Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. ARRIVES AT CONSTANTINOPLE. PROCEEDS TO ST. JEAN D'acre.- CAPTURES THE ENEMY'S FLOTILLA OF GUN-VESSELS, ETC. THE SIEGE COMMENCES, AND CONTINUES WITH LITTLE OR NO INTERMISSION FOR SIXTY DAYS. GREAT SKILL AND ENERGY DISPLAYED ON BOTH SIDES. SIR SIDNEY SMITH, WITH HIS RUDE AND UNDISCIPLINED OTTOMANS AND THE SEAMEN AND MARINES OF THREE SHIPS OF WAR, AGAINST GENERAL BUONAPARTE AND A REGULAR FRENCH ARMY. THE LATTER BEATEN, AND COMPELLED TO RAISE THE SIEGE. 1798--1799. Before Sir Sidney Smith commenced his naval operations* on the coasts of Syria and Egypt, it was necessary he should first call at Alexandria in his way to Constantinople, and from the former place he wrote the letter (p. 270) to his mother. His first object at Constantinople was to present his credentials to the Sublime Porte, and to arrange some plan to be pursued with regard to his diplomatic duties, in concert with his brother the joint plenipotentiary, Mr. Spencer Smith, together with the grand vizier and the principal officers of the Ottoman Porte, in order to settle and clearly to understand the terms of the treaty, to be signed and executed between the two contracting parties, the King of Great Britain and the Sultan Selim. At this time the French revolutionary army, under the command of General Buonaparte, had already subjugated the greater part of Egypt, massacred thousands of the inhabitants, and committed every species of atrocity. Achmet Pasha, better known as Djezzar, (or the butcher, ) was the governor or independent chief of that part of Syria which lies between St. Jean d'Acre (his principal residence) and Damietta, and contains the towns of Jaffa and El Arish, on the sea-coast. This chief being present at the conference, declared, that no time was to be..