He opened his trenches on the 18th of March.

"On that little town," said he to one of his generals, as they were standing together on an eminence, which still bears the name of Richard Coeur-de-lion--"on yonder little town depends the fate of the East.
Behold the key of Constantinople, or of India."-- "The moment Acre falls," said he about the same time to De Bourienne, "all the Druses will join me; the Syrians, weary of Djezzar's oppressions, will crowd to my standard.

I shall march upon Constantinople with an army to which the Turk can offer no effectual resistance--and it seems not unlikely that I may return to France by the route of Adrianople and Vienna--destroying the house of Austria on my way!" From the 18th to the 28th of March, the French laboured hard in their trenches, being exposed to the fire of extensive batteries, arranged by Philippeaux so as to command their approach, and formed chiefly of Buonaparte's own artillery, captured on the voyage from Alexandria.

The Turks also were constantly sallying out, and their Pacha personally set the example of the most heroic resolution.

Nevertheless, on the 28th, a breach was at last effected, and the French mounted with such fiery zeal that the garrison gave way, until Djezzar appeared on the battlements, and flinging his own pistols at the heads of the flying men, urged and compelled them to renew the defence.