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--- Page 1 --- a à a a a a a 1 a A A --- Page 2 --- Habir J a ter dirowen Libany Ehum lanersity --- Page 3 --- --- Page 4 --- - U - 1 MV --- Page 5 --- --- Page 6 --- - A --- Page 7 --- MPJCB --- Page 8 --- :272 MIMIPMOMVV Me - a --- Page 9 --- 3p Authority. HAYTIAN PAPERS. A COLLECTION OF THE VERY INTERESTING PROCLAMATIONS, AND OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS; TOGKTHERWITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF HAYTI. WITH A PREFACE BY PRINCE, SANDERS, ESQ. AGENT FUR THE HAYTIAN GOVERNMENT. LONDON: PRINTED FOR W. REED, LAW BOOKSELLEN, NO. 17, FLEET STREET. 1816. --- Page 10 --- [Entereo at Stationers Wall.] Bolt Court, T. Denses Flect Steet, and Son, Lopdon. SURVISVOMYUIY YE SEVEEMINEIV --- Page 11 --- CONTENTS. EDITOR's ADDRESS i Extracts from the Registers of the Deliberations of the Consuls of the Republic Narrative of the Accession of their Royal Majesties to the Throne of Hayti, &c. State of Hayti. Proclamation, &c. Constitutional Law, &c. Manifesto of the King Reflections of the Editor Royal Gazette of Hayti Proclamation Reflections On the Abolition of the Slave Trade. --- Page 12 --- - --- Page 13 --- TO THE PUBLIC. induced to lay the following TranslaI AM tions of Haytian State Papers, in conjunction extracts from their ordinary Pubwith some lications, before the British people generally, in order to give them some more correct information with respect to the enlightened systems of policy, the pacific spirit, the altogether domestic views, and liberal principles of the Government; and also to more obviously evince the ameliorated and much improved condition of all classes of society in that new Empire (with which I and truly interesting have the honour to be connected) than I am inclined to think have hitherto been fully known or understood in this country. with the conFor I am deeply penetrated that it is. only necessary that the acviction, tual character and feelings of the Hlaytians b --- Page 14 --- ii should be made apparent, to most assuredly and most satisfactorily allay all those hensions of their interference with apprethe internal regulations of neighbouring which the enemies to the Abolition powers, ofthe Slave Trade, and the foes to all attempts at the improvement and elevation- of the African race, would, by their misrepresentations and false statements, endeavour to excite in the minds of this nation - of genuine philanthropists. But to the immortal honour of noble and generous Englishmen be it said, their hearts are in general attuned to the exercise of more humane, and more rationally illumined views and sentiments. O happy England! to thee most appropriately belong the exalted appellations of protectress of the Christian world; the strong hold of rational freedom; the liberatress as well as the genuine asylum for oppressed humanity, and the promulgatress of civilization, knowledge, and piety to every region of the globe. In thee we see a practical exemplification of those principles of benevolence and kind affection which encompass the human character with an imperishable lustre of glory and honour. - MEMAMIMTOUE 33 GUUYMV happy England! to thee most appropriately belong the exalted appellations of protectress of the Christian world; the strong hold of rational freedom; the liberatress as well as the genuine asylum for oppressed humanity, and the promulgatress of civilization, knowledge, and piety to every region of the globe. In thee we see a practical exemplification of those principles of benevolence and kind affection which encompass the human character with an imperishable lustre of glory and honour. - MEMAMIMTOUE 33 GUUYMV --- Page 15 --- lii Having understood that it nas often-been insinuated by those few individuals, habitual labour is the whose perversion, (and as far as they are able,) the absolute destruction of every. object which has a tendency to show that the' Blacks possess, to any considerable extent, that portion of natural which the beneficent intelligence Father of all ordinarily imparts to His children; I say, being convinced, that for these inglorious and malevolent purposes, such persons have endeavoured to impress the public with the idea, that those official - documents which have occasionally appeared in this country, are not written by black Haytians themselves; but that they are either written by Europeans in this try, or by some who, counthey say, are for that purpose in the public employed offices at and, for the entire refutation Hayti; of this gross misrepresentation, I upon my honour that there is not a single white declare, European at present employed in writing at any of the public offices; and that all the public documents are written by those of the cretaries whose King's Senames they bear, and that are all black they men, or men of colour. --- Page 16 --- iv It is my humble, though sincere opinion, that no one can visit Hayti at this period, and have an opportunity of seeing the decency of manners, the apparent cheerfulness, the happiness and industry which prevail among all grades of the community, without being struck with the astonishing accuracy with which it has pleased God to bring to pass a state of society there, the very idea ofthe establishment in that country Mr. Bryan Edwards ofwhich his observed, in History of St. Domingo, 66 is SO the pleasing to imagination, that every humane and reflecting mind must wish it may be realized." Says Mr. Edwards, c6 I might here expatiate upon the wonderful dispensations of Divine Providence in raising up enslaved Africans to avenge the wrongs of the injured I might also indulgé the fond but Aborigines; Jallacious idea, that, as the negroes of St. Domingo have been eye-witnesses of the bencfits of civilized life among the whites; have seen in what manner and to what extent social order, sober industry, and submission to the laws, contribute individual and general to prosperity (advantages which were denied to them in their native country), some superior spirits may hereafter Ve LEVAMTMIUC - UETV --- Page 17 --- V rise up among them, by whose encouragement they may be taught, in due time, and example discard the ferocious and sordid manners to life; to correct their and pursuits of savage and be led progressively on to civilizavices, of tion and gentleness, to the knowledge truth, and the practice of virtue! continues he) is SO < This picture (then pleasing to the imagination, that every humane mind must wish it may be realand reflecting creation of ized; but I am afraid it is the mere the fancy, the fabric of a vision !" Ifit had pleased God to spare Mr. Edwards this and he had been permitted to reto time, visit Hayti in its present improved state, I am inclined to think he would be ready to exclaim, c I now belold here a scene of things, the moanticipation of the possibility of the mentary these people, a few existence of which among since, seemed to me like the 66 mere years and the 6 fabric of a, creation of the fancy," vision." whose They are now blest with a Sovereign, sincere desire, and firmly settled purpose, most to be the elevation of the obviously appears permitted to reto time, visit Hayti in its present improved state, I am inclined to think he would be ready to exclaim, c I now belold here a scene of things, the moanticipation of the possibility of the mentary these people, a few existence of which among since, seemed to me like the 66 mere years and the 6 fabric of a, creation of the fancy," vision." whose They are now blest with a Sovereign, sincere desire, and firmly settled purpose, most to be the elevation of the obviously appears --- Page 18 --- vi characters, and the improvément of the hearts and lives, of all the various classes of It especially society. appears to be his object to ameliorate the condition and improve the character of the humblest class, namely, that of the plantation labourers. For the full confirmation oft the truth of" this fact, the followving extracts from the laws relating to the agricultural interest, and management in all its relative departments and bearings, will be most satisfactory to every reflecting and unprejudiced mind. P. SANDERS. MY VUL --- Page 19 --- CODE HENRI LA W RESPECTING THE CULTURE. Titre 1, Chap. 1. e The proprietors and farmers of land are bound to treat their respective labourers with true paternal solicitude ; an obligation which it is greatly for their own interest to fulfil inits utmost extent. 2 Chap. 16 par. Page 5. The law exacts from the labourers in return a reciprocal attention to the welfare and interest of the landlord and farmer. Titre 4, Pa. 56. In lieu of wages, the labourers in plantations shall be allowed a full fourth of the gross product, free from all duties and expenses to the time of removal. --- Page 20 --- viii Page 1,. Art. I. Itis the King's that on express order, every complaint of the cultivators against their landlords and farmers, the lieutenant commanding in the parish shall immediately attend to the circumstances of the and on proof of the grievance, case; report to the the general of the district, who shall transmit thereupon the same to the privy council, who shall decide on the case, and pronounce sentence of punishment according to the nature of the offence. On refusal of this parish officer to enter into the business, the plaintifr is authorised dress the to adcommandant; in default of whose interference he may address the general of division; and, if need be, the privy council direct. III. No landlord or farmer has authority to reject any cultivator from his habitation text ofillness on preor infirmity. IV. An hospital shall be built plantation wherein on cvery the sick labourers shall be attended by professional assistanee, and plied with medicines at the supexpense of the landlord or farmer, who is to secure the sonal attendance twice in each week, perG MM MYY MU - SUMMM --- Page 21 --- ix Another hospital shall be provided for such as are afflicted with contagious disorders. Independent of the professional visitor, each hospital shall be provided with a midwife and female nurse. a V. The medical visitors are bound in conformity with all the to act King'sordinances respecting the exercise of their profession. VI. Landlords and proprictors are bound to maintain and support the aged and infirm cultivators, and to furnish medicine and attendance. VII. Landlords and farmers are most pressly prohibited from forcing their exto.quit their dwellings for the cultivators purpose of working at another plantation, or in any other branch of cultivation than that in which have been accustomed to labour, they privy council's without the permission ; to be obtained on proof of the lands only proposed to be abandoned being no longer. susceptible ofiproduétion. VIII. Resident planters convicted suborned or connived at the desertion ofhaving soldier, or his absence without of a a furlough, most pressly prohibited from forcing their exto.quit their dwellings for the cultivators purpose of working at another plantation, or in any other branch of cultivation than that in which have been accustomed to labour, they privy council's without the permission ; to be obtained on proof of the lands only proposed to be abandoned being no longer. susceptible ofiproduétion. VIII. Resident planters convicted suborned or connived at the desertion ofhaving soldier, or his absence without of a a furlough, --- Page 22 --- X are punishable according to art. 12. sect. 2. of the military code, IX. Farmers are obliged to furnish and tools implements of cultivation, for which the managers shall be responsible. X. Provision grounds shall be allotted every plantation in presenice of the upon public authorities, and proportionally among the tive labouring families, respecaccording to the quality and extent of the land applicable to such purpose. XI. In case of fire, the labourers on contiguous plantations are enjoined to assist in extinguishingit, and the neighbouring farmers to contribute in every way to that effect, XII. No landlord or cultivator shall fire among the carry wood cane-pieces, nor plant any fresh upon his boundaries without due notice to his neighbour, and observation of the distances proper, to prevent accidents by fire. XIII. Farmers have the right of their saddle and pasturing carriage horses: : but the attendants of these animals shall have share in the no right to crop. EEN MMIMIYMIL IN - --- Page 23 --- xi XIV. The'keep of too many animals cultivated land being found upon prejudicial to cultivation and good husbandry, their number shall be limited, and the surplus number into the common field. turned XV. A limited number of attendants the plantation cattle shall share in the on fourth part of the produce allotted to the and. assistants in the manufacture agriculturists Chap. II Art. XVII. The law punishes the lazy and vagabond, among whom are comprehended labourers of both sexes who shall quit the habitations in which they have domiciled, order to reside in towns or other in places where they are forbidden to settle: Titre 8. penalty, Art. 114. XVIII. Marriage being the source of moral conduct, it shall be especially encouraged and protected; and the laborious peasantry who shall bring up the greatest number of children in a reputable legitimate manner, shall be distinguished and encouraged by self. government it- --- Page 24 --- xii XIX, Mendicity and female licentiousness are severely reprobated; ; all beggars on the lighway, prostitutes, and stragglers shall be arrested, and such as have no legal settlement placed by the proper acthorities, in their discretion, to labour for their livelihood. His Majesty's governors and lieutenants are strictly ordcred to enforce these regulations, and the good and faithful subjects invited to denounce the delinquents. XX. Every conductor or manager who shall be convicted of neglecting the cultivation fided to his care, or of conconverting to his own benefit the property of his employer, by diverting the workmen to fisli or chase, them in building for his employ own benefit, or who shall have mistreated the labourers, or misused his own authority, shall be liable to thc ties in Art. 115. T. 111. penalXXI, The misconduct of conductors with managers and respect to others, in which the proprietors and farmers appear neither to have participated nor to have derived any advantage, shall in no case attach to the to prejudice the latter, nor interest of absentees: but if EEMYYY MUU UNY - MMM MM his employ own benefit, or who shall have mistreated the labourers, or misused his own authority, shall be liable to thc ties in Art. 115. T. 111. penalXXI, The misconduct of conductors with managers and respect to others, in which the proprietors and farmers appear neither to have participated nor to have derived any advantage, shall in no case attach to the to prejudice the latter, nor interest of absentees: but if EEMYYY MUU UNY - MMM MM --- Page 25 --- xiii the case be otnerwise, they sball be sible according to the nature of the respontion. transacXXII. The following hours of labour irrevocably established. are Work shall commence with the and be continyed day-light, o'clock: uninterruptedly till, eight :-one hour is allotted to the labourer for breakfast on the spot where nine work employed; at recommences until noon, when two hours repose are granted them : at two theyrecommence exactly work, and shall not leave off before night-fall. XXIII. Women pregnant, or with at nurse, are exempt from field labour. children XXIV. Prayers shall be readtothe labourers every night, and the landlord, farmer, or manager, shall invite the people to attend Sabbath and on fast on the their days to public prayers in parish. XXV. Proprietors, farmers, and plantations are managers of compelled to see the provisionground well kept by the respective to whom they have been labourers granted: : if the latter neglect this duty, they shall be employed in it --- Page 26 --- xiv their hours of respite from plantationduring work. without permission of XXVI. No labourer, of the King, shall absent himself the lieutenant unless from the plantation on working days, the overseer or conthis be obtained through ductor. XXVII. On the appearance of disorder or seditious movement on a plantation, the proprie-. shall apply to his tor, farmer, or superintendant, the for assistance in arresting neighbours after which notice shall be dispatched guilty; of the police, who is bound to the commandant to the spot and secure the disturbers to repair and report to the of the public peace, imprison, authorities, on pain of becoming perproper sonally liable for all consequences. I would here beg leave to observe, that while reading the foregoing laws, in order to have a fair understanding of the grounds upon of them is to be which the military aspect founded and approved, is, that at the justly period when they were framed the whole popu- - MM ANM INOMMM MU --- Page 27 --- XV lation were soldiers ; and all the most improved and intelligent men were placed in the highest civil and military offices: in this state of things, a government bearing some degree of consonance to the condition, character, wants, and employment of the whole pcople, was absolutely necessary. P. S. --- Page 28 --- VM M --- Page 29 --- Eatracts from the Registers of the Deliberations of the Consuls of the Republic. No I. PARIS, 17th Brumaire, in the 10th year ofthe French Republic, one and indivisible. Proclamation of the First Consul to the Inhabitants of St. Domingo. WIaTEVER be your origin or your COlour, you are all Frenchmen, yyou are all free and all equal before God, and before the Republic. France, as well as St. Domingo, has been the prey of factions, dismembered by civil and by forcign wars; but all is B ations of the Consuls of the Republic. No I. PARIS, 17th Brumaire, in the 10th year ofthe French Republic, one and indivisible. Proclamation of the First Consul to the Inhabitants of St. Domingo. WIaTEVER be your origin or your COlour, you are all Frenchmen, yyou are all free and all equal before God, and before the Republic. France, as well as St. Domingo, has been the prey of factions, dismembered by civil and by forcign wars; but all is B --- Page 30 --- changed. All nations have embraced the French, and sworn to them peace and Frenchmen, too, have embraced amity. and have sworn unanimously one another, to live as friends and brothers; come you, likewise, to throw yourselves into the arms of France, and rejoice to see once more friends and brothers of Europe. your sends you the CapThe government Leclerc; he takes with him tain-General numerous force for your protection a enemies, and against the eneagainst your mies of the Republic. Should any one whisper in your ear, 66 These forces are destined to despoil you of your liberty :" anthat las given swer, <6 It is the Republic the Republic will never suffer us liberty ; it to bé rarished.from us." Rally around the Captain-General, he brings you back peacc and plenty. Rally all around him : whoso dares to separate himself from the Captain-General shall be accounted a traitor to his country, and --- Page 31 --- the wrath of the Republic shall devour him as fire devours your parched sugar canes. Given at Paris, at the Palace of Government, the 17th Brumaire, in the 10th year of the French Republic. (Signed) BONAPARTE. By the First Consul, (Signed) H. B. MARET, Secretary of State. (A True Copy.) (Signed) LECLERC, Captain-General. (A True Copy.) (Signed) The General, Chief of the Etat Major of the Army, DUGUA. --- Page 32 --- No II. LIBERTY AND EQUALITY. ARMY OF ST. DOMINGO. Head Quarters on Board the Ocean, 13th Pluviose, 10th year of the Republic. in Chief of the Army of St. The General ofthe Colony, Domingo, Captan-General to the General of Brigade, CHRISTOPHE, Commandant at the Cape. Citizen I LEARN with indignation, General, that you refuse to receive the and the French army French squadron, under the pretext that that I command, the have received no orders from you Governor-General. France has concluded a peace with and its government sends to St. England, --- Page 33 --- Domingo forces capable of subduing the rebels; at least if any are to be found at St. Domingo. As to you, General, I confess it will grieve me to account you among them. Igive you notice, that if you have not in the course of this day surrendered the Forts Picolet and Belair, with all the batteries on the coast, to-morrow, at daybreak, fifteen thousand troops shall be disembarked. Four thousand men are, at this moment, landing at Fort Liberté; ; eight thousand more at Port Republican. Herewith you will receive my Proclamation, which expresses the intentions of the French Government; but, recollect, whatever individual esteem your conduct in the colony may have inspired me with, I hold you responsible for what may happen. I salute you. (Signed) LECLERC. --- Page 34 --- No III. Head-Quarters at the Cape, 13th Pluviose, year 10. Christophe, General of Brigade, Henry Commandant of the Arrondissement of the Cape, to the General in Chief, Leclerc. General, has deYoUR Aid-de-Camp, letter of this day; I livered to me your have the honour to inform you that I could not deliver up the forts and post conwithout previous fided to my command, Tousorders from the Governor-General, my immediate chief, saint Louverture, from whom I hold the powers with which that I Iaminvested. I am fully persuaded have to do with Frenchmen, and that are the chief of the armament called you Arrondissement of the Cape, to the General in Chief, Leclerc. General, has deYoUR Aid-de-Camp, letter of this day; I livered to me your have the honour to inform you that I could not deliver up the forts and post conwithout previous fided to my command, Tousorders from the Governor-General, my immediate chief, saint Louverture, from whom I hold the powers with which that I Iaminvested. I am fully persuaded have to do with Frenchmen, and that are the chief of the armament called you --- Page 35 --- but I wait the orders of the expedition; to whom I have dispatched the Governor, him to apprize one of my Aid-de-Camps, French arrival, and that of the of your to land and cannot permit you army, received his answer. If you until I have I in force your threats of hostility, put resistance which becomes shall make the officer; and, should the chance a general shall not enter Cape of war be yours, you Town till it be reduced to ashes, nay, in the ruins will I renew the combat. even that the French Government You say of has sent to St. Domingo forces capable the rebels, if any such be found; subduing and the hostile intenit is your coming, create manifest, that alone could tions you people, in perthem among a peaccable submission to France. The very fect for mention of rebellion is an arguent our resistance. which you say are As to the troops landing, I consider them as this moment --- Page 36 --- SO many pieces of cards which breath of wind will the least dissipate. How can you hold me the event? responsible for Youarer not my Chief; Iknow you not, and can therefore make count of you till no acyou are recognised by Governor Toussaint. For the loss of your esteem, Iassure you that I desire not General, the to earn it at price that you set upon it, since to purchase it I must be guilty of of duty. a breach Ihave the honour to salute you. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPIE. A --- Page 37 --- No IV. Head Quarters at the Cape, 29th Germinal, Year 10 ofthe French Republic. The General in Chief to General Christophe, You may give credit, Citizen General, to all that Citizen Vilton has written to you on behalf of General Hardy; 9 I will keep the promises which have been made you ; but, ifit is your intention to submit to the Republic, think on the essential service you could render her by furnishing the means to secure the person of General Toussaint, (Signed) LECLERC. --- Page 38 --- No V. Head Quarters, Robillard, Grand-Boucan, 2d Floreal, Year 10. Brigade, Henry Clristophe, The General of to General Leclerc. received yours of the 29th of IHAVE With earnest desire to give last month. credit to what Citizen Vilton has written I wait only for a proof which must me, convince me of the intention to procure and equality of the population the liberty The laws which consecrate of this colony. and which the mother the principles, will without doubt, has enacted, country, heart this conviction; and I carry to my this desired protest, that on obtaining being made acquainted with proof, by these Jaws, 1 shall submit immediately. You propose to me, Citizen General, furnish with the means of securing to you . credit to what Citizen Vilton has written I wait only for a proof which must me, convince me of the intention to procure and equality of the population the liberty The laws which consecrate of this colony. and which the mother the principles, will without doubt, has enacted, country, heart this conviction; and I carry to my this desired protest, that on obtaining being made acquainted with proof, by these Jaws, 1 shall submit immediately. You propose to me, Citizen General, furnish with the means of securing to you --- Page 39 --- the person of General Toussaint Louverture. It would be perfidy and treason in me to do so, and a proposition SO degrading to me, is, in my opinion, a mark of your invincible repugnance to believe me susceptible of the smallest sentiment of delicacy and honour. He is my commander, and my friend. Is friendship, Citizen General, compatible with such monstrous baseness P The laws which I have just mentioned, have been promised us, by the mother. country, by the proclamation that her Consuls have addressed to us when they communicated the constitution of the 8th ycar. Fulfil, Citizen General, fulfil this maternal promise, by unfolding to our view the code which contains it, and will soon behold all her children you rushing into the arms of that beneficent mother, andamongst them GeneralToussaint Louverture, who, thus undeccived, like the rest, will hasten to correct his error. Itis --- Page 40 --- when this error shall have been SO only that, ifl he persist in spite of evidispelled, dence, he can fairly be regarded as criminal, and be the first object of the anahave launched against him, thema you and the measure you propose to me to execute. Consider, Citizen General, the happy effects that will result from the mere publication ofthese laws to a people crushed, beneath the weight of burden, and of old, lacerated by the scourges of a barbarous slavery, in whom the apprehension of similar enormities is, doubtless, excusable: in short, who have tasted the a people, sweets of liberty and equality, and covet beyond the assurance of no happiness more having to dread the fetters they never of these laws have broken. The exposure before their eyes, will stop the effusion of French blood by the hands of Frenchmen 1; will restore to the Republic children who do her service; and, after the may yet --- Page 41 --- horrors of civil war, bring back tranquillity, peace, and prosperity, to the bosom of this unhappy colony. The object is, without question, worthy of the greatness of the mother country: its attainment, Citizen General, would cover you with glory, with the blessings of a people who will take pleasure in forgetting the evils that they have suffered by the delay of this promulgation. Reflect, that to refuse them a participation of these laws, SO necessary for the salvation of these countries, would be to perpetuate those evils, and must lead to absolute destruction. In the name ofmy country, in the name of the mother country, I call for these salutary laws. Produce them, and St. Domingo is saved. I have the honour to salute you. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPHE. --- Page 42 --- No VI. ARMY OF THE EXPEDITION. Head Quarters at the Cape, the 4th Florcal, Year 10 of the French Republic. The General in Chief to General Christophe. received your letter, I HAVE just General: the uneasiness you testify to me is of a nature easy to be removed. You demand of me the code which gives asof liberty to the Negroes; ; that surance : I am engaged code is not completed of it at this moment. The wisdom upon Consul did not allow him to make the First code for the government of a country a and of with which he was unacquainted, which the accounts he has received are ; but I declare to you in the contradictory before of the colony; I protest presence whose assistance is the Supreme Being, is of a nature easy to be removed. You demand of me the code which gives asof liberty to the Negroes; ; that surance : I am engaged code is not completed of it at this moment. The wisdom upon Consul did not allow him to make the First code for the government of a country a and of with which he was unacquainted, which the accounts he has received are ; but I declare to you in the contradictory before of the colony; I protest presence whose assistance is the Supreme Being, --- Page 43 --- never invoked in vain, that the bases of this code are, liberty and equality; thatthe Negroes shall be free; ; and that the of cultivation shall be founded system basis of that of General upon the Toussaint, which may perhaps be even ameliorated in their favour.. Ifthis declaration is it will be to me a insufficient, convincing proof, that you have no wish to submit to the Republic. Ifit bes sufficient, present yourself to-morrow at the village of I shall be there, Cape Heights; : and I declare to you, that if, after an hour's come to explanation, we do not a proper understanding, be at liberty to return you shall to your the word of honour troops, upon Chief. of the General in What Ihave said to of General you on the subject Toussaint, arose from my not supposing him to be actuated loyal views by such as yourself. I shall take pleasure in finding myself deceived; the answer youhavemade, on this head, gare --- Page 44 --- and confirms me in me great satisfaction, I have always had of your the opinion loyalty. understand each If you come, and we the war will have lasted SO much other, If not, calcushorter time in the colony. and your chances of suclate my means cessful resistance. I salute you. (Signed) LECLERC. know the result of your arLet ine myself for I intend to absent rangements, from the Cape for some moments. LECLERC. (Signed) A --- Page 45 --- No VII. LIBERTY AND EQUALITY. Head Quarters, Cardineau, Grande Riviere, 5 Floreal, Year 10. The General of Brigade, Henry Christophe, to General Leclerc. ITHIS moment received your letter of yesterday: its contents revive in my mind the hope of seeing tranquillity, peace, and prosperity, returned to this too-long tated agicolony, under the auspices of liberty and equality. I accept your offer of an interview : to-morrow, at eleven o'clock in the morning, I shall present myself at Cape Heights, to confer with you. The word of a French General is, in my estimation, too sacred and inviolable to be denied belief. C --- Page 46 --- la am flattered with the opinion you entertain of my loyalty ; but regrel that still persist in thinking General Tousyou by that estimable feeling saint uninspired give me leave to say, that you are deceived with regard to him. I have no apprehendeceived, when I sions of finding myself that the confirmation of civiassure you, will make him lized liberty and equality himself into the arms. of the Rethrow public. calcuIt is hopeless to enter upon any means ; the resolulation of our respective tion to be a man, and a free man, is the unit of my arithmetic; and the certainty of seeing this title insured to my fellowcitizens, will soon resolve our divided forces into one and the same body, into and the same family, united by the onc sincercst fraternity. Ihave the honour, &c. