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AN
HISTORICAL SURVEY
OF THE
FRENCH COLONY
IN THE
ISLAND OF ST. DOMINGO:
COMPREHENDING
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF ITS ANCIENT
PaL I TIC A L S TAT E, P O P U L A T ION,
PRODUCTIONS, AND EXPORTS;.
A NAR'ltATIVE OF THE CALAMITIES WHICH HAVE DESOLATED
THE COUNTRY EVER SINCE THE YEAR 1789,.
Pr 1 er H S 0 MER EFL E C er ION SON er HE IRe A USE S A.N J)',
PROBABLE CONSESZPENCESj.
AND
A DETAIL OF THE MILITARY TRANS:ACTIONS-
OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN THA.T lSLAND TO THE END OF 1794.
B'Y BR Y AN E D lJ!4 R I? S, ES-Q . M.P .. F .. &c.
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN THE WEST
. LONDON:.
PRI,NTED FOR JOHN-
CON TEN T ,Se
H A P. le
P'OLI7'ICLlL State if SAINT .DOMINGO, previous to
the 1789 Page I
C H A P. If.
From the Revolut-ion of l789, to the Meeting if tbe F-tfjJ General
Colonial A.f!embly 14
C H A P. Ill ..
Proceedings if the General Colonial Alfembly until Its final DiIfo-
lution, and Emoarkatt??f:./
I
{ .. -fir France, Augufl
179
0
- 25
c ... -IV .. .'
Rebellion and Difeat if Ogl, a free Man if CI)/our 39
C H A P. V ..
Proceedings in France-Ma}focre of C%nel Mat/duit in St. Do-
mingo-andfotal Decree if' the National AJ!embly if the 15
t
h-
. MaJ'1791 .- IQ - 5 I
Az
C H ,,0\
CON 1"' ENT s.
C H A P. VI.
Conflquences in St. Domilzgo of the Decree if the 15th if May-
Repel/ion of the Negroes' zn- the Northern Province, and Enor-
1nities comlnitted by thent-Revolt if the Mulattoes at Mi'rebalais
-Concordat or 'lruce between tbe:InhtJbitants of Port au Prince
.. a.nd the Men if Colour if the I I th of
by tbeNational Affembly of the 20th if September 63.
C H A P .. VII.
. .
Of tbe Mott:7!es.wbich induced the -if Cia/our to joinj!Je
.rvolted Negroes-Ca71duCl if the Britijh jor .the
Abolition of the Slave Trade, and of the Society in Paris called
Les Amis des Noirs-Letterfrom .. 4bbt! Gregoire to the People
.f!! Colour-:-Repeal if the Decree of the 15
th
May 179 1-
EffeCls of' that Meifu1:e- Civil War wIth. the Mulattoes re':'
. newed-Pori au Prince deJlroyed by Fire-.Cruelties
. 7)y both at Cape Fran'fois of'the Civil COln-
m!f!ioners 8 I
C H A P. VIII.
Reception and Proceedings of the Givil Comn1i1/ioners, and their
Return to France-National Decree if tbe 4th if April 1792
-Appointment ofa nerzv Governor (MoJ?!.. De.fpar:bes) .and
three other Com17!ilfioners (Santhqnax, Polv.erel, and At/paud)
.-:rheir Embarkation- and Arrival; witb a ft/ea .Bqdy_. if
7"roqps-Their violent Proceedings-Appointment, by the Exe-
cutive
C 0 NT ENT s.
cutve Council, if M. Gat?Jaud as ChiifGovernor, -in the Room
if DeJParbes-His Arrival,' and Dffputes with ,the Commff-.
.Jioners-Both Parties' proceed to Hoftilites-'Ihe revolted Ne-
groes called in to the Alf!Jlance if the Commiflioners-A genera!
Majjacre of tbe White Inhabitants, and Conflagration if the
'Town of Cape Franfois - '. 102
C H A P. IX.
S-ituat-ion, Extent, and general Difcription of St. Domingo-Origin
if the French GTolony, and 'Topographical Deftription of the fi-
veral Provinces into which tbe French Pql!ejjiolls were divided
Population, and and Exports-
COJnpared with the Returns of ]alnaica 122
C H A P. X.
- Emigrations-Overtures to Britifh accepted-
Sitttation and Strength of the Republican f>arty in St. DiJll1ingo,
--and D!fpqJition of the Inhabitants-Negro Slavery abolijhed by
the French CommijJionerS-Ar1l1ament allotted for the InvtljioJl
qf the if and .. the Mole at Cape
St. Nicholas-UnJucCififttl Attempt on Cape Tiburon-Furtber
Proceedings if the Britifh Army until the Arrioval if General
!Vhyte-Capture if Port au Pr'1zce I
C H A P. XI.
Sicknifs (lIJlOJlg tht! Troops, and the Cazifes
-Drctl4ful Mortality-Genera! If/hyte is Jucceeded by Brigadier
General
c 0 :N'. T .E N T S.
, 'General Horneck---Leogane taken by. the
ofLieutenan't--Coi.onel13rtfoane at Artibonite- Revolt
. if-.the ot St. ofJ::"ort
p(lralions by .Rigaudfor a. flcond Attenzpt OIl :fiburon--'Ihe Pofl
attac-ked on ChrfllmasDay, and carried ........ Difence and
Eflape if the Garrifln, and melancholy Fate of Lieutenant
Bajkerville-Lieutenant-Colonels Brifbane and Markham killed
-OijervatioJZs and StriClures on the Cf)l1duCf qf the War 16 I
.C ,If A P. XII.
Ancient State if the Spanijh Colony-'Tbe' 'Iorzvn if St. Domtngo
tftablifhed 'by Bartholomew. Columbus in I498-Pt7laged by
. Drake in Is86-Conjetfure:s and Re}leClions concerning tts'
,prifent Condition, and the State qf Agriculture in the interior
Country-Numbers and CharatSler of tbe'prijent Inha6itants-
'Their Animojity towards ,the French Planters, ant!:yealoujj if
the Englijh-Conje81urus concerning the future Situation of the"
whole Jjland;. and fame concluding ReJleClions 177
''Tableau ifu Commerce t!t de Finances de la Partie Franfoife deSter
Domiltgue - '195.
Additional 'er abIes
-
206
Additional Notes and Illujlrotio1Zs
P R E F A C' E .

SOON after I had puhliilied the Hiftory of the
. Britifh Colonies in the Weft Indies, I conceived
the defign of compiling a general account of the.
fettlements made by all the nations of Europe in
that, part of the New Henlifphere, but more parti-
cularly the French, whofe poffeffions vvere undoubt..:
edly the 1110B: valuable and produCtive of the whole
Archipelago.. This idea fuggefted itfelf to n1yi
mind, on furveying the materials I had colleCted with:
regard to their principal colony in St. Domingo ;'
not doubting, as the fortune of war had placed'
under the Britiih dOQ.1inion all or llloft of t ~ other
French i:f1ands, that I fhould eahl y procure fucll
particulars of the condition, population, and culture
of each, as would enable file to cOlrtplete n1y defign,
with credit to n1yfelf, and fatisfaCtion to the Publick ..
i an1 forry to obterve, that in this expeCtation 1
b 118.vC
have hitherto foun.cl rnyfelf difappointed. The
fent publication therefore?; is confined w.holly t()
St. D()n1ingo;' concerning which, having perfonally
vifited that. unhappy country [oon after tJ1e revolt
. of the negroes in: 1'791'" and fox:med
. there,. which, have fu.pplied me with:. Fegular
municatiQns ev-er (inee, .. I poffefs a mafs' of evidence:t-
and impor:tant dOc.u.nlents:. :t;Rotives for
thither, are of little confeq,:uence to- the l'ublick;, but
the circumftances which' occafionedthe voyag.e, the
reception I met and' the fifuation in. which,
found the wretched: I1.14abitants) cannot fail of
Qeing, intereftin'g to the reader;' and: I flatter myfelf'
that a iliort account of thofe. particulars,. while it
fome degree of authenticity on my labours$":'
will. not be. thought. an. impr.oper IntroduCtion, tQ:
my book,.
IN. the m'onth of" September" 179'1". "vhen I was .atr.
Spaniili Town in ]a.maica,. two French Gentlemen::'
were introduced to m'e, who. were juJl: arrived from'"
St. Domingo, with information:, that the negro naves.
belon.ging to the.French part of that iiland,' to the.
number, ... aaa was of I'OO,POQ, alld upwards
9
"
had.!
P R E F A 0
had revolted, and were fpreading death and' de[o-
lation over the' whole of the northern, p.rovince.
They reported that the governor-general, confiderng
the fituation of the colony as a common among.
the "vvhite inhabitants of all nations in the Weft Indies,
had difpatched commiffioners to the neighbouring
if1ands, ,as well as to the States of North America,
to requeft imn1ediate affifiance of troops, arms,
anlmtlnition, and provifions; and that themfelves
\vere dep"uted on the fame errand to the Government
at Jamaica: I was accordingly defired to pre[ef.lt
them to the Earl of Efhngharn, the comlnander in
chief. Although the difpatches with which thefe
gentlen1en were furnilhed,were certainly a very fuf-
ficient introduCtion to his lordihip; I did not he-.
htate to comply with their r.equefl:; and it is [carce-
ly neceffary to obferve, that the liberal and
nlind which animated every part of Lord
hanl's conduCt, needed no folicitation, ip a cafe of
beneficence and ,humanity. Superior to national
prejudice, he felt, as a n1an and a chrifiian ought to
feel, for the calamities of fellow Inen; and he :fil\V,
in its full extent, .the danger to which ev.ery ifland
in the Weft Indies would be expofed from fuch an
b 2 exan1ple,
0."
111
.
lV P R E F ACE .
'exanlple, if the triumph of favage anarchy .. over all
order and goverl1ment iliould be' complete. He
. therefore, without he:G.tation, aflured the. conl-
nliffioners that they Inight depel1d on receiving from
the government . of J an1aica, . every affifl:ance and
fuccour it ,vas in his po\ver to give. Troops
he could not offer, for he had them not; but he
[aid he \vould furnifh arms, anl1llunitioo, and, pro-
vifiolfS,' and he pron1ifed to con[ult with the diflin-
guilhed Officer cOll1111anding in tIle naval depart-
ment, concerning the propriety of fending up one
or more of his Majefty's :hips; the commiffioners
having fuggef1:ed that the appearance in their
bours of a few veffels of war l11ight "ferve to intinli-
date the infurgents, and keep. thetll at a difrance,
'\vl1ile tIle neceffary defences and intrenchments were
. n1akitlg, to pre[erve the city of Cape Fran90is from
an' attack.
ADIvfIRAL AFFLECK (as from his known
and ge:neral character might have been expeCted) very
- cheerfully co-operated on occafion with Lord
Effingham; and iifued orders to
captains of the Blonde and Daphne frigates to pro-
ceed,.
P R E' F A" C E.
ceed, in company. with a floop of war, forthwith to"
Cape Frans:ois. The Centu"rion was [oon 'afterwards
ordered to Port au Prince. The" Blonde being' COffi-
.manded by 111y amiable ,and lamented friend 'Cap-
tain Willian1 Affieck, who kindly undertook. to con-
v,ey the Frencl1 coil1miffioners back taSte Domingo".
I was eafily"perfuaded to accompany "them thither;
,and fame other gentlelnen of Jamaica joined the party &-
WE arrived in the harbour of Cape Fran90is in.
the evening of the 26th of September) and the hrff:
object which. arrefted our' att.ention as we approach-
ed, ,vas a dreadful [celle of devafiation by fire. The
noble plain adjoining the - Cape "vas covered with
allies, and. the furrounding hills) as' far as the
eye could reach, everyvvhere pre[entecl to' uS'
ruins frill 'fn10king, and hou[es and plantations at
that n1on1ent in flan1es. It \-vas a fight more ter-
rible than the mind of any I11an
l
unaccufton1ed to-
fuch a [cene, can ea:G.ly conceive.-The inhabitants
of the town being aflen1bled on t l ~ beach, direCted
all their' attel1tion towards us, an'cl vIe landed alnidft"
a crovvd of [peclators vvha, \vith uplifted hands and
fireaming eyes, gave vvelco111e to their deliverers (for"
fuch they confidered us). and acclamations of vivent:"
les Anglois re[ounded fronl every quarter. "
'THE
-p RE. F AC E.
T'HE governor of Ste Domingo, at that time, was
:the unfortunate General Blanchelande; a marechal
de calnp in the' French fervice, who llas !inee pe ....
'riihed on tIle fcaffold. He did us the honour to re-
"ceive us' on the qu,ay. A comnlittee of the cola..;
nial a{fembly, accompanied by the governor's only
ron, an amiable and accompli!hed youth *, had be-
fore attended us ,on board the Blonde" and' we
lnlmediately.conduCted to the place of their meet-
ing. The fcene wasftriking and folemn. The
hall was fplendidly illuminated, and all the mem-
'b.ers appeared in .mourning. Chairs were placed for
us, within the bar .. and the Governor having taken
his feat on the right hand of the Prehdent, the
ter addreffed us in an eloquent and affeCting oration,
of which the following is as literal a tranflation as
the idiom of the two languages \viII admit:
cc WE were not millaken, Gentlemen,
when we placed our confidence in your
generofity; but we could hardly
tain the hope, befides fending us
!It This young gentJeman likewife perifhed by the guillotine under the tyranny
<)f Rob:.:rfpierre. He was mafT'acred at Paris, on the 20th July 1794, in the
twentieth year of his age ..
[uccours,
P R EFA CE-.
fuccours, you would come in' perfon-: to-
give us confolation. You,' have quitted,
without reluClance, the peaceful enjoy-
ment of happinefs. at 'home,: to- come and:':
participate in the Inisfortu'nes of flrangers,.
and blend- your tea:rs WIth our's., Scenes of-
mifery (tIle contemplation of :which, to.,
thofe who' are u-naccuftomed.' to misfor-'
tune, is . conunoriIy. difgufiin.g) have not-
fuppreffed .. your feelings. You. have been;:
willing to afcertaia the. full extent of our'
diftreffes, and to pour into our wounds.::
the falutary balm of your fenfibility andl
compaffion.. .
cc TH'E piCture which h-as been" drawn"
of our calalnities,. you. will find has fallen::
fhort of the reality.. That verdure with',
which our fields: were . lately arrayed, .. is
vifible; difcoloured by the flames, .. ,
and. laid wafie by the devaftations of,war"
our coafts exhibit no" pr-ofpecr but that oft-
defolatioil. The. en1blems whic.h we wear:'
on our perfons, are the tokens of ollr:
grief for il1e. 10{s of our brethren, ... whoe
wcve..:
'YJ11
'.
P.R E F,'-A C."E.
were furprifed, cruelly a}faffinated,
by the revolters.
cc IT is by the glare of the conflagra-
tions that every way furround us, that \ve
now deliberate; we are compelled to fit
armed and watchful through the night,
to keep the enenlY our fancruary.
For a long' time paft our bo[oms have
been depreifed by [arrow; they experience
this day, for firft tinle, the [weet
en10tions of plea[ure, in bell01ding you
amongft us.
cc GENEROUS i:flanders I l1Ull1anity has
operated powerfully on your hearts
haye yielded to the tirfl: emotion of your
generofity, in the hopes of us
fronl death; for it is y too late to
'lve us from a contrafi:
b.etween your conduct, and that of other
nations! We wi.ll avail ourfelves of your
benevolence; but the. days you preferve
to us, will not be fuHicient to n1anifefl:
our
P R _- E A. C - 13:.
our gratitude: our children !hall k'eep it
in remembrance.
'c R'EGENERATED France, unapprized
tilat [u.ch calamities might befal us, has
taken- no- rneafures to proteCt .us againft their
effeets: with what admiration will he
learn, that, without -your ailifiance, we
ibould no lONger exifl: as a -dependency to
any nation.
-
,(; THE Commiffioners deputed by us
to the ifland of Jamaica, have informed
us of your exertions to [erve us.-Receive
the affurance of. our attachment and fen-
bility.
" THE Governor--general of this
whofe fentiments perfeCtly accord with
our own, participates equally in the joy \ve
feel at your prefence, and in our gratitude
for the affiftance you have brought
A T this juneture, the French colonifts in St. Do-
mingo) however they might have been divided in
c political
"
,
p. R - E; F- A . C' E.
01'1' fOrnler occahons,. feemed to
be foftened,. l?y the [en[e of common [uifering, into"
perfeet un-anilnity-o All defcriptions of perfons-
joined- in': . general' Otltcry agairi.ft 'the National
Affelnbljr; to whofe proceedings' were imputed all'
theirdifafters.. opi.nion was .indeed fo widely'
di1feminated, and. fo. d:eeply, rooted", as to create a
very flrongdifpofition- in' all clatles of the- whites, to,
r-enOllnce. their allegiance. to th'e' n10ther co un try.
The black. c.ockade was unive.rfally fubfiituted in':
place of the tri-coloured' one, and: veryearn.eft willies.
ill' aIr comp.anies, withdrtt feru.ple or.
reftraint;. that' the Britiili. adminiftration- would fend.:
an- armament to conquer the ifland, or rather to re-
its: voluntary; fUirender: fron1.- the inhabitants.
What they wifhed. might happen,_ they
themfelve.s to. believe- was actually in contclnpla-.
tron;' . and this idea. [oon became -re>' prevalent,: as:
.to: place the author' of this. work in: an awk-
.ward- :G.ttiation,.' The fanguih'e difpo:fition' obfervable..
in the French. charaCter,. has be,err noticed. by alL
who' have., viiited them i. but in .. this. ca[ their cre--
dulity grew to a height that was extravagant and:,:
'. rid iculous . -. By' .the . -kiriduefs . t.11e . Earl, of
. Effingham,
P R E F ACE.
EfEnghan1, I was favoured witl1 a letter of'intra, ..
dilC[ion to-the Governor-general; and lny reception,
both by 1Vi. Blanchelande and the colonial afTembly,
:was[uch as not only to excite the publickattentioll,
but alfo to induce a verygeneral belief that no corn' ..
n10n luotive"" had. brought D.le The fug-
geftions of individuals to this purpo[e, becalne per-
plexing and' troublefonle. Afil.'irances on my part,
tl1at I had no views beyolld the gratification of cu-
riofity, had no other effeCt than to call forth COffi-
n1endations on 111'1. It was fettIed, that I
was an agent of the Engliili n1inifiiy, fentpurpofely
to found i:he-inclinati6,ns of theColonifts towards the
government of Great Britain, preparatory to inva..;..
hon of the country by a Britiili arm"ament; and
their willies and inclinations co-operating with this
-idea, . gave "rife, to"l?any ftrailge applications which
were made to n1e; fame of them of : [6 ludicrous a
nature, as no powers of face could eafily \vithfiand.
THIS circumftance is not recorded -froni"the vain
anlbition of '{hewing _ nly: -o\yn rrhe
reader of the following pages will di[cover its appli-
cation; and, perhaps, it mayinduce hinl to ll1ake[ome
C 2 allo\vance
" ..
Xl
PREFACE'.
al1owa.nce- for that confident expectation of hire and
(p.eedy [ucce[s; which afterwards led to atten1pts, by'
Britiih arms) againft this ill-fated country,. with
th.atmuft. otherwife have beerl tb,Ou,ght at the:
-time,-as in the fequel they have unhappily
to t.he object in view.
TIlE ravages of the rebelli0 n:, d'u-ring the time-
that I remained at Cape Fra119.ois, .. extended in all
The whole of the plain of the Cape,
the e.x:c.eption of one plantation which adjoin.ed. the:
town" was in. ruins;: as. were like\vife the Parifll of
Limonade,., and: mofl: of the fettlemellts in the moun:.-
tains:adjacent. The Pat:i[hof Limbe was every
on fire.;, and b.efote my departure,. the rebels had'
obtained:' p.offeffion: of the bay and forts at l' Acul, as.,
well as the diftritts of Fort Dau'phin, Dondon".
La G.rand.e Riviere.
DESTRUCTION eve.ry '\vhere marked- t-h,eir progrefs):.,
and refinance feemed< to .heconfIdere.d by the whites.
n.ot only as unavailin.g in- the' prefellt
:but as hopelefsiri. futureo To.fill up the. Inea[ure.
. "of'
(If their' calamities,. their Spanilh neighbours ia tn'e
falne ifiand, with a- fpirit ;of bigotry and hatted
which is, I believe,. without .anexample in. the
world, . .refufed to lend .any ailiftan'ce towards Iup-
preilinga revolt, in the i:ffu.e of which common 1=ea-
[on ihould llave informed theln, that their own pre-
fervation 'v/as itnplicated equally with that of the
French. T'hey were even accufed n.oton]y offupply-
ing the rebels with arms and proviiions; but' alfo .of
deliv,ering ,up to tllem to, be murdered, man.Y un-
happy.French planters vi-ho: fled for refuge to the
Spani:lh territories,. an.cl receivin.g Inoney from. the
rebels as the price of their blood'. Of thefe latter-
charges,. however, no \-vas, I belie\t'"e, ever pro-
duced'; and., for thehQIlOUr of human nature, I;
am un\villin.g to believe l11at they are true ...
To 'myfelf" the cafe appeared aItogetlier d:efperate:-c
from the beginning; and many- of th,emofi: ,
able and beft infornled' perrons in- Cape F-ran9,ois.
(-fome 'of them in a fftire d' incon-
del1ce, .. :that they .concurred ill-this o.pil)ion. The ..
importers. of' EUl"op.ean. Inan:ufat1:ures,_
appre4ending everyh.our the deftructiou'of the town5)

XIV
P R E F.: A: C: Ea
as ,much [ron1 vvithin, as (roin the rebels
offere.dt:h:eir ready n10ncy at half
the u.fual'prices;' and applications v/ere to
tain_ AfHeck, by per[ons of aIL.defcriptions, for per-'
miflion to enlbark in the Blonde. -for
.o.f the colonial governll1ent obliged him
to their' folicitations ;' but 111eans were con-
trived to fend on board conGgntnents of .ill0ney to. a
great. am"ount; and I know that .other conveyances
were f9und, by whiGheffeCts to a .coniiderable .value
were botIl to J anlaica) .' _ th.e, flates of
Nortll America .
. ' UNDER thefe circumftances, it nat.urall y nc:"
cUfFed to llle todireCl Illy enquiries towards the Rate
of the coJony previous to "the revolt, ,and collect
authentick informatiol1 on the fpot, concerning the
primary caufe, andfubfequent pfogrefs, of the
.e.xtended ruin.before l11e. Strongly ilnpreiled \vith
the gloomy .idea, that the onJy of this: once
f10uriihing colony .. would [oon .be. found in ,the re-
cords of hifiory, I, de:Grops'that .my p:wn : Q011.o.-
. try and in .1atilentingjts catafirqphe,
n1ightat the fame time profit [0 terrible. an
exampleo
P R E. F. A C E..
> example .. My means',of information were too. va-
luable to' be negleCted.,.' -and. I determined to avail
.myfelf of them... . The' Governor-general furniilied'
me with copies of all the papers and details of
office that I [elicited,. with a politene[s that aug-
mented' . the favour.o The. fate of- this un,happy'
. gentletu'an,;' two'.years. afterwards gave me infinite
concern. Like. his . royal rnafter, he., was unfortu.-
.natel y called' to.. a ftation to '\tv hich' .. his abilities:
. were not, and" in .. times when perhaps no)
::abilities . would haye availed
'THE Prefident of .t.he- colonial afIembly;: at the'
tin1e of my arrival, was deCaducfh,. who. [ome'
time. afterwards took up his refid'ence, and held an.
impoTtant 6ffice".in. Jamaica. He was' a: man of very'
talents,. and. witliat f1::ronglyand.
cerely.attached to.the of which:),
if it vvere. pToper, ,1 could furni{h. 1.1nquePcionable
proof*.,. Thi&. gentleman .. dre,,, up,. at n1Y requeft"
a iliortaccount. of tIle. origin and grogrefs; Qf the. re-
*' 'He afterwards accolnpanied GeneralWilliam[on back to St.
was (or) as I have heard, bafelY .. ffil1rder .. ed),in.a. duel at :Port Prince, by 'one.:
of his . '. .., . , ..
- .
.xv
bellion ; and after' my retu'rn to England" :fayoured
.,me ."vith hiscorrefpondence. l\,fany:.inlportant ;ficts.,
which are given in this work, are given '6ft hIS: alL:"
th ori ty .' . . ;;; '.: . : . ,'"
..
;' "':-:-. '")
To M. Delaire, a of co.rtGderation.
in the town of the Cape,." fince
ed,. I b:elieve, to the ftate of SouthCai"olina, I 'was
indehted:for a'fimilar narrative" drawn .up -by himfelf
'in the,Eng1illi language; of which he is: a,
petent mafier. It is brief, b.ut much to the purpo[e.:;
difplays an knowledge of the concerns of
the and traces, w,ith great
afters to their [ource. . '
BUT ,the friend from whofe . knowledge I
have derived my chief information in all re[pecrs, is
the gentleman alluded, to in the marginal note to
p. I I 2 of the following lheets; and I fmcerely re-
gret, has [0 pur[ued him as to render
it improper in 'work to expre[s to hin1, by
the obligations I owe to his .kiIldnefs. After a nar-
row efcape from vengeance of thofe mercilefs
men, Santhonax and Pohrerel; he was in.duced. to re-

turn
to-St. Ddmingo, to look after his property; and,
I grieve to fay, that he is again fallen into the hands of
his enemies. He found means, however, previous to
his:prefentconfinement, to coilvey to 'me many valua-
hIe" papers; -and," among others, a copy of that moll:
'curious and important document, the dying
tion or tefiament of Oge, mentioned -" in the fourth
chapter, and printed at larg-e among the additional
-notes and illufirations -at the end of my work. .Of
this-paper communication of which,. in proper'
tinle,-wQuld have prevented .. the dreadful [cenes that
followed) although I frequently heard, I had
long doubted the exiftence. 'Its fuppreffion 'by -the
perfons to whonl it was delivered by the wretched
fufferer, 'appeared to be an of fuch m'onftrous and
unexampled wickednefs, that, I faw the paper
itfelf, I could not credit the. charge. - Whether -M.
Blanchelande was a party concerned in this atrociou-s
as my friend afferts, I knovl not. 'If he
was guilty, he has paid the forfeit of' his
crime; and although, believing hin1. innocent, I
mourned over 11is untimely fate, I fcruple
nly opinion, that if he had poffeffed a thoufand
the 10[s of them -all.' had not been'n fufficient
. d' . atonem.ent,
., .
XVII
...
;XVI!1
P R E F, A C'
atonement, in, fo enormous'a cafe, to"violated jut:
tice 1:
SUCH: were the motives that -induced me to
. take this Hiftorical Survey of the, French part of
Domingo, and fuch are the authorities' from whence
I
I have derived my information concerning thofe ca-:-
lamitous events, which have brought it to ruin .. Yet
1 will 'frankly confers, that, if I have any credit with
the publick as an author, I anl' not fure this, work will
add to nly reputation. Every writer mull: or.
Ink, in fame degree" with" the nature of his fubjeet ;
and on this occafion", the which I
bit, has noth;ing in, it to delight the fancy, or.
den the heart. The profp,ecrs' before ' u,s are all .. dark
and difrnal. Here is 110 room for tracin-g the .
ties of unfullied nature. Thofe groves of: perennial
verdure; thofe magnificent . and romantick
[capes, which, in tropical regions, every, where ,in"!P
vite the eye, and detain it,
is exalted to devotion, muft flOW give 'plae to, the
miferies of war, and' the horrors of pefiilence;;. to
fcenes of anarchy, defolatiofl:, and carnage. We
'have" to contemplate 'the human min.cl in its utmoft
x deforn1ity :
.'
P R E F A C E .
deformity:- to beh'old ravage man, let l-oofe re-
ftraint, exercifing cruelties, of which the bare recital
Inakes the heart recoil, and committing crimes waicIl
hitherto unheard of in kifi:ory; teeming
_-- alllnOnfirotls, all prodigiousthings,
AboIl1inable, unutterable, and wor[e
fables yet have feign'd, or fear c0nceiv'd!
MILTON ..
therefore that I can hope and expea is, that
7!ny narrative., if it cannot'delight, may at leaft in-
On the [oher and confiderate, onthofe
who are open to conviB:ion, this affemblage of
11orrors will _ have its eirett. It will expo[e the
lamentable of [olne., and the
\vickednefs of others, among the .reformer.s of the;
prefent day, urging fchemes of per-
feCliofl, and projects of amend.qJ.ent in the <;ondition
of hu-man life, fafterthan nature allo\vs., are lighting
up a fire between the .different :claffes of.
mankind_, which nothing but human hloodcan ex-
To tell fuch men that great and ,beneficial
Inodifications:in the eftablifh.ed orders of .Call
be effeCted by.a progreffive in the
d 2 fituatiou.
xix
xx P'R E F A C E.
fituation of the lower ranks of the people, is to preach
to winds. In their.' hands reformation, with
a fey the more defirutlive than that of tilne, mows
down every thing, and plants' nothing. Moderation
and caution they confider as rank cowardice. Force
and violence are the . ready, and, in their opinion, the
only pr.oper application for the cure of early and
habitual prejudice. Their praCtice, like that of
ether mountebanks, is bold and conlpendious; their
motto is, cure or kill.
THES.E reflellions neceffarily arife from the circum-
fiance which is incontrovertibly proved in the follow-
ing pages, namely,that the rebellion ofthenegroes in
St. Domingo, and the infurreCl:ion of the mulattoes,
to whom Oge was fent as ambaffador, had one and
the fame origin ... It was not the' 1l:rong and' irre-
fiftible impulfe of hUl11an nature, groaning' under
oppreffion, that excited either of thofe to
p-Iunge their daggers into' the bofoms of unoffendil1g
women and helplefs intantse They were drivell into
thofe. driven-by the" vile
machinations of men calling themfelves philofophers
(the profelytes and imitators. in -France, of-fhe 'Old
Jewry
P R E F ACE.
Jewry a{fociates in LQndon) .whofe pretences to phi ...
. lanthropy were as gro[s a mockery of human rea[on,
as their condua was an ou.trage on all the feelings
of our nature, and the ties whicll hold fociety toge-
ther!
IT is indeed true, that negro-rebellions have here-
tofore arifen in this and other if1ands of the Weft In-
. dies, to which no fuch exciting caufes contributed :-
but it is equally certain, that thofe rebellions always
originated among the newly-imported negroes only;
many of whom had probably lived in a fiate of free-
dom in Africa, and had been fraudulently, or for-
eibly, [old" into {lavery by their chiefs. That cafes.
of this kind do fometilnes occur in the flave trade, I
dare not difpute, and I adlnit that revolt and )n[ur-
reCl:ion are their natural
BU_T,. in St. Domingo" a- very' confiderab1e part of
infurgents> w.er(l-not:, Africans, bnt---Creoles, Qf
SOlne of the leaders were t8. 'i/ou.red don1e[--
ticks among thewhite inhabitants,.born 2nd
up in their families. A fe\v. of them had re-
ceived. thofe advantages,; the pervcrilon. ot.
11 d
XXl
. .
XXII p' R F ACE
'under their p'hilofophical preceptors, ferved. only. t'0
rende,r them pre-eminent mifchief; for having
been taught to read, they were led. and:
enab'1ed to promulg.ate, thofe p.rinciples and dotlrines
'\vhich led, and always will lead, to tIle
of all .government .and order.o
L:ET 'me nut be underftood, however, as affiruling
that nothing is to be attributed on this occafion to the
:llave-trade. I [corn to have recour[e to concealment
or fa\iliood. Unqueftionably., the vafl: annual im-
portatwns .of enflav.ed Africans into St .. D.oJ.l1ingo, for
many 'years previolls to 1791" l1ad ,cr.eated a 'blac:k
population in the Frenc'h pa.rt of that which
was'
3
beyond all meafure, .difproportionate to the
white ;-the relative numbers of the two claifes being
,as fixteen to one. Of this circumftance the leaders .
.of the rebels could not be unobfervant, and they
doubtlefs ,derived and confidence
from it. Here too, I .adn1it, is. ,a warning and, an.
admonition to ourfelves. The, infer-ence has, not
efcaped me :-it conftitutes my parting words
the reader, and I hope they.-ate not urge4 in
.
llaIllo
HAV1NG
p' R E F' A C:
, HA,VlNG' thus pointed' out the motives; wliic'h ill-
d'uced- me to' write the following narrative;:
fources fr.om whence. my materials, are deriv.ed,. and
the. purpGlfe.s. which I hope, will be. anfwer.ed: by
publication;. nothing but
the work, .. itfelf to. the of my reader ss,
which I do with. a refpeCtful folicitude .
LONDON"

Decem/;er:l 1796.
xxiii
"E R It A T A .
Page 3, line 4, for 1ft, read" t h ~ "
4, note (a) for oydonateur, read ordrmnatelJr.
5, line 16, for 52, readjifly-one.
ID, line 8, from the bottom: dele the words enJ1avld Mgreu, and plaee them
in the margin. The paff'age, as it now fiands, is wholly unintelligible.
J J, line J, for attending this, read attending it.
13, laft line but one: read the chief aim.
20, line 2, for in the metropolis, read of the metrop(J/is.
24, line 4, for in exclujion, read to the exdujion.
49, laft line; for Machiavilian, read Machiavelian.
86, line I, for apprized, read believing.
19, line 2 for eight, readJix.
-line 9, after governor, infert aClompnnied hy a fleet if thirty trnnJports.
132, line J 0, for fourteen, read jixteen.
135, line 5, from the bottom: after the word freighted, infert for Europl.
15
2
, line I, inftead of the whole of that exte1ifive hay, read the windward
paJfoge, and the whole if that extenjive bay.
A SH0RT
H I s T o R
y
OFT H E
FRENCH Colony in ST. DOMING.O, &c.
C' H A P. I.
Political State if ST. DOMINGO previous to the rear 1789.
T
HE inhabitants of the French part of St. Domingo,
" as of all . the Weft Indian Illands, ,;vere compofed of
three great claffes: j ft, pure whites. 2d, people of
colour, and blacks of free condition. 3d, negroes in a ftate of
flavery. The reader is apprifed that the clafs. which, by a
firange abu[e of language, is called people of colour, originates
r o ~ an intermixture of the whites and the blacks. The
genuine offspring of a pure white with a negro is called a
mulatto; but there are various cafis, produced by [ubfe-
quent connections, (olne of which draw near to the whites,
until all vifible difiinClion between them is loft; whilft others
fall retrograde to the blacks.. All thefe. ,vere known in St.-
Domingo by the tern) fang-nlf/les., or- gens de eoulcur, (in conl-
B man
CHAP,
1.
'---.---J
Inhabitants.
2
C HA P.
I.
'--v--'
H I" S TOR Y 0 "F
mon parlance they are colleCtively -called ?J1u/attoes) and it muft
be attributed, I pre[ume, to the greater difcountenance which
the marri'ed ftate:receives from the' national 'manners, that in
an the French ii1ands there people abound in' far greater pro-
portion to the whites than in thore of Great Britain. In
Jalnaica, the whites out-number the people of colour "as three
to one. In St. DOlningo, the whites ,vere efiinlated at 30,000,
the mulattoes,at 24,000, ',of whom 4,700 ,,,ere ,men -capable of
bearing arms, and accondingly, as a -di{tinCt people, actuated by
an ifprt"t de corps, they were very formidable. 'of the policy
\vhich it was thought 'necejIary in St. Domingo to maintain
towards this unfortunate race, I {hall prefently treat; but it
feems proper, in the firft place" to give fame account of the
fubordination in which, before the revolution of 1789; the
parent country thought 'lit to hold the colony at large'-
TH E government was exercifed by a Governor General, and
an officer called Intendant, both of whom were nonlinated by
the crOWD, on the recommendation of the tninifter of the marine,
and generally confidered as eftabliilied in their refpeCtive' offices
for three years. Their powers, in fame cafes, \vere adminiftered
jointly; in others, they poffelfed feparate and diftinCt
which each of them exercifed without the concurrence or par-
ticipation 'of the other.
IN their Joint adminiftration their powers \vere unlitnited;.
corn prehending every part government, and extend-
ing even to detail, in the minuteft branches' of finance and
police. They enaCted the laws, nominated to all offices,
and
S T. :D 0 M 1 N G 0 ..
and diLl:ributed the CrO\Vll lands as they proper. They
refpeCtive]y prefided at the fanle time in each of the fupreD;le
councils, or courts of jufiice in the dernier refort;, and. as
vacancies happened in thofe courts, by the death or removal of its
Inembers, they filled up the vacant places. Againft the abufe
of po\vers, thus extravagant and unbounded, the people had no
pr0teB:ion. Fortunately, it was rare that the governor
and intendant agreed in opinion on the exercife of their joint
authority, which therefore became neceffarily relaxed; and the
inhabitants derived [ome degree of fecurity the difputes
and diffenfions of the contending parties. In all fuch cafes,
however, the greateft of authority fell tD the ihare
of the governor. He was, in truth, an abfolute prince,
whofe will, generally fpeaking, conftituted law. He was
authorized to irhprifon any perfon in the colony, for caufes .of
which he alone was the judge ; and having at the fame time
the fupreme command of both the naval and lllilitary forc.e, he
had the means of exercifing this power whenever he thought
proper. On the other hand, no arrefi:, by any other
was valid without the governor's approbation. Thus he ha:d
power to fiop the courfe of juftice, and to hold the courts
of civil and criminal jurifdiCtion in a flavifh dependance on
pimfelf.
THE peculiar province of was that qf !egulat-
ing the puqlick revenues, or .the finances, of the
colony. The colleCtors and receivers of all duties and taxes
were fubjeCl: to. his infpeCtion and ,. He or,
rejected their accounts, and .fu.Gh as he .
B g alone
CHAP ..
1.
'--v--I
CHAP.
1.
\....--v--'
III'STORY OF
alone tbought proper. The application of all the publick
monies refted entirely \vith the intendant; - a province which
'created [ucll temptation to himfelf as no virtue could refift, and
furnii11ed fuch Ineans of corruption, as overcame all oppofition
froln others (a).
'FOR the better adminif1:ration of juf1:ice, and the eafier col ...
leCtion of the revenues, the colony was divided, into three
provinces; which \vere diftinguifhed, from their relative fituation,
by the names of the Northern, the Wefiern and Southern. In
each of thefe refided a deputy governor, or commander
en fleond, and in each ,vere eftabliihed fubordinate courts of
juitice, both civil and criminal; from whofe determination
appeals were allowed to the fuperior councils, of which there
were two; one at Cape Franfois for the Northern province,
the other at Port' au Pri'nee for the WeIl:ern and Southern.
They were compofed of the governor-general, the intendant,
the deputy governors, the king's lieutenants (6), a prefident,.
(a) The taxes and duties were laid and modified, as occafion required, bya
court compo[ed of the governor general, the the prefidents of the
provincial councils, the attorney general, the commiffioner of the navy (ordonateur)
and the feveral commandants of the militia. This court was dignified by the
title of the Colonial AJfembly, although the colonifrs had not a fingle delegate in it.
( b) Thefe king's lieutenants were military officers refiding in the feveral towns,
commonly with the rank of' colonel. There were alfo in each town majors and
IJjdes-majot-. All thefe officers were, wholly independent of the civil and
owned no fuperior but the governor-genera], who could difmifs them at pleafure.
It may be proper to obferve too that the cou'nfellors held their feats by a very un-
certain tenure. One of the governors (the de Rohan-) fent the whole
number fiate prifoners to They were feized on thei.r feats of jufiice,.and
put on board a fhip in irons, and in that: condition conveyed to Paris,- and fhut up
fQI a long time in the Baftile) without trial or hearing.
and
S T. D 0 M I N G O.
.and tV/clve counfellors, four affi.lfeurs, or 'affifiant judges, to-
getherwith the attorney general and regifter. In thefe councils,
or courts of fu pren1e j urifdiCtion, as in the parliaments of France,
the king's ediCts, and thofe of the governor and intendant, were
regifiered. Seven members conftituted a quorum ,for the hear-
ing of appeal cau[es; but a hint from the governor-general was
ahvays fufficient to render much iriveftigation unneceffary: and
it is afferted (vvith wh:1t truth I pretend not to deterlnine) that:.
befides their fiavifh dependance on the executive power, the
mernbers of thefe conrts \vere notorioufly and ihalnefully open
to corruption and bribery. An appeal however lay to the king,
in the lail refort; and candour conlpels Ine to obferve
on fuch appeals, fubfiantial was generally obtained (c).
, THE nutnber of the king's troops on the colonial eflablifh-
ment was comrnonly from 2 to 3,000 and each of the
52 pariilies into which the colony was divided, raifed one -or
more companies of w?ite militia, a company of mulattoes, and
a cC?mpany of frte blacks. The officers, both of the regular
troops and the Inilitia, were commiflioned provifionally by the
governor-general, fubjeCt to the king's. approbation.; but the
militia received no pay of any kind .
FROM this recapitulation, it is evident that the peace and
happinefs of the of St. Domingo depended very much on
(c) In the year 1787 thefe two fuperior councils were confolidated into one,
which held its meetings at Port au Prince, this city being the feat of government in
time of peace. In the event of a war, the governor-general removed to Cape
The true, though not the ofienfible, reafon for this junCl:ion of -the
cou'ncil boards, was an idea that a fingle board woUld be found more traCtable in
regiftry of ediCts and ordinances than two feparate jurifdiClions,
the.
s
C H A,P.
I.

:CHAP.
I .
.
.HISTORY OF
the pet[onal qualities and native difpofition of the governor,.'
general, ,,,ha \vas always {elected from the arnly. At the faI1?e
time it mull: be honefily admitted, that the liberality and n1ild-
nefs, which of late years have digni-fied and foftened the mili-
tary among an the nations of Europe, had a powerful
influence in the adminiftration of the government in the French
colonies. It muft be allowed alfo, that the manifefl: importance
to which, as mankind becolne divefted of ancient prejudices,
the cotnmercial part of the community, even anl0ng the French,
has imperceptibly rifen, infured to the. wealthy and opulent
planters a degree of refpeCt: from perfons in power, which, in
former times, attached only to noble birth and powerful. con-
nections; while the lower orders among the whites derived
fame advantage from that unconquerable diftinCtion \vhich
nature herfelf has legibly drawn between the white and black
; and from their im portanc.e, in a country
where, from the difproportion of the whites to tl:e blacks, the
:common fafety of the former clafs deperids altogether on their
united exertions. .
To contend, as fame philofophets have idly contended, that
no natural fuperiority can juf1:1y belong to anyone race of peo-
ple over another, to Europeans over Africans, merely from a
difference of colour, is to \vafie "\vords to no and to
combat with air. Among the inhabitants of every ifiand in the
Weft Indies, it is the colour, with [alue few exceptions, that
diftinguilhes freedom from flavery: fo long therefore as free-
dom be enjoyed exclufively by one race of and
flavery be the condition of another, contelnpt and tlegradation
x
S T. D 0 M IN G .. 0 ..
}Vil1 attach to the colour by vvhich that. condition is generally
recognized, and.follew it, in fome"degree, through all its varieties
and affinities. We nlay trace a fimi.1ar prej udice ~ o n g the
mofi liberal and enlightened nations of Europe. Although no-
thing [ure]y ought to reflect greater lufrre on any Inan tl1an the
circum11:ance of his having rifen by indufrry and virtue above
the difadvantages of mean birth and indigent parentage, there
are, neverthelefs, but fe\v perfons in the world who delight to
be reminded of this fpecies of merit. There is a confciou(hefs
of fomething difgraceful in the recolleCtion; and it feems there-
fore reafonable to conclude, that if nature had made the fame
difiinCtion in this cafe as in the other, and ralnped, by an inde-
lible mark, the condition and parentage on the forehead, the'
fame, or nearly the fatne, effect would have refulted from it, as
. refults from the difference of colour in the Weft Indies. I
Inean however only to account for in fame degree, not to de-
fend, the conduCt of the whites of Si. Domingo towards the'
coloured people; whofe condition \ovas in truth much wor[e.
than that of the [anle clafs in the Britifh colonies, and not to
, pe jufiified on any principle of example or reafon.
IN many refpeB:s their fituation was even more degrading and
wretched than that of the enflaved negroes in any part of the
Weft Indies; all of \vhom have Inafrers that are interei1:ed in
their prefervation, and many of wholn find in thofe mafiers
powerful friends and vigilant proteCtors. Although releafed
Irom the dominion of individuals, yet. the free men of colour in
'all the. French iilands were frill c0niidered as the property of
the publick., and as publick property they were obnoxious to
the
7
CHAP.
I.
'--v---I'
Free MUq-
lattoes. .
,CHAP.
I.
,
HIS TOR Y OF-
the caprice and tyranny of all thofe whom the accident of birth
had placed above them.. By the colonial governments they
were treated as flaves in -the firiCleft fenfe; compelled, on at-
taining the age of manhood, to ferve three years in a ulilitary
eftablilhment called the .marechal!/fle (e), and on the expiration
of that tenn they were fubjeCt, great part. of the year, to the
burthen of the corvees i-a fpecies of labour allotted for the repair
of the highways, of which the -hardlhips were infupportable.
They were cOlllpelled Inoreover to ferve in the militia of the
province or quarter to which they belonged, without pay or al-
lowance of any kind, and in the horfe ~ r ~ o o t at the pleafure
of the comlnanding officer; and obliged alfo to fupply them-
felves, at their own expence, with arms, ammunition) and accou-
trements. Their days of mufter were frequent, and the rigour
with which the I<ing's lieutenants, majors, and aides-major, en-
forced their authority on thore occafions over thefe people, had
_ degenerated into the bafeft tyranny.
THEY were forbidden to hold any publick office, trl1i1, or
etnployment, however infignificant; they were not even allowed
to exercife a ~ y of thofe profeffians, to which fame fort of liberal
education is [uppofed to be necelfary. All: the naval and mili-
tary departments, all degrees in la\v, phyfick, and divinity, \vere
appropriated exclufively by the whites. A mulatto could not
(e) It confifl:ed of certain companies of infanti-y, which were chiefly employed
as rangers in clearing the woods of maron or runaway naves. This efta-
blilhment was afterwards very prudently diiTolved, and the companies diibanded$
it appearing that the mulattoes acquired, by communication with-each other, a fenCe
ef common intere11. and of common firength, which was beginning to render them
formidal,1le to their employers. - , ..
bo
S T. D 0 IV1 I N G O.
be a prieft, nor a hnvyer, nor a phyfician, nor a furgeon, nor C HA P.
an apothecary, nor a fchooltnafter. Neither did the difiinction I.
of colour terrninate, as.in the Britilh "'\iVeft Indies, vY'ith the third "--r--I
generation. There \v-as no la,,,, nor that allowed the
privileges of a white per[on to any de[cendant from an
hovvever ren10te the origin. The taint in the blood was incur-
able, and fpread to the lateH pol1erity. Hence no white man,
who had the fmallefr pretenfions to would ever think
of l11ariiage with a negro -or nlulatto woman: fuch a fiep
\vould have in his difgrace and ruin.
UN D E R the preiTure of thefe accUll1ulated grlevances:1 hope
itfelf, too frequently the only folace of the y,Tetched, was de-
nied to thefe unfortunate people; for the C0urts of criminal
jurifdiCtion, adopting the popular prejudices againft them, gave
effeCt: and permanency to -the fyftem. A man of colour being
profecutor Ca circumftance in truth which feldom occurred}
muil: have made out a firong cafe indeed, if at .any time he -ob-
tained the convittion of a white perfon. On the other hand,
. the whites never failed to procure prompt and [peedy jufiice
againi1: the mulattoes. To mark more ftrongly the diftinCl:ion
between the'two claff"es.? the -law declared that if a free lnan of
colour pre[umed to frrike a \7\rhite perfon of whatever condition,
his right hand ihould .be cut off; while a white man, f0r a
fimiIar aifault on a free mulatto, was difmiffed on the
of an in.fignificant fineo
IN extenuation of this horrible detail, it may be faid with
truth that the manners Df the white inhabitants foftened, ill
C fame
CH A P.
I.

fIrS-TOltY OF'
[Olne n1eafure, the feverity of their la'w's: thus, in the cafe la{f
nlentioned, the univer[al abhorrence which v/ould have attended;
an enforcement of the made the law a dead letter. It
\vas the falne with the Roman law of the Twelve Tables, byvvhich
a father was allo\ved to inflitl: the puni{hn1ent of death on his-
ovvn child not la\i'\r prevented the exertion of a
po"\ver [0 unnatural and odious ..
BUT the circuIUaance \v hich contributed moft to arrord the'
coloured people of St. Domingo proteCtion, was the privilege
they poifelTed of acquiring and holding property to anyamounto-
Several of them were the owners of confiderable efiates; and fQ.
prevalent was the influence of money throughout the colony, that
many of the great officers in the adminifi:ration of government.
fcrupled not iecretly to become their penfioners. Such of the'
coloured people therefore as had happily the means of gratifying:
the venality of their [uperiors, were [ecure enough in their per ..
fans; although the [anle circumi1:ance made thetn more pointedly'
the objects of hatred and envy to the lower orders of the:
whiteso
THE next and lo\vefi, clafs of p'eople in the'
French iflands \vere the negroes in a ftate of ilavery ; of vlhom, in;
the year 1789, St. Domingo contained no le[s than 480,000. It.
was in favour of this clafsthat Louis the year 1685, pub-
liibed the celebrated ediCt> or code of regulations,. v/hich is \vell
known to the world under the title of the Code Noir; and it mufr
be al1owed, that many of its provifions breathe a- fpirit of tender-
nefs and philanthropy V\Thich refleCts honour on the D1en1ory of its-
6 author ;:
" ;: ", !
It._., . ;
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
'author ;-but there is attending this, and Inuft at ..
tend all other fyficms of the fame nature, that moft of its regu-
.lations arc inapplicable to the condition and fituation of the
colonies. in America. In c-ountries vvhere fiavery is efiabliilied,
the leading principle on which government is fupported, isftar;
or a [en[e of that abfolute coercive neceffity, \vhich, leaving no
choice of aCtion, fuperfedes all quei1ion of right. It is in vain
:to deny that fuch aCtually is, and neceilariIy mull: be, the cafe in
.all countries vvhere flavery is allowed. Every endeavour there.-
fore to extend pofitive rights to men in this ftate, as bet\veen one
of people and the other, is an attempt to reconcile inherent
contradiCt1ons, and to blend principles together \vhich admit not
oof cOll1binatiou. The great and, I atn afraid, the only certain.
and permanent fecurity of the enfiaved negroes, is the ftrong cir-
cumftance that the intereft of the mafier is blended '\vith, and in
truth, altogether depends on, the prefervation, and even on the
health, ftrength, and aCtivity, of the ilave. This applies equally
to all the European colonies in America; and accordingly the
aCtual condition of the negroes in all thofe colonies, to \-vhatever
, nation they belong, is I believe nearly the fame. Of that con-
clition I have given an account in another place(t): I have there-
fore only to oo[erve in this, that in all the French iilands the ge-
:neral treatment of the flaves is neither much better nor tDuch
as far as I couldobferve, than in thofe of Great Britain.
If any difference there .is, I think that they are better clothed
.among the French, .and al1o\V'ed more animal food alnong the
Englifh. The prevalent notion that the :French planters treat
-(f) Hift. Civil and Commercial of the Britiili Colonies.
C 2
11
CH AP.
I.
'---.---J
CH A P.
1.

