1803. | 
exittence of any fuch compofitions, as in 
the courfe of much defultory reading on 
the fubjeét of the literature of the fifteenth 
century, I have not found any mention 
‘of them. 
Should this letter meet the notice of 
Biographical Account of General Kleber. O37 
the author of the above-cited article, or 
of any of your numerous readers, wha 
may béinclined to give information on this 
point, by fo doing they will gratify the 
literary publice Tam, Sir, &c. | 
G. D. 
AD NS mae Tee em Cae Sama a Ee 
MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
—iiie— 
BIOGRAPHICAL account of the late 
GENERAL KLEBER, from bis earl, 
LIFE to his ASSASSINATION 1% 
EGYPT. ‘ 
OHN BAPTISTE KLEBER was 
born at Strafburg in the year 1750. 
His parents, though not opulent, were ne- 
verthelefs refpectable. He Jolt his father 
in the eartieft part of his infincy. 
Kleber, even when achild, evinced a 
character at once firm, intrepid, and un- 
ruly ; which {ufiiciently announced what 
might be expected from him hereafter, 
though for the moment it bade fair to 
incur the imputation of ftubbornnels and 
indocility, From fome quarrel arifing be- 
tween him and a brother, whom his mo. 
ther bore to a fecond hufband, the was 
induced to fend him to a clergyman’s 
houie at fome leagues diltance froin Straf- 
burg, for initruétion. ‘The progreis he 
made in his ftudies was fufficiently rapid, 
but his indifference, .or rather antipathy, 
to all religious matters fo offended the 
worthy clergyman, that he wrote to have 
his pupil withdrawn ; which requeft was 
foon atter complied with. 
Kleber, now inthe bofom of his fami- 
ly, purfued his ftudies for fome time 
longer. In the mean time his form be- 
gan to acquire that almoft coloffal ftature 
by which he was afterwards fo particu- 
larly diftnguifhed ; though ftill young, he 
had already attained the complete fize of 
manhood.* His relations now perfuaded 
him to fix upon fome profeffion ; he ac- 
cordingly chofe that of architecture, and, 
uniting practice with theory, worked for 
a confiderable time in the fervice of his 
father-in-law. 
Having by degrees acquired all the 
knowledge attainable at Strafburg, his 
relations {ent him to Paris, in order that 
he might complete himéfelf in a profeffion 
for which he evinced the happieft turn and. 
difpofition. He was now but fixteen years 
* He was nx ieét bigh, crepcn meature.5 
according to our ftandard, about fix feet and 
four inches, 
of age, when, being fuddenly tranfported 
to this immenfe city, without any guide or 
mafter whatever, but fcantily provided 
with money, it is true, yet neverthelefs 
free in his actions; he could no longer 
bridle the unrulinefs of his eharacter, 
which burft out at once, and hurried him 
into numberiefs extravagancies. 
As he was admitted to employment 
under the eyes of the celebrated Chalgrin, 
he fuccefsfully availed himfelf of the in- 
{truétions of this great artilt. But as alk 
h's moments were not dedicated to labour, 
the time which he had to {pare was given: 
up to the purfuit of pleafure, 
Kleber was mild and moderate in his: 
difpofition, until carried away by paffion : 
the moment that he met with any contra. 
diction—the moment that the idea of 
plealure took pofleffion of his mind—no 
tie was ftrong enough to confine him; in 
fuch cafes he carried the violence of, his. 
difpofition to the higheft pitch. Nor was 
his chara&ter anywife different, even at a 
period when maturity of age arid reflec- 
tion fhould have rendeted his paflions lefs 
predominant. 
His relations foon perceived that he was 
in the habit of expending’ more money 
than they had the means of furnifhing ; 
they were informed likewife of the irregu- 
larity of his conduct, and of the debts he 
had contracted ; and were in confequence 
under the neceflity of recalling him to 
Strafburg. 
On his arrival, they reprefented to him 
the fituation of their fortune and of his 
own, and endeavoured to perfuade him to 
make the moft of his talents in the line of 
lite he had chofen : in {pite of his heed. 
lefs and giddy difpofition, he acknowledg- 
ed the prudence of their advice ; but a: 
chain of fingular adventures, and the im- 
petuofity of his temper, induced him to 
embrace the military profeflion: the fol- 
lowing adventure was in fome meatlure 
the caufe of it. : 
One day being at a coffee-houfe, he 
obferved that feveral thoughtlels young 
men, inhabitants ef Strafburg, were info- 
7 lently 