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPHE. make him lized liberty and equality himself into the arms. of the Rethrow public. calcuIt is hopeless to enter upon any means ; the resolulation of our respective tion to be a man, and a free man, is the unit of my arithmetic; and the certainty of seeing this title insured to my fellowcitizens, will soon resolve our divided forces into one and the same body, into and the same family, united by the onc sincercst fraternity. Ihave the honour, &c. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPHE. --- Page 47 --- No VIII. Head Quarters at the Cape, 8th Floreal, Year 10. The General in Chief to the General of Brigade, Christophe, commandant of the Cordon of the North. I APPROVE, Citizen General, of the motives which prevent your presence at the Cape to-day. Iz am the more gratified by your effecting this operation in because the execution of person, your orders experienced some difficulties at Limbé. The commandant, Lafleur, who occupies the great cut of Limbé, would not consent to surrender his post without having seen you. It appears that the same thing has laken place on the side of the landing-place of Limbé, General Salme --- Page 48 --- to occupy these posts ; had sent troops the the refusal to surrender them, on Some mounted dragoons troops retired. of the rustic of the country, and some came to his camp to buy provimilitia, Salme caused them to be sions. General disarmed and sent back. I have given orders for their arms to be restored. have the As soon as you completed on the side of Grande arrangements of Rivière, proceed to the crossway where you will find General Limbé, who commands the arrondissement Salme, and all the country that lies de Plaisance, the Rivière Salée. Take meabeyond with him, SO that he sures, in consulting forthwith occupy the military posts may in charge of your troops, and at present militia retire orders that the rustic give in immediately to their habitations--Pot possible means of conrequisition every in order to facilitate the proviveyance, --- Page 49 --- sioning of the troops cantoned in the mountains. Isalute you. (Signed) LECLERC. As soon as you have concluded the business at Limbé, you will come and join me. (Signed) LECLERC. --- Page 50 --- No IX. LIBERTY AND EQUALITY. Head Quarters of the Cape, 30th Germinal, Year 10 of the French Republic. lhe General of Division Hardy, commandthe North at St. Doing the dicision of mingo, to General Christophe, commanding the Cordon of the North. CAPTAIN VILTON, in command at the Petit Ansc, has communicated to me, Citizen General, the letter which you have written to him, and I imparted it to the general in chief, Leimmediately clerc. the details into which you have By with Citizen Vilton, iti is easy to entered General, that you have been discover, the viclim of the treacherous insinuations of infinity of beings who, during the an --- Page 51 --- 23. course of the revolution in France, have set all parties on fire together ; have where excited trouble and every discord; ; and who, after having brought upon themselves their own expulsion, have taken refuge in' this colony, where they have distorted every fact and cireumstance, disseminated the most atrocious falsehoods and calumnies, and sought, in fresh troubles, an existence that they could no longer find in Europe. These crafty men have inspired with distrust of the French you government and its delegates. The conduct of the government and its good faith are well known to the whole world. Our own behaviour, since our arrival in St. Domingo, our proceedings towards the peaceable inhabitants, and in the instances of Generals Clervaux, Paul Louverture, Maurepas, Laplume, and their companions in arms, may-, give you a just measure of all that malevolence and in- oubles, an existence that they could no longer find in Europe. These crafty men have inspired with distrust of the French you government and its delegates. The conduct of the government and its good faith are well known to the whole world. Our own behaviour, since our arrival in St. Domingo, our proceedings towards the peaceable inhabitants, and in the instances of Generals Clervaux, Paul Louverture, Maurepas, Laplume, and their companions in arms, may-, give you a just measure of all that malevolence and in- --- Page 52 --- trigue have invented to slander the of our intentions. purity Twelve years, General, have we been fighting for liberty; can you believe that, after such great sacrifices, we would degrade ourselves in SO our own cyes as to incur a blemish which would efface glory and destroy. our our work? Return, General, to more reasonable and sentiments, assure yourself, that your principles are ours also. The reputation you enjoy in this country led us not to presume, that the French, your brothers, would encounter any resistance in you to the will of the government. Nevertheless, General, all hope of obtaining from this same government oblivion of the past is not entirely lost to I address you with the frankness you. of a soldier, unacquainted with shifts and evasions.-Correct your errors; your return to true principles may accclerate the --- Page 53 --- reparation of evils which have afflicted this beautiful spot. It is unworthy of to serve as a you stepping-stone to an usurper, to a rebel. The mother country throws wide her arms to all her children Jed astray, and invites them to take refuge in her bosom. * If you have a serious intention of recognizing the laws of the republic, and of submitting to the orders of her government, you will not hesitate, General, to come and join us with your troops. Hitherto wehave fought you as enemies ; tomorrow, if you will, we will embrace as brothers. you Write me your proposals, or inforin me at whathour you will be at Vaudreuil, to make them verbally. You will find me there. If we do not come to an understanding, I give you my word of honour, afterthe conference, you shall be at liberty to return to your head quarters. Thave the honour to salute you. (Signed) HARDY. --- Page 54 --- No X. Head Quarters, Robillard, Grand Boucan, 2d Floreal, Year 10. The General of Brigade, Henry to the General of Division, Christophe, Hardy. Your letter of the 30th Germinal has reached me. You are wrong in believing me the victim of the machinations of perfidious intriguers, Nature, without having endued me with all the a subtlety of penetraling and clear-sighted genius, has furnished me with sense enough to guard me from the insinuations of wicked With an ardent love of men. peace and tranquillity, I have always kept at a distance from me violent and turbulent men, whose empoisoned breath engenders confusion and discord; ; but I have not been exempt --- Page 55 --- from the suspicions that SO cations have many publiroused in my mind, and which SO many others have confirmed. Some originated in foreign countries, others in the heart of France. All announced, with a menacing tone, the misfortunes which now afflict us. How happens it, that the desires of the wicked, and the predictions of the evil-minded, appear SO much in unison with the resolutions of the mother country? When we were thus threatened with the return of slavery, after having broken its fetters, was any thing more natural than the dread ofits return; ; than thes suspicion, the restlessness, even the mistrust of a people SO often deceived; SO the mark for the declared constantly hatred of the enemies of its liberty, who were of the equality admitted jealous in their favour? Could we be otherwise, when every thing concurred to justify our fears? General, we too have twelve years the resolutions of the mother country? When we were thus threatened with the return of slavery, after having broken its fetters, was any thing more natural than the dread ofits return; ; than thes suspicion, the restlessness, even the mistrust of a people SO often deceived; SO the mark for the declared constantly hatred of the enemies of its liberty, who were of the equality admitted jealous in their favour? Could we be otherwise, when every thing concurred to justify our fears? General, we too have twelve years --- Page 56 --- J combated for liberty, for the same rights, like yourselves, we bought at the which, of our blood ; and I have ever reprice after volted at the beliefthat the French, made such sacrifices to obtain having come to tear them them, would one day who in being a part from a people glory and in enjoying in of the great nation, with her the advantages derived common and from the revolution. That revolution, benefits it has diffused, are worthy of the of the Republic; and when you the glory her assure me, that she will not destroy refuse to this branch of her fawork, why and consolidate mily what must infallibly immortalize for her the sublime edifice! The code of Jaws, promised to the inhabitants of the colonies by the proclamation of the consuls which accompanied of the constitution their communication can alone convey to my of the year 8, of mind the pledge of the consolidation This, Citizen General, is the our rights. --- Page 57 --- only weapon capable of subduing the apprehensions of a justly suspicious ple! This a convincing peoproof, which alone can restore in my mind these sentiments to which you would recall me, and assure me that our mutual the principles are same! The caudour with which you address me is worthy, in all respects, ofa soldier like yourself; I express myself with equal frankness ; and ifGeneral Leclerc, instead of proposing to ne an act of treason and infamy, which would degrade me in my own eyes, had spoken to me as you have done, a language consistent with sentiments of honour and such delicacy, as he might fairly have presumed in me, I should have at least consented to the interview which you invitc, not only at Vaudreuil, but at Le Petit Anse, or even at the Cape. But, be it as it may, Iaugur too favourably of your frankness and your word of honour, not to consent to --- Page 58 --- interview; ; not at the place you that but at one which may be near point out, lines. I therethe centreofour respective the house of Montalibor for fore propose If that is agrecable to you, this purpose. and hour when you will appoint the day and I promise to be premeet me there, with furnish yourself sent. But, General, the code of laws which are to govern this which confirm liberty and equacountry, who will water and lity to the people fertilize it with their sweat, and our interwill be crowned with the happiest view to owe to you the success, and I rejoice information which can alone dispel our Doubt not, General, that General error. himself, whom GeToussaint Louverture Leclerc considers but as a criminal, neral hesitate to throw himself, will then not of the with the whole nation, into the arms and, reunited under the auspices Republic, beneficent Jaws, this grateful of these of will offer him again, as a proof people with their sweat, and our interwill be crowned with the happiest view to owe to you the success, and I rejoice information which can alone dispel our Doubt not, General, that General error. himself, whom GeToussaint Louverture Leclerc considers but as a criminal, neral hesitate to throw himself, will then not of the with the whole nation, into the arms and, reunited under the auspices Republic, beneficent Jaws, this grateful of these of will offer him again, as a proof people --- Page 59 --- their devotion, the exertions that once before directed they have to render this of the French Empire portion productive. Ih have the honour, &c. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPHE. No XI. Petit Anse, 2ôth Germinal, year 10. Vilton, Commandant of the Petit Anse, * to Citizen Henry Christophe, General of Brigade, at his Head-Quarters. Mr DEAR CONRADE, IGIVE way to the sentiments that my ancient friendship inspires for you; ; * The two letters subjoined under the Sieur Vilton, were fabricated signature of who wrote them with his by the Sieur Anquetil, own hand at the house of --- Page 60 --- 1 A have heard with the deepest regret your I to the will of the French refusal to submit has diswhom the First Consul general to St. Domingo, to complete, patched consolidate the order that support, and established at the you had SO effectually the dependance of the north, Cape Town, and affecwhere you acquired the regard tion of all the colonists. You repeatedly dear Comrade, that your told me, my would be to see the greatest pleasure into their hands. French arrive, and resign with which you were investthe authority SU suded; by what fatality can you your good intentions? denly have changed have renounced perBy this step you of your forthe security sonal happiness, establishment you tune, and the splendid amiable facould have secured to your Sieur Blin de Villeneuve, one of the great planters the grandfather to the Sieur Vilton, ofthe northern district, the to which who had no hand in them but signature, he was forced by the French government. --- Page 61 --- S3 mily; you have plunged them, as well as yourself, into the most frightful Your intentions have misery. always, to me, appeared SO pure, and your devotion to the French nation left me nothing to doubt the conduct on you purposed to pursue; when, in an instant, upon the of the French appearance squadron you were no the same man. All the longer world, and your friends in particular, were persuaded that you had been ill-advised, and overruled perhaps by some black chiefs which were about you. So many handsome things have been said of you to M. Leclerc, the general in chiel, that he is thoroughly convinced that it is owing to evil counsels that you took the- resolution to resist; that he is ready to pardon, you will reduce to you if obedience the that you command, and troops surrender the post that you occupy. This is a fine opening, my dear Comrade, for yourself, as well as the brave officers and soldiers D perhaps by some black chiefs which were about you. So many handsome things have been said of you to M. Leclerc, the general in chiel, that he is thoroughly convinced that it is owing to evil counsels that you took the- resolution to resist; that he is ready to pardon, you will reduce to you if obedience the that you command, and troops surrender the post that you occupy. This is a fine opening, my dear Comrade, for yourself, as well as the brave officers and soldiers D --- Page 62 --- command : they will be all under your treated in the same manner as the French and you will secure for yourself and army, happiness that you can defamily every should desire to sire; especially if you which is the best course quit the colony, from being you can take to save yourself the hatred of the rebels to exposed to shall refuse to the orders of France, who example; you will be certain follow your it liberal fortune, and may enjoy of a underthe protection of France, peaceably, choice. My dear in the country of your tender friendship for you Comrade, my write this. and your family induces me to if I can I shall partake of your happiness to effect it. It lies with you to contribute by following the give me this gratification advice of your old friend. Reply to me, intentions, that I and let me know your them to bear in the way most may bring agrecable to yourself. of one here, and in all parts Every --- Page 63 --- the colony, has witnessed the frankness and good faith of the French and I have no reserve in generals, repeating to you the assurance that you mnay place entire confidence in them; they will open to you every facility, assist you with in their every means power, and furnish you the convenience of carrying along with thing you every you possess, and enjoying it peaceably wherever you choose. Trust me then, my dear Comrade; quit this and wandering vagabond life, which would dishonour you if you continue to follow it, and regain the esteem of all good citizens, by being yourself again, and abandoning the cause of an ambitious man, who will be your ruin in the end. Pay no regard to your outlawry; the General in Chief, Leclerc, has said that it should not have taken place had he known and that the you sooner, Proclamation should be annulled as soon as he learns that you have --- Page 64 --- acknowledged your error, and abandoned the cause of rebellion. a Health and Friendship. (Signed) VILTON. No XII. Head Quarters, Hamlet of Dondon, 20th Germinal, year 10. The General of Brigade, Henry Clristophe, to the Commandant Vilton. I: LOVE to give credit to the expressions of your long standing friendship for which has inspired you with the idea me, of addressing to me, your letter of the 26th of this month. The sentiments of friendship I have avowed to you remain unalterable; you know me too well to doubt it. --- Page 65 --- . Should I ever have refused to submit to the orders ofthe French this island. general sent to by the First Consul of the Republic, if every thing had not conspired to convince me that the meditated lidation of the good order which consoin this reigned colony, was nothing less than the destruction of our liberty, and the rights resulting from equality? It is true, as you say, I have declared my greatest desire was to see the French arrive, and to deposit in their hands the share of authority with which I was invested, and a simple citizen the enjoy as benefits, of liberty and cquality in the bosom of in. the midst of my family, my fellow-citizens, provided that they too partook, with of"these sacred myself, rights. A Frenchman, loving and respecting France, I entertained this joyfully hope, a hope that my confidence in the government of the mother country fostered and confirmed from day to day. Lhave never changed myin- deposit in their hands the share of authority with which I was invested, and a simple citizen the enjoy as benefits, of liberty and cquality in the bosom of in. the midst of my family, my fellow-citizens, provided that they too partook, with of"these sacred myself, rights. A Frenchman, loving and respecting France, I entertained this joyfully hope, a hope that my confidence in the government of the mother country fostered and confirmed from day to day. Lhave never changed myin- --- Page 66 --- a clinations in this respect; ; but by what fatality is it that this hope has been deceived, that all-has concurred to prove adopted in that the principles previously "our favour have been changed? St. Domingo, wholly French, enjoyed, as you know, the profoundest tranquillity ; there were 'no rebels to be found : by what fatal blindness, then, did it happen, that France has come with all the -terrors of war and the artillery of destruction? Not to subdue the rebels (for rebels there were none), but to créate them amongst a peaceable people, and furnish a pretext to destroy or enslave them. You say I have renounced my happiness. Alas ! what happiness, what fortune, what splendid rombininintefagedrand family, could ever have offered me my felconsolation for the grief of seeing my lows reduced to the last degrce of misfortune bencath the burthen of slavery? My intentions have always been pure, and you --- Page 67 --- were, more than any body, acquainted with my devotion to the French nation. My intentions, my sentiments, have never varied : I have always been the same man. But, placed as I was, bymy fellow cilizens, as a sentinel at the post where it was my duty to watch over the tion of preservaliberty, more dear to them than their existence, how could I do otherwise than alarm them at the approach of the blow aimed at its annihilation? How many letters, pouring in upon us in shiploads from France and foreign countries, written in a menacing tone, by colonists to other colonists, who preached forth their contents with undisguised and séditious vehenence, announced to me, in the most explicit terms, the fate reserved for the people of this colony and its defenders! You know it. I have communicated to several. Did I not, from motives of --- Page 68 --- prudence, conceal them from the for fear of agitating gorernor, him ; and did not my confidence in the government of the Republic SO mnaster my common sense make me,to the last as to letters moment, consider these as the mere of expressions ofthe hatred some. wretches, who sought, in despite,. again to embroil this pure Yet has not the country? event, my notwithstanding credulity, fully justified all their nunciations? The world, anfriends above all, my most especially, deccive themselves if they beliere that I have allowed myself to be led away by are about any chiefs that me. At my age I havé no necd sof çounsel; it is my. counsellor my duty. that is upon all occasions. You ought to know me better, and to be that I never took advice aware, of not even of my friends, you, whom I distinguished amongst them. Friends, alas! ! I could count thought I many; ; but now, like Diogenes, , deccive themselves if they beliere that I have allowed myself to be led away by are about any chiefs that me. At my age I havé no necd sof çounsel; it is my. counsellor my duty. that is upon all occasions. You ought to know me better, and to be that I never took advice aware, of not even of my friends, you, whom I distinguished amongst them. Friends, alas! ! I could count thought I many; ; but now, like Diogenes, --- Page 69 --- with a lantern in my. I search in hand, at noon day, vain for oner upon whom I can rely. It is without doubt very flattering to have SO much good said of me to M. Leclerc, the general in chief; butheis in persuading himself that wrong duçt is the result of evil my present conhave said counsel. What I to you on that head is a complete answer to that opinion. I had any intention of never SO I wrote word resisting'him; and when'he first before the Cape; I testified appeared much to bim how regret I should feel if compelled oppose reluctant resistance to before recciving the orders of the chief who had me at this post, and who had placed me with a charge I could intrusted, other resign into no hands. - I sent to him Citizen nier, commander ofa Grational battalion of the naguard, as the bearer of and charged him ny lelter, to express verbally the necessity I was under of waiting the orders --- Page 70 --- I expected from. the governor, and my resolution, when he should have been apof the squadron's arrival, to fulfil prised of receiving it with all the the obligation due to the mother country, in case respect certified that it the governor, afler being should meditate resistwas from France, Without attending to this reasonance. General Leclerc sends able observation, Granier without any other back theCitizen than this: 66 That le had orders to answer and would execute them." A use force, trifling delay would have prevented much As.a man of honour, I was calamity. what I determined to observe, religiously, had charged the citizen- Granier to reprebehalf to General Leclerc: sent on my, this did not condescend to but general it credit; and, notwithstanding the give he received of my devotion protestations whon I had to France, the port captain, sent to mect the squadron, is still detained and his aid-de-camp forewarns on board, --- Page 71 --- me, that if I send mya adjutant will be general, he similarly treated. At the same time General Rochambeau effects a landing near-Fort Liberty, without tice. to the commander giving noof that place, marches upon the forts which defend it, makes himself master of them, and to the sword the brave puts men he finds there, whilst the vessels enter the harbour, and discharge their guns upon the town. On the othér hand, another landing is made at Limbé, which is likewise cannonaded, and the cape is placed between two numerous armies, with-a menacing in front. The terms of the squadron letter which General Leclerc had addressed showed to me, plainly enough the object he had in view. It take-counsel of the ofthe circumsiance in which I emergency was placed by the conduct of.t this general; I take counsel, I say, of his own behaviour, and thus commence all the evils that afflict After acting in such us. a manner, what which is likewise cannonaded, and the cape is placed between two numerous armies, with-a menacing in front. The terms of the squadron letter which General Leclerc had addressed showed to me, plainly enough the object he had in view. It take-counsel of the ofthe circumsiance in which I emergency was placed by the conduct of.t this general; I take counsel, I say, of his own behaviour, and thus commence all the evils that afflict After acting in such us. a manner, what --- Page 72 --- must not I suspect? Had I not reason to unfarourably, from the measures presume execution against me? YesI just.put in howerer great had been at all avow it; French Gotimes my confidence in the I felt it powerfully shaken by vernmient, threats, by the blows aiméd the thundering and the conduct of the chiets of the at us, French army determined mine. to.me of fortune; I have You spcak any; Ihave lost all. Honouris, no longer which is henceforth, the only possession fàmily. You know me, left to me and my know whether or not it is the and you object of my ambition. -You counsel me to make bold to ask permission to quit the colony. You cannot that I am not deficient in bc ignorant and in this case it would not fail courage, had resoived long since to quit the me. Il and colony on the restoration of peace, Granier was half inclined to the Citizen Ifhe exists, he can testity sanie course., --- Page 73 --- to the truth of this' assertion. ment to France had made My attachbosom me choose her as the asylum whither we with our united families, might, have retired, and passed our days in peace, in' the certainty of leaving all sweet and our brethren free happy on the soil of this Why has every thing colony. trate this concurred to frushope? I expeci to receive day the blow that will every Citizen annihilate me; and Granier, who, I learn, is on board, has, detained exist.: perhaps, already ceased to What is his crime? What harm he done? Is it has possible that his for me has been his crime? friendship You take upon yourself, my dear Comrade, to give nie proofs of good faith frankness on the and Generals: "part : of the French you know not how it me to be unable to grieves cion with reniove the just suspiwhich all the facts I have detailed have inspired which I can find me; facts against no reasonable or prudent --- Page 74 --- pretext : for shutting my eyes. Happen what honour is my guide; and it is may, that I impute to with extreme repugnance other rule of conduct the actions and any honour has always to promises of others; SO dear to French officers. me appeared cherish the esteem of good I always citizens. - If there exist at St. Domingo ambitious men, who covet nothing but àny as for honour, preferment, or distinction; ambition always consisted in me, my consideration of meriting the honourable in seeing my fellow citizens good men, with happy; ; in enjoying, in common the sole title of free man, the sole them, in the bosom of my rights of equality, family, and in the circle of a few tranquil estimable friends. You advise, my dear Comrade, to pay General Leno regard to my outlawry; tell me, has said it should not clerc, you have taken place had he known me sooner, should bc anand that the Proclamation in me, my consideration of meriting the honourable in seeing my fellow citizens good men, with happy; ; in enjoying, in common the sole title of free man, the sole them, in the bosom of my rights of equality, family, and in the circle of a few tranquil estimable friends. You advise, my dear Comrade, to pay General Leno regard to my outlawry; tell me, has said it should not clerc, you have taken place had he known me sooner, should bc anand that the Proclamation --- Page 75 --- nulled as. soon as I should have retracted. my error. I am ready to doubts retract, but my must be removed; cleared my suspicions up. There is no sacrifice that I will not make for the peace and happinéss of my fellow citizens, if I am.but that they shall all be free convinced and happy. I have but one thing left to life, all the rest sacrifice-my Thavealready made. Produce the proofs necessary for my conviction, and with a willing heart I offer the sacrifice, if, after demonstration of my error, it can make atonement, and restore tranquillityand prosperity'to and to my fellow citizens. my country, I salute you with friendship. (Signed) H. CHRISTOPHE, --- Page 76 --- No XIII: Petite Anse, 30th Germinal, year 10. Commandant at La Petite duse, to Vilton, Christophe, General of Citizen Ilenry. commanding the Cordon of the Brigade, North. My DEAR COMRADE, I CAN with difficulty express the pleasure that your answer to my letter since it gives me the hope of affords me, that seeing you once more actuated by confidènce which you should never have ceased to place in the justice ând generoof France in this sity of the representativethese'are the general characteriscolony; oflicers, and, above all, of tics of French in chicf, Leclerc; and it was the general --- Page 77 --- the intimate knowledge of these that induced the First qualities, choice of him Consul to make as the bearer of and happiness peace to this unfortunate Your submission to a chief of such colony. will gain you a protector, who will merit himself with the office of charge. provision for making such you as will lead you to the day of bless your. compliance with the counsel I have given, and which repeat more strongly than I now my first business ever. Imade it to communicate letter to him, as well as to General your The expressions Hardy. with you make use ofhave met their approbation. The distrust discover in some you paragraphs alone vents them from being preThe completely satisfied. general in chief himself is write to you. I cannot going to press you too strongly to place entire confidence promises, as well in his as in the honour of General Hardy; and I doubt not but will find in their letters you every thing that E --- Page 78 --- as well as your fellow citizens, ought, you, for your satisfaction. in reason, to require if With respect to your friend Granier, it is not because of his he is detained, but because he has