,000 men, and costing
nearly L10,000,000 sterling, should have accomplished something in
Europe.

Only at one point did the British arms win a decisive success. The
French occupation of Egypt had aroused the apprehensions of Dundas for
India; and throughout the year 1800 he continued to urge an expedition
to Egypt, though other Ministers inclined to put it off. Finally, when
Bonaparte's triumph at Marengo shattered all hopes of an Austrian
invasion of Provence, and the surrender of Valetta, early in September,
set free the British squadron long blockading that port, Dundas pressed
the Egyptian project in a letter to Pitt, dated Wimbledon, 19th
September 1800. The gist of it is as follows:[529]

On reconsidering the discussion on Egypt at the Cabinet meeting
of yesterday, I am impressed by the danger of delaying action.
The importance of expelling the French from Egypt is obvious;
for it is clear that Bonaparte will subordinate every object to
the retention of that colony. The danger to India may not be
immediate, but it must be faced. Besides, our sacrifice of
Turkish interests to those of Austria [that is, by refusing to
ratify the Franco-Turkish Convention of El Arish] may induce the
Sultan to bargain with France on terms very unfavourable to us.
Or, again, France and Russia may plan a partition of the Ottoman
Empire. The objections, that we are pledged to do what we can
for Portugal and Austria, are not vital. For Portugal is safe
while the Viennese Court opposes France; and by our subsidies
and naval help we have borne our fair share in the Coalition.
Further efforts in that direction will be fruitless. We must now
see to our own interests. By occupying all the posts of Egypt,
we can coop up the French and force them to capitulate. Action
must not be postponed for any consideration whatever.

The opinion of Dundas soon prevailed; for, on 6th October, Grenville
wrote that the Egyptian Expedition was decided on. As is well known, the
joint efforts of forces from England, India, and the Cape of Good Hope
brought about the surrender of the French garrisons, and the acquisition
for the British Museum of the treasures designed for the Louvre. This
brilliant result was in the last instance due to Abercromby, Hutchinson,
Popham, and their coadjutors. But the enterprise resulted from the
untiring championship of the interests of India by Dundas. Long