Two hundred nineteen years ago on 9 June 1798 the first ships containing a force of over 30,000 Frenchmen under Napoleon Bonaparte appeared on the horizon intent on capturing Malta.
After taking to cut possession of Malta on 11 June 1798 and a week's presence on the island, Napoleon departed to capture Egypt from a weakened Ottoman Empire. His aim was to cut off Britain from India and other Eastern possessions.
The main French organ that kept the French informed on the situation overseas was the Gazette de France which was the first European newspaper published in 1631.