many connections, calumniated him. enemies here, who have 1 have no doubt, that, as soon as, Governshall have had leisure to investigate ment set at his affair, he will be immediately liberty. dear Comrade: depend Adieu, my I have, sworn to you upon the friendship for life. Health and friendship. (Signed), VILTOX. ought, you, for your satisfaction. in reason, to require if With respect to your friend Granier, it is not because of his he is detained, but because he has many connections, calumniated him. enemies here, who have 1 have no doubt, that, as soon as, Governshall have had leisure to investigate ment set at his affair, he will be immediately liberty. dear Comrade: depend Adieu, my I have, sworn to you upon the friendship for life. Health and friendship. (Signed), VILTOX. --- Page 79 --- 51. No XIV, Head Quarters, Robillard, Grand Boucan, 2d Floreal, Year 10; The General of Brigade, Henry Christople, commanding the Cordon of the Vilton, North, to Cormandant at La Petii Anse. FAGAIN receive, with letter of"the pleasure, in your SOth ultimo, the of your expression friendship" for me. The ful issue of your succésscorrespondence, whichyou seem to hope, dépends Leclerc. He upon General has, indeed, addressed a letter; ; but Ihave to me read ins it, with disgust, the proposition it honouring contains, of dismyself by an act of monstrous cowardice and perfidy. I do which trust,however,thati in the character has been given him ofme, ifdictated by truth, it has not been represented, that --- Page 80 --- MEUTEN M a actions were familiar to me, and that such sentiment divested of every I was wholly of delicacy and honour. to his letter in the same I replied did to that addressed to me manner as I to be General Hardy, which appeared by "of frankness which written in that style ought to distinguish a soldier. desire to abjure the disIhave every which I have conceived. I demand trust Generals no more than what of those two in to renounce it; that is, is necessary fact, the code of laws which was propised addressed to us by us by the proclamation consuls of the republic; when they the of year 8. communicated the constitution" code only can lie the proof of In such a and consolidate the intention to maintain If these laws are in liberty and equality. if impart them to me; your possession, endeathey exist, and you have them not, to obtain and produce them to me. vour look for the restoration of tranTo them I --- Page 81 --- quillity to this country, for the union between the French cement of of both for a stop to the worlds, effusion of their for the reconciliation blood, with the of her children, who republic never nounced her; and for the willingly e rein this island, of re-establishment, peace and its in lieu of civil wara and its blessings, proclaim this ravages. Openly code, and let the light of truth shine on those who may be blinded with errorj then will you enjoy the satisfaction of having contributed to the piness of our hapcountry, to that of our fellow citizens, to my own amongst the rest whatever lot ; for, may await me, my will consist in that of happiness it even sealed with my brethren, were my blood. The unfortunate Granier is and, without doubt, detained, count of you tell mne, on acsome calumnious his enemies. insinuations of have Ought such a detention to taken place without evidence? is it consistent with and a just and impartial satisfaction of having contributed to the piness of our hapcountry, to that of our fellow citizens, to my own amongst the rest whatever lot ; for, may await me, my will consist in that of happiness it even sealed with my brethren, were my blood. The unfortunate Granier is and, without doubt, detained, count of you tell mne, on acsome calumnious his enemies. insinuations of have Ought such a detention to taken place without evidence? is it consistent with and a just and impartial --- Page 82 --- to suffer such long delays in goverment for the production of the proofs requisite condemnation, or equitable acquittal? just does it become me But, placed as I am, to plead the cause of fiendship? dear comrade, do not forget these My laws about which I have been speaking to Communicate them to me without your will soon attain the object delay, and you seem to aim at in your corresponyou dence. I salute you in friendship. (Signed) HENRY CHRISTOPHE. A true copy of the originals deposited in the archives of the state, Compte de LINONADE, Sccretary of State, Minister à of Foreign Affairs., At Cape Henry, by P. Roux, . Printer to the King. --- Page 83 --- NARRATIVE OF THE ACCESSION OF THEIR ROYAL MAJESTIES TO THE THRONE OF HAYTI, BEFORE entering upon the narrative of the accession of their Royal the throne, Majesties to we deem it our duty to lay before our readets a succinct exposition of the principal events which have occurred, and of the principalopcrations. antecedent to this happy day of everlasting The Haytian memory. people had scarcely breathed, after their deliverance from the presence of those Vandals who have ra- --- Page 84 --- country into which their vaged every and welleknown footsteps have strayed, freed from disorders, a brigand-like just anarchy, when our indespirit, and from the dependence began to be established, organised-commerce agristate.became flourished-our culture, and navigation fortifications were completed;- internal reunited, reconat length the Haytians, and perceived that- there existed ciled, other in could exist for them no country than these happy and fortunate the globe to illumine, climes, which the sun delights pouring forth, with a complaabundantly all the benignity of his beneficent heat, fields in which are to becent rays on the those fruits found, in unparalleled plenty; flavour, and those trees loaded of delicious of Arawith the precious aromatic juices the real nectar SO bia, which produce esteemed and SO generally prized, much &c. and so many other its cottons, cacaos, Nature productions with which bountcous --- Page 85 --- hath endowed Hayti, in themeasure ofits goodness,, the true attribute of Divine: Providence; when our. happiness at once totally and was allutterly subverted. Insubordination and licentiousness their way into our armies found dious ; some perfimen, who sold themselves to the enemy, organized a conspiracy, of which history furnishes but few in the sequel, examples; ; and Dessaliries, the chief of the government, was assassinated. The public treasures were squandered, a few of the conspirators seized the spoils of the unfortunate state, dark and secret plots were agitated in the different regiments, calumny pointed its shafts, and intrigue Was busy. The Haytians took all the evils that up arms, and were sought and fomentcd by the enemies of Hayti, speedily became realized to afflict anew these beautiful countries. Henry foresaw all that was accumulating to oppress his native he saw that the storm land; was particularly.di- inated. The public treasures were squandered, a few of the conspirators seized the spoils of the unfortunate state, dark and secret plots were agitated in the different regiments, calumny pointed its shafts, and intrigue Was busy. The Haytians took all the evils that up arms, and were sought and fomentcd by the enemies of Hayti, speedily became realized to afflict anew these beautiful countries. Henry foresaw all that was accumulating to oppress his native he saw that the storm land; was particularly.di- --- Page 86 --- T the heads of the illustrious rected against defenders of libérty ; and incorruptible thefacand-that, this being accomplished, nothing less tions proposed to themselves themselves in their place, than to substitute over the country to our énemies, to deliver fascinate and lull the multitude by proto mises and presents of pretended promowhich were offered with a too cultion, in order to effect the more pable facility, criminal certain attainment of their ends. Great at all times-ever the same--and reared and brought up in revolutions-in midst of the din ofarmss he was unthe knew what the traitors moved at this:-he other loose. characters, who had given and rise to the evils of a civil war, were capaHis and his resolution ble of. energy which he had augmented with the dangers he braved the fury of the to overcome; his efforts, and shewed storm, put forth all with the rapidity of lighining, himself, --- Page 87 --- wherever his presence was required dispersed and ; he punished the traitors, revived the courage of the ceeded brave, and sucin triumphing over the efforts of the wicked.. On the 18th of December proclamation 1806, in a dated' from the citadel Henry, he points out-the secret those ambitious agents of men. who had made themselves busy, in every way, in the troops. corrupting The 24th, he proceeded to collection disperse the oftroublesome spirits at Port aux Crimes, who assembled consultation were holding a under arms, yet with the blood ofthose recking martyrs to liberty whom they had sacrificed to their amhbition, rage, their and'eupidity. The 1st of January the famous 1807, he fought battle of Cibert, cutting in routing and pieces the army of Petion, who was himself obliged to throw corations, in order away his deto protect his flight, --- Page 88 --- and then plunged into a morass up to. his before returning to Port aux Crimes. neck, siege to this rebel Henry then lays the number of city, but reflecting upon whom he had left.in the rear, conspirators added to those who aboundedin the army, expressions were and whose inflammatory concealed ; and considering the scarcely horrors that must ensue from the capture assault, he postponed the conof a city by back of it, and marched his troops quest to their cantonments. of the A council of state, composed and eminent citizens, who saw generals in these temthe necessity of establishing times an e order of things, was pestuous and they instituted the speedily convoked, constitution of the 17th of February 1807, which decreed to the. chief magistrate the title of President of Hayti. The 19th of February, he offered, through the medium of a proclamation distinguished for its good sense, a general of a city by back of it, and marched his troops quest to their cantonments. of the A council of state, composed and eminent citizens, who saw generals in these temthe necessity of establishing times an e order of things, was pestuous and they instituted the speedily convoked, constitution of the 17th of February 1807, which decreed to the. chief magistrate the title of President of Hayti. The 19th of February, he offered, through the medium of a proclamation distinguished for its good sense, a general --- Page 89 --- amnesty, and' oblivion of the the revolted. past to' all Without being diverted from the great conceptions he had formed, he the civil and commercial organizes tribunals; nominates" to vacant places in the army, as well as in the magistracy; stimulates the of cultivation work by the- establishment of companies of agriculturists, known by the name of 66 Police Guards,' composed of managers and heads of houses, the of which is now SO utility generally admitted, both on account of the public the security and improvement of cultivation ; he moreover restored public instruction in full activity, examined into the administration of the public hospitals; and carried into every branch of the service that trating eye which embraces all the penewithout their details, detracting fom the vast conception of the whole. The insurrection continued to and'the spread, Haytians, not knowing what they --- Page 90 --- wanted, urged by that restless spirit o really which seems natural to them, take up arms stimulatedbyl harangues ands Istir uparevolt, from the rebellious. The most beneficial of the the regularly estaacts government; blished pay of the troops ; the buying up of the coffec, that judicious measure, SO to enhance the value of well calculated commodities; all became, in ourterritorial the mouths of these infuriate demagogues, of for an insurrection SO mary pretexts the troops, as well as of that important unenlightened body of the people, though deeds of the the cultivators. The good thus became as instruments in government with which the hands of calumniators, had the audacity to combat it. One they issue of specie, from the public treasury, thousand gourd bottles, for the purof227 laudable of accomplishing that very pose for coffce at 20 sous to object of paying ought ofitsclfto prove, to men the growers, ofthe of good faith, at oncC the greatness --- Page 91 --- plan, the advrantages that must result from it, and the solicitude of the that ordained it! govemment In the beginning of June the 1807, from extremity of the insurrection, of the Moustiques the president repairs in haste before the town of the Gonaives, was sold to the rebels which few by treason, and in a days he compelled them to reimbark with disgrace, whilst the the revolted, after greater part of having got of Arcahaye, possession presented themselves before St. Marc; yet, when informed of rival of the President the arand of the flight of Bazelais, the rebels did not think to wait for him, but withdrew proper into their Port themselves aux Crimes; they were pursued on their way, without a of being possibility overtaken, SO precipitate was their flight! In July, somc troops under the mand of Lamarre comwere sent against the insurgents of Port de Paix. The ninth , possession presented themselves before St. Marc; yet, when informed of rival of the President the arand of the flight of Bazelais, the rebels did not think to wait for him, but withdrew proper into their Port themselves aux Crimes; they were pursued on their way, without a of being possibility overtaken, SO precipitate was their flight! In July, somc troops under the mand of Lamarre comwere sent against the insurgents of Port de Paix. The ninth --- Page 92 --- 1 M1 M rose in a mass, and descrted the corps authority. The Presicause of legitimate other side of sident marched, and on the mountains of St. Louis repulsed the the them from post to post up rebels, pursted where to the very forts of Port de Paix, themselves. He there atthey intrenched the rare tacked them in order, displaying endowments of his energy and courage, in less than fifteen days, a and concluded, followed memorable campaign, which was of Lamarre, the capture by the dispersion of all the forts at Port de Paix, and a number of prisoners. a great brought Onl by the faA complaint, his tigues of this campaign, suspended reduction of the rebels. The complete followed up with vioperations were not contented themselves with gour; they of the town of Port de keeping possession and with too much confidence Paix, a small despised or neglected pursuing who were still in the body of the fugitives --- Page 93 --- woods. A fatal error! strong reinforces ments were sent to Lamarre ; the by the bhelp of their rebels, method of barges discovered a maintaining their and accomplices furnishing them with ammunition. Lamarre, on this, rallies his makes his partisans and appearance at Damalo, an advantageous position in the mountains, distant some leagues from Port de Paix. The President, scarcely recovered from hisindisposition, and yet in a state of convalescence, sets out to. placehimself at the head of the troops; he again the revolted from all the dislodges positions they OCcupied, and charges them himself head of his staff; they broke at the sued and fled, puron all sides. Ienry IloW saw, with emotion, that these unhappy, men were undeceived, and about to renounce their errors. During this expedition the west rivalled those of the troops ofthe and north in valour achievements, in again subduing the F --- Page 94 --- I CUDUEEEE a revolted who had the audacity to attack the line. It was on the memorable 20th of when eight battalions of faithSeptember, of the better of twenty-one ful troops got and in the revolted, who were intrenched position. This inthe most advantageous that bravery is inseparastance is a proof rebel ble from honour and fidelity. These who could not bear the sight and troops of those under the legitimate aupresence the same who thority, are nevertheless the south under the French conquered armies. Whilst the rebellion seemed to acquire in the south, the legitimate consistency firmest defenders authority found one ofits General Jean Baptiste Perrier, called in Gauman, who separated from therevolters, of fidelity and hoerected the standard the mountains of the great Bay of nour in enlightened Jeremy; rallied his brethren, undeceived them respecting the abthem ; and paid e surd calumnies of the revolters, ence the same who thority, are nevertheless the south under the French conquered armies. Whilst the rebellion seemed to acquire in the south, the legitimate consistency firmest defenders authority found one ofits General Jean Baptiste Perrier, called in Gauman, who separated from therevolters, of fidelity and hoerected the standard the mountains of the great Bay of nour in enlightened Jeremy; rallied his brethren, undeceived them respecting the abthem ; and paid e surd calumnies of the revolters, --- Page 95 --- homage to the President, whom he acknowledges as the only chief to whom he wished and ought to His pay obedience. successes, aided by the means that were dispatched to him, useful and brought about a fortunate diversion: he kept the rebels constantly in check and in petual alarm : he pounced, with perpidity of the eagle, the rahe upon the places where was not expected, leaving behind traces ofhis him having been there, and retired intoinaccessible fastnesses, which he knew how to select, from the superior force moment that a marched against him: he showed Thimselftoo the incorruptible by any of caresses and promises which the volters had retheir tendered, to attract him to cause: : he braved at menaces and their once their himself stratagems, and shewed always unconquerable. Such brilliant we have expeditions as these ened the enumerated, not having yet sickrevolters, SO blind is presump- --- Page 96 --- tion! they again directed, towards the St. end of October, an attempt against Marc. The President repaired to this and the dayafter his arrival caused town, them to be attacked at the habitations Pivert and Florenceau, where they had time sufficient to intrench themgained selves head high. The day of the 25th memorable by the was rendered doubly actions which took placc, at the tertwo mination of which the rebels were overthrown and pursued with desperate vigour the horse guards of the President. A by was made, and great number of prisoners the ficlds of battlewere covered with dead bodies. The chests and colours of the rebel army fell into our possession. Then were to be scen the miseries of war disin all their horror; wretched fugiplayed about, lost in the woods, tives wandering of hunger and of thirst, venting perishing those traitors who imprecations against had exposed them to SO deplorable a lot, --- Page 97 --- and running, like new the sca-shore Europeans, to in the hope of their vessels which regaining were kept at anchor, as the only refuge in which they could find safety. It was on this day too that the brilliant valour of our troops was SO conspicuous ; but particular praise is here due to the 2d. and Sd battalions of the 2d regiment, and the lst battalion of the 27th, which after a fatiguing march of thirty-six leagues without resting, contributed SO effectually to the glory of this day. The women of St. Marc have afforded on this, as well as on preceding and subsequent occasions, proofs of patriotism and ardent devotion to their country's cause, such as characterised the ancient Spartans. tators of the combat, Spec: they applauded from the top of the ramparts the valour of our troops, and were the first to shout aloud the cry of victory. Their have generous cares brought alleviation and comfort to the aid of suffering humanity, by their effectually to the glory of this day. The women of St. Marc have afforded on this, as well as on preceding and subsequent occasions, proofs of patriotism and ardent devotion to their country's cause, such as characterised the ancient Spartans. tators of the combat, Spec: they applauded from the top of the ramparts the valour of our troops, and were the first to shout aloud the cry of victory. Their have generous cares brought alleviation and comfort to the aid of suffering humanity, by their --- Page 98 --- affording in the most ample manner that relief to the wounded which their state demanded. Gratitude has since rewarded the zeal and fidelity of the province of the West, with the appellation bestowed upon St. Marc, of the faithful, a title equally honourable and glorious to her. The enemy being driven away, the President, with his accustomed activity, set out from St. Marc the 28th, and on the 1st of Novemberhe was at Port de Paix, after having passed the GreatHill,and traversed the mountains of St. Louis; without resting, he marched over those of Port de Paix, caused the rebels to evacuate the formidable position ofCalvary, which had got possession of, then returned they to the city of Port de Paix, organised a system of attack as well of defence, and On the 7th he returned to his capital. In the course of Septemberin the year following, the revolters not being yet sick- --- Page 99 --- ened by their repeated defeats, were to receive a new proof of the inutility of their endeavours. One of theirmost formidable expeditions from the Port aux Crimes, to compose which they had put in requisition every body from infancy to old menaced the cordon of the age, west at all points, whilst Lamarre, by a bold stroke, takes post, with all the forces that he could collect in the centre of the mountains Port de Paix, of menacing the city at the same time. In the west, the camps of Colleau, Lacroix, Dubourg, and the post of Verrier, were successively attacked, and became the theatre of the valour of and that of the losses of our troops, the enemy. The insurgents in the mean time send out detachments to pillage and set on fire all solitary and unprotected of houses, a species brigand-like warfare in which they excel; then reuniting their form the troops, they project of laying siege to St. --- Page 100 --- Marc, but at a very respectful distance; they take up a position at Langeae Rossincau,Jecanton,and Charette; there, thinking themsclves: saccurestheyorganiae no longer camps; confidingin their numbers, raise intrenchment they upon intrenchment, of double and triple stages, and construct gigantic works, hastening all the while the receipt ofammunitiona and plied by means of their provisions supcorsairs, which they keep at anchor in the Bay of Laconde. In this position they remained for twenty-five days; but hunger felt, and began to be considerable delachments from the main body traversed the maraud for mountains to provisions, but the moveable columns of our army repulsed them at the point of the bayonet every time peared before the they applantations. The operation next commenced the attack of the rebels at was by means of our well Charette, who, served batteries, sus- they keep at anchor in the Bay of Laconde. In this position they remained for twenty-five days; but hunger felt, and began to be considerable delachments from the main body traversed the maraud for mountains to provisions, but the moveable columns of our army repulsed them at the point of the bayonet every time peared before the they applantations. The operation next commenced the attack of the rebels at was by means of our well Charette, who, served batteries, sus- --- Page 101 --- tained a considerable loss, which had the effect of obliging them to dig trenches afford them shelter from to our bombs and bullets, which were directed to tbeir intercept procuring water and every kind of provisions. It was determined toposition of occupy the Mary, in the rear of the enemy, SO as to cut off their retreat. know that our intrepid I general thought ofnothing less than requesting to have the disposal of a part of the forces of the west, to pass by the mountains, and possess himself of the city of Port Crimes, destitute as it was oft aux the rebels troops, while were dying of hunger, hemmed in around all their positions. In the mean time the squadron with stores and provisions, which had left the Cape to go to the relief of St. Marc, did arrive; calm winds had detained it on its passage, but with what scried pleasure was it deby ourarmyin full sail after the rebel --- Page 102 --- A barks, and in the act of capturing seven of their corsairs that were leaving the Port aux Crimes with ammunition and necessaries, which they were the relief of their carrying to accomplices ; the rest saved themselves by superior Our sailing. operations were then carried on with more activity, and it was determined that new and vigorous measures should be adopted for defeating the insurgents, and allowing them no time to breathe. Positions were taken up within pistol shot; and the insurgents, closely cooped cannonaded or killed off, no more dared up, to make their appearance; SO that every outlet being guarded to cut off their retreat, we in a great measure calculated upon their being reduced; but on the 18th of November the rebels made their by a road abandoned ever since the escape revolution, and covered with shrubs and logwood, which had bcen deemed impracticable; they were, nevertheless, pursued, --- Page 103 --- and it is said, that in this affair Petion disguised himself in female women being about attire, many thus the camp, and that our troops allowed him to intent pass on, only on pursuing men with in their hands. arms The places abandoned by the rebels presented the appearance in reality of a churchyard, in of the great number of consequence tained. graves they conLamarre having, as we already observed, taken up his position in the tains of Port de mounPaix, and fortificd it an equal degrec with that of in Crimes, saw himself Port aux lar surrounded in a simimanner, and in want of he burnt with the every thing; rage of despair, made attack upon attack, which formly being unirepulsed, compelled him lo retire into his intrenchments, not without considerable loss. To furnish the some idea of fury displayed in this only to be quarter, a fury found in civil wars, the most ains of Port de mounPaix, and fortificd it an equal degrec with that of in Crimes, saw himself Port aux lar surrounded in a simimanner, and in want of he burnt with the every thing; rage of despair, made attack upon attack, which formly being unirepulsed, compelled him lo retire into his intrenchments, not without considerable loss. To furnish the some idea of fury displayed in this only to be quarter, a fury found in civil wars, the most --- Page 104 --- formidable ramparts on both sides, were built up, one against another, SO that no one could venture to lift up his head without being immediately shot. Extreme and indecd frightful means were employed to annihilate these madmen; ; subterrancan engagements took place; sappers and miners would work. with indefatigable perseverance to blow up the fortifications of each other, and whole battalions of grenadiers were sent into the air; the ground covered with mangled limbs, the dying and the dead, while others found their grave in the bowels of the earth. What a distressing picture for let us however humanity! pursue it, for truth requires I should not disguise our Those same suflerings. ramparts, when destroyed, were as soon occupied again : a murderous fire was kept up from the ruins, whilst new ramparts were erecling to replace the first. At length, afier a thousand engagements, famine, Josses, disease, and desertions, --- Page 105 --- compelled the insurgents to break the lines and retire into the through Mole! The quarters of Gros-Morne, mountains of Port de the Paix, of and of Jean Rabel, then Monstigne, more; the cultivators breathed once returned to their labours, the army formed a cordon in the mountains which surround the Mole, and besieged that place. In thes Spanish part, some sold to the insurgents, conspirators such as Albert and Gilbert, Steplien ceive them in endeavoured to deexciting them but they received the against us, treason aë their reward of their own hands. The skilful policy of the President took advantage of the happy moment the of usurpation of the Spanish in Europe to draw closer the monarchy with those in ties of amity Hayti. He had ceived long conthat, as inbabitants of the soil, a similarity of wants same us with ought to unite our brethren, the Spanish Hay- --- Page 106 --- tians, when the same enemies menace our existence, To this effect, he sounds their inclinations; ; he finds them well disposed with his equally own ; he arms dispatches and warlike stores to the general, Don Juan Sanchez Ramirez, and by these generous aids he enables him to undertake offensive operations against the city of St. Domingo, to attack the place whither Ferrand had taken refuge with the French troops who still occupied this point, and finally to expel them from it. He restores the ancient ties of friendshipand of trade with this just, loyal, and sensible people, and the result has that he lias had no occasion proved to repent of it. The fury of contention which thus we have slightly sketched, did not however prevent the chief of the government from directing his attention, even amid to the welfare of the camps, people. He had perceived that a wise administration of the revenues of the state could alone save it. still occupied this point, and finally to expel them from it. He restores the ancient ties of friendshipand of trade with this just, loyal, and sensible people, and the result has that he lias had no occasion proved to repent of it. The fury of contention which thus we have slightly sketched, did not however prevent the chief of the government from directing his attention, even amid to the welfare of the camps, people. He had perceived that a wise administration of the revenues of the state could alone save it. --- Page 107 --- Men of unimpeachable integrity those who did not stand replaced office. SO clear in their A commission for the examination of the public accounts ed; the state then was establishbegan to feel the immensity of its resources : the clothed, troops were equipped, and paid ; a navy all at once created, was already, who and our seamen had only been to manceuvre in slight accustomed vessels, the aid of the learnt, with compass, how to ships of three masts, to cruise navigate stormy in the most latitudes, and to surmount the of the storms. The fury Haytian flag itself on the astonished displayed ocean, and with surprise and admiration people in the was seen a new history of navigation. Not only did this terror of the navy become the insurgents, but it. from them the wrested empire ofthe seas, ofwhich they had become SO vain. The citadel liberty, Henry, that palladium of that majestic bulwark of inde- --- Page 108 --- pendence, that