ed the British cruisers, and landed at Frejus on October 9. He
joined a party which was plotting against the directory. On November 9
and 10 (18th and 19th Brumaire) he overthrew not only the directory,
which was ready to fall, but the legislature also. A provisional
government was set up, and on December 13 a new constitution was
published. Bonaparte was declared first consul for ten years with powers
which, under a thin disguise, made him virtually master of France.

Kleber found his resources failing, no help came to him, for England was
supreme in the Mediterranean, and the Turks threatened to attack him.
With the assistance of Sidney Smith, who acted on his own
responsibility, he arranged a capitulation with the grand-vizier. The
convention of El Arish, signed on January 24, 1800, provided that the
French should evacuate Egypt and return home unmolested, and it
contained no stipulation that they should not serve again during the
war. The English ministers, aware that Kleber was in straits, had
already ordered Keith not to agree to any terms short of the surrender
of the French troops as prisoners of war. Keith informed Smith of this
order, but his letter did not reach him until after the convention was
signed. On receiving it, Smith sent word to Kleber that his government
refused to sanction the convention. When the ministers heard that Smith
had assented to it, they generously resolved not to disavow the act of a
British officer, and ordered that the convention should be recognised.
By that time, however, the French had defeated the Turks at Heliopolis
and were determined to make further efforts to hold the country.

[Sidenote: _BONAPARTE'S LETTER._]

Bonaparte lost no time in setting about the pacification of civil strife
in France. In December, 1799, Pitt, untaught by experience, was planning
an expedition to co-operate with the royalists in La Vendee and
Brittany, with the object of reducing Brest, compelling the surrender of
the French fleet, which was to be held in the name of Louis XVIII. (the
Count of Provence), and taking the Spanish fleet as prize. Bonaparte's
skilful policy pacified the disturbed districts, and foiled the hopes of
the royalist conspirators. Pitt was forced to postpone his scheme and
after a time abandoned it. While he was engaged on it, Bonaparte sent a
letter addressed to the king personally, in which he declared his desire
for peace. In later days he said that his object was merely to