A victory on the Adige would have been far better far France than one on the Nile.

From all I saw, I am of opinion that the wish to get rid of an ambitious and rising man, whose popularity excited envy, triumphed over the evident danger of removing, for an indefinite period, an excellent army, and the possible loss of the French fleet.

As to Bonaparte, he was well assured that nothing remained for him but to choose between that hazardous enterprise and his certain ruin.

Egypt was, he thought, the right place to maintain his reputation, and to add fresh glory to his name.
On the 12th of April 1798 he was appointed General-in-Chief of the army of the East.
It was about this time that Marmont was married to Mademoiselle Perregaux; and Bonaparte's aide de camp, La Valletta, to Mademoiselle Beauharnais.
-- [Sir Walter Scott informs us that Josephine, when she became Empress, brought about the marriage between her niece and La Vallette.

This is another fictitious incident of his historical romance .-- Bourrienne.]-- Shortly before our departure I asked Bonaparte how long he intended to remain in Egypt.