monument ofthe greatess and of the vast combinations of a Henry, the lofty summit of one of the is built on mountains in the island, whence highest discover, to the left, the island you may ofits beauofTortuga, and the reflection in front, the gentle risings, tiful canal; with the city of Cape Henry, its roadstead, and the vast expanse of the ocean. On La Grange, Monte Christ, the the right, of Fort Royal, Mancheneel Bay, and city hills. The eye is gratified the surrounding with the prospect of the beautiful plain, and the magnificent carpet of verdure spread before it. the extended chain of At the back, mountains seems, as it werc, the frame to picture. The posilion, this enchanting fortified by nature, and to which art has added all its science, with casemates and has secured it from being bomb proofs, while the mouths of successfully besieged, the elevation of the the cannon overtop --- Page 109 --- high ground, and command the territory, affording adjacent of the north, protection to the whole and indeed of Hayti this being the mnost formidable itself, possesses. defence it The fortifications in the they had but the sole interior, if advantage of taught us to regard having lightly the our sea-ports, would capture of always claim a degree of importance in that great alone. A nation point of view viction impressed with the conthat the guarantee of protection to its members, individual favoured exists only in situations of ground, and this guarantee is to be found that valour, in the only in its sacrifices it is willing to undergo, and moreover, in the woods mountains that are familiar and to its inhabitants;-such a nation, I say, will not despond at the temporary some villages, abandonment of which good policy and saJutary precaution may have induced to set on fire at the them approach of its eneG that the guarantee of protection to its members, individual favoured exists only in situations of ground, and this guarantee is to be found that valour, in the only in its sacrifices it is willing to undergo, and moreover, in the woods mountains that are familiar and to its inhabitants;-such a nation, I say, will not despond at the temporary some villages, abandonment of which good policy and saJutary precaution may have induced to set on fire at the them approach of its eneG --- Page 110 --- particularly when, on a proper mies; necessary, in order foresight, it is actually the designs of their oppressors, to baffle at the same time, providing themselves, resist all with every thing necessary, to such attacks as may be directed against them. Sans Souci, a town rising into preferand likely to become the capital of ence, established. Ravines Hayti, has been have been filled up, mountains levelled, roads laid out. This superb and public palace, the glory of Hayti, is carried royal elevation ; the beauty and up to a great construction, its sumptuous durabilityofits all with inlaid work, and lined apartments, with the most beautiful and rarest tapestry, which was amassed ata great expense, and with particular care in the selection. The furniture, and elegant tapestry, are selected with good taste, the gardens arthrough ranged with a just symmetry, which meanders a pure stream, having a --- Page 111 --- degree of freshness that racterizes it, the jets particularly chad'eau, the fruit and European trees, bine productions, &c. &c. comto embellish the retreat of a and to attract the admiration hero, of whilst a church, whose noble strangers; ably dome agreepoints out the richness of its architecture, and other public such as arsenals, establishments, dock-yards, and barracks, have sprung up around in the ravages of war. spite of To see the astonishing activity diffused in all these one would say that the works, lity had greatest tranquilprevailed, and that it was the hand of peace which brought them fection ; immense to pertreasures, the fruits of economy in the public administration finances, fill the spacious of citadel coffers of the Henry. Iknow it to be one of the intentions of our King to have the rotunda lace in the citadel of his papaved and lined with quadruples. He is rich enough to do this. --- Page 112 --- novel specics of apartment will reSuch a and be without flect a precious drapery, the world. On the frontispiece parallelin the motto of Louis XIV of this monument should be inscribed, Nec pluribus impar. minister of religion, and phiA worthy author, the Abbé Gregoire, lanthropic of his cawho, since the commencement has devoted his pen to the investigareer, and the defence of humation of'truth, the has, by his affecting work on nity, written with Literature of the Negroes, and simplicity of truth, all the cloquence avenged our rights by openly publishing, in the face of his countrymen, at once their crimes and the injustice of tle preof their species over tended superiority The President read bis work with ours. and has voted all that interest it inspires, him his thanks conveyed in a Haytian work which do called 66 The Cry of Nature," the investigareer, and the defence of humation of'truth, the has, by his affecting work on nity, written with Literature of the Negroes, and simplicity of truth, all the cloquence avenged our rights by openly publishing, in the face of his countrymen, at once their crimes and the injustice of tle preof their species over tended superiority The President read bis work with ours. and has voted all that interest it inspires, him his thanks conveyed in a Haytian work which do called 66 The Cry of Nature," --- Page 113 --- equal honour to the virtuous whom prelate to they are addressed, and the head the government of conferring such a mark of respect, at once public and flattering in its acknowledgment. The siege of the Mole was into a blockade by sea and converted sident land: the Prewas desirous of reducing the rebels and sparing the effusion of blood same time. It at the was in their cruise before this place that our seamen served their apprenticeship, and attained that riority which has since supethem. One trait of these distinguished the new world John Barts of ought not to be passed in silence. The over the Foudroyant having missed anchorage at the platform night of the 28th of early in the into the mnidst March, 1809, drifted of five vessels of the rebel party, who were endeavouring throw secretly to succours into the Cape. The tain of this ship kept them all in capcheck by --- Page 114 --- and the fire of musa bold manceuvre, when quetry and great guns until daylight, was enabled to go to his our squadron the assistance and extricate him, pursuing after having rebels to their hiding places, frustrated the object of their expedition. Four months after this event a new inafter the manner. of cursion took place, 1808; having again that of September, The for its object to bring off Lamarre. rebels had forgotten the many defeats they had experienced in SO many quarters, they wanted one lesson more, which they received; but being too well acspeedily with the environs of St. Marc, quainted contented themselves with appearing they before the Mirebalais, and when they were nearly the whole of about to be attacked, their forces retreated a great way into the Spanish part, and then fell unexpectedly the spring and the great river, having upon themselves nothing less, in the promised --- Page 115 --- height of folly and march presamption, than a upon the Capital, as they had pously given out. pom. The President, informed of the of the rebels, would projects give them not take any step to a confidence which he was they would abuse: the sure his event has justified conjectures. It was only on their rival in front of the arspring, that sent against them to harass troops were them. Without giving the rebels time to recollect selves, they were themand routed. immediately attacked The perfidious David Trois, commandant of the on the expedition, lost his life chiefs occasion; many of their noted fell into our power, troops, who effected pursued by our of the a junction with those west, in the Spanish Savannas: their arrival at Banique, on l'Artibonite they found the swollen with rain. One attempted to cross it by party were carried swimming, and away by the flood. Our being close up, the attack army became ex- perfidious David Trois, commandant of the on the expedition, lost his life chiefs occasion; many of their noted fell into our power, troops, who effected pursued by our of the a junction with those west, in the Spanish Savannas: their arrival at Banique, on l'Artibonite they found the swollen with rain. One attempted to cross it by party were carried swimming, and away by the flood. Our being close up, the attack army became ex- --- Page 116 --- tremely animated; the horse guards of the President charged, cutting down or dispersing in every direction all opposed to them. The loss of men drowned is estimated at two battalions. Lamarre attempted also to make an attack upon our cordon of troops; but he found a wall of brass which he could never pierce, and abandoned his enterprise, his horse, two aid-de-camps, and a multitude of his accomplices on the field. contains a The following paragraph and sensible reflection, extracted very just from the general orders to the army of 17th of August, 1809, which give a narrative of these two victories. 46 Itis in vain that the mild policy of his Serene Highness the Lord President induces him to abstain from attacking the revolted, in order to afford them time for repentance. T'hese ungrateful beings are unmindful of his paternal intentions; they falsclyimaginc, becausc he does not carry --- Page 117 --- fire and sword into their the innocent dwellings, when would fall victims to such a disaster, that there are no means of ducing them; but the most remethod of reducing them is efficacious to themselves. to leave them In their intense blindness they come to receive the to their crimes." punishment due The disorganized faction that had placed Petion at its head, not accord with seeing he did their wishes to the end they proposed to themselves, and otherwise convinced by their experience of his want of talents and of call of energy, solicited the reRigaud, a man who was born evidently for theillluck of his we consider the sad and country, when deplorable effects produced by his rebellion against the Governor Louverture, misfortunes which but too well known. To are conceal their projects, and the end which the perfidious government that employs him itsell, and to gull and proposes to deceive respecting --- Page 118 --- connivance, they caused him to adopt his could escape, as if nothing the pretextofan of be more easy than to lull the vigilance and police, such as a restless suspicious by Bonaparte in his states, that established whose spies and agents abound in every and likewise in all parts of the court, into effect the plans of globe, to carry their master. One must be blind indeed that a hapless islander (espeto suppose of his colour) could be able to save cially in which he himself from the dungeons had pined, SO long as the occasion did not offer of administering to the purposes exof him. Besides, his arrival, and pected by which he set about it, were the means with all doubt in sufficient to do away He sets out then under a that respect. and disguised name; he is accomfeigned which leads panied by two aides-de-camp, evident supposition of the part they to an He reaches the intend he should act. United States, directed and recommended cially in which he himself from the dungeons had pined, SO long as the occasion did not offer of administering to the purposes exof him. Besides, his arrival, and pected by which he set about it, were the means with all doubt in sufficient to do away He sets out then under a that respect. and disguised name; he is accomfeigned which leads panied by two aides-de-camp, evident supposition of the part they to an He reaches the intend he should act. United States, directed and recommended --- Page 119 --- to some French agents. He keeps himself concealed, not to excitesuspicion, and to shun an exposure. he Notwithstanding, is marked out by the friends of our government; he slips away and avoids the British cruisers, and on the 7th April 1810, towards night, arrives at. Aux Cayes. He is received with welcome his by those of partisans whose foolish and tuous hopes he had excited; but presump- the majority of good citizens conceal themselves or remain silent; they do not allow themselves to be stunned by the declamations of this pretended martyr to liberty, this contemptible apostle of falsehood, this sneaking instrument of our enemies, who comes to aid their criminal endeavours. He soon repairs to Port aux Crimes; having been unsuccessful in recovering the tatters of this usurped authority, for the traitors do not agree anongst he returns toAux themselves, Cayes with themost crafty of his partisans, and there he at length --- Page 120 --- concludes by bringing about a division of the southi and between the department of the west occupied by the that portion substitutehimrebels, till he mayatlength self in the room of Petion, the present object ofhis ambition. Hence springs a most sorrowful consiWe know that deration for humanity. dissensions give joy to the friends of our tyrants wish to slavery, that our commion all our days, and that see them during nothing short of a they calculate upon total annihilation of the population of whom they wish to replace by new Hayti, from the regions of wretches transplanted Africa. We are thoroughly acquainted with the whole extent of thcir villainy; in our rivalry, to serve and we seein cager, by carrying on the work them effectually, destruction amongst ourselves. 0 deof lirium of the passions! 0 inconceivable fatality! to what lengths will men suffer themselves to be carried who listen to the --- Page 121 --- false illusions of ambition! May we not apprehend that our enemies will, with justice, apply to us these two verses? Too prodigal of blood, they ought to stay, As our avengers, they each other slay. Rigaud is the more culpable, that, after having experienced at different times the effects of the wiles of the French government, he still consents, a third time, to becomeagain their tool, and to labour for the destruction of his follow-countrymen. Enlightened as he is, the language he ought to have held, when he touched the soil of Hayti, would have been at once becoming and easily expressed. 66 I return," he should have said to the head of the government, 66 from that barbarous country, where, as the reward of my easy compliance, I was left to languish in dungeons; I have heard deliberations on the ruin of my fellow-citizens. Welcomed from the moment when theythought becomeagain their tool, and to labour for the destruction of his follow-countrymen. Enlightened as he is, the language he ought to have held, when he touched the soil of Hayti, would have been at once becoming and easily expressed. 66 I return," he should have said to the head of the government, 66 from that barbarous country, where, as the reward of my easy compliance, I was left to languish in dungeons; I have heard deliberations on the ruin of my fellow-citizens. Welcomed from the moment when theythought --- Page 122 --- in tbis abominable deI might cooperate afterwards treated sign, I found myself and caressed; they put my ambition to offered me a fortune and the the test; they I held. restoration of the former rank senseless men! how could they think But, of reason and of goed that I was SO devoid and SO stupid as to lend mysense, SO easya The two cruel selfto their criminal designs? of I have undergone lessons experience instructed me too well. Ihave dishave consented to all; I have sembled, I have every thing to extricate myself promised My first from the fetters of bondage. this classic land of thought, on reaching liberty, is that of acknowledging the reignsovereign, whose cause is inseparable ing mine. To him I owe the confession from former errorS, and at his feet I ought to of to repentance. I swear fidelity lay my in consolihim, and henceforth to labour the liberty and independence of dating the sole end for which I took my country, --- Page 123 --- up arms." Truly, and we do not hesitate to say, had he maintained such as this, had he language employed his influence in reclaiming Petion and his associates right principles, had he uot to sought to dismember the state that he might priate to himself its spoils, he would approbeen received with have open arms by the head of the government, who would have doned his faults, and overlooked parhis past errors, as he would have wished that God might pardon them; and finally, he would have drawn down upon him the of the people; instead of blessings which, by pursuing a line of conduct diametrically site, he has prepared for himself oppothe most inauspicious omens, and, as a final pect, he digs his own prosgrave and that of his partisans. 6 You have been the first" (said the head of the government to Bonnet, when after the decease of the Emperor he came to the Cape) 66 to exhibit to the troops --- Page 124 --- breaches of discipline, SO that when you wished to restore order and duty amongst could never effectit; they will them, you turn their arms against you, yourselves, when once tainted with crime. To proexistence, you will be obliged long your to allow them to do whatever they please; When the treasures ofthe state which you havedilapidated, shall become exhausted, them ; you will be you can no longer pay constrained to have recourse to extreme and to suffer the fatal effects of measures, As for Petion, I all their licentiousness. him : instead of being the chief, heis pity slave and instrument of your faconly the When he shall be well drawn in, tion. and on affairs becoming desperate, you will abandon him, as you, Bonnet, partidid with General Vilatte, whose cularly, the cause ofon the SOth ruin you were will Ventose. In excitinga civil war,you for all the mischiefs that be responsible will be the result ofit, for one knows very asures, As for Petion, I all their licentiousness. him : instead of being the chief, heis pity slave and instrument of your faconly the When he shall be well drawn in, tion. and on affairs becoming desperate, you will abandon him, as you, Bonnet, partidid with General Vilatte, whose cularly, the cause ofon the SOth ruin you were will Ventose. In excitinga civil war,you for all the mischiefs that be responsible will be the result ofit, for one knows very --- Page 125 --- well the day when the sword from the is drawn when scabbard, but no one can tell it shall be put up again." What words could be more than these?" All that prophetic Henry had has come to predicted pass. The the most chief'instigator of signal treason has seen in his turn, betrayed, himself, abandoned by the perfidious wretches who had drawn into theabyss. Has not him of the first to Bonnet been one go and join Rigaud, and to declare himself against the rebel To Petion? resume the thread of the narrative. The President having employed all the means which his great mind could and devise, despairing of getting possession ofthe Mole unless by force of take the arms, resolved to command in person oft the who were besieging it; and troops after vigorous operations, in wbich he lents in the displayed his tagreat art of war, he had the glory of making himself famous master of this rebel city, and of causing those H --- Page 126 --- defended it to lay down their arms at who leaders discretion, after the two principal had lost their lives in the place. alone of this siege would Theoperations work to derequire a very lengthened for they abound in traits of bravery scribe, to the Haytian and heroism which belong nation. which Subjoined is the Proclamation President addressed to the army after the and which SO well the taking of this city, the sentiments of his heart. paints a A A --- Page 127 --- State of Hayti. PROCEAMATION HENRY CHRISTOPHE, President and Generalissino ofthe Land and Sea Forces, TO THE LAND AND NAVAL STATE OF HAYTI, ARMAMENTS OF THE SOLDIERS! THE place of St. Nicholas Mole just fallen by the has success of your rebellion is extinguished arms, in this and you have quarter, colours planted on every side the ofthel legitimate authority, SO distinguished by the already obtained numerous triumphs over the enemies of liberty. Twenty days of regular siege have suf- --- Page 128 --- ficed to destroy, to the very foundations, fortresses which parricidal hands had those of rebellion. In vain a raised in defence itself expedition had flattered pretending intestine with the hope of perpetnating and sacrificing at the shrine dissensions, by the of error ; your arms, strengthened of causes, have, in a few days, most just and buried overthrown these edifices, their ruins the projects and preunder sumplive hopes ofa criminal faction. Weary of temporising measures, that had for their object to spare the effusion and having perceived that noof blood, and my thing could equal my patience but the obduracy and the kindness, I decided on inflexibility of the factious, the fate of this guilty place. T'he two took the comchiefs, who successively two of mand of it, have bitten the dust; their vessels of war being shattered, presented in the roads nothing more than unskelctons; ; a considerable pile of availing ive hopes ofa criminal faction. Weary of temporising measures, that had for their object to spare the effusion and having perceived that noof blood, and my thing could equal my patience but the obduracy and the kindness, I decided on inflexibility of the factious, the fate of this guilty place. T'he two took the comchiefs, who successively two of mand of it, have bitten the dust; their vessels of war being shattered, presented in the roads nothing more than unskelctons; ; a considerable pile of availing --- Page 129 --- cannon, of mortars, of stores, and sions of every kind, proviare the results of your toils, and the reward of while these your valour; men, who have issued the extremity of the south, from with the to deprive you of the most intent blessings, precious of all now obliged to surrender at discretion, have experienced that meney is equal to your cleyour valour. Such is ever the courage! recompence of.t true it is Nothing can resist it, because maintained by fidelity to one's chief, guided by honour, and inspired tHedion.-Soldters.andy by pawho have rivalled in you,brave seamen, all respects the land forces, you whose efforts have winds, the currents, braved the cruise and the waves, in a which will be the admiration who are of all experienced in naval affairs, the new lustre which your glorious havej just reflected exploits chief upon the arms of your is your best eulogium. In zeal, the truth, the constancy, the loyalty, the fide- --- Page 130 --- and the intrepidity which you have lity, displayed in a multitude of engagements, which were rendered necessary through inconceivable animosity, constithe most and my pride; yes, tute.at once my glory I have found in you the most intrepid who have contributed to the warriors, establishment of liberty and indepenand I have, more than once, in this dence, head. campaign, gloried in being at your indeed to me, to'declare SOIt is gratifying lemnly, that you have all deserved Wellof and that it will be a satisthe country! faction for my heart to decree honorary of wlio have most rewards to those you distinguished themselves: distinction in the caBut to acquire of heroes is not all; there is another reer of glory of which virtue, another species we ought to furnish an example. You have seen the inveterate supof of error, the obstinate partisans porters to reason as well as to a cause revolting --- Page 131 --- nature: ; you have seen them, I say, these unhappy children of the south, basely abandoned and betrayed by their comrades, after having experienced all that human misfortunes have in them of extremest bitterness, after having been compelled to lay down their arms, to come and throw themselves at my feet, to, acknowledge their errors, and implore my clemency ; they thought to find in me an irritated conqueror; ; they expected to read in my offended front their sentence to die. Ungrateful men ! they have only been witnesses of my compassion, and of the tears which their repentance has from me. You too, wrung soldiers, melted at this example, have nobly shared with thenn your tents, you clothing, and food ; they have found your no other than brethren in you, and your arms have carefully borne their sick and wounded to the hospitals, to be. treated and attended in the same manner as your ; they expected to read in my offended front their sentence to die. Ungrateful men ! they have only been witnesses of my compassion, and of the tears which their repentance has from me. You too, wrung soldiers, melted at this example, have nobly shared with thenn your tents, you clothing, and food ; they have found your no other than brethren in you, and your arms have carefully borne their sick and wounded to the hospitals, to be. treated and attended in the same manner as your --- Page 132 --- But still more, the 9th own companionse which first raised that same one resiment, as well as the rethe standard of revolt, 28d, mains of the 16th, 18th, 21st, 22d, and 24th, made prisouers, are to-dayasto- of rank in the army nished at taking cease Hayli; but let their astonishment faknow that in punishing, a when they let them rether is always paternal 1;and Fathese words of the common member in mankind: 66 There is more joy ther of which is found heaven over that onesheep that hath than for the whole flock àgain, never strayed." soften May this trait of magnanimity of those who still foment or enthe hearts Let them at length courage: calumny! ! priunderstand that it is good to sacrifice benefit; let to the general vate passions the vile agents of the them consider that vultures, like greedy French government, to fall an opportunity are only watching them reflect, that the.- upon their prey; let --- Page 133 --- vessel of all independence in which we are embarked, must save with the itself, or perish it to reach passengers : and that, to enable the desired port in safely, it is glorious to rally with brethren how to who know fight, to conquer, and my part, convinced forgive. For visions as I am that our diconstitute the joy and the our enemies; hope of the only persuaded that this region is one'which is still at the free minds ; assured service of the cause of the by experience that black and of the one and indivisible; yellow is and acquainted ample proof of the new by plots that are framing by our common our tyrants to render quarrels of endless duration upon God and ; I call upon men to no sacrifice shall be witness, that can tend to too dear for me that reunite the children of under the paternal Hayti own means, and sticd.