CHAPTER IX

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THE MEDITERRANEAN IN 1797 AND 1798.

BONAPARTE'S EGYPTIAN EXPEDITION—THE RETURN OF THE BRITISH TO THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE BATTLE OF THE NILE.—GREAT BRITAIN RESUMES CONTROL OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE SECOND COALITION IS FORMED.

Negotiations for peace between Great Britain and France, 1796 240

The British envoy ordered to quit France 241

Difficulties between the United States and France 242

Death of Catharine II. of Russia and accession of Paul I. 243

Reactionary results of the French elections in 1797 243

Coup d'État of September 3-4, 1797 244

Reactionary members exiled from France 245

Renewed negotiations with Great Britain, 1797 245

The British envoy again dismissed 246

Bonaparte's Eastern projects 246

Insidious treatment of Venice 247

Nelson's expedition against Teneriffe 249

He is repulsed, loses his right arm, and returns to England 250

Peace of Campo Formio between France and Austria 250

Conditions of the peace 251

Venice ceases to exist, and France acquires the Ionian islands 251

Bonaparte leaves Italy and returns to Paris 252

Commands army intended to invade England 252

Difficulties of this enterprise 252

The expedition to Egypt determined in its stead 253

Absence of the British fleet from the Mediterranean in 1797 254

Nelson rejoins the fleet off Cadiz, April, 1798 256

Sent with three ships to watch the preparations in Toulon 256

Bonaparte sails with expedition for Egypt, May 19, 1798 256

Nelson joined by a re-enforcement of ten ships-of-the-line 257

Bonaparte seizes Malta, and sails again for Alexandria 257

Perplexity of Nelson as to the enemy's designs 258

Pursues to Alexandria, but fails to find the French 259

Cause of this disappointment 259

Retraces his steps to the westward 260

Bonaparte anchors off Alexandria, and at once disembarks troops 260

Nelson anchors at Syracuse, and again sails for Alexandria 261

Discovers the French fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay 261

Indecision and lethargy of the French admiral Brueys 262

Neglect of Bonaparte's orders 263

Description of Aboukir Bay 263

Brueys's inadequate preparations against attack 264

Comparison with those made by Hood in a like position 265

Battle of the Nile 266

Concentration upon the head of the French column 268

Grounding of the "Culloden" 269

Arrival of the British reserve and concentration on the French centre 270

The French flag-ship blows up 271

Only two French ships-of-the-line escape 271

Discussion of Nelson's claims to the credit of this action 273

Successes of Bonaparte in Egypt 277

Effect upon French troops of the battle of the Nile 277

Effect of the battle upon foreign powers 277

Aggressive action of France upon the continent of Europe 278

Intervention in Switzerland and Rome 279

Dissatisfaction of Naples and Austria 280

Hostile attitude of Paul I. of Russia 281

Alliance between Russia and Austria 282

Effect of the tidings of the battle of the Nile 282

Influence of the battle in India 283

Nelson ordered to Naples 284

Blockade of Malta by the British 285

Disposition of the British Mediterranean fleet 286

Russo-Turkish attack upon the Ionian islands 286

Minorca captured by the British 287

Maritime results of the year 1798 287

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