HISTORY OF
their negroes \vith greater hUlnanity and tendernefs than tht;,.
Britiili,. I know to be groundlefs ; yet no candid per{on, who has
had an opportunity of feeing the negroes in the French ifiands;
and of contrafiing their condition with that of the 'peafantry in
D1any parts of Europe, will. think them, by any means,. the moft
yvretched of mankind..
ON the if hunlan life, in- its beft is a cOlnbi-
nation of happinefs and mifery, and we are to confider that con-
dition of political fociety as relatively good, in \vhich, notwith-
ftanding many difadvantages, the.lower elaffes are eafily fupplied
"vith the means of healthy fubfifience; and a, general air of
cheerful contentednefs animates all ranks 0f people,-where \ve
behold opulent towns:, plentiful markets, extenfive commerc.e:l
and increafing cultivation-it mufi: be pronounced that- the go-
vernment of the French part of St .. Domingo (to whatevel:.
latent caufes it might be owing) was not altogether fo
cally bad, as fome of the circumftances that have been fiated
n1ight give room to in1agine. With all the abufes arifing fronl
t,he licentioufnefs, of power, the corruption of manners, and the
fyfiem of the fcale evidently preponderated on the fa.,.
vourable fide; and, in fpite of political evils and private griev--
ances, the figns of public.k profperity were every where vifible.-
SUCH \vere the conditionand'fituation of the French colony in
St. Domingo in the year 178R-an eventful p,eriod; for the feeds
of liberty which, .ever fince the. between. Great and
her tranfatlantick poi1effions, had taken root in the kingdom of
France, now began to, fpring up with a rank luxuriancy in all
parts
S T. D 0 M r N G- o.
parts of het extennve dominions.; and a thou:G1.nd circumfiances
cl.emonflrated that great and important chariges and convulfions
-were impending. The- neceffity of a fober and well-digefied
arrangement for correcting inveterate aoufes, both in the mother
country and the colonies, was indeed' apparent; but, unhappily, a
fpirit of fubverfion and innovation, founded on vifionary fyfiems
inapplicahle to' real-life, had taken poifeffion of the publick mind.
Its effeCts in St. Domingo are written. in.colours too lafiing to be
obliterated; for the pride of power, the rage of reformation, the
contentions of party, and the confliCt of oppofing interefis and
paffions, produced a tempeft- that [wept every thing before it.,
To' trace thofe effects to their proper caufes,. to develop the
atrocious purpofes of pretended philanthropy, political fanati-
cifm, and difappointed and to defcribe the vafi: and
lamentable ruin which they occafioned, thereby to furniili a
profitable leffon to other nations, is theailn of the following
pages.
,r't- H-- ", n
'" J.. _
CHAP ..
I.

CHAP.
11.
'=--v--J
HISTORY OJ:{"
c H A P. 11.
FrOllt ,the if '1789, to the Meeting if the Pip General
.Colonial 4!!hn61y4
O
N the 27th of December 1788, the court of France came
to the nlemorable determination to fummon the States
..General of the kingdom; .and refolved that the reprefentation of
the tiers etat (or :colnmons) iliould be equal to the fum of the
.reprefentation of the other two .orders.
THIS meafure, as might have been forefeen, proved the 'bafis of
the great national revolution that followed; and it openitedwith
:immediate and decifive effeCt in all the French colonies. The go-
vernor .of the French part .of St. Domingo at that period was
Monf. Duchilleau, -a man who was [uppofed Fecretly to favour
the popular pretenfions. .H.e .,vas allowed ther.e';2re to continue
unlnolefied in .the feat of government; but the fceptre dropped
from his hand; for \vhen he attempted to prevent the 'parochial
.and provincial meetings, which were every \vhere fummoned, from
aifembling, -his proclamations were treated with indignity and
contempt: the meetings were held in [pite of the governor,
refolutions paffed declaratory of the right sf the colonifis to fend
to the States G.eneral. Deputies were atCcor.dingly
,elected
S T. DOMING:O.
eleCted for that purpofe, to the number of eighteen (fix for each
province) who forthwith, without any authority either from the
French minifiry or the colonial governmept, embarked for
France, as the legal reprefentatives of a great and integral part of
the French enl pireg-
THEY arrived at Verfailles the latter end of June, about a
month after the States General had declared themfelves the na-
tional aifembly. But neither the minifter nor the national
affetnbly were difpo[ed to admit the full extent of their claims.
The number of eighteen deputies from one colony was thought
exceffive; and it was \vith [oole difficulty that fix of them only
were adulitted to verify their powers, and feat themfelves among.
na tional re prefen tati yes". .
. THERE prevailed at this time throughout the cities of
a very itrong and marked prej udice againft the inhabitants 6f the
Sugar Iflands, on account of the f1avery of their negroes. It \vas
not indeed fuppofed, nor even pretended, that the condition of"
thefe people ,vas worfe at this juncture than in any former period ::
the contrary was known to be the truth. But declan1ations in
fupport of perfonal. fteedom," and invectives againfi: de[potifm
an kinds, had been the favourite topicks of many eminent French,
\vriters for a feries of years: and the publick indignation was now"
artfully raifed againfi the planters of the Weft Indies, as one of'
the means of exciting commotions and infurreCtions in different:
pflrts of the French dominions. This [pi-rit of hoftility againft..
the inha bitan ts of the French colonies, was Induil:riouil y fomented-
and aggravated by the meafures of a fociety, who called them-
{elves;
CH A PQ"
lI.


C JI.:A .
.11.
y
I
HISTORY OF
,felves Anus des Noirs_ (Friends of the Blacks); and it nluft be-ac-
that the fplendid appearance, and thoughtIefs ex-
-travagance,of of the French planters refident in the mother
country, contributed by no means to divert the malice of their'
adverfaries, or to foften the prejudices of the publick to\varcts
them.
The fociety in France ca11ed Al71zs_des Noirs, \vas 1 believe
originally formed on the model of.a fimilar affociation in London:;
.but the views and purpofes of the two bodies had taken a dif-
ferent direction. The fociety in London prqfi!Jed to have no-
thing more in view than to obtain an aB: of the legiilaturefor
prohibiting the further introduction of African {la ves in to the
Britiih colonies. difclaimed .all intention of interfering
"vith the government and condition of the negroes already in .the
plantations; publickly declaring their opinion to be, that a gene-
ral emancipation of thQ[e people, in their prefent -ilate of igno-
.rance and barbarity, inftead ,of a _bleffing, would prove to them a
fource of :misfortun,e and miiery.. On the other hand, the fo-
.ciety of Anus des Noirs, having fecr:etly in view to {ubvert the
of the French government., loudly clamoured
for a and irnme.dia.te abolition, not only of the ilave
,trade, but alfoof thefiaverywhich it fupported. Proceeding
()n abfiraCt reafoning, rather than on the aCtual condition of hu-
man nature, theydifiinguifhed not between civilized and unci-
vilized life, and confidered that it ill became them to claim
freedom for themfelves, and withhold it at the fame .tim.e from
it is to be lamented that a princ.iple [0 plaufible in
.appearance"
ri.ppearance,iliould, in its application to this be vifionary c H A P.
and impraC1:icable. I!.

. .' .
AT this junCture, a confiderable of the nlulattoes' from
Bt .. Domingo and the other French iilands,' were refident in the
French capital. SOIne of thefe were young people fent thither for
educa tion: others \vere' n1en of confiderable property, and many
of then1, without per[ons of intelIigence and amiable
manners. With there people the fociety of Amis des NO'irs formed
an intimate conneCtion; out to them the wretchednefs 'of
their condition; filled the nation with relnonilrances and ap-
peals on their behalf; and poured out fuch inveCtives againfr the
., white planters, as bore a:vay reafon and moderation in the torrent.
Unhappily, there was too much to offer on the part of the mu-
lattoes. Their perfonal appearance too, excited pity, and, co-
operating with the temper of the tinles, and the credulity of the
French nation, raifed fuch an indignant fpjrit in all ranks of
people againft the white colonifis, as threatened their total an-
nihilation and ruin.
IN this difpofition of the people of France towards the inha-
'bitants of their colonies in the Weft lndies,. the national aiTem-
bly, on the 20th day of Auguft, voted the celebrated declaration 17
8
9,
if rights; and thus, by a revolution unpara1leled in hiftory, was
a mighty fabrick (apparently efiabliihed by every thing that was
fecure and una1Tailable) overturned in amoment. Happy pad it
'been for the general interefts of the human race, if, when the
'French had gone thus far, they had proceeded no farther!
Hap.py for themfelves, if they had then known-what painful ex-
D penence
-C. H A. perience has" fil1ce taught them-..;..thaf the 'worft of all
-11. ments is preerable to, the mifer-ies of anarchy! .
.
PERHAP.S, a' diligent obferver- might have even
the firfr proceeding$ of th-is celebrated aifembly, the latent
of that yiolence, iajuftice, and, confufion which have fince
duced fuch a harveft of and calarnities,, Many of the;
doctrines', contained- in. the declaration- of rights feem to have-
been introduced for no putpofe than- to awaken a mif-
chiev-Ou& fpirit. of contention and cavil, and to' deftroy all- fub-
ordination.in the lower ranksof the people. for inftance,.
was' the pofition,.. that H' aUmen are born, continue, free and
as- to their rights according to which, there ought to"
be no in. nor (if the poifeffion- of property'
is a right) can; any' nlan have a right to poffefs or acquire"
any thing,. to the. exclufion, of other-s; a pofition not only
but pernicious,- and for- every condition of civilized life.
To promulgate fuch le.1I'.ons in the colonies, as the declared
of the fupreme government, was to fubvert the whole fyftem of
their eftablilhments.. Accordingly, .. a general ferment. prevailed.
among the French inhabitants of St. DomingQ, from one end
the coleny to the other. All that: had paired in the
eountry concerning the colonifts)-the' prejudices.,of the me--'
tr-opolis towards them,,-the efforts of the fociety of Amis des
Noirs to e-tnancipate the negroes,-and the conduCt of the mu-
lattoes,"':"had been reprefented to -thenl through. the medium
()f party, and perhaps. with a thoufand .. circumfiancesof exagge-
ration and infult" long; hefore the declaration of rights was re-
ceived. in .. the c_olony;-. and- this. meafure crowned: the whole .
6
S T. D 0 M' I N G o.
They maintained that it ,was, calculated to' convert their peaceful C HA P.
and contented into implacable enemies, and render the

\vhole a theatre of -comlnotion and l>loodilied.
IN the meanwhile, the French government, apprehenfIve that
of a very alarming nature might arife in the colonies
from the proceedings in had ifTued orders to gover- Sept.
.nor general of St. Domingo, to convoke' the inhabitants, for the
,purpofe of forming a legiflative aifembly for interior regulation.
'Thefe orders, .however, being delayed, the people
:bad anticipated the meafureo The inhabitants' -of the Northern
;(]ifrria had already ''conftituted.a provincial v/hich m'et
.at Cape Frans:ois." their example 'vas' followed in November
in the Weftern.and Souther'n provinces; th-e Weftern affetnbly met
.at Port au Prince, the Southern at Aux Cayes: Parochial
mittees ,were, at the fame tim'e, every where eftabliilied, for the'
;fake a :more immediate c.ommunication' between ,people'
;.a.nd :their reprefentatives..
AR'ECI,'lf'AL ,of :the conduCt and proceedings' ,of the[e'pro-
afl'emblies, would lead me :too much in to detail. They
.differed greatly ,on many quefrions; but all of them
,in ,concerning the neceffity of a' fulr and
fpeedy Golonial'reprefent'ation ; .and they "llnanimoufly voted, that
infiruCtions from the king for calling,fuch an aifembly ihould'
not be r.eceived within three months thenceforward, the colony
'iliould' take on ,itfelf to adopt and enforce the meafure ;-their
,ilumediate fafety and "prefervation being, they faid, an obligation
:paramount to all Qthers.
D2 DURING
-H 1'8 -T 0" R'Y -" 0 -F
CHA,P. . DtJ&IN G this-period of anxiety' and alarm," the mulattoes were:
11.. not inactive. InftruCted by "their brethren in" the metropolis -in __
" the nature and extent of their rights, and apprized of the fa-".
vourable difpofition of the French nation towards them, th'ey
became, throughout the aCtuated by a fpirit of turbulence
and [edition,; and all confiderations of prudence,,"
. v/ith regard to and fea[ons, detern1ined to claim, without
delay, the full benefit of the privileges enjoyed by the whites .
1}ccordingly large bodies of thetn appeared in arms in different.
parts of the country; but aCting without fufficient concert, or
dt;te preparation, they were eafily overpowered. It is faid, that
the temper of the provincial aifemblies at this juncture,-how
Inuch [oever inflamed againft the inl1igators" and abettors of"
thefe people in the mother country,-was not a ver[e to mo- .
deration and conceffion towards. the thenlfelves ... "
Thus, when the party which had taken arms at Jac;nel was
defeated, and their chiefs imprifoned,' the aifembly of the Weft.
interpofed \vith effeCt in favour of the whole number; and at
Artibonte, where the revolt was . much more extenfive and
a free and unconditional pardon was alfo chearfully
granted on the fu bmiffion of the infurgents.
AGAINST" fuch of the whites as had_ taken any i'n there
difiurbances, in Elvour ()f the people of colour, the rage of the
populace knew no limits.. Mon!. Dubois, deputy procureur
general, had not only declared hinlfelf an advocate for the
lattoes, but, ,,,ith a degree of imprudence which indicated in-"
to declainl publickly againf:t the flavery"
of
6f the negroes. ' The Northern affembly- arrefted his'- perfon;' c 'H-"A"P''-:
and very probably intended to "proceed to greater extn!hlities; . , .. _,' (
but the governor interpofed . in 'his', behalf, obtairied his releafe,:
and fent him from the country .. ' .
MONS. Ferrand de Beaudierre, a magifrrate a't Petit' Goave;,
was not [0 fortunate. This gentleman was unhappily', eria:...
moured of a \vornari of colour, to \vhom, as the poffeifed
valuable plantation, he had offered' marriage. Appreherifive"
that by this fiep he might be difplaced from the magiftracy/,
and being a man of a warm imagination, with little judgment:}
he undertook to combat the preJudices' of thewbifes againft'the
\vhole clafs. He drew up, in the name and' behalf of the mu-'
latto people, a memorial to the parochial cOlnmittee, \vherein,
- among other things, they were made to claim, in exprefs \vords,
the full benefit of the national declaration of rights. Nothing could
be more ill-tinled or injudicious than this proceeding: it was evi-"
, dent, that fuch a claim led to confequences of which the mu-
lattoes themfel yes (who certainly at, this j uncl:ure had no wiili'
to enfranchife the fIaves) were not apprized. This memorial
was confidereg as a fummons to the negroes for a ge-'
neral revolt. The parochial committee feized the author, and-
committed him to prifon; but the mob took hin'l from thence
by force, and in (pite of the 'magiftrates and Inunicipality, ,vho
exerted themfelves to ftop their fUfY, 'put him to death ...
THE king's order"for convoking a general oIonial aifembly'
was received in Domingo early in the month of January
1790. It app6inted the to\:vnof Leogane, in the Wefternpro-'
Vlnce,
January
I79
0e
CHAP ..
- iI.-
.
'H I'S T Q -R Y 0 F .
'for the plac.e of meeting; and inftrut;l:ions
: <?rder, c9ncerning the mode. of members. Thefe
being by the
as :inapplicable to the .of the . colony, were
difapproved.; and plan, better fuited, as they conceived.,
,to. fbe and populC:ltion of the inhahitants, was
They' alfo to hold the atTembly at the town
Sf. Marc infteaq. :of Leogane,. the 25th of March was
for the time of its It was.afterwards prorogued
7to.Jhe .1 6th .of April.
IN the .iriteIJigence was receivedin France of
-the Qf St. pomingo towards the mother country The
were generally reprefented as nlanifefiing a dif-
tion either to renounce their or.to throw them-
leIves under the protection of a foreign po\ver; and .the planters
were fajd to be. equally. difcontented and difaffeCtecL.
The tra.dingandmanufaCturing towns Jook. ,the alarm.; and pe-
.. andrelTIOnfrrances were pre(en ted from various q
ilnploring:the.nationalafft(1ubly:to adopt meafures for compofing
the miqds of the.colonii}s,. apd the French.
;its
ON. 8th .of' '17912), the national ,.entered.
:1nto the cqllfideratioll' of fubjet;t, {o-
.lemnity fuited its importance; and,.aft>er full .di[cuffion, a
large ,majority-voted, it.nev;.er .was :the intention.of
,cc. t4e aifenlbly co-
IQuiys in ..the for the. mothe-!,
'-' . c.oun try,
' ..
S T. D 0 M I N G
l't or to fubjecl: them to.' la'ws: w-biclY. iricompatiole
cc with their localellablifhmenfs; they therefore authorife the iri-
" habitants of each colony to fighify tb 'the national affein151y theirr
fentiments' and wilhes concerning that'phui'of interior legih,i--
" tion and commercial, arrangement,. which would be melt' con-
ducive to It was rctquired,."however, that the ..
. plan to be offered ihould be conformable to the :principleswhich :
had conneCted the' colonies" with the flletl"opblis,: .. and::be' calcu-
lated for the' prefervati6n-:of their reciprocal ihis'
decree was annexed a;;- declaration" " That the national afiembly
e, would not caufe any innovatton to Be made, dr iridi-
c, reCl:ly,.jn"any fyffem of comme,rc.e in which the. were:
I$'( alreadY-'
NOTltlNG couldequartIie clamour which this decree occa-
.flaned among the people of colour refident in the mother
country, and the philanthropick fociety of Amis des Noirs. The'
declaration concerning commerce was interpreted into 'a tacit-
fanCtion for the continuance of the' nave trade ;.: and it was even
contended", that-the national affembly",by leaving the adjuilment
of the colonial confiitutions to the colonifts' them{elves, had
charged. thenl from their allegiance. It ,vas faid that they were'
no longer fubjeCt to,the French empire,: but xnembers. of an in--
dependent ftate.
NEVERTHELESS', if the circumfiances of"'tne tiines,.and:the
difpofition of the French colonifts at this juncture,.be taken into'
the account, candour Inufi acknowledge that it was a decree'
not. only jufiifiable on the motives of prudence and policy,
\vas.:
2;:r
CH
11.
;.C r .
",11.

was founded alfo c;>n the firong 'bafis' of Ploral neceffity., The
. arguments thatwere urged againft it feem to imply that the be-
)lefits of the revolution were intended only for the people
sefiding ift the realm, in exclufion of their fellow fubjeCts in the
.plap.tatio)1s.. . After that great event, to [u ppofe that the
.,bitanti of. thofe' colonies (with the fttccefsful example'too of
..the Engli1h AmerjC:.ans re.cent in their memories) would have
. .to h.e governed and directed in their local' concerns by
.a at .,the diftance of 3,000 miles from is to ma-
'.nifefta very flender with human How
.Uttle .,inclined' the colonial .affembly was to fuch fl1;bmiffion,. their
,pt:'oce,edings, from the firft day of nleeting, to their. final.
diflolution, will demonftrate.-Of thofe proceedings I ihall
deavour to furniili a brief account in the next Chapter,
C 11 A P.
S 'T. DO M I NG'O ..
C H A Po IlL ..
Proceedings of the General Colonial AJfembly until itsjinal
tion, and E1nbarkati'on of the Me1nbersfor France, Aug1ffl 1790.
T
HE General Alfeinbly of St. Domingo met on the 16th
. of April, at the town of Marc. It compofed of
2 I 3 members, of 'whom the city of Cape Franfoi's elected
twenty-four, Port all Prince fixteen, and Aux Gayes eight. Mail:
of the other pariilies returned two reprefentatives each; 3:nd it
is allowed that, on the whole; the colony was fairly, fullY:l and
moll: refpeCl:ably reprefented. The provincial aifemblies, how-
. ever, continued in the exercife of their functions as 1:>efore, or a p-
pointed committees to act during their intermiffion.
THE feflion was opened by a difcourfe from the prefident,
wherein, after recounting various abufes in the confiitution and
adminiftration of; the fonner colonial governme.nt, he pointed
out' fome of the many great objeCts that feeIlled to require im-
mediate attention: ,. among others, he recommended the cafe of
the mulattoes, and a melioration of the nave laws. The a:fem-
bly concurred in fentiment with the orator; and one of their firll:
n1eafures was to relieve the people of colour from the hardfhips
to which they were fubjeet: under the military jurifdiCtion. It
vvas
CH A P.
Ill.

179
0

' H :, I :s TORY 0 Fr'
, C H A P. was decreed, that in future no greater duty iliould be required of
Ill. them in the militia than fi'om the whites.; and the harlh au
'-r--I
thority, in particular, 'Yhich king's lieutenants, nlajors, .and
aides-major, cOlnmanding in the towns, exercifed over thofe
people, ,vas declared opprefiive and illegal. The[e acts of in ..
duIgence were certainly as the earneft of greater fa
and an opening to concilia tlon and conceffion towards the whole
cla(s of the coloured people.
THE general aifembly proceeded, in the next place, to reClity
fome gro[s abufes which had long prevailed in the courts of judii;.
cature,. confining themfelves-however to fuch only as called for,
immediate redrefs, their'attention being chieJIy direCted to the
great and interefting objeCt of preparing the plan for a new con ..
fritution, or fyftem of colonial a bufinefs which
.1
1
79. employed their deliberations until the 28th of May.
M. PEYNIER ,vas now governor general, from whom t1l'e
partizans anq adherents of the ancient defpotifm fecretly derived
encouragement and fupport. The whole body of tax-gatherers,
and officers under the fi[cal adminiftration, were of this number.
Thefe therefore began to recover from the panick into which fo
great and fudden a revolution had thrown them, and to rally their
united ftrength. Nothing could be more oppofiteto their
willies, than the fuccefs of the general affembly in .the eftabliih-
ment of order and good government throughout the colony .. ,
N or were there the only men who beheld the proceedings of
this body with an evil eye. All the per[ons belonging to the
courts of civil and crilninal jurifdiCtion 'and their numbers were
X confiderable)
"
$ T.- D 0 IV! i N G O.
confiderable) ,,,ho were interefied in thenlaihtenance; of thofe
_abl"!fes \vhich the aifembly had corrected; \ve-re fined --\vith
nation and-envy. To thefe \vere added moft of the men-who
held military cOlnnliffions under the king's authority. -
tuated to the exercife of comlnand, they indignantly beheld the
fubverfion of nIl that accufiorhed obedience and fubordination.
which they had been-taught to confider as eifential to-the fupport
of governnlent, and oftered thelnfelves the willing infirutnents
of the governor general in fu bverting the new fyfiem.
SUCH were the perfons that oppofed themfelves to the new
()rder of things in the colony, when the Chevalier Mauduit,
lonel of the regiment of Port auPdnce, arrived at St. Domingo.
He had not come direCtly from France; but circuitoufly by way
of Italy; and at Turin had taken leave of the Count cl' Artois,
to whofe fortunes he was ftrongly attached. He was a Inan of
talents; brave, aCtive, and enterprizing; zealous for -his party,
and full of projeCts for a counter-revolution. By his dexterity
-and addrefs, he fbon acquired an afcendancy over the feeble and
narrow genius of Peynier, and governed the cdlony in his name.
His penetta tion eafily made him clifcover that, in order effec-
tually to difiurb the new fettIemeht, it was abfolutely necefTary tb
prevent a coalition of intereftsbetween the colonial aff'emhly,
and the free ptople of colour. He therefore proclainled himfelf
the patron and proteCtor of the mulattoes, ancicourted them Oil
alloccafions, with fuch affiduity and fuccefs" as gained over the
whole body. -- -
IT
27
CH A'P.
V' .
--
CH A P.
Ill.

HIS T' 0 R Y 0 F
IT feelns however extremely probable that the peace of the
country would have been pre[erved, notwithfranding the nlachi-
11ations of feynier and if the planters, true to their O\vn
caufe, had remained united among themfelves. But, unfortu-
nately, the provincial of the North was induced,
through mifi-epre[entation or envy, to counteract, by all pollible
means, the proceedings of the general aifenlbly at St. Marc.
Thus, difcord and difiention every where prevailed; and ap-
pearances feemed to indicate. an approaching civil war" even
before the plan for the new confiitution was publiGled. This
was contained in the farnous decree. of the ge.neral colonial
aifernbly of the 28th of May; a decree, which having been the
fubject of much animadverfion, and made the oftenfible n1otive,
on. the part of the executive power, for comrnencing hoil:ilities ..
it is proper to fiate it at large.
IT confifred of ten fundamental pofitions, which are preceded
by an introduCtory difcourfe or preamble (as ufual in the. French
decrees) wherein, among other confiderations, it is frated, as an
acknowledged principle in the French confiitution, that the right
in the crown to confir.-m the aCts of the Iegiflature, is a preroga-
tive, inherent and incommunicable: of cour[e that it cannet he
delegated to a colonial whofe authority is precarious
and [ubordinate. The articles are then fubjoined,. in the order
and words following:
" I. The legiflative authority, in every thing '\vhich' relates.: to
the internal concerns of the colony (regime -interieuf.),. is vefted
ID
S' T., D 0 M I N G 0.--
in the affeinbly of its reprefelltatives, which {hall be called tbe
General Aj(embly d'the French Part of St. Domtizgo.
2. No act of the legiilative body, in what relates to the in-
ternal concerns of the colony, {ball be Tonfidered as a law deji-
ni'tz've,unle[s it be made by the reprefentatives of the French
part of St. Don1ingo, freely and legally chofen, and confirmed
by the king.
3. In cafes of urgent neceffity, a legillative ,decree of the
neral aifembly, in' relates to the internal concerns of the
colony, !hall be confidered as a law proviJional. In all fuch cafes;
the decree {h411 be notified forthwith to the governor
who, within ten days after fuch notification, illall cau[e it to be
publiihed and' enforced, or tranfmit to the general afTembly his
obfervations thereon.
4. The neceffity ,of the cafe on which the execution of fuch
provifional decree is to depend, {hall be a feparate queftion, a'nd
be carried in the affirmati\"e by a majority two-thirds of the
, general afTembly; the names and numbers being 'taken down.
( Pri/es' par l' appel nOJJJinal.)
5. If the governor ,general ihaIl fend down his obfervations on
any fuch decree" the fame {hall be entered in the journals of th<:
general aifembly, who '{hall then proceed to revife the decree, and-
confider the obfervations thereon in three feveral fi ttings. The
votes for confirming or annulling the decree {hall be give'n in
the words res or No, and a minute of the proceedings {hall be
figned by the members prefent; in which {hall be enumerated the
votes on each fide of the q and if there appears a ma-
jority of hvo-thirds for confirming the it lhall be
,diately ,enforced by the governor general.,
6. As,
{ l ...
CIf fo ..
IlL
lIISTORY
6, As every hiw ought to be founded on the confent of thofe
who are to be hound by it, the French part of St. Dblningo {hall
be allowed to ptopbfe regula tibns cbncernii1 g cori1mercial ar-
rangeinents, and the fyftem of mutual connection (rappojts com-
merciaux, et autres rapports C01J1J71Uns), and the decrees which the
national aifembly il1all make in an fuch cafes }hall not be en.;,.
forced in the colony, until the general q/lhnbly flall have cOl'ifented
tlJereto.
7. In cafes of pretTIng neceffity, the importation of articles for
the fupport of the inhabitants thall not be confidered as any
breach in the fyfteri1. of commercial regulations 'between St.
D6hlingo arid France; provided that the decrees to be iliade iri ,
ftich cafes by the general aiTembly ihall be fubmifted to the
vifion of the governor general, under the faine conditions and
modifications as are prefcribed in articles 3 ana 5.
8. Provided alfo, that every legiflative aCt of the genetal affem-
bly, executed provifion'alIy, in cafes bf urgent rleceffity, fhall be
tranfzbitted forthwith for the royal fahCtibn. And if the king lltall
refufe his confent to any fuch aa, its execution {hall be ft.i[pended,
as [o'oh as the king's r'efufal lliall be legally notified to the gene-
ral affemblye
g. A new general arfembly 111all be chofen every tW? years,
and rione of the members who have ferved in the fornier af-
fembly ihall be eligible in the hew ohe ..
10. The general aff"enlbly dec:ree that the preceding articles,
as forming part of the conftitution of the French colony in St.
-Domingo, !hall be immediately traniiultted'1:0 Franc'e for the ac-
'eptance of the' nati'onal affefubly, and the
likewife
S T. D 0 M I N G O.
likewife be tranfmitted to all the parHhes and difidC\:s of the co- C H A PG
lony, and be notified to the governor general."
THAT a decree of fuch comprehenfivenefs and magnitude
lhould have excited very genetal difquifition in the colony; and
have produced Inifreprefentation and clamour, even among tl1en
of very appofite fentinlents and tern'pers, is no way furprilll1g.
It mull: be allowed, that [ome of the articles are irreconcileable
to every juft principle of colonial fubordination. refu11ng
to allow a negative voice to the reprefentative of the king, is
repugnant to all the notions which an Eng1ifhman is taught to
entertain of a monarchical government, ho\vever limited: and
the declaration that no decree of the national aJfembly con ..
cerning the colony, in cafes of exterior regulation, fhould be in
force until confirmed by the colonial affembly, was fuch an ex-
travagant affun-lption of in1.perial authority, in a fubordinate part
of the French empire, as I believe is without a precedent.
ALL.that can be urged in extenuation, {eerns to be that the tit .....
cumfiances of the cafe Were novel, and the members of the colo-
nial affembly unexperienced in the bufinefs of legHlation. That
they had any ferious intention of declaring the colony an
dent ftate, in imitation of the Engliili American provinces, it is
impoffible to believe. Neverthelefs, the decree ,vas no fbonet
promulgated, than this notion vvas induftrioul1y propagated by
their enen1ies fron1 one end of the colony to the other; and Whetl
this report failed to gain belief, it ,vas pretended that the colony
was fold to the Engliili, and that the members of the general
affen1bly
f-IISTORY OF
C H A had received and divided among themfelves 40
Ill. :of1ivres as the

IF recent events had not demonil:rated the extrenl,e credulity
and jealous temper of the French character, it would be difficult
to believe that charges, thus wild and unfupported, could ba,ve
:made an impreffion on the minds of any confiderable number
of the people. , So gr:eat however was the effect produced by
them, as to occflfion fome of the Wefl:ern pariilies to recal their
deputies; while the inhabitants of Cape Fran90is took,'meafures
frill more decifi ve: they renounced obedience to the general
aifembly, and pre[ented a memorial to the governor,
:him to diffolve it forthwith, declaring that they confidered the
(:olony as loft, unlefs. he proceeded with the utmofi: vigour
promptitude in depriving that body of all manner of au-
'
M,. PEYNIER received this addrefs -with [eeret fatisfaCtion.
Jt feemed indeed to be the policy of both parties to reject all
of compromife by negociation; and there occurred at
,this juncture a circumilance which ,,,ouId probably have ren-
.dered all negociation abortive, had it been attempted. In the
harbour of Port au Prince lay a !hip of the line, the'L-eo-
pard, commanded by M. Ga1ifoniere. This officer, co-ope-
rating in the views of Peynier and Mauduit, 'made a fumptuous
entertainment for the partizans of thofe gentle!l1en,. and by this,
or feme other par,ts of his conduct, gave offence to his failors.
Whether thefe men had feit the influence of corruption '. (as
afferted by one party) or \vere actuated folely by of thofe
unaccountable
'unaccountable freaks to which fearnen are particularly fubject
J
the faCt certainly is, that they ,\vithdre\tv their obedience', from
their proper officer, and declared themfelves to be in the inte-
refts of the colonial affembly! Their conduCt at length
fo turbulent and feditious, as to induce M. Galifoniere to quit
the {hip, whereupon the cre\v gave the command to one of the
lieutenants. The afiembly, perceiving the advantages to be
derived from this event, immediately tranfmitted a vote of thanks
'to the {eamen for their patriotick conduCt, and required them,
in the name of . the law and the king, to detain the {hip in the
road, and await their further orders. The gratified
with this acknowledgement, promifed obedience, and affixed
'the vote of thanks on the main-mail: of the ihip. Son1e par-
tizans of the aff'embly, about the' fame time, took poifeffion of
a po,vder'magazine at Leogane.
A CIVIL war {eemed now to be inevitable. Two days after
the vote of thanks had been tranfmitted from St. Marc's to the
crew of the Leopard, M. Peynier iffued a proclamation to
folve the general affembly. He charged the members with en-
tertaining projeCts of independency, and aiferted that they had
treacheroufly poifefled themfelves of one of the king's {hips by
corrupting the cre\v. He, pronounced the members and all
their adherents traitors to their country, and enemies to the na-
tion and' the king: declaring that.it was his intention to employ
aB the force he could colleCt to defeat their proj eas, and bring
them to condign punilhment; and he called on all officers,
civil and military,' for their co- operation and fupport.
F
.IllS
33
CHAP.
Ill.
..
,
eH, N. . , F.rIS .. firit .:proce.edings V\Tere-directed againil: tbe committee of
IlL theWeftern. provincial. aifembly.-';This. body held its. meetings
at Port au Prince, and in the exercife' of its fubordinate funCtion:s,
during the intern1iffion of that affembly, had manifefted fuch
zealous attachment to. the general affenlbly at St. I\larc, as ex-
.pofed its members to the refentment of the governor and his
It was determined therefore, at a. council' held the
day, to an"eft their per[ons the following night, and M. Mau-
duit undertook to conduCt the enterprize. Having been in-
formed that this committee held' confultations at midnight', he
feleCted about one hundred of his foldiers', and formed: a fcheme
to feiz:e the mem hers at their place of meeting. On a.rriving
however at the houfe, he found it proteCted by four, hundred: of
the national- guards A. :fkirmiili enfued; but the circum ...
..fiances attending it are fo variouily that no. precife ac-,
count can be:' given of the particulars; nor is it afcertained
whicl1 party gave. the firft fire. Nothing further is. certainly
known, than that two men were' killed on the part of the af ..
fembly,-that feveral were wounded. on both fides, and that
M .. Mauduit returned without effeCting any purpofe but that of
and. bearing away in tr.iumph:. the national- colours. i-a
circumfrance which afterwards (as will be teen in the feq uel)
eoit him his life.
TH:E general aifclnbly,. -on receiv.ing, intelligence of this:attack,.
and of the forn1idable preparations. that were making. for di..;
(g) The troops in St. Domingo, called the.N.ational, Guards, -were' originally.
nothing more than the colonial miiitia. They were new organized in J 789, on
the model of the national guards in the -country, and bore the fame colours,
and aifumcd the fame name,
X reCtina-
0.
S'T. D '0 M IN 0'0.
tecting ,'hoftilities llgainft -themfel-ves, fummoned ,the :people"
from all the colony) ,to hafteh properly armed to pro-
tect itheir :r.eprefentath:es.; and moil: of the inhabitants of the
Jleigilbdrlring parilhes'obeyed the fummons. The {hip Leopard
tvas Prince ,to St. Marc's for the fame pur-
pofe. -On _ the other hand, the Northern provincial aifembly
j oiried t?e party of, the governor, and fent to his affiftance a de-
taohment from ,the . regular troops in that quarter, which was
joined -by a ',body of ,two hundred of A much
'greater force ,was collected at ,the fame time in .the Weftern pro-
vince by M. Mauduit, and the preparations on both fides threat-
ened an obftinate and bloody conflict i '\vhen, by one of thofe
wonderfulceccentticities in the 'human mind which are feldom-
difpla:yed e'xcept in times of pub lick comrhotion,a fiop was put
to immediate :fhedding of blood, by the {uddenand unex;..
determination of the aiTembly to undertake a
voyage to France, and j.ufiify their conduCt to the king and
the n'ationaJ -afi"embly in perfon. Their motives were thought
the Inore laudable, as all the Weftern and great pa rt of the
Southern provinces gave a decided approbation of their conduCt,
andarn1ed in a very fhort time two thoufand men in their de-
fence, which were in full lllarch for Port au Prince. Their
refollltion however 'was fixed, and' accordingly, of about one
to \vhich the colonial afielnbl y \vasre-duced
by ficknefs and defertion, no le[s than ejghty ... fi ve (of whonl
fixty-four fathers of families) aCtually ernbarked on board
the Leopard, and on the 8th of Augu:fl: took their ,depatture for
Europe :-' a ,proceeding \vhich created 3S nluch furprize iil the
,governor and his party, as adlliiration and applauCe all10ng the
F 2 people
CHAP ..
Ill.
I, __
,
CHAP ..
Ill.
"--v---J
.HIS",TORY OF"
people at large. Per[onsof all ranks accompanied the members
to the place. of pouring forth prayers for their
fucccfs, and fhedding tears of fenfibility and. affeCtion for a
conduCt which -was .very generally confidered as a noble proof
()f felf-denial, and as fignal an infiance of heroick virtue and
'chriilian forbearan.ce as any age has exhibited.. A momen-
tary calm followed this event :-' -the parties in. arms appeared
mutually difpofed to fubmit their differences to the wifdom
and jufiice of the king and the national affembly, and M ..
Feynier refumed, though with a trembling hand, the reins- 0.
government ..
SUCH was the iifue of the firft attempt to eftablilh a free con-
ftitution in the French part of St. Domingo, on the fyftem of a
-limited monarchy; and it affords occafion for fame important re-
flections: That -the general colonial aiTembly; in thir decree of
.the 28th of May, exceeded the proper boundary of their conftitu'-
tional functions, has been frankly admitted.. This irregularity,
however, might have been correCted without bloodfhed or vio-
lence;- but there is this misfortu.ne attending every deviation
from the rule of right, that, in the confliCt of contending
factions, the exceffes of one party are ever confidered as the
fullefi: jufi:ification for the outrages of the other. For falne parts
of their conduCt an apology may be offered. The meafure of
fecuring to their interefts the crew of the Leopard, and the
feizure of the magazine at Leogane, may be vindicated on plea.
of {elf-defence. It cannot be doubted that M. had long.
meditated how beil: to refiore the ancient defpotick fyfiem, and
+
S 're D 0 M I N G ,0.
that, jointly with M. Mauduit. and others, he had made prepa.-
l"ations for that purpofe. He had 'written 'to the
. miriifter in France, that he never intended to ,fqffer the colonial
affembly to meet;, and let it be told in this place, in jufiic! to
the French miniftry, that the anfwer which he received con-
tained a tacit difapprobation of. his meafures'; for rv.r. Luzerne
recomtnended moderate and conciliatory councils. The go-
vernor proceeded nOhvithftanding in the fame career, and dif-
trufiful perhaps ,of the fidelity of the French foldiers, he made
application (as appeared afterwards) to the governor of the Ha-
vannah for a reinforcenlent of Spaniih troops from Cuba. It
is evident therefore that he concurred entirely in the plans of
Mauduit for effeCtuating a counter-revolution;. and hence it is;
reafonable to conclude, that the difcord and diftrufl: which pre-
vailed among the inhabitants, and above all, the fatal diifen-
tions that alienated the provincial affembly of the North., from
the general affembly at St. l\tlarc's, were induftriouily fomented
and encouraged by M. Peynier and' his adherents. Concerning'
the members of the colonial aff'embly, their prompt and deci--
live determination to repair to France., and furrender their
perfons to the fuprelne governnlent,- obviates all in1peachn1ent
. of their loyalty.. Their attachment to the mother-country ,vas,
indeed fecured by too many ties of intereR and felf-prefervation:
to be doubtecL
OF' their reception by the national aiYembly,. and the- pro-
ceedings adopted in confequence of their arrival in Europe, I
!hall hereafter have occafion to [peak. A pau[e in this place
iCr::111S
.C H Ap
. Ill.
''---v--I .
's'8
"c a A_P,
Ill.

-HIST:ORY OF
,1eems tequifite ;-for I have -now'to 'introduceto'th'e reader the
::mou'rnful hifioryof an unfortunate individual, over Wh0fe 'fad
ifate (however we may 'condemn ,'his -tafh . and-ill-concerted 'en-
terprize)
At, .One .human .tearmay drop, and be forgiven 1)),
CH APo
g:''R;. . D 0: M I N G O.
C H IV.
Rebellion and Difeat of Oge, afree Man if Colourq
F
; ROM the firft meeting of the general aifen1bly of Do ...
.. . mingo,. to its, diffolution and difperfion, as related in the
preceding chapters, the coloure,d people refident within the co-
lony remained on the whole more peaceable and orderly than.
might have been. expeet:ed. The ten1perate and lenient difpo-
fitionmanifefted by the affembly tov/ards them, produced a be ...
n'eficial and. decifive effeCt in the Wefiern and Southern pro-
vinces; and although. 300 of them from thefe provinces, had
perfuadedby M. Mauduit to join the force under his command,.
they very foon. became fenfible of' their error,. and, infiead of'
Jna-rching towards. St. Marc, as Mauduit propofed, they de-
manded and. obtained. their: difiniffion, and returned quietly to
theifrefpeCtive habitations. Such of the mulatto people how-
ever as refided at that junCture in the mother-country, continued
in a far more hofiile difpofition ; and they were encouraged in
their, animofity toward.s the- white' colonifts by parties of very'
different: defcriptions. The colonial decree of the 28th of
M'ay, 1'790, w.as ,no fooner made known in France, than it excited,.
univerfal clamour. Many per[ons- w.ho concurred in nothing
eIfe, united; their' voices, in reprobating- the conducl of the inha-
bitants
39
CH A P.
IV.
"--v--'
HISTORY OF
bitants of St. Domingo. The adherents of the ancient go-
vernment \vere joined on this oecafion by the partizans of de-
mocracy and repub]icanifrn. To the latter, the confiitution of
1789 was even more odious than the old tyranny; and thefe
nlen, with the deepeft and darkeft defigns, poiTeffed all that
union, firmnefs, and perfeverance ,,,hich ,,,ere neceifary to their
purpofes -; and \vhich, as the ,vorId ha-s beheld, have fince ren ..
dered them irrcfifiible. Thefe t\VO factions hoped to obtain
very different ends, by the faIne means; and there ,vas another
party who exerted themfelves '\vith equal affiduity in prolnoting
publick confufion: thefe were the difcordant clafs ,of fpecula-
tive reformers, whom it \vas inlpoflible to reconcile to the new
government, becau{e every man among them had probably
forn1ed a favourite fyftelTI in his own imagination which he was
eager to recommend to others. 1 do not cO!lfider the philan-
tllfOpick fociety, called Amis des Noirs, as another diftinCt body,
qeeaufe it appears to Ine that they were equally divided
between the delTIOeratick party, and the clafs laft ,mentioned.
by fuch auxiliaries, it is not furprizing that
efforts ,of this {oeiety fhould have operated pO'fNerfully on
the nlinds of thofe who were taught to confider their per-
{anal wrongs as the caufe of the nation, aJ)d have driven fame
of them into the wildefi: exce.ifes of fanaticifrn and fury.
AMON G fuch of thefe unfortunate, people refident in France
as ,vere thus inflamed into madnefs, \vas a young man under
thirty years of age, named James Oge: he was born in St,. Do .. -
mingo, of a mulatto \vcman who frill poffeffed 'a coffee planta-r
.in the Northern province, about thirty Injles from Cape

S T. D 0 M' I N G.O.
whereon fhe lived very creditably, and found
out of its profits -to educate her fon at Paris, and even to rupport
him there in fame degree of affiuence, after he had obtained the
age of manhood. His reputed father, a white planter of fonle
.-account, had been dead feveral
o G had been in traduced to the meetings of the Anus des
Noirs, under the patronage of Gregoire, Briifot (h), I.la Fayette,
and Robefpierre (i), the leading members of that fociety; and
was by thenl initiated into the popular doctrine of equality, and
the rigbts of man. Here it was that he firft learnt the lniferies
of his condition, the cruel wrongs and contumelies to which he
and all his mulatto brethren were expofed in the Weft Indies,
and the 111onfirous injufiice and abfurdity of that prejudice,
u which, (faid Gregoire) eftimating a man's merit by the colour
'" of his {kin, has placed at an immenfe diftance from each other
,e' the children of the falne parent; a. prej udice which frifies the
f' voice of nature! and breaks the bands of fraternity afunder."
THAT thefe are great evils muft be frankly admitted, and. it
would have been fortunate if fuch men as Briffot and Gregaire,
inftead of bewailing thei.r exi[!ence .. and magnifying their. extent"
had applied their talents in confide ring of the beft practicable
meaps of rcdreiling
BUT thefe perfons had other objects in view :-their aim,.as
J have {hewn, was not to reform, but to deftl'oy; to excite con ....
(h) Guillotined 31 OCiobc.r, 1793. (i) Guillotined 2.8 July, 1794-"
G vulfions
CH A P.
IV.
11 1ST 0 R Y 0 F
C H A P. vulGons in every part of the French .cl11pire; and the il1-flted
IV. Oge becan1e the teol, and \vas aftep.vards the viClim.1 of their
~ guilty ambition.
HE had been led to belie.ve, that the vvhole body of coloured
people in the French if.lands were prepared to rife up as one lnan
againfi their opprefiors.; that nothing bu t a difcreet leader ,vas
\vanting, to [et them into attion; and, fondly conceiving that he
poffelIed in his o\vn per[on all the qualities of an able general, he
determined to proceed to . St. _ DOiningo by the firil opportunity
To cherifh the conceit of his o\vn ilnportance, and aninlate his
exertions, the {ociety procured him the rank of lieutenai1t ....
colonel in the army of one of the Gern1an eleCtors.
As it was found difficult to export a fufficient quantity of arms
and ammunition frorn France, ,vithout attracting the notice of
the governlnent, and awakening {ufpicioll arllong the planters re;"'
fident in -the. mother country, the fociety . refolved to procure'
thofe articles -in North Alnerica, and it was recommended to
Oge to make a circuitous voyage for that purpofe. Accordingly,
being furniihed with money and letters of credit, he embarked
for New England in the Inonth of July J 790.
BUT, notwithfianding the caution that was obferved in this
infiance, the whole project was publickly known at Paris pre-
vious to Oge's embarkation, and notice. of the fcheme, and even
a portrait of Oge himfelf, w ~ r tranfmitted to St. Domingo,.
long before his arrival in that iilandG- He fecretly landed t h r ~
from an A;merican fioop, on the 12th of October 1790, and found
means
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
43
means to cpnvey undifcovered the arms Rl1d ammunition which C H A P.
he had purchafed, to the place which his brother had prepared IV.
'--v--'
for their reception.
THE firft notice which the vlhite inhabitants received ,of
.Oge's arrival, was from himfelf. I-Ie difpatched a letter to the
governor (Peynier ) wherein, after reproaching the governor and
l1is predeceifors with the non-execution of the Code Noir, he de-
ll1ands, in very inlperious terms, that the provifions of that cele.
brated i1:atute ihould be enforced throughout the colony; he
.requires that the privileges enjoyed by one clafs of inhabitants
(the whites) lhould be extended to all per[ons \vithout difiinc ...
tion; declares hilnfelf the proteCtor of the mulattoes, and an-
nounces his intention of taking up arms in their behalf, unleiS
their wrongs ihould be redrefied.
ABO UT fix '\veeks had intervened bet\veen the landing of
Oge, and the publication of this mandate; in ~ l which time he
and his two brothers had exerted themfelves to the utmoft in-
fpreading difaff"eCtion, and exciting revolt among the mulattoes.
A ifurances ,vere held forth, that all the inhabitants of the mo ..
ther country were difpofed to affift thenl in the recovery of their-
rights, and it was added, that the king himfelf ,vas favourably
inclined to their caufe. P'romifes were diftribu ted to fame, and
n10ney to others.. But, notwithfianding all there efforts, and
that the temper of the times was.favourable to h i s ~ vie\vs, Oge
was not able to allure to his flandard aBove 200 followers; and
ef thefe, the major part were raw and ignorant youths, unu[ed
G 2 to
44
CHAP-
IV.

