August 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Dive into the captivating world of Napoleon Bonaparte through the eyes of his private secretary. This remarkable memoir, forged from years of close friendship and professional collaboration, offers a unique glimpse into the life and mind of one of historys most enigmatic figures. - Summary by Gillian Hendrie and Wikipedia
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Chapter seventeen of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume three by
Louis Antoine Foleilet de Bouriennes. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Read by Gillian Henry. Chapter seventeen, seventeen
ninety eight to seventeen ninety nine. Bonaparte's departure for Suez,
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crossing the desert, passage of the Red Sea, the Fountain
of Moses, the cenobites of Mount Sinai, danger in recrossing
the Red Sea, Napoleon's return to Cairo, money borrowed at Genoa,
new designs upon Syria, dissatisfaction of the Ottoman port plan
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for invading Asia, gigantic schemes, General Bertier's permission to return
to France, his romantic love and the adored portrait. He
gives up his permission to return home. Louis Bonaparte leaves Egypt.
The first cashmir shawl in France. Intercepted correspondence departure for Syria,
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Fountains of Mesudish Bonaparte, jealous discontent of the troops Elrish
taken aspect of Syria, Ramleh, Jerusalem. On the twenty fourth
of December, we set out for Suez, where we arrived
on the twenty sixth. On the twenty fifth we encamped
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in the desert some leagues before Adgirof. The heat had
been very great during the day, but about eleven at
night the cold became so severe as to be precisely
in an inverse ratio to the temperature of the day.
This desert, which is the root of the caravans from Suez,
from Taur and the countries situated on the north of Arabia,
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is strewed with the bones of the men and animals who,
for ages past have perished in crossing it. As there
was no wood to be got, we collected a quantity
of these bonds for fuel. Monge himself was induced to
sacrifice some of the curious skulls of animals, which he
had picked up on the way and deposited in the
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berlin of the General in chief. But no sooner had
we kindled our fires than an intolerable effluvium obliged us
to raise our camp and advance farther on, for we
could procure no water to extinguish the fires. On the
twenty seventh, Bonaparte employed himself in inspecting the town and
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port of Suez, and in giving orders for some naval
and military works he feared what indeed really occurred after
his departure from Egiute the arrival of some English troops
from the East Indies, which he had intended to invade.
These regiments contributed to the loss of his conquest footnote
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So David Baird, with a force of about seven thousand
men sent from India, landed at Kosair in July eighteen
o one, and footnot on the morning of the twenty
eighth we crossed the Red Sea dry shod to go
to the Wells of Moses, which are nearly a myriameter
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from the eastern coast and a little southeast of Suez.
The Gulf of Arabia terminates at about five thousand meters
north of that city, near the port. The Red Sea
is not above one thousand, five hundred meters wide and
is always fordable at low water. The caravans from tor
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and Mount Sinai always pass at that part, either in
going to or returning from Egypt. This shortens their journey
nearly a meriameter. At high tide, the water rises five
or six feet at Suez, and when the wind blows,
for it often rises to nine or ten feet footnote.
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I shall say nothing of the cenobites of Mount Sinai,
as I had not the honor of seeing them. Neither
did I see the register containing the names of Ali
salatidin Ibrahim or Abraham, on which Bonaparte is said to
have inscribed his name. I perceived at a distance some
high hills which were said to be Mount Sinai. I
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conversed through the medium of an interpreter with some Arabian
chiefs of tor and its neighborhood. They had been informed
of our excursion to the wells, and that they might
there thank the French general for the protection granted to
their caravans and their trade with Egypt. On the nineteenth
of December, before his departure from Suez Buonaparte signed a
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sort of safeguard of exemption from duties for the Convent
of Mount Sinai. This had been out of respect to
Moses and the Jewish nation, and also because the convent
of Mount Sinai is a seat of learning and civilization
amidst the barbarism of the deserts Bourienn end of footnote.
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We spent a few hours seated by the largest of
the springs, called the Wells of Moses, situated on the
eastern shore of the Gulf of Arabia. We made coffee
with the water from these springs, which, however, gave it
such a brackish taste that it was scarcely drinkable. Though
the water of the eight little springs which form the
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Wells of Moses is not so salt as that of
many wells dug in other parts of the deserts, it
is nevertheless exceedingly brackish, and does not allay thirst so
well as fresh water. Bonaparte returned to Suez that same night.
It was very dark when we reached the seashore. The
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tide was coming up, and the water was pretty high.
We deviated a little from the way we had taken
in the morning. We crossed a little too low down.
We were thrown into disorder. But who did not lose
ourselves in the marshes? As has been stated, there were none.
I have read somewhere, though I did not see the fact,
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nor did I hear it mentioned at the time that
the tide which was coming up would have been the
grave of the general in chief, had not one of
the guides saved him by carrying him on his shoulders.
If any such danger had existed, all who had not
a similar means of escape must have perished. This is
a fabrication. General Caffarelli was the only person who was
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really in danger, for his wooden leg prevented his sitting
firmly on his horse in the water. But some persons
came to his assistance and supported him footnote. Bonaparte extricated himself,
as the others did, from the real danger. He and
his escort had run at Saint Helena, he said, quote,
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Profiting by the low tide, I crossed the Red Sea
dry shod. On my return I was overtaken by the
night and went astray in the middle of the rising tide.
