watching keenly over his interests, and who must have
been singularly ill served if they never were able to communicate with
him during so many months.

However this might have been, the General succeeded in preventing any
suspicion of his projected evasion from arising among the soldiery; and
when he finally turned his back on Cairo, it was universally believed
that it was but to make a tour in the Delta.

Napoleon reached the coast on the 22nd August, and was there met by
Berthier, Andreossi, Murat, Lannes, Marmont, and the _savans_ Monge and
Berthollet; none of whom had suspected for what purpose they were
summoned. Admiral Gantheaume had by this time two frigates and two
smaller vessels (which had been saved in the harbour of Alexandria)
ready for sea; and on the morning of the 23rd, the wind having
fortunately driven the English squadron of blockade off the coast,
Buonaparte and his followers embarked at Rosetta.

The same day the event was announced to the army by a proclamation which
the General left behind him, naming Kleber as his successor in the
command. The indignation of the soldiery, who thought themselves
deserted by their chief, was for a time violent; but, by degrees, the
great qualities displayed by Kleber softened this feeling, and
Buonaparte had left agents well qualified to explain what had happened,
in the manner most favourable for himself.

Kleber received at the same time a parting letter of instructions--one
of the most singular pieces that ever proceeded from Napoleon's pen. "I
send you," said he, "English gazettes to the 10th of June. You will
there see that we have lost Italy; that Mantua, Turin, and Tortona are
blockaded. I hope, if fortune smiles on me, to reach Europe before the
beginning of October.... It is the intention of government that General
Dessaix should follow me, unless great events interpose themselves, in
the course of November.... There is no doubt that, on the arrival of our
squadron at Toulon, means will be found of sending you the recruits and
munitions necessary for the army of Egypt. The government will then
correspond with you directly; while I, both in my public and in my
private capacity, will take measures to secure for you frequent
intelligence."

Buonaparte proceeds, after thus boldly assuming to himself the right of
speaking for the government--and in terms, it will be observed,
calculated to leave no doubt that his own departure was the result of
orders f