HISTORY OF
to difciplirie, and averfe to all manner' offubordinatioll and
order.
HE efrabliihed his caOlp at a place called Grande Rt"vt"ere,
about fifteen n1iles from Cape Fnin90is, and appointed his fwo
brothers, together v/ith one Mark Chavane,. his lieutenants.
Cha vane was fierce, intrepid, aCtive, and enterprizing; prone to
mifchief, and thirfiy for vengeance. Oge him[elf, ,vith all his
enthufiafm, -\ivas naturally lnild and hUl11ane: he cautioned his
follo\vers againfi: the ihedding innocent blood; but little regard
was paid to his willies in this refpea:: the fidl: white man that
fell in their way they murdered on the fpot: a fecond, of the
natne of Sicard, met the fatne fate; and it is related, that their
cruelty towards fuch per[ons of their o\vn comp1exion as refufed'
to join in the revolt was extrenle. A mulatto man of fonle pro-
perty being urged to follow them, pointed to his ,vife and fix
children, affigning the largenefs of Ilis family as a Inotive for
",:iilling to rClnain quiet. This conduCt was confidcred as con'-
tumacious, and it is afferted, that not only the nlan him[elf, but
the vvhole of his falnily, were InaiTacred vlithout mercy.
INTELLIGENCE was no [ooner received at the tovln of Cape
Franqois 0f thefe enorn1ities, than the inhabitants proceeded,
vvith the utlnofi vigour and unanilnity, to adopt mea[ures for
fuppreffing the revolt. A body of regular troops, and the Cape
reginlent of militia, were forth with difpatclled for that purpofe.
They Coon invefted the canlp of the revolters, who made lefs re-
fiftance than lnight have been expected from ll1en in their defpe-
rate circunlfi:ances. . The rout became general; many of then1
were
ST. D 0 M I N .G O.
were killed, and about fixty made prifoners; the reft difperfed
themfelves in the mountains. hinlfelf, one of his brothers,
and Chavane his affociate, took refuge in the Spanilli territories.
Of Oge's other brother no intelligence was ever afterwards ob-
tained.
AFTER this unfuccefsful attempt of Oge, and his efcape from:
jufiice, the difpofition of the "{Nhite inhabitants in general to-
wards the mulattoes, was !barpened into great animofity. The
lower clafTes in particular, (thofe \vhom. the coloured people call
les petits blaizcs) breathed nothing but vengeance againfr them;
and very ferious apprehenfions were entertained, in all parts of
the colony, of_a profcription and mafTacre of the whole body. .
ALARMED by reports of this kind, and the appearances
threatened them from all quarters, the mulattoes flew' to arms ia
n1any places. They formed cao1ps at Artibonite, Petit Goaves,
J eremie, and Aux Cayes. But the largefi: and mofi: formidable
body afTembled near the little town of VeretteD The- white in ...
habitants colleCted themfelves in confiderable force in the neigh-
bourhood, and Colonel Mauduit, vvith Cl corps of two hundred
-D1en fron1 the regirnent of Port au Prince, hailened. to their a[-
fiftance.; but neither party proceeded to aCtual hoftility. M.
Mauduit even left his detachment at the port of St. IvIarc, thirty-
fix miles from Verette, and proceeding fingly and unattended to;
the can1p of the had a conference ,vith their leaders ..
What paired on that occafion was never publickly divulged'. It'
is certain, that the nluIattoes retired to their habitati0ns in con-
fequence of it; but the filence and fecrecy of M. Mauduit,.
*
/
CH A
IV.
'--v---I
HISTORY OF
his influence over them, gav'e occafion to' very unfavourable
fufpicions; by no means tending to conciliate the different claffes
of the inhabitants to each other. He was charged with having
.traiteroufly per[uaded them not to defift fiom their purpofe, but
only to pofipone their vengeance to a n10re favourable 9Ppor-
tunjty; alruring them, \vith the utmofi: folelnnity and apparent
fincerity, that the king hinl[elf, and all, the friends of the an-
cient governnlent, ,\yere fecretIy attached to their cau[e.,' and
, ,
\vould avo\v and fllpport it whenever they could do it with od ...
vantage; and that the tilne was not far difiant, &c. He is [aid
to have purfued the fame line of conduct at Jeremie, Aux Cayes,
and all the places \vhich he vifited. Every vvhere he held [ecret
confultations \vith the chiefs of the mulattoes, and thofe people
every where immediately difperfed. At Aux Cayes, a ikirn1iili
had happened before his arrival there, in which about fifty per-
fans 011 both fides had 10ft their lives, and preparations were
making to renew hoftilities. The perfuafions of M. Mauduit
effected a, truce; but Rigaud, the leader of the mulattoes in that
.quarter, openly declared that it was a tranfient and deceitful
.caltn, and that no peace would be permanent, until one clafs of
people had extenninated the other.
IN, ,Novetnber 1790, M. Peynier refigned the government to
the lieutenant-general, and for Europe i-a circum-
fiance which proved highly pleafing to the major part of the
planters :-and the firft meafure of M. Blanchelande (k), the ne\v
commander in chief; was conildered as the earnefr of a decifi ve
(k) Guillotined at Paris, 1793.
and
S T.',' D 0 M I G o.
and vigorous adtniniflration.' He Inade a peremptory demahd
of Oge and his afTociates from the Spaniards; and the manner in
which it \vas enforced, induced' an ilnlnediate conlpliance there-
\vith. The wretched Oge, and his companions in mifery, were
delivered over, the latter end of December, to a detachment of
French troops, and fafely lodged in the jail of Cape Frans;ois,
with prifoners formerly taken; and a, was [oon
afterw;.ards ifliled to bring them to trial.
THEIR exat11inations were long frequent; and in the be-
ginning of March 179 I, fentence ,vas pronounced. Twenty of
Ogees deluded follo\vers, among theIn his own brother, were con-
to be 'hanged. To Oge himfelf, and his lieutenant
Chavane, a more terrible punifhtnent was allotted :-they '\vere-
adjudged to be broken alive, and left to periili in that dreadful
fituation, on the wheel :-a fentence, on which ,it is impoffible
to refleCt but with mingled emotions of !hame, fympathy, indig-
nation, and horror!
THE bold and hardened Chavane met his fate with unufuaI
finnnefs, and futfered not a groan to efcape him during the extre-
mity of his torture: but the fortitude of Oge deferted hinl alto-
gether. When fentence was pronounced, he in1plored mercy
with many tears, and an fpirit. He prqmifed to Inake
great difcoveries if his life was [pared, declaring that he had an
important 'fecret to comfl?unicate. A refpite of twenty-four hours
was accordingly granted; but it was not made known to the pub-
lick, at that time, that he divulged any thing of itnportance. I-lis
fecret, if any he had, was believed to have died v/ith him.
47
CH A P.
IV.

H 1.5 TOR Y OF
C H A P. IT was difcovered, ho\vever, about nine months after\vards,
IV. that this moO: unfortunate young man had not only made a full
.confeffion or"" the faCl:s that I have related, but difcldfed
,the dreadful plot in agitation, and the mj[eries at that moment
impending over the colony. His tail: folemn declarations and
confeffion, (worn to and figned by himfelf the day before his
execution, were actually produced; wherein he details at large
the meafures which the coloured people had fallen up01.1 to excite
the negro naves to rife into rebellion. He points out the chiefs
by name, and relates that, notwith:ll:anding his own defeat, a ge-
neral revolt vvould aCtually have taken place in the of
February preceding, if an extraordinary flood of rain, and con[e-
fluent inundation fiom the rivers, had not prevented it. He
declares that the frill u1aintained the fame atrocious
projeCt, and held their meetings in certain fubterranean pa1fages)
or caves, in the parifh of La Grande Riviere, to which he
if his life might be [pared, to condu,Ct a body of tlOOpS, fo that
the confpirators might be fecuredlO
THE perfons before whom this confeffion and narrative were
made, were the comnliffioners appointed for the purpo{c of
taking Oge's exa.mination, by the fuperior council of the Northern
province, of which body they were alfo Inembers (I). Whe ..
ther this court (all the members of which were devotedly at ..
tached to the ancient fyfiem) determined of itfelf to [uppre[s
evidence of fuch great concern to the colony, or was directed on
(1) Their names were Antoil1e Etienne Ruotte, and Francois ]oJeph de Ver-
tierres.
this
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
this occafion by the fuperior officers in the adminiftration of the
government, has never been "clearly made known. Suppreffed it
certainly was, and the miferable age hurried to immediate exe-
cution; as if to prevent the further communication, and full dif-
clofure of fo weighty a fecret !
CHRISTIAN charity might lead us to fup-pofe that the com-
nliffioners by WhOOl Oge's examination was taken, difregarded
and neglected (rather than fu ppreiTed) his information; con-
fidering it merely as the ihallow artifice of a miferable man to
obtain a o1itigation of the dreadful punifhment vvhich awaited
him, and utterly unworthy of credit. It does not appear, ho\v-
ever, that the commiffioners made thisexcufe for themfelves.;
and the c? .. ution, and fecrecy which marked their
conduCt, leave" no room for fuch a fuppofition. The planters at
large fcrupled not to declare, that the royalifi:s in the colony:.
and the philanthropick and republican party in the mother
country, were equally criminal; and themfelves made viCtims to
the blind purpofes, and unwarrantable pallions, of t\VO de[perate.
and malignant faCtions.
OF men who openly and avo\vedly aimed at the fubverfion
of all good order and fubordination, \ve may eafily credit the
\vorft; but it will be difficult to point out principle of ra-
tional policy by ,vhich the royalifts could have been influenced
to concur in the ruin of fo noble and a part of the
French empire. Their conduCt therefore ren1ains \vholly in-
explicable, or 'i.ve muft admit they ,vere guided by a ipirit of
IVlachiavilian po]icy-a principle of refined clInGing, \yhich
H
49
C I-I A P.
IV.
'--v--J
CH AP.
IV.

. /'-
.
JI I S "r 0 R Y 0 F
ways defeats its own purpo[e. They mufl: have encouraged the
vain and fallacious idea that [cenes of bloodlhed, devafiation, and
J;uin, in different parts of the F'rench dominions, would induce
great body of the people to look back with regret to their
fornler government, and lead them by degrees to co-operate in
the fcheme of effeCting a counter-revolution; regarding the
evils of anarchy, as le[s tolerable than the dead repo[c of de[po-
tiiin. If fuch were their motives, "ve can only afcribe them to
that infatuation with which Providence (as \vi[e men have ob ..
ferved, and hiftory evinces) blinds a people devoted to. ..
$ T. D () M I N ("J
C 1-f A P. V.
Proceedings ill France-MqiJacre if Colonel Mauduz"t in St. D()-
nlingo-and fatal Decree if the National AjJt!111bly qf the 15tb
May 1791.
I
N detailing the tragical fiory of the miferable Oge, I have
chofen to continue' my narrative unbroken: but it is novl
time to call the reader homewards, and direCt his attention
to the n1e(lffures adopted by the national affem bly, in confequence
Qf advices received from all parts of St. Domingo, concerning
the proceedings of the colonial affembly which met at St.
Marc's.
THE eighty-five members, whofe embarkation for France
already been noticed,. arrived at Brefr on the 13th of September
179b. They received on landing by an ranks of people, and
even by men in authority, with congratulation and fnouts of ap-
plaufe. The fame hoilours were !he\vn to them as \\'o,_ild h::ve
bee'n paid to the national atTemt>ly. Their expences de-
frayed" and furns of money raifed for their by :l
voluntary and very general fubfcr.i-pticn; but the re teftimonie 5
of refpeCt and kindnefs ferved only to encreaC= the dii2.
Inent which they [Don aftervvards 1: th-: ;
H2
C HA P.
v.
t....--v---J
.. '
I-IISTORY OF
"vhere a very different reception awaited them. They had the-
mortification to difcover that their enelnies had been beforehand
with tbenl. Deputies "were already arrived from the provincial
aifembly of the North, who, joining with the agents of Peynier
and Mauduit, had [0 prevailed \vith M. Barnave (aJ,
the preiident of the conunittee fot the colonies,. that they found
their cau[e, prej udged, and their conduCt condemned, without a
hearing. The national affembly had iffileda peremptory order,
on the 21 re of Septelnber, direCting thenl to attend at Paris, and
,,,ait there for further direCtions. Their prompt obedience to
this order procllred them no favour. They were allowed a fingle
audience only, - and then indignantly difiniifed [rain the bar.
They folicited a fecond, and an opportunity of being confronted
\vith their adverfaries: the national a:lTembly refufed their re:-
q uei1::, and direCted the colonial con1.mittee to haften its report
concerning, their conduCt. , On the I I th of October,. this re-
port was prefented by M. Barnave. It comprehended a detail
of all the proceedings of the colonial aiTembly, from its firft
tneeting at St. and cenfured their general conduCt in:
tern1.S of great afperity; reprefenting it as flo.wing from motives
of difaffeCtion tovirards the mother country,. and an impatience of
fubordination to conftitutional authority and good government ..
The report concluded by recon1mending, "that all the pre,..
" tended decrees and aB:s of the [aid colonial aiTembly, fhould be
" reverfed,. and pronounced utterly nu-Il and of no effe,&; that
"the faid aflerribly lhould be declared diilblved, and its
" bers rendered ineligible and incapable, of being in,
(a) Guillotined December 1, 1793.
H future
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
to the colonial aifembly of St. D'omingo; that tefti-
" monies of approbation iliould be tranfmitted to the Northern
" provincial aifeInhly, to Colonel Mauduit the regiment of
H Port all Prince, for refifiing the proceedings at,St Marc's; that
" the king {hould be requefred to give orders for the forming a ne.\V
"colonial allembly on the' principles of the national decree of
" 8th of March 1790, and inftruCtions of the 28th of the
" faU1e n10nth; finally, that the ci-devant members, then in
" France, .i110uld continue' in a fiate of arreil, until the national
" affembly might find time to fignify its further pleafure conc.ern-
" iog them." A decree to this effeCt was accordingly voted on the
12th of OCtober,. by a very large majority; and the king was: re-
quefied, at the [anle time, to fend out an augmentation of force,
both naval and 111ilitary, for the better fupporting the regal au-
thority in St. Don1ingo.
IT is not eafy to defcribe the. furprize and indignation which
the news of this decree excited in St. Domingo, except anlong
th<? partizans of the fanner government. By them it \vas re.-
garded as the firft fiep towards the revival of the ancient fyfiem;
by moil other perfons it was confidered as a dereliCtion by the
national affembly of all principle; and the orders for electing a
new colonial affembly were [0 little regarded, that many of the
parifhes pofitive.ly refufed to choofe other deputies nntil the
fate of their former members, at that time in France, {hould be
decided; declaring, that they :till confidered thole perfons as the
legal reprefentatives of the co]Ot:ly. One ilnn1ediate and appa-
rent -effect of this decree was,. to heighten and inflame the po-
pular refentment againft Mauduit and his regiment. The.
reader has already been n1ade acquainted with fome particulars
concernlng
.53
CH A,P.
v.
'--v----J
. C 11 A P.
VQ

11 1ST 0 R Y 0 F
concerning this officer; and to ",hat has been faid of his ge-
neral charaCter, and his intemperate zeal for the re-eftablifu-
tuent of the regal authority ill its fulleft extent, it may be added,
that was the U10re dangerous, becaufe he was generous in his
difpofition, and even profufe in his bounty towards his foldiers.
In return, the attachment of his regiment towards his perfol1
appeared to exceed the u[ual limits of obedience and duty (b) ..
THE matTacre of this n1an by thofe very troops, a 1110rt time
after the notification of the aforefaid decree, affords [0 ftriking an
inftance of that cruel and ungovernable difpofition, equally im-
. petuous and inconftant, which prevailed, and I am afraid frill
continues to prevail, all10ngft the lower claffes of the people-,
throughout all the French donlinions, that I conceive a brief re-
cital of the circutn1tances attending his murder wBl not
thought an unneceifary digreffioll.
I HAVE, in a former place (e), given [clue account of the pro-
ceedings of M. Peynier, the late governor, certain perfons
"Vvho corn pofed whilt called the committee of the Weftenl
provincial aifembly, and of the attempt by IVl. Mauduit to
by force the individuals who <:ofl1pofed that committeeo This
happenedo..l1. the Z9th of July, ! 790; and I obierved that the
circnn1itance of 1\1. l\.1audllit's carrying off the colours from a
detachment of the national guards' on that o.ccafi.on, ultiluatcly
terminated in his. deftruCtion.
( h) After his exal'nple they had rejected the national cockade,. anc\ wor.e a white
feather in their hats, the fymbol, or avowed fignal, of the royal party.
f) Cl. ,.,
,
C . naj), 1l1, n.
, .. "'-,
1
TUE
s T. D 0 M I N G o.
'TUE cafe was,. that not only the detachment fi'om whom their
enfign was taken, but the whole of the national guards through-
out the colony, confidered this aCt. as the mail: outrageous and
unpardonable infult that could poffibly be offered to a body of
men" vlho had f worn fidelity to the new confiitution; and no-
thing but the dread of the fuperior difcipline of the veterans
compofing the Port au Prince regiment (which l\1auduit com--
manded) prevented them from exercifing exemplary vengeance
on the author of their This regiment therefore, being
implicated in, the crime of their officer.) was re.--
garded by the other troops with hatred and detefiation.
ON the 3d of March 179I,..the frigates Le Fougueux and Le'
Bonfe arrived from France, with two battalions of the regiments
of Artois and Norma ndy; and ,vhen it is known that thefe
tn;)ops had been vifited by' the crew of the Leopard, it will not
appear furprizing that, on their landing at Port au Prince, they
ihould have Inanifefted the fcune hoftile difpofition tovvards
Mauduit's regiment, as was {hewn by- the national guards ..
They refu[ed all manner of communication or intercourfe with.
theln,. and even declined to enter into any of their places of
refort. They confidered, or atleCled to confider them, as ene-
mies to the colony,. and traitors to their country.. This con-
duct in the ne\v-comers towards the ill-fated reginlent [oon
made a wonderful.impreilion on the D)inds of both officers and
privates: of the reginlent itfelf; and nlutual reproach and accu--
fation fpread through the \vhole corps. The vvhite feather was
indignantly. torn from their hats, and dark. and fullen looks to-
'vards
ss
C'R AP.
TV

5'6
C H A. P.
V.
'---..--J
HISTORY OF
,vards their once-loved commander, indicated not' only that he
had loft their confidence, but alfo that he was the objeCt of me-
.ditated Inifchie Mauduit [oon perceived the full extent of his
danger, and ,fearing to invqlve the, governor (M. Blanchelande)
and his family, in the ruin which awaited himlelf, with great ge-
nerolity advifed them to the befr -of their way to Cape
Franyois, while they could do it fafety.; and Blanchelande,
for which he was after\vards lnuch cenfured, follo\ved this ad-
VIce. l\1auduit then harangued his grenadiers, to whom he had
always [hewn great kindnefs, and told them that he was willing,
for the fllke of peace, to refrore to the national troops the colours-
which he. had formerly taken fion1 them; and even to carry
them, \vith his own hands, at the head of his regiment, and de-
pofit in the church in which they had been ufually lodged;
but he added, that he depended on their affeCtion and duty to'
proteCt him fi-oln perfonal infult, while lTIaking this ample apo-
logy. - The faithlefs grenadiers declared that they vvouId pro ...
tea him with their lives"
'THE next day the ceremony took place, and Mauduit refrored
the colours as he had promifed, before a vafr croud of
At that mOll1ent, one of his own foldiers cried aloud,. tbat he'111Zffl
IlJ7c. pardon qf. the n.at-ional troops OJZ hs knee.s; and the whole
regiment applauded the propofll. Tvlauduit ftarted back with
indignation, and offered his bo[om to their [words :-it
pierced with a hundred wounds, all of theIn inflieLed by his own
fl1en, while not a fingle hand vias lifted -up in his defence. The
fpeclators ilood motionle[s, ,edthei"" thr-ough hatred to- the
0!: furprize at the treachery and cowardice of the foldiers. Such
indeed
S T. D 0 M I N G O.
indeed was' bafenefs of" thefe that no modern lan-
guage can defcribe, but in terms which would not be endured,
horrible enormities that were practifed on the dead body
of their \vretched commander. It was referved for the prefent
day to behold, for the firft time, a civilized nation exceeding in
feats of cruelty and revenge the favages of North America. I
'grieve to add, that I have many dreadful infiaIlces yet to recite
in confirmation of this remark (c) ..
WHILE thefe 111ameful enormities were pailing in St. Do-
mingo, the fociety of A,/us des ]{oirJ' in the mother country
were but too fuccefsfully etnployed in deviiing projeCts which
gave birth to deeds of frill greater horror, and produced fcenes
that transfonned the moft beautiful colony in the world into a.
field of defolation and carnage.
ALTHOUGH it mufi: have occurred to every unprejudiced mind,
from the that have been related concerning the
(c) The following anecdote, though {hocking to humanity, I have thought
too extraordinary to omit. It communicated to me by a French gen-
tleman who was at St. Domingo at the time, and knew the fatl:; but decency
has induced me to veil it in a learned language. MAUDUITO vi.\ mortuo, WIUS
mtlitihus, dum cadaver calidu11l, et cruore adhuc Jluente madidum, in pavimmtum ec.
ep!fcopalis jacuit, ficam d!/lringen,,-, genitalia coram populo abfi:idit, et membra
truncata in ciJlam componcns, ad feminam l1obilem, quam amicam }'/fllUduitoJlatuit, ut
de mortua attulit. It may afford the reader fame confolation to rh2t
the murder of their commanding officer by his own regiment, excited in all the
other troops no other fentiments than thofe of indigrlation againfr his murderers.
They were compelled to -lay down their arms, and were fent prifoncrrs l"rance ;
but I fear they efcaped the punifhment due to their crimes.
I behavionr
51
CHAP.
v.
,
CHAP.


HIS TOR Y 0 F'
behaviour of the mulattoes refideht in the colony, . that tlie ge ...
neral body of thofe people were by no means aver[e tQ conci-
liation vvith the yet it was found impoffible to perfuade'
their prete'nded friends in Europe to leave the affairs of St., Do-
mingo to their natural cOQrfe. Barnave alone (hitherto the malt
fornlidable opponent of the prej udices and pretenfions of the co ..
lunifis) Cl vowed his conviction IU1at any furthec interference of
the mother country in the quefiion betvveen the ,vhites and the
coloured people, would be producE ve of fatal confeq uences.
Such an opinion was entitled to greater refpect, as coming from '
a man who, as prefi'dent of the colonial committee,. muft be [up.
I?ofed to have aequired an intimate knowledge of the fubjeCl:;.
but he was heard witholit conviCtion. There are enthufiafts in
/
politicks as well as in and it commonly happens with
fanaticks in. each, that the recantation. bf . a few of their number'
ferves only to llrengthen the and animate the purpo(es of
. the reil. It was now'refolved by Gregoire, La Fayette,.Brilfot
3
.
and fame other peililent reformers, to call in the fuprerne le ....
giflative authority of the French government to give effeCt
their projeCts; and. that the reader' may clearly underfiand the:
.nature of the' mifchief that was meditated,
of thofe meafures to. which. the ruin. of the' French Stl> ..
DOln.ingo is, immediately. to be attributed,. it is ne.ceffary, in the:
firfl: plac.e, to recal his attention to the national decree of the
8th of March 1790., of which an account. was. given in the fe-
'cond chapter 0-
By. that decree, as the reader"muil have . .the 00.
tionaLaifenlbly, among other things" difclaimed.all right of in-
terference
-
S T.. D 0 IV1 I N G O.
( terference in the local and i!lterior concerns of the C010li.ies; and
it cannot be doubted, that if this declaration had been faithfnlly
interpreterl and aCted upon; it \-vould have in a,very
eminent degree, to the re!1oration of peace and tranq u'illity in St.
Pomingo. To render it therefore of as little effect as poDible,
and to add fuel to the fire \vhich perhaps '\vould otherwif:: have
becolne extinguiQled, jt had been infidiouily propofed in the na-
tional aff"embly, \vithin a fe\v days after the decree of the 8th of
March had paffed, to tranfmit \vith it to the governor of St. Do.;,
mingo, a code, or chapter, of infiruCtions for its due and punttual
obfervance arid execution. Accordingly, on the 28th of the fame
month, infiruCtions, which \vere ['lid to be calculated for that
purpofe, were prefented.and decreed. They confined of eighteen
articles, and contained, an10ng other things, a direCtion " that
" every perfon of the age of t\venty-five and up'\vards, paBelling
cc proper.ty, or having relided t\VO years in the colony, and paid
" taxes_, ihould be pernlitted to vote in the formation of the co-
lonial aifemblv."
"
bHE friends of the coloniits having at tha t tilne {ea ts in
national alrembly, oppo[ed the Ineafurechieffy on the ground of
its repugnancy Jo thedecree-Qf the $th; it being evidently, they
urged, an interference in the Jocal arrangements and interior re-
gulations of the colonial goyernment. It does not appear (not ...
\vithftanding V\
7
hat has fince been a1Terted to the COl'ltrary) that
they entertained an idea .that the mulatto people '\vere direCtly
Qf cOllcerned. The fran1ers and fu pporters of the:n1ea--
fure pretended that it only to the u1odi6cation ,of -the
privilege ,of voting.in the parochial lllcetings., -,\vhich 'ven
I 2 kno\vn
CHAP.
V ..


v.
\..---v---J
HISTOI{Y OF
knaWfl,. under the old goverIunen t been c,onfiituted of white-
perfons only. The coloured people had in no infiance attended
thofe nl.eet.ings, nor [et up a clam), or even exptefied: a defire, to
" take any part in the hulinefs. tranfacred thereat. Bnt thefe in-
ftructions were no [o.oner, adopted by the national afienl biy, and
converted into a decree, than its f.ranlers and fu p-porters thre\
off the Inaik" and the m.ulattoes. refident in. the n10ther country;
as well as. the fociety of Alnis des Noirs,. failed not to apprize
friends. and apents in St. that the people of
not being .ixcepted,. \vere virtually cOlnprized. in it. Thefej
ho\vever, thinking thelufelves fufficiently po\verful to en-
force the 'Of, perhaps, doubting the real meaning of the
decree, feht deputies to Frallce to demand. an explanation of if;.
from the national a{fe.mbly..,.
IN tne begil1ning of May 179 I, the confideration of'this fUD ...
jeC:t 'was brought for\vard by the Abbe Gregoire, and the claim
of the free mulattoes to the fun be.nefi t of the infiruCl:ions of the:
28th of March 1790, and to all the rights and priv;ilege.senjoyed:
by the white inhabitants; citizens of tile French colonies; was
fupported \vith all that \varmth and eloquence.f.of which he was
diflinguHhed.. at this. junCture the news.of the
miferable death of Oge arrived. at Paris, and raifed a,itorm of
indignation in the minds of: all ranks of people, \vhich the,
planters refident in France were unable to re fi ft!. N.othing was
i
heard in qll com p.anies but declamations, againft their oppreffiOf.}i
and cruelty. To fupport and animate the popular outcry againfr
l
then), a tragedy or pantomine, formed on the fiory of Oge, was.
reprefented on the publick.theatres ... By. thefe, and
the
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
tlie plan ters were' become fo generally odiolls, that for a .. tinle' C H A P;
they dared not to' appear in the frreets of Paris. Thefe were the v.
arts by '\vhich G'regoire,' Condorcet" La' Fayette, Briifot, and,
Roberipierre difpofed the publick mind to clamour for a nevv and
explanatory- decree, in vvhich the:' rights of the coloured people
ihould be placed beyond all future doubts and difpute. The friends
and advocate,s of the planters were overpo,vered and
In vain did they prediCt the utter deftruction of the colQnies jf
fuch a .propofalibould pars into; a, la\v. "Peri!h the colonies,.'"
faid Roberfpierre,. " rather than. iacrifice one iota of our prin-
'"' ciples." The nlajority reiterated the fentiment, and the fa-
Inous decree of the 15th of May 179 I \-vas pronounced amid:l
the acclamation and applaufe of the multitude. ...
By this decree it was, declared' and enacted, ((' that the people of-
colour refident in the French colonies, free parents, were,
entitled. to,. as of right, and ihould be allowed the enjoyment, of:
all the privileges of French citizens; and,.among others, to
of having votes in the choice of reprefentatives, and of being
eligible to flats both in tbe parochiatllJZd colonial Thus.
did the national aiIembly i"\'veep away in a moment all the la\vs,.
ufages, prejudices, and opinions concerning thefe people" which
had exifred in the French colonies from their 'earliefl: fettlement;.,
and tear. up by the roots the firn. principle ?f
-a principle founded. the clearefi dictates of rea[on and
juftice, and expre[sly confirmed to the inhabitants .of the F,rench .'
Weft Indies by the national. decree of the 8th of l\1arch 1790;,
I mean, the-file and excltijive right rj'pqIJing laws for their local'-
and interior regulation and goverl1lJunt... The., colonial comn1ittee., .
of::
I-IISTORY o F
C H A 'Pe of which 1\1. Barnave \vas preiident" failed not to apprize the
.v. : national afiembly of the fatal confequences of this meafure, and
:irnn1cdiately the exercife of its funCl:ions. At the
.fi1me time" the deputies froIn the colonies :lignified their purpo[e
lto decline any Il1rthcr attendance. The only effect produced by
there n1ea(ures hovlcver, on the national ailembly, was an order
that the three civil cornmiffioners, \vho had been appointed in
February preceding for regulating the affairs of the colonies on
-the fpot, {hould itntnediately repair thither, and fee the national
.decrees duly enforced. The confequences in St. DOluingo '-viiI
-be related in the follo\ving chapter (d).
(cl) It has been confidently afferted, that La Fayette, in order to fecure a majority
on this quefrion, introduced intp" the national affembly no .lefs than eighty p.erfons
who were not members, but wh at and voted as fuch. Thls man had formerly been
poffeffed of a plantation at Cayenne, ith feventy negro fiaves thereon, which he had
fold, without any fcruple or ftipulation the fituation of the negroes, the
.latter end of 1789, and from that time himfelf among the friends .of. the
,blacks. '"The 'mere Englilh reader, who may be perfonally unacquainted with the
Weft Indies, will probably confider the clamour which was raifcd on this occauon
, :by the French planters as equally illiberal and unjuft. The planters, in the BritHh
'Veil Indies will perhaps bring the cafe home to themfelves; and, I have no hefita.
,tion in faying, that, fuppofing the EngliIh parliament fhould pars a law declaring,
Jor inftance, the free mulattoes of Jamaica to be eligible into the afferribly of that
ifland, fuch a meafure would prove there, as it proved in St. Domingo, the decla-
ration of civil war. On mere abftraCl: reafoning this may appear f'!;range and unjuf-
:tifiable; but 'We muft take mankind as we find them) and few inlances occur in
which the prejudices of habit, education, and opinion have been correCted by force .
. C H A P.
S T. D" O' M I N G o.
C fI A P. VI.
Co1ifequences in St. DOJJzingo of the Decree of the 15th of May-
Rebellion if the Negroes in the Northern Province, and. Enor-
lJ1ities cOlJ1tnitted by them-Revolt if the lr1ulattoes at Mirebalais
-Concordat or Truce between the Inhabz"tants if Port au Prince
and the Men if Colour of the I I th if Septenzber-ProclaJJ2ation
by the Natonal AJ!efnbly of the 20th if SepteltJber.
I
A M now to enter on the retro[peCl: of [cenes, the horrors
of which inlagination cannot adequately conceive nor pen
defcribe. The difputes and contefis betvleen different claffesof
French citizens, and the violences or malignant faCtions to-.
wards each other, no longer claim attention. Such a picture of
hun1an mifery;-fuch a {cene of woe, prefents it[elf, as no other
country, no former age has exhibited. Up\vards of one hun-
dred thoufand favage people, habituated to the barbarities of
Africa, avail themfelves of the. filence and obfcurity of the night, .
and fall on the peaceful and unfufpicious planters, like fa many
famiihed tygers thirfting for human blood.. Revolt,. conflagra ...
tion and maifacre, every,where mark their progrefs, and death,
in all its horrors, or. and outrages, cornpared tq which
imlnediate death is mercy, await alike the old and the young,
the .matron, .the virgin, and the in1nt. No

CH A P.
VI.
'--.. I ..
iI-IISTOR'Y OF
'C H A P. age, or [ex is '{pared. .All the fhocking and 111ameful enot-
VI. 111ities, ,vith \vhich the ,fierce and unbridled pafiibns of favage
-lnall have ever conduCted a prevail uncontrouled. The
of fire confUlnes what the fword is unable to deftroy, and,
-in a few difinal hours, the moil: fertile and beautiful plains in, the
world are con vcrted into one vafl: field of carnage i-a wilder-
lIefs of defolatioll !
'TH}:'RE is'indeed toomuchreafon to believe, that thefe mife ...
ries would have Dccurred in St. Domingo, in a great degree,
even if the proceedings of the N atibnal Affembly, as related.' in
the latter part of the preceding chapter, had been more tem-
perate, and if the decree of the 15th of May had never paired
into a la\v. The declarations of the dying Oge fufficiently
,point out the tnifchief that was meditated, long before that
noxious decree was promulgated. ,But it may be affirmed,
with truth and certainty, that this fatal meafure gave life and -
activity to the poifon. It was the brand by which the flames
were lighted, and the combuftibles that were prepared fet into
action. Intelligence having been received of it at Cape Fran-
1791. s;ois on the 30th of June, no words can defcribe the rage and
indignation which immediately fpread throughout the colony;
and in no place did the inhabitants breathe greater refentment than
in the town of the Cape, which had hitherto been foremoft in pro-
feffions of attachment to the lllother . country, and in promoting
the fpirit of difunion and oppofition in the colonial affembly.
They now unanimoufly determined, to reject the' civick
although great preparations had been made for a general fede-
ration on the 14th of July. The news of this decree feemed to
unite
s T. D 0 M I N G O.
unite the 111011 di[cordant interefts. In the' firil: tranfports of CH A P.
indignation it was propofed to feize all the {hips, and confifcate VI.
the effects of the French nlerchants then in the harbour. An
embargo was at1ually laid, and a motion was even made in .the
provincial aiTelnbly to pull down the colours, and hoift
the Britilh ftandard in their room. The national cockade vias
. ..' -' '.
every. where trodden under foot, and the gover!10r-genera], ,vho
a and filent fpeCtator of there exceffes,
found his authority, as, reprefentative of the parent country, to:-
gether with every idc.a ,of fubqrdinatioll In the people;
annihilated in a 1110n1ent. ' ,
. 'J:'HE fears and apprehenfions ,vhich the governor feh on" this
. have been by that officer himfelf, in a
memorial which he afterwards pub1iD.1ed concerning his
nifiration. ".Acquainted (he obferves) vvith the genius. and
" temper of the\vhite colonifis, by a refidence of {even years in
H the \:Vindward Iflands, and ,,,ell informed of the groun.ds and
" motives. of their prej ud.ices and opinions the. peo-
" pIe of colour, I inlmediately forefa\v the difl:urbances and
" dangers \vhieh the news 'of this ill-advifed Ineafure \vould in.:..
H evitably produce; and not haying it in my po\ver to
" the of it, I loil: no tilne i!1 apprizing the
" king)s of the general and ferrnen:-
" tation vvhich it excited in the colony.. To lUY O\Vil
" tions, I added thofe of many re[pecrable, Caber, and difpaf-
u fionate ll1en, WhOlll I thought it my duty to confult in [0
" critical a conj un"C!:ure.; and I concluded. 111y letter by efpref-
(;, fing my fears that this decree \vould the,death-"\varrant
. . . K " of

VI.

H I- S T 0 I{ Y 0 F
of-nlallY thoulands of the inhabitants. The event has mourn ...
fully verified my predictions ! U
ON the recommendation of the provincial alfembly of the
Northern departlnent, the feveral parilhes throughout the co ..
lony now proceeded, without further hefitation, to the eledion
of deputies for a new general colonial a11elnbly. Thefe de-
puties, to the number of one hundred and feventy-fix, met at
Leogane, and on the 9th of Augufr declared themfelves tbe
general l!ffembly ofthc French part if St. Dommgo. They tranf-
aC:ted however _but little bufinefs, but manifefted great unani..;.
tnity and temper in their proceedings, and refolved to hold
their meetings at Cape Fran90is, whither they adjourned for'
that purpofe, appointing the 25th of the fame o10nth for open-
ing the fe ffi on
IN the Inean-while, [0 great was the agitation of puhlick
mind, M. Blanchelande found it neceffary not only to tranf-
mit to the provincial affembly of the North, a copy of the
letter which he mentions to have written to the king's minifters"
but al{o to accompany it ,vith a {olemn affurance, pledging him-
felf to . .fufpend tbe execution of the obnox-ious decree, wbenecver it
.jhould come out to him properly authenticated i a -mea[ure which
too plainly demonftrated that his a.uthority in the colony was at
an end,
JUSTLY alarmed at an thefe pt
7
oceedings, fa hofi:ile towards.
'them, and probably apprehenfive of a general prolcription, the
mulattoes throughout the colony began to colleCt in different .
. + places.
S T. D 0 Ivt I N G O.
]Jlaces in armed bodies; and the whites, by a clournful fatality,
fuff'ered them to affemble \-vithout molefiation. In q-uth,every
man's thoughts were dire8:ed towards the meeting of the new
colonial affembly, from' whofe deliberations and proceedings the
extinCtion of party, and the full and imtnediate redrefs of all
exifiing grievances, were confidently expeCted. Ma Blanche ..
lande hi.mfelf declares, that he cherilhed the fame flattering and
fallacious hopes. "After a long fucceffiGR of violent ftgrms,.
H I fondly expected (he \vrites) the return of a calm and ferene
" morning .. The temper.ate and conciliating conduCt of the
" new affembly, during their fhort fitting at Leogane,. the' cha-
" ratters of moil: of the individual members, and the neceffitYr
" [0 apparent to all, of nlutual conceffion and unanimity on
" great occafian, led me to think that the colony w01.dd at
" length fee the tennination of its miferies y when, alas, the
" ftorm was ready to burft, \vhich has Inee involved us' in one
" common dei1:ruction 1')
IT was on the morning of the 23d of Augu-fl:, jufr before day,
that a general alarm and confremation fpread throughout
to\.vn of the Cape, ft-om a report that all the negro naves in the
feveral neighbouring pariihes had revolted, and \vere at that
moment carrying death and defolation over the adjoining large
and beautiful plain to the N orth-eaft. The governor, and moil:
of the military officers on aifembled together; but the re-
ports were [0 confufed and as to gain but little
\-vhen, -as day-light began to break, the fudden and fuc-
ceffive arrival, ,vith ghafrly countenances, of perfons who had
\vith . difficul ty efcaped the mafiaere, and fio"vn to the town
K a for
CHAP.
vr.
'-aa if J
'H 1ST 0 R Y' 0 'F
.
CB A P. for' pl:oteB:ion, brought a dreadful confirmation 'of the fatal
':VI. tidings.
"--v--J
THE rebellion firil: broke out on a plantation' called No!, III
,the pari!h of Acul, liine rniles only from the city. T\velve or
fourteen of' the ringleaders', about the middle of the
.proceeded to the refinery, or fugar-houfe, and feized on. a young
man, the 'refiner's apprentice, dragged him to the front of
the 'dwelling-houfe, and there hewed him into 'pieces' with,
:their: cutlaff"es :' his fcrealns brought out the overfeer, whom they'
.infrantly ihot. The rebels now fo'und their way' to the
ment of the 'refiner, and mafTacred him in his A young nlan
lying fick in a neighbouring chan1ber, \vas left apparently dead bf
the\vounds inflicted by their cutlaifes: he' had ftrength enough
110wever to cravll to the next plantation, and relate the horrors
he had witneff"ed. He reported, that all the whites of the efiate
which he had left were 111urdered, except only the,
the rebels had conlpelled to' accompany them, on
idea that theYlnight ftirid'in nee'cl 'of his profeffional affiftariceo,
Alarmed by this intelligence, the perfons to whonl' it ,:vas corn ... '
Inunicated immediately fought their fafety' in flight. What be-
came of the poor youth' I have 'never' been infonned .. ,
THE revolters (confif1:ing now' of all the Haves belonging to,
that plantation) proceeded to' the houfe of a Mr. Clement, by
:whofe negroes a1fo they ,\vere immediately joined, and both he
and his refiner were n1aifacred.' The murderer of Mr. Clelnent
,vas his own pofiillion, a nlan' to whom he had always ihewn
gfeat' kindnefs. other white people on this eftate con,..
trived to make their
AT'
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
, AT this junCture, th'e negroes on the 'plantation of M. Fla'-
ville, a few miles difl:ant, likewife rofe and murdered five white
perfons, oi1e 'of whom (the procureur or attorney for the efrate)
had a wife and three daughters. Thefe unfortunate women,
while imploring for mercy of the favages on 'their knees, beheld
their huiliand and father murdered before their faces. For
themfelves, they were devoted to a more horrid fate, and v"ere
carried away captives by the aifaiTtns.
THE approach of day-light ferved only to difcover fights of
horror. It was now 'apparent that the negroes on all the
efiates in the plain aCted in concert, and a general maiTacre of
the' whites took place in every quarter.. On fame few ei1:ates
indeed the lives of the won1en \vere fpared, but they \yere re-
{erv'ed only to gratify the brut"al appetites of the ruffians; and
it is {hocking to relate, that many of them fuffered violation
'on the dead bodies of their huibands and fathers L
I N the t(nvn itfelf, the general belief for fame time was, that
the revolt was by no means an extenfiv'e, bat a fudden aild par-
tial infurrectian only. The largefr fugar plantation on the plain
was that of 1\1onf. Gallifet, fituated about eight lniles froln the
to\Vll, the negroes belonging to \vhich had ahvays been treafed
"with fuch kindnefs and liberality; and po1Tel1ed fo- luany advan-
tages, that it became a proverbial exprefiion a1l1cng the
,white people, in fpeaking of any'll1an's good' fortune, to fay if
'!fl heureux COJJJJne un Jlegre de Galljfet - (he is as happ):" asone of
,Gal1ifet's negraes). M. Odeluc, the attorney, or agent,. for this
\vas alnenlber of the general aiIcinbly, and being
4
CHAP ..
VI.
'--v----J
f'IISTORY OF
fully perfuaded that the negroes belonging to it would renlaitl
firm in their obedience, . detern1ined to repair thither to en-
courage then1 in oppofing the infurgents.; to \vhich end, he
. de fired the afiifiance of a few foldiers from the to\vn- guard,
which y/as granted hilU. He proceeded accordingly, but on
. approach'ing the t,Q his furprife and grief he found all the
negroes in arn1S on the fide -of the rebels, and (horrid to tell!) their
_flandard 1.vas the body of a w/:u"te irgal1t,. which they bad iJ12-
.paled on a )lake! M. Odeluc had advanced too far to retreat
and both he, and a friend . that accompanied him,
with mail: of the foldiers, ,vere killed without mercy. Two or
three only of the patrale, e[caped by flight.; and conveyed the
,dreadful tidings to the inhabitants of the town.
By this tin'le, all or moft of the white perfons that had been
found on the [everal plantations, being maifacred or forced to
leek their fafety in flight, the ruffians exchanged the {word
for the torch. The buildings and cane-fields were every where
fet on fire.; and the conflagrations, which were vifible froIn the
town, in a thoufand different quarters, fun1iilied a profpeCl: more
fuocking,. and refieilions more than fancy can paint, or
the powers of man. defcribe.
CONSTERNATION--a-nd terror now took poffeffion of every
mind; and the [creams of the women and children, running from
.door to door, heightened the horrors of the fcene. All the -citi-
zens took up arlllS, and the general affembly vefted the gover-
nor with the cOlnmand of the national guarqs,. requefiing him to
give fuch orders as the urgency of the cafe [eelned-, to demand.
ONE
S T. DO M I N G o.
O;NE of the firfr meafures was to fend the white women and C H A P.
children on board the fhips in the harbour; 'and very ferious
apprehenfions being entertained concerning the domeftick ne
groes' t1Vithin the to\vn, a great proportion of the ableft men
among them were likewife fent on fhipboardand cloft;ly-
guarded.
THERE- frill remained in the city a confiderable- body affree ..
mulattoes, w.ho had not taken, or affected not to take, any part
in the difputes between their brethren of colour and the\vhite
inhaQitants. Their fituation was extremely critical; for the-
lower clafs of whites, confidering the mulattoes as the imme-
diate' authors of the rebellion, marked thern for deftruCtion; and':
the '\vhole number in the to,vn would undoubtedly have been
murdered without fcruple, if the governor and. the colonial af-
fembly had not vigoroufly interpofed, and taken thctTI under.
their immediate proteCtion. Grateful for this interpoiition in
their favour (perhaps not thinking their lives ctherwife fecure)
all the able men among thetn oftered to march imn1ediately
againft the rebels, and to leave their wives and children as
hoilages for their fidelity. Their o-ffer was accepted, and t h y ~
were enrolled in different companies- of the nlilitia. .
THE 'afl"embly continued their deliberations throughout the'
night, amidft the glare of the furrounding conflagrations; and the-
inhabitants, being firengthened by a number of [ean1en from the'
{hips, and brought into fame degree of order and n1ilitary fubordi-
nation, were now defirous that a detachm.ent {hon-Id be fent to at..:-
tack. the ftrongeft. body of the, revolters4 Ordersvvere given ac-..
c.urding!y_ ;..;
VI.
"--v----!.
HA P.
VI.

r-iISTORY OF
cordingly; and M .. de Touzard, an officer who had diftinguifheCl
hilnfelf in the fervice of the North Americans, took the corn ..
flland of a party of militia and troops of the line. With there, he,
marched 'to the plantation of a M. Latour, and attacked a body
about ,four thoufand of the rebel negroes. I\laqy ,vere de-
ftroyed, but to little purpofe; for Touzard, finding the number,
of revolters to encreafe in tnore than a centuple proportion to their'
Ioffes, was at length obliged to retreat; and it cannot be doubte'd,
that if. the rebels had forthvvith proceeded to the town, defence-
le[s as it then was towards the plain, they might have fired it
vlithout difficulty, and deftroyed all its inhabitants, Of. compelled
thenl to .fly to the fllipping for refuge.
SENSIBLE of this, the governor, by the advice ot the aifelllbly;
detern1ined to act for lome tin1e {olely.on the defenfive; and as
it was every mOll1ent to be apprehended that the revolters would
pour dovvn upon the town, the :6rft 'meafure re{orted ro was
fortify the roads and paffes leading into it. At the eaftern ex-'
trenlity, the Inain road from the plain is inter{ected by a, river.,
which luckily had no bridge over it, and was croffed in ferry
For the defence of this paft1.ge, a battery of cannon was
raifed on boats lafued together; '\vhile two [mall camps
fornled at proper diftances on the banks. The other principal
entrance into the town, and contiguolls to it to,vards the fouth,
was through a mountainous difirict, called le HaUl, dtt Cap.
Poffeffion ,\vas imnlediately taken of there and confi-
derable hodies of troops, '\vith fuch artillery as could bt;liparcd,
were ftationed thereon. But thefe precautions not being thought
fufficient,itwas aJfo determined tofurrcund the vlhole of the

S T.
.73
;except the fide next the [ea, with a ftrong palifade and chevaux ,C H A P
. de frize.; in the ereCting and completing of which, all the inha:" VI...
bitants laboured wjthout difiinCtion or intermiffion. At the'< '---v'--'W;
fame time, an embargo was laid on an the {hipping in the har-
bour,; a meafure of indifpenfible neceffity, calculated as _well to
obtain the affifiance of the [earnen, as to [ccure a retreat for the
inhabitants in the lail extrelnity.
To fuch of the difrant pariihes as were open to comn1unication
either by land or by fea, notice of the revolt had been tranfinitted
within a few hours after advice of it ,vas received at the Cape;
and the white inhabitants of many of thofe parilhes had therefore
found time to eftahlilh camps, and form a chain of pafts, which
for a {hort time feemed to prevent the rebellion fpreading be-
yond the Northern province (a). Two of thofe camps how-
ever, one at Grande Rivi'ere, the other at Dondon, \vere attacked
by the negroes (who Were here openly joined by mulattoes)
and forced with great flaughter. At Dondon, the whites main-
tained the conte:ll: for feven hours; but were -by the
infinite difparity of numbers, and cOlnpelled to give way, with the
lofs ef upwards of one hundred of their body. The furvivors
took refuge in the Spaniili territory ..
THESE two difiriCts therefore; the whole of the rich and ex-
tenfive plain of the 'Cape, together with the moun-
(Cl) It is believed that a general infurreCtion was to have taken place throughout
the colony on the 25th of Augufl: (St. Louis's day); but that the impatience aRd
impetuofity of fome negroes on the plain, induced them to commence opera ..
tions two days before time.
L tains,
CH A P.
VI.

