Napoleon marched his army into Syria, reinforcing fears that he might emulate Alexander the Great by marching overland into India, and threaten British interests there. However, the British blockade of the Mediterranean left him no means of supply.
William Darley remained in the Eastern Mediterranean with the blockade until the end of 1799, but was not among the marines (from on board Theseus and Tigre) who were instrumental in holding Acre against the French advance. Napoleon escaped and returned to France, leaving his army in Egypt. They were defeated by a British army force, landed at Aboukir in 1801.
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‘A plan of the operations of the British Forces in Egypt from the landing at Aboukir Bay on the 8th March to the Battle of Alexandria March 21st inclusive’, printed 28 May 1801.
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In 1802, the Treaty of Amiens brought brief peace with France, and permitted Englishmen again to visit continental Europe.