The relief of Cairo, in whose citadel two thousand men under General Verdier were closely besieged, was the next object. The firing had scarcely ceased in the plains of Heliopolis when the sound of a distant cannonade was heard from Cairo ; it informed Khiber that fresh exer tions were required, and he instantly proceeded to the rescue of his countrymen. The Turks under Ibrahim Bey, who formed the besieg ing army, agreed, on hearing the result of the previous battle, to evacuate the town ; but the excited populace of Cairo refused to listen to any terms, and prepared themselves for a desperate resistance. It became necessary to take by storm Boulak, a fortified suburb, and the French, who had returned from the pursuit of the Grand Vizier, invested the city. On a further refusal to surrender, a severe cannonade was directed against it, and it was finally entered by assault. A des perate struggle ensued between the besieged, who occupied the houses, and the besiegers, who were pressing on in the streets. Night alone terminated the contest; and on the following morning the Turks offered to capitulate, and were permitted to do so on favourable terms. Kldber, in this instance, as in many others, enhanced his victory by his moderation and humanity. About the time that these events were takiog place, another body of the Turkish army had laid down their arms to General Belliard; and Mourad Bey, the chief of the Mamelukes, deprived of every hope of ultimate success, concluded an honourable convention with the French commander. Thus, within a month of the battle of Heliopolis, the French were again is possession of their previous conquests.
Released from immediate danger, KI6ber now began to direct his energies to more pacific labours, and to apply them to the administra tion of the conquered country. His plan appears to have been to distribute portions of land among the veterans of his army, and to adopt a course similar to that pursued by the British government in India, of enlisting in his service the native troops. scarcely however
had he entered on this work when he became the victim of an obscure assassin. A young man, a native of Aleppo, named Suleiman, was incited to the atrocious act by religious fanaticism and the prospect of an ample reward. He had performed the pilgrimages of Mecca and Medina, and his mind was deeply imbued with the tenets of the Mnssul mans' faith. Having armed himself with a poignard, ho followed Kleber several days without being able to effect his purpose, when he at length determined upon concealing himself in an abandoned cistern in the garden attached to the mansion which the general occupied. On the 14th of June 1800, Kleber was walking in that garden with Protein, the architect of the army, and he was pointing out to him some repairs which the building required, when Suleiman presented himself before him as a suppliant for alms ; while Kldber was listen ing to his petition, he seized the opportunity of rapidly striking him several times with his dagger. The architect, who was armed with a stick, attempting to interfere, received a severe though not deadly wound. The guards having hastened at the cries of Kldber, secured the assassin, whom they found concealed behind some ruins. A military commission was immediately assembled to try tho assassin, who boldly confessed, and even gloried in his crime. Four sheiks, the partakera of his confidence, were beheaded, and Suleiman was impaled alive.
Thus prematurely perished this distinguished general, and with him tho hopes of the eastern expedition. He had formed many important designs for colonising the country, and French writers believe, as Bonaparte used to emelt, that under his rule it might have been pre served a valuable acquisition to the French Republic. According to Dr. O'Meara, Napoleon L declared, that of all his generals Desaix and Kleber possessed the greatest talents.