-Trotinging my confident of the macy of my cause, which legitimy ascendancy, give strength to Ido not hesitate to renew --- Page 134 --- here the general amnesty which I have already offered, to promote the welfare of the state, the only object of my ambition. But, ifit be desirable that one portion of the Haytians, who are still under the influence of error, should relinquish that error, and expiate the wrongs of many of it is for years by a moment repentance, that the members of the public advantage should reunite, to the the great family consternation and despair of our tyrants, and not the less necessary to preserve that attitude which befits men, who, having done much, are aware that there still remains much more for them to do. SOLDIERS, You are about to return to your respective garrisons and cantonments, to A refresh yourselves afler the toilsome have undergone; carry with fatigues you that sense of order, of subordination you a moment repentance, that the members of the public advantage should reunite, to the the great family consternation and despair of our tyrants, and not the less necessary to preserve that attitude which befits men, who, having done much, are aware that there still remains much more for them to do. SOLDIERS, You are about to return to your respective garrisons and cantonments, to A refresh yourselves afler the toilsome have undergone; carry with fatigues you that sense of order, of subordination you --- Page 135 --- and discipline which is the sacred of victory. pledge It.is my intention to distribute rewards of valour to those the tinguished who have disthemselves by their deeds: your good pleted, corps are about to be comand clothed and equipped enjoy then in anew ; laurels, and peace the fruit of your be ready,at the first complete the signal, to triumph of the legitimate authority. Done at our Palace of the 8th October Cape Henry, 1810, in the of the seventh year independence of Hayti. HENRy By the President; CHRISTOPIE. The Field Marshal, and cretary of his Serene private SeHighness, PREVOST. With mixed sentiments of and affection transport the President was on his return from the received campaign : every --- Page 136 --- scatter before his feet the one flocked to from Port de Paix laurels of victory; and there were nothing but triumphal to Henry raised by the emulaarches and trophies, of the people. His progress tive delights in fact the whole way a triumphal was how honourable march. How delightful, bebe thus beloved! but how pleasing to citizens who sides to have such worthy think the same ! happily terminated, The war being north entirely cleared of enemies, and the back to their hones, the troops were sent had SO that repose of which they to enjoy much need. brave and faithful troops Receive, ye the legitimate authority, who acknowledge and the homage a tribute of admiration, from one of your companions of respect who knows the spirit of a soldier, in arms, in the midst of you, A who delights in being who has sometimes shared your dangers, lots can never be a and to. whom your --- Page 137 --- matter of indifference. The God ofbattles has blessed and crowned your arms with glory. Thanks be to you! you have delivered your countrymen from the fury of civil war and of anarchy; you have doubtless done much, but you think nothing done SO long as it remains for you to plant your victorious standards in every quarter which rebellion may defile. The President, not yet recovered from the fatigues at the Mole, applied himself next to the organization of the forces, both land and naval; ; he passes the troops in review, has themuster roll of names called over, causes all accounts to be settled down to the last soldier of every regiment, sends back to the labours of cultivation such as he does not think proper to be retained in the service, replaces them with young recruits,nominates to vacant places, completes the regiments and the arms of the crews, has troops repaired and placed in a proper state, as well as the vessels of himself next to the organization of the forces, both land and naval; ; he passes the troops in review, has themuster roll of names called over, causes all accounts to be settled down to the last soldier of every regiment, sends back to the labours of cultivation such as he does not think proper to be retained in the service, replaces them with young recruits,nominates to vacant places, completes the regiments and the arms of the crews, has troops repaired and placed in a proper state, as well as the vessels of --- Page 138 --- thé squadron : he clothes the army, and provisions the fleet for a cruise." He organizes in a legion the troops of the South that surrendered at- the Mole, appoints to the vacant places in this corps, and gives them rank in the army. Undeceived of their errors, he no longer CO11siders them otherwise than as his children. He engages' in a plan of farming out the démesnes; and in the distribution of farms he is not unmindful of those unfortunate widows and hapless orphans whom the fate of war"or the course of nature has deprived of a husband, of a tender father; he replaces the want of this tender father to, these interesting creatures, not only in securing their maintenance, but by procuring for them which is equithe benefits of an education, to for the country, the A valent replacing, authors oftheir being! The President then visits the provinces. He is reccived throughout, not as --- Page 139 --- the conqueror of the Mole, but fying genius like a vivis His come to visit those parts, ameliorating eye embraces He has the sweet all sides. that the satisfaction of secing gularly culivators, being every where repaid by a fourth of the duce, were gross propraising the freedom joyed. If unjust and they enno more deprive rapacious farmers their Jabour, them of the wages of of their and grow rich by the sweat brow; if cattle are allowed ravage no more their to vision grounds; if gardens and proto the banana is allowed ripen on the banana that these tree, it is to men of nature Henry it. He it is who are indebted for animates gives life to industry, and commerce. In his thepeople vent their presence the unequivocal exclamations of joy, returns of a affection and degree of attachment bordering idolatry. From his upon into the palace he descends lowly cottage into the soldier's ofthe-cultivator, as hut, and their happiness --- Page 140 --- all times the constant object of his is at and tenderest solicilude. most lively which ofmanners, The re-estallishment become the order of the day, impartnow and comfort ed its influence on the peace and hid of families. Vice disappeared, practices ; the sacred tie of its corrupt that leuder union marriage was respected, which binds man to woman, creates virand attaches the citizen tuous companions, the great family of te state, to his country, domestic the image of his own and of by happiness ; as the greatest encouragement head furnishes, himto which, the supreme example of the conjugal self, a touching virtues: he proves that good manners are of good monarchs, and conthe attendants the stitute the glory of their reign ; A as, on from licentiousness come bad other hand, to the disgrace of their governA princes, ment. thought to yield to the The President dictates of his generous breast, which was family of te state, to his country, domestic the image of his own and of by happiness ; as the greatest encouragement head furnishes, himto which, the supreme example of the conjugal self, a touching virtues: he proves that good manners are of good monarchs, and conthe attendants the stitute the glory of their reign ; A as, on from licentiousness come bad other hand, to the disgrace of their governA princes, ment. thought to yield to the The President dictates of his generous breast, which was --- Page 141 --- affected with the calamities in the midst of of civil war : sentments. victory he sacrifices his reForgetful of his offers and mises of peace prohaving been SO despised, he frequently in thought it due to his order to convince them citizens, of his still more fally intentions, to dispatch ers commissionempowered to treat for péace with the rerolted Petion at Port aux Crimes; commissioners these tion were followed by a of twelve deputaferent military men from the difcorps of the South, who ed at the Mole, for the surrenderpurpose ing their comrades of ofinformhad the treatment they experienced. It was natural to pect that offers of exwould have sincerity like these been properly appreciated, they ought to have been; as citizens and all good began already to flatter selves with a hope of the themminated. Vain war being terthe hope! that dream is mind ofthe fled; president is now the more persuaded, that it is only by the adoption I --- Page 142 --- measures, as at the Cape, that of rigorous over the too he can expect to triumph infatuation of the revolters! guilty from this deI pass with satisfaction and now arrive at tail of our grievances, part of my work. the most interesting Genius of my country, inspire my Truth, it is under thy understanding! I have taken up the pen. Deign auspices anito direct it still, that my writings, mated by thy sublime eloquence, may into the remotest climes the glory carry that his beand the virtue of a Henry, never be pronounced loved name may which it abroad but with the veneration and that, instructed in his good inspires; the recital of what he qualities, and by has done for his people and for posterity, that in all forcigners may at length agrce, - the lot of this class of mankind, hitherto under the yoke of prejudices, groaning them, there are found to be, as among beings, evidently under thoscextraordinary --- Page 143 --- the protection of nature and of who are to appear in the Heaven, this world to heal their revolutions of store social aflfictions, and reorder to those limits from which the impetuous chased it! course of events had The Haytians had just celebrated cighth year of their the the dawn of independence; and if that beautiful day did not as yet witness their reunion, at least were abundantly they persuaded by the great achievements that Henry had plished, to hope, that he alone accomwill as well as the had the and power to consolidate strengthen the foundations of that independence, SO carnestly to be desired. For some time the declared of the most opinion respectable and citizens was in favour of enlightened On the throne; placing Henry they had known the insufficiency of the title with which invested him in they had chief calamitous times. The ofa warlike nation, who ought never. by the great achievements that Henry had plished, to hope, that he alone accomwill as well as the had the and power to consolidate strengthen the foundations of that independence, SO carnestly to be desired. For some time the declared of the most opinion respectable and citizens was in favour of enlightened On the throne; placing Henry they had known the insufficiency of the title with which invested him in they had chief calamitous times. The ofa warlike nation, who ought never. --- Page 144 --- that, the moment when that nato forget character, will be tion lays asideits warlike that when it will run the risk ofits existence annihilated, Or rather that its existbeing connected with its marence is essentially ardour; this Chief, I say, will not long tial the character of a digbe able to maintain nitywhich does not awociauesithitheide the revision of the of the sovereign power: constitution was therefore decided upon. itself with zeal The council of state applied but its labours which were to this purpose; of directed to the offering of a monument of all the gratitude and acknowledgement Haytians, by adjudging the crown to good in his Henry, and making it hereditary illlustrious house, could not remain secret. when he was on a journey It transpired, the 26th March, a day to Fort Dauphin, the head of the A for ever celebrated, when hailed and proclaimed King, his state was and their august spouse Qucen of Hayti, Prinçe Royal. The happy news once son --- Page 145 --- spread, communicated with tlie of the electric flame; rapidity and the general sent of all classes of asthis society, proved that good and magnanimous saw the people forepropriety of so great and an event; it is needless glorious their to observe, that majestics were received with bounded untransports ofa affection and their arrival in the joy on capital. It was to no purpose they entered it by night: found all the they lavish people stirring, eager to upon them those marks of and those respect, congratulations, which with them such carry they sincerity and feeling when procced from the heart. Their jesties received, the matations and same night, the felicihonage of all the civil and military bodies, as well as those of foreign merchants the tal, who established in the capithought it their duty to tribute of pay this respect and veneration to their majesties. The council of state having formed --- Page 146 --- council, and having itself into a general all the accordingly invited to the meeling officers of the land and sea principal citizens forces, and such of the principal worthy of being adas were considered them mitted to the deliberations, to give eclat, then put the finishing stroke to more work, and proceeded in their immortal to the convocation, the 4th April, grand Being presented palace of their majesties. master of the ceremonies to by the grand surrounded by their majesties, who were family; his excellency Lieutetheir royal Romain, the organ of nant Gencral Paul himself in the general council, expressed the following terms: the honour to *The council of state has Alapaodehwendecai presenttoyour) of which has bcen tution, the completion meditations. A the object ofits most profound We shall have fulfilled the expectations and of the army, and our of the pcople with the labours will have corresponded grand surrounded by their majesties, who were family; his excellency Lieutetheir royal Romain, the organ of nant Gencral Paul himself in the general council, expressed the following terms: the honour to *The council of state has Alapaodehwendecai presenttoyour) of which has bcen tution, the completion meditations. A the object ofits most profound We shall have fulfilled the expectations and of the army, and our of the pcople with the labours will have corresponded --- Page 147 --- wish of our hearts, if the fundamental basis on which this new kingdom is about to rest, is bappily calculated to reconcile public happiness with the majesty of the throne, and the dignity of the national representation. This day of everlasting which the memory on Haytian people are to acknowledge, in the face of heaven and of their protector, their earth, father, and their in the person of that king, has generous being who saved them, impresses our minds with the most delightful emotions. At the sight of the diadem about to rest which is on that august front whereon our glorious destinies are inscribed, ble, ye enemies of our tremcountry! This moment has for ever decided on the sovereignty of these realms, and it is that of triumph for all hearts, since a at length have crowned the idol of their they choice. To the valiant arm of Henry the tre belongs; it is the attribute scepof true --- Page 148 --- and fortune, ever attentive tô the courage; voice of genius, assigns to him, at this the reward of twenty years of moment, labour. head; be no Hayti, erect thy proud alarmed respecting thy future prosmore of perity, and offer up to Heaven a return thanks; for, when a Henry ascends the throne, the days of Sully are about to re-appear." His Majesty replied: : 46 GENTLEMEN, other than that <4 I have no happiness of Hayti, of whose toils I of the people and nothing that interests have partaken; the welfare of the state can be indifferent to me. The nation has judged necessary to its A and safety to elevate me to the prosperity throne, and to fix the hereditary succesfamily; I yield to its wish, sion in my --- Page 149 --- since it contributes to the public felicity. This day, in giving me the measure of all hearts, will never cease to be to my mind; it will recall to present me all that the Haytian people hath done for me and my family, and every moment of my life shall be devoted to recompensing it for its filial tenderness. I will be onl the throne, the have same as I been in adversity, and such as becomes a good king to be; and descendants may my inherit successively that pure affection with which my heart throbs for my country!" Then his Excellency Lieutenant General Paul Romain, addressing himself her Majesty the Qucen, to said, 66 MADAM, 46 We have just had the honour of presenting to your august spouse the law of the constitution, which for ever fixes the be devoted to recompensing it for its filial tenderness. I will be onl the throne, the have same as I been in adversity, and such as becomes a good king to be; and descendants may my inherit successively that pure affection with which my heart throbs for my country!" Then his Excellency Lieutenant General Paul Romain, addressing himself her Majesty the Qucen, to said, 66 MADAM, 46 We have just had the honour of presenting to your august spouse the law of the constitution, which for ever fixes the --- Page 150 --- destiny of Hayti, at the same time that it in the family of our renders hereditary, sovereign, the monarchy of the state. Ifany thing can add to the gratifying sensations that animate our hearts, it is to the eminent qualities Heaven has besee stowed upon you, raised to that throne which the affeclion and acknowledgment of the Haytians has prepared for you. Eternal thanks be to the Almighty, who seems never to have raised SO high such sense and goodness of which your heart is the sanctuary, unless for purposes over that counof more extendedinfluence try on which they are shed. The Council of State delights in placing at the feet of your Majesty the tribute oflove, of respect, of gratitude, and admiration, which your virtues are SO well calculated to inspire. " --- Page 151 --- - Her Majesty replied: : 66 GENTLEMEX, c The appellation of Queen, which the nation has just decrced to me, unites me more closely with the fortunes of the Haytian people, to whom I delight in being a tender mother. I shall never be unmindful, whilst the throne, of the duties which on the Royal Majesty enjoins; and seeing my family is destined hereafter to take will be my place, it my pleasing duty to superintend their education with peculiar care, SO that my children may be to me my dearest decorations, as on them will one day depend the destiny of my country." --- Page 152 --- CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE Thich establishes Royalty in Hayti. THE Council of State, at an extraordinary mecting held for the purpose of delibethe alterations which it is rating upon to introduce in the state of necessary Hayti, and on the form of government most suitable thereto; Considering that, when the constitution of the 17th of February 1807, anno 4, was promulgated, the state found itself in fact without any social compact; and the storms of civil contention raged with such fury, as not to permit the representatives of the people to fix in a permanent manner the only mode of government which is really adapted to US ; --- Page 153 --- That this constitution, all notwithstanding the informality which it appeared consist of, and its numerous to of which the imperfections, representatives themselves were not unaware, was yet suited at that time to the crisis which gave it birth, and the tempests then : hovering over its infancy. That the few great principles of which it consisted were nevertheless sufficient for the happiness of the people, in all their rights in those securing deplorable times. Considering, that at the present riod, thanks to the genius of the peMagistraté who holds the reins ofg supreme ment, whose elevated governconceptions and brilliant valour have prevailed in order, restoring happiness, and prosperity; the flourishing state of cultivation, of trade and navigation ; the re-establishment of manners, religion, and morality; the discipline observed in the high army and the fleet; seem to promise a lasting duration to the state. That it becomes us at pre- . Considering, that at the present riod, thanks to the genius of the peMagistraté who holds the reins ofg supreme ment, whose elevated governconceptions and brilliant valour have prevailed in order, restoring happiness, and prosperity; the flourishing state of cultivation, of trade and navigation ; the re-establishment of manners, religion, and morality; the discipline observed in the high army and the fleet; seem to promise a lasting duration to the state. That it becomes us at pre- --- Page 154 --- sent, more than ever, to establish a fixed order of things, a mode of government calculated to rule at all times the country that gave us birth. Considering that, it is urgently necesto invest the sovereign authority with sary character great and august, SO as to cona vey an idea of the supremacy of power ; That the ercction of an hereditary throne is the necessary consequence of this forcible consideration ; That the inheritance of power to be vested only as to the male legitimate chilthe exclusion of fedren (to perpetual males) in an illustrious family, constantly devoted to the glory and happiness of the country, which owes its political existence to it, is as much a duty as a signal mark of national acknowledgment. That it is the nation which now exercises, through us, its will and lits sovereign-. them to him who has resty, in confiding cued it from that abyss in which its most --- Page 155 --- inveterate enemies would extinguish him who it, to governs it with SO much glory, that this nation has nothing to fear for its liberty, its independence, and its happiness. That it is necessary also to establish high dignities, as well to uphold the dour of the throne splenas to reward eminent services rendered to the country by officers who devote themselves to the happiness, the glory, and prosperity of the state. The Council of State, therefore, in enacts, consequence, the Organic Law follow ing; ACT I. Of the Supreme Authority. ARTICLE I. THE President, Henry Christophe, is declared King of Hayti, under the name of Henry. --- Page 156 --- This title, with its prerogatives and privileges, shall be hereditary in the male and legitimate descendants of his family in a direct line, by elder birthright, to the exclusion of females. Art. 2. All the acts of the kingdom shall be in the name of the King, published and promulgated under the royal seal. Art. 3. In default of male children in a direct line, the succession shall pass into the family of the Prince nearest akin to the sovereign, or the most ancient in dignity. Art. 4. Meanwhile, it shall be lawful for the King to adopt the children of such Prince of the kingdom as he shall judge proper, in default of an heir-apparent. Art. 5. In the event of there happento the adoption, ing to be, subsequent male children, their right of succession shall prevail over that of the adopted children. --- Page 157 --- Art. 6. At the decease of the King, and until his succession is acknowledged, the affairs of the kingdom shall be verned by the ministers and the goKing's Council, who shall jointly form a general council: their decisions to be determined by a majority of voices. The secretary of state to keep a record of the deliberations. ACT II. Of the Royal Family. Art. 7. The King's spouse is declared Queen of Hayti. Art. 8. The members of the royal family shall bear the title of Princes and Princesses; ; they are to be styled Royal Highnesses. The heir-apparent denominated Prince Royal. Art. 9. The Princes are to take their seats as members of the council of state, on their coming ofage. K to be determined by a majority of voices. The secretary of state to keep a record of the deliberations. ACT II. Of the Royal Family. Art. 7. The King's spouse is declared Queen of Hayti. Art. 8. The members of the royal family shall bear the title of Princes and Princesses; ; they are to be styled Royal Highnesses. The heir-apparent denominated Prince Royal. Art. 9. The Princes are to take their seats as members of the council of state, on their coming ofage. K --- Page 158 --- Art. 10. The Royal Princes and Princannot marry without the approcesses bation of the King. Art. 11. The King himself directs the of his palace in a manner organization conformable to the dignity of the crown. Art. 12. There shall be established, after the orders of the King, palaces and castles in those parts of the kingdom which he shall judge proper to fix upon. ACT III. Of the Regency. A Art. 13. The King is a minor until he shall have completed his fifteenth year : his minority he shall be styled a during Regent of the kingdom. Art. 14. The Protector shall be at years of'age, and shall be least twenty-five chosen from among the Princes most nearly related to the King (to the exclu- --- Page 159 --- sion of females), and in default from of such, among the great dignitarics of the kingdom. Art. 15. In default of the ment of a protector appointon the part of the King, the general council will select in the manner one prescribed in the article. foregoing Art. 16. The protector the King exercises, until comes of age, all the attributes of the royal dignity. Art. 17. He cannot conclude of peace, any treaty alliance, or commerce, nor make any declaration of war until after mature deliberation, and the advice of the council: their general opinions shall be taken according to the majority of case of votes; and in equality, that side which is found to be conformable to the opinion of the protector, shall preponderate. Art. 18. The protector cannot nate either to the nomigreat dignitics of the --- Page 160 --- or to the situations of general ofkingdom forces. ficers in the land and sea Art. 19. All the acts of the regency are of the King, who is minor. in the name King, during Art. 20. The care ofthe is confided to his mother, his minority, in default of her, to the prince apand pointed by the late King. the nor his descendNeither protector, of the shall be eligible for the charge ants, King, who is minor. ACT IV. A the Great Council, and of the Privy Of Council. Art. 21. The great council is composed of the blood, of princes, of the princes and chosen dukes, and counts, nominated who himself fixes their by his Majesty, number. --- Page 161 --- Art. 22. The King presides at the council, and when he does not preside in person, he fixes upon one of the dignitaries oft the kingdom to fulfil that office. Art, 23. The privy council is chosen by the King from among the great dignitaries of the kingdom. ACT V. Ofthe Great Officers of the Kingdom. Art, 24. The great officers of the kingdom are grand marshals of Hayti: they are chosen from among the generals of all ranks, according to mérit. Art. 25. Their number is not limited ; the King determines upon it at every motion. proArt. 26. The places of great officers of the kingdom are for life. Art. 27. When, by the King's order, or on account of being invalided, any one of by the King from among the great dignitaries of the kingdom. ACT V. Ofthe Great Officers of the Kingdom. Art, 24. The great officers of the kingdom are grand marshals of Hayti: they are chosen from among the generals of all ranks, according to mérit. Art. 25. Their number is not limited ; the King determines upon it at every motion. proArt. 26. The places of great officers of the kingdom are for life. Art. 27. When, by the King's order, or on account of being invalided, any one of --- Page 162 --- the great officers of thekingdom shall cease he shall neverto be actively employed, theless retain his titles, his rank, and the half of his pay. ACT VI. Of the Ministry. Art. 28. There shall be in the kingdom four ministers chosen and appointed by the King: The minister of war and marine, The minister of finances and of the interior, The minister of foreign affairs, and The minister ofjustice. Art. 29. The ministers are members of the council, and have a deliberative voice. Art. 30. The ministers account directly to his Majesty, and receive his orders. --- Page 163 --- ACT VII. Qf the Oaths. Art.31. The King at his accession, or on his coming ofage, takes an oath the Gospels, in upon presence of the great authorities of the kingdom. Art. 82. The protector, before undertaking the exercise of his functions, also takes an oath, with the same formalities. Art. S8. The principal clergy, the great oflicers, the ministers, and the secretary of state, also take the oath of fidelity at the King's hands. ACT VIII. Of the Promulgation. Art. 34. The promulgation of all the acts of the kingdom is thus couched : WE, by the grace of God and the con- --- Page 164 --- stitutional law of the state, King of Hayti, to all present and to come, greeting. And all public acts will conclude thus: .WE do hereby order and command, these sealed with our seal, that presents, be addressed to all courts, tribunals, and adninisirativcautlonities to be transcribed in their registers, to be observed and caused to be observed throughout the kingdom; and the minister ofjustice is charged with the promulgation thereof. Art. 35. The executory proceedings sin of the courts of justice and of judgments the tribunals, are to run thus: the of God and of the WE, by grace constitutional Jaw of the state, King of Hayti, to all present and to come, greeting. Then follows the copy of the judgment 6 We order and command all or decree: constables and other oflicers, on this requisition, to put in execution thc saidjudg- --- Page 165 --- ment, and our attorneys in the to promote the tribunals same; and the dants and officers of the commanassist, whensoever public force to they may be required SO to do. legally In testimony of which the ment has been present judgsigned by the the court, and the president of register. Done by the couhcil of state at Cape of Hayti, Henry, the 28th the 8th year March, 1811, ofindependence. SIGNED- -Paul Romain, drew Vernet, Touissant senior; AnBraze,Jean Daua, Martial Besse, Jean Philippe, Jean Pierre Richard, Fleury, Jean Baptiste Juge, Mugny, Seerctary. Etienne We, the apostolic Prefect, general officers of the and the army and navy, the administrators of the finances, and of'justice officers undersigned, as well in our own names as in the names of people, of. which thearmyand the we are here the represen- Touissant senior; AnBraze,Jean Daua, Martial Besse, Jean Philippe, Jean Pierre Richard, Fleury, Jean Baptiste Juge, Mugny, Seerctary. Etienne We, the apostolic Prefect, general officers of the and the army and navy, the administrators of the finances, and of'justice officers undersigned, as well in our own names as in the names of people, of. which thearmyand the we are here the represen- --- Page 166 --- tatives, do join, in heartand soul, with the council of state, for the proclamation of Heny Clristople, king of his majesty such being our wish and that of the Hayti, and of the army, for a long time people, past. Prefect; N.JouC. Brelle, Apostolic Lieut. Generals; Pierre chim Rouanez, Touissant, Raphael, Louis Achille, Charles Carlot, Cottercau, Jasmin, Prevost, Dupont, Charles Pierre, Guerrier, Simon, Placide Lebrun, Field Marshals; Bastien, Jean Baptiste, Pierre St. Jean, Rear Admirals; Almanjor, jun. Henry Proia, Chevalier, Papalier, Raimond, Sicard, Ferrier, Dosson, Caze, Brigadier Generals ; Bastien Fabien, Cadet Antoine, Bernardine Sprez, Commanders in the Nacy ; Stanislas, Latortue, Delon, InJoseph Latortue, Comptrollers: Jean Baptiste, Petit Treasurer; spector; Domains; L. P. A. Charrier, Director of Director of Customs; Boyer', Raphael, Keeper of the Central Tarehouse; Juste --- Page 167 --- Hngonin, Commisary General ment ; Isaac, of GovernJusticegf the Peace; Charlatte, Notaries; Lagrone, Gozernment. Dupayl, Interpreter of The 6th of April was the for the day chosen publication of the The council of constitution. state in the commissary grand assembly; general of bearing the government, original of the Jaw; the constitutional governor of the cers capital, the offiof'thestaff, and those of the in garrison at the regiments capital; the oflicers of administration, the members of the nals, the advocates; tributhe chants of Hayti, principle merand a multitude of foreigners; besides respectable ranks and degrees, citizens of all together, all mixed and blended animated with the joy, which was liveliest then depicted in their looks, repaired, at the sound of music, to all the warlike ways, and heard public places and crossread to them copics of --- Page 168 --- address from the council of state to the the people, as follows. State, to the People, and T'he Council of to the Army and Nury of Hajti FELLOW CITIZENS, are once more Your representatives assembled for the purpose of revising the February, constitution ofllayti,ofthel7th' 1807,Anno 4. Having to pronounce upon dearest interests, they have done SO your of which with all the zeal and patriotism To justify your confithey are capable. they have called upon the most endence, they have matured, lightened Haytians; that form of in the silence of the cabinet, which is adapted to the coungovernment have never try that gare us birth : they with which lost sight of your happiness, connected, and now they areindispensably to you the fruit of their labours. present menaced by the conWhen the state, . Having to pronounce upon dearest interests, they have done SO your of which with all the zeal and patriotism To justify your confithey are capable. they have called upon the most endence, they have matured, lightened Haytians; that form of in the silence of the cabinet, which is adapted to the coungovernment have never try that gare us birth : they with which lost sight of your happiness, connected, and now they areindispensably to you the fruit of their labours. present menaced by the conWhen the state, --- Page 169 --- spiracies which were formed in breast, and lighted its very up by our cruel veterate enemies, andinof chaos and presented only a picture general disorder, the man who great governs us perceived the sity of a social pact, necesunite all those around which might Haytians 4 for whom name of country is not the he convoked an empty sound: his us, and we hastened to second views, and to offer to laws, which has you the code of now been amended. We did not at that time fact that this work disguise the plished: was not entirely accomwe thought that the proclaimed principles we might at least suffice for crisis in which we found the seeing the storms ourselves; ; and vessel of the that raged around the state, we reserved to the care of ourselves retouching our work, of fecting and adapting it still percustoms, our more to our this manners, and our laws. In flattcring hope, we waited till the pest being allayed, and the temsky more SC- --- Page 170 --- allow of our resuming ihe rene, might course of our labours. Thanks to the tutelary genius of Hayti, thanks thanks to the supreme