Spent the last two days criss-crossing southern Georgia, retracing the 1770 and 1773 campaigns. Remote but beautiful places...

"Murad Bey retorted, 'What could we have done? Whenever we attempted to rebuild and fortify, you accused us of plotting rebellion against the Sultan. These accusations have hindered our ability to act.'" (from al-Jabarti's Chronicle of the French Occupation)

"During their discussion, one of the Shaykhs charged at Mamluks beys, 'This calamity is the result of negligence in managing the ports and allowing matters to deteriorate to the point where the enemy has been able to seize the Port of Islam.'"

Reviewing new draft pgs of the Napoleonic graphic history project. "When news of the French invasion reached Cairo, the city was gripped with alarm. Ibrahim Bey rode to Qasr al-‘Ayni, where he convened with Murad Bey, the Amirs, the Qadi, and the Shaykhs to deliberate on the unfolding events."

Halfway through this wonderful new book by @HelenRappaport, recounting the life of Julie of Saxe-Coburg, who had the misfortine of being married to Grand Duke Constantine. A long overdue biography of a fascinating woman.

I suggest this one as a followup to the one on bakers.