has been delegated to a committee, or rather to the resident minifter of the French republic.

EGYPT.

As foon as it was known in England that propofals had been made to the Turks by the French in Egypt for the safe retreat of the latter, the British ministry, apprehensive of danger from the return of fuch an army, and wishing that it might become a ftriking example of disappointed ambition and injustice, fent an order to lord Keith not to ratify any convention of that nature. A difpute arofe on this head between general Kleber and lord Keith, the latter declaring that he would not fuffer the French to pafs unmolested. The grand vizir, having taken poffeffion of many posts which the enemy had evacuated, demanded the immediate furrender of Cairo; but Kleber, alleging that the English were hoftile to the agreement, refused to deprive his endan gered army of fo important a ftation, and gave notice of his intention of renewing the war. On the 18th of March, he attacked a body of Turks, and put them to the rout: he then engaged the grand army, and obtained a complete victory.

When it appeared that the convention had been fanctioned by fir Sidney Smith, our court, though not pleased at his conduct in protecting an enemy whom he might have crufhed, fent orders for a ratification of the agreement: Kleber now confented to a revival of the treaty; and it was expected that he and his countrymen would speedily take the benefit of it. But, on the 14th of June, he was affaffinated by a fanatic who had been fent from Gaza for that purpose by the aga of the janizaries. His obfequies were celebrated with great pomp; his merits were blazoned in a funeral oration pronounced by Fourier; and the affaffin was juftly punithed with death. Menou fucceeded to the command; and it is fuppofed that he will endeavour to retain poffeffion of the country.