Damascus is in open rebellion against the Porte: Not only has the pacha of the divan been expelled, but the aga, who commanded the citadel for the Turks, has been delivered up by the soldiers to the insurgents, who have decapitated him. Tripoli is now under a rebellious pacha, who is a creature of Dgezzar; who has lately ordered him to protect the pilgrims from Mecca. In a word, all Syria is with Dgezzar, and the Ottomans are as much detested here as in Egypt. The Mutuales live peaceably in their villages; they have, however, been obliged to retire from the borders of the sea. Aboumarak is now at the last extremity: this man is equally inconsiderate and cruel, and is surpassed only by Dgezzar. The christians are even more in dread of him, and tremble for their future situation. The monks of the convent of Jaffa have withdrawn to Jerusalem. The 21st of November I quitted Acre. As the winds were unfavourable to a voyage to Jaffa, I set sail for Zante, where I arrived the 4th of December. I landed the same day, but the ship's company were put under quarantine. I repaired to the house of the French commissary, escorted by the officers of health. I soon learned that the Isle and the Republic were split into different parties, and that even the tranquillity of the place was threatened. I assembled the members of the constituted authorites, and the principal persons of the town, at the house of the governor M. de Calishipode. After having represented to them the interest which the first consul took in their welfare, I induced them to lay aside that spirit of party which distracted them, and to wait without passion, and in silence, the new constitution. the These few words were received with enthusiasm, and all of them exclaimed, "France for ever. Bonaparte for ever!”— These cries were reiterated on my going out by more than 4000 men, who followed me to the door. The governor and the Russian commandant were alarmed at it; and I learned by the French commissary, on the following day, that two of the leading men were sent to prison, but that, on his solicitations, and fearful of my reproaches, they were set at liberty in the course of the night. I went to the Conciergerie, and had the governor brought there. I spoke to him strongly on irregularity of his conduct: he was alarmed, and promised that he would look upon those who cried out, "Live the first consul!” as good citizens, and should in future treat them as such. As he sent, in the course of the night, a courier to his government, and I had reason to believe he had made a wrong report, I immediately wrote to the charge d'affaires of the republic at Corfou, to inform him what had passed, and that I was setting off for Messina. I do not stray from the truth in assuring you, that the islands of the Ionian sea will declare themselves French as soon as an opportunity shall offer itself. English army in Egypt.-That army, commanded by general Stuart, consists of 4430 men. They wholly and exclusively occupy Alexandria and the neighbouring forts. The Turks, who formed the garrison of some of these forts, have been re moved. Lately the English general has occupied Demanhour with 100 infantry and 100 horse, under the pretext of curbing the Arabs. The English have made no necessary works works for the maintenance of the forts; the palisades are almost entirely destroyed, and the branches occasioned by the rains have very much damaged all the new fortifications. They occupy none of the works which are beyond the line of the Arabs, and all the redoubts which existed at the departure of the French army are destroyed. The pacha of Cairo furnishes to the Eng. lish army corn, rice, wood, and provisions, without any payment. The consumption is treble what it should be: they commit great waste. A great misunderstanding reigns between general Stuart and the pacha. STATE OF THE ARMY. of two tails, is at Alexandria with 600 men, who occupy no fortification. This pacha is, as one may say, a prisoner with the English. -The Turkish army consists of 7640 men, and that of the Arnaoutes of 8509, making a whole of 16,140.-It is useless to add, that this is not an army; they are men ill-armed, without discipline, without confidence in their chiefs, and enervated by excessive debauchery. The chiefs are in every thing like their soldiers; ignorant even of the first principles of the military art: and uniformly actuated by the love of wealth, they think of nothing but of obtaining it, and of finding the means of carrying it off in safety. Six thousand French would at present be enough to conquer Egypt. Army of the Mamelukes.-The army of the Beys is composed of 3000 Mamelukes, of 3500 Arabs of the tribe of Ababde of Chark, and of 3500 of the tribe of Binialy. Muhammed Bey Elfy married the daughter of the cheik of the first, and Maarzouk Bey, son of Ibrahim Bey, the daughter of the cheik of the tribe of Binialy. The power in this army is divided between Ibrahim Bey, who is the chief, Eley Bey and Osman Bey, who has succeeded Murad Bey. Their headquarters are at Djergé. They have eighty French deserters, which form a small corps of artillery. To the present time, they have beat the Turks in every action, and the Egyptians prefer them to the Osmanlis. The whole of Upper Egypt has submitted to them. Total 4430 The Turkish army.-Muhammed, pacha of Cairo, who has taken, it is not known why, the title of viceroy of Egypt, does not command the troops in person. Muhammed Aly-SerrChersme, who had the command since my arrival, was killed before Gaza; they are now under the orders of Jussef Kiahia. Tair is pacha of the Arnaoutes, who compose the Syria.-Acre. The body of this greatest part of this army, amount- place has been repaired; the port ing to about 16,000 men. They has been covered with a small hornfrom time to time receive reinforce- ed work, and the tower of the anments.-Chourchid-Ahmed, a pacha gle by a half-moon. They have likewise likewise made a small fleche, in front of the palace of the pacha.All the works are well kept. The weakest part is that towards the sea, and particularly the point which defends the entrance of the port. The forces of Dgezzar are at present 13 or 14,000 men, of which 9,000 are employed at the siege of Jatta. Je rusalem and Nazareth are occupied by the troops of the pacha of Acre. The Naplonsains serve against Aboumarak.-Jaffa. The Vizier, after the taking of Egypt, caused the body of the place to be re-constructed, which is at present in a very good state. Aboumarak, pacha of Palestine, who defends this place, has a garrison of 4000 men.