The national Republican., 1861-01-15
-NATrONAL REPUBLICAN.
ARAB SUFFERING AND COURAGE.

Wrehout knowlng 70 whom II belonged, or Its
history. This is IL:
On coming from Syria, after conquering the
Turks of Aboukir, Bonaparte returned TO
France, where his ambition, and the dangers
menacing his country, had called him. But
before quitting the East, where he had covered
himself with laurels, he wished to assume the
future prosperity of his Egyptian colony, by
leaving 1t under the government Of a man
worthy of his confidence.
He selected from among the generals who
had followed his adventures in that land-all
Of whom were men who had performed brilliant
services-one whose name stands high above
all others-Kleber, the republican, we mean,
an ardent and enthusiastic man, brave and
talented general; Kleber, who was the idol of
the soldiers, and, in fact, the only man who
could make them forget the hero of Arcole and
the Pyramids.
Scarcely, however, had this general added
the name of Heliopolis to all the victories with
which the East was ringing, when he fell by
the hand Of fanatic.
On the llth of June, after reviewing the
Greek legion in the Island of Boudah, he came
to Cairo, to preside over the preparations which
Monsieur Protain, one Of the engineers who
had followed the army was making in his pal
ace.
Both were expected to breakfast with
another general officer, which was given to sew.
ersl Of his friends and colleagues.
1t was qsite fete of rejoicing, and General
Kleber was unusually gay, for all had succeeded
since he had been left in command. The Turks
had been beaten as completely at Heliopolis as
at Mt. Tabor and Aboukir. The second revolt
at Cairo had been put down, and everything
seemed to predict that for the future the town
would be quiet.
At two in the afternoon, Kleber took leave
Of his host and friends and, taking Monsieur
Protain with him, returned towards his palace,
where, as we have said, numerous repairs were
being made, under the direction of the archi.
tect.
There was not more than FIVE minutes walk
from the generals, where they had breakfast,
to General Klebers, and, to arrive there, it was
necessary to pass by terrace, sheltered by i'm.
mense vines, overlooking the Place Ell Bekieh.
The general and the architect were walking
slowly, and the latter stopped, from time to
time, to trace something with the cane he held
in his hand on the sand.
Suddenly man, ,.clad in Eastern costume
appeared at short distance from the other
two, bowed to General kleber, and crossing his
arms over his breast, saluted him after the man
ner of the East. He then raised his hand and
kissed it. kleber was accustomed to these
demonstrations; the Arabs who visited him to
demand justice always acted thus, so he waited
for the young man to explain what he wanted.
Suddenly, with the quickness of lightning the
stranger drew curved poignard from his belt,
and buried it to the hilt in Kleber's left side
The general uttered cry of pain and sur.
prise, as he stepped backward, and then he
leaned against the balustrade, calling aloud to
a soldier who was passing
Help, guard am assassinated!"
At the same moment, Monsieur Protain, who
had only cane in his hand, sprang on the
murderer, who, after the blow had been dealt
stood q moment silent and motionless but find.
ing himself unexpectedly assailed, with the
rapidity of thought he stabbed the unfortunate
architect half dozen times, when he fell faint.
ing to the ground.
Like a wild beast, greedy of blood, the man
rushed again at Kleber, stabbed him several
times, and then fled into the cover whence he
had come.
The guard hastened, as quickly as possible,
to the generals assistance but he was obliged
to 60 round to reach the terrace.
By this time, also, Monsieur Protain had
come to himself, and seeing the general lean.
ing against the balustrade, pale, and covered
with blood, he made an effort to reach him
pointing out, now too late, unhappily, how i'm
prudent it was to 60 about without an escort.
But Kleber, gently extending his hand to-
wards him, uttered
my friend, this is not the moment to give
me advice; l am very ill |"
And he dropped dead.
The same day the soldiers found young
Arab concealed in the garden belonging to the
French baths; his dress was stained with blood
in several places. At his feet dagger was
stuck in the sand, which was stained all around
by it. This Arab was of very dark complexion
and fragile in make. When brought before the
military tribunal appointed to examine him, he
gave his name without hesitation, Soleymar
ElKaleby, native of Syria, twenty four years
of age, a writer by profession, established a
Aleppo.
As regarded the rest, he totally denied it all
The general at the head of the court marital
ordered him to be bastinadoed, according to the
custom of the country.
After receiving it. he declared himself ready
to tell the truth ; consequently he was once
more brought before the council of war. There
he stated that he had been thirty.o one days al
Cairo, having come from GAIA on a dromedary
that his sole purpose in coming was to assas
sinate the general, having been sent for thu
accomplishment Of the deed by the chief of tn,
Janizaries; for when the Mussulman troops re
turned from Egypt they inquired at Aleppo to
some one who would kill the general promis
ing both money and military rank to the ont
who will do it, and he had accepted.
In the presence Of like acknowledgements
sentence, as may readily be imagined, wa
quickly pronounced, especially by q court
martial.
Consequently, Soleyman ElKaeby, convict
ed of having assassinated the General.in. chief
Kleber, was condemned to have his right hant
burnt of, to be impaled, and left there to die
and hang until the birds of prey should devou
him.
This execution took place on the return 0
the crowds which had followed the remains o
Kleber to the cemetery, close to the institution
in presence of the army in deep afliction, ant
terrified population for, accustomed to tn
sort of iuatice in practice with the Pachas an,