I ran the greatest danger. I nearly perished in the
same manner as Pharaoh did. This would certainly have furnished
all the Christian preachers with a magnificent test against me
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end quote Bourienne and footnote. On his return to Cairo,
the General in chief wished to discover the site of
the canal, which in ancient times formed a junction between
the Red Sea and the Nile. By bell Base Monsieur Leperre,
who was a member of the Egyptian Institute and is
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now Inspector General of Bridges and Highways, executed on the
spot a beautiful plan which may confidently be consulted by
those who wish to form an accurate idea of that
ancient communication and the level of the two seas footnote
since accurately ascertained during the progress of the works for
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the Suez Canal and footnote. On his arrival at the capitol,
Bonaparte again devoted all his thoughts to the affairs of
the army, which he had not attended to during his
short absence. The revenues of Egypt were far from being
sufficient to meet the military expenditure. To defray his own expenses,
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Bonaparte raised several considerable loans in Genoa through the medium
of Monsieur James. The connection of James with the Bonaparte
family takes its date from this period. Footnote. Joseph Bonaparte
says that the fathers of Napoleon and of Monsieur James
had long known one another, and that Napoleon had met
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James at Ottam. Note Ever, tom One, page two hundred
and nine, ninety six d footnote. Since the month of August,
the attention of General Buonaparte had been constantly fixed on Syria.
The period of the possible landing of an enemy in
Egypt had now passed away and could not return until
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the month of July in the following year. Bonaparte was
fully convinced that that landing would take place, and he
was not deceived. The Ottoman Port had indeed been persuaded
that the conquest of Egypt was not in her interest.
She preferred enduring a rebel whom she hoped one day
to subdue, to supporting a power which, under the specious
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pretext of reducing her insurgent bays to obedience, deprived her
of one of her finest provinces and threatened the rest
of the Empire. On his return to Cairo, the General
in chief had no longer any doubts as to the
course which the Port intended to to adopt. The numerous
class of persons who believed that the Ottoman Port had
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consented to our occupation of Egypt were suddenly undeceived. It
was then asked how we could, without that consent, have
attempted such an enterprise. Nothing, it was said, could justify
the temerity of such an expedition if it should produce
a rupture between France, the Ottoman Empire, and its allies. However,
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for the remainder of the year, Bonaparte dreadied nothing except
an expedition from Gaza and El Arish, of which the
troops of Jesi had already taken possession. This occupation was
justly regarded as a decided act of hostility. War was
thus practically declared. We must adopt anticipatory measures, thought Napoleon.
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We must destroy this advanced guard of the Ottoman Empire,
overthrow the ramparts of Jaffa and Acre, ravaged the country,
destroy all her resources, so as to render the passage
of an army across the desert impracticable. Thus was planned
the expedition against Syria. General Bertier, after repeated entreaties, had
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obtained permission to return to France. The courageous frigate, which
was to convey him home, was fitted out at Alexandria.
He had received his instructions and was to leave Cairo
on the twenty ninth of January, ten days before Bonaparte's
departure for Syria. Bonaparte was sorry to part with him,
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But he could not endure to see an old friend
and one who had served him well in all his campaigns,
dying before his eyes, the victim of nostalgia and romantic love. Besides,
Bertier had been for some time past anything but active
in the discharge of his duties, which amounted almost to madness,
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impaired the feeble faculties with which nature had endowed him.
Some writers have ranked him in the class of sentimental lovers.
Be this as it may. The homage which Bertier rendered
to the portrait of the object of his adoration more
frequently excited or merriment than our sensibility. One day I
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went with an order from Buonaparte to the chief of
his staff, whom I found on his knees before the
portrait of Madame Visconti, which was hanging opposite the door.
I touched him to let him know I was there.
He grumbled a little, but did not get angry. The
moment was approaching when the two friends were to part,
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perhaps forever. Bonaparte was sincerely distressed at this separation, and
the chief of his staff was informed of the fact
at a moment when it was supposed Bertier was on
his way to Alexandria. He presented himself to the General
in Chief. You are then decidedly going to Asia, said
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he You know, replied the General that all is ready
and I shall set out in a few days. Well,
I will not leave you. I voluntarily renounce all idea
of returning to France. I could not endure to forsake
you at a moment when you are going to encounter
new dangers. Here are my instructions and my passport. Bonaparte,
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highly pleased with this resolution, embraced Bertier, and the coolness
which had been excited by his request to return home
was succeeded by a sincere reconciliation. Louis Bonaparte, who was
suffering from the effects of the voyage, was still at Alexandria.
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The General in Chief, yielding to the pacific views of
his younger brother, who was also beginning to have some
symptoms of nostalgia, consented to his return home. He could not, however,
depart until the eleventh of March seventeen ninety nine. I
felt the absence of Louis very much. On his return
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to France, Louis passed through Sants, where he dined with
Madame de Bouriennese, to whom he presented a beautiful shawl
which General Berthier had given me. This, I believe was
the first cashmir that had ever been seen in France.
Louis was much surprised when Madame de Bourienne showed him
the Egyptian correspondence which had been seized by the English
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and printed in London. He found in the collection some
letters addressed to himself, and there were others, he said,
which were likely to disturb the peace of more than
one family. On the return of the army on the
eleventh of February seventeen ninety nine, we began our march
for Syria with about twelve one thousand men. It has
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been erroneously stated that the army amounted to only six thousand.
Nearly that number was lost in the course of the campaign. However,
at the very moment we were on our way to
Syria with twelve thousand men, scarcely as many being left
in Egypt. The directory published that quote, according to the
information which had been received end quote, we had sixty
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thousand infantry and ten thousand cavalry. That the army had
doubled its numbers by battles, and that since our arrival
in Egypt we had lost only three hundred men. Is
history to be written from such documents. We arrived about
four o'clock in the afternoon at Musudia, or the Fortunate Spot.