HIST'ORY O'F
tains, were no\v whollyaband0Ded to -the ravages of'the enemy,
and the cruel ties vvhich they exercife-d, uncontrouled, on fuch of
the n1iferable whites as fell into their h(;lnds, cannot be remem-
bered without horrol-, nor reported in terms ftrQng, enough t.o
convey a idea. of their atrocity ..
THEY feized Mr .. Blea, an of1icer of the police, and having
nailed him alive to- one of the gates of his plantation, chopped
"if his limbs, one by one,. viith an axe ..
A POOR man named Robert, a cal"penter by endea-
vouring to conceal himfelf I'oIn the notice of the rebels, \vas
difcovered in his hiding-place; and the favages declared that he'
jhould die n the way if his occupation: accordingly they bound,
him between two boards, and delibe:rately {awed himafunder .
M. a. planter of Grande Riviere, had two
tural fons by a 'black woman. He hadmanumitted them in
their infancy, and bred them. up with great tendernefs. They
. both joineq in the nevolt; and when their father endeavoured
to divert from their purpofe, by footbing . and.
pecuniarx offers,. they took his. money, and. then ftabbed- him
the heart.
ALL the white, and even the mulatto children \vhofe fathe,rs-.
had not joined in' the revolt, were murdered without exception;
before the eyes, or clinging to the of their
mothers. Young women of an ranks were 1i1'11: violated' 'by a.
whole troop of barbarians, and then. geBerally put to
-+- Some
S T. D-O M I N G o.
75
S01ne of thetn ,\vere 'indeed referved for the further gratification C H A P.
of the luft of the favages, and others had their eyes' fcooped out VI.
with a knife. ~ I
IN the pariih of Li1Jlbe, at a place- called the Great R_avine, a
venerable planter, the father of two beautiful young ladies; was
tied down by a favage ringleader of a band, who ravifhed the
eldeft daugh"terin his pre[ence, and delivered over the youngeft
to one of his followers: their paffion being fatisfied, they
flaughtered both the father .and the daughters.
AMIDST thefe fcenes of horror, one inftance ho\vever occurs
of fuch fidelity and attachment in a negro, as is equally unex-
peCted and affeCting. Monf. and Madatne Baillon', their daughter
and fon-in-law, and two \vhite fervants, refiding on a mountain
plantation about thirty Iniles from Cape Franc;ois, were apprized
of the revolt by one of their o"tHn flaves, who \vas himfelf in the
confpiracy, but promifed, if poffible, to rave the lives of his Inafrer
and his family. Having no immediate n1cans of providing for their
efcape, he conduCted them into an adjacent wood $ after which he
,vent andjoined the revolters. The following night, he found an
opportunity of bringing them. provifions from the rebel campo
The fecond night he returned again, with a further fUFply of pro-
vifions; bilt declared that it would be out of his pov/er to give
them any further a11ifiance. After this, they [a \v nothing of the
negro for three days; - but at the end of that tin1e he can1e again;
'and directed the family how to make their \vay to a river \vhich
led to Port Margot, aiTuring them they \vould find a canoe on a
. part of the river \vhich he defcribed. They follo\ved his di:..
1.1 2
CH.AP.
VI.

HIS TOR Y 0 F'
recrions; found the canoe, and got rafely into it; but were overfet
by the rapidity of the c_urrent, and after a narro\v e{cape, thought
it beft to returp to their retreat in the mountains. The negro,.
anxious for their fafety, again found thetn out, and directed them
to a broader part of the river, .\vhere he aff'ured them he had pro-
vided a boat ; but [aid it was the lail: effort he could n1ake to-
fave them. They "vent accordingly, but not finding the boat,'
.'igave thetufelves up for loft, when the faithful negro again apca
like their guardian angel. He brought with him, pigeons
poultry, and bread; and conducted the family, by flo.w marches
in the night, along the banks of the river, until they were
,vithin fight of the wharf at Port Ivrargot; -when telling them
they vvere entirely out of danger, he took his leave for ever, and
,\-vent to join ,the rebels. The family were in the wood.s nineteen.
nights.,
LE.T us now turn our attention back to the town or-the Cape;-
where, the inhabitants being at -length placed, or fuppofed to be
:placed, in fOlne fort of fecurity, it ,vas thought neceifary by the
governor and alfembly, that ofFenfi ve operations againft the rebels
iliould be renewed, and a fmall army, under the command of
M. RouvraYJ Inarched to the' eafrern part of the plain, and en ..
camped at a place called Roucrozt. A very confiderable body of
the rebel negroes took poifeffion, about the fa,me time, of the
large buildings on the plantation of M. G.allifet,. and mounted
fame heavy pieces of artillery -on the walls. They had pro-
cured the cannon at different iliippirig places and along
the coaft, where it had been placed in time of war by the go-
vernment, and. imprudently left unprotected; bu.t it was a mat-
ter
ST.. D 0 M I N G o.
ter of great furprize by ,vhat means they obtained ammuni:-
tiori (b j'. From this plantation they rent out foraging
with which the whites had frequent ikirmiihes. In thefe en-
gagements, the negroes feldo.m flood their ground longer than to
receive and return a fingle volley, but they ,appeared again the
next day; and though they were at length driven out of their
entrenchments with infinite flaughter, yet their numbers (eemed
not to diminiih :-as [oon as one body was cut off, another ap-
peared, and thus' they in the objeCt of haraffing and
deftroyjng the whites by perpetual fatigue, and reduciJ.lg the'"
ountry to. a defert .
To detail the various conflic:ts, fkinniGles, ma{[1.cres" and'
[cenes of flallghter, whi<;h this exterminating war produced, ,vere'
to offer a difgufting and frightful piCture ;-a combination of'
horrors ;-wherein we ihould behold, cruelties unexamnled in
.1.
the annals of mankind ;', human blood pouFed forth in torrents
the earth blackened with allies, and the air tainted with pef1:i-
lence. It was computed that, within t\VO nlonths after the re-
volt firft began, up'\vards of two thoufand 'white per[ons" of all
conditions and ages, had been Inaffacred.;-that one hundr.ed
eighty fugar- plantations, and about nine hl;lndred coffee,
(b) It was difcovered' afterwards., that great quanti-ties of powder and b:t11 were
fiolen by the negroes in the town of Cape from the king's arfenal, and
fecretly conveyed to the, rebels. Mofl: of the fire-arms 'at 11'11: in their poiff::ffion
were fuppofed to have been part of Oge's importation. But it-grieves me to add) that
the rebels wer'e afterwards abundantly fupplied, by ('naIl vefiels from orth Ame-
rica; the malt,ers of which felt no fcruple to receive in payment fugar and rum,
from efiates of which the owners had been murdered by, the men with Vlhom they
trafficked.
and:
77
CHAP.
VI.
'---t---I
H A.P.
VI.

HISTORY OF
and indigo [ettIen1ents had been defiroyed (the buildings thereon
:being con[umed by fire), and thoufand two hundred chrifiian
falnilies reduced fioln opulence, to fuch a flate of nlifery as to
depend altogether for their clothing and fuftenance on publick
and private charity. Of the infurgents, it ,vas reckoned that
up\vards often thoufand hadperif11ed by the fword or by famine;
and fome hundreds by the hands of the execu tioner ;- many of
them, I grieve to fay, under the torture of the wheel ;.-..-a fyil-em
of revenge and retaliation, ,vhich no enornlities of favage life
could j ufiify or excufe (c).
HITHER TO, n1y narrative has applied chiefly to tranfaCl:ions
in the Northern province; I grieve to relate, that the fialnes of
(I:) Two of thefe unhappy men fufFercd in this manner under the window of the
.author's and in his prefence, at Cape on Thurfday the 28th of
September 179 I. were broken on two pieces of timber placed crofswife.
One of them expired on recei\ing the third firoke on his fl:omach, each of his legs
and arms having been firfl: broken in two places; the firfr three blows he bore
without a groan. rrhe other had a harder fate. When the executioner, after
breaking his legs and arms, lifted up the infirument to give the finifhing flroke on
"the breafr, and \vhich (by putting the criminal out of his pain) is called le coup de
grace, the mob, with the ferocioufnefs of cannibals, called out arretez! (fiop)
.and compelled him to leave his work unfini!hed. In that condition, miferable
wretch, with his broken limbs doubled Up, was put 011 :.l. which was
placed horizontally, one end of the axle-tree being driven into the earth. He
feemed perfectly fenfible, but uttered not a groan. At the end of forty minutes,
fame Englifh feamen, who were fpecbitors of the tragedy, fhangled him in mercy.
As to all the French fpc8atars (many of them perfons of failiion, who beheld the
fcene from the windows of their upper apartments), it grieves me to fay, that they
looked.on with the moft perfeCt compofure and fangfroid. Some of the ladies, as I
told, even ridiculed, with a great deal of unfeemly mirth, the fympathy ma ..
nifefied by the Englifh at the fufferings of the wretched criminals.
rebellion
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
rebellion foon to break forth al[o in the "'rvVefiern ciivifion.
. :;) .
Here, however, the infurgents were chiefly inen of colour, of
whom upwards of two thoufand appeared in arrns in the pariih
of l\1irebalais. B . ..:ingjoined by about fix hundred of the negro,
flaves, they began their operations by burning the. coffee plan-
tations in the mountains adjacent to the plain of CuI-de-Sac .. -
Some detachments of the n1ilitary \vere rent againfl them,
from Port au Prince \-vere repu1fed;, and the infurgents conti-
nued to ravage and burn the country through an extent of thirty'
miles, praCtifing the fame excefTes and ferocious barbarities to--
wards fuch of the whites as fell into their hands, as \vere
played by the rebels in the North.. They had the audacity at
length to approach Port au Prince, with intention, as it vvas be-
lieved, to [et it on fire; and fo defencelefs was the {tate of that
devoted to\vn, that its deflrucrion feemed inevitable. IvIany of'
the mulatto chiefs, however, finding that their atten1pts to gain
over the negro fiaves on the fugar pl:1r.tations in this p,irt of the'
country, were, not attended \vith that fuccefs \vh!ch they ex-
pected, expreifed an unwillingnefs to proceed to this extremity;
de:elaring that they took up artTiS not to de{oJate the coloffY,
merely to [upport the national decree of the 15th of rVlay, and.
that they were not averfe to a reconciliation. The[e {entiments.
coming to the knowledge of IvI. de 'jzt1J2ecourt" a planter of emi-..
llence, he undertook the office 0f mediatDr, and through his \veU-
timed and pc:>werf..11 interpolition}" a truce or convention, caned:.
the concordat, was agreed upon the i 1 th of Septelnber".
the free people of colour, and the \vhite inbaoita:1ts of Pert au
Prince, of whicil the chief provifions were an oblivion of tlle
.paft). and an engagement on the part of the vvhites, t'o adn1it in,
fulL
79'
CH A Po .
V;.

"SO
I-IISTOR-Y OF
C H A P. full force the national decree of the I 5th,of May, fo often men":
VI. tioned ;-certainly the ofienfible, though perhaps not the ..foIe

:and "original caufe of the rehellion.
INSTR UCTED by this example, and foftened, it -n1ay be pre-
fumed, by the loyal and temperate- conduCt of the free mulattoes
in the town of Cape as before related, tne general af-
"1 i9I. fembly, by a proclamation of the 20th of September, declared
that they no longer oppofe the operation of the fame
" cree. They everi went further, and announced an intention to
"grant confidentble indulgences towards fueh free people of co-
lour as were not comprehended in it, meaning thofe who \vere
born -of enflaved parents. They voted at the fame time the
formation of certain 'free companies of mulattoes, wherein the
l11en of colour of aU" defcriptions, pofTeffed of certain qualifica-
tions, ihould be allowed to ferve as commiffioned officers.
TH E'SE conceffions, at an earlier period, would have operated
with powerful effeCt in the falvation of the colony; but they now
came too late, and produced only a partial a temporary and
fallacious ceffation of miferies. The wounds that had been in-
flicted were yet green and bleeding,; and the dark and fullen
paffions of difappointed pride, anger, ma1ice, hatred and re-
venge, were fecretly burning in the gloomy minds of all par-
ties. The fialnes were fnlothered, not extinguifhed; foon -to
-break out again, with aggravated violence and greater fury than-
,ever.
C HAPo
C H A P. V"lI.
Of /i/loti'vt!s 7.obich induced tIlt: People q,f C:o!our to- joill t/:le
cvoltcd J.\Tegroes-ConduCl rj' tbe Britijh A:!lbciatioJZ for the
AboHtioJZ of tbe Sfa'Ve 'I'rade, and cf'tlle Society t"1l Paris called
Les Arnis des .L1!Jb! Gregoire to tbe
if Coicttr-l?cpeal d' the Decree cif' the 15th M(ty 179 1 - Ej:"
jeus d' fIlat 7.oitb the Mulattoes re-
iJe7-oed-Port au Prillce de)lro./r:d by e:\'ercfjed
both Partil:-'s-Arri7.}al at Cape F'rallfo'ls 0/' tl.Je Ci1Jil
111iffiollcr J.
B
E F 0 R,E I proceed to a rene'A'al of thofe difgufting fcenes C H A P. ..
of devaftation, flaughter, and ruin, \vhich my duty, as a. VIL
faithful hiftorian, calls upon me to defcribe (happy if they fc-rve
as an ilupreffive leuoll to other nations!) it feems to
rermove fome difficulties which Inay poffibly have arifen in the
nlind of the reader, concerning the original and priluary caufe
of the junCtion and co-operation of [0 large a number of the.
l1egro flaves, in this rebellion, with the nlen of coloufo That
the whole body of the latter in St. Domingo had folid groun.d of
complaint and be denied. There is a
point at \vhich oppreffion fon1etinles arrives, when forbearance-
under it ceafes to be a virtue; and I lhould readily have ad ....
nlitted that the accu3.1 fituation and condition of the mulattoes
in the French iflands '''QuId have n1ade refifiance a duty, if it
(lid
C H A P. did not appear, from what I have already related, that the
VII. drefs of theIr grievances occupied the very :fi.rLl: deliberations of

the firfi: general affembly of reprefentatives that ever met in St.
Domingo. Certainly, then, no jU11ification can be offered for
thofe pefiilent reformers, who could perfuade thefe unfortunate
people to feek that relief by rebellion and n1aifacre, which was-
offered to theIn by the fupreme power of the country, as a fpon-
taneous and voluntary conceffion i-the homage of enlightened
reafon on the altar of humanity. Concerning the enila ved
negroes, it does not appear that the conduCt of the
,vhites towards theln ,vas in general I believe} on.
the who1e, it was as lenient and indulgent as was confiftent with
their own fafety. It "vas the mulatto people themfelves who
were the hard-hearted taik-mafters to the negroes. The fanle
indignities which they received from the whites, they directed
without fcruple towards the blacks; exercifing over 'the latter
every fpecies of that oppreffion which they, loudly and jufi:ly
complained when exercifed on themfelves;-and this a true-
piCture of human nature. By what then, it ,vill be
afked, were the negroes- to forget their refentments, and
join with thofe who -were the conftant objects both of th,eir envy-
and hatred?
IN order to- reply this queition,. with as mnch accuracy and-
precifion as the fubjetl: will admit, it is neceifary to recur to'
the proceedings- of the t'\VO affociations, of- which mention was-
made in the Second Chapter of this Hi-l1ory;- namely, the Britiih:
aifociation for the abolition of the flave trade; which held its-
meetings in the Old J eVl,rry in London; and. the fociety called
6 lSes
S T. D 0 MI N G o.
Les AJnisdes N o ~ r s in Paris. A alort revie\vof the conduCt of C H A P.
thefe focieties \-vin [erve not only to lefien the furprize . which VIr.
~
may be felt at the revolt of the negroes of St. Donlingo, but alfo
raife a confiderable degree of -ai1:oniihment that the enfiaved
negroes in the Britifh ifiands had not given then1 the exan1ple ..
I HAVE obfervtxl, that the [ociety in London prddfed to have
nothing more in vie\v than to obtain an aCt of the-legifiature for
. prohibiting the further introduCtion of Aft-iean naves into the
Briti!h colonies. I have faid, that " they difclainled aU in-
" ten tion of interferiilg \vith the governlnen t and condi tio11 of
" the negroes already in the plantations.; publickly declaring
" their opinion to be, that a general ell1ancipation of thofe
" people, in their prefent {tate of ignorance and barbarity, infi:ead
" of a blefiing, would prove to thetn the- [ource of misfortune and
" lnifery." But although fuch were their oftenfible declarations
as a publick body, the leading nlembers of the fociety, in the fatne
Inoment, held a very different language; and even the fociety
itfelf (aEting as fuch) purfued a line of conduct direCtly and inl-
mediately repugnant to their own profeffions. Befides ufing
every pofllble endeavour to inflame the publick of Great Britain
againfl: the planters, they diftribu ted at a prodigious expence
throughout the colonies, tracts and pamphlets without number,
the direB: tendency of which was to render the white inhabitants
odious and contemptible "in the eyes of their own -naves, and ex-
cite in the latter fuch ideas of their natural rights and equality
of condition, as i110uld lead thetll to a general ftruggle for fi-ee-
donl through rebellion and bloodlhed. In many of thofe writ ...
ings, argutnents are exprefsly adduced, in language which can-
1\/1 2 not
CHAP.
VII.

HISTORYOF
not be l11ifunderfiood, to urge the negroes to rife up and Inurder
their nlafters without mercy.-" Refiftance," fay they, " is al-
" \vays juftifiable where force is the fubftitute of right: nor is
." the cOfllmi/jiolZ qf a civil crzJJle pqfjible tit a flate of Jlavery."
Thefe [et:ltinlents are repeated in a thoufand different forms;
and in order'that they might not lofe their effeCt by' abftracl:
.reafoning, a reverend divine of the church of England, in a
, pamphlet addrelfed to the chairman or prefident of the fociety,
pours forth the 1110fi: earnefi prayers, in the lTIOft undifguifed ex-
preffions, that the negroes would deftroy all the white people,
, men, women, and children, in the Weft Indies: " Should we
. " 'not, (he exclairns) approve their conduct in their violence?
." Should we not crown it with euloginm, if they exterminate
" their tyrants with fire and [word! Should they even deliberately
" injliCl the nzofl exquiJite tortures on thqfe tyrants, 'would they 'lZot
U be exr;z!foble in the moral judgment of tho[e'\vho properly va ...
H lue thofe ineilirnable bleffings, rational and religious li-
." berty (a) ?7J
Befides panlphlets of this complexion grat" at
the doors of all the churches and places of worfhip in the
darn, and throughout the colonies, the fociety caufed a n1edal to
be ftruck, containing the figure of a naked negra" loaded vvith
( (l) This is a iir extraCt from a letter addreifed to Grapville Sharp, Efq; ir:.
man of the fociety in the Old Jewry, by the Reverend PercivaI Stockdale,. A. M.
Of fucn writers the planters may well exclaim, " Forgi'7!e them, they know not what
they do .1''' The fame ejaculation I applied to the learned and pious amuel John-
fon, who po{[e{fed a negro fervant, and before whom he frequently gave as a toaft"
" .A JPeedy rdJellior. if tbe ntgroes ill 'Jamaica, and JucceJs to tbem /"
chains"
S T. D 0 M I N G 0 ..
chains, and in the 'attitude of imploring mercy; thoufands of C I-I A P.
which alfo they found means todifperfe among the negroes in each VII.
of the fugar il1ands, for the inftruCtion; I prefl1me, of fuch of
them as could not read; but, 'unhappily, this infiance of provident
caution was not requifite; for fo fl1any negro dOlnefiicks return
annually from Europe to the Weft Indies, as conftantly furniih a
fufficient nun1ber of living infirucrors; and certain it is (I pro ...
llounceit [roIn Iny o,\vO' knowledge refpecting Jamaica)" that the
labours of the fociety on their behalf, as well as many of the
1110ft violent fpeeches in the Britiili parliament, wherein the
whole body of planters v{ere painted as a herd of blood-thirfry
and remorfele[s tyrants, were explained to the negro' ilaves, in
terms' well adapted to their capacities, and futted, as rnight have
been [uppo[ed, to' their feelings. It will be difficult to fay whcrt
other meafures the Old Jewry affociates could have taken to
excite a rebellion, except that of furni{hing the ohjeB:s of their
foEcitude with fire anns and
HITHER TO, this fociety had ferveu as a.model and exemplar
to that 'of Paris; but a difpofition to fiop at half mea[ures
ftitutes no part of the French charaCter; and the fociety of
Amis des Not"rs reforted, without fcruple, to thofe meafures
'l,vhich their fellow laboarersin London frill hefita:ted to adopt:
beginning with the clafs of free tnulattoes', becaufe they fo'und
many of thern in France, who became the willing infiruments
of their 'purpofes; and vvho undertook to' interpret to the ne-
aroes in the French colonies the wii11es and good intentions
b
towards them of their friends' in the mother country. Thus an
opening was made towards conciliation and union between the
t,,\'o-
86
-H-I S-TO R Y
C H A P. tvvo claffes.. The negroes, apprized that it .was . only through
the agency of the nllllattoes, -and the connections ofthofe people
in F1-ance, they could obtain a regular fupply of arms and .aln-
munition, forgot or fufpended their ancient animofities; and the
men of colour1 fenfible that nothing but the co-operation of
the enflaved negroes (docile, as they fuppofed them to be, from
their ignorance, and irrefiftible from their numbers) could give
fuccefs to caufe, courted thenl with fuch a.ffiduity as gained
over at leafi nine-t.enths .of all the naves in the Northern pro ....
vince of St..
TH ERE - feems however to have been fonle apprehenfions en-
tertained by the leading nlen an10ng the AJnis des that
the decree of the national afiembly of the 15th of l\1ay, confined
as the' benefits of it were to the people of colour exclufively,
(and of tho[e, to fuch only as \vere born of free parents) might
give rife to jealoufies and [ufpicions, defrruClive of that unani-
mity between the -different claiTes, the maintenance of ,vhich
V\'as an objeB: of the lail: in1portance.Tb obviate any mifap-
prehenfions on this account, as v/ell as to keep the mulattoes
:firm to their purp.ofe, the Abbe Gregoire wrote and publiilied
his celebrated circular-letter ;-a performance which, if the in-
tentions of the ,vriter had been as pure as his exprefilons are
eloquent, ,,,Quid have refleCted lufrre on his abilities (b).
What. effeCt this difiinguilhed piece of oratory may have had
on the rugged and unenlightened Ininds of favage people,
(0) reader will find a. tranflatioll of this letter at the' end of the prefent
Chapter.
I pretend
S T. D 0 M I-N G o.
1 pretend :not to afcertain. It is certain, that the Abbe Gre-
goire was confidered by the negroes in St. Domingo as their'
great adxocate and patr-on; a fort of guardian angel or tutelary
deity; of the- good effects of whofe benevolent interpofition
and friend,ly offi.,ces their mafters unjuIHy deproived them, and
on whofe' fupport and affifiance they Inight confidently rely, in
the attemp\t, through rebellion and murder, to obtaino j ufiice for.
them felve s" ..
BOTH clafres of people being thus infirueted and prepared,
the decree of the 15th of May was the fignal of the "\-var-
hoop of maffacre.- From the clamour which it excitedamongft
all orders of the whites in St. Domingo (the lowoer claifes e[pe-
cially) the people of colour, as I have {he\vn, had rea[on to
prehend mifchiefs of an extenilve and nature were
meditated againfi them. They were thus furnilhed with a
plauiible, and, had they meant to have aCted folely on the de
o
-
fenfive, a juftifiable caufe for reforting to arms; but, unhappily"
, the firong tide of popular prejudice \vhich prevailed in the mo-
ther
o
country againfi: the planters, and the great majority vlhich
voted for the fatal decree in the national affembly, \vere circulu-
fiances that infpired them with fo dangerous a confidence in
their own refources, as overpowered all confiderations of pru-
dence., policy, and humanity.
IT muft be confidered, at the fame time, that the enlIavea-
negroes (ignorant and depreffed as "\-ye fuppofe them to be) could:
not pollibly be unobfervant of thefe combined and concurring
They beheld the coloured people in open hofti-
lity
C H
VII.

S8
CH A P.
VII.
t...---v--J
H I S'T 0 R Y , 0 F
lityagainfl: the 'whites. They aiTured, th1.t t.he former
had the fulIefl: fupport and' encourageJpcnt ft'om the fupreme
legiflature of the nlother country.. They \vere taught to believe,
that thclnfclvcs alfo vvere become the objects of t!lC paternal
folicitude of the king and the aiTen:.bly, \vho vvifhed to
them frDID the dotninion .of their and inveft them
\vith their cftates. It appeared from indifputable evidence,
that afurances of this 113.ture were held out to the enflaved
negroes ;-aiTurances ,vhich cou1d not but excite their attention,
'-1, waken their faculties, and rouze thctn to aCtion.' Whoever.
1ha11 calmly deliber"te on and other faCts that have
been frated, will find no difficulty in accounting the dread-
ful extent of this infurreCtion; or in afiigning, it to its
caufe, and tracing to the fountain-head thofe rivers of blood
vlhich !lill continue to Bow in this unfortunate and devoted
colony (e) !
. (e) In September 1791, when the author was at Cape he dined with
a large company, on board the frigate la Prudento, commanded 'by 1\1011f. Joyeufo
(at prefent a difiinguifhed in the fervice of the new republick, by the name
of rilkIre!) when, in the midft of the entertainment, a loud exclamation from thf!
crew announced tbat tbe gunner was returned. This man, who had been miffing
fon1e weeks, was immediately brought forward, and gave the following account of
the caufe of his abfence. He faid that, having gone on iliore, to colleB: green
meat for the pigs, he was furrounded by the rebel negroes, who were about putting
him to death, when Jean Fran'rois, the chief, finding that he was an officer in
the king's fervicc, ordered that his life fhould be [pared, alIedging that the king
'was theirfricllCl, They detained him however as a prifoner, and compelled him to
load and point their artillery in the attack at 1\1. Gallifet's plantation brlfore-rr:en ....
tioned. On the defeat of the rebels in that engagement, he fortunately made his
e[cape frOlu them. Some of the ihocking enormities and cruelties infliCl:ed by the
rebels on their white prifoners, as related in the preceding pages) were committed
in this man's prefence. '
BUT
S T.
D 0 M I N GO, O.
BUT it is no\v time to advert to proceedings which oc-
curred in France, where we left Gregoire, La Fa)'ette, Rober-
JPierre, and the refr of the fociety of Atnis des Noirs, exulting in
the triumph they had obtained on the 15th of May; and per-
haps waiting, in the -ardent hope and expectation, that their ob-
noxious decree of that date, \vould produce thofe very evils
\vhich aCtuaJly refulted from it. It was not until the beginning
of .. September that .information arrived at Paris concerning the
reception which the account of this decree had met with in St.
Domingo. The tumults, diforders, and confufions that it pro-
duced there, were no\v reprefented in the ftrongefr colouring,
-and the 10fs of the colony to France was univerfally appre-
hended. At this time, hovvever, no fufpicion was entertained
concerning the enfiaved negroes; but civil war, bet\veen the
\vhites and the mulattoes, ,vas believed to be inevitable.- The
commercial and manufacturing towns, predicting the ruin of their
and {hipping, and the )018 of their capitals from exifiing
dangers, prefented remonftrances and petitions to the national
, affen1bly, urging the neceffity of an immediate repeal of-all the
decrees by which the rights of the planters were invaded; that
of the 15th of May efpecially. The confiituent national aifem-
bly was now on the point of diffolution, and perhaps "riilied to
leave every thing in peace. At the falue time the tide of po-
pular prej udicc, which had hitherto ran vvith fuch violence againft
the coloni1l:s, was beginning to turn. l\1oft of thofe members
whofe orinions in colonial concerns, a fevv lnonths before, had
. guided deliberations of the national aifembly, vvere now
either filently di[regarded, or treated with outrage; - a :l1:rong
and ftriking proof of the ]ightnefs verfc'1tility of the French
N cha rac1er"
CHAP.
VII.
L---..---'
1791.
HISTORY. OF
character. At length, a motion ,vas made to annul the ob ...
noxious decree, and (Hrange to ten!) on the 24th of September
its repeal was aetually voted bya large majority !--At this re ..
markable change of fentiment in the fupreme legiilature, it is
neceilary to paufe, and relnind the reader of what was doing at
the fame tirne in St. Domingo; where, as \ve have feen, on
the I I th of that very n10nth, the cOllcordat, ot truce,. took place
bet\':cen the people of colour and the white inhabitants of o r ~
au Prince; and on the 20th" the colonial aifembly of Cape:
Frans;ois publiilied the proclatnation n1entioned in the latter p.art
of the preceding Chapter. Thus, a]moft in the very n10ment
when the jufiice and neceflity of the decree were acknowledged,.
and its faithful obfervance prornifed by the colonial aiIembly, its
repeal was pronounced by the national legiilature in the Inother
country!
To [uch repugnancy- and abfurdity' mufi every government be:
driven that attempts to regulate and direCt the local concerns of
a country three thoufand miles difiant. Of the two mea[ures that
have been nlenti0ned, it is difficult to fay \vhich produced the:
greateft calamities; the decre.e of the 15th of l\1C1Y in the firft ..
inftance; or its unexpected repeal" at the time and in the nlanner
related! Doubts had already arifen in the minds of the mulattoes of
the fincerity and good faith of the ,,,hite people,wirh refpeCt to the
cOJZcordat. Their fufpicions and apprehenfions h8.d indeed grown.
to fuch a height, as to induce then1 to infift on a renewal and
confirn1ation of its provifions;. which ,vere accordingly granted
them, by a ne\v infirument or treaty of the 11 th of 08:0 ber, and.
a fupplementary q.greclnent of the 20th of the fame month:
but
hut; p.o Coqner was authentick information received of the pro-
ceedings in the 'repeal of the decree, than all truil:
and confidence, and every hope of reconciliation and amity be-
the two claifes, vaniihed for ever. It was not poffible to
perfuade the ll1ulatto.es that the planters in the colony were in-
nocent, and ignorant of the tranfattion. They accufed the
w;hites of the moll: horrid duplicity, faithlefsnefs and treachery;
and publickly declared that one party or the other, themfelves
or the whites, Inufl: be utterly deftroyed and exterminated:-
There was no longer, they faid, an alternative.
IN. this difpofition, exafperated to frenzy, the coloured people
throt;lghout the Weftern and Southern provinces flew to arms.
In the Southern province, a body of them became mafters of
P_ort St. Louis; but the inhabitants of Port au Prince, having
been reinforced, a alort tilne before, by the arrival of fame troops
from Europe, \vere better prepared, and drove the revolters fronl
the city with great flaughter. They took poft in the parifh of
, Croix des Bouquets; but found means,' however, before their re-
treat; to fet fire to the city, and a dreadful conflagration enfued,
in which more than one-third of the were con-
fumed.
OPEN war, and war in all its horrors,. \-vas, now renewed.
All the {oft \vorkings of humanity-what Shakefpeare calls the
COfllPUJZclious v/fitings of nature-were now abforbed in the raging
and infatiable thirft of revenge, which inf1alned each clafs alike.
It was no longer a contei1 for Inere viCtory, but a diabolical
Clllulation \vhich party could infliCt the moft abonlinable cruel-
N 2 ties
C HA P.
VII.

CHAP.
VII.

.H 1ST 0 R Y 0 F
ties on the other. The enflaved negroes in the diftriCl: called
Cui de Sac having joined the mulattoes, a bloody engagetnent
took place, in ,,,hich the negroes, being ranged in front, and
acting "\vithout any kind of difcipline, left two thoufand of their
nun1ber dead on the field. Of the mulattoes about fifty were
killed, and feveral taken prifoners. The whites claimed the
victory; but for V\'ant of cavalry \vere unable to improve it by
a purfuit, and contented themfelves with fatiating their revenge
on their captives. Every refinement-in cruelty that the Inoil:
depraved imagination could :IT.lggefi, was pracrifed on the perfons
of thofe wretched Inen. One of the mulatto leaders was unhap-
pily an10ng the nurnber: hin1 the victors placed on an elevated
feat in a cart, and fecured hin1 in it by driving large fpiked
. nails through his feet into the boards. In this condition he was
L
dra\vn a mj[erable fpecracle through the city. His bones were
afterwards broken, and he "tas then thrown alive into the
:flames!
THE mulattoes fcorned to be outdone in deeds of
and atrocities ihameful to humanity. In the neighbourhood of
JereJJzie a body E)f them attacked the houfe of M. Sejourne, and
fecured the perfons both of him and his wife. This unfortunate
woman (my hand trembles while I 'write!) was far advanced in
her pregnancy .. The monfiers, whofe prifoner!he was,
firft murdered her hufband in her prefence, ripped her up alive,
and thre\v the infant to the hogs.-They then (how {hall I relate
it 1) fewed up the head of the tnurdered huiband in - -! ! !
-Such are thy triumphs, philanthropy!
WITH
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
WIT If thefe enormities terminated the dilftrous year 179 I.
J uil: before Chrifimas the three civil conlmiffioners nominated
. by thG national affembly for St. Domingo, arrived at Cape Fran-
90is. Much was expeaed from their appointment by the friends
of peace and good order; but the feq uel will {hew that they
eftetl-ed verr little reftoring the peace of the country.
/
'I'ra1ijlatioJ1 of the Letter if ABBE GREGOIRE, BiJhop if
tbe Department if Loire and Cher, Deputy if the Na-
ttonaI4/lelnbly, to the Citizens oj' Colour in the Frencb
We.fl Inch'es, concerning tbe Decree qf tbe 15th of May
179 I.
FRIENDSl
You were lVIEN ;-you are now Rein ...
flated in the fuInefs of your rights, you will in future participate of the
fovereignty of the people. The decree which the national affemblY,has
jufi:: publiilied refpecting you, is not a farvour; for a favour is a privilege:
and a privilege to one clafs of people is an injl!ry to all the reft.-
are words which will no longer difgrace the laws of the French.
1 N fecllring to you the exercife of your political rights, we have ac-
quitted ourfelves of a debi :",. not to have paid it, would have been a
E:rirne on our part, and a difgrace to the conftitution. The legiilators
of a free nation certainly could not do lefs for you than our ancient
defpots have done.
IT is now above a century that Louis the XIVth folemnly ackno\v.-
ledged and proclaimed your rights; but of this facred inheritance you
have been defrauded by pride and avarice, which have graduaHy increafed
your burthen3, and einbittered your exiftence.
TH.E'
CH A P.
VII.

CHAP.
VII.
J,
y
,HISTORY o F'
THE regeneration of the French empire your hearts to hope,
whofe cheering influence has alleviated the weight of your lniferies :
of which the people of Europe had no idea. While the white
planters refident alnong us were loud in their cOlnplaints againft mini-
,./ferial tyranny, they took efpecial care to be filent as to their own. Not
a hint' was fuggefted concerning the complaints of the unhappy people
.of "mixed bk>od; who, notwithttanding, are own children. It is
WIJ, who, at the dHtance of two thoufand leagues froln you, have been
conftrained to proteCt, there children againft the neglect, the contempt,
the unnatural cruelty of their fathers!
BUT it is in vain that they have endeavoured to fupprefs the juftice of
your, claims. Your groans, notwit!-:ftanding the extent of the ocean
which feparates us, have reached the hearts of the European French-
men ;-for they have
GOD Almighty comprehends all n1en in the circle of his mercy. His
loye makes no diftinaion between thenl, but what arifes [rorll the dif-
ferent degrees of their virtues. Can laws then, which ought to be an
emanation Qf eternal juftice, encourage [0 culpable a partiality? Can
that government, whofe duty it is to proteCt alike all the members of
the fame great family, be the mother of one branch, and the ftep-luother
only ,of the others?
No, gentlemen: - you could not efcape the folicitude of the national
affembly. In unfolding to the eyes of the univerfe the great charter of
nature, your titles were traced. An attempt had indeed been lnade to
expunge them; but happily they are wr;tten in characters as indelible
as the facred image of the Deity, which is graven on your counterances.
ALREADY had the national affembly, in the inftruCtions \vhich it pre-,
pared for the government of the colonies, on the 28th of March 17 9'JJ
comprized both the whites and people of colour under one common
denomination. Your enelnies, in afferting the contrary, have
.n forgery. It is inconteftibly true, that when I detnanded you fhould
be exprefsly nalned, a great number of menlbers, among whom were
2
D 0 M I N G O.
leveral planters" eagerly exclaimed, that you were already cOlnprehended
under the general words contained in thofe inftruCl:ions. Barnave
himfelf, upon my repeated inftances to him on. that has at length
acknowledged, before the whole affembly, that this was the faa. It.
now appears how much reafon- I had to apprehend that a falfe con-
ftruCtion would be put upon our decree !.
NEw oppreffions on the part of your mafters.) and new niiferies on,
yours,. until at length the clip of affliction is filled even to the brirn, have
but too well juftified myapprehenfions. The letters which I have re.,..
ceived from you upon this head, have forced tears from my eyes.
Pofterity will learn, with aftonifhment and indignation, that a caufe like-
yours, the juftice of which is fo evident, was made the fubjeC1: of debate'
for no lefS than five days fucceffively.. Alas J when humanity is obliged
to ftruggle fo" long againft vanity and' prejudice, its triumph is dearly-
ebtained!
IT is a long' time that the fociety of Amis des NOirs have
themfelves in finding out the means to foften your lot, as well as that
of the naves. It is difficult - perhaps irnpoffible, to do good with entire'
ilTIpunity. The meritorious zeal of this fociety has drawn upon them
much. obloquy.. Defpicable writers have lanced their pbifonous fhafts at
, them, and impudent libels have never ceafed to repeat objeaions and ca-
lumnies,. which have been a hundred times ant wered and refuted. f-Io\v
often have we been accufed of being fold to the Englilh, and of being;
paid by thein for fending you infhlnn1atary 'writings and anns? You,'
know, my friends, the weaknefs and wickednefs_ of thefe charges. "'! e:
have incefi'antly rt>colnmended to you ,1ttachment to your country, re-
lignation <lnd patience, v/hiJe waiting the return of juftice! N athing has'
been able to c()ol Ollr zeal, or that of your brethren of lnixed bloo:1 who
are at Paris. M. Rainlond, in: particular, has devoted himfelf mail
heroically to your defence. vVith what tranfport would you have fcen.
this c1ininguifhed citizen, at the bar of national aJfembly, of which he
Qught to be a laying before it the affecting picture of your
miferies,:
C I:tA Po
VII.

CH A P.
VII.

.H 1ST 0 R Y OF
111iferies, arid firenuouOy claiming your rights! If that affernbIy had'
facrificed theIn, it would have tarnilhed its glory. It was its duty to
decree with juftice, to explain' itfelf clearly, and caufe its laws to be
executed with firn1n:efs: it has done fo; and if (which God forbid!)
[orne hidden in the won1b of futurity, fuould tear our colonies-
I'orn us, would it not be better to have a 10fs to deplore, than an
juilice to reproach our.felves with?
CITIZENS 1 raifeonce more your humiliated countenances, and to the
dignity of 11len, affociate the courage and nobleneis of a free people.
'The. 15th of l\lay, the day in which you recovered your rights,
ought to be fer ever melTIorable to you and to your children. This
epoch will periodically a\vaken in you fentiments of gratitude towards
the Supren1e Being; and .may your accents afcend to the vault of
heaven, towards which your grateful hands will be extended! At length
you have a country. Hereafter you will fee" nothing above you but the
'while the opportunity of concurring in the framing it, will affure to'
you 'that indefeafibie right of all mankind, the right of obeying your-
felves only.
You have a country: and it will no longer be a land of exile,
you meet none but tyrants on the one hand, and companions ,in mif-
:t"ortune on the other; the forn1er diftributing, and the latter receiving,-
conternpt and outrage. The groans of your affiiCl:ions were punifhed
as the clan10urs of rebellion; and fituated between the uplifted poinard,
nnd certain thofe unhappy countries were often moiftened with
your tears, and fometilnes ftained with your blood.
You have a country: and happinefs will !hine on the feat of your
n.ativity. You will now enjoy in peace the fruits of the fields which YOll
have cultivated without compulfion. Then will be fined up that interval.,
which, placing at an immcnfe diftance [roln each other, the children of
fame father, has fuppreffed the voice of nature, and bro!(e the bands
of fraternity afunder. Then will the chafte enjoytnents of conjugal
union take place of thofe vile fallies of debauchery, qy which the ma-
jeHy
D 0 l\tl I N G O.
jcfi:y .of moral fentiment has been infulted. By what Hrange perverfion
ofreafon can it be deemed difgraceful in a white man "to Inarry a black
. or mulatto when it is not thought difhonourable in him to
be conneC1:ed with her in the Inoft licentious familiarity!
THE lefs real \vorth a Inan po{feffes, the more he feeks to avail him-
felf of the appearances of virtne. What can be' more abfurd than to make
the merit of a perfon confift in different fhades of the {kin, or in a
cOlpplexion more or lefs fallow? The man who thinks at all mufr'fome-
times bluih at being a man., when he fees his fellow-creatures blinded
by fuch ridiculous prejudices; but as unfortunately pride is one of thofe
failings we moft unwillingly part with, the empire of prejudice is' the
mof.l diffiGult to fubvert: man appears to be unable to arrive attruth,
until he has exhaufted his ftrength in travelling through the different
paths of error.
THIS prejudice againft tl.J.e mulattoes and negroes has however no
exiftence -in our Eaftern colonies. can be more affecting than
the eulogium made on the people of colour, by the inhabitants of that
part of the world, in the inftruB:ions given by theln, to thofe they have
appointed their deputies to the national affelubly. The m'elnbers of
acaderny of fdences pride themfelves in reckoning a mulatto of the rile
, of France in the number of their correfpcndents. Among ourfe1ves, a
worthy negro is a fuperior officer of the diftriCl: of St. Hypolite, in the
department of Gard. We do not conceive that a difference of colour
can be the foundation of different rights among members of the fame
political fociety. I t is therefore we find no fuch defpicable pride among
Qur brave national guards, who offer thelnfelves to en1bark for the vVeft
Indies to infure the execution of our decrees. PerfeCtly concurring'in the
laudable fenthnents manifefted by the inhabitants of Bourdeaux, tl\ey ac':"
_ -knowledge with them, that the decree refpeCting the people of colour-,
framed under. the aufpices of prudence and wifdoln, is an homage ren-
dered to reafon and juftice. While the deputies from the colonies have
endeavoured to calumniate your intentions; and thofe of the nlercantile
o
97
CH A P.
VII .
'--t--J
CH: A P.
. VII.
'--v--'
HISTORY OF
part of the nation, the conduct of thofe deputies is perfeCtly contra.
dittory. Ardently foliciting their own adlniffi'on among us at Verfailles
{wearing with us in the Tennis Court not to feparate from us, until the
conftitution fhould be eftablifhed, and then declaring, when the decree
of the 15th of May was paired, that they could no longer continue to
fit with us! This defertion is a of their principles,. and a breach
of their folemn oaths.
ALL thofe white inhabitants of the colonies who are worthy the name
of Frehchmen,. have haftened to abjure fuch ridiculous prejudices, an4
have promifed to regard you in future as brothers and fri.ends. With
what delightful fenfations do we cite the words of the citizens of J acmel.
We fwear to obey, without referve, the decrees of the national affembly
" re[petting our prefent and future and even fuch of them
" as may fubftantially change it!" The citizens of Port au P-rince' tell
the national affembly the fame thing,. in different words. Cl ConcIe ...
H fcel1d, gentlernen/' fay. they, Cf. to. the which the mum-
H cipality has taken to you,... in the name of the. commons of Port au
(' P.rince, punCtually to obey and execute all your decrees>,and. never to.
ct. fwerve from them in:anyr.efl?efr w.hatfoever . "
THUS has philofophy enlarged its horizon in the new world, and foon-\
will abfurd prejudice.s have no other fupporters than'. a few inferior ty ..
rants, who wi1h to perpetuate. in. America,the_ reign. of that defpotifilh
which has been abolifhed in France ..
WHAT. would thefe men have faid, if the people of colour had en-
deavoured. to deprive the whites. of their political adVAntages ?. With.':.
what energy would they not have exclaimed a.t fuch can oppreffion! In-
flam.ed madnefs at finding that .your 'rights have been pointed out to
you, their. irritated pride may perhaps_lead: theIJ1. . to .. make every.
to render our decr.ees ineffetl:ual .. , They will probably .. endeavour to ..
raife fuch diQurbances, as., by. wrefting the colonies fro(n the mother.
will enable them to defraud their, creditors .. of their juft debts ..
They have i.ncelfantly us withwe'.tts that St. Domingo will. be ..
. wft

S T. DOMINGO ..
10ft, ifjuftice be rendered to' you. In this affertion we have found ilO.
thing but falfehood: -we pleafe ourfelves in the belief, that onr decree
will draw the bands frill clofer which unite you to the lnother coufltryo
Your patriotifm, your intereft, and your affections, will concur in inducing
you to confine your comlnercial connections to France only; and the
reciprocal tributes of induftry will eftabli fh between her and her co ..
lonies a conftant interchange of riches and good offices. I f you aB:
unfaithfully towards France, you will be the bafeft and moil: aban-
doned of the human race. But no! generous citizens, you will not
become traitors to your country: you fhudde.r at the idea. Rallied}
with an other 'good Frenchmen, around t"he ftandard of liberty, you
will defend our glorious cqnftitution. The day ihall arrive, when the
reprefentatives of the people of colour will crofs the ocean to take
their feats with us, and [wear to live and die under our laws. The"
day fuall arrive among you when the fun will !hine on none but free;..
men; when the rays of light !hall no longer fall on the fetters of fiavery.
It -is true, the national affembly has not yet raifed the condition of the
enflaved negroes to a level with your fituation; becaufe (uddenly'
granting the rights to thofe who are ignorant of the duties of citizens,
might perhaps have been a fatal pre[ent to them: but forget not, that
, . they, like yourfelves, are born to freedom and perfect equality. It is
in the irrefiftible courfe of things that all nations, whofe liberty has b e e ~
invaded. fi1all recover that precious portion of their indefcafible inhe:..
ritance!
You are accufed of treating your naves lTIuch worfe than the whices :.:
but, alas) fo various have been the detractions with which YOll have
been afperfed, that it would be weaknefs in uS to credit the charge. It;
however, there be any foundation for what has been advanced on this
head, fo conduCl: yourfelves in future as to prove " it will be a fl1a111efu-l
calumny hereafter.
YOUR oppreffors have heretofore endeavoured to hide from rhe;i,r
!1aves the lights of chriftianity, becaufe the religion of mildnefs, e q n a ~
o ~ . lityp -
CH A.P ..
VII.
~
JQO HISTORY o 'F
C H A p., lity, and liberty, fuits not with fuch. blood:..thirfty men. M'ay YDur
VII. . conduct be the reverfe of tbRirs. Univerfal love is the language of the
gofpel; your paftors will make it heard among you. Open your' hearts
to receive this d.ivine fyftem of morality. We have mitigated. your
misfortunes, alleviate, on your part, thofe of the unhappy vitlims of
avarice, who moiften. your fields . with their fweat, and often with their
tears. Let the exiftence of your fla yes be no longer their torment i
but by your kind treatment of them, expiate the crimes of Europe!
By leading on. progreffively to. liberty, you. wilt fulfil. a dutY":
you will prepare for yourfelves the moll: comfot:table reflections,:
you will do honour .10 humanity, and infure the profperity. of the' co-
lonies.. Such will. be your conduct. towards your. brethren, the
but '\Yhat ought it to be towards your fathers, the whites ? Doubtlefs
you v/ill be pennitted to filed. tears- over the allies of Ferrand de
Battdiere, and the unfortunate Oge,. aifafiinated. under the for.ms. of law,
and dying on the wheel for having wifhed to be free L But may: he
among you periib, who fhall dare to entertain an idea ofrevenge againft .
your perfecutors! They are already delivered over to the ftings of their
pwn confciences,. and cov.ered with. eternal infamy.. The abhorrence
in which they are held the prefent race of mankind,. only precedes
the execration of pofterity. Bury then in eternal oblivion. every
fentiment of hatred, and tafte the. delicious J pleafure of conferring be,..
nefits on your oppreffors. Reprefs even too marked expreffions or
your joy, which, in caufing them to reflect: on their own injuftice towards
you, will make their remorfe ftilllTIOre pungent ... '
STRIC.TLY obedient to the laws, teach Y0ur children to theme
By a careful education, inftruet them in all the duties of morality;. fo
{ball you prepare for the fucceeding generation virtuous citizens" ho-
nourable men" enlightened patriots" and defenders of their country!.
How will their hearts be affeCted whep, conducting them to y-out
!bores, you direct their looks towards Fr:ance,. telling them,. "be ..
" -rond thofe feas is your parent country j it is fr?m thence we have
(C received
S T. 'D 0 M I N 'G o. 101
" received jufi:ice, proteB:ion, happinefs, and liberty. There dwell our . C H A P.
C ~ fellow citizens, our brethren, and our friends: to them we have VII.
(-{ [worn an eternal friendibip. Heirs of our fentiments, and of our l ~ (
c(.- affections, may your hearts and your lips repeat our oaths! IAive to
({. love them; and,. if neceiTary, die to defend them !"
Signed,.
G R EG.O IRE.
Paris, 8th June, 1.791., .
C H A P ~
1ST 0 R Y 0 F
'C H A P. VIII.
,'ReceptiolZ and Proceedings of the Civil CommfJ!iol1ers, and their Re-
.turn to France-l{ational Decree oj'the 4th if April 1792-
Appointnunt .ofil ne7.V Governor (Monf. DeJpttrhes) and three
'otherCOtnnli/1ioners (Santhonax, Polverel, and Ailhaud)-Their
Elllbarkation and Arrival, with a ft/eel Body of Troops-Tbeir
.violent ProceediJtgs-Appointlnent, by tbe Executive Council.
if M. Galbaud as Chiif Governor, in the Room if Difparbes .....
His Arrival, and Difputes with the CommiIJioners-Both Par-
.ties proceed to Hoftr."/r."ties-'The revolted Negroes called in to the
AJ!!ftance if the ConzmiJlzoners-A general MaJ!acre of the
.Wbite Inbabitants, .and Conflagration of the 'Town of Cape
Francoi.
. .;)
.H A P. THE civil commiflioners who were to refiore peace and
VIII. fubordination in St. Doming.o, and whofe arrival there
was-noticed in the laft Chapter, were nan1ed Mirbeck, H.oome,
anuary
'1791.. ,and St. Leger. Mirbeck and Roome had formerly been known
.as advocates in the parliaments of Paris; and St. Leger, who
'was a native of Ireland, had praCtifed many years in France as
a furgeon. Although the confufion of the times had elevated
.thefe men to power, not one of them was for ex-
traordinary abilities, and their rank in life was nO.t fuchas to
command any great degree of confideration from the planters.
t
S 're D 0 M I N G o.
They were received however, from refpeCt to their appointment,
with politenefs and fubmiffion, both by the governor and the
inhabitants. Military honours were {hewn them" and they were
Jed, in publick proceffion to the cathedral, where the bleffing
of the Almighty was devoutly .implored for fuccefs to their.
miOlon .
THEIR 1idl:: proceeding, announcing conftitu.;a
iion and:fo.rmr of government'for the mother as con-
firmed by the king, was to pablifh the decree of the 24th of.
September 179 I, by which the fatal decree of the 15th 'of May.
was annulled.. So' far all was wen : ... but a few 'days after-
wards they took upon them to proclaim a general amnefly apd';
pardon to fuoh pf all defcriptions, .as{hopld lay down';
their. a.rms, .. and come" in, within:: a. certain prefcribed. time, ando
take the oaths required by the new confl:itution-, This
loft them the confidence of all the white inhabitants: -a general,
amnefry to the men of colour and revolted naves, was confidered.
as a jufl:ification of the moft horrible. enormities, and as holding
out a dangerous example to fuch of the negroes as preferved.
their fidelity; and it loll:' its effect on the mulattoes, by being
accompanied with a repeal of their- favourite .. decree. With"
what contempt and indignity it was received . by the latter, the
folIo-wing circutnftance will demonflrate. At Petit. Goa've, the
mulattoes':\vere rnail:ers, and held in. clore confin(!ment. thirty-
four \vhi.te per[ons whom they re[erved for v.e.ngeance. On
the publication of this amnefiy,. they. led them to execution:
but inftead of putting them to immediate death, they cau[ed
each of them to be. broken alive; and in the m id ft. of ;keir tor--
tures., ....
10
3
CHAP ..
VIII.
I.
,11 I ST 0 R'y
OF
CH A P. ttIres, read to then1, in a firain of dia:bolical,-mockery, the procla ...
VIII. mation aloud; affetl:ing to confider it as" a pardon for'
\-....--J cruelties they had j uit c0l111nitted.
THE unlinlited and indefinite authority which thecommif-
fioners feetned to claim, a1anned the colonial aifembly, who
defired to be informed of the nature and extent of their po\vers.
To ,this requeft no fatisfaCtory anfv/er being given, thecommif-
fioners loft ground in the publick opinion daily.; and their per-
{onal conduCt, as individuals, contributed by no means
thenl refpett. Mirbeck {pent the greatetl part ot .histitne in
the praCtice, of low debauchery, giving indulgence to' his
vicious propenfities without refiraint or decency. St'. :Leger
confidered his appointment as an authority to exaCt money"
in which :'he was little fcrupulous,and laid the fe\v mulatto
who faithful, under a 'moft unmerciful 'contrihu-
tion. ,Roorne alone conduCted himfelf without reproach': 'he'
was a ,well-meaning inoffeniive man, and attempted,
. ,vithout effect, to aCt the part qf mediator between the different
which defolated the country. This praife at leaft was
given him-that if' he did no good, he did no harm.
"AFTER a fhort fray at Cape the commiffioners .
vifited other parts of the colony; but finding themfelves every
where very lightly regarded, having no troops to fupport
their authority, they returned feparately to France in' the
months of March and April.
"TROOPS
( l
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
TROOPS however, as I have o-bferved, had arrived froll1 France
to the number in the \vhole of about four thoufand; but, in the
fpirit of the times, they manifefted very little obedience either
to the civil commiffioners, or to the governor of the colony;
yet they ferved as a check to the revolters, who ""ouId other":'
vvife, in all probability, before this time, have become mafiers
both of Cape Fran90is and Port au Prince. In the Northern pro-
vince, the rebel negroes indeed were fuppofed to be confiderably
reduced by difeafe and famine. Having deftroyed all the pro-
vifion grounds;and devoured the cattle of all kinds on the plain
of the Cape, they had now taken poffeffion of the furrounding
'mountainousdiftriCts, and were cotnpelled by their chief leader,
Jean Franfois, a negro of great fagacity, to plant provifions for
their future fubfiil:ence; a mea[ure which has kept the flatnes
of rebellion alive to the prefent hour.
IN the mean time, the fiate of publick affairs in the
country was tending to a great and ominous change. Ever fince
, the fligq.t and of their unhappy king, in the month of
June 179 I, the faCtion \vas hourly increafing in. nutnbers ,vhich
,vas foon to lay the kingdom in ruins, and bring the monarch
himfelf to the fcaff'old. The J acobin party, by a blood-
thid1:y. triumvirate (a), \vere becon1ing all-powerful; and the
fociety of Amis des Noirs had once more acquired a fatal afcen-
CH A P.'
VIII.

dency in the legiflative body. On the 29th of February, one of
them, named Garande Colt/on, after a long and infiamn1atory ha-
rangue againft the planters in general, propoied the fonnof a
(a) Danton) Robefpierre andl\1arat.
p
decree'
C, H A. P.,
VIII.

