aflairs, overwhelmed the Egyptians with despair. N o one now longer doubted but that the kingdom would be conquered by the Christians. The sultan, indignant at the cowardice of the garrison, ordered fifty of the principal officers to be strangled. In vain did they allege in their defence the retreat of the emir Fakreddin : the sultan told them they deserved death, for having quitted Damietta without his orders. One of these officerà, condemned to death with his son, requested to be executed first ; but the sultan refused him this favour, and the hither had the misery to see his son expire before hie eyes. After this execution, the sultan, turning to the emir Fakreddin, asked with an enraged tone, " What resistance have you made ? what battles have you fought ? You could not withstand the Franks one hour. You should have shewn more courage and firmness." The officers of the army, fearing for Fakreddin the rage of the sultan, made the emir understand by their gestures that they were ready to massacre their sovereign. Fakreddin refused bis assent, and told them afterward that the sultan could not live more than a few days ; and that, if the prince wished to trouble them, they were able at any time to get rid of him. Nedjm-Eddin, notwithstanding his melancholy state, gave orders for his departure for Mansoura. He entered his boat of war,* and arrived there on Wednesday the 25th of the moon Sefer (June 9, A.D. 1249). He put the town in a posture of defence by employing his whole army on this service. The boats ordered by the prince before his departure arrived laden with soldiers, and all sorts of ammunition. Every one able to bear arms ranged himself under his standards, and he was joined by the Arabs in great numbers. While the sultan was making his preparations, the French were adding new fortifications to Damietta, and placed there a considerable garrison. On Monday, the last day of the moon Rebiulewel (July 12, A.D . 1249), thirty-six Christian prisoners were conducted * Boat of war.—The Arabic word signifies properly " fire-work boat." Such were probably made use of to carry the Greek fire, and the machines to throw it. Makrisi, in the history of the first siege of Damietta, speaks much of these fire-ships, saying that the Mussulmen made use of them to set fire to the vessels of the Christians.