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Here we witnessed a kind of phenomenon which was not
a little agreeable to us. Musudia is a place situated
on the coast of the Mediterranean, surrounded with little dunes
of very fine sand, which the copious rains of winter
readily penetrate. The rain remains in the sand, so that
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on making with the fingers holes of four or five
inches in depth at the bottom of these little hills,
the water immediately flows out. This water was indeed rather thick,
but its flavor was agreeable, and it would have become
clear if we could have spared time to allow it
to rest and deposit the particles of sand it contented.
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It was a curious spectacle to behold, as all lying prostrate,
digging wells in miniature, and displaying a laughable selfishness in
our endeavors to obtain the most abundant source. This was
a very important discovery to us. We found these sand
wells at the extremity of the desert, and it contributed
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in no small degree to revive the courage of our soldiers.
When men are, as was the case with us, subject
to privations of every kind, the least benefit which accrues
inspires the hope of a new advantage. We were approaching
the confines of Syria, and we enjoyed by anticipation the
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pleasure we were about to experience on treading a soil which,
by its variety of verdure and vegetation, would remind us
of our native land at Messudia. We likewise possessed the
advantage of bathing in the sea, which was not more
than fifty paces from our unexpected water supply. Whilst near
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the wells of Mesudia, on the way to El Arish,
I one day saw Bonaparte walking alone with Juno, as
he was often in the habit of doing. I stood
at a little distance, and my eyes, I know not why,
were fixed on him. During their conversation, the general's countenance,
which was always pale, and without my being able to
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divine the cause, become paler than usual. There was something
convulsive in his features, a wildness in his look, and
he several times struck his head with his hand. After
conversing with Juneau about a quarter of an hour, he
quitted him and came towards me. I never saw him
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exhibit such an air of dissatisfaction or appear so much
under the influence of some prepossession. I advanced towards him,
and as soon as we met, he exclaimed, in an
abrupt and angry tone. So I find I cannot depend
upon you these women, Josephine. If you had loved me,
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you would before now have told me all I have
heard from Juneau. He is a real friend, Josephine, and
I six hundred leagues from her. You ought to have
told me that she should thus have deceived me. Woo
to them, I will exten cerate the whole race of
fops and puppies As to her divorce, Yes, divorce, a
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public and open divorce, I must write. I know all
it is your fault. You ought to have told me
these energetic and broken exclamations. His disturbed countenance and altered
voice informed me but too well of the subject of
his conversation with Juno. I saw that Juneau had been
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drawn into a culpable indiscretion, and that if Josephine had
committed any faults, he had cruelly exaggerated them. My situation
was one of extreme delicacy. However, I had the good
fortune to retain my self possession, and as soon as
some degree of calmness succeeded to this first burst, I
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replied that I knew nothing of the reports which Juno
might have communicated to him. That even if such reports,
often the offspring of calumny, reached my ear, and if
I had considered it my duty to inform him of them,
I certainly would not have selected for that purpose the
moment when he was six hundred leagues from France. I
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also did not conceal how blameable Juno's conduct appeared to me,
and how ungenerous. I considered it thus rashly to accuse
a woman who was not present to justify or defend herself.
That it was no great proof of attachment to add
domestic uneasiness to the anxiety already sufficiently great which the
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situation of his brothers in arms at the commencement of
a hazardous enterprise occasioned him. Notwithstanding these observations, which however,
he listened to with some calmness. The word divorce still
escaped his lips, and it is necessary to be aware
of the degree of irritation to which he was liable
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when anything seriously vexed him to be able to form
an idea of what Bonaparte was. During this painful scene, however,
I kept my ground. I repeated what I had said.
I begged of him to consider with what facility tales
were fabricated and circulated, and that gossip such as that
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which had been repeated to him was only the amusement
of idle persons and deserved the contempt of strong minds.
I spoke of his glory, My glory, cried he. I
know not what I would not give if that which
Juno has told me should be untrue. So much do
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I love Josephine. If she be really guilty, a divorce
must separate us forever. I will not submit to be
a laughing stock for all the imbeciles in Paris. I
will write to joseph he will get the divorce declared.
Although his agitation continued, long intervals occurred in which he
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was less excited. I seized one of these moments of
comparative camp to combat to this idea of divorce which
seemed to possess his mind. I represented to him, especially
that it would be imprudent to write to his brother
with reference to a communication which was probably false. The
letter might be intercepted, it would betray the feelings of
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irritation which dictated it as to a divorce. It would
be time to think of that hereafter. But advisedly these
last words produced an effect on him which I could
not have ventured to hope. For so speedily he became tranquil,
listened to me as if he had suddenly felt the
justice of my observations, dropped the subject, and never returned
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to it, except that about a fortnight after, when we
were before Saint Jean Dark, he expressed himself greatly dissatisfied
with Junou, and complained of the injury he had done
him by his indiscreet disclosures, which he began to regard
as the inventions of malignity. I perceived afterwards that he
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never pardoned Junou for this indiscretion, and I can state
almost with certainty that this was one of the reasons
why Juneau was not created a Marshal of France, like
many of his comrades, whom Bonaparte had loved less. It
may be supposed that Josephine, who was afterwards informed by
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Bonaparte of Juno's conversation, did not feel particularly interested in
his favor. He died insane on the twenty seventh of
July eighteen thirteen. Footnote. However, indiscreet Juno might on this
occasion have shown himself in interfering in so delicate a matter,
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it is pretty certain that his suspicions were breathed to
no other ear than that of Bonaparte himself. Madame Junau,
in speaking of the ill suppressed enmity between her husband
and Madame Bonaparte, says that he never uttered a word
even to her, of the subject of his conversation with
the General in chief to Egypt. That Juno's testimony, however,
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notwithstanding the countenance it obtained from Bonaparte's relations, ought to
be cautiously received. The following passage from the Memoirs of
the Duchesse d'a Lnte, volume one, page two hundred and fifty,
demonstrative of the feelings of irritation between the parties, will
show quote Juneau escorted Madame Bonaparte when she went to
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join the General in chief in Italy. I am surprised
that Monsieur de Bourlean has omitted mentioning this circumstance in
his memoirs. He must have known it, since he was
well acquainted with everything relating to Josephine and knew many
facts of high interest in her life at this period.