FIlSTORY OF
"for that of the 24th of September, d.eclaring a;
general amneffy throughout aU the French colonies;' and enact-
ing, that new co10J;1ial afl"emblies iliould be fo,rm'ed, which iliould,
tranfmit not only on the fubJeCt of the internal
of the buta!fo on the be.fl method of eJleCling
the abolitzon if flt!gro Jlczvery iN TOT0,.,
FRANTICK as the new Iegii1ature (b): had f11ewn it[c]f on:,
many occafions fince its firft meeting, a, majority could not at
this tilne be found. to vote for fa fenfelew and extravagant a pro-
pofition;. b.ut in about two months afterwards, this aifembly
paiTed the famous decree of the 4th of April 1792', of which it.
is neceifary the reader fhould De furnifhed with a copy at ;;
and it is conceived in the words following !,
(c. THE' national atrembly acknowledges and' declares, that the
people of colour and free negt:oes in $e colonies ought to eoj0Y'
an of political, rights \vith; the whites;. in of'
which it decrees as follows:'
ARTICLE 1ft. Immediately after' the publication of the, pre .....
decree,. the inhabitants of each of the French, C,olo11ies in:
the Windward and Lee,\vard, Iflands iliall proceed to the re-'
eleCtiolf. of colonial and parochial aifemblies, after the mode pre-
fGribed by the decree of the 8th of March 1796, and t:he inftruc.-
tions of the national affen1bly of the. 28th of the fame.m.onth.
2d . THE people of colour and fi-ee negroes {hall be admitted:
to vote'in an the primary and electoral aifemblies, and ih:dl be
( h) The former'affembly is generally known by the name of the' Co'!flituent:
Affembly. The new one met the 1ft of OCtobex 1791, and called itfe1f the Fir1t
Lfgijlative Alfemhly.
eligible
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
,eligible to the legifla ture and an places of truft, provided they
poife[s the qualifications prefcribed by the 4th article of die
-afotefaicl irtfiruCtions.
. 3d THREE civil cornlniffioners !hall be named for the colony
'Of St. Domingo; and four for the ifIands of IV!artinico;Oua--
.daloupe; St. Lucia, and Tobago, to fee this decree enforced.
4th. THE faid commiiIioners {hall be authorized to diffolve
.. the prefent colonial aifemblies; to take every meafure neceifary
for accelerating the convocation of the primary and eleCtoral
alTemblies, and therein to eftablilh union, order, and peace: as
;,veIl as to determine provifionalIy (referving the power of ap-
peal to the natiorial aifembly) upon every queftion which may
atife concerning the regularity of convocations, the holding of
.aifemhlies, the forrn of eleCtions, and the eligibility of citizens.
5th. TH EY are al{o authorized to ptocure every information
po,fijble, in order to difcover the authors of tlle troubles in St.
Doming0, and the continuance thereof, if they frill continue; to
fecure the per[ons of the guilty, and to.fend them over- to France,
there to be put in a fiate of accufation, &c.
6th. THE faid civil comniiflioners {hall be direCted for this
purpofe to tranfmit to the national ail'embly minutes of their
proceedings, and of the evidence they may have collected con-
cerning the per[ons accufed as aforefaid.
7th. THE national aifembly authorizes the civil commiffioner$
to call forth the publick force whenever they n1ay think it ne-
-ceffary, either for their own protection, or for the execution of
fuch orders as they may iifue by virtu6 of the preceding articles ..
8th .. THE executive po\ver is direCted to fend a fufficient force
to the colonies, to be compofed chiefly of national guards.
P 2 9th. THE
17
CH AP ...
V I t I ~
L-..--.J
HISTORY OF
C H A P. 9th. THE co10nial affemblies, itnmediately after fornla-
VIII. . tion, {hall fignify,. in the name of each colony refpeCtively,. their-
fentiments refpetl:ing that confiitution, thofe laws, and the ad:-
n1iniil:ration of them; which willbeil prornQte the profperity
and happinefsC?f the people;. cOHf-orming themfelves neverthe-
Iefs to thofe general principles by which the colonie.s and
country are connected together,. and by which their refpecrive
interefis are befi [ecured, agreeably to the decree of the 8th of
March 1790, and infiruCtions of the 2.8th of the fame month.
loth. THE colonial aiTen1blies are authorized to fend home
delegates for the purpofes mentioned in the preceding article, in
nurnbersproportionate. to the population of each colony, \vhich
proportion {hall be forthwith determined by the national af-
fembly, according to the report which its colonial committee is
direCted to make.
r I th. FORMER decrees the colonies .01all be In
force in every thing not contrary to the- prefent decree .. :'
I T may be fuppofed that the merr who (rejecting all preten-
flons t-o confiftency, and defpifing the leffons of experience) fir11:
propofed this decree, and final1y prevailed in carr-ying it through
the legiflative aiTembly,. had duly confidered. of the means for-
enfuring its execution in the colonies, and \vere pl:ovided with
fit infirutnents for that The new commiffiol1ers. no-
Ininated for St. Dorning.o were Me i'frs. Santhonax,.
and Ailhaud, all of theln among the Inofi: violent of the Jacobin
faB:ion; and it was refol ved to furniih them with fuch a force
as (i f pro ped y em played) would, it was alledged, 'not only e[-
tabli{h their authority, but put a fpeedy end to all the difiur-
banees'
S T. DaM I N G o.
bances \v hich had [0 long afflicted and defolated the colony.
:EIght thoufand men, [eleCted with great circumfpeB:ion, fiom
the, national with officers whore principles were well
'known to, their einployers, were acco:-dingly ordered to embark
forthwith for St. Domingo. M. Blanchelande, the governor-
general, was recalled', and a new commiffion of commander In
chief given _to a Monf. Defparbes.
THUS appointed and provided, the civil cOlnn1iffioners and
the new governor took their departure from France in the month
of July, probably in much the fame difpofition of mind to\vards
the colonifis, as was manifefted by the Duke D' Alva and his
Spanilh and Italian troops in 1568, towards the inhabitants of
the Low Countries. Inflamed like theIn VtTith a fpirit of avarice,
and revenge, they Ineditated on nothing but on the
,benefits to arire from feizure and confifcation; on [cherries of
mifchief and projects of vengeance.
THEY landed at Cape Franqois on the J 3th of Septelnber, and
finding M. Blanchehinde at great variance with the colonial
affembly, the c<?mmiffioners took the fhorteft courfe .pollible to
terminate the difpute, by forthwith diflolving the aifelnbly and
fending the unfortunate Blanchelande a flate prifoner to France,
'where, "as to be accufed was to be condemned, he foon
periilied by the guillotine (c).
DISMA y and terror no\v prevailed throughout the colony. De-
legates were fent to the civil from all quarters, to
(c) 7th April, 1793-
demand
CH A P.
VIII.
'---r--J
110
CHAP.
VIJI.

.. H 1ST 0 R Y OF
demand an expofure and explanation of their views and
Sufpicions were already gone forth concerning the project, wh!ch
the commiffioriers afterwards a vowed, of. declarin'g a.
emancipation of the negro naves; and all parties;as,well among
the republicans as the royalifts, concurred on this occafion
probating the folly and iniquity of the meafure. ,So general
the clamour on this account, .that if a finn and.extenfive coali-
tion of interefrs among the planters could at this time have been
effeCted, it is probable the commiffioners Inight have found that
all the force they had brought with them would have proved in.
ufficient for the purpofes which they meditated. Diffimulation
therefore was thought neceffary for the prefent. They declared
(and confinned the declaration with the folemnity of an oath)
that they had no wiIh or intention to make any change in the
fyfiem of colonial government concerning the fla ves; avowing
the fullefi: conviction that the emancipation of thofe
under exifring circum:ll:ances, was impraCticable.-Their views."
they faid, extended no farther than to fee the decree of the 4th
of April, in favour of the free people of colour, properly enforced;
to reduce the Haves . in rebellion to obedience, and to fettle the
future governnlent and tr.a.nquillity of the colony on a folid and
permanent foundation.
THESE, and declarations filenced, though they did
not fatisfy, the white inhabitants;. who foon perceived,
unavailing indignation, that the commiffioners held fecret com-
with the chiefs of the mulattoes in all parts of the
colony. :ay the co-operation of thofe people, the
ers {oon found their ftrength fufficient to avow themfelves openly
, the
S'T. D 0 M I' 'N G o.
t ~ e -patrons -and protectors of the whole body of the free ne-
groes and mulattoes: a.nd they now made no fcruple of feiz-
ing ,the per{ons and effeCts of all fuch of the whites as oppofed
their projects, fending great numbers of theln in a fiate of arrefi:
to ,Europe, t.o anfwer before the national afienlbly to the
accufations which they pretended to tranfmit againft them.
Among the perfons thus imprifoned and tranfported to France,
were comprehended the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and many
other officers of the Cape regiment.
THE ,,,hite inhabitants novv called aloud for the eleCtion of a
new colonial affembly, and hoped that the neceffity of levying
taxes would induce the con1miffioners to iifue orders for that
purpofe; but infread of complying with the publick requefi,
they fubfrituted what was called une comJniJjion intermedia;"re, by
nominating t\velve perfons, fix of wholn had been members of
the lail aifembly, to act as a fort of legiflative council: the
other :fix were nlulattoes. To this motley board, the comlnif-
fioners delegated authority to raife money from the inhabitants;
referving to themfelves, however, the right of appropriating and
expending it, as they alone ihQuld think proper.
IN the mean,while the new governor (Defparbes) began to
manifefi [Olne figns of di1fatisfaCtion and impatience. lIe com-
plained that he was confidered as a lnere cypher in the govern-
ment, or rather as an ihftrun1ent in the comlniffioners' hands.
Hiis complaints were anfwered by the arreft of his per{on, and
he foon afterwards followed his predeceffor, M. Blanch'elande,
ftate prifoner to France.
9
FouR.'
1 I 1
CH AP.
VIII.
~
112
CH A P.
VIII.

HIS T' O,R Y: O,F
Fau R members out of the fix whites thatcon1pofed a moiety'
of the comnziIJion internzediaz're, met with fimilar treatment. They
ventured to offer their opinion on a meafure of finance', in" op ... ,
pafition to that of lvt Santhonax.' The 'commiffioners -coin:':'
mended their franknefs, and 1\11. Santhonax invited them :to
fupper.The invitation \vas accepted; but at the hour ap...;
pointed, they found themfelves furroundedby a detachment of
the military, \vhich 'conveyed them to very fori-y entertainment"
in the hold of a {hip, and there left them, as fta'te prifoners:(d) ..
THE comn1iQ'ioners, in the :next place, fell out an10ngthen1..o
(elves; and Santhonax and Polverel detern1ined to get quit of
aliociate Ailhaud. Prudently judging, however, that thepublick
degradation of one of their own body would refle'a: fame,' degree,
of ignominy on theln all, they perfuaded him 'to be content with
a proportion of ;the common plunder, and, fi1c:ntly quit'the
countryo ',A,ilhaud iub'n-iitted with a good grace to what he
could not avoid.
By thefe, aqd other Ineans, above all by the priC1:ice of ,be-:
llowing largeiTes .on the troops, and the acquifitibn ,of a defpe'rate'
band of auxiliaries, compofed of fome of the revolted flaves, and
vagabonds of 'all colours and defcription's, nlofily colleCted from
the jails, Santhonaxand Polverel, in the beginning of the year
(d) ,To one of am indebted Jor more valuable and extenfive:
information than I have been able to ,coUect through any other channel., In his
voyage to' Europe, the ihip which -hoe was' confined 'was (fortnnatdy ,
captured by an EngIilh frigate, which brought, him to England; 'where t had the
to render him fome acceptable fervice.
S T. D '0 M 1 N G o.
1793, found themfel yes abfolute mafters of the colony. The lives C H A P.
and properties of all the white inhabitants lay at their mercy, and VIII.
the dreadful fcenes which were at that time pailing in the mother I
country, enabled thefe men to profecute their purpofes, and gra-
tify their vindiCtive and avaricious paffions, without notice or
controul from any fuperior.
BUT the tragedy \vhich was acting in France, was no fooner
brought to its cataftrophe, by the foul murder of their amiable
and unoffending fovereign, and ,var declared againft Great Bri-
tain and Holland, than the perfons who compafed ,vhat ,vas
called the executive council, thought it neceffary to pa.y fonle
little attention to the fafety of St. Domingo. Not having ho,v-
ever leifure or inclination to enter into a full invefiigation of the
complaints received from thence, they declined to revoke the
powers by the civil commiffioners, and contented
themfelves with appointing a ne\v governor, in the room of M.
Defparbes. Their choice fell on a Monf. Galbaud, an officer of
, artillery, and a man of fair charaCter, whom they direCted to
embark for his ne\v government \vithout delay, in one of the
national frigates, and put the colony into the befi: fiate of de-
fence againfi a foreign enemy.
GALBAUD, with his fuite of attendants, landed at Cape Fran- 1793.
on the 7th of May, to the great joy of the white inhabi-
tants. At that period, the civil commiffioners, with moil: of
their troops, were in the Weitern province, endeavouring to quell
an infurreCtion there which their tyranny had created; fo that
Galbaud was re.ceived with acclamations and fubmiffion by the.
IDunicipality of the town of the Cape; to whofe place of n1eet-
.
114
CH A P.
VIII.

HIS T 0, R Y 0 F
ing he repaired with his attendants, took the neceifary oaths
r
and. entered en his government \vithout oppofition. He de-
clared, at the fame time, that he was not, d.ependent on
civil commiffioners,- and not bound to at all events, thei.l
proclamations.
A V,ER Y quick interchange of took place ,between the
new governor and the commiffioners. He defired them to re-
pair immediately to the Cape, that he might commllnicate the
inftruCtions he had received froIn the executive council. They
anfwered that he "vas an entire f1:ranger- to the!m; that they hqd
no decree of-the convention qy which-they tbe1):l-
were fuperfeded, and that being vefied with authority tQ'
fufpend or appoint a governor, as they alone mig,ht
h,e; c;ould only be confiqered as an agent fubordinate to thenJ.-
felve,s :-They added, tha,t they. were then affe,1Phling an. arn1Y,
to fupprefs 'a rebellion in the town and neighbourhood; of Port
au but that as [oon as the bufinefs was at an end, they
would repCl:ir to the Cape, and examine into the validity of his
oretenfions ..
... . .
ON the loth of June the civil having reduced,
Port au Prince and ]acmel, arrived'at the Cape. The :f1reets were
with troops, and they were received by Galbaud \vith atten-
ti911 and A very ferious a1tercation however
took place qetweep them,highly difadvantageous.to gqvern0r.
There exifted, it [eems, a decree of the natiqnal a(iembly,. enaCt-
ing no proprietor of an. cftate in Weft indies lhould
hold. the of a, colony wherein his, eftate, was fituated;.
and. M4 qalbal;ld was poffe1fe.d of a in St.
*
nl1og0,.
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
mingo. When therefore he \vas aiked why he had not ac- 6 a,A P.
quainted the executive coun.cil with this circumftance, he was VIII.,
utterly difconcerted and had no reply to make.
ON the 13th, the con1iniffioners ordered M. Galbaud to em-
bark forthwith on board the Hoop of war La N ormande, and
return to France. At the fame tinle they fent inftruCtions to
Monf. de la Salle, whom they had left commandant at Port au
Prince, to repair to the Cape and receive from them, in thct
nan1e of the French republick, the command of the colony.
, THE feven following days were fpent on both fides in i n ~
frjgues and preparations for h_ofrilities. Galbaud's brother, a
man of fpirit and enterprize, ~ a d collected from among the i r i ~
habitants, the Ca pe militia, and the [earnen in the harbour).
a firong party to fupport the governor's authority. On the
20th, the two brothers landed at the head of one thoufand
tW? hundred failors, and being joined by a confiderable body of
volunteers, immediately marched in array towards the govern-
ment houfe, in which the commiffioners were :ll:ationed.. The
latter were defended by the people of colour, a body of regu1ars,
and one piece of cannon. The conflict was fierce and bloody.
The volunteers manifefted great firmnefs, but the feamen get-
ting poffeffion of a wine cellar, foon became intoxicated and
ungovernable; and the column was obliged to retire to the royal
arfenal, where they remained the enfuing night unmolefied.
TH E next mortling many ikiririiilies took place in the fireets,
\vith various fuccefs, in one of which Galbaud's brother was'
taken prifoner by the cOlnmiffioners' troops; and in another, the
~ feamel}
~
CH AP.
VIII.
I, tJ
J
HISTORY OF
.feamen that were fighting on the part of made
:Polverel's [on; and now an extraordinary circumfiance
The go=vernor [ent a flag propofing to exchange the commif-
fioner's fon for his brother; but Polverel rejeCted the propofal
with indignation; declaring in an[vver, that his [on knew his duty,
and was prepared to die in the {ervice of the republick.
. BUT a {cene now opens, \vhich, if it does not obliterate, ex-
ceeds at leafi, all that has hitherto been related of factious
Clnarchy, and favage cru:elty, in .this unfortunate colony. On the
:Bdt approach of Galbaud with [0 large a body of [earnen, the
comn1iffioners dif patched agents to call in to their aHiftance the
revolted negroes; offering them an unconditional pardon for paft
offences, freedotn in future, and the plunder of the city.
The rebel generals", 'JealZ Frallfois their offers.;
but on the 2 ) it, about noon (j uft after that Galbaud and moil: ef
his adherents, finding their cau[e hopele[s, had retired to the
ihips) a negro chief called Macaya, with upwards of three thou-
(and of the revolted ilaves, entered the to\vn, and began an uni ..
verfal indi{crinlinate ilaughter of men, women, and children ..
The white inhabitants fled [roln all quarters to the [ea-fide, in
hopes of finding ilielter with the governor on board the fllips in.
t.he but a body of the Inulattoes cut off their retreat,
and a horrid enfued, a defcfiption of which every heart
fufceptible of humanity n1ufi. be unable to bear. Suffice i.t
to [ay, that the flaughter continued \,vith unremitting fury fronl
the 21ft, to the evening of the 23d; when the having
murdered all the white inhabitants that fell in their way, fet fire
to the and more than half the city was confluned by
x
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
the flan1es. The commiffioners thelnfel ves, either terrified at
beholding the lamentable and extenfive mifchief which they had
occafioned, or afraid to truft their perrons with their rebel allies,
fough t protection under cover of a lhip of the line. The pro-
clamations which they publifhed from tinle to -tilne in pallia-
tion of their conduct, 1l1anifefl: a confcioufnefs of guilt which._
could _not be f u ppreiTed, and form a record of their villanies,' for
vvhich the day of retribution awaits, but fti1l1ingers to overtake
thetn (f) !
SUCH ,vas the fate of the once fiourialing and beautiful ca-
pital of St. Domingo I-a city which, for trade, opulence, and:
Inagnificence, was undoubtedly among the firft in the Weft In-
dies,-perhaps in the new w'orld: and here I {hall clore for the-
prefent, the difgufting detail of confpiracies,. rebellions, crimes,
cruelties, and conflagrations (a uniformity of horrors !) through
"vhich the nature- of my work has cornpelled. ale to travel
rejoicing that I have at laft
Efcap'd the Stygian pool, tho' long detain'd,
In that obfcure fojourn;-
MILTON_-,
And have the pleafing ta!k to petform of rendering due hOlnage:
to the gallant and enterprizing fpirit of Iny countrymen in their
noble-but alas ! hitherto unavailing-endeavours to reilore peace;).
fubordination, and good government on this theatre of anarchy
and bloodfhed .. Previous to however, it be a and,
(/) vVhcn this was written, the author did not know that alone fur-,
"ivcs. Polverel died in 1794, in fome part of St. Domingo. Santhonax has,
lately appeared before the national aiTembly,. and been pronounced guilt/ifs !
fa
1'17'
CH AP.
Vnf.
CHAP.

..
HISTORY OF
fatisfaction tothe reader to be prefented with a piCture or fia.te of
the colony, as it exified in the days _of its profperity;-its cul-
tUJ;'e, population, and produce;-its growing importance and com-
mercial value. Hitherto, vve have contemplated nothing but fcenes
of defolation.-'Ve 111all now behold, a pleafing contrail: in the
bleffings of regular government: due fubordination, focial or-
der, extenfive conllnerce, peaceful induftry, increafing cultivation,
fn1iling and general happinefs! The conclufions to be
dra\Vll f1'o111 the contemplation of fcenes fo different in their na-
ture are of im'portance to al1tnankind.
Account given above of the D,ejlruClion of the City of Ctlpt
'l,laS drawn up with as much Caution as the Cqfl
. jeeJJled to require, fr01JJ Infirmation tranJinitted to the Author
by Peifons in Jamaica and St. Domingo, falne if Wh0J11
difjered in 111any ejJential Circun!ftances frolll others. He had
afterwards an Opportunity of c01Zverjing peifonally on the Sub-
JeCl witl; a if. St. Domingo, on Perocityand
Honour be .could place the fttlltft Dependance, by wbom he 'was
rzoitb the following Notes or Memoranda in
which he thinks be.fl to lay before his Readers verbatim.
. \
NOTES SUR l'EVENEMEN'T DU CAP.
LE General Galbaud -avoit mande au Cap les commiffaire-5
Santhonax et Polverel, de la maniere la plus' imperieufe; le's COln-
milfaires fe font determines a s'y renare par terre de S. Marc, d'ou ils
font
ST. D 0 M I N GO'"
writ pards le 8 J uin, accolnpagnes de 400 et '200 biancs, et
compris ]eurs coupe tete les dragons d'Orleans. I1s ont fait leur
an Cap d'une maniere affez audacieufe pour en impo[er.
GALBAUD avait deja' indifpofe les. habitans'du Cap par i:1ne a:ddreffe,
ou proclamation, qui ordonnait une contribution de 450 mille li vtes,.
dont la perception a ete falte de la la plus violente, et qui tenait
plus du pillage que d'une contribution.
LE General Galbaud n"avait fait aucune difpoCitions pour fe preferver
des refolutions et des entreprifes des commiffaires>. qui entrerent cepen-
dant d"une mani"ere ..
A LA premiere entreviie des G'eneral Galbaud et des commiffaires, en
la maifon de la commiffion (le gouvernement) apres les premiers com-
pliments; ily eut explication fur les pouvoirs du general; les c'om-
miffaire.s I{]i opoferent u'n decret qui deffendait qu'aucun proprietaire:
dans la colonie put y commander ni y avoir d'autorite; et accufe'rent
M. Galbaud d'avoir diffilnule au confeil executif qu'il' avait des pro ..
prietes.
PENDANT ce demele, qui dura pres de deux jours, les agents des Ca111-
miffaires prfparaient Ies efprits ales laiifer faire, et a ne point fe meler 'de
la, difcution, dans laqueUe Santhonax prenait cependant une grande pre-
ponderance. .
GALBAUD, voyant que perfonne ne s'empre1fait a le- foutenir" et
voyant fans doute une chute humiliante, delnanda aux conln1iffaires' de
s' en retourner en preferant la retraite, a des pouvoirs contdrc::; .;.
\le qui lui fut accorde fur le champ, et il s'embarqua le T 4.
LE 17 Galbaud reiinit tous les matelots de la rade et ceux des
vaiffeaux de guerre, et projette de defcendre a Ja viJ1edu Cap; il' fait fon
debarquement le 18, et marche au gouvernenlent, ou logeaient les C0t11-
t'niffaires, qui inftruits,des' nl0uvemens de Galbaud, reiinirent les troupes
quileurs- etaient devouees, et particulierement les et les elTI-
bufquerent derriere les murs du gouvernen1ent, dans toutes Yes
[u.t
.r
CH AP.
VIiI.
r....--..---'
1.20
CHAP ..
VIII.
\---.----J
HISTORY OF
fur les terraffes, &c. Auffitot que les matelots furent a portee de piftoler,
on fit des decharges, qui ~ n tuerent et blefferent un grand nombre, nean-
'mains Ies mula.tres furent ebranles deux fois; mais le defordre dans les
matelots determina le General Galbauda faire fa retraire a l'arfenal; la,
il fit 'une proclamation pour inviter les bons citoyens a fe reiinir a lui,
pour chaffer les commiffaires, qui voulaient ufurper le gouvernement.
Des-Iors les commiffaires reiinirent aux mulatres tous les negres de la ville,
qui avaient deja pris parti dans l'aCl:ion en alfaffinant dans la ville; toutes
les troupes qui leurs avaient fervis a leur expedition, et les placerent par
pelotons a chaque co,in des rues, et des qU'un blanc voulait fortir de chez
lui" ou paraiifait aux fenetres, il etait fufilIe.
P.ENDANT cc tems, et des que 1es coolmiil:'1ires eurent appris les mouve-
mens de Galbaud, ils avaient d e p e c ~ des expres aux chefs des brigands,
pour les engager a venir a leur fecours, et leurs offraient le pillage de la
ville.
LE 19 Galbaud capitule a l'arfenal, et fe rend abord: il yen mis en
etat d'arreftation, ainfi que l' Amiral Cambis, et le Contre-Amiral Sercey,
qui font depouilles de leur cOlnmandement.
U NE proclamation des commiffaires avait precedamment a cet' evene-
ment, rnis a contribution 37 negociants, ou riches particuliers, pour une
fomme de 675 mille livres, qui parrait avoir ete exigee et payee fur l'heure.
Le 19: au foir, le 20, le 2 J, les brigands entrent de toutes parts dans la
ville du Cap, ayant a leur tete leurs chefs, et on affilre que M. de Gralfe
s'y eft trouve auffi. Le pillage, les maffacres, les flammes deviennent
effroyables j les hOInmes, les femmes, les enfans font affaffines, n1affacres.
et .eprouvent toutes les horreurs imaginables. lIs ont eu la barbarie de
renfermer et de bnl1er clans une maifon plus de 300 per[onnes toutes
vivese
LES malheureux de tout fexe, de tout age, qui cherchaient a le fauver
en gagnant des embarcations, Oll a la nage, etaient fufllles meme dans
l'eau.
S T. D 0 M-I N G' o.
IL parrait que dans le maffacre les negres ont frapes indiftinCl:ement
tous les partis, blanes, mulatres, et que les blancs fe font deffendus contre
tous avec un grand acharnement; neanlTIoins il parrait certain, que la
population blanche a ete entierement detruite, et qu'il n'a pas refi:6 un
feul blanc au Cap; on eftime que, s'il s'eft fauve 12 a 1500 perfonnes
Iilbord, c'eft plus qu'on n'ofe l'efperer. ,-
LE convoi eft fortie du Cap le 23 pour l' Aluerique, la majeure partie
tres peu de vivres, tres peu d'eau, et plufieurs fans etre prepares
a ce voyage, fans mats ni voilIes, & ceux qui ont les 111alheureux
qui fe font fauves abord, n'y auront trouve aucune. fubfiftance.
LA ville incendiee, detruite, res habitans maiTacres., 'on aJfure qu'il ne'
refte que le gouvernement, un'e partie des cafernes, l'arfenal, et les
maifons du Petit Carenage ;-l'eglife et les fontaines detruites.
LES COlTIlniffaires ont refte fpectateurs tranquilles pendant le carnage
et le Inaffacre ; dans leur maifon on aO vu Santhonax ferrer et preffer -dans-
res bras les chefs des brigands, les appeller fes fauveurs, et leur temoigner'
leur reconnaiffance.
LE 23 proclamation des commilfaires, qui invite et appelIe tous les
bons citoyens a fe reiinir autour d'eux, etde laiffer partir les fceIerats, qui
-vont -aller fubir le jufte chatiment de leurs crimes, le convoi en parti
, jour lllcme; & la ville fl.l1nait
It CH A P ..
CHAP.
VIII.
'---v---'
CH' A P.
IX.
"H'1 S TOR Y 0 F
C H A Pet IX.
Giluation, Extent, and teneral Difcription if St. D01Jlingo-Origin/
of the French Colony, and :topographical Deftription if tbe fi--
'Veral Provil1ces into which the French PoJfejji01Zs were
-Their Population, and Produce-Shipping and
pared with the Returns if Jamaica.
T
HE Hland of St. Domingo is fituated in the Atlantick:.
Ocean, about three thoufand five hundred miles from,
the land's end of England ;. eaflern point, lying in north la-
titude 18 20'; and in longitude 68' 40' W. from Green'\vich ..
The Hland extends about one hundred and forty miles in the:
broadeft part, from north to fouth, and three hundred and.
ninety from eafl: to weft. In a country of fuch' magnitude, di-
with plains of vafl: extent, and mountains of prodigious;
height, is probably to be found every fpecies of foil. which nature
has affigned to all the tropical parts of the In g.eneral, it
is fertile in the higheR: degree.; every where well watered, and.
producing almoft every variety of vegetable nature, for ufe and-
beauty, for food and luxury, which the Iavifh hand of a boun-
tiful Providence has befrowed on the rjcheft portion of the globeo-
In that part which conftituted the French territory, the qpan-
tity of unproductive land bea,rs no manner of proportion to the:
w,hole . .;;:
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
whole; and the liberality of nature ,vas laudably feconded by the
induftry of the inhabitantso Un.til thore ravages and devafta-
tions which I have had the painful talk of recording, deformed
and deftroyed, with undifiinguiQling barbarity, both the bounties
of nature, and the labours of art, the poffeffions of France in
this noble iiland were confidered as the garden of the Weft In-
dies; and for beautiful [cenery, richnefs of foil, falubrity and
variety of climate, Inight juftly be deemed the Parad!fe the
New World.
OF the territories ,vhich retnained exclufively in poifeffion of
the original conquerors, the Spaniards, my information is very
irnperfetl:. I {hall hereafter give the bell account'I have been
able to colleCt concerning thenl. On the fouthern coaft, more
efpecially in the neighbourhood of the ancient city from which
the ifland derives its prefent name, the lands are faid to be among
the bell, and without a very large proportion of the re-
mainder requires only the hand of the cultivator to become very:
productive. The interior country contains extenfive favannahs,
, or plains, luany of them occupied only by wild [wine, horfes,
and horned cattle 3 for the Spaniards having exterminated the
fimple and unoffending natives, fupplied their place vvith herds
of domeftick animals, \iVhich running wild, {oon multiplied be-
yond. computation. Thus does the tyranny of man convert the
fruitful .habitations of his fellow-creatures into a wildernefs for
beafts! In the prelent cafe, however, the crizne foon brought
down it.s oW.I1 puniHlment ;-a puniiliment almoft rc;:-
venged the wrongs of the helplefs Americans ;-and does
R .2 not
12
3
CHAP.
IX.

HISTORY o F
C.H A P. not wifh that avarice, ambition, and cruelty may pe thus always
IX. entangled in their own projects?
'--v---J
.THE reader is doubtlefs apprized that I here allude to the
eil:ablilhment in St. Domingo of that daring and de[peraty band
of adventurers, the Bucaniers ;-an a1Tociation confiituted of men
of all countries and defcriptions, but of whom it may truly'
be. that, if felf-prefervation be a law of nature, the hofri-
lities which they maintained for upwards of fifty years againft
their oppreifors, were Inore jufiifiable and legitimate in their
origin, than all the wars which the pride and ambition of king-
doms and nations have occafioned, from the beginning of the-
world .to the prefent hour. As the cruelty of the Spaniards fir11
compelled thefe men, from a fenfe of common danger, to unite
-their firength, fo the blind policy of fiocking with cattle a coun-
try of fuch extent, became their rupport; for the fleili of thofe
ani'tnals fu pplied them with food, and they purchafed arms, am-
munition, and clothing with the fkinso
OF. the rife of thefe people, and the primary cau-fe of their
combining together to make reprifals on the Spanifu fettlements,.
a ihort account may be neceifary. I have elfewhere treated. the
fubjeCl: lnore at large (a ).-They confified originally of a body-'
of French and Engliili planters, whom, in the year 1629, a Spa-.
nii'h had expelled from the ifland of St. Chrifropher"
l,vith circumfrances of outrageous barbarity. Driven from thence
il
,
by a force which they could not refift, as theonly alternative of
(a) Hi!t. of the Briti1h Colonies,: Book ii. C . 2:.,
efcaping
s To' DO M I N G 0.
efcaping froIn ilaughter or flavery, they fled in open boats with
their families, and poiTeffed themfelves of the fn1all unQccupied
ifiand of crortuga, fituated within a few Iniles of the northern
coafl: of St .. Domingo. Here they were joined by a confiderable
number of Dutch emigrants fron1 Santa Cru.z, whom the ava-
rice and cruelty of the Spaniards had compelled, in like Inanner,
to roam over the ocean for ihelter, after having witneifed the
mafTacre of many of their number, even to the women and chil-
. dren. Companions in, adverfity, their misfortunes
taught thefe poor exiles mutual forbearance; for, although they
were compofed of three differen.t nations,. they appear to have
lived for fome years.in perfeCt harmony with ea.ch Their
luode of life contributed; to produce the fame effect:
finding a country of immeafurable. extent In. their. neighbourhood.
abounding in cattle,. their time was chiefly occupied in hunting;.
an employment which left no leifure for diifenfion,. and a ffordeld.;
them both exercife and- food. The plains of St. Domingo were'
confidered, however>- merely as their hunting grounds.: Tortuga,
continued their hoole,. and place .. 'of retreat. H.ere. their women
, and young people cultivated fmall plantations of tobacco (an herb,
of which, in hot and moift clilnates, the practice of inhaling the
fmoke, feems to be. pointed out by nature); and as the coafl: was
l:ugged, and of difficult approach, they fondly hoped that theil,!'
obfcurity \vould; protect: them from further perfeclltion ..
. IF thegovernnlent of Spain had been aCtuated at this time by:
lillotives of wifdom, it would indeed have left thefe poor people
to range over the wildernefs unn10lefted.. It ought to have'
known, that the occupation of hunting diverted them fron1 pro-
*- jects
CHAP.
IX.

HA P.
IX.

"H I S T 0 RY OF
jells of vengeance, and .deeds of greater enterprize; but tyranny
is witho:ut. forefight, and the refilefs and remorfelefs bigotry of
.the :Spani!h.nation ,allowed the fugitive-s no refpite.An arma ...
col le Cl:e d, and preparationsn1ade to .effeCt their utter
.extermination,; the comma'nders of which"taking.occafion when
the ableft .of the .men -had. ;reforted .to the larger ifland in their
.ufual landed a body .of foldiers at Tortuga, and making
.capti ves of the women and children., the old and infirm, caufed
:them all ,to be maffacred without
I T does not appear that the 'rriiferable people who were thus
;pur[ued to deftrutlion, like beafts .of prey, had hitherto been.
;guilty of any outrages or depredatio.ns on the ihips or fubjecrs of
Spain, which called for fuch exemplary vengeance. Neither was
:it imputed to them as a crime that they had pofieifed themfelves
:of Tortuga, ;or that they roamed about the defarts .. Do-
-mingo in purfuit of cattle which had no owners. Their guilt
,confifiedin the circumftance of being born out of the Spaniili
territories, and prefuming neverthelefs to venture into any part of
the Nc\v World; for the arrogant prefumption and extravagant
felfifhnefs of this bigotted nation, led them to appropriate all the
-countries of America to themfelves. They claitned even the
foIe and exclufi ve right of failing on ,any fuch part of the nlain
ocean as, in their judgtnent, a portion of the newly-
.difcovered hemifphere; and ftricr orders were iffued to all their
commanders, by [ea and land, to feize on the !hips and [ubjects'of
all other that ihould be found within the boundaries
which they had prefcribed, and to punilh the intruders with
Q flavery
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
fIavery or death.-We have feen in what manner thofe orders C H A P.
were executed. IX.
. IT is evident, therefore, that no alternative remained; to the oc=-
cupiers of Tortuga, but to' turn on their purfuers, and waQ"e
. 0
oJfenfi ve war on thofe who \vould allow of no peace with themo
If the jufiice of their cau[e be ftill a queftion, let the records of
time be confulted;. let an appeal be: made to that rule of con-
duB:, \vhich (to ufe an eloquent expreffion of Lord Coke) s:
written by thejinger if. God on the heart if man ; and. let hiilory
and reafon determine, yvh.ether any inftance of hoftility, in the'
annals of mankind, can be defended on better grounds. To fuch
!p.en, ~ fuch a caufe, no dangers were too formidable, no ob-
ftacles too great. Inured by their mode of life to the. viciffi-
tudes of the climate, united among themfelves, and animated by
all the motives and paffions which can inflame the human mind,
to great exertion, they became the mofi: formidable antagonifrs.
which the Spaniards had ever encountered, and difplayed fuch.
deeds of valour and fuccefsful enterprize, as (all circumfiances
confidered) have never been equalled before or Inee.
FROM a party of thefe adventurers (chiefly natives of Nor,;..
n1andy) the French colony in St. Domingo derived its origin.. By"
what means they were induced to feparate from their: affociates
in danger, to relinquiih the gratification of revenge and avarice,.
and exchange the tumults of war for the temperate occupations.
of hufbandry, it is neither ,vithin my province. nor ability to ex-
plain. Many of them, without doubt, \vere men who had been
driven from Europe by indjgent circumfiances and defperate for-
tune$,;..
'---v---J>
CH A P.
IX.

