Monday, November 26, 2007

Kleber Briefs the Directory on Intercepted Letters

From: Copies of original letters from the army of General Bonaparte in Egypt, intercepted by the fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Nelson. With an English translation (London, J. Wright, 1798-1800, 3 vols.), vol. 3, pp. 2-3.

TRANSLATION.

LIBERTY. EQUALITY.

Head Quarters, Cairo, October 9, 1799.

KLEBER, Commander in Chief, to the EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY.

THE Citizen Barras(1) being particularly known to me by his fidelity, his extreme attachment to the Government, his love for the Republic, and for truth; I thought, Citizen Directors, that I could not fix on a more proper person to send home with my first dispatches to you, out of cipher. I have ordered him to throw them overboard(2), in the event of his being closely pursued by the enemy; and he is sufficiently acquainted with their contents to be able to give you a verbal account of them, if it should be necessary. I entreat you to place the same confidence in him which I have been induced to do, from observing the uprightedness of his conduct since he has been in this country.

Health and respect.

KLEBER.


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[British Translators' Notes]

(1)Cousin to the ci-devant Director of that name.

(2)This was done, but some of the El Vincejo's men instantly jumped into the boat, and saved them.

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