And subsequently, how happens it too, that he makes no
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mention of Mademoiselle Louise, who might be called her Demoiselle
de compeignie rather than her fan dechamp. At the outset
of the journey to Italy. She was such a favorite
with Josephine that she dressed like her mistress, ate at
table with her, and was in all respects her friend
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and confidante. The journey was long, much too long for Juneau,
though he was very much in love with Mademoiselle Louise,
but he was anxious to join the army, for to
him his general was always the dearest of mistresses. Juno
has often spoken to me, and to me alone, of
the vexations he experienced on this journey. He might have
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added to his circumstantial details relative to Josephine the conversation
he is reported to have had with Bonaparte to Egypt,
but he never breathed a word on the subject, For
his character was always noble and generous. The journey to
Italy did not produce the effect which usually arises from
such incidents in common life, namely a closer friendship and
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intimacy between the parties. On the contrary, Madame Bonaparte, from
that moment evinced some degree of ill humor towards Juno
and complained with singular warmth of the want of respect
which he had shown her in making love to her
fam de Champre before her face end quote. According to
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Errere Tomje, pages four and fifty, Juno was not then
in Syria on the tenth of February. Napoleon was at Musudia.
Juno only arrived from Egypt at Gaza on the twenty
fifth of February. Madame de Brante, Volume two, page thirty
two treats this conversation as apocryphal. Quote this note an
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anecdote of her own, and note is not an imaginary
episode like that for example, of making a person speak
at Musudia who never was there, and footnote. Our little
army continued its march on el Arish, where we arrived
on the seventeenth of February. The fatigues experienced in the
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desert and the scarcity of water excited violent murmurs amongst
the soldiers during their march across the Isthmus. When any
person on horseback passed them, they studiously expressed their discontent.
The advantage possessed by the horsemen provoked their sarcasms. I
never heard the verses which they are said to have repeated,
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but they indulged in the most violent language against the Republic,
the men of science, and those whom they regarded as
the authors of the expedition. Nevertheless, these brave fellows, from
whom it was not astonishing that such great privations should
extort complaints, often compensated by their pleasantries, for the bitterness
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of their reproaches. Many times during the crossing of the Isthmus,
I have seen soldiers parched with thirst and unable to
wait till the hour for distribution of water, pierce the
leathern bottles which contained it. And this conduct, so injurious
to all, occasioned numerous quarrels. El Arish surrendered on the
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seventeenth of February. It has been erroneously stated that the
garrison of this insignificant place, which was set at liberty
on condition of not again serving against us, was afterwards
found amongst the besieged at Jaffa. It has also been
stated that it was because the men composing that el
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Arish garrison did not proceed to Baghdad according to the
capitulation that we shot them at Jaffa. We shall presently
see the falsehood of these assertions. On the twenty eighth
of February we obtained the first glimpse of the green
and fertile plains of Syria, which in many respects reminded
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us of the climate and soil of Europe. We now
had rain, and sometimes rather too much. The feelings which
the site of the valleys and mountains called forth made
us in some degree forget the hardships and vexations of
an expedition of which few persons could foresee the object
or end. There are situations in life when the slightest
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agreeable sensation alleviates all our ills. On the first of
March we slept at Ramleh. Footnote Ramleh the ancient Armathea
is situated at the base of a chain of mountains,
the eastern extremity of which is washed by the Persian
Gulf and the western by the Mediterranean Bouleen end footnote,
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in a small convent occupied by two monks who paid
us the greatest. They gave us the church for a hospital.
These good fathers did not fail to tell us that
it was through this place the family of Jesus Christ
passed into Egypt, and showed us the wells at which
they quenched their thirst. The pure and cool water of
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these wells delighted us. We were not more than about
six leagues from Jerusalem. I asked the general whether he
did not intend to direct his march by the way
of that city so celebrated in many respects. He replied, oh, no,
Jerusalem is not in my line of operations. I do
not wish to be annoyed by mountaineers in difficult roads,
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and besides, on the other side of the mountain I
should be assailed by swarms of cavalry. I am not
ambitious of the fate of Cassius. We therefore did not
enter Jerusalem, which was not disturbed by the war. All
we did was to send a written declaration to the
persons in power at Jerusalem, assuring them that we had
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no design against that country, and only wished them to
remain at peace. To this communication, no answer was returned,
and nothing more passed on the subject. Footnote. Sir Walter
Scott says, speaking of Bonaparte, that he believes that little
officer of Artillery dreamed of being King of Jerusalem. What
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I have just stated proves that he never thought of
such a thing. The little officer of Artillery had a
far more splendid dream in his head. Bourgienne and footnote,
we found a dramle between two and three hundred Christians,
in a pitiable state of servitude, misery, and dejection. On
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conversing with them, I could not help admiring how much
the hope of future rewards may console men under present ills.
But I learned from many of them that they did
not live in harmony together. The feelings of hatred and
jealousy are not less common amongst these people than amongst
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the better instructed inhabitants of rich and populous cities. End
of Chapter seventeen
Chapter seventeen of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume three by
Louis Antoine Foleilet de Bouriennes. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Read by Gillian Henry. Chapter seventeen, seventeen
ninety eight to seventeen ninety nine. Bonaparte's departure for Suez,
(00:20):
crossing the desert, passage of the Red Sea, the Fountain
of Moses, the cenobites of Mount Sinai, danger in recrossing
the Red Sea, Napoleon's return to Cairo, money borrowed at Genoa,
new designs upon Syria, dissatisfaction of the Ottoman port plan
(00:42):
for invading Asia, gigantic schemes, General Bertier's permission to return
to France, his romantic love and the adored portrait. He
gives up his permission to return home. Louis Bonaparte leaves Egypt.
