 With Malta secure , Bonaparte seized the Maltese army and navy , adding them to his own forces . He garrisoned Valletta and among the wealth he appropriated from the island was the entire property of the Roman Catholic Church in the island . Much of this was auctioned off , while other treasures were to be transported to France , along with dispatches carried by the wounded General Louis Baraguey d 'Hilliers and other soldiers wounded during the invasion . On 19 June Bonaparte divided his forces , leaving 4 @,@ 000 men to hold the island while the remainder of the convoy embarked on the second leg of the journey to Egypt . One ship was detailed to return to France with the wounded , despatches and some of the treasure . For this purpose the 36 @-@ gun frigate Sensible under Captain G. F. J. Bourdé was selected , although much of the regular crew was removed and replaced with freed Maltese galley slaves . 
