THE KISING IN ALEXANDKIA 19
once abandoned. N^o heed was taken of the intimation, and three days later he sent an ultimatum demanding the cessa- tion of work and the immediate surrender of the forts nearest
to the entrance to the harbour, stating that if these terms were not complied with in twenty-four hours, the bombard- ment would commence. Already the greater part of the European inhabitants had left the town and taken up their quarters in the merchant-ships that had been engaged for the purpose. A few, however, of the bankers and merchants determined to remain. These gathered in the bank and in Mr. Eerguson’s house, to which the most valuable goods in
other establishments were removed. They had an ample supply of firearms, and believed that they could hold out for
a considerable time. They were convinced that the Egyptian
troops would not for an hour resist the fire that would be opened upon them, but would speedily evacuate the town, and that, therefore, there would only be the mob to be en-
countered, and this but for a short time, as the sailors would land as soon as the Egyptian troops fled.
The Egyptians, on the other hand, believed absolutely in
their ability to destroy the fleet. Both parties were wrong. The Europeans greatly undervalued the fighting powers of
the Egyptians, animated as they were by confidence in the
strength of the defences, by their number, and by their fanat-
icism; while the Egyptians similarly undervalued the tre- mendous power of our ships. That evening and the next morning the port presented an animated appearance. Boats were putting off with those inhabitants who had waited on, hoping that the Egyptians would at the last moment give in
;
many of the merchantmen had already cleared out, others were getting up sail; smoke was rising from the funnels of
all the men-of-war. An express boat had
' brought from France orders that the French fleet were to take no part in
the proceedings, but were to proceed at once to Port Said.
This order excited the bitterest feeling of anger and humil-
iation among the French officers and sailors, who had relied