The first cashmir shawl in France. Intercepted correspondence departure for Syria,
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Fountains of Mesudish Bonaparte, jealous discontent of the troops Elrish
taken aspect of Syria, Ramleh, Jerusalem. On the twenty fourth
of December, we set out for Suez, where we arrived
on the twenty sixth. On the twenty fifth we encamped
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in the desert some leagues before Adgirof. The heat had
been very great during the day, but about eleven at
night the cold became so severe as to be precisely
in an inverse ratio to the temperature of the day.
This desert, which is the root of the caravans from Suez,
from Taur and the countries situated on the north of Arabia,
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is strewed with the bones of the men and animals who,
for ages past have perished in crossing it. As there
was no wood to be got, we collected a quantity
of these bonds for fuel. Monge himself was induced to
sacrifice some of the curious skulls of animals, which he
had picked up on the way and deposited in the
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berlin of the General in chief. But no sooner had
we kindled our fires than an intolerable effluvium obliged us
to raise our camp and advance farther on, for we
could procure no water to extinguish the fires. On the
twenty seventh, Bonaparte employed himself in inspecting the town and
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port of Suez, and in giving orders for some naval
and military works he feared what indeed really occurred after
his departure from Egiute the arrival of some English troops
from the East Indies, which he had intended to invade.
These regiments contributed to the loss of his conquest footnote
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So David Baird, with a force of about seven thousand
men sent from India, landed at Kosair in July eighteen
o one, and footnot on the morning of the twenty
eighth we crossed the Red Sea dry shod to go
to the Wells of Moses, which are nearly a myriameter
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from the eastern coast and a little southeast of Suez.
The Gulf of Arabia terminates at about five thousand meters
north of that city, near the port. The Red Sea
is not above one thousand, five hundred meters wide and
is always fordable at low water. The caravans from tor
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and Mount Sinai always pass at that part, either in
going to or returning from Egypt. This shortens their journey
nearly a meriameter. At high tide, the water rises five
or six feet at Suez, and when the wind blows,
for it often rises to nine or ten feet footnote.
(04:05):
I shall say nothing of the cenobites of Mount Sinai,
as I had not the honor of seeing them. Neither
did I see the register containing the names of Ali
salatidin Ibrahim or Abraham, on which Bonaparte is said to
have inscribed his name. I perceived at a distance some
high hills which were said to be Mount Sinai. I
(04:29):
conversed through the medium of an interpreter with some Arabian
chiefs of tor and its neighborhood. They had been informed
of our excursion to the wells, and that they might
there thank the French general for the protection granted to
their caravans and their trade with Egypt. On the nineteenth
of December, before his departure from Suez Buonaparte signed a
(04:53):
sort of safeguard of exemption from duties for the Convent
of Mount Sinai. This had been out of respect to
Moses and the Jewish nation, and also because the convent
of Mount Sinai is a seat of learning and civilization
amidst the barbarism of the deserts Bourienn end of footnote.
(05:15):
We spent a few hours seated by the largest of
the springs, called the Wells of Moses, situated on the
eastern shore of the Gulf of Arabia. We made coffee
with the water from these springs, which, however, gave it
such a brackish taste that it was scarcely drinkable. Though
the water of the eight little springs which form the
(05:37):
Wells of Moses is not so salt as that of
many wells dug in other parts of the deserts, it
is nevertheless exceedingly brackish, and does not allay thirst so
well as fresh water. Bonaparte returned to Suez that same night.
It was very dark when we reached the seashore. The
(05:58):
tide was coming up, and the water was pretty high.
We deviated a little from the way we had taken
in the morning. We crossed a little too low down.
We were thrown into disorder. But who did not lose
ourselves in the marshes? As has been stated, there were none.
I have read somewhere, though I did not see the fact,
(06:19):
nor did I hear it mentioned at the time that
the tide which was coming up would have been the
grave of the general in chief, had not one of
the guides saved him by carrying him on his shoulders.
If any such danger had existed, all who had not
a similar means of escape must have perished. This is
a fabrication. General Caffarelli was the only person who was
(06:44):
really in danger, for his wooden leg prevented his sitting
firmly on his horse in the water. But some persons
came to his assistance and supported him footnote. Bonaparte extricated himself,
as the others did, from the real danger. He and
his escort had run at Saint Helena, he said, quote,
(07:06):
Profiting by the low tide, I crossed the Red Sea
dry shod. On my return I was overtaken by the
night and went astray in the middle of the rising tide.
I ran the greatest danger. I nearly perished in the
same manner as Pharaoh did. This would certainly have furnished
all the Christian preachers with a magnificent test against me
(07:29):
end quote Bourienne and footnote. On his return to Cairo,
the General in chief wished to discover the site of
the canal, which in ancient times formed a junction between
the Red Sea and the Nile. By bell Base Monsieur Leperre,
who was a member of the Egyptian Institute and is
(07:50):
now Inspector General of Bridges and Highways, executed on the
spot a beautiful plan which may confidently be consulted by
those who wish to form an accurate idea of that
ancient communication and the level of the two seas footnote
since accurately ascertained during the progress of the works for
(08:11):
the Suez Canal and footnote. On his arrival at the capitol,
Bonaparte again devoted all his thoughts to the affairs of
the army, which he had not attended to during his
short absence. The revenues of Egypt were far from being
sufficient to meet the military expenditure. To defray his own expenses,
(08:33):
Bonaparte raised several considerable loans in Genoa through the medium
of Monsieur James. The connection of James with the Bonaparte
family takes its date from this period. Footnote. Joseph Bonaparte
says that the fathers of Napoleon and of Monsieur James
had long known one another, and that Napoleon had met
(08:54):
James at Ottam. Note Ever, tom One, page two hundred
and nine, ninety six d footnote. Since the month of August,
the attention of General Buonaparte had been constantly fixed on Syria.