magistrate; his brilliant to his elevated conceptions, valour, his energy, his activity. Victory, faithful to his arms, has seated itself beneath-his colours; tranquillity reappears, order is established; discipline has been restored in the army and in permanently the fleet; conspiracies have been suppressed; the conspirators punished; justice has resumed its course; morals and instruction have been reformed; public cultivation and. commerce have been bettered; at length,happiness: and prosperity havea appeared once more, and promise a duration to the state; this we have lasting thought the happy occasion for perfecting the institutions which we had but roughly commenced, and we said to ourselves, the time is now come. Iu order to preserve oursclves from --- Page 171 --- those violent checks, those horrible convulsions which have SO often agitated and overturned this body politic; to curb that ebb and flow of passion, those plots ofintrigue, the fury of factions, and the tion of parties; in a reacword, to shun for ever that chaos, that confusion and perpetual clashing which result from those monstrous associations known under the name of popular bodies; ; we have felt the necessity of having one sole and supreme head, underwhose powerful protection theres shall be 110 more collision: : our hearts have been in unison with those of the and of the army, who have peoplé the conceived that government of one individual is the most natural, the least subject to troubles and reverses, and such as unites, in a supreme degree, the power of our laws, maintaining protecting our rights, our defending liberty, and making us respected abroad. But it was not enough to invest the of having one sole and supreme head, underwhose powerful protection theres shall be 110 more collision: : our hearts have been in unison with those of the and of the army, who have peoplé the conceived that government of one individual is the most natural, the least subject to troubles and reverses, and such as unites, in a supreme degree, the power of our laws, maintaining protecting our rights, our defending liberty, and making us respected abroad. But it was not enough to invest the --- Page 172 --- authority with a character grand sovereign such as to give an idea of and imposing, of to impress that rethe majesty power, inseparable from the royal authority, spect for but which gave all the latitude possible in recognising only the law doing good, be subservient to his will; it was necesto moreover, in the event of a vacancy sary consider the best method in the throne, to in order to obviate those to be observed, interminable civil broils, to maintain tranand the stability of the body poliquillity, succession appeared tic, when hereditary the most suitable to this important to us end. Passing from these high considerations others essential for the purpose of conto wehave ferring splendour upon the throne, lomnsogiodsibissitutiege an hereditary whose honour is to be their disnobility, character; whose fidelity must tinguishing above all proof; their devotion unbe their resolution inflexible to bounded, and --- Page 173 --- conquer or die in defence of that from which they derive throne lustre. their primitive We have analyzed the tributes and powers, the atdenominations assigned in every part of the world to these beings, born superior evidently to command their spécies; ; but accountable, at the to the Supreme same time, Onc, for all the benefits or evils that may result from tion ; and by our theiradministrastudy of the of those who have held the characters our island since government of fence we took up arms in deof our rights, and finally since expulsion of our enemies, the and the mation of our proclaindependence, we have considered, that the title conferred ofGoveror-general upon the pious, the upright commander in chief, Toussaint ture of glorious Louvermemory, and afterwards upon the immortal founder of pendence, our indewas in no wise dignity of the adapted lo the supreme magistrate, inasL --- Page 174 --- that such a denoininamuch as it seemed be suitable at most to an tion would only whatever: : officer in the pay of any power other hand, the magnificent title of on the in chief Emperor, given to the general although worthy. indeed of Dessalines, after the being offered to such a man, services he had rendered to the eminent and to his fellow citizens, yet wantstate, An emed justness in its application. to take thel lead of other peror is considered sovercigns ; or at least, SO exalted a dignity in the possessor of it, not only supposes the same dominion, the same power,and but moreover a real and effective command over different states and territories. the temporary title of President Again, given to his successor, the great Henry, chief, does not convey the idea our august and can only be applin of supreme power, met tocable in an assemblage-of men where the exercise of those funcgether, body. tions is necessary, or in a judicial of other peror is considered sovercigns ; or at least, SO exalted a dignity in the possessor of it, not only supposes the same dominion, the same power,and but moreover a real and effective command over different states and territories. the temporary title of President Again, given to his successor, the great Henry, chief, does not convey the idea our august and can only be applin of supreme power, met tocable in an assemblage-of men where the exercise of those funcgether, body. tions is necessary, or in a judicial --- Page 175 --- The example of the United ed by a president, States; governdoes not alter opinion as to the our the Americans, insufliciency of this title; ing the having succeeded in adoptfederative system, people, approve of may, as a new their ment; ; but we have present governfurther : and carried our views samedypothetical though we appear in the cans, situation as the Ameribeing a new pcople, still the wants, the we possess ive will add, manners, the virtues, and Ofall the vices of the old states. themodes of has appcared government, that which to us most a justly deserving gof preference, is one of a middle belween those hitherto tenor, Hayti: we have put in practice at observed, with the Montesquieu, * the excellence great monarchial ofa paternal govermentover other mnents. The extent of governHayti is.more the territory of mation of than sufficient for the fora kingdom: many of the Euro- * Montesquien, Esprit des Lois; Chap. XI, --- Page 176 --- acknowledged by all the espean states, neither the same extablished powers,! have the same wealth, tent, the same resources, We say nothing nor the same population. martial valour and heroie as to the same its character of the Haytian peoplc: the world! glory is known throughout of a throne, herediThe establishment in the family of that great man who tary this state with SO much rehas governed therefore, appeared to us nenown, has, duty, as a sacred and imperious cessary, mark of thenational graas well as a signal the tude. The purity of his intentions, of bis soul, are to us infallible fidelity people will guarantes that the Haytian have nothing to fear for their liberties, or their felicity. their independence, of the establishThe natural consequence mentof the thronehas been the foundation ofa rank of hereditary nobility, into which be admitted all such distinguished might important services etizensmelaterendeteli --- Page 177 --- to the state, whether in in the the magistracy, and profession of arms, or in science letters. It has been our to the splendour wish to add illustrious of the throne by this itself to institution, which will tend in excite a generous emulation, heartfelt devotion and a prince and to the service of the of the kingdom. If, to justify our choice, it were sary to cite necesthem examples, we should find numerous in history. How great men, the sole artizans many fortune, by the aid of their own by the alone of their genius, vigour of their founded empires, understanding, have boundaries;" and extended wide their the have given to their precious adrantages ofa people ordered, together with sociely wisely a taste for ledge, and the arts of know. out going civilized life. Withfurther back, we the striking instance may look at which to all his presents itself cotemporaries, of that extraordinary man, our implacable cnemy; he, aid of their own by the alone of their genius, vigour of their founded empires, understanding, have boundaries;" and extended wide their the have given to their precious adrantages ofa people ordered, together with sociely wisely a taste for ledge, and the arts of know. out going civilized life. Withfurther back, we the striking instance may look at which to all his presents itself cotemporaries, of that extraordinary man, our implacable cnemy; he, --- Page 178 --- thought meditates our destrucwhose every with tion, and who at this time reigns absolute sway in Europe; what such of was he prior to the commencement celebrated revolution, to the issue that eleraof which he owes his rapid Nothing but a slender reed, tion? existencé whose fragile and precarious then to all appearance very remote was such an exalted degree of from attaining Like those who glory and of power. raised him to the highest rank, we now of 'men, which we exercise the privileges derive from nature : afler having re-conand our inquered our rights, our liberty, it is our will to found, in this dependence, Monarchy: we new world, an Hereditary at Jength the, hithertô hasten to decide destinies of this country, by uncertain, is invested with the declaring that Henry throne is authority, that the sovereign and that the haphereditary in his family, is to be dated from the pincss of Haytians --- Page 179 --- period of the foundation of power in these territories. sovereign Fellow Citizens, in damental bases adjusting the funof the kingdom which have erected, we believe we the we have merited great confidence you to place in us. Ifa few thought proper lanimous traducers envions or pusilnew stand up against these institutions we have answer, that it is time adopted, we mains of to dispel all reany hope our enemies entertain. Should these may still have profited same enemies not by the terrible they have acquired, experience the blindness and should they, in of their rage, our soil with their again pollute bloodthirsty may they find at their battalions, people, who have approach a united of their already made a trial strength ; inured to martial discipline through intestine liarised to divisions, famiarmed danger and to war; a nation and readyto country dispute with them the they would invade! they will --- Page 180 --- monarch, ranking find a distinguished the worthies of the 19th century, among oftentimes crowned with laurels of victory, and surrounded with his now re-united, faithful nobles, ready to brave every for the safety of his danger, to perish and rather to bury himself under people, of his throne than crouch bethe ruins yoke. May the neath an ignominious people of beauteous Hayti, SO happy reunite with each favoured by nature, other around the constitutional law, a law which regard for their happiness, our only aim, first suggested ; may they swear to defend it, and then we shall be competent withstand all the tyrants in the unito verse, Fellow Citizens, we shall beabundantly rewarded for our toils, if, in the seçure of your rights, you shall find, in possession from them all the happiness deriving been desirous of enabling which we have new motives of attachment you to enjoy, with each favoured by nature, other around the constitutional law, a law which regard for their happiness, our only aim, first suggested ; may they swear to defend it, and then we shall be competent withstand all the tyrants in the unito verse, Fellow Citizens, we shall beabundantly rewarded for our toils, if, in the seçure of your rights, you shall find, in possession from them all the happiness deriving been desirous of enabling which we have new motives of attachment you to enjoy, --- Page 181 --- to the governmeut of our common country. Done at Cape Henry, the 1811, the cighth 4th April, year ofindependence Signed, Paul Romain, sen. André saint Brave, Jean Vernel, TousBesse, Jean Philip Daua, Martial Pierre Richard, Jean Jean Baptiste Juge, Etienne Fleury, tary. Magnay, secreImmediately after this address, Constitutional Act the people, who was read over to the and received the same with loud repeated acclamations live the King, of 46 Long long live the Queen, the Prince, and Royal Family!" In.the course of a short time the edicts of goverhment, public zation of the directing the organinew form of successively made their government, the celerity of their appearance, and detract from the publication did not wisdom of their contents. --- Page 182 --- KINGDOM OF HAYTI Manifesto of the King. SOvEREIGN of a nation too long pressed, a nation which has suffered opcruel persecution, and which, by its energy, its perseverance, its valour, and its has succeeded in prowess, acquiring, by thesword, liberty and independence; ; the only object ofour constant solicitude, of our incessant labours, for the happiness of the brave, and virtuous, generous people, who have confided to us their destinies, has beén, to give it a place within the always civilized pale of nations. It is under the present farourable circumstances, now that liberal and opinions. seem to efface the healing thosc disastrous memory of times, when the people --- Page 183 --- groaned under oppression sec the : now that we Sovereigns of Europe busied the welfare of their about it our subjects; that we deem duty to elevate our voice, to before the tribunal of justify, nations, the macy of our independence. legitiA simple statement of narrative of the facts, a plain events which have led our to independence, will suffice to prove to demonstration, to the universe our rights and the at large, We justice of our cause. will not attempt to give'a the deplorable sketch of situation into which were plunged before the we epocha of our emmancipation ; the world knows the space of more than how, for a hundred and years, we; groaned under the fifty of slavery, doomed frightful yoke to contempt and suffering. The tale of our long and thie picture of the horrible misfortunes, we have endured tortures that beneath the colonial tem, are the province ofour syswill transmit them history, which to posterity. deplorable sketch of situation into which were plunged before the we epocha of our emmancipation ; the world knows the space of more than how, for a hundred and years, we; groaned under the fifty of slavery, doomed frightful yoke to contempt and suffering. The tale of our long and thie picture of the horrible misfortunes, we have endured tortures that beneath the colonial tem, are the province ofour syswill transmit them history, which to posterity. --- Page 184 --- We hasten to emerge from this period of disgrace and iniquity, to arrive at the epoch when universal liberty was proclaimed by the agents of the French goand sanctioned by France hervernment, of connexion and self, during many years communication, of mutual and unintercorrespondence, between the gorupted vérnments of the two countries. We merited the blessings of liberty, by attachment to the mother counour loyal try; weevincedour, gnatitudcwben.redicel déprived ofall comto our own resources, munication with the parent state, we resisted every scduction ; when, inflexible dcaf to propositions, inaccesto menaces, fasible to artificc, wC braved misery, mine, privations of cvery description, over her numerous and finally triumphed enemies, as well internal as external. We were then far from anticipating, reward for SO much constancy and as a such sacrifices of our blood, that, afterthe --- Page 185 --- lapse of twelve the years, and in a manner most barbarous, France would to ravish from us that desire all possessions, most precious of Liberty, Under the administration of the Governor General, Toussaint Hayti was regenerating Louvertur, from her every thing seemed to ashes; futurity. The promise us a happy arrival of General ville made a total Hedouchange in the aspect of aflairs, and gave a mortal blow to public tranquillity. We will not enter into details of his intrigues the with the General Rigaud, and Haytian in how he succceded persuading him to rebel gitimate against his lechief; we shall go no to say, that, before he further than this quitted the island, agent effected the subversion order, by spreading of all of discord, among us the brands civil and lighting up the torch of war; ; and that it was not till of blood had been shed, torrents that could be re-established. tranquillity --- Page 186 --- intent upon the work of reAlways Toussaint Loustoration, the Governor, verture, under his paternal administration, had reinstated, in. full force, law, morals, rcligion, education, and industry ; agriculHe ture and commerce were flourishing. favoured the white colonists, particularly Indeed, his attentions and the planters. had been carried to such a partialities that he was loudly blamed for enlength, more affection for them than tertaining colour. Nor was this for those of his own without foundation; for, a few reproach thearrival ofthe French, he months before immolated his own nephew, General who had disregarded the orders he Moyse, of the colohad given for the protection nists. That act of the governor, added to confidence he had placed in the the great French authorities, was the principal cause of the feeble resistance the French encountered in Hayti. Indeed, his confidence authoritics was such, that he had in these taining colour. Nor was this for those of his own without foundation; for, a few reproach thearrival ofthe French, he months before immolated his own nephew, General who had disregarded the orders he Moyse, of the colohad given for the protection nists. That act of the governor, added to confidence he had placed in the the great French authorities, was the principal cause of the feeble resistance the French encountered in Hayti. Indeed, his confidence authoritics was such, that he had in these --- Page 187 --- discharged the greater part of the troops, and sent them back regular of the soil. to the tillage Such was the situation of the peace of Amiens things, when was was hardly negociating. It concluded, beforea formidable armament disembarked extent of our upon the whole coasts a numerous which took us by army, we thought surprise at the moment ourselves in the most security, and perfect plunged us at once into abyss of calamity. an Posterity will scarcely an enlightened credit, that in age, when was generally diffused philanthropy an among mnankind, enterprise SO abominable should have taken place. It was ever of an from the midst barbarians intelligent pcople that this swarm of issued forth with the criminal design of exterminating a civilized and peaceable nation, or for ever in replunging them slavery and It was not bondage. enough to come with a --- Page 188 --- strong hand ; it was necessary, the better to insure success to the expedition, to emperfidious and infamous means;it was ploy necessary to SOW disunion amongst us, as diversion in favour of their dea. salutary structive projects. They neglected nothing altain their exccrable ends. The chiefs to of both colours who were to be found in France, the sons ofthe Governor Louverwere into the service ture himself, pressed for. the expedition. They were, like ourselves, cajoled by the proclamation of the First Consul, a masterpiece of perfidy, in which he told us, c6 You are all equal and the A and free. before God before Republic?" At the same time that the instructions of General Leclerc were expressly in favour It was not enough to call of slavery. men to witness his falsehood, but upon too must be insulted by this the, Divinity horrible and blasphemous appeal. The major part of the population, deceived by fallacious promises, accustomed --- Page 189 --- for ages to consider submitted without themselves às French, the governor himself resistance. So litle did enemy to, combat, expect to have any orders that he bad to his given no altack. When general to resist, in case' of the French descried, he was squadron was eastern side of making the circuit ofthe the island ; if some resisted, it was ouly in generals menaces and hostile consequence of the them lo manner surrender, which ofsummoning counsel of their made them take the cireumstances duty, their honour, and in which placed. they were As evidence of the truth tions, we refer to the of these asserprinted and annexed original documents; from No. 1 to to these presents, After Idinclsively. some months vernor General resistancey the Goentreaties of yielded to the pressing solemn General Leclerc, and to his of protestations that the liberty was the basis of maintenahce his M instructions, made them take the cireumstances duty, their honour, and in which placed. they were As evidence of the truth tions, we refer to the of these asserprinted and annexed original documents; from No. 1 to to these presents, After Idinclsively. some months vernor General resistancey the Goentreaties of yielded to the pressing solemn General Leclerc, and to his of protestations that the liberty was the basis of maintenahce his M instructions, --- Page 190 --- France would never violate its and that beautiful work. Peace was negotiated most this footing, and the with the French on Toussaint resigned his authority, Governor' to the retreat which and retired penceably he had chosen. succeeded in Scarcely had the French their dominion over the whole extending and persuasion island, more by cunning the force of thair arms, when they. than by execution their frightful began to put.in system ofs slavery and destruction. towards this object, they reAs a step Toussaint Lousolved to arrest Governor a A forged correspondence, verture; ; they and machiave- (composed by mercenary him deto lian scribblers); ; they imputed which never entered his head ; they signs him from his habitation at kidnapped in the full faith Pongaudin, while reposing loaded with fellers, he was dragoftreatics; board the Heroand ged, with his family,on knows transported to France. All Europe --- Page 191 --- how he terminated his in the torments unfortunate career and horrors of the dungeons of the Chateau de Joux, in Comté, FrancheSuch was the reward bestowed attachment, and the on his services great and eminent he had rendered to France and the colonists. That moment was the signal of arrests throughout the whole extent of the All those who had shewn island. of strength of soul, intellect, or of when character, at the time we vindicated the rights of were the first to be laid hold man, of; they spared not even the traitors who most tributed to the success of the conmies, by French arinforming and advanced conducting their guards, and themselves down and arresting their marking At first they offered fellow-eitizens. them for sale in the foreign colonies; failing in this they resolved to project, convey them to where labour in the France, galleys, and in the --- Page 192 --- awaited highways, fetters, or dungeons, them. It wâs then that the white colonists, increased, whosc numbers progressively already confirmed, believing their power loudly. threw off the mask of dissimulation, of slavery, declared the reestablishment and took their measures accordingly. had the impudence to claim, These men men who had as their slaves, citizens, themselves by the signal recommended had rendered their country, services they well in a civil as in a military capaas magistrates; virtuous and upright city; whose blood A warriors covered with scars, flowed in the cause of France and had subjected to the yoke liberty, were again scarcely reThese colonists, of slavery. affected all those. seated in their estates, insolent with which airs of hanghtiness slaves. While masters always treat their yet bung upon a thread, they their power and selected those already marked out had rendered their country, services they well in a civil as in a military capaas magistrates; virtuous and upright city; whose blood A warriors covered with scars, flowed in the cause of France and had subjected to the yoke liberty, were again scarcely reThese colonists, of slavery. affected all those. seated in their estates, insolent with which airs of hanghtiness slaves. While masters always treat their yet bung upon a thread, they their power and selected those already marked out --- Page 193 --- whom they designed to be the first sacrificed to their victims revenge. Then arrived the infamous decree of Bonaparte, which confirmed the blishment of reestaslavery. The better to insult our misery, he also employed the same towards us mystic jargon which he used towards the people of to him habitual. Europe; for it was This decree was us by a traitor, who had sold brought short, by himself; in Herculcs, a black officer;. to sum up-all, his slave. The proud and liberticide the colonists, and faction of dealers in human flesh, which, since the Revolution, commencement of the has worried all the successive governments of France with their projects, most plans, extravagant and atrocious memorials, all tending to our this faction, destruction; brance tormented by the rememof the despotism which it had exercised in Hayti, wind agitated by a whirlofdifferent passions, employed every --- Page 194 --- that could be devised, to remeans them; gain the prey that had escaped under the Constituent AsIndependents Terrorists under the Jacobins; sembly; Bonapartists: they and, in finc, zcalous the mask of all parties, to gain borrowed their countenance and favour. It was thus that, by their perfidious induced Bonaparte to uncounsels, they against dertake the unjust expedition this faction which, after Hayti. It was furnished forced him to this step, having by the lists of subthe pecuniary means at that pescriptions which were opened In short, it was this faction which riod. fellow-countryhas made the blood of our flow in torrents; it was this faction men the unheard of tortures which instigated tortures SO which we have esperienced; but as could be devised by none frightful hardened by the practice. of the colonists, crime. Itis to the coloevery species of France owes the loss ofa numenists that --- Page 195 --- rous army, which met its fatein and morasses of the plains she Hayti; it is to them that owes the shame of an has imprinted enterprise which an indelible stain on the name of Frenchmen. Weare persuaded, after the cruel aience that we have had of expe- -animates these the spirit which colonists, these dealers and straffickersin human flcsh, and their vile stellites, that they will satheir usual once more employ artifices to involve the French cabinet in a new enterprize Ifever this against us. wecan enterprize take place, which hardly bring ourselves to sit IS to this cast, the believe, enemics of the race, that we shall be human we are very far indebted for it; for from sropeans, who imputing to the Eucolonial can have no idea of the system, of which we the victims, the have been endured. dreadful evils we have What interest could the people have in French vofa nation carrying war into theleart which was proud. of. its sub- , which hardly bring ourselves to sit IS to this cast, the believe, enemics of the race, that we shall be human we are very far indebted for it; for from sropeans, who imputing to the Eucolonial can have no idea of the system, of which we the victims, the have been endured. dreadful evils we have What interest could the people have in French vofa nation carrying war into theleart which was proud. of. its sub- --- Page 196 --- to them? What interest had they jection themselves in our dein coming to bury structivec climate, and to render themselves the tools and instruments of the colonists, and'to sale the thirst of riches and venwhich inflames them? geance However, the majority of the people began to take up arms for the preservalion of their lives and liberties from hazard: this first movement spread alarm the French, and appeared suffiamong serious to General Leclerc, to ciently cause him to convoke an extraordinary assembly of the colonists, in order to measures best calculated to restore adopt better state of things; but these coloa far from relaxing in their atronists, very cious principles, from the imperious sense unanimously replied in these of danger, words, 66 No slavery, no colony." As a member of this council, in vain we raised our voice to stop the completion and of the ruin of our fellow-counirymen --- Page 197 --- in vain did we represent of our country; free the excessive injustice of replunging in vain, apprised of the men into slavery; their love of spirit of our countrymen, denounced this measure as liberty, we the only means of ruining the country, it from France for ever: and delaching that Convinced all was to no purpose. there remained no hopes of conciliation, choose between-the bonds that we must and death-with arms in our of slavery our fellow-citizens, hands, we undeceived -who had their eyes fixed upon us; and in obedience to the unanitook to arms with the resolution to expel mous impulse, for ever from our territory, to our tyrants conquer or die. GeneralLeclere lndalreadyamonncel reduction of the island, and even rethe from almost every maritime town ceived, thea advocates of the slave in France (where resided) letters of congratulatrade mostly the conquest of Hayti, tion on pretended --- Page 198 --- and the restoration ofs slavery. Ashamed at having given rise to delusive expectations, chagrined at his inability to execute his detestableenterprises and dreading the ap: proach ofa terrible war, despair consumed his days, and hurried him to thetomb. F: Among the catalogue of crimes which signalised the administration of General Leclerc, his conduct to the Haytian General, Maurepas, would excite indignation in.hearts least accessible to pity-Maurea man of mild and gentle manners, pas, his fellowesteemed for his integrity by citizens, was one of the first to surrender and had rendered them a to the French, signal services; yet this man was suddenly carried off to Port-de-Paix, ,and put board the Admiral's vessel, then riding on where, after at anchor in the Cape roads, binding him to the main-mast, they, in fixed with nails such as are used derision, two old epaulettes on in ship-building, his shoulders, and an old general's hat on man of mild and gentle manners, pas, his fellowesteemed for his integrity by citizens, was one of the first to surrender and had rendered them a to the French, signal services; yet this man was suddenly carried off to Port-de-Paix, ,and put board the Admiral's vessel, then riding on where, after at anchor in the Cape roads, binding him to the main-mast, they, in fixed with nails such as are used derision, two old epaulettes on in ship-building, his shoulders, and an old general's hat on --- Page 199 --- his