—Gaza is occupied by 400 troops of Aboumarak. The emir of the Druses has refused to Dgezzar his annual contribution, and has raised a respectable armament. The pacha waits till the fall of Jafla to attack him. The English wished to interfere as mediators between the emir and Dgezzar, but the last refused their mediation. The Porte has, at this moment, little connexion with Syria. (Signed) Horace Sebastiani. View of the state of the Republic. Events have neither frustrated the wishes, nor disappointed the expectations of government. lative body, on resuming its labours, The legis has the satisfaction of finding the republic strengthened by the union of its citizens, more active in its pursuits of industry, and more con tident in its prospects of prosperity. The execution of the concordat, from which the enemies of public order still ventured to conceive cri minal hopes, has almost every where produced the most beneficial effects. The principles of an enlightened religion, the voice of the sore. reign pontiff, the firmness and per severance of government have triumphed over every obstacle. Mutual sacrifices have reunited the ministers of religion; enlightened reason and cordial unanimity have revived the Gallican church; and the happiest change has already mani fested itself in the public morals. Every day produces a more perfect coincidence of opinion, and of sentiment. Childhood is more docile to the instructions of parents, and youth more submissive to the autho rity of magistrates. The conscrip tion goes on smoothly in those very places, where the mere name of conscription was sufficient to stimulate insurrection, and to serve the country is now become a duty of religion. In those departments which the first consul visited, he every where received pledges, and observed proofs, of a return to those princi ples which constitute the strength and happiness of society. In the departments of the Eure, the Lower Seine, the Oise, the inhabitants proudly exult in the national glory, glory. They are sensible to their full extent of the advantages of equality. They hail, with blessings, the restoration of peace; they receive, with blessings, the re-establishment of public worship. These, are the ties that bind down every heart to the state, and the constitution. It is the duty of government to cherish and direct these auspicious dispositions. Other forms of worship have been regularly organized. Consistories are formed of enlightened citizens, tried and acknowledged defenders of public order, of civil and religious liberty. Public instruction, that indispensible support of society, is every where sought after with eagerness and alacrity. Several lyceums have already been opened: already, as government had well foreseen, a number of private schools aspire to the rank of the secondary schools. The whole body of citizens shew their conviction, that there can be no happiness without the light of education; that, without talents and information, there can be no equality, but that of misery and servitude. A military school is opened to receive the young defenders of the country. Soldiers, they will learn to support the life of camps, and endure the fatigues of war. By long habits of obedience, they will be trained up to the art of commanding, and they will bring to the armies courage and discipline, united With talents and with knowledge. In the lyceums, as well as in the military school, the youth of the departments, newly incorporated with the republic, will live mingled, without any distinction, with the VOL. XLV. The national institute, which has its ascendency over public instruction, has received a more useful direction, and henceforward will exert a more active influence over the national character, over the language of the country, and over the arts, sciences, and literature. In order to ensure the stability of our infant institutions, in order to remove from the eyes of the public the spectre of discord, which ap peared to them in the periodical return of elections to the supreme magistracy, the friends of the coun◄ try called for the consulate for life to be granted to the first magistrate. The people, upon being consulted, answered to their call, and the senate proclaimed the will of the people. The system of lists of eligibility could not resist the test of experi ence, and the force of public opinion. The organization of the senate was incomplete. The national justice was left to be administered by tribunals without harmony, and without dependence on each other. There was no authority to protect or to reform them; no tie of restraint, to subject them to one common discipline. In fine, there was wanting to France, a power to tice itself, the power 3 C reclaim jusof granting pardon. - has restored the exercise of those ime constituent assemazowledged; but it has surrounded with prepart in which preserve the people tean ezers or precipitation in their with precautions, which fund the influence of property, and the preponderance of enlightened talents. Should the first magistracy become acant, the duties and the proceedings of the senate are traced out for such an emergency: forms of eertain operation, guide the wisdom and the liberty of their choice; and the quick decision of that choice deprives ambition of the means of conspiring, and anarchy the means of destroying. The cement of time will every day consolidate, more and more, this tutelary institution. It will be not only the term of all disquietudes, and the object of all hopes, but likewise the fairest recompences that can be held out to public services and public virtues. Justice embraces all tribunals with one common bond. They have each their subordinate station and their censor: they are always free in the exercise of their functions; always independent of power, but never independent of the laws. The privilege of granting pardon, when the interest of the republic requires it, or when circumstances 3 prescribe indulgence, is e If institutions may be a teď by their effects, never was 1293stitution more important in lis nedl than the organic senatus.com From that moment the Frem ple began to confide in their distiny; property began to resima former value, and a relations of distant view to be muid that moment, every thing seemed to float in uncertainty. The present moment was cherished. the next #25 a subject of alarm, and the enemies of the country continued to cherish hopes. Since that moment. they are reduced to impounce and de testation. The island of Elba has been ceded to France; that acquisition gives her a mild and industrious people; two fine ports, a productive and precious mine: but, being separated from France, it could not be intimately united with any of her departments, or subjected to the regu lations of a common administration. Principles have been made to bend to the necessity of circumstances; exceptions have been established for the island of Elba, which its posi tion, and the public interest, pre scribed. The abdication of the sovereign, the will of the people, and the ne cessity of existing circumstances, had placed Piedmont under the power of France. Amidst the nations that surrounded it, with the elements that composed its popula tion, Piedmont was unable to sup port either the weight of its own inde |