The period of the possible landing of an enemy in
Egypt had now passed away and could not return until
(09:18):
the month of July in the following year. Bonaparte was
fully convinced that that landing would take place, and he
was not deceived. The Ottoman Port had indeed been persuaded
that the conquest of Egypt was not in her interest.
She preferred enduring a rebel whom she hoped one day
to subdue, to supporting a power which, under the specious
(09:42):
pretext of reducing her insurgent bays to obedience, deprived her
of one of her finest provinces and threatened the rest
of the Empire. On his return to Cairo, the General
in chief had no longer any doubts as to the
course which the Port intended to to adopt. The numerous
class of persons who believed that the Ottoman Port had
(10:05):
consented to our occupation of Egypt were suddenly undeceived. It
was then asked how we could, without that consent, have
attempted such an enterprise. Nothing, it was said, could justify
the temerity of such an expedition if it should produce
a rupture between France, the Ottoman Empire, and its allies. However,
(10:29):
for the remainder of the year, Bonaparte dreadied nothing except
an expedition from Gaza and El Arish, of which the
troops of Jesi had already taken possession. This occupation was
justly regarded as a decided act of hostility. War was
thus practically declared. We must adopt anticipatory measures, thought Napoleon.
(10:54):
We must destroy this advanced guard of the Ottoman Empire,
overthrow the ramparts of Jaffa and Acre, ravaged the country,
destroy all her resources, so as to render the passage
of an army across the desert impracticable. Thus was planned
the expedition against Syria. General Bertier, after repeated entreaties, had
(11:18):
obtained permission to return to France. The courageous frigate, which
was to convey him home, was fitted out at Alexandria.
He had received his instructions and was to leave Cairo
on the twenty ninth of January, ten days before Bonaparte's
departure for Syria. Bonaparte was sorry to part with him,
(11:39):
But he could not endure to see an old friend
and one who had served him well in all his campaigns,
dying before his eyes, the victim of nostalgia and romantic love. Besides,
Bertier had been for some time past anything but active
in the discharge of his duties, which amounted almost to madness,
(12:03):
impaired the feeble faculties with which nature had endowed him.
Some writers have ranked him in the class of sentimental lovers.
Be this as it may. The homage which Bertier rendered
to the portrait of the object of his adoration more
frequently excited or merriment than our sensibility. One day I
(12:25):
went with an order from Buonaparte to the chief of
his staff, whom I found on his knees before the
portrait of Madame Visconti, which was hanging opposite the door.
I touched him to let him know I was there.
He grumbled a little, but did not get angry. The
moment was approaching when the two friends were to part,
(12:47):
perhaps forever. Bonaparte was sincerely distressed at this separation, and
the chief of his staff was informed of the fact
at a moment when it was supposed Bertier was on
his way to Alexandria. He presented himself to the General
in Chief. You are then decidedly going to Asia, said
(13:08):
he You know, replied the General that all is ready
and I shall set out in a few days. Well,
I will not leave you. I voluntarily renounce all idea
of returning to France. I could not endure to forsake
you at a moment when you are going to encounter
new dangers. Here are my instructions and my passport. Bonaparte,
(13:33):
highly pleased with this resolution, embraced Bertier, and the coolness
which had been excited by his request to return home
was succeeded by a sincere reconciliation. Louis Bonaparte, who was
suffering from the effects of the voyage, was still at Alexandria.
(13:53):
The General in Chief, yielding to the pacific views of
his younger brother, who was also beginning to have some
symptoms of nostalgia, consented to his return home. He could not, however,
depart until the eleventh of March seventeen ninety nine. I
felt the absence of Louis very much. On his return
(14:15):
to France, Louis passed through Sants, where he dined with
Madame de Bouriennese, to whom he presented a beautiful shawl
which General Berthier had given me. This, I believe was
the first cashmir that had ever been seen in France.
Louis was much surprised when Madame de Bourienne showed him
the Egyptian correspondence which had been seized by the English
(14:39):
and printed in London. He found in the collection some
letters addressed to himself, and there were others, he said,
which were likely to disturb the peace of more than
one family. On the return of the army on the
eleventh of February seventeen ninety nine, we began our march
for Syria with about twelve one thousand men. It has
(15:02):
been erroneously stated that the army amounted to only six thousand.
Nearly that number was lost in the course of the campaign. However,
at the very moment we were on our way to
Syria with twelve thousand men, scarcely as many being left
in Egypt. The directory published that quote, according to the
information which had been received end quote, we had sixty
(15:26):
thousand infantry and ten thousand cavalry. That the army had
doubled its numbers by battles, and that since our arrival
in Egypt we had lost only three hundred men. Is
history to be written from such documents. We arrived about
four o'clock in the afternoon at Musudia, or the Fortunate Spot.
(15:50):
Here we witnessed a kind of phenomenon which was not
a little agreeable to us. Musudia is a place situated
on the coast of the Mediterranean, surrounded with little dunes
of very fine sand, which the copious rains of winter
readily penetrate. The rain remains in the sand, so that
(16:10):
on making with the fingers holes of four or five
inches in depth at the bottom of these little hills,
the water immediately flows out. This water was indeed rather thick,
but its flavor was agreeable, and it would have become
clear if we could have spared time to allow it
to rest and deposit the particles of sand it contented.
