IwaswalkingwithGeneralBonaparte, infrontofhistent, whenhebeheldthismassofmenapproaching, andbeforeheevensawhis 'aidesdecamp' hesaidtome, inatoneofprofoundsorrow, "Whatdotheywishmetodowiththesemen? HaveIfoodforthem?—shipstoconveythemtoEgyptorFrance? Why, inthedevil'sname, havetheyservedmethus?" Aftertheirarrival, andtheexplanationswhichtheGeneral-in-Chiefdemandedandlistenedtowithanger, EugèneandCroisierreceivedthemostseverereprimandfortheirconduct., andthathehaddirectedthemtorestrainthecarnage."Yes, doubtless," repliedtheGeneralin-Chief, withgreatwarmth, "astowomen, children, andoldmen—allthepeaceableinhabitants; ?" Thesewordswerepronouncedinthemostangrytone.
Theprisonerswerethenorderedtositdown, andwereplaced, withoutanyorder, infrontofthetents, , squeezedoutofthealreadyscantysupplyforthearmy.
OnthefirstdayoftheirarrivalacouncilofwarwasheldinthetentoftheGeneral-in-Chief, .
, thecomplaintsofthesoldiers—oftheirmurmursanddiscontentatseeingtheirbreadgiventoenemieswhohadbeenwithdrawnfromtheirvengeance, inasmuchasadecreeofdeath, inconformitywiththelawsofwar, , andespeciallythatofGeneralBon, , whichwouldbejustifiedbytheseriousnatureofthecase.
, andforseveralhourstogethertheydiscussed, underseparatequestions, whatmeasuresmightbeadopted, withthemostsinceredesiretodiscoverandexecuteonewhichwouldsavethelivesoftheseunfortunateprisoners.
(1) ShouldtheybesentintoEgypt? Coulditbedone?