Report Outlines Debt Bonaparte Accumulated in Egypt

From: Copies of original letters from the army of General Bonaparte in Egypt, intercepted by the fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Nelson. With an English translation (London, J. Wright, 1798-1800, 3 vols.), vol. 3, pp. 57-60.

TRANSLATION.

Army of the East.

French Republic.

ESTIMATE of the different sums due on the 23d of August 1799, the Period at which General KLEBER took upon himself the Command of the Army.

PAY of the army -- -- 4,015,000

Extraordinaries -- -- 576,000

Difference of pay, between the law of the 2d Thermidor, in the year 2, and that of the 23d Floreal, in the year 5, due to part of the army -- -- 802,332

Artillery -- -- 91,214

Marine, military, and merchant service, by a rough calculation -- -- 3,962,124

Military subsistence -- -- 1,198,973

Clothing -- -- 144,381

Military Hospitals -- -- 311,277

Military Convoys -- -- 177,098

Military Posts -- -- 5,432

To the Interceptor of the saddle manufactory -- -- 12,601

To the Interceptor of the boot manufactory -- -- 6,000

To the Commissaries at Suez – 7,014

To certain French, Turks, and Greeks, who have furnished provisions at Alexandria and elsewhere -- -- 41,980

To Citizen Rosetty for provisions for the army, when on its march to Rhamanie -- -- 3,222

Total -- -- 11,315,252

OBSERVATIONS.

Since the army quitted France, the expenditure has exceeded the receipts by 11,315,252 livres—this debt, then, must inevitably continue increasing. At our first arrival here, requisitions were made in all the towns for the immediate subsistence of the troops. They have never been paid for.

Extraordinary contributions were levied upon the merchants, tradesmen, &c.

The assets of the Mameloucs were also seized on our arrival; their wives been made to pay an extraordinary imposition.

The receipts of the last year were greater than those of the present can possibly be. The inundation has failed, and many villages have been deprived of water.

The debt above stated, does not include what is due to the provinces for the supplies in kind, with which the troops were furnished during their march.

It is evident from these observations, that, as long as the army of Egypt is engaged in hostilities, there can be no foreign trade; nor can the receipts be possibly made to answer the expenses. It is peace alone which can place the receipts on a satisfactory footing.

Certified by me,

E. POUSSIELGUE, Commissary-general, &c. to be conformable to the respective lifts delivered to me at Cairo, Oct. 7, 1799.

Examined by the Commander in Chief,

KLEBER.