(16:34):
It was a curious spectacle to behold, as all lying prostrate,
digging wells in miniature, and displaying a laughable selfishness in
our endeavors to obtain the most abundant source. This was
a very important discovery to us. We found these sand
wells at the extremity of the desert, and it contributed
(16:55):
in no small degree to revive the courage of our soldiers.
When men are, as was the case with us, subject
to privations of every kind, the least benefit which accrues
inspires the hope of a new advantage. We were approaching
the confines of Syria, and we enjoyed by anticipation the
(17:17):
pleasure we were about to experience on treading a soil which,
by its variety of verdure and vegetation, would remind us
of our native land at Messudia. We likewise possessed the
advantage of bathing in the sea, which was not more
than fifty paces from our unexpected water supply. Whilst near
(17:38):
the wells of Mesudia, on the way to El Arish,
I one day saw Bonaparte walking alone with Juno, as
he was often in the habit of doing. I stood
at a little distance, and my eyes, I know not why,
were fixed on him. During their conversation, the general's countenance,
which was always pale, and without my being able to
(18:00):
divine the cause, become paler than usual. There was something
convulsive in his features, a wildness in his look, and
he several times struck his head with his hand. After
conversing with Juneau about a quarter of an hour, he
quitted him and came towards me. I never saw him
(18:21):
exhibit such an air of dissatisfaction or appear so much
under the influence of some prepossession. I advanced towards him,
and as soon as we met, he exclaimed, in an
abrupt and angry tone. So I find I cannot depend
upon you these women, Josephine. If you had loved me,
(18:43):
you would before now have told me all I have
heard from Juneau. He is a real friend, Josephine, and
I six hundred leagues from her. You ought to have
told me that she should thus have deceived me. Woo
to them, I will exten cerate the whole race of
fops and puppies As to her divorce, Yes, divorce, a
(19:06):
public and open divorce, I must write. I know all
it is your fault. You ought to have told me
these energetic and broken exclamations. His disturbed countenance and altered
voice informed me but too well of the subject of
his conversation with Juno. I saw that Juneau had been
(19:28):
drawn into a culpable indiscretion, and that if Josephine had
committed any faults, he had cruelly exaggerated them. My situation
was one of extreme delicacy. However, I had the good
fortune to retain my self possession, and as soon as
some degree of calmness succeeded to this first burst, I
(19:49):
replied that I knew nothing of the reports which Juno
might have communicated to him. That even if such reports,
often the offspring of calumny, reached my ear, and if
I had considered it my duty to inform him of them,
I certainly would not have selected for that purpose the
moment when he was six hundred leagues from France. I
(20:13):
also did not conceal how blameable Juno's conduct appeared to me,
and how ungenerous. I considered it thus rashly to accuse
a woman who was not present to justify or defend herself.
That it was no great proof of attachment to add
domestic uneasiness to the anxiety already sufficiently great which the
(20:34):
situation of his brothers in arms at the commencement of
a hazardous enterprise occasioned him. Notwithstanding these observations, which however,
he listened to with some calmness. The word divorce still
escaped his lips, and it is necessary to be aware
of the degree of irritation to which he was liable
(20:57):
when anything seriously vexed him to be able to form
an idea of what Bonaparte was. During this painful scene, however,
I kept my ground. I repeated what I had said.
I begged of him to consider with what facility tales
were fabricated and circulated, and that gossip such as that
(21:18):
which had been repeated to him was only the amusement
of idle persons and deserved the contempt of strong minds.
I spoke of his glory, My glory, cried he. I
know not what I would not give if that which
Juno has told me should be untrue. So much do
(21:39):
I love Josephine. If she be really guilty, a divorce
must separate us forever. I will not submit to be
a laughing stock for all the imbeciles in Paris. I
will write to joseph he will get the divorce declared.
Although his agitation continued, long intervals occurred in which he
(22:01):
was less excited. I seized one of these moments of
comparative camp to combat to this idea of divorce which
seemed to possess his mind. I represented to him, especially
that it would be imprudent to write to his brother
with reference to a communication which was probably false. The
letter might be intercepted, it would betray the feelings of
(22:24):
irritation which dictated it as to a divorce. It would
be time to think of that hereafter. But advisedly these
last words produced an effect on him which I could
not have ventured to hope. For so speedily he became tranquil,
listened to me as if he had suddenly felt the
justice of my observations, dropped the subject, and never returned
(22:47):
to it, except that about a fortnight after, when we
were before Saint Jean Dark, he expressed himself greatly dissatisfied
with Junou, and complained of the injury he had done
him by his indiscreet disclosures, which he began to regard
as the inventions of malignity. I perceived afterwards that he
(23:10):
never pardoned Junou for this indiscretion, and I can state
almost with certainty that this was one of the reasons
why Juneau was not created a Marshal of France, like
many of his comrades, whom Bonaparte had loved less. It
may be supposed that Josephine, who was afterwards informed by
(23:30):
Bonaparte of Juno's conversation, did not feel particularly interested in
his favor. He died insane on the twenty seventh of
July eighteen thirteen. Footnote. However, indiscreet Juno might on this
occasion have shown himself in interfering in so delicate a matter,
(23:50):
it is pretty certain that his suspicions were breathed to
no other ear than that of Bonaparte himself. Madame Junau,
in speaking of the ill suppressed enmity between her husband
and Madame Bonaparte, says that he never uttered a word
even to her, of the subject of his conversation with
the General in chief to Egypt. That Juno's testimony, however,
(24:14):
notwithstanding the countenance it obtained from Bonaparte's relations, ought to
be cautiously received. The following passage from the Memoirs of
the Duchesse d'a Lnte, volume one, page two hundred and fifty,
demonstrative of the feelings of irritation between the parties, will
show quote Juneau escorted Madame Bonaparte when she went to
(24:37):
join the General in chief in Italy. I am surprised
that Monsieur de Bourlean has omitted mentioning this circumstance in
his memoirs. He must have known it, since he was
well acquainted with everything relating to Josephine and knew many
facts of high interest in her life at this period.
