prince and the English vice-admiral has not been yet disclosed. But whatever were the points that impeded a pacification on the part of Denmark, they were given up, in consequence of intelligence that the emperor of Russia, Paul I. was found dead in his bed on the night that followed the 22nd of March. This sudden and important event was joyful to all, the French government excepted, and surprising to few! For more than a year past, Paul had exhibited multiplied symptoms of insanity. In this the predominant ingredient was generally anger and rage. When despatches were presented to him from the British government, containing terms of conciliation, he returned them unopened, after piercing them in many places with a penknife. Yet his madness, though somewhat tinctured with violence, was sometimes mixed with a degree of whimsical humor. In private conversation with a nobleman of his court, without any provocation or preliminary, he gave him a hearty slap in the face, adding, "This salutation with my hand Paul," alluding to one of the epistles from Paul, the apostle. A few days before the young king of Sweden, who had gone to concert the measures of the armed neutrality, left Petersburg, the emperor gave a tournament, a diversion of which he was very fond, and in which he performed personally as a combatant. In the evening, while the glass was in circulation, with Russian briskness, a despatch was received from Bonaparte, together with several caricatures, said to be published in England, in which

Paul was represented as a lunatic. The conversation turned on the military successes of his new French friends; the projects formed by the northern confederacy to humble the pride of England; and the invincible prowess which the emperor had displayed all day long in the tournament. His majesty, fired with the spirit of chivalry, immediately resolved to send a defiance to all the potentates of Europe. The court gazette of St. Petersburg, December 30th, 1800, contained the following: "It is said that his majesty, the emperor, seeing that the powers of Europe cannot agree, and wishing to terminate a war which has raged eleven years, intends to propose a place, where he will invite all other potentates, to fight with them in barriers closed up: for which purpose, they are to bring with them their most enlightened ministers, and most skilful generals, as squires, umpires, and heralds; such as Thugut, Pitt, and Bernstorff. He himself intends to have with him count Vander Pablin and count Kutosoff. It is not known whether this rumor is to be depended upon: meanwhile, it does not seem to be altogether without foundation, as it bears the mark of what has often been imputed to him." It is generally believed that Paul was murdered.

The new emperor, Alexander, proclaimed on the day succeeding the night of his father's death, declared for the laws and system of his grandmother. It was among the first acts of his reign, to give orders that the British sailors and masters, who had

been taken from the several British ships, in a state of sequestration, and sent to various towns throughout the Russian dominions, should be set at liberty, and carefully conducted to the several ports from whence they were taken. All prohibitions against the exportation of corn were removed: and the exportation of all kinds of grain was permitted. Peace and good understanding were re-established between the courts of London and Petersburg, and all disputes between Great Britain and the northern powers were apparently adjusted. By this settlement, the northern powers obtained two material points: first, a limitation of the right of search; and secondly, a diminution of articles deemed contraband of war. While the negociation was going on, we had a fleet in the Baltic of twenty-five sail of the line, and nearly forty-five frigates, sloops, bombs, and gun-vessels. The chief division of the fleet, under lord Nelson and admiral Graves, lay in Kioge-bay; and another, under admiral Totty, off Bornholm. Captain Murray, with a small squadron, was off Dantzick; and lord H. Poulett cruized with a few ships off Rostock. The Danish troops evacuated Hamburg: the free navigation of the Elbe, Weser, and Ems was restored; and the court of Berlin gave assurances that, after certain arrangements should be made for the quiet of Germany, the Prussian troops should evacuate Bremen and Ha

nover.

CHAP. VII.

Transactions in Egypt.---Death of Kleber.---English Expedition to Egypt.---Death of Sir R. Abercrombie.--Expulsion of the French from Egypt. ---Proceedings of the English by Sea.---Union of Ireland.---Conduct of Mr. Pitt.--- His Resignation.---- Is succeeded by Mr.Addington.---Definitive Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the French Republic.

THE English government, by sending some vessels, with troops on board, to the coast of Spain, appeared to indicate a design of alarming the Spaniards; at least sir James Pulteney, commander of the land forces, forwarded several despatches to England, wherein he extolled the steady discipline of the soldiers, though it does not appear, he had put it to the trial. In fact, the whole appeared a contemptible proceeding, and utterly unworthy of more particular detail.

But, while things wore this aspect in Europe, the French were still in possession of Egypt, where various battles of minor importance had taken place between them and the Turkish troops. Sir Sidney Smith, who continued to cruize off the Egyptian coast, and to lend all the assistance in his power to the Turks, came to an agreement with the commander of

"

the French troops, for the evacuation of Egypt. This, however, which was called the treaty of El-Arish, the English ministry (or lord Keith) refused to ratify, in consequence of which, thousands of the bravest spirits that ever animated the human form were led to slaughter on a foreign shore, merely by way of experiment; and, after a dismal waste of blood, the same object precisely was obtained, for which sir Sidney Smith had stipulated in his judicious arrangement with the enemy.

The non-ratification of this treaty was by no means honorable to the British ministry; and the signal defeat which the Turks experienced shortly after its abrogation, gave the French for some time the quiet possession of Egypt. They, however, sustained a severe loss by the death of their commander in chief, Kleber, who was assassinated at Cairo, on the 14th of June, 1800.*

* "Thus fell, in the vigor of his days, one of the ablest generals of the French army. No man was more beloved by his troops, none more esteemed by his country, or more respected by his foes. He possessed that loftiness of soul, without which no true heroism can exist, together with that discrimination of mind, by which alone courage is preserved from rashness and inconsistency. He had great civil, as well as military talents; which were uniformly exerted with a view to the welfare of the republic, unbiassed by party, and undiverted by fortune, A nobler testimony could not have been paid to his worth, than in the circumstances attending the removal of his remains from Egypt. The army (says general Reynier) could not endure to leave in Egypt the remains of Kleber. The ceremony of conveying these remains from fort Ibrahim Bey, where they had been deposited, was announced by