HI S TOR Y o 'F
.tunes; (dIne the cruelty of credit.ors; and others, perhaps,
:by the confcioufnefs of their crimes. Captivated by.the renown,
:and allured by the wealth of the Bucaniers, they joined in their
.expeditions againfi. the Spaniards from no better motives than
thofe of plunder and .rapine; and to fuch Inen muf1: be itnputed
thofe outrages and exceffes which have ftamped the proceedings
.of the vvhole aiI"ociation with infamy (f). But there is a time
rh) I conceive, 'however, that there hav(! been wonderfully m'agnified and- ex-
eggerated. The narrative caNed 'The Hijlory of the Bucaniers, puhlHbed towards
the latter cnd of the lafl>century, which has been quoted by writers of all defcriptions
ever fince, as of unqueftionable authority, was originally written in Dutch, by one
John Efquemeling, who confdfes that he had been one of the Bucaniers, and was,
expelled from 'their fociety. The reports of fuch et writer ought to have been re-
ceived w,ith great caution; 'but there is a frill fhonger circumfiance to excite fuf-
picion '; and it is this: The Englifh work is not taken from the Dutch original, but
.from a Spmzijb tranjlation j and to Cuppofe that a Spaniard would {peak favourably
of the Bucalliers, is the very excefs of human credulity. Not having the original
book to refer to, I cannot pronounce with certainty; but I am of opinion, that
many of the tragical ftories concerning. the torture of the Spanilh prifoners, and
the v.iolatioll of the women, are interpolations of the Spaniili tranflator. I form this
conclufion from .the malignity difplayed towards the character of the famous Sir
Henry Morgan. If we may believe the account given of this gallant commander,
he was the moa irihuman monfter that ever exifred. Yet this very man (who
by the way aCted under aregtilar commiffion and letters of reprizal from govern-
ment) .after he had quitted the [ea, was recommended by the earl of Carlifie to be
his fuccelfor in the government of Jamaica, and was accordingly appointed lieute-
nant-governor in the earl's abfence. He afterwards received the honour of knio-ht-
.'. . Cl
hood from King Charles I!. and paired the remainder of his life on his plantation in
Jamaica. By the kindnefs of a friend in that ifland, I have had an opportunity of
perufing Come of Sir Henry IVlorgan's original private letters; and this I wiIi fay,
that they fuch a fpirit of humanity, juftice, liberality, and piety, as prove
that he has either been grofsly traduced, or that he was the greateft hypocrite Jiving;
-,a character ill-fuited to the frank and fearlefs temper of the man.
for
5 'T fI D 0 ,M I N G o.
,for all things; and the, change of life in thefe men confirms
the obfervation of an elegant writer, " that as there is no foil
H which will not ihew itfelf grateful to culture, fa there is no
difpofition, no character in mankind, which may not, by
" dexterous management, be turned to the publick advan-
,;, tage (c)." It was a happy circumftance in the infiulcy of their
eftabliiliment, that \vhile they were too obfcure for the notice of
the government, they had no check given to their indufiry by
the chill influence of poverty. To a fortl.lnate exeluption from
the hand of po\ver, and the facility with which they were filP-
plied \vith the con1nlon neceffaries of life, they were indebted
for their pre[ervation and profperity. A mediocrity ofcondi-
tion, and equal freedom, excited the fpirit of emulation arnong
them; but oppreffion would have produced difcouragement,
and penury is the parent of floth.
OF the progreffive purfuits of thefe people in extending the
fDoting which they' had obtained, until the French government
,accepted their fubmiffion, acknowledged them as faithful fub-
jeCts, and availed itfelf of their labours,-and the .final ceffion
to France of the wefiern part of St. Donlingo, by the peace of
Ryfwick, the reader will find an anlple account in the hiftory of
this ifland by Pere Charlevoix.. It is therefore unnece{fary to
Qetail ,,,hat an a.uthor [0 well informed in the ancient, tranfac-
,tions of the colony, has vvTitte.n. All that the Engliih reader will
expect from Ine, is an account of the political and topographical
frate of the its population, .produce, and exports at the"
( c) European Settlements, V 01. 1I. p. 109.
S
tin}.c
CH A P;
IX .
... _J
HISTORY OF
C H A P. time my Hii1:ory commences; and thefe particulars will be found.
IX. in what remaIns of the pre[ent Chapter

THE poifeffions'Df the French in St. Domingo, as- I have elfe--
where were divided into three great departments, called:
the Northern, the Weftern, and the Southern provinces. The'
'Northern province cotnprehended a line of fea-coaft extending
about forty leagues,,,froln M,affacre, to Cape St., Nicho-
las, and contained (including Tortuga) pariilies. Its
population" in the beginning of 1790, confifted of 1-1,996 white
inhabitants of all ages, and 104,656 negro flaves-. The
of fugar plantations was 288" of which 25-8 made what is called:
clayed, or foft white fugar" and 30 nztlji:ovado, or new fugar. It
reckoned 2,009 .plantations of Goifee, 66 of cotton, 443 of
and 2 I 5 fmaller ei1:abliiliments, fuch as cacao ....
groves, tan-pits, potteries) brick-kilns, &c ..
OF the towns' and harbours in the Northern provInce,,, the:
chief ,,,ere thofe of Cape Franyois, Fort Dauphin" Port Paix-,-
and Cape St., Nicholas. 1 {hall treat only of the firft. and the
latto.
THE town of Cape (which in tilne of war was'
the feat of the French government) would have ranked,
among the cities of the fecond clafs, in any part of Europe"
for beauty and regularity. It confifted of bet\veen eight and,
nine hundred houfes of fto!le arid brick,. many of. them hand-,
fome and commodious, befides {hops and warehoufes; and
it contained t\VO magnificent fquares, ornalnented each with,
6 a publick
S T.. D 0 M I N G 00
13
1
a publick fountain. The chief publick buildings were the C H A P ...
church; the Jefuits' college (converted after the revolution IX.
into a government-houfe, and place of meeting for the colonial I---r---J
and provincial aifctnblies); a fuperb barrack for troops; a
royal arfenal ; a prifon ; a play-houfe ; and two hofpitals. The
number of free inhabitants of all colours, was efiimated at
eight thoufand, excluilve of the king's troops and -[ea-faring
people.. The dOllleftick naves were faid to be about twelve
thoufand. The fituation of the town, however, was not to be
commended. It ,vas built at the foot o( a very high mountain,
called Le Hau! du Cap, which abounds indeed with fprings of
excellent water, and furnifhed a great fupply of garden vege-
tables, but it ferved as a [creen from the land wind, and rever-
berated the rays of the fun. The town arofe to opulence
chiefly from the comtnodiou[ne[s of its harbour, and the ex-
treme fertility of the plain adjoining it to the eafi, a diftriCl:
fifty miles in length, and twelve in breadth, appropriated folely
to the cultivation of fugar (the plantations of which were di-
- vided from each other only by hedges of citrons and limes) and
yielding greater returns than perhaps any other fpot of the [alne
extent in the habitable globe",
THE town of Cape St. Nicholas confiils of about 250
houfes, which are chiefly built of American '''Qod. It is fituated
.at the foot of a high bluff, called the Mole; hut having been a
free port, it \vas a place of confiderable t r d e ~ and particularly re-
forted to by the 111ips of America.. It is chiefly known, ho\v- .
ever, for the fafety and extent of its harbour, \vhich is juftly
calle_cl the key of the V\Tind\vard paffage; 3nd the fortifications
towards
CHAP.
IX.

f-fISTORY OF
the [ea are reckoned among the firongeft In the \Veft
Inrlies. On the fide of the land they arc overlooked by the
furrounding heights, and hence it is concluded, that although it
might be difficult to take the place by an invading armament, it
would be il::ill more difficult to retain it afterwards, unlefs pof-
{effion ,vas obtained a]fo of the' interior countryo.
TH E Weftern province began at Cape St. Nicholas, 3.nd ex-
tending along the line of coafi vvhich forms the bight of Leogane,
for upwards of one hundred leagues, terminated at Cape Tibu-
ron. It contained fourteen pariihes, and :fi ve chief towns, nan1ely,
Port au Prince, St. Marc, Leogane, Petit Goave, and Jeremie ;
be1ides villages, of which thofe of Gonaives, Arcahaye, and
Croix des Bouquets, are nQt inconfiderable. The only good
harbours in this great extent of coafi are thofe of Port au Prince
and Gonaives. All other {hj pping-places are open roads,
[ometin1es much expo[ed ...
POR T AV PRINCE (exeept in titne of \var, when the Gover-
.nor General was directed to remove to Cape Fran9ois) \vas
confidered as the metropolis of the colony. It was deftroyed,
by a dreadful earthquake on the 3d of June 1770, and had never
been completely rebuilt. In 1790 it confified of about 600
hou[es, and contained 2,754 white inhabitants (d). The
ation is 10vY' and marlhy, and the climate, in confequence, very
unhealthy. It is furrounded n10reover by hills, vvhich con1mand
(d) The free people. of colour were eftimated at 4)000, and -the enflave.d
negroes at about 8,000: but being comprehended in the general return for the
whole diftriC"t
J
they are no where afcertained with precifion. . .
both
S T. D 0 M I N O' O.
t3-3
both the to'wn and the' harbour; but both the hills and- the C H A P.
val1ies are abundantly fertile. To the eall: is fituated the noble IX.
"--.-J
plain of Cul de Sac, extending thirty to forty miles in
length by nine in breadth, and ic contained one hundred and
fifty fugar-plantations, Inofi: of which vvere capable of being
watered in tinles of drought., by .canals adnlira bly contrived and
difpo[ed for that purpo[e. The circllmjacent 1110untains \vere .
at the fanle tilHe clothed "(Ni th pb.n tations of coffee, which ex-
tended quite to" the Spanifh.fettlements .
THE population and ilate of agriculture in the Wei1:'ern pro-
vince were as [01Jo\v:. ""bite inhabitants of all ages 12,798;
negroes in a Rate of flavery 192,,961 .; plantations of clayed fugar
13'5, of mu[cpvado 222. Plantations of coffee. 894, of eattol).
4 89, of indigo 1952, befides. 343 fil)aller [ettJements.
THE Southern province, extending u pvvards of fix ty leagues
from Cape Tiburon, along the [outhern coaft of the ifland to
L' a Pitre, contained ten pariQ1es, and t\VO chief to'\v.ns,
Aux Cayes and Jacll1el; t\VO places of \vhich I 111:111 here-
after have oecaGon to fjJeak. It poBeiTes no late harbours.,
and' its roads are dangerous. The ihipping that load at Aux
Cayes take refuge during the hurricane fea[on at La Baye des
Flalnands.
THE population in this departlncnt. was cotnpo[ed of 6,037
,vhites,. and 76,8 I 2 negro naves. Its e.i1abli{hlnents confified
of 38 plantations of white fugar, and -J 10 of mufcovado; 2 14
coffee-plantations, 234 of cotton, 765 of indigo, I 19 {maller
fettlements.
THE
134
CHAP.
IX.
'--v--'
HISTOR'Y o F
THE quantity of land in cultivation throughout all the pa-
rillies was 763,923 (e), equal to 2,289,480 Engliill
acres, of which about two-thirds were fituated in the mountains;
and that the reader may have.a fiate of the agriculture at one
view, I fhall fubjoin a fummary of the preceding accounts, fro1l1
. ,vhence it will appear that the French colony contained, the be ....
ginning of 1790,
Total
lVlaking
43 I plantations of clayed fugar,
362 - - of mufcovado.
793 plantations of [ugar,
3,117 - - -of
7 89 - - of cotton,
3,160 - - ,of indigo,
54 - - of cacao, or chocolate,
.623 fmaller fettlements, chiefly for railing grain,
yams, and other vegetable food.
8,5.3 6 efiablil1l1nents of all kinds throughout the
colony.
THE population in I79.o, on a like [ulnmary, appears to
have been 30,831 of both fexes and all ages (exclufive
(e) The carreau of land in St. Domingo is 100 yards fquare, of 3i French feet
each; the fuperficies 122,500 feet. The Paris foot is divided into twelve inches,
and each inch into twelve lines; wherefore, if we fuppofe each line to be divided into
310 parts, the Paris foot will be 1440 parts, the Londo'n 135. Thefe proportions
were fcttled by the Royal Academy of Sciences. The Jamaica acre c0ntains 43,560
Englifh feet fuperficial meafure; which being multjplied by 1,350, and the total
divided by 1,44, gives 4o,837h or one-third part of the French carrcau.
of
.j T. D 0 M I N G 0.
of European troops and [ea-faring people), and 434,429 negro
flaves. In this account, however, the domefiick flaves, and
negro mechanicks employed in the feveral towns, are not com-
prehended. They amounted to about 46,000, which made
the number of negro naves throughout the colony 480,000.
OF the free people of colour, no very accurate account was-
obtained. Monf. l\1arbois, the in tendan t, re parted them in
1'787 at about 20,000. In 1790, the general opinion fixed.
them at 24,000 ...
THE exterior appearance of the colony, as' I hav'e obferved
another place, every where demon:llrated great and increafing.
profperity.. Cultivati()n \vas making rapid advances over the
country. The towns abounded, in warehoufes, which \vere
filled with the richeff commodities and produCtions of
and the harbours were crouded with There were
freighted, in 1787, 470 {hips, containing I 12,253 tons, and na-
vigated by 11;220 [eamen. Many of them were vefTels of very
large burthen i and the following is- an accurate account, from.
the intendant's reports, of the general exports, on an average of
the years 1787, 1788, and J]89 i viz.
AVERAGE
I35
C 1-I A P.
IX.
'---v---J

J
G'B AP.
IX.
111.8 T 0 'RY Q'F
AVRAGE EXPOR"rS fROM THE FRENCH PART OF'
ST. N GO, BEFORE THE REVOL UTI-ON.
, Clayed rugal' '
IVIuicovado '
Coffee
CottOll ....
Jndjgo
l\!Ialafies
Livrcs.
lbs. 58,642,2 14 - 4 r ,049,549 ,
lbs. 86,549,
82
9 34,6r9,931
lbs. 71,663,187 - 71,663,187
lhs. 6,698,8 S8 - 12,397,7
16
Hhds. 95 r,
60
7 8,5
6
4,463
Hhds. 23,06r 2,767,320
An fort of run), cal-I Hhds.
led taRla - - J
2,600 3 I 2,000
Ra\v hides'
Tanned ditto
The total value at the ports of ihipping, in
livres of St. D01l11ngo, ,vas
---
being equal to '. 4,765, 129 i1:erling money of Great Britain.'
IF this ilatementbe con1pared by the rule of proportion with
the exports fraIn Janlaica, the refult vvill be confiderably in fa:-
vout of St .. DOlningo, i. e. it will be found that the planters of
Jamaica receive finalJer returns fiom the labours of their negroes,
in proportion to their numbers, than the planters of St. Domingo
have received frotn theirs. For this difference various caufes have
been affigncd, and advantages allowed, and qualities afcribed to the
French planters, which I venture to pronounce, on full enquiry,
had no exiftence. The true cau[e aro[e, undoubtedly, from the
fuperior fertility of the foil; and, above all, from the prodigious'
henefit which refulted to the French planters from the fyftem
of
S To D 0 M I N G 011
.of watering their fug.ar-lands in dry weather. This is all ad-
vantage which nature has denied to. the lands in Jamaica,
except in very few places; but has freely on many
parts of St. Domingo; and the planters there availed theulfelves
of it with the happieft fuccefs (f) g .
{/} H",.ving made diligent enquiry into the average produce of the French
fugar-lands while on the fj)ot, I venture to give the following eftimate, as nearly
founded in truth as the fubjecr will admit.
In the North, the difrriCls of Ouanaminthe, Maribaroux, and Dau-
phin, generally yielded from fix to feven tholl4'lnd pounds weight of mu[covad<3
fugar for each carrcau in canes; the average is 6,500
Jaquizi 7,000
J.Jimonade 9)000
Qyartier Morin 6,000
Plaine du N ord, Limbe, Petite Anfc 5,000
The average of the whole is 6>7001bs. each carreau.-T'his part of
St. Domingo was not watered.
In the vVeft-St. Marc, L' Artibonite, and Gonaives, each carreau
yielded 8,500
Vazcs, Arcahaye, Boucaffin 10,000
CuI de Sac 9,000
Leoganc - 6,500
'I'he average is 8,500 Ibs. the carreau.-All there diftrias were
watered.
In the South-the difiricts of Grand-Goave, Aux-Cayes, Plaine du
34,000
Fond, L'Iflet) &c. which likewife were watered, yielded 7,500
The general average, on the whole, is 7,500 lbs. from each carreau in canes;
to which add 8 t per cent. for the difference between the Englifh and French
weights, the total is 8,137Ibs. for every three acres Englih, or 2,7I21bs. peT
being nearly two-thirds more than the general yielding of all the land in
.(;6\nes throughout Jamaica.
T
AND
CH A P.
IX.

CRAP.
IX ..

HIS'tORY- OF
AND fuch, in the days of its profperity, the' 'French
in ,the ifland of St. Domingo. I have now prefented to'
my readers both fides of the medal. To GREAT BRITAlN
f

above all other nations of the earth, the faCts which I have
related may furniih an important leffon i and it is {uch a one
rquir(!$ no COlnment'
C H /!f.. p:
It;] flu; 8ritljlJ Govern/lie/It accept(d-:
find Strength if RejJ1-lbllc(t1Z Party In Sft; Dtlmingoc;
f.1nd D{fpojitiqn of tbf lizbapitarttJ-Nt:grfJ Sl(n;fry abr;l!foed by
!hl} Frolc.Q Cqmmi!Ji{jJlcPJ-4rm4?Jl
e
nt tJllottftl for thf Invqjion
if if (lJzd at Capf)
SrI' Nlcho/as- rJ,!ftu:c't(!fif.1 Attempt ()11 Cape
.. B.ritifo 4rlll)' It?lti! Arrival if General
11/ if Pr;rt (!u
T
HE .of the beautiful city of Cape
and the of rAult of the white inhabitat1ts
,
were
the fad events vthich terminated QUit hHtorical detail at the
of the Eighth Chapter, It was obferved, hovlever:t that M .
Galbaud and his }>artizans, arnang \vhorn 'Vete comptehcnded
many rcfpeC'table falnilies
1
had fQ1
9
tunately embal1ked on the {hips
in the harbour, juft before the revolted negt'oos entered the tOV'/ll ..
Happy to fiy .from a country devoted to l'uin, they direCted their
ourfe to the l:inited fiatcs of North Anlcdca; and to the honour of
the h urnan charaCter (dgbafed ha vc beheld it in other !i
tions) theyJound thet'c
3
what grcftt numbers of their unhappy
tellow .... citizens had found before a refuge from the reach
perfecution, and an afylum from the of poverty.
T 2
..
CH A fi"
.. oJ
CH A P.
.'H I ST 0 R Y OF
EMIGRATIONS from all parts of St. Denlingo had indeed
preva"iled to a very great extent, fince the revolt of the
negrees in the Northern province. Many of the planters had
rellloved \vith their families to the neighbouring ifhinds: [Olne'
of them taken refuge in Jamaica; and it Vias fllppofed that
110t lefs than ten thoufandhad thelnfelves, at various
'times, to parts of the continent of P.l.ll1erica. Mail of
thefe were per[ons of peaceable tenlpers, who fought only to
procure the mere of life in fafety and quiet.. The
principal among the planters, having otherobjeCl:s in vie\v, had
repaired to Great Britain. It is a circunli1:ance within my o\vn
knowledge, that fo early as the latter end of J 791 (long before
the commencenlcnt of between France and England)
many of them had lnade application to the King's mini Hers, re-
quefting that an armament .might be fent to take poifeflion of
the country for the king of Great Britain, and receive the aIIe-r
giance of,-the inhabitants..- They aiferted (I atn afraid with
greater confidence than truth) that all claifes of the people
wifhed to :place thetnfelvesunder the Engliih - and
tnat,on the fiifi: appearance of a Briti.Ql [quadron, the colony
,vould :[ilrrender without a ftruggle. To thefe reprefentations,
no attenti-onwas- at that time given ; but at length, after the na-
tional aifemblyhad thought proper to declare war againft Great
Britain, :the :Engliib tuinifiry began to liften, with .fame degree:
of co111placency; to the overtures vvhicll were: again made t,o-
theln,.tothe fame effeCt, -by the planters of St. 'Domingo. la
the 'fl.ltnmer of 1793, a -M. Charmilly (one -planters)
was furnHhed with difpatches the Iecretary 'of ftate to-
GeneralWilliam[on, :the lieutenant.-gov.ernor and commander in
6
chief of Jamaica, fignifying the kingrs ,plea{ure (with allowance,
of great latitude however to' the ,governor's diftretion) that
ihould, a'ccept terms o( c31pitulatiou :from the inhabitants of fuch
parts of St. Damingo l1S' folicited, the protection' of the ,Britifh
government; and for that ,purpo[e the governor 'was
to detach, from the troops under his command in Jamaica, fuch
a force as fhould be thought fufficieni:to take poifeffion-
ofa11 the places. that might :be furrenderect until reinforcements_
arrive from :England. ' M. Charniilly,- having thus de-
livered the orders and in1tcuCl:ions with which 'he 'w.as' entrufted.:
'fent -an agent without delay-to 'Jeremie fa), a fmall port and
town in the difuiCt of Grand Ance-, to which he belonged, to
prepare the :loyal 'inhabitants for a vifit from their new allies-
and 'proteCtors the 'Englilh.
BUT, before we proceed to detail the which followed
this determination of the B'ritifu cabinet, it [eems neceffary, as
well for the fatisfaCl:ion of the reader, as in jufrice to the gallantry
and good conduCt of the officers and men w ha \vere afterwards
fent to St. Domingo, -that fame account ihould :he given of
, the difficulties which were to arife, and the force that was to '
,be encountered in this attempt to annex fo great and valuable a
colony to the Britifh dominion.. I am well apprized that I am
here treading on tender ground; 'but it -iliaU appear, as un-
happily it will, that the perfons at ,whofe infiance and entreaty the
projeCt was adopted, either meant to deceive, or \vere themfelves
grofsly deceived, in thereprefentations which they 1nade to the
Englilh government on this occafion, it is,myprovince and-my
(a) It,is fituated jufi: within the Bight of Leogol1e ..
T3
duty

C-HAP.
X.
-.... "" zl'

CHAP.
x.

H I S-:T: OR' y : 0 F.
duty to place th'e has en[ued to its proper aCCoulltCl
The .hifiorian who, in fuch fear, favour, or affec-
tion; 'fuppre{fes the communication: of faCts; is hardly lefs
ble- than the faCtious Or venal writer, who facrifices the interefis
of truth, and the dignity of hiftory', t9,the: p.rej t.idices of party.'
TH E republican' comnliflionel:S., as. t4e reader has been" iI1 ....
formed,. had broughf with' them' rfrdni France. thorifand
chofen -troops;. which,: added< to', the national force' already
in the colony, and' .the of.the country, conftittited a
body of fourteen or fifteen thoufan4 effeCtive whites; to'whom
were joined the greateft part of. the free negroes and mulattoes;
befides a motley but defperate 'band of all conlplexions and de-
fcriptions, chiefly flaves \vhich had deferted from their owners,
and negroes colleCted from the jails. All thefe, arnounting in the
'whole to about thoufand effeCl:ives; were brol.lght into
degree of order and di{cipline ;', were ","ell armed, and, what
is of infinite importance; were, 'in.a confiderable degree, inured to
the climate. Being neceifarily difperfed, however, in detachments
throughout the different provinces, they were become. on that
account.le[s formidable- to an invading enetny .. Aware of this
,circumfiance" the, commiffioners, on the firil: intimation of an
attack frOn1 the Englifh, reforted. to the moft defperat expedient
to ftrengthen their party, that imagination can conceive. They
declar.ed by,proclarnation all manner of flavery aboIiilied, and
.pronounced the negro flaves to be from thenceforward a I-ee
people, on condition of reforting to their fiandard. From this
it might ,have been fore[een that the colony was loil to
Europe; for though but few of the negroes, in_ proportion to
the whole, joined the commiffioners,- many choofing
3
to
fo' continue naves as they were, and participate in'thefortunes'of
their mafters,-yet va.fi: numbers in all parts. of the colony (appre-
hen five probably that this offer of liberty vvas' too' a favour
to be permanent). availed. themfelves of it to fc:cure a retreat to'
the mountains, and poffefs themfelves of the nat'i.lral faftneffes
which the interior country Succeffive bodies have'
fincejoined' them, and it is believed that upwards of 100,000"
have eftablilhed themfelves, in thofe receiTes, into a fort of favage'
republic.k) like that of the black Charaibes of St. Vincent, \vhere:.
they iubfifr on the fpontaneous fruits of the earth, and the wild'
which t.hey procure by hunting:; prudently declining offen-d
five war, and trufiing their fafety to the. rocky fortreffes \vhichi
nature has ralfed around them"and from which, in lny opinioll
jF
. it will be. no eafy undertaking to diilodg,e them (b) ..
the revolted negroes'in; the Northern' province; many had:
perifhed of difeafe and,famine;. but a de[perate. band,.amounting.
as it was fuppo{ed to' upwards of 40,000; inured to war, and
praCtifed' in, devaftation and, murder,..fiill continued In
Thefe
(b) The proclamation alluded to, was' iifued at Port au Prince the latter encJ
of Augufi, and was figned by Polverel'alone, Santhonax being at that time in the
Northern province. It begins by declaring, that neitherhimfe1fnor.santhonax are'
recalled or difgraced., That, in order to encourage the negro l1aves to affifl: in op-'
poling the meditated invaflOll of the Englilh,. aJ.l of llavery. is abclifiled i'
and the negroes are thenceforward to confider themfelves as free citizens. It.
expatiates upon ,the neceffity. oflabouf;.and tells the negroes that-they. mufl: engage'
to work as ufual) from year to .year'; but that they are at liberty- to make choice of:
their refpe8:ive millers. That one third of the crop iliall be
.tg t11e purchafe of clothing. and provifions their maintenance; and that in
month
l
CH A
X ..

,CHAE.
x .
.
OF
Thefewereready' to pour dovvn,. as occafion might- offer, on all
nations alike; and, inftead joining the. Engliih 0;11 their' land ..
jng, would rejoice to facrifice both the viCtors and the:
qui{hed,. the invaders and invaded, in Qne COmtDon' deftruc: ....
.tion.
CONC1!:RN ING the \vhite proprietors, on \v-hom alone.our de-
pendence \vas placed, a large proportion, as we have feen, per-
haps lnore than one half of the ,;vhole, had quitted the country.
Of thofe that ren1ained, flme there were, undoubtedly, who fin-
cerely \vifhed for the reitoration of order, and the blefflngs of
regular government; .but the greateft. part -,,,ere perfons of a
.different charaCter: they were men \vho had nothing to
and every thing to gain, by confufion and anarchy: not a few
of them had obtained poffeffion of the effects and eftates of ab-
fen t proprietors. Fr0111 people of this- fiamp, the moft d,eter...a
tnined oppofition \vas neceiTarily to. be expeCted ; and unfortu-
nately, alnong thofe of better principle, I am afraid but a very
finall nutuber ,vere cordially attached to the Engliih. The ma-
jority [eelu to have had nothing in view but to obtain by any
means the of their eftates and poifeffion. Many .of
them, under their ancientgovernlnent, ,had belonged, to the
tnonth .of September in eaGh year they are at liberty to make a new choice, or to
.confirm that of the preceding year. Such, to the beft of my remembrance (for I
{peak from memory) are the chief provifions of this celebrated proclamation, which
I think .extended Dnly to the. Wefiern and Southern provinces; Santhonax being
empowered to make what other regulations he might think proper for the N ortherl1
province. The whole appears to have been amatchlefs piece of abfurdity; be-
traying a lamentable degree of ignorance the manners and difpofitions
.of the negrees, and totallY'impraCticable-in itfeii:
DO M IN G O.
lO'w'er order of 110bldfe, and .being tenacious of titles and ho ..
nours, in proportioil as their pretenfions to real difiinCtion \vere
difputable; they dreaded the introdutl::ion of a fyftem of la\vs
,and government, which \vould reduce them to the general level
of the cOlnmunity. Thus,' as their motives were felfifh, and
their attachment feeble, their exertions in the comnlon caufe
were not likely to be very firenuous or eHicacious. I do not
find that the nt:unber of French in anns, who. joined us at
.any one period (r mean of white inhabitants) ever exceeded
two thoufand. It were unjuft, hOl,vever, not to obferve, that
-among them .were fame diftinguiilied individuals,? whofe fide-
was above [ufpicion, and ,,,hofe fervices ,vere highly
irn portant. Such were the Baron de Montalembert., the 'Tif-
count de Fontagnes, Monf. Defources, and perhaps a few
othe.rs( c).
FROI-.1 this recapitulation it is evident" that the invafion of
Bt. D0111ingo was an enterprize of greater magnitude and diHi.
(f-) .A few men of colour al[o difiinguifhed themfelves in the common caufe;
viz. IVlonficur Le Point, Lieutenant-Colonel of the St. Ivlare's legion, who, with
about 300 iviulattoes under his command, kept the pariCp" of L' Arcahaye in com-
plete fubjeB:ion for a confiderable time. 2. Boucquct, IvIajor of the l}filice
of Verettes, a per[on much attached to the Englifh. 3. Cbarles Savory, vlho
commanded a very important poft in the plain of Artibonite, upon the river
D'Eflcrre. Great confidence was placed in this man by Colonel Brifbane, and
never ";'as it abufed. All thefe men were well educated, and nouriilied deep re-
fentment againfl: the French planters, on account of the inJi.;nities vvhich the
<;la[s of coloured people had received from them. At Cape 'Tiburon, three or
four hundred blacks \vere embodied ycry early, under a black general named lean
Kina, who ferved well and fuithfnliy.
u culty
CHAP.
x.
L--.---'
CHAP.
x.
'--v--J
lII8TORY OF
culty than the Britith government feem to have
Confidering the extent and natural ftrength of the country, ..
it may ,veIl be doubted, \vhether all the force which Great
Britain could have fpared, \vould have been fufficient to re-
duce it to fubjection, and reftore it at the falne time to fuch,
a degree order and iubordination, as to tl1ake it a colony'
\vorth holding. The truth [cenls to have been, that General
'IV illia In [on, to V/hOll1, as hath been obferved, the direction
and difiribution of the arrnament \vas entruLted, and whofe
aCtive zeal in the fervice of his country was eminently con-
\-vas deceived, equally vvith the King's minifiers, by
the' favourable accounts and exaggerated reprefentations of'
fanguine and interelled individuals, concerning the difpofition of
their coun tryn1en, the white planters retnaining in St.
Infiead of the fe\v hundreds of them \vhich after\vards reforted
to the fiandard, the Governor had rea[on to expeCt the
fupport and co-operation of at leafl: as tnany thoufands. In
this fa tal confidence, the annament allotted. this inl portant
expedition con1pofed of only the 13th regitnent of foot,
feven companies of the 49th, and, a detachn1ent' ofartillery,.
altogether atTIounting to about eight hundred and feventy, rank:.
and :file, fit for duty. Such was the force that \vas to annex.
to the cro\vn of Great Britain, a country nearly equal in
tent, and in ftrength infinitely fuperior, Great, Bri--
tain i.tfelf! Speedy and effectual reinforcen1ents froIn,.England
i,vere, ho,vever, proolifed, as well to replace the troops which.
\vere removed from J amaiGa, as to aid the operations in St.,..

S T. D 0 M I N G o.
IN the meantime, the firfi: divifion, confifting of fix hundred
and feventy-feven rank and file, under the command of Lieute-
nant-Colonel Whitelocke;1 failed from Port Royal the 9th of
. September, and arrived at J eremie on the 19th of the fame
lllonth. They ,vert e[corted by Commodore Ford, in the Eu-
ropa" accompanied by four or five frigates.
As the propofitions, or terms of capitulation: had been previ-
-ouily adjufted between the people of Jeremie, by their agent [Vrr.
Charmilly, and General Wil1ian1[on, it only remained for the
Britiih fJrces to take poffeffion of the town and harbour. Ac-
cordingly, the troops difembarked early the next morning.; the
.. Britifh colours were hoified at both the forts, w'ith royal falutes
.. from each, which were anfwered by the Commodore and his
fquadron, and the oaths of fidelity and allegiance taken
,by the refident inhabitants, ,vith an appearance of great zeal
-and alacrity ..
A T the fame time information was received, thlt the gar-
rifon at the Mole of Cape St. Nicholas, Vlere inclined to [ur-
render that important fortre[s in like manner. As this \vas a
.circull1france not to be neglected, the COll1nl0dore immediately
direCted his cour[e thither, and, on the 22d, took potTeilion of
tortre[s and harbour, and received the allegiance of the offi-
and privates. The grenadier company of the I 3th
.nlent, "vas forth,vith difpatched from J ereu1ie' to take the corl1-
mand of the garriion; 'Vvhich vias foon itre11gth-:Tt\_1
by the arrival of the fecond divifion of t he ordere i
fran1 Jan1aica, confifting of five C0111p:1.nies of n1en e::.ch.
IT 2 THE
1.4-7
C H 1\ P.
x.

1793
C H
X.

HIS T '0 R Y 0 F
voluntary furrender of thefe places raifed expeClatiolHF
in the people of England, that the whole of the French colony
in St. Domingo would fubmit "\;vithout oppofition; but the ad-
vantages hitherto obtained, feem to have been greatly over-
valued. The town of J erernie is a place of no importance.-.It:
contains about one hundred very Inean houfes, and the country
in the vicinage is not retnarkably fertile;, producing nothing of'
any account but coffee. At the Mole of Cape St. Nicholas, ,
. the CbUl)try is. even le[s prqduCl:ive than: in the neighbour---
hood of Jeremie; but the harbour is one of the fineft in the_.
new world, and' the fortifications vie with the firongeft in.
the \Veil- Indies: unfortunately, ftoln the elevation of the:
furrounding the place is not tenable againft a power ... -,
fuI attack by land. The garrifon confified only of the re-
gitnent of DHlon,. '\v hich vvas reduced by ficknefs _ or . defer:..
tion to about one hundred and fifty Inen. The town of St ..
Nicholas adjoining, \vas in the hig.hefi: degree ho.fiile: nlofl::
of the inhabitants, capable of bearing anns, left, the place:
on the arrival of the. Englih, and .. Joined the' republican,
army.
ZEALOUS,. however; to promote the glory. of the Britilh
name, Colonel V/hitelocke determinea that his, little army..
'c'l.ould not continue inaCtive at Jeremie.. It was, repre{ented to"
him, that the acquifition of the neighbouring poit.of Tiburon:
vvould prove of the 'utrnoft importance towards .. the [ecLlrity of
Grand Ance, and a M-. Duvalpledging hinlfelf to raife five hun-.
dred D1en to co-oper;lte in its reduCtion, an expedition was under-
taken that. purpo[e
1o
. and. Colonel Whitelocke, with moil: of
the.
ST. D 0 IV1 I N GO.
149
the Bi-itiih force from J eretnie, arrived in Tiburon B'ay on the C H A P.
4th of October. x.
\...-.--1"
BUT, on this occafion, as on almofr every other, the Engliih
had a melancholy proof hO'lN litt1e dependence can be placed on
French declarations and affurances. Duval never made his ap-
pearance, for he was not able to collect fifty men; the enerflY's
force was found to be far n10re formidable than had been repre-
rented, and the gallantry of our troops proved unavailing againi&
fuperiority of numbers. They were cOlupelled to retreat, with
the 10[s of ahaut t\venty Inen killed and \vaunded
. THE defeat and, -difcouragelnent [ufrained in this attack-,
were the nlore grievQufi.y felt, as ficknefs began to prevail
to a great extent in the anny. The [ea[on of the year
was unfavourable in the higheft degree for lnilitary ope-
rations. in a tropical climate. The rains were incei1ant; and,
the confiaI?-t and unufual fatigue, and" extraordinary. duty to
which the from the fmallnefs of their number, .\vere
neceffarily fubjeCt, co-operating \vith the fiate of the. weather,
produced the moil: fatal con{equences,.,. That never-1iling ..
tendant on military expeditions in the Weft Indies, the yello\v
or peftilential fever,. raged with dreadful virulence, and fo tnany;,.,
both of the fean1en and foldiers, perifhed daily" that the [ufvi ....
.vors were ftricken vvith afionifnlnent and horror at
the havock made among their comrades L
GENERAL WILLIAMSON, v/ith his- ufual hUl11anity, exerted:
himfelf to give them all the relief in his pa\ver 0 U nha ppily he
had"
1793-
CHAP
. X.
'--.--I
HIS T 0 "RY -0 F
had"no alternative buteitber to withdraw the troops altogether
from St. Domingo, leaving -our allies and new fubjeCts, the
French planters who had {worn allegiance to our gO'fernment,
to the merc:y of i:heirenen1ies, or to fend, from an already ex-
hau:fted army, [mall reinforcement of men, to periiliprobably
in the fame manner as thofe had done whofe Dtunbers they were
[carceJy fufficien t to replace.
THE latter meafure was adopted: in' truth, the circum-
fiances of the cafe admitted of no other. The remainder of the
49th regiment, the 20th, and the amounting altogether
to {even or eight hundred men, were therefore. difpatch-
ed with- all . poffible expedition; and the fafety of Jamaica
\-vas at length entru11:ed to lefs than four hundred regular
troops.
THE {udden appearance in St." Domingo of a reinforcement,
though fmall in it[elf, produced ho\vever a confiderable effect
among the French planters, by inducing a belief that the Britiili
government 'was now ferioufly refolved to follow up the blow.
In the beginning of December, the pari!hes of Jean Rabel,
Marc, Arcahaye, and Boucaffin furrendered .on the fame con-
ditions as had ,been granted to J eremie; and their example wa.s
foon afterwards followed by the inhabitants of Leogane. All
the former are fituated on the north fide of the Bight:
Leogane on the fou the
THE Britilh commanders now directed their views once n10re
to\vards the capture of Tiburol'l. The defeat \vhich.oUf troop3
had
S'T.' DO M I N G O.
nad fufl:ained- in the late attack of that in1portant poft, ferved
only to animate them to greater exertions; but a confiderable
time unavoidably elapfed before the expedition took place; the
interval being elnployed in (ecuring the places which had fur-
rendered. On the 21ft of January, however, the Commodore
touche_d at Jeremie with the fquadron, and received the troops -
on board;:, and the whole arrived off Cape Tiburon on the even--
ing of the' zd of February.
THE enemy appeared in confiderable force, and feemed to',
\-\7ait the arrival of the Britiib with great refolu tion; but a few
broadGdes from the {hips [o.on cleared the beach. ':They came.-for-
ward however again, as the flank. companies approached the
ihore, and direCted a general difcharge of n1.ufquetry at the boats.;
- but our troops landed and formed in an inftant, routed their line
\vith great flaughter, and immediately took poifcffion of the port.
The gallantry of Major Spencer who commanded, and, of the
officers and Inen who compafed, the flank companies" was par-
ticularly confpicuous.- It feems, indeed, to have been a fpirited
and well conduCted enterprize throughout;, and it \vas happily
effeCted with the 10{s of only three of the- Engliili killed, and
[even \vounded. Of the enen1Y, one hundred and fifty furrendered
prifoners, of war;, and their Inagazines were found r'eplete \vitll'.
amm unition. -,
By the poifeffion of this poll: on the fouth, and that',of'the
Mole at Cape St. Nicholas on the north-\veftern part of the
ifiand, the Britiih fquadron cOlnn1ancied the navigation of.
the:
CH A P.
x.

I 5,2
CH AP ..
x.

.li .I S T: 0 .R Y 0 F
the \vhole of ,that "extenfive 'bay which [orLns the Bight of
and the, ,capture cof the forts, fhipping, and town
of Port an .Prince (thctnetropolis of the French colony)
JeC;lned more ,than probable, on the arrival of a large 'a'r-
Olalnent no'\v daily expeCted, with much anxiety, ftom Eng-
land.
IN the mean while (the reduced ,fiate' and condition of the
troops not adnlitting of great enterprize) the c0111mander in
chief conceived an idea of obtaining 'poifeiIion of the to\vn
of P.Ol:t Paix, an important' l1ation to, the eafi\V'ard of Cape,
St. Nicholas, by private The town was coni-'
Inanded by La vaux, an old general in the French fervice,
to \vhom ColonelWhitelocke addreffed hilnfelf by letter"
vvhich he fent \vith a flag, and offered five thoufand pounds
to be paid to l1iln in pet[ol1
J
on his delivering up 'the poft.
Co]oflel Whitelocke feems, ho\vever, to have miftaken'the cha-
racter of Lavaux, "vho \vas 'not only a n1ari of difringuilhed
bravery, but of great probity. His an[vver is ren1arkable: H You
" have endeavoured (faid he) to diilionour Ine in the eyes of
" my trcops,by fuppofing Ine fo vile, fIagitious, and bare, as to
" be capable of betraying my tru:fl: for a bribe: this is an affron t
" for \vhich you o\\'e nle perfonal fatis'1l1ion, and I den"!and it
" in the nanle cf honour. ';V'herefore, ,previous to 'any gene'ral
" 2.Ction, I .otter Yot!. cOinbat until one of us .tJ]ls; leaving
" to you the choice of arn1S, either foot or hor,-feback. Your
" iituation, as 1nl' ecelny on the part of your country, did not give
U you a right to cffer me a infult; as a pri'fTate
,8 " pexfon,
S T. D 0 M I N G o.
'It peeron, I .afk fatisfacHon for an injury done 1ne by an indi-
" vidual( d)."
THIS attempt therefore proving abortive, it was determined
(now that the fcafbn was favourable) in order that the troops
might not continue inactive, as well as to facilitate the
tated reduction of Port au Prince, to attack L' Acul, an im-
portant fortrefs in the vicinity of Leogane. Accordingly, on the
19th of February, the flank companies, a detachment of the
royal artillery, and of the 13th regiment, \vith fame colonial
troops, having two five half-inch howitzers and two four-
pounders, .marched from thence under the command of C0-
lonel Whitelocke, at four in the morning" Baron de MOl1-
talembert, with about t\;VO hundred colonial troops, and a
few of the Britiih artillery, were previouily elnbarked 'on
tranfports,and ordered to land and attack the fort at an hour
,appointed. Captain Vincent, ,vith the light infantry the
49th, and about eighty of the colonial troops, took a mountain
road,. while Colonel Whitelocke moved for\vard on the great
, road; and took poil- juil: out of ihot, \vaiting the unIted
attacks of the Baron and Captain Vincent's detachlnents. The
enemy began to cannonade about [even o'clock, and continued
.( d) Colonel Whitelocke, I fuppofe, rejeCl:ed the ch<ll1enge; but the officer
who was. fent by him with the letter to Lavaux) "had a of danger:
for Lavaux, having fiJently read the letter, compelled him to declare, upon the
Ronour of a foldier., whether he knew the contents of ,it. 'The officer, as the La
was, anfwered in the negative. The French general thereupon read the letter
aloud to the .people who furrounded him, and told the Britiih officer, that if he
had brought him fuch a propofal ;;knowingly, he would infiantly have him to
be executed on a bet.
x
it
IS!
CHAP.
x.

.1794-
H J, S' T,' O. R: Y O. F
C H A P. it with intervals till -eleven, when, Colonel Whitelocke. ordered
x.

Captain Smith, with the ho\vitzers and cannon, fa. advance and
fire upon the fort, fupported by the light .iilfantry of the royals'
and I .'3th' under the comma.nd of Major in
Qrder to give time for the Baron's people:to land. U nfor tll11 ately,
ft'om the mifmanagement of one of the tranfports, the troops under'
the orders of the Baron de Montalem bert could not be landed.
Colonel Whitelocke, therefore, 'finding he had nothing to expect
frolu them" the day being confiderably advanced,. POVI crune to
the determination of attacking the' fort by {rarm;, and detach-.
\vith the grenadiers of the 49th regiment, and
light infantry of the I 3th, join. CaptairiYincent, and 'ap-
proach the fort by the mountain road, while h;e..himfelf marched
by the great road for the {alne purpofe. At halfpafi four or five
. o'clock, the two column.s luoved forward, and the. moment the.
enemy difcovered the nlarch of Colonel Whitelocke's divifion,
commenced. a very heavy fire of cannon' 'and 111ufquetry .
Orders were ilnmediately given for the column to advance and
gain fort, \vhich orders were gallantly and rapidly executed.
At this .. infiant, Lieutenant M'Kerras of the. engineers" and
Captain H.utchinfon Qf the royals, '\vere both: ... \v.ounded, but:
they continued their exertions, notwithftanding, till the fort
\vas in quiet poffefii0n of the viCtors. Our 10[s "Yas not great;
but Captain Moriliead (who had before received "a. {hot in the
body, wh.en gallantly mounting the hill) with. Tinlin
of the 20th grenadiers,. Lie\ltenant Caulfield of. the 6zd regi-
ment, and [ome privates, were unfortunately blown',up from. an
which took place after the fort ,vas -taken;. for' the
officer who commanded, finding he no longer. defend it,
placed
S, 'T. D 0 .M I N G o.
CH A P.
.X.
placed a quantity 'of powder and other corn buftibles in one
of the buildings, which was fired by an unfortunate brigand,
who perifhed ih the explofion. Captain Morlhead died the l
next day,. and was interred with military honourg; attended by
the Britilh garrifon; 'Lieutenant Caul field lingered fome time
longer, and followed him to the grave; but Lieutenant
Tinlin recovered ..
'THE next eriterprize of our gallant little army had a lees
vourable termination. It was directed againfr a firong poft and
fettlernent ata place called Bompard, about fifteen miles froIn
Cape St. Nicholas, where a hardy race of chiefly a
colony of Germans, had efiabliihed themfelves, and lived in un-
ambitious poverty: .. A detachment of two hundred men, from
the different corpS', were ordered on this fervice in two
'one 'of which was cummanded by Major Spencer, the brave and
aCtive officer already the other by Licutenan t-Co-
lonel Markham. Of their proceedings' during the attack, and
their retreat afterwards, I have not been furniilied with the par-
'ticulars. ,- All that is known to the publick with certainty is,
that our troops were repulfed by fuperior nun1oers, \vith the
10{s of forty men, but \vithout any diminution of the national
charaCter. It was allowed, even by the enen1Y, that they fought
bravely. They \vere defeated, not difmayed, by circumfrances
probably which they did not fore[ee_, and againil: which human
could not provide.
THIS affliCting 10[s was but in compcnfated;) by the very
.difHnguiihed honour" which was foon after\vards acquired by the
X 2 fe\v
ay"" ,
,C H A P.
X.

1794-
I-I.ISTORY OF
few BritiQl troops that had been left 'in poifefiion of Cape.-Ti ..
buron, who were attacked on the 16th of April, by an army of
-hrigands alnounting to upwards of two thoufand. The enemy's-
force was'led on by Andrew Rigaud, a man of colour, who com-
manded at Aux and was compored of revolted
and defperadoes of all defctiptions, rapacious after plunder, and
thirfting .for blood. This favageho.rde furrounded the fort
about three o'clock in the morning. It defended with
much fpirit until a quarter before nine, when the befieg.ed"
quitting the fort, aifailed the afiaitants, and routed the be-
tiegers with great flaughter., one hundred a!ld feventy of their
.number being left dead on the field ; but when it was difcovered
that no lefs than twenty -eight of our gallant foldiers had loft.
their lives, and that one hundred and nine others were. fev.ere!y
.wounded in this bloody contefi, the ihouts of triumph were
fuppreffed by glOOlUY on the forlorn condition of the
army, it being mournfully evident that a few more fuch viCto""
ries would annihilate the victors!
THE whole of the Britiih fDrce at this tilne in all.parts of'
gt. Domjngo did not,. I believe, amoWlt to nine hundred effec-
tive men, a number by 110 means fufficient to garrifon the places
.in our potieffion,; and the rapid diminution which prevailed
among then1, could not fail to attract obfervation among all-
clafies- of the Fr.ench inhabitants; to difp-irit our allies, and en-
courage our enelnies.. Such of the planters- as had hitherto- ftoad
aloof, now began to declare themfelves hoitile; and defertions
)vere frequent from mail: of the pari!hes that had
. At J.ean Rabel1:J a place which, a few lllonths hefo.re, had volun-
tarily
D 0 M 1 N G O.
tarily declared for the Briti!h government, the garrifon, confiiling
of two hundred and fifty of our fuppo[ed allies, rofe on their
officers, and cOD1peHed them to deliver up the poft to.Lavaux,
the French general, and it was greatly apprehended that, unlefsa
very .po\verful reinforcement fhould fpeedily arrive to frrengthen
the Britiill arrny, many other places \vould their exam pIe.
ErG H T n10n ths had no'\V" elapfed fince the furrende1," of
J eren1ie, and in all that interval, not a foldier' had. arrived
Great .Britain; and the \vant of camp-equipage, pro-
villons, and ne(effaries,. \vas felt. The army [eetned
devoted to inevitable defiruction, and difappcintnlent and dif-
may were ftrongly marked in the countenance of every man ...
At length, however, on the 19th. of May, when expeCtation was
nearly 10ft in defpair, it \vas announced that his Majefty's fllips
the Belliqueux and the Irrefifiib1e, \vith the Fly floop,. had caft-.
anchor in the harbour bf Cape St .. Nicholas, having on board the
2zd" z3d, and 41ft regiments of infantry". under the command of'
Brigadier General Whyte. This event, as may \vell be imagined,.
afforded infinite relief and fatisfaCtion to the haraff'ed. and worn-
ou t troops Oil {hore; and their aninlJ tion on this occalion was
heightened by the: cOBfident hope. and expeCtation. that Port au;
Prince \Ivou-ld be the ohjeCt of an immediate attack. It was.
known that its harbou'r was crov/ded with i1'l-i-ps, mail: of which
,,,ere ftippofed to be laden /ith the .. richeft produCtions of the
colony; and although the regiments newly arrived did not ex-
ceed fixteen hundred men in. the vvhole (of whom two hundred
and fifty were fick and convalefcent) the deficiency of numbers
was no longer the fubjeft of complaint.. EvcF1 one anticipated.
t tQ;
1'57
C H A Po.
x.
May I794=.
HIS TO R Y . 0 F
c n: -,\P. to :hin1felf the poffeffion of great "realth [rOln the capture; and
x. jufily concludeq:that his {hare of the prize money \vould augment
h b f
or-diminih in an inver[e proportion to t e nun) er 0 captors.
S{HE belief .that ,Port au Prince \vould be the firlt objc,:l: of
;lttack, was well and the road of Arcahaye \---,ras fixed
,on as the place of rendezvous for the men of \var and tranf ...
ports. Accordingly, General W hyte, having landed his fick at
Cape St. Nicholas, and taken one hundred and fifty of the ,garr!ion
in their room" proceeded on the 23d to the place appointed, to_
concert meafures' ,vith Commodore Ford, and receive on board
,ll..1ch 'of the colonial troops as were to co-operate \vith the
Britiili in this enterprize. On the 30th the iquadron failed fronl
Arcahaye, and caft anchor off Port an Prince on the evening of
the fame day. It was conlpo[ed of four {hips of the line, the
the Belliq ueux, the Irrefiftible and the Sceptre, three
frigates, and four or five fmaller veiTels; the whole under the
immediate command of Con1modore Ford; and the land forces,
under the orders of General Whyte, conllfred' of 1,465 rank
and file fit for duty.
TH E whole force being thus colleCted, and the neceifary
-preparations made, a flag was fent, early the next morning, to-
delnand the of the place; but the officer charged
with the difpatch, was informed that no flag would be admitted,
and the .letter was returned unopened. It was now determined
to comn1ence operations by the cannonade of Fort Bizotton, a
fortrefs .fi tuated on a comolanding eminence, well to
guard the approach to the harbour, and defended by five hun-
dred
s D 0 M I N G.' O.
dred men., eight pieces of heavy cannon, and two n1ortars. Tvro C H A P.
"line of battle (hips' were ordered to attack the [ea-front, and )(.
"--r---J
'a frigate vIas flationcd clofe to the fll0re, to 'flank a ravine to
the caftward. Frorn thefe veifels a brifk and \;yell-directed fire
vIas tnaintained for feverall?ours; but no great itnpreffion appear-
iag to be n1ade,. Major Spellcer, \vith three hundred Britiili,
and about five hundred of the colonial troops, was put' on
iliore in the within' a mile of' the fort, with orders to
an attack on the fide of the land. On their arrival
at a [lnaIl difiance fronl the fcene of aCtion, about eight o'clock
at night, a, mofi tremendous 'thunder-fiornl aro[e; accompa-
nied with a deluge of rain, of which, . as it overpowered the
found of their approach, the advanced guard,' comn-landed, by'
Captain Daniel, of the 41 rc, determined to take, advantage.
Thefe brave men, fixty only in number, accordingly fufhed for-
,rard, and finding a breach in the walls, entered \vith fixed
bay()nets, and became infiantly mafi'ers of the fortre[s; the be-
fieged every where throwing do\vn their arms and calling. for
Inercy., So rapid were the movements of this band, and
fo unexpected was their [ucceis, that lVIajor Spencer, the com-
mander, had his fears for the fafety of the vlhole party, of
whofe fituation he was unapprized for [on1e hours. I grieve
to add, that Captain Daniel, \vho [0 gallantly led the advanced
guard on this occ'afion, received a revere \vound in the attack"
while his brave aifociate, Captain Wallace, the fecond in COlTI-
mand, was rnofl: unfortunately killed on glacis.
THE poffeffion of Fort Bizotton the fate of the
capital, which evacuated by the enenlY on the 4th of June;
8.cd.
160 H 1,'8 TOR Y 0 F
.C HA P. and the Britiili commanders were fo fortunate as to preferve, not
. x. - only the town itfelf, but alfo the fhipping in the harbour, from
.conflagration, although the republican commiffioners had gh'en
orders and' made preparations for fetting fire to both. The
'commiffioners themfelves, with many of their adherents, made
tbeir efcape to the mountains.
THUS was achieved the conquefi of Port au Prince; an event
which has proved hot lefs profitable than honourable to fuch
of the officers and foldiers by whom it was effeCted, a s have
lived to enjoy the fruits of their victory; for there were cap-
tured in the harbour, two-and-t\venty top-fail veflels, fully
-laden with fugar, indigo, and coffee, of which thirteen were
from three to five hundred tons burthen, and the remaining
nine, from one hundred and fifty to three hundred tons; befides
{even thoufand tons of 1hipping in ballaft; the value of all
which, at a moderate computation, could not be far lhort of
.400,000 fterling.
CHAP ..
' .. ::.. '.' .
Sickne.fs the and the CaUfis'
Mortality.-Generai Whyte lS focceeded-
Brigadier' Geizeral Horneck.-", Leogane' taken, Rebels.-
Ten1porary succeJ!es of' Brffoane at Arlt"bo- '
nite.-Revolt of tbe jlfulattoes at St. l.Vfarc..-' Attack effort'
Bizotton.-Pre/Jarations by Rigaud jor a flcond Atfelnpt on
'Tiburon.-'I'qe Pofl attacked on 'Chrifltl1as 'Daj,;and carried.-
Gallant Defince an'd Ejcape:" if the Garrifon'- and ,
Fate of' Bajkerville.-Lieutenant- fJrffoane
and Markhajjl killed.-Obfirvations and StriClures on the Con- '
du{/ 0/' the War.
F
RO M the fucceis vvhich'attended the Britiih arms in C H A P.
X I.-
., the conquefi of Port au Prince, it might have been' hoped' "--.-J
that we \,vere no\;y to enter on the furvey of brighter profpeCts
than' thofe which have hitherto pre[ehted to our
contemplation; but a' melancholy reverfe of fortune was foon
to await the conquerors; for, immediately after poifefiioll
was taken of the town, the [aine dreadful fcourge-difeafe,
exafperated to contagion, which had been fo fatally prevalent,
among our troops, in the preceding autumn, renewed its defiruc-
tive progrefs; on this 'occafion, it is difficult to trace "
the proximate caufes of [0 terrible acalalnity. The fituation of
" Y the
C H A P. -the town of Port au Prince has already been noticed. U n-
XI. healthy in itfelf, it is furrounded by fortified heights, \vhich

command both the lines:and the harbour; and thefe heights ate
again com-manded by others. Here, the enemy, on their retreat
from the town, made their frand, in the well-founded confi-
dence ef receiving fupplies of men, ammunition, and
neceffaries from Aux 'C'ayes, a (ea-port on the fdurhern coaJf,
only from 'Port au Princ,e by a very eafy l:oad, ,about
forty miles (a). No part of St. D01111ogo poffeftes a n10reready
communieation with the French Iflancls 'to viind\vard, ""ith
the fl:ates of America, than the port jafr mentioned; and frolT1
both thofe fources, reinforcements \\ere confrantly poured into,
the enemy's camp. On this account the'.i3ritiih commanders
found it indifpenfibly neceifary to ffrengthen the lines,. and raife
additional intrenchments and works on that fide of the town
which fronts the mountains. Thus a moft fevere and unufual
burthen was impofed on the foldiers. They vvere compelied,
with but little intermiffion, to dig the ground in the day, and
to perform military duty in the night;., expofed, in the one tafe,
to the burning rays of the frin; in the other; to -the noxious
clews and heavy rairis of the clim:ate.' Such' extraordinary-ana
( a) The harbour of Aux Cayes was guarded by two- [mall forts, each of which:
was furnifued only fix pieces of cllnnon, and a fmaller battery" wnicIi
mouiited oiliy fiVe pieces. The-number dtwhite irll1abitalits beloIigirigto--the'
town were com'ptited at eigHt h'uIidr'ed; but the people of d,Idur had fakeit.p6fieffibn:
9f it the latter 'end 'of 1792, and a Mulatto, was made, com-
mander in chief and governor-general of the fouth fide of the French part of St.
D,omingo. His power was abfolute, add his brother, of the fame coiour, was ap-
pointed next in command. Thefemeri were irivdted 'with 'this autnority by the
two c6tHfrtiffidners, Polverel and
3
exceffive
8. {f. - P P M I N:. G o.
eXQeffive labour pn men, m.oft pf \:vnqtn had beep: c a A P.
confined mpnths 011 111i.p:pp"rd, freili provi- Xl.
'- __ .. -'-J
or ,vith the pJtl-!ignan.!=y qf the
prodt)ced its They
in autup;lt:l., at length the garrifon hecame fo and
that of the guards ,,,ere qften times
pp who fcarcelyable to franp unger
their arnlS (b).
I T is true, that a reinforcement from the yVind\vard
Iflands, foon after .the furrender of the town ;-.-put, by mou.rn-
ful fatality, this appa;rent a1Jgmentation of the ;frrength ,Of
garrifon, contributed in ;in eminent degree rapid
and aggravation of it.s On 8th of J une,
flank companies belonging to the 22d, 2 3d, 35th, and 4.1 ft
arrived at Port au Prince, under the command of
Lie.utenant-Colonel Lenox. They <;onfifted, on ,embark'!t-
tio.n, .of about [eventy men each, bU,t the nUlnber,
when landed" was not quite three h.und(ed. The four grena-
dier in particular, were nearly Th<!
frigate in which they were conveyed, beca,me a hozife qf peJli-
fence. iU pwards of ,one hundred O.f their
in the deep, in the fhort patiage between Guadalollpe Ja-
maica, and one hundred and fifty more were .left in a dying
ftate at Port Royal. The \vretched reuluins of the v/hole cle-
(b) It was fortunate for the Briti{h army, that tIle French troops fuffered
by ficknefs almofr as much as our own: Port au Prince \v0uld otherwife have
but a:lhort time in our po ffe ffion.
tJ.chlncnt
.
16
4
CHAP.
XI.
, '\.---v---J
1794
Oct, 1794.
HIS T:,OR Y 0 F
tachnient difcovered, on their landing at Port au 'Prince, that
they canle-not to participate in the glories of conqueft, but-' to
periili themfelves within the walls of an hofpital! 'So rapid
, was the mortality in the Britilh army, after' their arrival, that
no Iefs than forty officers and upvvards of fix hundred rank :and
,file met an untimely' death, wIthout a contefi: with any other
enemy than llcknefs, 'in the fhort fpace,of t\VO months after
the furrender of the town.
GENE-RAL WHYTE; his health,much impaired, and 1?ope-
lefs, it Inay be prefumed, of further triumphs, with an army
thus reduced and debilitated, now [olicited' and obtained permif-
fion'to return to Europe. He was fucceeded in the chiefcom-
mand by Brigadier-General Horneck, \vho arrived fiom Ja-
n1aica' about the tniddle of September,; and ifthe:requifite qua ...
lifications for [ucha ftation-iirmnefs without ,arrogance, and
conciliating manners ,vithout ,\veakne[s,- could' alvrays enfure
fucce:Cs to the poiTeffor, Genera,! Horneck \vould have brought
good fortune ,vith him. But the difficulties v/hich the former
cOlnlnander would have had to encounter, had he remained in'his
ftation, devolved with aggravated weight on his fucceifor The.
only reinforcement which followed General 'Horneck, confifted
of fifty men from Jamaica. Vlhatever .troops were promifed
or expected, from Great Britain, . none arrived, until the expi:...-
ration of [even months after General Horneck had taken the
command. Infiead, therefore, of attempting new achieve-
lnents, he ,vas compelled, by irrefiftible neceffity, to aCt chiefly
on the defenfive. The rebel Mulattoes, Rigaud" even
became m.dl:ers of Leogane, and fatiated their.
putting
S T.,. n-o Mf,N G O.
putting to death aU'fuch of the French plante'rs, bur alfies;'as - C HA 'P.
unfortunately fell into their power. XI ..