And subsequently, how happens it too, that he makes no
(25:00):
mention of Mademoiselle Louise, who might be called her Demoiselle
de compeignie rather than her fan dechamp. At the outset
of the journey to Italy. She was such a favorite
with Josephine that she dressed like her mistress, ate at
table with her, and was in all respects her friend
(25:21):
and confidante. The journey was long, much too long for Juneau,
though he was very much in love with Mademoiselle Louise,
but he was anxious to join the army, for to
him his general was always the dearest of mistresses. Juno
has often spoken to me, and to me alone, of
the vexations he experienced on this journey. He might have
(25:45):
added to his circumstantial details relative to Josephine the conversation
he is reported to have had with Bonaparte to Egypt,
but he never breathed a word on the subject, For
his character was always noble and generous. The journey to
Italy did not produce the effect which usually arises from
such incidents in common life, namely a closer friendship and
(26:09):
intimacy between the parties. On the contrary, Madame Bonaparte, from
that moment evinced some degree of ill humor towards Juno
and complained with singular warmth of the want of respect
which he had shown her in making love to her
fam de Champre before her face end quote. According to
(26:31):
Errere Tomje, pages four and fifty, Juno was not then
in Syria on the tenth of February. Napoleon was at Musudia.
Juno only arrived from Egypt at Gaza on the twenty
fifth of February. Madame de Brante, Volume two, page thirty
two treats this conversation as apocryphal. Quote this note an
(26:56):
anecdote of her own, and note is not an imaginary
episode like that for example, of making a person speak
at Musudia who never was there, and footnote. Our little
army continued its march on el Arish, where we arrived
on the seventeenth of February. The fatigues experienced in the
(27:18):
desert and the scarcity of water excited violent murmurs amongst
the soldiers during their march across the Isthmus. When any
person on horseback passed them, they studiously expressed their discontent.
The advantage possessed by the horsemen provoked their sarcasms. I
never heard the verses which they are said to have repeated,
(27:42):
but they indulged in the most violent language against the Republic,
the men of science, and those whom they regarded as
the authors of the expedition. Nevertheless, these brave fellows, from
whom it was not astonishing that such great privations should
extort complaints, often compensated by their pleasantries, for the bitterness
(28:04):
of their reproaches. Many times during the crossing of the Isthmus,
I have seen soldiers parched with thirst and unable to
wait till the hour for distribution of water, pierce the
leathern bottles which contained it. And this conduct, so injurious
to all, occasioned numerous quarrels. El Arish surrendered on the
(28:27):
seventeenth of February. It has been erroneously stated that the
garrison of this insignificant place, which was set at liberty
on condition of not again serving against us, was afterwards
found amongst the besieged at Jaffa. It has also been
stated that it was because the men composing that el
(28:48):
Arish garrison did not proceed to Baghdad according to the
capitulation that we shot them at Jaffa. We shall presently
see the falsehood of these assertions. On the twenty eighth
of February we obtained the first glimpse of the green
and fertile plains of Syria, which in many respects reminded
(29:08):
us of the climate and soil of Europe. We now
had rain, and sometimes rather too much. The feelings which
the site of the valleys and mountains called forth made
us in some degree forget the hardships and vexations of
an expedition of which few persons could foresee the object
or end. There are situations in life when the slightest
(29:32):
agreeable sensation alleviates all our ills. On the first of
March we slept at Ramleh. Footnote Ramleh the ancient Armathea
is situated at the base of a chain of mountains,
the eastern extremity of which is washed by the Persian
Gulf and the western by the Mediterranean Bouleen end footnote,
(29:55):
in a small convent occupied by two monks who paid
us the greatest. They gave us the church for a hospital.
These good fathers did not fail to tell us that
it was through this place the family of Jesus Christ
passed into Egypt, and showed us the wells at which
they quenched their thirst. The pure and cool water of
(30:18):
these wells delighted us. We were not more than about
six leagues from Jerusalem. I asked the general whether he
did not intend to direct his march by the way
of that city so celebrated in many respects. He replied, oh, no,
Jerusalem is not in my line of operations. I do
not wish to be annoyed by mountaineers in difficult roads,
(30:42):
and besides, on the other side of the mountain I
should be assailed by swarms of cavalry. I am not
ambitious of the fate of Cassius. We therefore did not
enter Jerusalem, which was not disturbed by the war. All
we did was to send a written declaration to the
persons in power at Jerusalem, assuring them that we had
(31:05):
no design against that country, and only wished them to
remain at peace. To this communication, no answer was returned,
and nothing more passed on the subject. Footnote. Sir Walter
Scott says, speaking of Bonaparte, that he believes that little
officer of Artillery dreamed of being King of Jerusalem. What
(31:28):
I have just stated proves that he never thought of
such a thing. The little officer of Artillery had a
far more splendid dream in his head. Bourgienne and footnote,
we found a dramle between two and three hundred Christians,
in a pitiable state of servitude, misery, and dejection. On
(31:49):
conversing with them, I could not help admiring how much
the hope of future rewards may console men under present ills.
But I learned from many of them that they did
not live in harmony together. The feelings of hatred and
jealousy are not less common amongst these people than amongst
(32:09):
the better instructed inhabitants of rich and populous cities. End
of Chapter seventeen
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