inces, was resolved not to lose the opportunity of
appropriating some of the rich antiquarian treasures of Egypt; nor was
it likely that he should undervalue the opportunities which his
expedition might afford, of extending the boundaries of science, by
careful observation of natural phenomena. He drew together therefore a
body of eminent artists and connoisseurs, under the direction of
_Monge_, who had managed his Italian collections: it was perhaps the
first time that a troop of _Savans_ (there were 100 of them) formed
part of the staff of an invading army.[23]

The various squadrons of the French fleet were now assembled at Toulon;
and everything seemed to be in readiness. Yet some time elapsed before
Napoleon joined the armament: and it is said by _Miot_ that he did all
he could to defer joining it as long as possible, in consequence of
certain obscure hopes which he had entertained of striking a blow at the
existing government, and remodelling it, to his own advantage, with the
assent, if not assistance, of Austria. This author adds that Barras,
having intercepted a letter of Buonaparte to Cobentzel, went to him late
one evening, and commanded him to join the fleet instantly, on pain of
being denounced as the enemy of the government; that the general ordered
his horses the same hour, and was on his way to Toulon ere midnight.
These circumstances may or may not be truly given. It is not doubtful
that the command of the Egyptian expedition was ultimately regarded,
both by Napoleon and the Directory, as a species of honourable
banishment. On reaching Toulon, Buonaparte called his army together, and
harangued them. "Rome," he said, "combated Carthage by sea as well as
land; and England was the Carthage of France.--He was come to lead them,
in the name of the Goddess of Liberty, across mighty seas, and into
remote regions, where their valour might achieve such glory and such
wealth as could never be looked for beneath the cold heavens of the
west. The meanest of his soldiers should receive seven acres of
land;"--_where_ he mentioned not. His promises had not hitherto been
vain. The soldiery heard him with joy, and prepared to obey with
alacrity.

The English government, meanwhile, although they had no suspicion of the
real destination of the armament, had not failed to observe what was
passing in Toulon. They probably believed that the ships there assembled
were meant to take part in the great scheme of the invasion of