ON the other hand, the judicious exertions and,rapid fuc-
ceffes of Lieutenant-Colonel Brifbane on the plain of Artibo-
nite, had been for fome time the fubjeCt of much applaufe, and
had given birth to great expeCtation. The French inhabitants
of the town and neighbourhood of St. Marc, had been all along
Inore heartily difpofed to co-operate with the Eng1iili, thaa
any-of their countrymen. Mr. Briiliane had not above four-
[core Britifh - under his command. The reft of his little army
was cOf.npofed of the remains of Dillon's regiment, the St.
Marc's legion, the militia of the neighbouring pariilies, and a
body of about three hundred reluCtant -Spaniards froln Verette;
the ,,,hole not exceeding twelve hundred men in With
this force, properly diitributed, he had routed the republican
troops and rebel negroes .in every quarter; and even brought
the negro chiefs to folicit penniBion to capitulate. Eight or
ten thou1.nd of thefe deluded ,vretches, had actually [ubn1itted
unconditionally, and many returned, of their ovvn accord, to
the plantations of their nlafiers. But there promifing ap-
pearances ,vere of ill0rt continuance. While Coloner Briibane
was following up his [ucceiTes in a diftant part of Artibonite,
the men of colour in the town of St. :f\liarc, feduced by the
promifes of the French c0111n1iffioners, and finding the to\vn
itfelf withou t troops, had vio1ated their proD1ifes of neutra-
lity, and on the 6th of Septetnber taken up anns on the
part of the republick; putting to death every fell in
their way, vvhom they confidered as an enerny to the French

CI-IAP.
)(1.

1 i94-.
11 1 S T Q R"Y 0 F
9f fGrty
convale[cents, threw themfelyes into fprt qn
. illare, which they gallantly defended for two days, a fri-
gate. to the,ir f.rom the'Mole of St,
las.-The tdUlllph of Mul'1ttoes-, tran.(ient.
Colonel BTiibane attackeg PQ of the lal1d, a11 d
recovered thG town; Jnaking \lpwarqs of three hUJ1Qt{!d (:)f the
infurgents prifoncrs, and driving rell: the Art.ibQnite
river; Qut the v/pich he had on
were loft in the interirp. The negro, no folicited
t9 but ip force than ever. Being'
joinec;l by the fu Mqlattoes, they (C?on repaffed the river;
and having, in the beginning of Oaober, obtained poifeffiQn of
twq out-pafts (St. Michael and Raphael) they had procured
ty of anps and ammunition, and no\v threatened fa
midable an attack on to\vn' of St. Marc, .as to. excite the
nJQft ferious apprehenfions for its fafety.
Such was the iltuation of affairs in the \veftern pa.rts .of St.
ponlingo about the period of GeneraJ Horneck's arrival. The
nqrthern province (the Mole.of St. Nichalas and the town or
:B'ort Dauphin excepted) was entirely .inpoifeffion of the ,rebel
negroes; and unhappily, .in all other parts of the colony, the
\veakne{s of the Britifll was [oa pparent, as not only to invite
attacks fron) the enemy, 'but alfo to encourage revolt and .con,..
ipiracy in the poils in our poffeffion (c). Rigaud', .who corn':'
.manded
(c) Colonel Brifbane had fcarcely driven the Mulattoes from St. ancl
rcftored order and tranquillity in the town, before a dark confpiracy was agitated
among
S.'T,. DONI I N G O.
>mandedin the fouth,now 'determine-d -to make a ,bold eRA P.
for the recovery of Fort Bizotton, in which; iflre had fuv- ;xI,
, \ ...... v'-,JI
ceeded, the lors of the 'whole of :the Britifh army atPdrt au
ptince v.[ould have been inevitable. The fott Was attariked.
early in the morrling 'of :the 5th of t>ecerriber, by three co'.
It:ithhS of the enetny,. amounting. ill the whole to about tw"o
thou(and men; but they wetedefeated with great flaughtet
en their part, and with little en otiiS. Captain Grant.
howvt, ana both his lieutenants, Cluhes and Hamilton, were
wounded early ih the attack,; yet they continued fhei't
efforts, and. nobly fucceeded; and Genenil Williamfon bore
tefihnony to their geod conduCt and valour.
BAFFLED ih this a'ttack, Rigaud refolved to make
and a motefotmidable attempt, for the recovery of Tiburort
. Hi:s ihte-nti6hs were arid his projeCt might have been
defeated, if anyone EnglHh {hip of war could have been
[pared tbwateh his mbtibns off the h-arbour of Aux Cayes,
ftbm' ne cehveyed his artillery, a-mmunition, and provi--
fions. He proceeded" however, without interruption in his-
. among fome of the Ftenchinhabitants under the BritHh proteCtion to'cut'him off';
but it was happily difcovered and before it broke out into aetion. This-
nappened the beginning of January 1795; and a frill more daring and dangerous
plot was carried on a month afterwards in Port au Prince, to feize on the garrifon,
and put-all the EnglHh to death. This confpiracy'alfo was fortunatdydifcovered,
andtWenty of the confpirators being brought to'trial before a council of war, corn..;
pored of tne'prhlcipal commanders by fea and land (among whomwere five French.
field-officers) they were all adjurlged to dciith, and fifteen. of them' were <lC-
cordingly fuot on the l8th of February.
prepara tions

. G ;a A


1794
H 1 S TOR y, 0 F
.preparations for the attack; and his armament' failed . .fioIn Aux .
Cayes on the 2'3d . of December. His naval force confift:ed of
"Qne . brig. of .fix.teen guns, and three fchooners of fourteen guns
.each, 'and he COlTIlnanded .a ,. body. of near three thoufand
of aU .. colours' apd defcriptions. The attack on
,ChriiJmasday. ' . The garrif6n,confifting of only four hundred
and men, 'Iilqde a vigorous defence for [qur days, when;
h.aving loil: .up\vards of three' hundred 'of their and
finding. the poil: nQlonger tenable" the' furvivors;headed by
their gallant conllpander, Lieutenant Bradford, of 23d
. \vith unexatnpled brave'rY fought . way for
five miles through the- enen1Y, and got fafe; to' Irois. Lieu4
tenant Baikerville the only officer who; by fonle unfortu-
J1ate circull1{tance,' was unable to join his companions in their
retreat; and young Inan,' with a refolution
\vhich, though a Chrifiian mUit condemn it" a ROlnan would
have approved,. to defeat. the triumph of his favage enemy,
\'vho ,,,ould probably' have made him (qffer a iliauleful death,
put a period to his own exifi:ence, ,1S Rigaud entered the
fort.
VVITH this difafirous' occurrence termina'ted the year I794( d),
and here I ihall clafe account of, the I!Jilitary tranfaCtions .of
_ (d) \Villiamfon, the latter end of the year, was appointe4-g<?ver ..
nor-general and commander in chief of his.. Majdty's poffeffions in St. Domingo-;
and was foon afterwards honoured with the order of the Bath-a difiincrion which
he had nobly, earned. He arrived at Port au Prince, and took upon him the go-
vernment, in IvIay 1795.

S T. D 0 M I N G O.
the St. Domingo; are {till
contInued III Ill-fated country, It IS, IthInk, iumciently ap-
parent, that all hopes and expeCtations C?f ultilnate fuccefs are
vanifhed for ever! The hifiorian \vho {hall recount the events of
1795, will have to lament the mournful and untimely deaths
of many brave and excellent young men who periilied in this
fruitlefs conteJt. Alnong the foremoft of theie ,;vas Lieutenal1t-
,Colonel Thonlas Briiliane, of whon1 honourable mention is nlade'
in the foregoing pages, and whofe gallantry and good conduct
Vlere not 1110re the fubject of univerfal adtniration, than his u'n-
tinlely fate of univerfal regret. He was killed on a reconnoi-
tring party in February. By his dea.th, his count.ry ,vas
at a nloft critical junCture, of an able, indefatigable, and intelligent
officer, who had gained the affeCtions of 1110i1: of the various de-
fcri ptions of people under his command by his kindne[s, and the
confidence of all by his courage (e). The fame fate, a month af-.
tenvards, avvaited Lieutenant-Colonel Markham, ,vho perifhed in
attacking an out-poil: of the enemy's forces ,vhich were at thaf
time laying liege to Fort Bizotton. The out- poft ,vas carried;,
the colours of the enemy, and five pieces of their cannon, ,vere
taken, and upwards of fix hundred of their nunlber flain on the
[pot; but the victory was dearly obtained by the lo[s of [0 en-
terprizing and accompliihed a leader. 'I et it affonis fOllle ,con':"
[ola.t i?l1 "tv ,reflect, that thefe brave young .men, though cut off i.n
the blooln of life, fell in the field of glory , nobly exerting them-,
(t) He was a captain in the 49th regiment, and lieutenant colonel of the colo-
!.!i;l} corps called the St. Marc's Legion.
z
{elves
CH AP.
XI.
'--v----I
CH A P.
XI.
t-r--J
. I-I 1ST' 0 R' Y
OF
{elves in the cau[eof their country, and dying alnidfi the blefiings-
and a pplaufes of their con) patriots. Alas, how many of their"
youthful affociates, in this unhappy vvar, Inight have envied the.m.
fo glorious an exit! V\lhat nLllnbers have periilied-not in the
field. of honour-but on the bed of flcknefs 1-. -not amidft the
{bouts of viCtory-but the groans of defpair I.-condemned. to.
linger in the horrors of peHilence ; to fall \vithouta confliCt, and:.
to die without renown (f) 1
. THESE refietlions, and the obfervations, \vhich I have made:
in the preceding pages, on the infufficiency of the means to the-
(f) The difeafe in which fo many gallant men have perilhed,. is commonly
known by the name. of the yellow fever. Two writers of great ability. (Dr. Rufh
of Philadelphia, and Dr. Benjamin MofeIey of Pall Mall, London) have treated.
fully of this dreadful calamity. The piClure which the latter has given of an un-
happy patient of his in the \-VeIl Indies, a young officer of great merit, in the laft
.frage of this difeaie, after four days illnefs, is drawn by the hand of a mafier. "I
&lrrived at the lodgings of this much-dreemed young man (fays the dottor) about four
hours before his death. \Vhen I entered the room,hc was vomiting a black muddy
cruor, and was bleeding atthc Hofe. A bloody ichor was oozing from the corners of
his eyes, and from his mouth and g]..lms. His face was befmeared with blood, and,.
with the dulnefs of his eyes, it prefented a moft difireffing. contrafi to his' natural
vifage. His abdomen was fwelled, and inflated prodigioufly. His body was all
of a deep yellow, interfperfed with livid fpdts. His hands and feet wen:: of a
livid hue. Every part of him was cold excepting about his heart. He had a deep
ihong hiccup, but neither delirium nor coma; and was,. at my firft feeing him, as
I thought).in his.perfeCl: fenfes. He looked.at the changed appearance of his (In:;in,
and exprelTed, though he could not fpeak, by his fad countenance, that he knew life
was Coon to yield up her citadel, now abandoning the relt of his body. Exhaufred
with vomiting, he at laft was fuffocated with the blood he 'was endeavouring fa
bring up, and expired."
Mofeley on Tropical Difeafes, 3d 459.
obJeCts;
D 0 M I N G 0 ..
objects in view, are not written in the fpirit of accufation againfi
n1en in authority; nor (if I knovv- myfelf) is there any bias of
- patty zeal on lUY judgment. I am far from afferting, that the
fituation and refources of Great Britain ,,{ere fuch as to' afford
et greater body of troops for fervice in St. Domingo, at the pro-
per than the number that was aCtually rent thither ..
1 pre[ulue not to intrude into the national cO:'li1cils,.and am well
apprized that exifting alliances and pre-erigageluents of the ftate,
were objects of important confideration to his Majefty's mi-
nifters. Neither can I affirm, that the delays and obftruCtions,
which prevented the arrival at the [cene of action of [Olne 'of the
detachments, until the return of the ficklv feafon, were avoid-
. J
able. l\ thoufand accidents and cafualties continually [ubvert
and overthrow the beft laid fchemes of human contrivance. We
have [een confiderable. fleets detained by adverfev/inds, in the
ports of Great Britain for Inany {ucceffive months, and powerful
armaments have been driven back by ftorms and tempefrs, after
many unavailing attempts to reach tbe place of their. deftination.
Thus much I owe to candour; but, at the fame time, I owe it
al[o tp truth to avow nly opinion, that in cafe no greater force
could have been [pared for the enterprize againft St.
the enterprize itfelf ought not to have been undertaken *. The
If) from the ill fuccefs which has attended the of St. DOffilngo, a julli-
fication of the original meafure hall.be thought neceffary, it ought not to be over-
looked, that General Williamfon, among other motives, alfo {hong reafon to
believe, that attempts were 'meditated by the republican commiffioncrs on the
i.fland of He therefore, probably thought, that the moP.: certain way of
preventing the fuccefs of fuch defigns, was to give the commiffioners [ufficient
employment at home.-I write this note in j ufriCe to difringuifhcd officer, thao
whom no man living has deferved better of his country.
Z 2
,CHAP.
XI.

HIS'. TOR Y
obj-ect of the Britial ll1inifiers was avo,vedly to obtain
of the \vhole of the French part of the country. That they
placed great dependence on the co-operation of the French in--
l1abitants,. and ,vere grofsly deceived by agents fran) thence, I;
believe and adtnit;. but they ought furely to have forefeen, that.'
a very fonnidable oppofition \vas to be ex.pecred fi.-onl the
tizans and troops of the-republican governrnent;, and they ought.
alfo to have known, that no contiderable body of the French
planters. could be expected to'r<iik their lives and fortunes in
the comn10n cau[e, but in full confidence of protection and
fupport. In lYly own all the force which Great
Britain could have fent thither, ,vould not have been fufficient.
for the complete fubjugation of the colony. It is aiTerted by
competent judges, that not le[s - than fix thoufand Inen v/ere
neceffary for the [ecure maintenanee of Port au, Prince alone ';:
yet I do not believe that the number of Bl;itifh" in all parts of'
St. DOnlil'1go, at anyone period, previous to, the'month of April
1795, exceeded two thoufand t\VO hundred, of whon1,except
at the capture of Port au Prince, not one half were fit for
attive (ervice ; and during the hot and fickly n10nths of Augu{tj.,
September, and Octobr:, not one third
PERHAP:S'
(g) The following returns are .authentick .
Return of the provincial troops in the fervice of the Britilh government at St .
Domingo, Ift January 1795
Rank and file fit forollty . Sick . Total.
At. Port au Prince
49
6
.
48,
544
Mole St. Nicholas
29 3
8
247
St. Marc 81
3 3
21
'-
1134.
15-18
4
0
7 19
2
5'

S T. DO M I N 0' O.
PERH'AP'S the moft fatal overfight in the conduB: of the whole'
was the ftrange and unaccountable neglect of not
fecuring the town and harbour of Aux Cayes, and the little port
0f Jacmel on the {aIue part of the coaff, previous to the attack
of Port au Prince. With thofe places) on the one fide of the
peninfula, and the poft of Acul in our poifeffion on the, other,
all conlmunication bet\veen the Southern and the t\VO other
provinces would have been cut off; the navigation: from the
Windward Iilands to.Jan1aica would have' been [ecure,,\vhile the
poffeffion of the tvvo Capes which form the entrance into the
Bight of Leogane (Cape Nicholas and Tiburon) would hav:e
protected the hon1eward tnide in; its, courfe through the
ward PaiTage. An this might have been accomp1iilied and
fecured; and I think it is an that, in found policy, ought to
been As JO Port au Prince,.it \vould have been for--
Return of the Britifh fOJ;ces in the ifrand of St. Domiilgo) Ill: January 1795.
R,1nk antI fde Sick. Total.
. Port au Prince
3
66
4
6
2
828,
Mole,st. Nlcholas
29
166
375,
Jeremie
95 59
154-
Tiburon
34-
IS 52
St. Marc
4
8
33
81.
75
2
- 73
8
-
149
0
The next reinforcement from Europe arrived the latter end of April J 795, and
oonfifred of about fourteen hundred men (;he t3Ifr and 96th regiments): a further'
reinforcement (the 82d regiment) landed in Auguft following. All thefe corps,
the 1aft efpecially, from its landing at fo unfavourable a feaCon" fuffered pro-
digioufly. The 82d landed nine hundred and eighty men) of whom fix hundred.
and thirty were buried within ten weeks. In one of the ,cQmpanies, three rank and,
file, only were able to do duty.
tunate:
171
CH APl
XI.

'H r S. TOR Y.OF
H A P. tunate if the \vorks had been and the town evacu ...
XI. ated .immediately after itsfurrender.

THE 'retention 'by the enemy of Aux Cayes and Jacmel"
.not only enabled them to procure reinforcements and [up-
:plies., but alfomoft amply to revenge our attempts on their
coafis, re.prifals on our trade.. It is kno\vn that upwards
of privateel's, fomeof them of confiderable. force, have
been fitted out from thofe ports, whofe rapacity and vigi-
lance fcarce.a vef1el bound from the 'iVindvvard l11ands to J a-
'Dlaica can efcaFe. The prizes which they made, in a fe\v (hort
,!nonths, abundantly compenfat.ed for th,e 10[8 ;of their iliips at
cPort au Princ,e (h).
, AFTER
(h) The following isa'lifrof velrels 'bound to Jamaica, which were taken and
,carried into Aux Cayes, between June 1794 and June 1795, moil: of them laden
with dry and plantation [tores, and many of-them of great value.
From
'The Edward _Wm Mariliall
{
13
thJ
une } B 'ft 1
1 "'94' no . " ,
_F ame - -- - -:Rob
t
Hall July - - L. and Cork.
BeUona - Tho' White - Liverpool.
Hope - . WmSwan. -
.Molly .. - - Peter Mawdfley - . 5thMar. 1795, Africa, 300 negroes ..
Hodge - - - Geo. Brown - 19th Ditto, Liverpool.
Williatn - .- - Tho
S
Calloine - 20th Ditto.
BdI - - - ... Arch
d
Weir Ditto, Greenock.
BuftIer - .- - Sewell - - - - - a tranfport.
,Druid - - - ViilfoIl 14th Man'h, Leith.
Martha - Wm Reid 3 lit March, London.
Alexander Benjn Moor - 17th April, Glafgow.
- Peggy - Peter Murphy.
:Swallow - - - Lachlan Vafs - loth l-v1ay.
;a,
Dunmore
S T.D 0 M I N GO' .
AFTER all, though I have afferted nothing whichI do not
believe to be true, I will honeftly admit, that many important
faCts and circumfiances, unknown to me, very probably exifted,
an acquaintance with which is indifpe.nfably neeeiTary to enable
any man to for-m a 'correct judgment on the meafures which
were purfued on- this occafion. To a writer, fitting with com-
pofure in his clofet, with a partial difplay of facts before him,
it is no difficult talk to point out faults and miftakes in the
conduCt of publick affairs; and even mifiakes are difco-
vered, the vvifdonl of after-knowledge is very cheaply acquired ...
It is the lot of our nature, that the befl: concerted plans of hu-
man policy are fubjeCt to errors which the meaneft oblerver \vill
fometimes detect. U The hand (fays an eminent writer) that
H cannot build a hovel, Inay demoliih a palace."
BUT, a new [cene now opens for contemplation and reflection,
arifing from intelligence received. fince I began Iny 'work, that
the Spanifh government has formally ceded to the. republick of
:Dunmore
Maria
Stephen Conmick 26th I'Aay,.
Wilkin[on - - - -
Minerva - Robertfon 4th] une,
General Mathew Tho
s
- Douglas 8th Ditto,
A !chootner, name} Adam Walker _ 22d Ditto,
Jorgo _.. .
Hope - - - Harnbleton Ditto,
Caledonia Hunter - 25th Ditto,
Molly - - - - 27th Ditto,
Refolution Taunton - 29th Ditto,

Ditto.
Africa, 450
London.
Glafgow.

Leith) lafi from
Glafgow.
Hull.
And. feveral veffels belonging to Kingfton, names forgot .
France-:
CHAP.
XI:
'-. !'"4l.1 J,
176 .
CH A P.
XI.
''--...---1
France the ,,,hole of this great and .noLle ifland in
fovereignty! 8.0 extraordinary a cireun1fiance will doubtlefs give
birth to much ipcctdation and enquiry, as well concerning ,the
value and extent of the territory ceded, as the prefellt difpofition
and general charaCter of the Spaniih inhabitants.. Will they re-
lifu this tr.ansfer of their a.11egiance [roIn a nlonarchicalto a
republican governn1ent, ll1ade, as it confeffeQly :is, without their
previousconfent or kno,\;yledge:; or ll1ay reaionable expeCtations
be encouraged, that they '\vill no\v ,cordially co-op.erate \vith the
Englii11, in reducin,g the country to the Britilh dOlninion? :\Vill
fi.lch afiillance efleCt the reef1.abli{1uuent of fubordination and
good goVCtIllUent U11l0ng' the vafi body of revolted negroes?
are deep quefiions, the invefl:igation of which \vill lead
to enquiries of frill greater 111ugnitude; for, whether \vecon ..
fidel' the pofiefiion, by an active and jnduftrious people, of 10
vaft a field for .cnterprize and on the one hand,
or the triUll1ph of fucccfsful and fa,vage anarchy on the
other, it app.ears to 111.(; that the future fate and profitable
exiftence of the Britifh territories in this part of the \vorld, arc
involved in .the iflue. .On all there, and VariOl,lS collateral fub-
jeCts, I regret that I.do not poiTefs the Ineans of giving {TIuch
fatisfaCtion to the r.eader. Such inforn1ation, however,,' as I
have collected on fame of the preceding enquiries, and [ueh re-
fleCtions as occur to Ine on others, will' be found in the en ...
,fuing chapter, which concludes work.
C H A P.
..
]) 0 M I 1'I G 0 ..
C I-I A P. XII.
State of the Spanijh Colony.-rhe Town if St. DOlninglJ
,!/tablifhed by Bartholo/new Co/u1Jlbus in 1498.-Pillaged by
l)rake in I S86.-Conjeclures ane/ Rej!eClzons cuncerning its
prejent CondzizoJl, and tbe State of Agrzculture in the inte-
rior COZtl1try.-J:Vul1z6ers and CharaEler of the prr:Jent Inha-
bi!ants.-'Thei'r AnitllqJity towards the F'rench Planters, and
'lea/oz!/) qf' the EngliJh.-ConjeCfures concernzlzg the future Si-
tuation oJ'the whole IJland; and fln2e cOJZcludz12g RdleC/ons.
T
HE Spanifh colony in Hifpaniola (the name St. Do-
Iningo being properly applicable to the chief city only)
,vas the earlief1: e.fi:abliQ1ment made by the nations of Europe
in the new world; and, unhappily, it is too notorious to be
denied, that it was an efrab1ilhment founded in rapacity and ce-
mented with blood! The foIe objett of the firfr Spaniili adven-
turers was to ran[ack the bo'\vels of the earth for filver and
gold; in \vhich frantick purfuit, they murdered at leaf1: a million
of the peaceful and inoffenfive natives! As the mines became
exhauiled, a fc\v of the more indufirious ent ered on the cul-
tivation of cacao, ginger, and fugar; but the poverty of tt:c
greater part of the and the diicovery of nev.r rnines
in Mexico, occafioned a prodigious ernigration ;-the experi-
ence of pail: difappointments not proving fufi1ciently po\verful
to cure the rage for acquiring \vealth by a 1110rter courfe: than
that of patient induftry. In lets than a century, therefore, Hif-
paniola vvas nearly deferted, and nothing prc[cryed it as a co-
A
"".4 1r- 11\-
.. . ...
177
CH AP.
XII.
{= r
CHAP.
XII.

HISTORY OF
fony, but the eftabliiliment of archiepifcopal governlnent ifr;
its chief city, St. DOlningo,- and its. being for nlany years
feat of civil and criminal jurifdictioD., in cafes of appeal, [roln ..
allthe territories of Spain in this part of the world (a).
TB E fettlement of the French in the '\vefiern part. of the:
iiland, of the origin of which I have. already given an account'"'
though the priu1ary caufe of hereditary- and irreconcilable en-
Inity between the t\VO colonies, \vas hovle'ver produttive of good:
even to the Spaniards l1.S the I'rench fettlers in-
creafed in nurnber, and their plantations bCC<1!11e enlarged, they
wanted oxen for their Inarkcts, and hor[cs for their n1ills.-
"Thefe, their neighbours were to fuppl y \vithout much ex-
ertion of labour; and thus an intercourfe \vas created, \"vhich
has continued to' the prefent day; the Spania.rds receiving,.,
through the French, the manufaCtures of Europe, in exchange'
for cattle. The example too, befor.e their eyes, of fuccefsful in--
dufiry and grovving pro[perity., \vas not vvholly \vithout its efl-ea ..
The cultivation of fugar, which had diminiihed nearly to 110--
thii1g, revived in different parts of the Spanifh territolY,' and ..
plantations ,;yere eil:abli{hed of cacao, indigo, ginger, and tobacco ..
The quantity of 11_1gar exported in the beginning of the pre[ent:
century, is faid to have amounted yearly to 15,000 chefis each.
of 7 cwt.
THE evidently lTIOre n1ountainous inthe-
central and eafiern than in the parts, it is probahle"
that the Spaniili territory is, on the whole,. naturally lees fer..;.
(Cl) The adminifiration of juftice throughout Spaniili America is at prefent
divideu illto twehrc courts of one only of which is at St. Do;ningo.
tile"
g T. D 0 M t N- G o.
tile than that of the French; but much the greater portion of
-the ifland remained, until the late treaty, under the Spanifh
-dominion; and of that, by far the major part continues at this
hour an unproduCtive wildernefs.. On the northern coaft, the
line of divifioll began at the river Ma:lfacre, and, croffing the
country fomewhat irregularly, terminated on the [outhern
fide, at a [mall bay called Les Ances a Pi-tre; leaving about
-two-thirds of the whole ifland in the poffeffion of Spain. Pro-
c.eeding eai1:ward along the. {hare froln the boundary on thel
north, the firft place of note is Monte Chrifti, a to\vn ,vhich
fornlerly grew to importance by contraband traffick \vith North.
America, but is now reduced to a miferable village, the abode.
oDf a fe\v fiiliermen, and the furrounding country exhibits a.
melancholy profpeCt of negleCt and frerility. The river St.
Jago runs into the fea at this place; on the banks of which, at
[ome di11:ance inland, are gra(<) farms of confiderable extent.
From the mouth of this river, for the [pace of fifteen leagues,
to Punta Ifabella (the [cite of the firft fettlelnent eftabliilied by'
Chriftopher Columbus) the foil, though capable ofimprovement.J.
exhibits no fign of cultivation. From IfabelIa to old Cape Fran-
(with the exception of Puerto de Plata) the coafr [eems en-
tirely deferted; nor, after pailing the bay of Sanlana, does a nJuch
better profpeCt offer, until coafiing round the eafiern
we reach a vafl: extent of level country called Los Llanos, 01'-
the Plains.; at the weft end of \vhich, on the banks of the river
-Ozama, fiands the metropolis.
THIS city., which ,vas long the mail: coniiderable in the nc,,\'"
world, 'Nas founded by Bartholome\v Colulnbus, in the year
I4-9 8, and nalned after a faint of great renovrn in thofe days, Ste
A a 2 DQ111inick.
C-H A P. 0
XII.

180
CH A P.
Xu.

B 1 S T" 0 R Y- Q' F
DOlui"nick. There is pre{erved in -Oviedo, a Spanifh hiftorian;;
who refided here about thirty years a.fter its firil: eftabliihlnenty;
an account of its fiate and population at that period, which be-.
ing equally authentick and curious, I {'naIL pre[ent to the reader,
at length.
H- BUT nowe (Cays the Hiftorian)" to [peakefumwhat of tne--
" princ.ipall and chiefe place of the ii1ande, \vhiche is the citie
of. San D01nenico: I ['lye, that as touchynge the buildynges.,..
'-' there is no citie, in Spaine, fo 111uche for._ fO-Il1uche (no not.
Bal:folona,. I have oftentYlnes feenc)- that is to bee.
'-' preferred before this generallye. For the hou[es of San Do ...
" menico, are for the n101te parte of frone.,. as are they of
"Barfalona. The fituation is muche better tha that of Bar-.
" joJona, by rea[on that the fireate.s" are n1.11ch larger and playner,
'F and \vithout comparyfon more dire{te and. frrayght.
" For beinge buylded novve in our tyme, befyde the. con1mo-.
". ditie of the place of' the foundation, the frreates vvere alfo
directed \vith corde COIn pafe and D1ei-1fure; werein it excelleth
('al.the cities that Ihave fence It hath the [ea f6 nere, that
H. of one.fyde there j's: no rnore fpace betwel1:_ the [ea. and the
" citie,., then the .. On the other parte, hard by the
fyde and at the foote of the houLes, paireth the ryver Ozanla,
\v hiche- is a Inarveylous. porte; \vherein laden ihyppes ryfe
(( very ner.e to the lande, and in manner under the houfe \vyn--
H dO\\1es. In the myddeft of the citie is the fortreffe and
H caille; the por.t or haven alfo, is fo [ayre and cOlnmodious
u to defraight or unlade ihyppes,. as the lyke is founde but in
H fewe places of the \vorlde. The chymineis that are in this citie
I.' a!:e about fyxehundrethin number, .and.fuch hou[es as.I have
H fpoken.:
S'T. b 0 M I N G o.
fpoken of before; of the which fUOl are fo fayre and large
, that they maye well receave and lodge any lorde or noble"
" manne of Spayne, with his trayne and familie; and efpecially
" that \vhich Don Diego Colon, viceroy under your majeftie,
H hath in this citie, is fuche that I knowe in Spayne that
" hath the by a quarter, in goodneife, confyderynge all the
" commodi ties of the fame. Lykewyfe the fituation thereof as
" beinge above the fayde porte, and altogyther of frone, and
" havynge faire aDd large roomes, with as goodly a pro-
H fpeet of the lande and fea as may be devyfed, feemeth unto.
" me fomagnifical and that your Inajeftie Inay bee
" as well lodged therein as in any of the nloite exquifite build-
" ed hou[es of Spayne. There is al[o a cathedrall churche
" buylded of late, where, aswell the byfhopaccordyng to his'
" dygnitie, as alfo the canones, are \vel indued. 'l""'his church.
" is, \vell buylded' of ftone and lyme., and of good woorkeman-
(;, ihyppe. There are further-nl0re three monaileries bearyng:
" the names of Saynt Dominike, Saynt Frances, and Saynt
c, Mary of IVlercedes; the \vhiche are \vell buylded,.
, " not [0' cur.iouflye as they of Spayne. There' is alfo a very:
" good hofpitall for the' aydc and [uccour, of: pore people,.
" whiche was founded by Michaell Paffan10nt," threafurer to
"yourmajeftie. To conclude, this citie fro day to day in-
'"' creafeth in welth and good order; as wel for that the
Il:' adtnyralland viceroy, '\vith thelordechaunceloure and coun!"'
" fayle appoynted there by your majeftie, have theyr. conti-.
nuall abydynge here, as- alfo that the rycheft. 111en of' the
" ilande refort hyther, for thyre Dlofie comluodious habitation.
H. and trade of fuchtnerchaundies as are eyther brought O\vt of'
" Spa
CH A P.
XII.
'--t--J:'
CH A P.
. XII.

HISTORY OF
" Spayne, or fent frorn this iland, which no\ve _ fo
" abundeth in nlany thynges, that it ferveth Spayne with
" many conlmodities, as it were with ufury . requityng fuch
." benefites as it fyrft receaved from thenfe (b).
I T is probable that St. Domingo had now attajned the fummit
its profperity. About fixty years afterwards (1ft January
1586) it was attacked by Sir Francis Drake; a narrative
of whofe expedition, by an eyc
o
witnefs, -is preferved in
Hakluyt's ColleCtion; fronl which it appears, that it "vas, even
then, .a city of great extent and magnificence; and it is fhotk-
ingto relate, that, after a month's poifeffion, Drake thought
11imfelf authorized, by the laws of to deftroy it by fire.
" We {pent-the early part of the mornings (fays the hiil:oriall
of the .voyage) in fireing the outlllOil: h.ou[es; 'bu t they being
built very magnificently of frone, \vith high loftes, gave us no
{mall travell to ruin them. And albeit, for divers dayes toge-
ther, "ve ordeined ech morning by day-break, until the heat
:began at nine of the clocke, _ that tJ.vo hundred ll1ariners did
els but labour to fire and burn the [aid hou[es, whilft
the {ouldiers, in a like proportion, flood forth for their guard;
yet did we not, .or could not, in this time, con[urne [0 much
as one third .part of the to,vne; and foin the end, \vearied with
firing, vve we-re contented to accept of five and twenty thoufand
,ducats, of:fi ve ihillingsand fixpence the peece, for the ranfome
,of the reft of the towne( c).'"
'OF
.(b) FJ;om .a tranfiation 'by Richard Eden, printed, London 1555, in black
Jetter.
(c) The following anecdote, related by the fame author, is too {hiking to he
,.o:verlooked. Ilhall quote his own words; During the ftay of the Engli.lh army
\,
III
S To nOMINGO .. -
. OF 'the prefent condition' of this ancient city, the number
E)f its inhabitants, and the commerce which they [upport, I
can obtain no account on which I can depend. That it hath
been long in its I have no doubt; but that it is wholly
depopulated and in ruins" as R.aynal a{ferts, I do not believe.
The cathedral and other publick buildings are frill in being,
and \vere lately the refidence of a confiderable body of clergy
and lawyers. The city continued. al[o, while under the Spa-
Hiili government, the diocefe of an archbi.!hop, to \vhom, it
is [aid, the bifhops of St .. J ago in Cuba, V'enezuela in New'
Spain, and St. john's in Porta H-ico, \vere fuftragans. Thefe
CirCU1111tanceS, added to the fecurity, conl1110diou[ne[s, and ex--
tent of the port or harbour, containing throughout not lees than:
in the city, " it chanced that tbe general fent on a meffilgc to the Spanifh governor,.,.
a negro boy with a flag of vvhite,- ftgnifying truce, as 15- the Spanyards ordinarie
manner to do there, when they approch to fpeak to us; which boy unhappily was
nrfr met withall' by fame of thofe who had been belonging as officers for the king
in the S.paniili galley, which, with the towne, was lateIy fallen illto our hands,
who, without all order or reafol1). and contrary to that good ufage wherewith wee
had intertailled their meffengers, furioufly firooke the poor boy thorow the body,.
, with which wound the boy returned to the general, and, after he had declared the
nianner of this wrongfull crueltic, died forthwith in his prefence; wherewith the'
generall being greatly paffion'd, commanded-the provoft martiallto c2ufc a couple
of fders"then prifoners, to be carried to the fame place where the boy was firoken,
and prefently to be hanged; difpatching, at the fame infbnt,. another poor
prifoner, with the rea(on wherefore this execution was done, and with this further
meffage, that untill the party. who had thus murdered the general's meffenger,
were delivered into our hands to- receive condigne punihment,. there ihould 110
day pa{[e wherein there fuould not two pri(oners be hanged, until they were all
con[umed which were in our hands. '\A,Thereupon the day folio'Ning, hee that had
been-captaine of the king's galley, brought the ofFender to the towne's end, offering
to deliver him into cur hands; but it \V<1S thought to be a more honourable revengt;
to make them there, in our fight, to performe the execut"ion thcmieh'es, \vhich.
was done accordingly."
*.;
three
183-
CH A P.
Xlf.

CHAP.
XII.
t...---..---J
l-IISTORY OF
three fathot11S of water, and proteCted by a bar over '\vhich the
largeft veffels may pais with fafety, have hitherto fa ved St. Do-
mingo from entire .decay, and may poilibly .continue to [aye it.
With this very defective information the reader U1Uil: be con-
tent. As little [eelns to be known concerning the fiate of
agriculture in the Spani{h pofieffions in this ifiand, as of their
capital and commerce.. A fevv.planters are [aid to cultivate ca-
cao, tobacco, and fugar, for their own expenditure; and, perhaps
fome [mall.quantities of each are ftiI1exported for confump-
tion in Spa.in. The chief article .of exportation, ho\vcver,
:continues to be, what it always has <been fince the mines were
abandoned, tbe hides cattle; which havemultiplied to
fuch .a degree, that the proprietors are faid to reckon thell1
by thoufands; and vafi: nUlnbers (as I believe I have elfewhere
obfe.rved) are ilaughtered folely for the ikins t.
IT feems therefore extremely probable, that the .cultivation of
.the earth is almoftentirely neglected throughout the whole of the
Spaniili dominion in this ifland; and that fome of the fineft
tracts of land in the world, once theparadife of a fimple and
innocent people, are now abandoned.to the beafts of the field.,
and the vultures which hover round them (d).
OF this defcription, probably, is the country already
mentioned, called Los Llanos, which frretches eafrwarq.
t It is faid that a Company was formed at Barcelona in 1757, with exclufive priool
vileges, for the re-efiablilhment of agriculture and commerce in the Spanifh part
.DfSt. Domingo: I know not with what fuccefs.
(d) The Gallinazo, or American vulture, a very and filthy bird that
on carrion. Thefe birds abound in St. Domingo, and devour the carcalfes
.of the cattle as foon as the Lkins are {hipped off by the hunters.
from
S T. D 0 M I N G O.
from the capital upwards of four(core Britifu miles length,.
by twenty or twenty-five in and' which, abound-
ing in rivers throughout" may be fuppofed adapted for. the
growth of. every tropical produCtion' in the. .perfec,:"
tion : ' It [eems capable alfo of . .being:.artificially' flooded in dry
weather.
NEXT to Los Llanos in magnitude, .hut fuperior, it is .
. ed, in native' fertility, .is the ri:oble. valley t9 the .DorthlJ
J7ega ",Real;. through the middle of which the river runa.
for. fpace.of fifty lniles,. and difembogues in Samana bay. to
the eaft. . Perhaps. it were nQ to ray, _ that;" this
and the former diftricts a(e alonec:apable of. producing. }more' _
fugar, and other valuable commodities" than all .. the Britiih Weft
Indies put .fogether. '.
THESE though in contiguity t!te largeft, are
not only parts of the "country on which nature has beftowed'.
extraordinary" fertility..Glades abundaritly rich, eafyof accefs,.
and .. obvious to cultivation, are every where found even in the
nl9untains.; 'while the .coil-'-
t-ribute to fertilize val1ies which they encircle
. IN beholding gifts .o(.a Creator,thus
ufelefs and unimproved,. .andremeUlbering at what ,cxpence of
human blood, and by what inexpiable guilt the SpanHh nation
obtained the poffeffion of. thefe countries. from the rightful pof-
feffors" it is pollible to' ahftain from' very and
. . defponding
,
,.
1.8S.
CHAp ..
XlI." :- ..
'--v--J
HIS TOR Y o,p
C:H-A 'P., defponding reflections, or to fupprefs the exclamation, bow in:-
a, " flrutable are the of Divine Providellce !
THgS fcanty ,'and rtninterefring is the beft I :have to,
give of territory' itfelf; nor -is ,my much more:-
perfect,: concerning the number and condition of the people. by'
whom -it is at. prefent inhabited. The earlieft detachments'
from Old Spain -undoubtedly numerous.. ;Hen-era, _ an'
accurate and well-infonned hiftorian, re.ckons .:. _that there.
were, at one period,. no le[s than. i 4,000 Caftillians in Hifpa-
niola. - Such. was the renown of its riches, -that men of all.
ranks and conditions reforted thither,- itf the fond expeCta--
tion of fharing in the golden harveft. Its mines, indeed, -were.
very produCtive. Robertfon relates, that they continued for
many years to yield a revenue of 4-60,000- pfos (e l.
trafting this fact, with an anecdote which I have elfewhere t-
recorded, that the inhabitants, at' the time \ of Drake's inva-
lion, were fo wretchedly poor, ,as to be compelled to' ufe,' in:
barter among themfelves, pieces if leather as a fubfiitute for nlO--
ney, we are furniihed with a .ftriking proof, that the true way to
acquire riches, is D<?t by digging into the b6wels, hut by"ilnprov-
ing the furface, of the' earth. Not having any manufaCtures, nor
produCtions of agriculture, to offer in exchange for the ne-
ceifaries and conveniencies of life, -all their gold had [oon found
its way to Europe ; and when the mines became exhaufted, their
( e) U . of . -I 00)000 fterling.
t Hiftor), of the BritHh Weft Indies, vol.
penury
S-T. ,D O' M I N G O.
penury was extreme; and iloth, 'depopulation, ,and degeneracy,
were its neceiTary confequences (f).
THE introduction iNto this ifland of negroes from Africa, of
which I have elfewhere traced the origin and caufe (g),
place at an early period. This refource did not, however, great-
]y contribute to augment the population of the colony; for
{uch -of the ,vhites as renloved to continent, in fearch of
richer mines and better fortune, commonly took their negroes
with them; and the fn1all pox, a few years' afterwards,
cd prodigious ,numbers of others. ' In 177, the whole number
of inhabitants, under the Spanilh dOlninion, of all ages
conditions, enlaved at:1d free,' \vere ,no Inore than 18,410, and
Ince 'tha't time" I conceive, they have rather dimini!hed than
increafed. Of pure whites (in contradiftinction to the. people
of mixed blood) the number is undoubtedly very inconfiderable;
perhaps not 3,000 the whole.
(/) The grofs 'ignorance of confidering g9ld and lIver as real iallead of artifi-
cial wealth, and the folly of negleB:ing agriculture for.the fake of exploring
hav<: been well expofed' by Abbe Raynal; who compares the condua of the Spa-
niards in this refpeCl:, to that of the dog in the fable, dropping the piece of meat
which he had in his mouth, to catch at the fhadow of it in the water. .
(g) Hilt. of the Britilh Weft Indies, Book iv. c.' 2. A curious
was, omitted. When the Portuguefe firfi: began the traffick in negroes, ap-
pl}.c<}.tion was made to the Pope to fan8ify the trad.eby a bull, which his Holinefs
iffued accordingly. In confequence of this permiffion and authority, a very con-
flave .. ma.rket 'was efhblifued at Liilion, infomu:h, th,at the,' year
J '5 frOm 10 to 12,060 ncgroes were fold, there annually ...
Bb 2 THE
CHAP.
XII.
l .. cA
,
H r S T O'R Y 0 F
'THE 'hereditary and unextinguHbable animofity the
Spaniih and French planters has already been' noticed. -It is
bable, however, that the knowledge of this circumfrance created
greater on the co-operation of the Spaniards with the Bri-
rilh army than was juftified by fubfequent events. At the earneft
a'nd repeated folicitations of-Lieutenant Colonel Briiliane, in
orders. were indeed tranfmitted' from the city of St. Domingo
to the Commandant at Verettes, Don Francifco de VillaN euva"
to join the Englifh with the militia of that part of the coun-
try; the B'ritifh garrifon at St. Marc undertaking to fupply them
with provifions and ammunition: but thefe orders were ill
obeyed. Not more than three hundred men were brought into
the field, and even thofe were far from being hearty in the'
c-ommon caufe. The French loyali1.1:s appeared in greater
numbers in the neighhourhood of St. Marc than in any other
diil:riC1'; and the. Spaniards detefted the French' colonifts of an
defcriptions. It \-vas evident, at ,the ,fame tIme, that they ,were
almoft equally jealous of the Englifll,; betraying manifeft fymp-
ofdifcontent and envy, at beholding them in poffeffion of
St. and" the fertile plains ,in its vicinage.: They
eel, however, and took the town al1d harbourof GOl),aive,; but.
their fubfe.quent conduct manifefted the bafeft treachery, or the
rankeft cowardice. The town, was nofooner attacked by a
fmall detachment from the revolted negroes, than the Spaniards
fuffered themfelves to be driven out of -it, in the moil: unac- .
l?Janner,;, leaving the inhahitan'ts to fury
Df the {avages, who maffacred the, whole number
2
S T. D 0 M t N G, O.
comrades pad ,done at ,Fort Dauphin) an'cl then' reduced the
town itfelf to allies (/;).
ON the whole, there is' reafon to fuppofe '. that a great pro-
portion of the prefent Spani!h proprietors in St. Domingo are
a'debafed and degenerate race; a motley mixture from Euro-
pean, Indian, and African anceftry; and the obfervation which
has been made in another place (1), concerning the Spaniili. in-
habitan ts of Jamaica, at the ,conq uefi of that ifiand in 1655, will
( h) In the northern province of the French colony, the inhabitants of Fort
Dauphin, a town :lituated on the Spaniili borders, having no affiltance from the
Engljh, and being apprehenfive of an attack from the rebel negroes, applied for
.protection, and delivered up the town) to the Spaniih government.. The Spanifh
,:ommandant, on accepting the conditions required, which, chiefly for perfonal
fafety, ifiued a proclamation, importing, that fuch of the French planters as would
feek refuge there, fuould find' fecurity. Seduced by this. proclamation, a confi-
derable number repaired thither; when, on Monday the 7th' of July 1794, Jemr
FranfOis, the negro general, and leader of the revolt in 1791, entered, the town
with fori1e'thoufahds of armed negroes. He met riot the refifiance,
at the advanced pofis, or at the barriers occupied by the Spaniili troops; the inha-
bitants keeping their houfes, in the hope of being proteCted 'by' the
In an infutnt, every part of the city refounded with the cry of "Long li\"e the
king of Spain! Kill all the French; but offer no violence to the Spaniards;" and
4 general mafI'acre of the French commenced, in which no lefs than 77.1, of them,.
without difrinClion of fex or age, were murdered on th,e fpot: the S.paniili [oIJiers
ftanding by, of the tragedy. - It is thought, however,. that if th'eSpaniards
had openly interpofed, they would have fuared the fate of the Itis {aid that
Mont-Calvos, commander of the Spanifh troops,. . moved' bycompaffion towards
fome Frencb.gentle01enofhis acquaintance" admitted. them into the
them in the Spanifh uniform for their others were fecretly conveyed to.
fort, and fent off in the night to Monte Chrifti, where' they got on board an
American ve1fel belonging to Salem. .
( i) Hiftory of the Britith vVen Indies,. vol. i.
equally
CH AP.
.X1I.

