Besides this monastery, there are three others in the desert; one of which, called Zaidi Sourian, the author visited, and of which he gives a much more favourable impression than of Baramous.-Here he met a monk, who had some time be "fore travelled into Abyssinia; and who informed him that there was at that time an European at the court of Abyssinia, who was high in favour with the Emperor, and greatly respected among the people. M. Sonnini was satisfied that this person was our countryman, the late Mr. Bruce, with whom he had conversed at the house of M. Buffon. He learnt from the monk several particulars relating to the residence of this stranger in that country, which perfectly coincided with what he had heard from Mr. Bruce on the same subject: whence he infers the fallacy of those doubts as to the truth of Mr. B.'s relation, which for some time did so much injustice to the labours of that enterprizing traveller.

When the adventure of the Arab-robbers had made it necessary for Hussein the guide to exert himself to obtain a restitution of the booty, he began to entertain fears for his own safety, should the Arabs again attack them. He therefore returned home; and M. Sonnini was obliged to remain at Za idi el Baramous, while a Copht peasant went to procure for him another band of Arabs to convey him through the rest of the desert. On their arrival at Etris, a village on the borders of the desert, near to the camp to which these guides belonged, the Arab chief displayed a trait of generosity which certainly deserves all the applause and admiration that the author pays

to it:

I had (says he) informed the sheick, at our first interview in the desert, that I could not possibly pay him for the escort and beasts with which he furnished me, before I returned from Cairo, whither I intended to proceed, to obtain a fresh supply for my purse, which had been emptied by his countrymen. His answer was, that he was perfectly easy about his pay, and not only so, but had money at my service. I had paid little attention to the latter part of this answer; forgetting, that I was no longer in a country where the heart and lips are at variance, and where an abundance of words apparently kind are often nothing more than the expressions of indifference, and sometimes proceed from the mouth of one in whose heart is concealed hatred; where such offers, such attentions, are considered as unmeaning compliments, as words of course, which the person who makes them has no intention to perform, and in which the person who declines them puts no trust.

The repast was no sooner over, than my host went to a little coffer, that stood in a corner of the tent, took out a little bag of money, and presenting it to me, said: "I know every thing that has happened to you. With indignation I witnessed the rascally be

haviour

haviour of the monk at Zaidi el Baramous. I am well aware, that, in consequence of the letters of recommendation you have, you will receive all the assistance you want from the Kiaschef of Wardan: but you will give me great pain, if you apply to a dog of a Turk, to a Mameluc. I cannot bear that one, with whom I have eaten the repast of friendship, whom I have protected at the hazard of my life, and who is become my brother, should have recourse to another for assistance. Take this money: it is yours. If you refuse it, I shall think that you disdain a friend, because he is one of the people of the desert*." What generosity of sentiment! what greatness of mind! Yet this very man would have stripped me, if he had casually met with me in the wilderness. In return for this frank and sincere cordiality, and that I might not offend my host, I took a few patacas, which he would not see me count, any more than he would listen to me, when I promised to repay them on my return from Cairo, which would be very shortly.'

Having completed his journey through the desert, M. Sonnini contented himself with dispatching one of his people to Cairo, and on his return proceeded again toward Rosetta. We learn little that is interesting respecting his navigation down the Nile. It consists chiefly in the enumeration of the villages which are built on its banks, of the natural produc tions which he found, and of some threatened dangers from the robbers or pirates who infest the river, but from whom he suffered no actual injury.

1

The victory obtained by Mourat and Ibrahim Beys over Ismael Bey having put an end to a contest which had filled Egypt with barbarous warriors, and rendered travelling extremely dangerous, M. Sonnini set forwards on his journey towards Upper Egypt.-He proceeded to Cairo, by the way of the Nile. Nothing important occurred in his voyage thither: but his descriptions of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of that capital of Egypt, of the Mameluks, and of their mode and principles of government, are well worth attention. In speaking of the Mameluks, however, and of the relation in which they stand with respect to the Ottoman Porte, he appears to be somewhat influenced by the spirit of a partizan who wishes at all events to justify the conduct of the French government in the Egyptian expedition.-It is right, therefore, to receive his assertions on this subject generally cum grano salis :-but this observation will derogate little from the general merit of his communications.

M. Sonnini says that Cairo occupies a space of about three leagues:-but whether he means three square leagues, or three

* Bédaoi, from which we have formed Bedouin, signifies an inbabitant of the desert.

leagues in length, or in circumference, we are left to conjecture. Its population he estimates at 400,000.-No where is the splendor of wealth more strikingly contrasted with the most disgusting and hideous poverty than at Cairo: nor does splendor in any country vainly endeavour to conceal more gross and savage ignorance. Not only is science almost perfectly unknown, but even the most common arts:-of those which are the most necessary to the convenience and comfort of life, this barbarous people are either ignorant, or practise them in a way which scarcely leaves them useful. Strangers are the constant objects of contempt and insult; and not even the assumption of an Eastern habit (without which, indeed, no stranger can appear at Cairo) will preserve him from the insolence of the inhabitants. The government of Egypt, though in form aristocratic and republican, is in fact a despotism, Twenty-four Beys possess the supreme power, of whom one is always governor-general, or sheick el belled; that is to say, a tyrant who governs purely by his own will, The Porte indeed pretends to power here, but they do not possess it. Their Pacha at Cairo, says M. S., is an officer tolerated and nominal, but neither obeyed nor respected. All the Beys must have been Mameluks: strangers to Egypt, brought at an early age from Georgia, Circassia, and other provinces of the Ottoman empire, where they are bought, by merchants who afterward sell them at Cairo. They are educated, by the Beys who pur chase them, in the faith of Mohammed, and in the art of war as practised by the Egyptians. They rise gradually in proportion to their genius, their valour, and (frequently) their crimes; until at last the most enterprising and ambitious attain the dignity of Bey. To reach this rank, it is essential that the party be a stranger: even the children of Mameluks. are disqua lified to fill it. With such rulers, the government must be oppressive: it is guided by no principle but that of pure despotism,-that the people and their property belong to their tyrant. Of Mourat Bey, since the most formidable opponent of Bonaparte in Egypt, we have here some interesting particulars; and among the plates is a good portrait of him. He is described as possessing all the martial qualities which can be connected with untaught valour.-He has possessed the supreme power in Egypt since the year 1776.