head. In that frightful cannibals, after condition, these having glutted their cious mirth and ferocxultation, him witl his wife and precipitated children into sea: such was the the tuous and calastrophe of that virunfortanate soldier. To the command of Leclerc Rochambeau. This succeeded monstrous agent. of Bonaparte, a worthy colonists, stained accomplice of the himself with every crime, sparing neither sex, nor he surpassed in infancy, nor age; cruelty the most accomplished villains of ancient times. Gibbets or modern were everywhere erécted, drownings, burnings; the most horrible panishments were put in practice orders; instead of by his vented a scuttled vessels, he innew machine of which victims of both destruction, in oneanother, sexes, heaped upon were suffocated by in the smoke of wholesale sulphur. In his sinsensate rage, he Cuba, at a great procured from expense, hunan blood- --- Page 200 --- hounds, under ehargeofoneNoills ofan illustrious French family (who was the first after the Revolution to betray his benefactors), and the human race was delivered to be devoured by dogs that will partake of their masof the frightful immortality ters. What was our crime? What had we done to deserve such a proscription? What! African be an eternal must our original Must the colour of our epiopprobrium? dermis be the seal of our eternal degradation? According to the exact return made by order of the government, during the months that the space of twenty-one French resided in this island, more than have 16,000 of our fellow-countrymen perished under the tortures we have specified. The cruelties inflicted by these moupon the children of dern conquerors blotted out the crimes of the PiHayti, the Cortez, the Bodavillas, those zarros, early scourges of the New World. --- Page 201 --- In spite of all their efforts, we have succeeded in expelling these oppressors from our soil. from ourselves for ever To guarantee the return of such barbarities, and unourselves from heard of crimes, to protect and injustice, we resolved similar perfidy throw off for ever the yoke of foreign to of this resoludomination. In pursuance on the 1st of January 1804, in a genetion, of the national representaral assembly of Hayti was SOtives, the independence proclaimed, and we pronounced lemnly and the oath to die free and independent, to submit to any foreign never again domination whatsoever. Like other people, our first years were from error and trouble; like not exempt through the vicissitudes them we passed inseparable from revolutions. accession to the throne, our Since our has been to elevate the name first object coland dignity of the people of Hayti; 1804, in a genetion, of the national representaral assembly of Hayti was SOtives, the independence proclaimed, and we pronounced lemnly and the oath to die free and independent, to submit to any foreign never again domination whatsoever. Like other people, our first years were from error and trouble; like not exempt through the vicissitudes them we passed inseparable from revolutions. accession to the throne, our Since our has been to elevate the name first object coland dignity of the people of Hayti; --- Page 202 --- vinced that good faith, candour, and probity, in our dealirigs, the inviolability of and personal rights of men, property, could alone attain that end in our internal and external relations; fully persuaded that it is the laws which constitute the happiness "of men united in society, our first measure has been the compiling of a code of laws suitable to our usages, our climate, and our manners. After assiduous application, with the inspiration and assistance of the Almighty, we have the fnishing hand to this at length put basis of our social edifice. We have constantly fostered and protected agriculture and commerce, the channels of public prosperity; abundant harvests have been the fruit of the toilsome exertions of our industrious cultivators; a considerable quantity of produce has been exported from our harbours since we proclaimed our independence, and particularly in the years 1812, 1813, and 1814, --- Page 203 --- foreign nations, who carry on a traffic by with us as safe as it is lucrative. While directing an anxious inquiry into the measures capable of reviving inwe have never diverted ternal prosperity, attention from the events which were our Europe, in the bloody struggle passingin that she has had to sustain, nor have we lost for one instant, of our sysever sight, tem of military defence. In this attitude we waited till Bonathat enemy of the world, should parte, and with his usual come to attack us, perfidy and force; not forgetweapons, his ting that, after the peace of Amiens, first object was the famous expedition for our extermination. But the God of battles, who raises up and casts down thrones at his nod, in his justice, has not willed that this oppressor of nations should accomplish this horrible We trust that his fall will give design. and repose to the world; we hope peace --- Page 204 --- that the return of those liberal and sound which animate the European principles the will bring them to acknowledge powers who ask for independence of a people nothing but to enjoy peace and commerce, which are the chief aims of all civilised nations. It is in vain to attempt, once more, by means of force or seduction, to make us return under a foreign yoke. We are in no danger from the absurd system of deceiving, in order to govern mankind. Inexperience, we come to the structed by knowledge of truth, of reason, and ofour own strength ; and the clouds of prejudice, in which our enemies would enwrap and beguile us, are vanished for ever. We can no more be the victims of our credulity and of good faith ; we can never forget that an attempt has once been made our liberty. Thel heart-rending image upon of the horrible torments which have precipitated our fathers, our mothers, our wives, danger from the absurd system of deceiving, in order to govern mankind. Inexperience, we come to the structed by knowledge of truth, of reason, and ofour own strength ; and the clouds of prejudice, in which our enemies would enwrap and beguile us, are vanished for ever. We can no more be the victims of our credulity and of good faith ; we can never forget that an attempt has once been made our liberty. Thel heart-rending image upon of the horrible torments which have precipitated our fathers, our mothers, our wives, --- Page 205 --- into the tomb, shall never bc our children, effaced from our memory. open to deception : We are no longer underhand practices of our enemies the made known to us'; we have have been the memoirs and the probefore our eyes Barré de Saint-Venaut, jects of Malouct, and the of the Pages and the Brulleys, other colonists ; the political creed many brokers of human flesh, these of these is well known to us. It counsellors of evil, in two words, slavery and deis comprised of the cri struction : we are not ignorant intrigues and the shameful practices minal of crime and falsehood ; of those apostles have taught us by their writings, they that we have more than by the tortures that the only solid guarantee undergone, existrights, of our very of our political of our indepenences-is the preservation dence. of the We.appeal to all the Sovercigns to the brave and loyal British naworld, N --- Page 206 --- which has been the first to proclaim, tion, the abolition of the in its august Senate, which has infamous traffic in Negroes ; in employing the ascendone still more, of of victory for the noble purpose dancy abolition to all other récommending the which she has concluded alstates with to the philanthropists liances ; we appeal nations ; in fine, to mankind at large, of all after the whole universe, what people, to of battle and bloodshed; twenty-five years their liberty and independhaving won will ever consent to ence with the sword, and become again lay down their arms, their crucl and the victims of the sport would We ask, what people oppressors? of baseness? No, stoop to such an excess out will breathe the last of the Haytians his before he will renounce his last sigh independence. the inWe will not do any power it capable of forming justice to suppose its hope of establishing the chimerical --- Page 207 --- by the force of authority in Hayti arms. that should undertake this The power would have to march a long enterprize, and carcases ; and if, after time over ruins it should displayed all its means, having itself master of the counat length make the flower ofits troops, try, after burying what which yet we hold to be impossible, with the loss of SO will it have purchased with the effusion of SO much treasure, much blood? to beIl would not be presumptuous Louis XVIII. follieve that his Majesty, the impulse of the philanthropic lowing reigned in his family, spirit which has ever the example of his unfortuand imitating Louis XVI. in his political nate brother, States of conduct towards the United will tread in the steps of that America, the indepenmonarch, and acknowledge It would be but an act dence of Hayti. the evils of justice, a poor amends for with the effusion of SO much treasure, much blood? to beIl would not be presumptuous Louis XVIII. follieve that his Majesty, the impulse of the philanthropic lowing reigned in his family, spirit which has ever the example of his unfortuand imitating Louis XVI. in his political nate brother, States of conduct towards the United will tread in the steps of that America, the indepenmonarch, and acknowledge It would be but an act dence of Hayti. the evils of justice, a poor amends for --- Page 208 --- suffered under the government of we have France. detractors dare It is in vain that our that we must not be considered still to allege, body aspiring to independence, as a political in the means to oband collectively occupied tain it. invented by the This absurd assertion, and base selfishness craft, the wickedness, merits of the Slave Trade, of theadvocates contempt and indignathe most profound and tion of the good men of all countries; belied by cleven years'actual is sufficiently and its happy enjoyment ofindependence There is no cxample of a people results. in cithat have made SO rapid a progress vilization. in fact, Free by right, and independent renounce these blessings; no, we will never subverted the never will we consent to see have raised and cemented by edifice we to the Memoirs of St. Domingo. * Introduction MALONET, vol. iv. p. 56. --- Page 209 --- without being buried our blood; ; at least, beneath its ruins. inclined to To the commercial powers themselves with us, we offer our connect of their property, friendship, the security to their peaceable and our royal protection shores who may land upon our subjects, their comwith the intention of pursuing laws affairs, and conform with our mercial and customs. a soldier by King of a free people, the we dread not war, nor professiton, have to fight; with which we may enemy declared our resolution we. have already in the in any manner, not to intermeddle, ; government of our neighbours internal and wish to enjoy, at home, peace we the universal tranquillity, and to exercise such laws for ourprerogative of making require. If, after selves as our exigencies and of our sentiments the frank exposure hostile foot of the justice of our cause, a in itself upon our territory, shall plant --- Page 210 --- violation of the rights of nations, our first will then be to repel the act of agduty gression by every means in our power. declare, that we will We solemnly become a party to any treaty, to never the condition, that may compromise any honour, the liberty, or the independence that, true to our of the Haytian people; ourselves beneath oath, we will sooner bury native country, than sufthe ruins of our infraction of our political rights. fer an Souci, of Sans Given at our palace 1814, in the 11th the 18th of September, and the 4th of our year of independence, A reign. HENRY. A (By the King) Comte de LINONADE, Secretary of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs. --- Page 211 --- From Sans Souci, the sd January, 1816. of the festival of our THE anniversary (written from the immortal independence has been celebrated with the above city) greatest pomp during two days. before, at sun-set, and the day The day salvos of after, at the first break of morn, saluted the beautiful day ofindeartillery pendence. Atseveno'clock thefivesuperb regiments household troops of the king, in of the of order, and the different corps the closest filed off from their barracks the garrison, to repair to the exercising ground. o'clock, the dignitarics and At eight officers assembled,vent to the palace grand Highness the Prince Royal, of His Royal of the army, to form his generalissimo and accompany him to the retinue, ground. break of morn, saluted the beautiful day ofindeartillery pendence. Atseveno'clock thefivesuperb regiments household troops of the king, in of the of order, and the different corps the closest filed off from their barracks the garrison, to repair to the exercising ground. o'clock, the dignitarics and At eight officers assembled,vent to the palace grand Highness the Prince Royal, of His Royal of the army, to form his generalissimo and accompany him to the retinue, ground. --- Page 212 --- The whole marched off to the sound of drums and music. On reaching the of exercise, his Royal place Highness ordered the manceuvre of forining the column to be troops in performed, and desired the populace to approach, in order to hear read the Act of Independence and the Proclamation ofthe King. The Chevalier de Prézeau, the secretary to King, read aloud the Act of Independence, and at the termination ofit, cries of Independence for ever P were heard in all quarters. Then Baron de A Vastey read aloud the Proclamation of the King, which carried enthusiasm to its height, and was received with cries of 66 equally Independence for ever! Long live the King! Liberty for everP These readings being finished, his Royal Highness repaired with his retinue to the palace of the King, his august father, to pay him his respectful homage. --- Page 213 --- a0 The dignitaries, civil and administrative officers, were introduced by the grand master of the ceremonies in the great saloon, and ranked according to the order of Immediately after the King precedence. made his appearance, having on each side the Queen, the Prince Royal, and the Princesses Royal. Baron Dessalines, major general, the Organ of the Peers, advanced respectfully, and addressed the King in the following speech : SIRE, To offer to your Majesty and your family, on the anniversary of the august immortal independence of our country, the tribute of our respectful homage, ofc our veneration, our fidelity and unbounded devotion, is to discharge the debt of our as the pledge of hearts unto your Majesty, our gratitude. --- Page 214 --- The wisdom of your Majesty's administration claims the affection of all Haythe esteem and admiration of fotians, reigners. Sire, your Majesty had scarcely concluded the preparations for the defence of our country ; your profound discernhad provided for all thatjs ment scarcely possible to foresee in the safety of moraily the pcople, when your Majesty, entertainthe noble idea of raising up the chaing racter of the nation, engaged in the introduction of knowledge into the kingdom, as the means of civilizing man.-You are desirous, Sire, of uniting with the sublime institutions which you have given us, and of adding to justice and morality, which have made such rapid progress amongst the arts and sciences, those amiable us, offsprings of peaceable times! All your Majesty's thoughts, all your desires, invoke among us unison and The Haytian pcople do that justice peace. Majesty which is but due, that, to your --- Page 215 --- districts of Haytians are not yet if all the has nevertheless reunited, your Majesty in order to acdone all in your power end; but, complish this most gratifying benefito the what must be consolatory that its paheart of your Majesty is, cent have not been thrown ternal advances of our breAlready the majority. away. been hurried on in error thren, who have who has by a vile and ambitious man their sacrificed all, are now about to open and to reto the light of conviction, eyes under the banners of unite themselves those of their Majesty, which are your of liberty and indepenown proper cause, dence. glorious destinies: Pursue, Sire, your that ever be to the Haytians may you which is to direct their steps great guide are about to com-' in the new career they steer our the by which to mence ; compass and glory, warriors in the paths ofhonour of the duty of a as well as in the practice the light of conviction, eyes under the banners of unite themselves those of their Majesty, which are your of liberty and indepenown proper cause, dence. glorious destinies: Pursue, Sire, your that ever be to the Haytians may you which is to direct their steps great guide are about to com-' in the new career they steer our the by which to mence ; compass and glory, warriors in the paths ofhonour of the duty of a as well as in the practice --- Page 216 --- father, good husband, and good good Majesty will find in your Haytian! your for all own heart the sweetest recompence troubles, for all your toils and works your that are imperishable. Permit, Sire, your officers to wish you and blessings of which all the happiness Majesty is SO worthy. May the Suyour Being preserve you many years to preme of the country, and the be the support consternation of our tyrants. Long live the King! Independence for ever! received the address of His Majesty the dignitarics and peers very graciously, and replied in the following terms : Dignitaries and Officers of the SIRS, bodies,-It is civil and administrative with the most lively acknowledgments that we receive the wishes you express our bebalf at the commencement of oll --- Page 217 --- Penetrated with the sinthis new year. of those wishes, we receive them cerity regard. You will with the most profound Proclamation of this day, the learn by our. state of the prosperity of the kingdom, and our views of augmenting its renown. shall be exerted toadvance All our power of the people; their fethe happiness their reputation, shall ever be the licity, and the object of our constant solicitude, vigilance and toil. end of our unceasing By promoting amongst you union, which creates strength, under the regulation of the laws ; by practising good conand the observance ofjustice and of duct, the equity ; by fostering and encouraging arts and sciences, SO as to attract the consideration and good-will of friendly by our wisdom, our good faith, powers, of our trade; by our and the security warlike attitude, and our stcady resolution; render ourselves worthy of liberty let uS thesc sublime and independence! May --- Page 218 --- sentiments be engraven on our hearts! gentlemen, is the end to which all. Such, our views and endeavours are directed; and this same sun that illumes with its beneficent rays theday we are celebrating, will rise ever beaming on us, and our posterity! @ The ceremony being over, the Prince into their carand Princesses Royal got riages to go to church, and assist in divine service. After mass their Majesties returned to the palace in the same orderin which they had set out. A splendid entertainment was served up ; the utmost gaiety prevailed during the repast; and afler dinner, during the dessert, patriotic toasts were and received with loud acclamagiven the flourish of tions, followed by music, trumpets, and salutes of cannon. At night the palace and city were illuminated in the most brilliant manner ; a , the Prince into their carand Princesses Royal got riages to go to church, and assist in divine service. After mass their Majesties returned to the palace in the same orderin which they had set out. A splendid entertainment was served up ; the utmost gaiety prevailed during the repast; and afler dinner, during the dessert, patriotic toasts were and received with loud acclamagiven the flourish of tions, followed by music, trumpets, and salutes of cannon. At night the palace and city were illuminated in the most brilliant manner ; a --- Page 219 --- E3 grand ball was given at the palace. The two days of rejoicing to commemorate our were passed in immortal independence enjoyments: : never was the most pleasing the court more brilliantly attended: the unanimity, freedom, and gaicty that prevailed, were proofs of the unbounded attachment which the Haytians feel for their liberty and their independencer --- Page 220 --- REFLECTIONS OF THE EDITOR happiness of a nation is Tur greatest that of possessing a wise and valiant King, who knows how to make his rights reabroad, and who studies the inspected of his laws with ternal administration and equity: this happiness we justice beloved Sovepossess : we have, in our wiseand valiant monarch: iti is reign, this he who by his energy and his courage knows how to cause our liberty and indeto be respected : it is he who pendence has by the wisdom of his administration attracted towards us the admiration and he it is who has esteem of strangers: fixed our instituamended our manners, tions and our laws, and who is still further --- Page 221 --- v a his benefits to the desirous, to complete into the kingdom the. full, by introducing his proteclights of learning, byaffording to the arts and sciences ; he it is who tion watches by night and day for the mainhe observes the tenance of our rights; of Frenchmen and of their partisans, plots them; it is around thiswise and to discomfit valiant King, therefore, my brethren, that all to rally and to fight until we ought latest breath, in order to establish our our rights, our liberty, and our independence! brethren, have not all of us Why, my this sublime thought? Why is it that one weak portion of the Haytians still bends under the ignominious yoke of a traitor? know not, all the while, the sundry They which Petion is covered: : do crimes with with their hands and they wait then till, feet bound, they are delivered up, before they will open their eycs? Has not Petion renounced real indeO --- Page 222 --- in consideration of retaining pendence the inonly one species of independence, teraaladmiaistratios? has he not bartered the rights of the people with an inaway would he not have delivered famous spy? them up to the mercy of their butchers, of risking his if he were not apprehensive and his existence? has he not safety privilege of trade to granted the exclusive France? has he not agreed that he had become Haytian against his will, through necessity, at a time when he could not otherwise? is it not he who would act serd the Haytians to the Island of Ratau? is it not he who has furnished Dauxion Lavaysse with all the plans and designs to reduce us to a state of for a conquest, slavery? Finally, is it not he who is perconspiring abroad and at home petually in favourrof the French? Meronet, Garbage, Tapiant, Liott, Dauxion Lavaysse, Catineau Laroche, the two brothers Pradert, are not these his agents and his ac- not he who would act serd the Haytians to the Island of Ratau? is it not he who has furnished Dauxion Lavaysse with all the plans and designs to reduce us to a state of for a conquest, slavery? Finally, is it not he who is perconspiring abroad and at home petually in favourrof the French? Meronet, Garbage, Tapiant, Liott, Dauxion Lavaysse, Catineau Laroche, the two brothers Pradert, are not these his agents and his ac- --- Page 223 --- complices? I should counting the never finish in reBlind history of all his crimes. must that man be who a monster. serves such We feel a great what manner curiosity to learn in Petion has kept the sary of anniverhe who independence at Port au Prince, had already sacrificed carried his it, who to be desirous repugnance to it SO far as not of inserting it in his pronouncing the word or hypocrite oflen writings : but as this sings his recantation cording to ache will have cireumstances, it is probable observed the day with much ceremony, to mask his in order, if iscrininalintentions lection possible, to dispel the of his intrigues recol: Lavaysse. with Dauxion We are informed past, he affects that, for some time in his speak against the conversation to French, with a view to attempt to regain that his treason popularity which forfeited; ; but every one se- --- Page 224 --- cretly derides him ; no one is the dupe of his fresh juggles; ; and they are right; for a traitor is ever to be mistrusted. We also learn from London, that M. Lainé and M. the Duke de Lewis, violent two ex-colonists, fill the highest situations about Louis XVIII.: these two tlemen, governed by the same views genlate as the Malonet, will not fail to make, with Petion, a new league against the and liberty independence of the Haytian pcople. Two vessels of war, it is said, have sailed from France with commissioners to confer with Petion ; we citizens of the west and enjoin our southern provinces to have their eyes open to watch Petion's conduct with that of the white Frenchmen, and not to allow themselves to be deceived by this traitor if as before; they have still the insolence to threaten you, to treat you as offending and to entrap savages, you, as the negroes, to be subservient to their own purposes, seize --- Page 225 --- them as well as that traitor Petion; deliver them over to us, that they may share the destiny of that spy Franco Medina, who is their accomplice! --- Page 226 --- a - o TEL C PT PEI GAZETTE OF HAYTI. ROYAL 4th JANUARY 1816, Thirteenth Year of Independence. UNION CREATES STRENGTH. From Cape Henry the 3d3 Janvary 1816, the Year 13. ALL the nations of the earth have had remarkable geras, to which they have attached celebrity: in order to perpetuate the greatest of benefits they have rethe remembrance have instituted festivals and public ceived, they the recreations wherein they might indulge effusions of their hearts. Religion, the wisdom of states, has consecrated these customs. is"in these public festivals that thc naIt 1816, Thirteenth Year of Independence. UNION CREATES STRENGTH. From Cape Henry the 3d3 Janvary 1816, the Year 13. ALL the nations of the earth have had remarkable geras, to which they have attached celebrity: in order to perpetuate the greatest of benefits they have rethe remembrance have instituted festivals and public ceived, they the recreations wherein they might indulge effusions of their hearts. Religion, the wisdom of states, has consecrated these customs. is"in these public festivals that thc naIt --- Page 227 --- - displays itself, the enthusiasm that tional spirit of in the heart is the certain testimony reigns attachment in the people to that affection and which is the cause of the general rejoicobject Having tbus premised, we shall proceed ing. of our immortal Into notice the anniversary celebrated dependence which has just been the kingdom with more pomp and throughout magnificence than ever! Indeed, what epoch should be more glorious than the aniversary of their Indefor Haytians the sole guarantee of their political pendence, Memorable is the and individual existence? which we burst and broke in pieces our day on is this day, on chains! Great and glorious restored to our true dignity, we have which, to the whole universe, ever sworn to posterity, than France, and to die sooner to renounce exist under its dominion. the details of the festiBefore publishing will before our readers the Proclaval, we lay and beloved mation of the King, our august the defender of our rights, the chief Sovereign, and of our and firmest support of our liberty. Independence. --- Page 228 --- Kingdom of Hayti. PROCLAMATION. THE KING TO THE HAYTIANS, HAYTIANS! THIS is the sacred day, for ever ble, on which we memoraproclaimed in the face of the universe, our firm and A unalterable to live free and resolution, independent, or to dic. and Independence! How Liberty do these words to us great and glorious recall sublime recollections! to what sentiments do they give rise in minds, and how our ought we to cherish these precious benefits, the prize of and our valour, our constancy blood! purchased by the purest of our Our first offer thought on this great day is to up our thanks to Divine Providence for --- Page 229 --- D the full measure ofhis benefits us, in poured out releasing us from the state upon and misery into which of ignominy restore us to a state of we were plunged, to to happiness. society, civilization, and This first duty being for us a second, fulfilled, there remains heart, which very dear to our is that of paternal situation of the laying before you the of the results kingdom in an of our labours for explanation you will perceive our the past year ; state of rity, and we shall make existing prospeviews known to you our ofintroducing into the and sciences, to kingdom the arts to make them encourage and protect them, bine flourish, and to all those employ and commeasures of wisdom contribute to the which can the happiness and Haytian people. prosperity of Relyingwith and confidence on generous efforts, we. are fully yourunremiting you will contribute convinced that the at all times to second execution of our us in apply to them the projects, and that you will of which same zeal, the same we have received ardour, ticularly in the SO many proofs, paryear which has just elapsed. all those employ and commeasures of wisdom contribute to the which can the happiness and Haytian people. prosperity of Relyingwith and confidence on generous efforts, we. are fully yourunremiting you will contribute convinced that the at all times to second execution of our us in apply to them the projects, and that you will of which same zeal, the same we have received ardour, ticularly in the SO many proofs, paryear which has just elapsed. --- Page 230 --- Resolved never to interfere but. in matters that concern us, solely occupied with the of care ameliorating our internal situation, and consolidating, by institutions and by laws, the edifice of our liberty and of our in 1814 we were menaced with independence; an unjust aggression; ; the French, instead of other nations the enjoying like advantages and sweets of that peace which they had just obtained of the High Allies, instead of applying themselves like them to healing the evils of of war, instead making some amends for their cruelties and injuries to us, by a conduct more humane and diametrically opposite, at first, attempted to revive their odious again turb pretensions, and to disus in the peacefulenjoyment of our rights; pretensions equally unjust, chimerical, and barbarous, devoid of every kind of and of reason ! Pretensions foundation as vain, as erroneous, as those which would arrogate to us the kingdom of France! D Our posterity will not have to for having been reproach us wanting in all that our our country, our dearest interests honour, to us; ; we have prescribed