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INTEEESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 479the field of battle ;the question was, how and where sheshould be assailed ? The earlier attempts on the West Indiesand Ireland had failed the ;Egyptian expeditionWe followed.propose to consider this extraordinary and remarkableenterprise only in one aspect, as to the influence which ithad and must have upon the British continental policy.Itsoon assumed a greater and more comprehensive form thanmight have been expected from the nature of the expedition.The object of this enterprise being the colonization of thefertile plains of Egypt, the result which France expectedfrom it was, properly speaking, the acquisition of an importantcolonial possession, which might not only compensate theloss of the West Indian islands, but by the altered directionwhich itgave to the whole colonial system, might injure theBritish colonies in the West Indies ;and perhaps even operate upon the relations in the East Indies. How far theseprojects were feasible or not, may be reserved for a distinctinquiry. It isenough that the apprehensions which they excited took such deep root in England, that the principle wasfirmly embraced not to lay down the sword until that planwas frustrated, until Egypt was wrested from the French.Certainly this war appeared, by the distance of its scenefrom Europe, to have no connexion with the British continental policy ;indeed from its engaging so entirelythe attention and energies of Great Britain in a different part ofthe world, it rather seemed to produce a relaxation in thecontinental relations. The contrary, however, was the result The Egyptian expedition became one of the principalmeans of bringing about the second great confederacy orcoalition against France, which was directed by Englandand of which it remained the centre in an equal if not in astillhigher degree than it had been in that confederacywhich had been dissolved.The expedition to Egypt thus became so pregnant withconsequences and so momentous in relation to the Britishcontinental policy,that not only were the ancient cords forthe most part re-knit together again, but new ones werelikewise added. Amongst these must be enumerated asmore particularly important, the connexion with the Porte.The storm which ragedin the west of Europe had not yetreached this state. Its position, its relations, and its often