Kléber | Letter signed as Commander of the French Army in Egypt, 1799

Kléber, Jean-Baptiste,

Letter signed ("Kleber"), as Commander of the French Army in Egypt, 29 September 1799

to Étienne Poussielgue, Paymaster General for the Mediterranean, and Controller-General of the Finances of the French army in Egypt, returning two payment orders regarding the transport of grain, turning down one dealing with the trade of threshold and breakage,

"...J’ai supprimé un seul article de celui qui concerne le commerce du seui[l] et de la casse. Je vous prie de veiller à l’execution de l’an et de l’autre..."

1 page, folio, printed stationery with vignette of Marianne ("Kleber, General en Chef"), Cairo, 7 vendemiaire l'an 8 [29 September 1799]

Jean-Baptiste Kléber (1753–1800) was one of Napoleon's leading generals during the Egyptian Campaign. When Napoleon returned to Paris, he was appointed Commander of the French forces on 23 August 1799. He routed the Ottoman forces and retook Cairo, but was assassinated on 14 June 1800.