceeded to reduce the once famed capi tal of Egypt. General Belliard surrendered Cairo, on condition of its garrison being allowed to return to France. They carried with them, as a mark of unfeign ed regard, the body of General Kleber. The surrender of Alexandria was alone wanting to complete the con quest of Egypt : But here 1\Ienou, far from approving the capitulation of Cairo, increased the fortifications, and threatened to bury himself under their ruins rather than yield. He did not yet despair of receiving reinforce ments from Admiral Gantheaume, who, after having been two days within thirty leagues of Alexandria, was obliged to bear away, for fear of an interview with the English fleet. The siege was protracted till Septem ber, when the conditions which had been granted to Bernard were renewed to the commander in chief. About 23,000 Frenchmen thus returned from an expe dition for which 40,000 had embarked. They were ac companied by several hundreds of the natives of both sexes.