replied to their new outrages --- Page 231 --- - with the firmness and rize us, and thus wiil energy that charactewe ever repel all pretensions, all propositions unjust tempt of our offered in condence. liberty and of our indepenOur existence as a nation and being menaced, the as individuals making year 1815 was employed in preparations for war; our defence was wholly system of were finished, completed; our citadels perfected, and stocked visions and warlike with prostores; ; the army stantly on the kept conably war-footing, was again considerincreased, skeleton complete, corps were filled new regiments were raised, the up litias of the kingdom miwere newly a1 manner more suitable to organized in their our localities, and to destinations; the troops of the line clothed, equipped, and were musquets; the provided with new royal Dahomets clothed and equipped themselves cost and voluntarily at their own expense; ; we have decorated with cross of our order the many brave officers of corps as the reward of their this nent services zeal, and the emiwhich they have to render to their never ceased country. --- Page 232 --- Good order and discipline the troops of prevail among every description; they are constantly exercised in the maneuvres; parations of war are ; our prefinished; the whole lation is armed; our popumagazines are with necessarics to maintain provided out desiring a long war, withit, without provoking it, without fearing it: confiding in the most just of the future has nothing in it that causes, can alarm we may look it in the face with us: Our finances security. are in a satisfactory state. Without bordering on parsimony, the of the current year have been receipts sufficient to pace with the enormous keep expenditure to our state of war has unavoidably which given rise. Entirely warriors and agriculturists ture, by nanotwithstanding our military we have never ceased to entertain preparations for a solicitude cultivation, the fundamental basis of riches, that source from which our and flow the power prosperity of the kingdom. Commerce has continued to be nost lucrative. We are abundantly provided with of consumiption objects imported into the country. Numerous vessels of friendly powers have ef- pace with the enormous keep expenditure to our state of war has unavoidably which given rise. Entirely warriors and agriculturists ture, by nanotwithstanding our military we have never ceased to entertain preparations for a solicitude cultivation, the fundamental basis of riches, that source from which our and flow the power prosperity of the kingdom. Commerce has continued to be nost lucrative. We are abundantly provided with of consumiption objects imported into the country. Numerous vessels of friendly powers have ef- --- Page 233 --- EA fected the sale of their sailed again richly cargoes in our ports,and laden with Agriculture, that principal commodities. tional prosperity, source of our naby the willincrease still impulse We give to it, and progressively couragements and by the eninhabitants of the privileges granted to the mately connected country, Commerce, intiby its relations cess of agriculture, will with the sucby the profits, the augment itself equally persons, and of protection, the security of foreign merchants property, which we grant to who trade with us. Population increases by ness of which the degrees: the happipartake, is the different classes of sure guarantec ofits society The laws are regularly increase. trates ful6l their executed; the magiswith scrupulous duties; justice is exercised exactness ; the acquire the people daily their duties; knowledge their of their rights and of is public spirit is impossible to deceive them excellent; it true interests. respecting their History informs us that all their civilization, nations, prior to barbarism were sunk in the : it is only after the darkness of lapse of a consi- --- Page 234 --- derable time that they civilize themselves by ofknowledge, the effect ofintheintroduction struction and of time. With a view to discharge in the administration of a state, that prime duty instruction has particularly engaged our public from abroad for attention : - we have sought and skilful artists of every learned professors kind, in order to introduce into the kingdom the arts and sciences. and artists who shall estabThe professors themselves here for the purpose of underlish of youth, shall be partitaking the instruction encouraged and protected; , they will cularly of the utmost toleration : difference expericnce will be no ground of exnation and religion to merit and taclusion : we shall pay respect lents alone. The virtuous man, without any regard to the country. that may have given him birth, or the faith in which he may have been shall always meet a kind reception, brought up, and shall enjoy the advantages of protection and security which our laws impart to strangers of all nations who inhabit the kingdom. The places of education, the colleges, the and military school, will become the nurroyal --- Page 235 --- % C tos sery from whence are to magistrates of issue our statesmen, enlightened tary men instructed in character, and milithe art of war. During the given orders completion of our plans, we for have the making a constant construction of buildings progress in public cstablishments in necessary for the country. the towns and in the The situation of the such as to kingdom at large is present us only with faction. We are arrived matter of satiswishes, since at the at the summit of our year, we have the commencement ofthis new sweet satisfaction of nouncing to you the total anwar. extinction of civil This species of sions which had been insanity, this fury of pasis visibly kindled in some hearts, extinguished : people in the southern already a part of the themselves under province havé our ranged ready to unite with standard, and the rest are have our brave embraced the companions who rity, of cause of legitimate autholiberty, and say? It is their independence. What do I that own cause. We are also assured theHaytians ofthe western portionare like- of civil This species of sions which had been insanity, this fury of pasis visibly kindled in some hearts, extinguished : people in the southern already a part of the themselves under province havé our ranged ready to unite with standard, and the rest are have our brave embraced the companions who rity, of cause of legitimate autholiberty, and say? It is their independence. What do I that own cause. We are also assured theHaytians ofthe western portionare like- --- Page 236 --- to imitate the good example of our wise ready fellow-countrymen of the south. of the nation, our paternal afSovereign fection extends equally over all Haytians. From the south to the north, from the east to all of the territory form the inthe west, parts ; all its inhabitants tegrity of our kingdom equal claim to the benevolence have therefore of Hayti; for we have already reof the King that we do not peated, and we répeat it again, ourselves as king over a portion of the consider the but of territory, or of a part'of population, and of the whole people. all the kingdom, and Those who have been hurried on in error misfortune by an ambitious man, are much be than blamed ; a day will more to pitied and that day is not distant, when they come, discover their errors ; then will they rival will order to consolidate the rights and liberty, us in and independence of our country. Resolved never to be diverted from our just and liberal as it is, the only pacific system, heart, and one that accords with our paternal interests of the people, and satisfied the gencral displayed by the inwith the good intentions --- Page 237 --- - Me Ro habitants of the southern sent back to their homes province, we haye part which the troops of that happened to be in our ranks the events of the war, in order tlirough defend them, and in that they may testimony of their conduct, and of the zeal which good for the good of our animates them inbabitants service. The sailors and of that province which have into our hands have been well fallen kindly received treated, and by our orders: those who have manifested a desire to return to their have been sent back to the bosom homes milies. of their faHaytians ! such is the internal situation. exposition of our Our situation improves day. Held in consideration every we assume a respectable without, and within, attitude. The art which defends the military country is brought to perfection. The social virtues which form fathers of families, good good sons, and chaste spouses, are practised: Religion is our manners become refined reverenced; is ; the conjugal tie respected; the odious vices, the ignorance and of a barbarous offspring of bly thraldrom, sensidisappear, or are obliged to hide themselves P --- Page 238 --- darkness. The protection afforded to marin of vice, with the shame that riage, the decay is attached to it, ensure the progress of mowhich with the difference ofknowledge, rality, of a deto our attainment concurs powerfully of civilization at which the most polished gree nations of the earth have arrived. of revolution Haytians ! twenty-six years in the history of the world, thirunparalleled acteen of the independence SO gloriously have effected wonders! No, we are no quired, What prodigious changes longer the same men! been effected in every thing that surhave counterounds us! Formerly the dejected nance-the look fixed upon the ground-assioppressed under the milated to the brutes-and of the tormenter, we nevertheless exscourge extinct as to the world. We had isted, though these faculties were annihilated faculties, yet under the load of servitude and of ignorance! made itself heard, and sudThe cry of liberty With a denly we broke our irons into pieces. erect, and the look fixed upon countenance the works.of Heaven, we could contemplate munificence! Restored to the dignity Divine -the look fixed upon the ground-assioppressed under the milated to the brutes-and of the tormenter, we nevertheless exscourge extinct as to the world. We had isted, though these faculties were annihilated faculties, yet under the load of servitude and of ignorance! made itself heard, and sudThe cry of liberty With a denly we broke our irons into pieces. erect, and the look fixed upon countenance the works.of Heaven, we could contemplate munificence! Restored to the dignity Divine --- Page 239 --- CA MBono N 2i1 of man, and to society, we istence, our faculties acquired a new exdeveloped career of happiness and of themselves, a before us! glory unfolds itself Mighty God! Supreme the universe, arbiter of thanksgiving be ever unto thee! rendered Accept the solemn vows and ration we offer up to thee! adothropists! friends Virtuous philanof humanity! the work of your hands, the fruit contemplate bour and of your layour toils, still redouble, ifit be sible, your zeal and ardour to establish pospiness of the human the haprace! the Haytians will justify your generous efforts by their deeds memorable examples! and Henceforthi the calumniators of the species will have to argue by human cases of sophisms, and by exception ; instead of we will make replying to them, rapid strides towards Let them dispute, if civilization. they please, the of our intellectual existence aptness for the faculties, our little or no arts and sciences, whilst we ply to these by irresistible reto the impious, arguments, and prove by facts and by the blacks, like the examples, that them whites, are men, and like are the works of a Divine Omnipotence! a --- Page 240 --- officers, subalterns and soldiers Generals, by land and by sea, Royal Dahomets, magisinhabitants of the towns and of the trates, for the country, reccive our congratulations zeal and ardour you have exerted in seconding for the defence of our country, our preparations deserve devotion and patriotism your generous of the and the acknowledgments our gratitude country!. to the world, that all You have proved when manner of sacrifices are to you as nothing, of those rights which you the maintenance and from jusderive from God, from nature, tice, is called in question ; persevere always sublime sentiments, and you will be in these disdain that which pusilinvincible; contemn, valuc, Life and Fortune. lanimous men may without You Haytians, your true interests, all the others are as nought, are Liwhich, berty and Independence! with the same Our tyrants overwhelmed had afof calamity with which they weight to leave flicted the Universe, are compelled Once victims of our good, faith and us quiet. forget, that the first our credulity, let US never persevere always sublime sentiments, and you will be in these disdain that which pusilinvincible; contemn, valuc, Life and Fortune. lanimous men may without You Haytians, your true interests, all the others are as nought, are Liwhich, berty and Independence! with the same Our tyrants overwhelmed had afof calamity with which they weight to leave flicted the Universe, are compelled Once victims of our good, faith and us quiet. forget, that the first our credulity, let US never --- Page 241 --- RARO RN Slr be use they made of the last vour to deceive peace was to endeaus a second time in the perfidious manner. Can most selves to be we again suffer ourSO deceived? Which is us who would renounce he among his to return to the birthright as a man, condition of the the yoke of brute, under with tyrants P The very idea fills horror, and makes the breast us indignation! ! to heave with they They may frame new may metamorphose plots, sand themselves in a thoushapes ; no Haytians, fall into the no, never will we snares which for us! they may spread Haytians ! we have not to own happiness labour for our alone, we labour still for posterity. Let us our sacred duties impress our minds with the we have to discharge ourselves, and those in like towards given our enemies the situations; we have resolution, most striking proofs of energy, and not courage ; but this is enough, we have another test to wage with them. species of conthe wisdom of Henceforth, it is by our laws, the purity of manners, our virtues, the our merce, our constant security of our comefforts and laborious toils a A A - 1 Ase --- Page 242 --- for the prosperity of our country, that we will prove to them we are worthy of Liberty and Independence ! Liberty for ever! Independence for ever! - Given in our Royal Palace of Sans-Souci, the 1st January, 1816. The thirteenth year ofindependence, and of our reign the fifth. HENRY. By the King, the Secretary of State, Minister ofForeign Affairs, CoUNT LIMONADE. --- Page 243 --- TA REFLECTIONS ON THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. Axoxo the Calendar greatevents that tend to adorn the of the nineteenth tion of the Slave century, the Abolistained Trade, that odious and bloodtraffic, deserves to rank the first history, while the names of those in racters who have effected generous chadown to it, will be handed posterity as the benefactors human race! of the God, whose infinite wisdom earthly things by decrees governs all scrutable, for the that are to us inwise purposes, raised accomplishment of his alltion which up that terrible Revolushook the weight of his Universe; he laid the and mighty hand over nations to punish the Potentates their hearts. inconsiderateness of Established thrones were overAl A a - AA have effected generous chadown to it, will be handed posterity as the benefactors human race! of the God, whose infinite wisdom earthly things by decrees governs all scrutable, for the that are to us inwise purposes, raised accomplishment of his alltion which up that terrible Revolushook the weight of his Universe; he laid the and mighty hand over nations to punish the Potentates their hearts. inconsiderateness of Established thrones were overAl A a - AA --- Page 244 --- turned, others endangered, while were led into Monarchs captivity, or compelled as to fly for to exiles security a foreign land, and even the Head of the Catholic not empt. Church was exEurope, the oppressor of Africa and America, saw itselfin turn covered with and inundated with the crimes Sons. blood of her own Of this Revolution, a terrible of Divine Providence, dispensation undertaken by men with very different designs, what is now the result? The freedom of nations ! When the French coalition sO much zeal for the. operated with destruction of could it ever have England, the imagined that it was only instrument of her glory and The prosperity? supreme Arbiter of the Universe had. decreed in his immutable powerful and judgments, that the generous nation which was stem in its course the torrent to tating that was devasEurope, and to rescueher from the of the brink precipice, was also to be the first to stretch its succouring and protecting the oppressed hand to people of Africa and America. Noble and generous England, by the wis- --- Page 245 --- BRA CK RINA dom ofits goverament is become of the world, and the the mediatrix unite all nations ! common tie which is to Moreover, this great country glory, as the reward of enjoys eternal rendered to the the services she has tions who have human race, whilst other napersisted in to every claim of closing their hearts justice and stamped with signs of humanity, are mities of degeneracy, and calaevery kind are tories. aflicting their terriHow many favours do we owe to the nimous and illustrious magnaof Russia, and of Sovereigns of England, insisted Germany, for their upon the abolition of that having How many traffic! man of Black ackaowietgenents does every and origin owe to those illustrious venerable IxSTITUTION! philanthropists OFTHEAPRICAN Never did itselft to the any society devote more protection of a cause more just; never have holy and fended, more true Christians deat the same time charitably, more benignantly, and the cause of more zcalously for humanity, mankind, than our patrons have done; how distinguished many crimes and A a e Ase man of Black ackaowietgenents does every and origin owe to those illustrious venerable IxSTITUTION! philanthropists OFTHEAPRICAN Never did itselft to the any society devote more protection of a cause more just; never have holy and fended, more true Christians deat the same time charitably, more benignantly, and the cause of more zcalously for humanity, mankind, than our patrons have done; how distinguished many crimes and A a e Ase --- Page 246 --- transgressions are about to be banished from the earth, through the intervention, the vigilance, and laborious exertions of these men! Desolated Africa will generous no longer see her unhappy sons carried off from her shores : no longer shall they be torn from the embraces of their family, by all kinds of artifices, or of crimes to be doomed to perpetual slavery on a foreign soil ! The Brokes, those infernal slave ships, shall exist no more; ; we shall no more behold those receptacles of sin, of which the very sight fills one with horror, and the heart more than the speaks to eloquence of volumes could convey! No longer shall our brethren be heaped up'in those moving dungeons, loaded with chains, and overwhelmed with grief-I stop:-1 let me pause to recover myself. Sentiineuts ofindignation crowd upon me; tears of pity and acknowletlgment flow from the cital! ! Worthy and benevolent remen! Continue that task you have SO nobly undertaken, and you will carryin your own hearts the recompence of your good deeds. A new aera arises for Africa under the tecting shield of philanthropic promen : its inha- --- Page 247 --- ERA ERECRIREE a 1o bitants may breathe in the country the bosom of their pure air of liberty ; the sweets and they may enjoy devoting advantages of civilization in themselves to the cultivation earth, to the pursuits of of the and of art: : we commerce, of science, even indalge the day or other, they hope that, one the recollection may revive, by their labours, of our illustrious In' the irresistible ancestors. this world, march of the affairs of of every thing paints the instability sublunary flourish concerns: : empires rise and and fall, ledge follows decay. The light of knowthe impulse of travels, successively, revolutions, and globe. over the surface of the Greece, Germany, and Gaul, originally the seats of were not learning. Our pretend to have traducers and forgotten what the Egyptians Ethiopians, our ancestors, raca of were : the ThaScripture, that mighty was the dread of the monarch who interior of Assyrians, came from the Africa, as far as the columns Hercules, the records that of still remain: the attest their works, testimony of Strabo, and of other Herodotus, of confirm these historians of antiquity, facts. More recent proofs bear 67 A. AA RAO traducers and forgotten what the Egyptians Ethiopians, our ancestors, raca of were : the ThaScripture, that mighty was the dread of the monarch who interior of Assyrians, came from the Africa, as far as the columns Hercules, the records that of still remain: the attest their works, testimony of Strabo, and of other Herodotus, of confirm these historians of antiquity, facts. More recent proofs bear 67 A. AA RAO --- Page 248 --- evidence in our favour, and yet our enemies, feign to doubt all this, with signal incredulity, in order to preserve to themselves the odious privilege of torturing, and persecuting, according to their own will, one portion of the human race. foes to God and to These false Christians, assert that we are of a lower scale humanity, than the whites: many among them of being have been SO impious as to deny the identity of the human species, and absurd enough to affirm that we are on a level with the brutes, of moral and intellectual faculties. deprived maintain Our friends, the true Christians, with intellect, that our that we are endowed would are good, and that they natural capacities if we had the be equal to those of Europeans brethey regard us as their same advantages: hath created, of one blood, thren, for the Deity wwhole human race, to dwell over every part the of the earth. easy for us to reply to our traducers, It were of the assertions adand to prove the truth of the In all ages vanced by our patrons. havc existed impious and sophisworld there --- Page 249 --- AR a SA N - ar tical men; sceptics too, who ence of God, and of deny the existfree whom philosophers agency; to answer we have only to may do the same, and change places; ; mies as victoriously. SO reply to our eneLet us devote ourselves of letters, of to the arts and cultivation lope intellect; let sciences, which deveus store ourminds ciples of with morality and wisdom prinour zeal and ardour ; let us redouble to annihilate dispel the prejudices calumny, and soon shall that hover over us we have, like other ; and liberal endeavours, nations, by our our senate our house, our legislators, our historians, heroes, painters, our our. poets, our sculptors, and our learned Placed by Divine men. and amid Providence in a situation, circumstances more our ancestors, we favourable than make can more easily than rapid strides in the they let us then career of civilization : always bear in the elect, whom God mind, that we are hath SO many of our brethren chosen from among to who groan in manifest to mankind, slavery, that the Blacks by living examples, of his hands, are, like the Whites, the work and Almighty Power. A.44 3 As learned Placed by Divine men. and amid Providence in a situation, circumstances more our ancestors, we favourable than make can more easily than rapid strides in the they let us then career of civilization : always bear in the elect, whom God mind, that we are hath SO many of our brethren chosen from among to who groan in manifest to mankind, slavery, that the Blacks by living examples, of his hands, are, like the Whites, the work and Almighty Power. A.44 3 As --- Page 250 --- understand that we labour for We should benefit of the human race generally, for the for the White; for we are the Black equally as brethren: let. us recollect that African blood all and that we are under the flows in our veins, live of exerting our utmost efforts to necessity of socicty; our progress in the great practice that the more or less influencing the opinions Europeans will form of us ! We should understand that we are still surwith quicksands; that there are no rounded artifices which the intrigues, or schemes, or Ex-colonists or their partisans will French to obstruct the bark of lileave unemployed on its arrival at the berty and independence destined haven : there are no subtletics or abowhich they will omit in order to minations Ohorrible criminality ! they fetter its progress. Catholic were not ashamed to propose sending andl Romans, in order first to Priests, Apostolics, under the venerable garb ofreligion, our seduce, and then to sink it by degrees into populatiou, O abomination! O sathe horrors of slavery! conduct! The ministers of the God crilegious of and of charity have dared to become peace --- Page 251 --- - REF 1K - RECAL a r the willing instruments of the vengeance and passions, the lonists!! barbarity of French Ex-coDescendants of thren, the friends of Africans, my brethat tweare humanity have asserted susceptible of Whites; ; our traducers improvement like the for us to decide the affirm the contrary; .it is dom of, our question ; it is by the wissciences, conduct, our success in the arts that we shall secure the and respected and illustrious triumph of our forever, themalice patrons, and confound, and our implacable lunfounded assertions of enemies. The Deity hath to granted us all that is accomplish this wanting rendered us free generous design, in and having stowing independent, and in upon us a wise and bewho is ever liberal Monarch, vigilant to wants, We are aware of administer to our his great and tentions; he has always good inwards us : what he has manifested them tosure guarantee of already effected is the what he can still do for happiness and glory of the the might he not have people. Ah! what by the done, bad he been seconded generality of onej portionof Haytians? Why will fourfellow-citisenst be deceived by A 20 2A- 2 A11 eral Monarch, vigilant to wants, We are aware of administer to our his great and tentions; he has always good inwards us : what he has manifested them tosure guarantee of already effected is the what he can still do for happiness and glory of the the might he not have people. Ah! what by the done, bad he been seconded generality of onej portionof Haytians? Why will fourfellow-citisenst be deceived by A 20 2A- 2 A11 --- Page 252 --- of a hypocrite, a traitor won over the seduction by the Ex-colonists, endeavourtotheir purposes in order to render the nation, ing to. demoraiize and subservient to the cause of our tyrants, it in plunging it into an abyss finally to succeed makes the heart to of evils? The very idea souls with bitterness : let us bleed, and fills our sensible of will become hope that our brethren their and that they will return to their errors,' to labour with us in promoting true interests, and of the great cause of humanity the triumph of religion. the AboliIn concluding our reflections on of the Slave Trade, we acquit ourselves of tion consecrating here the namesoftheillusadutyin of the AFRICAN INSTITUTION, trious members to effect the abowho have mainly contributed criminal, and bloodlition of this inhuman, traffic! It is a feeble homage we pay stained labours! May the names of to their immortal be and benevolent characters these generous Haytian, to be engraven on the heart of every from age to age in the recollecperpetuated and of the remotest tion of our offspring posterity! --- Page 253 --- PATRON AND His PRESIDENT, Highness the DUKE of GLOUCESTER, VICE PRESIDENTS. His Grace the The Most Archbishop of Canterbary. Honourable the The Right Honourable Marquise sof Lansdown, The Right the Earl of Bristol, Honourable Earl The Right Honourable Spencer. The Right Earl Grosvenor, The Honodrable Earl of Right Honourable Rossyln. The Right Earl Grey, Honourable Earl The Right Honourable Moira. The Right Earl of Selkirk. The Honourable Earl of Caledon. Right Honourable Viscount The Right Ionourable Milton. The' Lord Viscouut Valentia. Bishop of The Lord Durham. Bishop of Bathi and The Lord Wells. Bishop of St. The Right David's. The Right Honourable Lord Holland. The Right Honourable Lord Grenville, Honourable Lord Calthorpe. Q a A AlaeAn AA R --- Page 254 --- The Right Honourable Lord Erskine. The Right Honourable Lord Gambier. The Right Honourable Lord Headley. The Right Honourable Lord Teignmouth. The Right Honourable George Canning, M. P. The Right Honourable J. C. Villiers. The Right HonourableNicholasVansittart, M.P. Sir Samuel Romilly, M. P. William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. DIRECTORS. The Honourable Capt. F. P. Irby, R. N. The Honourable George Vernon., Sir Thomas Bernard, Bart. Sir John Cradock, K. B. Sir James Mackintosh, M. P. Sir Robert Wilson, K. M. T. William Allen, Esq. Thomas Babington, Esq. M. P. Charles Barclay, Esq.. M. P. William Blake, Esq. Henry Brougham, Esq. M. P. Thomas Glarkson, Esq. Colonel Dalton. Rev. Williain Dealtry. P. DIRECTORS. The Honourable Capt. F. P. Irby, R. N. The Honourable George Vernon., Sir Thomas Bernard, Bart. Sir John Cradock, K. B. Sir James Mackintosh, M. P. Sir Robert Wilson, K. M. T. William Allen, Esq. Thomas Babington, Esq. M. P. Charles Barclay, Esq.. M. P. William Blake, Esq. Henry Brougham, Esq. M. P. Thomas Glarkson, Esq. Colonel Dalton. Rev. Williain Dealtry. --- Page 255 --- Thomas Furley Forster, Esq. Robert Grant, Esq. George Harrison, Esq. Thomas Harrison, Esq. William Henry Hoare, Esq. Francis Horner, Esq. M.P. Zachary Macauley, Esq.. Matthew Martin, Esq. J.B. S. Marritt, M. P. Charles Pieschell, Esq. William Foster Reynolds, Esq." William Smith, Esq. M.P. John Henry Smith, Esq. M. P. Lieutenant-General Stevenson. James Stephen, Esq. James Stephen, jun. Esq. Rev. James Towers. Henry Warburton, Esq. John Whishaw, Esq. Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P. Ed. B. Wilbraham, Esq. M. P. James Rice Williams, Esq. A A - AB AAal a a --- Page 256 --- AUDITORS. Thomas Barnett, Esq. John Mortlock, Esq. B. M. Forster, Esq. John Thornton, Esq. Treasurer. Mr. Robert Stokes, Clerk. Thomas Harrison, Esq. Secretary. Messrs. Lambert and Son, Solicitors." Mr. Abraham Tattet, Collector. Charles Bala, Messenger. Buit Court, T.Bensicya Fleet Streat, and Snn, Loadon. --- Page 257 --- An n AA --- Page 258 --- --- Page 259 --- S a ALA E816 4426p --- Page 260 --- A A --- Page 261 --- y - 3 o --- Page 262 --- - - - a - 3 V - - e - - - Le - - - - - -

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@misc{rasin:doc:jcb-haiti_haytianpaperscol00henr, title = {John Carter Brown Library — Haiti Collection}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {Rasin.ai, via John Carter Brown Library — Haiti Collection}, url = {https://rasin.ai/document/jcb-haiti_haytianpaperscol00henr}, note = {Accessed 2026-03-25} }