and Mr. Thomas Smith, midshipman of the Tigre, accompanied an advanced body of the of the Grand Vizier from Gaza to El

army Arish.

The fort El Arish was summoned, and the French refusing to capitulate, the place was reconnoitred by the English, and batteries immediately erected; the whole of which when opened had the most complete success. On the morning of the 29th, the enemy ceased to return the fire of the besiegers, and the fort, without any terms of capitulation being stipulated, was taken possession of. This success was disgraced by the revengeful ferocity of the Turks, whose thirst for blood could not be restrained. Three hundred of the French garrison were put to the sword by the Osmanlis.

The admixture of the British forces with the Turks had taught these barbarians admiration, but not mercy. They were unceasing in their applauses of the cheerful manner in which the detachment from the English squadron performed their unusual duties, exposed as they were on the Desert without tents, ill-fed, and with nothing but brackish water to drink. They beheld with astonishment these triumphs of civilised discipline.

The year 1799 was hardly completed, when

General Kleber, who had been left in command in Egypt on its abandonment by Bonaparte, had entered into a convention with the Grand Vizier for the total evacuation of Egypt by the French forces. This document was finally signed on the 24th January, 1800, and to which Sir William Sidney Smith, as auxiliary commander on the part of Great Britain, willingly acceded.

"Convention for the Evacuation of Egypt, agreed upon by Citizens Desaix, General of Division, and Poussielgue, Administrator-general of Finances, Plenipotentiaries of the Commanderin-Chief Kleber,-and their Excellencies Moustafa Raschid Effendi Testerdar, and Moustafa Rassiche Effendi Riessul Knitab, Ministers Plenipotentiaries of his Highness the Supreme Vizier.

"The French army in Egypt, wishing to give a proof of its desire to stop the effusion of blood, and to put an end to the unfortunate disagreements which have taken place between the French republic and the sublime Porte, consent to evacuate Egypt on the stipulations of the present convention, hoping that this concession will pave the way for the general pacification of Europe.

"I. The French army will retire with its arms,

baggage, and effects, to Alexandria, Rosetta, and Aboukir, there to be embarked and transported to France, both in its own vessels and in those which it will be necessary for the Sublime Porte to furnish it with: and in order that the aforesaid vessels may be the more speedily prepared, it is agreed, that a month after the ratification of the present convention, there shall be sent to the fort of Alexandria a commissary, with fifty purses, on the part of the Sublime Porte.

"II. There shall be an armistice of three months in Egypt, reckoning from the time of the signature of the present convention; and in case the truce shall expire before the aforesaid vessels to be furnished by the Sublime Porte shall be ready, the said truce shall be prolonged till the embarkation can be completely effected, it being understood on both sides that all possible means will be employed to secure the tranquillity of the armies and of the inhabitants, which is the object of the truce.

"III. The transport of the French army shall take place according to the regulations of commissaries appointed for this purpose by the Sublime Porte and General Kleber; and if any difference of opinion shall take place between the aforesaid commissaries respecting the embarkation, one shall be appointed by Commodore Sir

Sidney Smith, who shall decide the difference according to the maritime regulations of England.

"IV. The forts of Cathic and Salachich shall be evacuated by the French troops on the 8th day, or at the latest on the 10th day after the ratification of this convention. The town of Mansoura shall be evacuated on the 15th day, Damietta and Balbey on the 20th day. Suez shall be evacuated six days before Cairo. The other places on the east bank of the Nile shall be evacuated on the 10th day. The Delta shall be evacuated fifteen days after the evacuation of Cairo. The west banks of the Nile and its dependencies shall remain in the hands of the French till the evacuation of Cairo; and meanwhile, as they must be occupied by the French army till all its troops shall have descended from Upper Egypt, the said western bank and its dependencies will not be evacuated till the expiration of the truce, if it is impossible to evacuate them sooner. The places evacuated shall be given up to the Sublime Porte in the same situation in which they are at present.

"V. The city of Cairo shall be evacuated after forty days, if that is possible, or at the latest after forty-five days, reckoning from the ratification of the treaty.

"VI. It is expressly agreed, that the Sublime Porte shall use every effort that the French troops may fall back through the different places on the left bank of the Nile, with their arms and baggage, towards the head-quarters, without being disturbed or molested on their march in their persons, property, or honour, either by the inhabitants of Egypt or the troops of the imperial Ottoman army.

"VII. In consequence of the former article, and in order to prevent all difference and hostilities, measures shall be taken to keep the Turkish always at a sufficient distance from the French army.

"VIII. Immediately after the ratification of the present convention, all the Turks and other nations, without distinction, subjects of the Sublime Porte, imprisoned or retained in France, or in the power of the French in Egypt, shall be set at liberty; and, on the other hand, all the French detained in the cities and seaport towns of the Ottoman empire, as well as every person of whatever nation they may be, attached to French legations and consulates, shall be also set at liberty.

"IX. The restitution of the goods and property of the inhabitants and subjects of both sides, or the payment of their value to the proprietors,