In perusing the latter part of this volume, the reader will find a variety of interesting information concerning the military and moral characters of these masters of Egypt. He will also find much respecting the customs of the people, their commerce, and their pleasures.

[To be concluded in another Article.]

ART

Wall..e.

ART. II. Narrative of the Deportation, to Cayenne, of Barthélémy, Pichegru, Willot, Marbois, La Rue, Ramel, &c. &c. in consequence of the Revolution of the 18th Fructidor, (September 4, 1797.) Containing a Variety of important Facts relative to that Revolution, and to the Voyage, Residence, and Escape of Barthé lémy, Pichegru, &c. &c. From the French of General Ramel, formerly Commandant of the Legislative Guard. 8vo. 4s. sewed, Wright. 1799.

THAT

HAT the revolutions in France have brought many illustrious characters into action, few will deny; and those men may surely be esteemed as such, who have manifested superior abilities in stations of high authority, during the most feverish period in that eventful country, and have been so fortunate as to preserve their characters free from reproach in the opinions of moderate and just men. When such distinguished individuals experience a reverse of fortune, curiosity is heightened by the most generous emotions. These observations apply, in a particular manner, to some of those whose sufferings are related in the narrative before us.

The events at Paris of the 4th of September, 1797, are very generally known, and not much detailed by the present writer; who briefly relates those circumstances in which he was personally concerned, as commander of the guard of the legislative body, The offence given by General Ramel was his refusal of obedience to orders sent by General Angereau, which were contrary to those that he had received from the legislative body but there is little doubt that the station which he occupied was, of itself, a crime against the prevailing rulers sufficient to involve him among those whom they determined to proscribe. He was accordingly confined with the arrested deputies in the Temple. On the 8th of September (22d Fructidor) at two in the morning, they were taken out of prison, and put into four carriages, which were placed on waggons secured with bars of iron on all sides; forming a kind of cage.

When (says the author) we came down to the foot of the tower, we found Barthélémy between Angereau and Sotin, (the minister of the Police,) who, as he brought him to the Temple in his carriage, said to him, "Such is the nature of Revolutions! We triumph today; to-morrow, perhaps, your turn will come." Barthélémy having asked him if no misfortune had happened, and whether the public tranquillity had not been disturbed? Sotin replied, "No; the dose was a good one; the people have swallowed the pill, and it has taken effect.' This state apothecary judged but too well, as appeared in the sequel. Indeed, he seemed well versed in the principles of revolutionary politics; for some of the deputies, when first arrested, demanding a sight of the order of the Directory, Sotin answered, "It of very little consequence, gentlemen, to shew you the orders;

for

for when we come to these extremities, it is the same thing whether we commit ourselves a little more, or a little less.'

The fidelity of M. Barthélémy's servant deserves to be ranked among the instances of generous attachment, of which the approbation of mankind has perpetuated the remembrance.

Le Tellier, servant to Barthélémy, came running up as we were getting into the carriages, with an order from the Directory, permitting him to accompany his master. He delivered it to Angereau, who, having read it, said, "You are determined, then, to share the fate of these men, who are lost for ever. Whatever events await them, be assured they will never return.". "My mind is made up," answered Le Tellier," I shall be but too happy to share the misfortunes of my master."-"Well then," replied Angereau, "Go, fanatic, and perish with him."-At the same time adding, "Soldiers, let this man be watched as closely as those miscreants." Le Tellier threw himself on his knees before his master, who was but too happy, at this awful moment, to press so affectionate a friend to his bosom. This worthy fellow has constantly shewn the same courage and attachment, and we have always treated and considered him as one of our companions.'

In the carriages before described, the prisoners (sixteen* in number), under a strong escort, were conveyed from Paris to Rochefort, and immediately embarked in a corvette, in order to be carried to Cayenne in South America. The brutal treatment and the variety of hardships which they endured, both before and after their embarkation, if they do not afford a proof of natural bad disposition in their conductors, certainly demonstrate the cruelty which results from that species of political sycophancy which is created by terror. During their voyage, the prisoners were allowed no other food than biscuit and gourganes (large beans) boiled; and of this miserable diet, they had scarcely sufficient to preserve them from being famished. Pichegru, Willot, Dossonville, and Ramel, were confined separately from the rest in one of the lower store rooms. Their companions exclaimed against the separation; and Barthélémy and his faithful Le Tellier jumped down the hatchway with them, but were violently forced to return. Their bread was full of maggots: the beans,' says the writer, were still more loathsome; for, whether from habitual filthiness, or from intentional ill will, they never brought us our bucket of food, but we saw hairs and vermin swimming at the top.'-' One day,

Barthélémy, Lafond, Ladebat, President of the Council of Elders; Murinais, Tronçon du Coudray, Barbé Marbois, Members of the Council of Elders; Pichegru, Willot, Bourdon de l'Oise, Aubry, Larue, Rovere, Ramel, Dossonville, Vilhcurnois, Brothier, and Le Tellier.

Pichegru,