CH AP.
XII. ,

1-1 1 S TOR Y 0 F"
equally apply to thefe. 'They are neither polilhed by fociafi"n-
tercourfe, nor improved by education; pafs their days in
gIoolny languor, enfeebled by iIoth, and deprefTed by poverty.
From fuch me:n, therefore, as' their' antipathy is the
French nation, and however averfe they may be to a change
of laws and government, lam afraid that no cordial co-operation
with, the Britifh can ever be " The beft families
among theln, rather than fubmit to the French dominion, .
will remove to Cuba, or feek out new habitations
among their countrymen on the neighbouring continent;, while
thofe which renlain' will neceifarily link into the general mars of
coloured people, ,French and Engliili ;" a clafs that, I
procefs of tilne, will become lnafl:ers of the towns and culti-
vated parts of the iiland on the fea-coap:; leaving the interior
country to the revolted negroes. Such., probably, will be the
fate of this once andprihcely colo'ny. and it grieyes
me to fay, that the pre[ent exertions of Great Britain, on this
blood-ftained theatre, can anfwer no other end than to haften
the catafrrophe !
I MIGHT here exp.atiate on the" wonderful difpenfations of
Divine Providence, in railing up the enilaved Africans to avenge,
the wrongs of the injured aborigines ,: I might 'alfo indulge the
fond but fallacious idea, that as the negroes of, Domingo'
have been eye-witneffes to the benefits of civilized among
the feen in what Inanner, and to what ex-,
tent, facial order, induftry,"" and fuhmiffion, to laws,"
contribute to' indiv idual and"' prorp:erity' (advantages"
which were denied to them in their fome fupe ...
rIOt"
S T. D'O-M IN G O.
rior {pit-its may here.afte'r, rife up among them, by whofe, en-
and exa_mple in ,ti11?e, to
difcard and' manners and of
';; to .correct thei.r and be led, on to civi-
lizatiqn' and gentlene(s, to the knowledge of truth, and the
praCtice of virtue., . This .. picture is. io pleafing to the imagina:",
tion, .that ev:eIiY hU1l1ane:. and refleB.ing mind muft wilh it may
realized;: but I am is mere creation of the
fan ..cy-' "'the fabrick of a -has demon-
firated, that a wild and la\vlefS fieedom affords no means
of improvement, either lnental or moral. The Charaibes of St.
Vincent, and the Maroon negroes of Jamaica, \vere originally
. Africans; they now are, the fre.ed negroes of
St .. Doming'o will hereifter be ;. favages in the :midft of fociety-
,vithout peace, [ecurity, agriculture, or property; ignorant of
the duties of life, and unacq!Jainted with all tlle foft and
dearing which ,:Lender it defirable 3. averfe to labour, ..
though freqpently periiliing of want; fufpicious of each other,
and towards the reft. of mankind revengeful faithlefs" re:-
morfclefs and bloody-minded; pr.etending to be_ free., while
groaning beneath the capricious de[potifm of their chiefs, and
feeling all the: miferie.s of fervitude, without the benefits of'
f u bordina tion L
. .
IF ,,,hat I thus-not hafiily.,.but-deliberately
c.oncerning the fate of this . unfortunate country" {ball. be verified
by. the event, all other refleCtions muft yield, to' the preffing
confideration how heR:. to obviate and defeat the influence
which fo dreadful example, of fuccefsful -revolt
phant:

CHAP.
XII.

f9
Z
C'N A P.
XII.

phant may: have in oUr' o\vn . This is a fubJe&
which will' foon force it(elf on" the moll: ferious attentiori of
and cl- am; of. opiniori, that nothIng le[s :than the
to- operation of ,the Br.itilh parliament with the 'colonIal ..
tures can meet its emergency. On the other ifit be' ad-
the objet.! is infinitely too important, and the meanS
and, refources' of muc,h too powerful and abundant,
la [utter a ,doubt to' remain concel:'ning the ultimate' accom":
'pliihment of her vie\vs, in :ieizing oti the whole of this 'ex-
tenfive if we can fuppofe that (convince at length,
by of the of fuddenly eman..;o
cipatingbarbarousmen, and placing, thenl at ,once in all the
COl11plicated relations ',of civil fociety) {he \vill finally fucceed in
reducing the va:11:body of fu gitive negroes to obedience; and in
eftablifhing and order, under a confiitu-
tion of government fuited to the aCtual of the various
clafres of the inhabitants :-if-fuch hall be good fortune, it
virill not require the endo\vment of prophecy to foretel the 're'..:,
{ult. The middling, and ,vho are the nloft iildu['"
trious, clafs ':'if 'Planters, throughout every iiland in the Weft In-
dies, allured by the cheapnefs'of the land and the 1uperior fertility
of the foil, vdU affuredly feek out fettlements in St. Domingo;
and a Weft Indian empire \vill fix itfelf in this noble ila:nd, to
in a. few f!1ort years, all the tropic;!1 polfeffions of Eu-
wnl 1:)6 found fubordinate and Placed in the
centre' of Britilh and Spaniih America, 'and fituated to -\vind..:.
'ward of thofe territories of either nation which are moil: vaIu':'
able,.wh-ile the' commerce of' both mufi exifi: -only by its goed
'pleifure, all the riches of Mexico willbewholly- at Its difpofat
Then
S 1"'. D 0 M I N GO .
Then will the humbled Spaniard lament, when it is too late,
the thoughtlefs and inlprovident furrender he has made, and
Qreat Britain find leifure to reflect how deeply ihe is herfelf
concerned in the con{equences of it. The dilemma is av/ful, and
the final ifftie known only to that omnifcient Power, in whofe
hand is the fate of empires! . But whatever the iff'ue may be,-
in all the varieties of fortune,-in all events and circumfiances,
whether profj)crous or adverfe, -it infinitely concerns both
the people of Great Britain, and the inhabitants of the BritHh
colonies,-I cannot repeat it too often,-to derive admonition
from the fiory before us. To Great Britain I would inti-
mate, that if, difregarding the prefent example" encourage-
nlent thall continue to be given to the peftilent doctrines
of'thofe hot-brained fanaticks, and detefiable incendiaries, who,
under the vile pr,etence of philanthropy and zeal for the in-
terefis of fuffering humanity, preach up rebellion and murder
to the contented and orderly negroes in our o'iJ:n territories,
what elfe can be but that the fame dreadful fcenes of
carnage and defolation, which we have contemplated in St. Do-
rningo, will be renewed among our countrymen and relations in
the Britiili \Vefl: Indies ? May God Almighty, of his infinite
lnercy, avert the evil! . To the refident Planters I addrefs my-
ielf with frill greater folicitude; and, if it vvere in my po\ver,
would exhort them, " \vith nlore than nlortal voice," to rite
above the foggy atn10[phere of local prej udices, 3:nd, by a gene-
rous furrender of ten1porary advQntages, do th2t the Par-
lian1ent of Great Britain, in the pride plenitude of imperi81
don1inion, cannot effect, and ought not to attempt. I caJI on
them, with the fincerityand the affection of i.1 b:-cther, of the!u-.
Cc
C H A Po
XII.
{
,
CH AP.
XII.

HIS TOR Y 0 F ST. D OM I N G
{elves to reftrain, limit, and finallyab61ilh the
tion of enflaved men froln Africa ;-not indeed by meafnres of
fudden violence flnd injuftice, difregarding the many weighty
and conlplicated interefts which are involved in dle iffue,; bu t
by Uleans which, though flow and gradual in their operation,
will be [ure and certain in their effect. The Colonial Legifla-
t.ures, by their fituation and local knowledge, are alone competent
to this great and talk: and this example of St. Domingo,.
and the dittates of like the hand'-vvriting againft
. the wall, warn theln no longer to de1ay it ! Towards the poor-
negroes ov.er whom the fratutes of Great Britain, the accidents-
of fortune" and the laws of inheritance, have invefted thenl with
power, their general conduct: for the lafi twenty years (notwith--
ftanding the foul calumnies with which they have been loaded)
Inay court enquiry and bid defiance to cen[ure. A
in the fame benev.olent {yfteln, progreflively leading the objeCts of
it to civi1ization and mental improv.ement, preparatory to greater
indulgence, 'is all that hUlnanity can require; for it is all that
prudence can dittate. Thus will the Planters prepare a iliield of
defence againfl: their and [ecure to themfelves that fere-
nityand elevation of mind, \vhich arife from an approving con-
fcience;. producing affurance in hope, and confolation in adver-
:fity. Their perfecutors. andOanderers in the meantime will be
difregarded or forgotten; for calulnny, though. a great is a tem-
porary evil, but truth and jufiice will prove triumphant and
eternal!
!!fliiil
Du COlnmerce et des Finances de la partie
de S T. D 0 M I N G U E
J79-r .
Cc :2.
The firft Four of the following TAB L E S were drawn up by order of the
Legiflative Affembly of FRANCE, which met the 1ft of OCtober 1791;
and feem to have been fraIned in the view of afcertaining the actual frate
of the Colony, and its Comnlerce, immediately before the breaking out
of the rebellion of the Negroes in the Month of Auguft of that Year ...
The totals will be found to differ, in [oIne of the particulars, from the
ftatement which has been 'given in the preceding pages. The difference
arifes partly from the aCtual ch-ange of circlllnfiances, in the courfe
of two years which intervened bet\veen the periods when each fl-atement
was made up, .and partly, I am afraid, from errors and 'orniffions of Iny
own ..
[ 197 J
No .. I.
Etat General des Cultures et des Manufactures de la Partie de St Domingue.o"
179 I ..
CHEFS LIEUX
OU

f
J
Le Cap et dependances - -
. La petite Ance t:t la plaine du Nord
I
L'acul, Limonade et Ste Suzanne -
Le Cap - -lMorin et la Grande Riviere -
I
Le Dondon et Marme!ade -
A' Limbe et Port Margot - -
Partie Plaifance et le Borgne - -
}Jdu
d
) i Le Fo:t Dauphin -
.!. or -1 Le Fort Dauphin . Ouanaminthe et VaIIiere
1 ' Le Terrier rouge et le trou
I
Le Port de Paix S Le Port de Paix le petit St Louis
1 jean Rabel ct le gras Morne -
LLe Mole - - Lt! l\tlole et Bombarde -
-
-
-
-
-
---
1 -
43
7
52 4
35
I
- --
22
3
-- -- -- --------.
2
-
37
1
157 3
255
2
216 I
5
2
-
1
3-
2 I
5
2
3 - 4
2
6-
9-
1
I
1 - 5 5
7 -
-
-
1 1
3
2 2.
11 - 7 1 2 2
21, 61 3,:
11,122
19,876
lE,55,4-c
17,37
6
15,97
8
15,018
4 -1- -1 3 5
29' "7 7 1, 2 10 4 -I 3 8 10,004-
-; 3; =1 ; =1 i I
-}-I ' 8' 61
_ I 61 21
21
:-) 9 3.6
9
1
- 4- r \ 2 I 4 ,I 29,54-
0
I I \ I I
-I-! -I 3' 141
15
1- --I -; - 3,
18
3
f
!
Port au Prillce et la Croix des Bougucts _-'I 65 751 '; ,,2"1 15
1
- 29 1 i 20; 1 4
2
,84
8
. Portau Prince - L'Arcahaye - - 11 3b l 62, 2+: 48'- If _f 23; 5 18,553
I , . Mirebalais - - - i 3 I -I z 7: 19 i 3
2
'! -I - 2 t 5! - 10,9
02
Partie I Leogane - - Leogane - -. _ ,-1 -... ,I :9
1
'1' 58 ,si 7
81
-\ 25 1 [14; 1 14,89"
de l' J StIYlarc. _ _ {se Marc, la petite Ri\'iere - __ r "csl.,.l1 1",1_110 l' 7,1 12 67,ZIC
Oueit,! Les Verettes et les Gonaives - \ 1 \J-)I "': I i
I
1
"". Le petit Goave, le grand Goa\"c, et 1,..: fU11JS! I I I I I
Le petit Goave- des Negres' - - - 11,' 16 521 ::5l 31 1-; 11; 2 9 - 18,Sz9
I L'An[eaVeauetlepetittrou - -I Dj 11 Il! 7; lS,5i-I' 7i 1 9; 2' 13,229
L
I 1 ; ,: i ,! I : ;
J
',. . J"'" tIC D 11 1 . f 5,,1, ,", - "0 -
. ercmlC -- - .er,emIee.e .ameNane -. -! 3 105: 3'-='1 J]-i--I Lt" - "<'"
l l t I !!
. 861 69176! 175 - 18 3
zi
S 30,937
I i I I 2,!- i 'i:' lIe 9 - - 4 I i ; I I ::: .. 1 5 3 '
, ' 'si Q: ,r.!' I 18
_ 9: Z 3 i -:1 (;! :: I !)- -; - 0 2, - U :' I u') .
I I -'-, ' , ,
_ I -, I I c; '7: :) C \ 1 29 - - 3! 7 j I : .2 .. ; 1 5 1,:
i-?-i--l-:':"i-'-:' -i"- -:--',-:-; --,._-
! O! /,,)-),-,000
-'T) '.)7" I' ) . '( ,'/J IJ ... I "T
I f \ \ I' '
P'u,tic {LeS Cayes Les Cayes et Torbeck -
., 'cl!l f:e Ca!? Tiburon Cap Ti?uro,n et ]es
S ud. LOUIS - se LOUIS, Cavalllon et Aqul!1
J acmel - J acme], les Cayes, et Baynel
Total 5 I ParoilTes
T AB LE AU du:-C.Ql\iI MER C E, &c.
N.p ..e, lI.
Etat des Denrees de St. Domingueexportees en France depuis le I
er
Janvier 1791 au
31 Dec
re
inclufivement.
.-

Sucre.
" Cuirs.
- "
Cafe. Coton. Indigo. Sirop. Tafia.
Departemens.
Blanc . Brut.
--- --- en Poil. Tannes.
--"- ---
-- --
Livres. Livres. Livres. Livres . Banettes. Cotes. Boucauts. . Barique.
I ;
- -

-
"--
--
Panie du N ordo
Le Cap
- - - 43,
86
4,55
2
1,5
1
7,4
8
9 29,367,3
82
-
195,99
2,006
6,975 10,654-
Le Fort Dauphin
- 8,609,25 8
1,39,9
00 2,3 21,610 1,200 2,005 1,134 "16o
2,73 1
Le Port de Paix - 473,Soo 824,,00
J,
82
9,754 3
8
,75
2 .61,472 120
- 272
25
Le Moie
-
-
- 22,50 105,680
294,55
0 29,23
6
6,294
3
1
-
8f
6
Partie de l'Oueft.
Le Port au Prince
- 7,79
2
,
21
9 53,64
8
,9
2
3 14,5
8
4,023 1,37,021
17
6
.9
18 1,601
75
2
8,3S
0
3
6
Leogane
- - - 1,492 ,9
8
3 7,688,537 1,7
86
,484 154,
08
4 J 2,520 112
- 95 45
.Saint Marc
- - 3,244,.673 6,993,9
66
5,5
21
,237 3,008, 163
357,53
0
-
-
73 49
Le. Petit Goave
- -
218,866
855,237 1,395,69 84,
86
5
3
20
-
-
206 6
Jeremie
- - - 19,
80
4 47
6
,445 4,453,33
1 18
9,194 1,075 100
-
Partie du Sud.
:Les Ca yes
- - 4,375,
62
7 13,9
8
4,42 5 1,843,43 7
2
0,77 J 05,456 67
-
6,95
8
136
Le Cap Tiburon
-
63,15 27,5
00
34,3
2
5 1,954
- - 99
St Louis
-
- -
2,000 9,600 9
0
,70 6 4
2
,497 2,06+
Jacmel
-
-
-
48,.266
67,9
10
4-357,270 61
3,
01
9 7,3
0
9 15
."
----
1--
-- -- ---
I
--
Total
- - - 70,227,7
8
93, 1 77, SI 2 J
68,1
5
1,180
1
6,286,126
93,016 5,186
7,887 29,502
3
0
3
Valeur
de S D 0 M I N G U
No .. -11 continued.
Valeur comtnune des Exportations et des Droits per9us dans la Colonie
fur toutes les Denrees.
-
=
Du ler Janvier 1791 au l'
3 r/Xb:e de la meme annee.
Indication de
I
Efiimation en
- -.:. .......
la nature raifon du prix
.... ,'I; ,,!' <
en
des Denrees. nature. Commun.
Valeur Droics
Commune. pery.us.
.
-----
I
s { Blanc Oll terre
-
-
70,227,7081 Livres -

12
67,67,7
8
I'
ucre . Brut _
- -
93,177,5.1 2 Livres
...

6
4-9,94
1
,5
6
7
Cafe
- - - -
.Livres
-

16
51,89,74
8 1,226,726
Coton
-
- - -
6,286, \21.) Livres
-
2
- 17.572 ,25 2
7
8
5,7
66
Indigo
- - - -
93,016
Livres
-
7
10
10,875,120 465,008
Cacao
- - -
- 15
000 Livres
-
a'
-
16 ] 20,000
- ,!
Sirop
- - - - 29",02 Boucauts - a. 66
-
1,947,13'2 22'1,275
Tafia
- - - - 3':)3 Bariques - ?tl
7
2
-
21,816 1,82 I
eoirs Tannes .
- - - 7,887 C.0tes
-
a!
JO
I
- 78,870 10,377
Cuirs en poil'
- - - 5,186 Banettes
-
aj 18
-
93,34
8
7/
6
7
Caret (tortoife fhell)
- - 5,000 Livres
-
?t 10
- 5,,000 -
--[--
G.ayac, Acajou,; et C.::mpeche 1,500,000 Llvres
-
a Eilimes
40.,000
-
Total de la VaIeur commune de toutes Ies Denrees
- - - -
- 2,3
01
,634
\-
Obfervation effentielleo
Toutesles fommes dont il eft quefiion clans ce tableau font Argent des Co.-
lonies. Le chang.e y eft a 33 f, et la Livre Tournois comptee pour une Evre dix,
fous.
1 er Exem pIe.
Le montant des Exportations s'eleve Argent des Colonies a la
fomme de - - - - - -
Reduite Argent de France a.
Difference fur cct Article de
zme Exemple.
La totalite des denrees exportees, et vendues en France mon ..
tant enfemble a la de
Reduite en Livres Tournois a.
Difference fur cet Article de
200,301,634',
133,534,4
2
3
----
193;377,468,
lzl),')18,3 12
On obtindra le meme artide par article ayant l'attention de. n:dW!L
le tiers fur chaql1c ..
VenC!us
en
France.
I
65,14
2
,584-
4-
8
, 264,372 .
5o,664,oi8
16,786,486
10,410; 11 Z
120,000
1.;725,857
19,995
68,493
85',541
5,000
4,000,
\
\
\ 193,377,4
6
8-.
;
1T J.\ B LEA U .du C 0 M M E'R C E, &c"
No. Ills
Appers:u des Richeifes territoriales des en grande Culture de la
Partie de St. Dorpingue.
i
Eftimation
Evaluation des Capitaux.
particuliere
TotaIite
de chaque
En Negres
de Ja
Indication de la Nature des Capitaux. Objet en
En Terres,
Valeur
raifon du
Batimens, et
..
et animaux em-
Generale
prix moyen.
Plantations ..
ployes a1 'ex-
ploitation .
-
---
---------- ------
Sucreries
{en Blanc
..
- -
-
-
45
1

- 230 ,000 103,730 ,000
-
103,730 ,000
en Brut:
- - - -
- 341 a - 180,000 61,3 8 0,000
-
61,3 80,000
Cafeteries
-
- - - -
- 2,810 a
-
20,000 56 ,200,000 .
-
56 ,zoo,000
Cotonneries
-
...
-
- - - 7
0
5
- 30 ,000 21,150 ,000
-
z 1,1 50,000
J ndi goterie 5
- -
...
- - - 3,97 -
30 ,000 92,910,000
-
92 ,9 10,000
Guildiveries
- -
-
-
-
- 173 a - 5,000 865,000
-
865,000
Cacaotieres
-
.
- - -
-
-
4,000 275,000
-
275,000
Tanneries
- - - - - - 3 a
-
16o,oco 48 0,000
- 4 80,000
Fours a Chaux, Rriqueries et Poteries
- - - 374. a -
15,000 5,5 10,000
-
5,5 10,000
Negres anciens et nouveaux, grands et petits
- 455,000 a
- 2,50
1,137,5o,coO I, I 37,50,000
rChevaux et Mulets
-
-
- - -
J 6,000 a
-
-
4
00
6,400,ocO 6,40 ,000
.Eetcs a cornes .
-
..
-
- -
lZ,OOO a
- -
1,,44,000 1,44,000
..
des Richeffes employees a la Culture ..
- - 34%,50,000 1,145,34,000 r,487,84)000
" -,:,No. ,Iv .. :.
R E c E T T E
-DESIGNATIO,N DES, OB]ETS.
Caifre de la Marine.
1. Refl:ant en Cailfe au 31 Decembre 1790- - -- ---
2, Droits fur Ies Denrees exportees de la
Colonie en' France pendant l'annee J 789 '
A deduire Ies appointemens des Receveurs de
I'Ottroi et frais de Bureaux
3- Impofition pour la capitation des Efc1aves -
A ded uire Ies remifes et moderations en faveur
des COl1tribuables, cy
4. h>roits de 2. t pour-Ct. fur les loyers des maifons
6,924JI66
34,200
--
5
81
,035
_2-5,286
--...... -
5. Rec;u de divers Debiteurs au Roi - -'
(l. Loyers des Halles et maifons au profit de Sa Majefte -
7. Objets vend us dans ]es magazins des divers Departements
2. Rec;u de divers pour journees employees a l'Hopital
9. Rembourfemens des avances faites a divers
10. Depot a charge de rembourfemens
1
1
I I. Montant des Lettres de change tinfes fur les Trforiers ,et Muni-
tionnaires Generaux ' .
Caiife Generale"
l. Refianten Caiffeau 31 Decembre 1790
2. de divers Comptables en exercile et a valoir fur les debits
pendant les annees li87, 1788) et 1789
3- Revenu de la ferme du hac du Cap.
4. Revenu de la ferme des Poftes
5. des anciens Fermiers, &c.
o. Rem):>ourfement d'un Pret fait a la Caiife Municipale
7. Rembourfement de celui fait a la Caiffe de la Marine
8. Loyer de la Salle de Spectacle au Port au Prince -
9. Rembourfemens par divers Receveurs des Droits domanl:mx
1 o. des Curateurs aux Succeffions vacantes
Dd
s.
93S;I60
6,889,966
555,749
37
6
,143
229,43
3
0
,453
139,3
2
4-
13,295
149,93
0
465,820
I,053,100
159)886
Ij8,7S
6
87>5
00
16!,847
r 50,716
3)000
49,042
2)000
3,4
00
3
21
,143
1
I
}
I
I
I
J
1
I

I.
I
J
10,83
8
,34-8
TAB -dU .COJv.I M:E R;C E, &c.
No. 1V., l'Dnti'nucd.
_._--_._-_._---_ .. _---_._-
'" '",:- ... '.L
L .)
Caiff"e des Libertc-s.
I. en au 3
1
'.,; J:- ,.-,' (,
.2+, ,11 a_ete; verfe clans eette 'Cadre 'pout PiffranchJffemerlt de"297 Ef-
cb.ves pendant l'anm!e J 790 - .-
RemoourIemensae ce-tte--CaliTe' -
4. A compte fur le produit de la vente de divers Comeftibles
Cailfe des Droits Domaniaux."
r. Montarlt pes Amanrles :' " . , - . .
2. du Roi ..
3. a titre d' Aubaines-, Batardifes) &c.
4. Confifcations .l..,.. :... ." - -.
S. Droits 2' pour. Ct. le montant des ventes j..udiciaires
Caia;e :de rEntrep6t.
pour ilhpofe: les .. qui font im-:
. et.exportees par le Commerce etrariger .
'2. Droit de 3
11
Tourilois par quintal le breuf fale introtluit dhns
la dolonie' palfJe Commerce etranger: . .... , i
3. Droits ;additiortels:iinpofes, par arretclu Conteil:deI'aririee 'Ij;86et
It
8
7 .'. -. " _. "';
CaiiIe des. COhiignations . '
I. Reftant en CaiiTe au 31' Decembre 1790
2. Configp.c par divers; Hans' la caiffe du Tn!forier principal des
Colonies pendant le cours de l'annee 1789) pour lafuretc'-de
e,mbarques pour France
In'valides et fonds cl' Armemens.-
I. faites 1790 'au,pront d:es Invalides de la, ,
Marjne , .:-.
. Montarit des gages acquis aux equipages dont les batimeris ont
ete defarmes clans la Colonle pendant les derhiers 'moisde .
1. Z89.,.: et peiidant Pari nee 17,90 .'
Sommes.
',.
184;500
-----------.-------
Totarde I'a'1tecette . - "q.I4',6i3,C 14
'b
D K.P. 'E.NSES ...
{' ,
D E N .. S
p
i ".'
.E, .. S.
!
DES I G N A T ION DES 0 B JET S.
"CaiiTe de la Marine.
I. Traitemens et .Appointemens des Officiers de l'Etat tvIajor ge-.
neral, et particuliers des.Places - - - .. /
2. Officiers ele l' AdminifiratioIl - - - --
3 Confeils! et J urifdiClions - - - I
4. Officiers de Sante -
5. et Soldes des Troupes -' .',: ,
6. SUbfifteryces et Fournitures relatives aux Trot!pes '
7. Journees d'H,op.ital '
8. F des ,J3.ati;me,l)s. publics
9.-Achats des ma'ieriaux necelfaire.s a fa <;onfrruClion des Edifices
. . . '-, .
10. Entretiehs des Batimens de Mer fur l'ine de la Gonave
I I. Aux Enhepreneurs des Hopitaux - -
12. A diverS pour fournitures de Riz et de Bifcuit
) 3. Depenfes pour les chemins de
J4. A divers Entrepreneurs ,de ,ch,arpente,.-&c.
J 5.' }i'rais de, voyages avaries de n1er. ' . --,. '-
Rembourfemens a la came generale des Invalides
17. A divers, pour loyers des maifons, magafins, &c.
18. Depenfe; faite par les vaiffeaux de S. 1\1. en ,dans la Co-
lonie '
J9' Frais de tranfports, journees Plc.
Caiffe Generale .
I. Traitemers et gages affignes (ur cette CaifTe -'
2. A divers des Canaux, Fontaines, &c. -
3. Paye aux!Heritiers etCreanciers des SuccdIions vacantes
4. Paye a la :decharge de la Caiffe des Biens domaniaux
5. Indemnites a divers - ,
I ,CaiiTe des Libertes.
J . ,Penfions aux-Pere-s-et' TvIerrs de 10 a 12 enfans
7.. Depenfe pour l'acheyement des remblais du quay du Roi
3. -T.iav.aux relatifs au -chemin de Jacmel
4' Jardin du Roi au Port au Prince et Plantes cl' A fie -;
5. 'fravaux faits au Cap
6. Entretiens et confirutl:ions des Fontaines publiques
7., Ahrevoirs et Lavoirs publics
H A divers pour tranfports des comefiibles
9. Dons et gratifications affigncs fur cette Caiffe
D cl 2
.,J f
-I
-I
=\
:l

Sommes.
.7
1
,7
6
5 t
7
2
,73
1
86,62 I
5,9
12
7
0
,4
6
4
65
J
,35-+
101,896
65,05
8
J
9
0
,95
1
4,95
6
No. conib2ued.
DES I G N A T ION DES 0 B JET s.
Caiff'e des Droits domaniaux.
I. Traitemens et gages des employes, rembourfemens, ,
taxations de Temoins, et frais de voyages - ..
2. Reclamation des Epaves vendus au profit du Roi - -
3. Frais de jufHce applicables au produit des Succeffions vacailtes
4. Paye aux,' denonciateurs, fur le produit des confifcations pour fait
de Commerce , -
CaHfe ,de l'Entrepot.
I. Traitemens des Dire8eurs, Receveurs et Employes des B,us:eaux -
2 Rembourfemens a di'/ers pour les marchandifes re-exportees , -
3. Verfe dans la Caiffe de la Marine a titre de Depot "-'
Caiife des Coofi gnations.'
I. Rembourfemens a divers confignataires p01,lf le retour dans 1a Co-
lonie de 53 Efclaves embarques pour la France
2. Frais relatifs a cette comptabilite -.. -
Invalides et Fonds cl' Annemens.
1.. Montant des remifes a faire a laCailfe' Generale des InvaIides _
-2. Remifes faites dans Ies diff"erents Ports pour Ies gages acqUls aux
equipages pour Defarmemens - _.' . : _
Montant des Fonds non confon1mes au 3 I . Decembre
179
1

Par la Cailfe de la Marine
Par la Caiffe Generale
Par la Caiffe des Libertes
Par la Cailfc des Droits domaniaux
Somme pareillea la Recette
Sommes.
81,000.
de S T-41 D 0 M 1 N G U E.
N IV. ,co;ztinued.
General des Dettes aCtives et paffives de St. Domingue au-
3 I Xb.c: 179 I ..
Dettes a8:ives en faveur des diverfes Caiffes-.
Montant Recouvremens faits,
Indication de la nature des Creances.
de la
-"
Creance
en en
publique.
17
8
9. ,1,7-90
I. Sommes dues a. la Cailf'e de ..la Marine par pro-

meffes, obligations, &c. - -
- -
6,576,838 633,221
229,40 3
2" par divers Contrihuables
- -
5 4
8
3,71. 3h
o
,I43
3. Avances faites par la Colonie en faveut' des
-et des ...
- - 3,3
8
5,9
1
7
3,182,804 - -
4. Debits de coinptes- ou arrerages des F ermes
..
1",471,51 I 54
6
,433

S. Sommes dues par divers particu.11ers -"
-
- .
97&')299 101,579-
. 73,999
.' -
-
-
--
----
Total-de la. Creance puhIi'l.ue de la Colonie
-. 14,9
2
7,3
4,947,73
8
' 7
8
3,
16
3
Dettes. paffives a .la de_ diverfes . -: :
Indication de la nature des. Dettes.
Moncant
de la
Dette
publique,.'
: faits
i en
\17
8
9,
: en
J79

dues
en
1791
5,714,
21
4'r

203,113-
821,460
802,72 1
9,19
6
,
12
9:
Sommes,
a.
payer:
en 1791-.
1.. 11 eft du a l'Entrepreneur' des Travaux du Roi
dans la Partie du Nord - - - - i- 3,1-4:.1;,265-,
2. 11 eft du a di,vers Fourniffeufs, EHuepreneurs, Pro-
prietaires et autres, tant pour S9JJes.
que pour avam:es par eux dans Ja
334,45
1
.
;
par tie de l'Ouefr - - - - .
3.- 11 ell du a divers Entr.epreneurs, FournHfeurs, .&c. -
clans la Partie du Sud: - -. - - 5"4-3,220
4- 11 ell duo aux Etats Majors di-vcr.s- du '
Roi -. - ... ' - -- - 117;401
ADDITION AL TABLE-s" cOlrtaining Infonnation not
comprehended in the preceding; colleCted. tpe, Author
, , .
No. v.
'I' RA DE. 'of:the French Part of ST. DOMINGO' whh Old France.
_. -rMPOR TS' tor the Year 1788.
Qgantity.
'1'86,759
,1,366
'3,3
0
9
2,044
'7,15'4

20,76:2
1,359
121)587
7,020
5,73
2
; ..6,174
10,375
'
2,2. 84
19,457
5,999
'1:,4, 61 3

1,308
17,2.
1
9
I
14,73
2
4,35 I
1,
62
7
r
1
Nature of Goods.


QEintals of Bifcuit,
Ditto - - Cheefe, -
. Ditto - - Wa;xCandles,
Ditto - - Soap,
- ;.. Tallow Candles, --
Ditto .. - Oil,
Ditto - - Tallow, -
Calks of Wine, -'
Cafes of DO,
CaIks of Beer, '
Hampers' ,of-Beer,
Cafes of Cordials,
'Ankers'o(BranCIy,
'Ditto of Vinegar,
Baikets of Ani feed Liquor,
of Vegetables,
'Cafes- of prefer-ved--F-r-uitj'
of Cod Fiili,. - -
'Ditto - - Salt Fifu, -
Ditto - - Butter,' '-
Ditto - - Salt Beef,
Ditto -' - Salt Pork,
Ditto - - Ditto,
. Ditto - _. Hams,
Dry Goods" viz. Linens, Wool-
'lens, Silks) Cottons, and Manu- .
-faetutes of all kinds, -
Sundry otnet Articles, valued 'at -
Amount of all the Goods imported
Amount in,Hifpaniola
.. Currency.
"Liv.
I 2,2.7 1,2.47
3
8
,6.84
21.7145.0
602,010

1;479;5
10
1,973,75
55,77
0
13,610,960
-5
8
4,77
0
3
28
,175
157,3
80
__
140 ,'238
23J7
t3
4
254,39
8
3'22,130

'85,607
26.'7
co
J,6 50,15

1,101,395
37
6
,5
60
..
177,340
-39>008,600
.8;68 5,600
There
-No. V. continued.
There lmportations were-made, in 580 Veffelj;, meafuring together
189,679 Tons, or by Average 325 ! :Tons each Veffel i viz.
I 29 from N ante-se ' .
224 from 'I
90 ft-om ,MarfeilleSr: -
80 from Havre de Grace.
19
f
t-em o:unkirk, , I
I I from St. Malo.
10 froin Bayonae. ,
5 from La Rochelle.
3 -fr<>m Harfleur.
, Q" ftom Cherbou_rg.
2 from CrQifi.
I from pieppe.
I "from Rouen.
I from GranvilIe ..
I from Cette.
1 from Rhedon.
Add to the 5,80 Velfels from 98.from. the Goaft of
and the French Part of Hifpaniola win be found to have employed
678 V"eiTels belonging to France in the year 1788.
No.
Foreign T RA DE in '1788 (exclilfive of'the Spaniflla)
Impol'te"d 'by 'Foreigners (Spaniards excepted}to . ' .
. the Amount of " '- - --
Exported by the fame' - 4,49;922
Difference
N . .B. This Trade employed' 763' [mall Velfels, ,'meaftiring 55,745.
Tons. The Average is Veffels from North Anle-
rlca (American built y are comprehended in it; but; there 'were alfo
employed in the North 45 French Veffels,mea-
furing 3,475, Tons (the Average' 77 Tons each)" .. which exported'
to North Atnerica.Colonial Produ&s,.Value" 5'25,57
1
Livres .
And imported in return-' Goods. to Amount of . I ,
cD ifference
.. I 2 . -h -D D.l T I ,0 N _A L . T A. <8 L E.- S.
. No. VI .
- SpaniJh- TRADE -in r 1788 .
259 Spanifu Vefrels, meafuring 15J4I7 or 59 Tons each, im-
to the A mount<?f (chiefly Bullion) .;.. 9,7 1'1) 113 .
-And exported Negro -Slaves, and Goods, chiefly. .
.. Manufa_tl:ures
J
to the Amount of - 5,587,515
Difference
N. B. This is excluftve of the inland .Trade with of
which there is no Account. .
No. VII.
A F R I CAN T RA D E
.. - - - - .... _.' .-
NEGROES ilnported into the French Part of HISPANI()LA., in 1788.
Ports of
Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Amount.
Num. of
lm ... Veffels.
.-
Por.t au Prince
4,73
2 2,25 6
7
6
4 54
1
8,293 24
St. Marc -
- ' 1,665 645 .'230 60 -2;600 S
Leogane
- -
1,652
79
8
4
6
9 3
2
] 3,24
6
9
Jeremie -
-
88
75
23 -.
18 20
4
I
Cayes -.
-
1.,624 87
2
1,'245 849 4,59
0 19
Cape
5,9
1
3 2.,394 75
2 10;,573
37

15,674 .7,040
4,245 2,547 29,5
06
9
8
-----
----
-
In 1787, -:;OJ839 Negroes were imported into the French Part of St..
Domingo. .
The 29,506 Negroes imported ini;88, were fold for 61,936,190
Livres (Hifpaniola Currency) which on is live 2S"
each, beil?-g about . 60. fteliling.
ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONAL
NOT E S
AND
ILL U S T RAT ION s.
CHAP. I. p. 11.
I S applies equally to all the European Colon'ies
1. and accordingly the aClual_ condition qf the Negroes in all
thoft colonies, to whatever nation they belong, is, I believe, nearly
thcftme, ese.-
THI S is meant, however, rather as a general obfervation" than
a precife and accurate ftatement applicable to all cafes. Habit
alone has fo great an influence in national manners, as on fome.
occafions to counteraCt the plaineft dictates of felf-intereft. The
Dutch, for in fiance, are, as I have heard, habitually a cruel and .
unfeeling people. The fi:ate of flavery, therefore, in Surinam,.
differs probably, in many refpeCts, [roIn the fame condition of
life both in the Britiili and Spanifh Weft Indies. AOlong the
Spaniards the fuperfiitious obfervances of the Romilh Church
. with the fiothful dif pofition of the white inhabi-
tants, to produce a great relaxation ofdifcipline. On the other
hand, the Dutch difregard all religious fefrivals, and abhor idle--
nefs. Thefe cafes" ho,vever> are the 9Ppofite extremes.
E e CHAP&-
CHAP. I?
p. I I.
\....--.,,--.I
CHAP. 11.
p. 16.
~
ADDITION AL
- CH AP. 11. p. 16.
'The Society t"n France 'called l\.nlis des Noirs, was, I/;elt"eve,
originally formed on the m o ~ l if a ./inutar Ajfociation in Lon-
don, &c.
SINCE the foregoing lheets were printed, I have met with a
"rork publiihed this pre[ent year (1796) at Paris, entitled,
ReJlexions fur la Colonie de St. D0111ingue; the following pafTage
from which is given, as a ftriking illuitration of the foregoing
obfervation: fpeaking of the difcuffions which arofe in the
Britiili Parliarnent about the year 1789, concerning the Slave
Trade, the author continues thus: Les idees Anglaifes furent
un brandoll lance au milieu de- matieres corn buiribles,' et elles
furent accueillies en Fr-a-nce avec autant de fureur 'qu'on en
mettait preCedemnlent a adopter fes ridicules et la forme de
fes vetemens. 'Toute raifon de convenance et d'interet national:
fut fouh!e aux pieds; on fe prt!cipita dans le piege groffier tendu
a l'ignorance et a la prefomption, et 1'on ne par ut plus anime
que par la crainte d'etre pnfcede pat fes rivaux dans ce nouveau
champ de gloire. Soit que les inlaginations malades. ou forte,-
n1ent ebranlees, fe repaiifent plus volontiers de chimeres que 'de
realite, foit que des agens fecrets fuffent charges de cloaner .une
direction a l'amour violent de la nouveaute, les, creurs refterent
fees & infenfibles au fpeCl:acle de la mifere dont les ye-ux etoient
journellement frappes, pour ne s'occuper exclufivement que de
maux
AND
tnaux ifnaginaires ou eloignes, et fur lefquels on n'avoit que des
idees vagues. Taus les maux de l'humanite furent l'ouvrage
des intrigans, de ces hommes mille fois plus funefies a Ht fociete
que les brigands le plus feroces, &c.
RtjlexioJZs for la Colonie de St. Domingue, tom. i. P.72e
CH A P. Ill. p. 3 I.
CHAP. I!.
p. 16.

CHAP. IIr.
p. 31.
All that can be urged in extenuation, fle1ns to be that the ct'r- "
cU1Jljlances of the code were novel, and the Members if the Colonial
Ajfembly unexperienced 1Jz the bujinifs if legfllation, &c. '
A MOS T able and elaborate defence of the Colonial Aifembly
"vas drawn up by.one of its Members (Mr. de Pons) and'pub-
lifhed at Paris in wherein (as 'far as general
rules will admit) the' relation in which the Colony fiood to the
Mother Country, and the rights that diftinCtlyappertained to
each party, confiftently with that due fubordination which was
due from the child to, the parent, was clearly, and (with one
or two exceptions) I think very accurately defined. I ihall
prefent the reader with an extract from this performance, not
only as .illuftrating the cafe of St. Domingo, but as furniihing
fame hints which the government and colonies of Great Bri ...
tainmay not find unworthy attention, if unhappily difputes ihall
hereafter arife between them, concerning the extents of juri[dic-
tion on the one hand, and the tu obedience on the
other.
Un
CHAP. Ill.
P3
1

. t...--v--J
AD'DITIONAL NOTES
Un. principe d'ou font elnanes tous les'travaux de l' Aflemblw
de la Colonie, fut generalenlent adopte par tous res Metnbres,
c'efi: que les Colonies ne doivent intereff"er la Metropole, qu-'en
proportion des avantages qu'elles lui procurent. Cette confi.-
deration dut acquerir, dans l'efprit de. tous les Colons,. un ca-
radere de legalite. a tous les moyens- qui pouvoient affurer la
profperite de la Colonie, & augmenter fes ra pports avec la mere ...
patrie
. 11 auroit ete fans doute a fouhaiter, & il le feroit hien plus
encore, qu''une' meme Loi put convenir a tous ]es climats, a
toute efpece de mreurs, 'a toutes les populations; mais maI-
heureufement les hommes ne font pas les mernes' par-tout;
telle Loi qui convient dans un endroit:\ feroit nuifible dans un
autre.
L.' A ffemblee generale envifagea done la Conftitution de
Saint-Domingue fous trois rapports, toujours diriges d'apres fon
interet de refl:er unie a la Metropole, & d'apres la revolution
l'empire.
1 e. Comme faifant partie integrante de l' empire
2G. Comme obligee de concourir par fes produtlions a, la
profperite de,l'Etat.
3. Comme affujettie par la diifemblance de [on climat, de fes
mreurs & de fa population, a. des befoins particuliers & differens
de ceux de la Metropole,. ..
DIVISIO,N
AN.n ILLUSTRATIONS ..
DIVISION DE LA CONSTITUTION DE SAINT-DoMI.NGUE.
CES divers rapports firent divifer la Confiitntion convenable
l Saint-Domingue"
En .Loix generales;
En Loix communes,
Et en Loix particulieres.
LOIX GENERALES.
LES Loix generales de l'empire, celles qui intereffent tous Ies
clans quelque coin de la terre qu'ils foient places, fu-
'rent confid6rees comme obligatoires pour les Colonies, fans
auc'un examen, fans aucune reftriCtion.
Ces Loix font: la forme du Gouvernment, le fort de la
Couronne, la du Monarque, les Declarations de
guerre, les Traitesde paix, l'organifation generale de la Police
& de la J ufiice, &c. &c. L'interet des Colonies fe trouvant a
cet egard confondu avec celui de toute la Nation, l' Affemhlee
Nationale a feule le droit de ces Loix.
LOIX COMMUNES.
LEs Loix con1munes font celles qui ont rapport aux nHations
de la Metropole avec lesColonies; c'eft un contrat par Iequel
la France s'o1?lige de proteger &, defendre les Colonies contre
les puiffances etrangeres, de l'alnbition defqueIIes elles devien-
droient l'objet. 'Cette protection ne devant ni ne .pouvant 'etre
F f gratuite-a
2I7
CHAP. nr.
p. 31
\.--v---I
CPfAP' ..
po- 31.,

,ADDIT'IClN:A_L
gratuite; les Colonies doivent en dedommager: l'E-tat par les-
avantages dll Conunerce. Del.a" le regime;'prohibitif dans les-
fers duquel la defiinee les a' conda-mnes a: ndl:er touj.ours;, &.
quel que fait le degre de Iiberte- dont jouiffe la Nation., les C.o-
{eront toujours efclaves du Comnlerce. C:'efu une pofi-
tion politiqpe abfolume'nt inherente a leur pofition
cUes laiffent pas: echapper le l:noindre cUes fa-
vent biell que leur qualite de' ne leur donne' pas de:
dr.oit fur les deniers de l'Etat;" elles con[entent done a-.. ne reec--
voir que: de la France' tous-les- objets de' con[omn1ation {cs-
Manufactures' &: fon fol peuvent fournir ; elles en--
cor.e l'obligation de- leurs denrees: q:uJlen France ...
Ce ce qp.Jon ne:peut.leur refufer, c'eft
confacrant ces conventions fondamentaies,,. les. abus le r.e.-.
gime prohibitif entralne apr,es lui:foient detruits.
L ES Loix. particulielies (ant qlli: qJle les::-
Colonies. De grands motifs ont porte: la ColQnie_ de. Saiot-,
Domingue s'en; re[erver la'formation:: il eft bien reconnu-:
que les Loix de Saint-Dolningue ne peuven.t etre faites
que dans [on fein; cette verite f6ndamentale a echappe a. fan.
ennemi le plus cruel. M. la Luzerne,_dans. fon memoite ..
fente a r Affemblee le 2.] O.ctobre 1;Z89.,.
difoit que les Colonies_ n'on:t pu etre regies.-par le.s lnemes-
Loix ql.le le Royaume, &c- a fallu toujoUf&. le pOll_-.
voir a de'ux de Farce it
+
AND ILL U S "T RAT ION s.
-ell: "une infinite de q '(1" on ne pent conaoitre que fur CHAP. III-..
les lieux-. p. 3"1. :
Ce que generate s'eft refervee n'eft done que la
portioil du pouvoir h!giilatif qui refIdoit, contre le droit des
dans les mains de, deux f.atrapes, que la Colonie n"in-
teretfe q'ue par lesricheifes qu'iIs en retirent pendant .leut
triennat.
2. 11 "e:pe 'contraire aux principc$ confiitLitionnels, que belu!
qui fait la Loi n'y foit point aifujetti ..
. Taus les hommes ont Je droit de concourir a la formatioR
de laLoi a laqueHe ils font aifujettis; mais nul ne peut con-
coutir a la formation de celle qui ne" l'affujettit pas.
Ce principe, feul egide de la Iiberte feuI garant
de la bienfaifance de la Loi, n'a pas permis aux Colons de Saint ...
Domingue de douterq ue l' Aftemblee N ationale, difpen[atrice
des bienfaitstegerierateurs, n'approuvat cette difp6fitioh qui af-
lure la p"rofperite 'de
En effet, i1 ne peut pas en etre des Loix locales des SeCtions
cHoigrrees'de l;.Empire., comine des Loixqui n'intereifent que la.
France.
"La L6i decretee pour le Royaum"e eft la pour tous }e'5
Cantons. L)univerfalite des Deputes de l' Affembh!e N
en intereifee a en examiner fcrupuleufement tous les rapports,
a en confiderer tous les avantages & tOllS Ies inconveniens" De
iOtte que l'interet que tous ont a ce que-la LOi, du vice de la-
F f 2 quelIe
J
111 . quelle ils. feroient eux-me'mes les viCl:imes, ne fait que le fruit"
E 3,1. d'une longue meditation, & de reflexions langnement" &,
gneufement difcutees,. en aifure la fageffe ....
Les Loix de Saint-Domingue n'aifujettiffant que
les habitans qui y refident Oll qui y ont leurs fortunes, n'inte-
reiTent dans l'Affemblee NatioJ?llle que. les douze __ Deputes des.
.-
3. Une des <;onditions effentielles, a: la bonte de la eft"
que celui qui.1a fait,.con'noiife parfaitement.les rapports qui doi='-
vent la. Or, nulne pent conno1tre. les particularites .
locales que celui qui eft fur les Iieux, parce q:ue ces m-elnes pat:.!'"
ticularites changent & varient; &il faut la L,oi fait :faite, .
d'apres ces' changemens, d'apres ces variationso. '
4. 11 eft' hien conitant que les liens de, la S'ociete font
pouvoirs etablis pour en faire executer .les. conditionso '
Le bonheur de, toute confritution-' depend abfolument'd'une
aCtio!} egale dans ces differens ,pau voirs .;. c' eft .cette. egaJite. feule
qui en maintient l'equilibreo".
11 faut necefTairement a .Saint-Daminque:un pouJ.
voir executif ; .. car le malheur des Societes que la raifoIl
n' aille jamais en politique qU'a cote de la forceAJ Si ce pouvoir
n'eftbalance: par aucun autre, il finira par:tout envahir, & par
fubftituer l'oppreffion aux bienfaits de la regeneration' a: laquelle
la revolution aCl:uelle donne a tous les Frans:ois le droit de pre-
tendreo 11 ne pent done etre contenu dans' [es .bornes que pat:
une.
.A: ND ILL U ST RAT 1'0 N;S.,
221
une mae proportionnee de, pouvoir legiflatif,. dont il ait CHAP.lIIo
douter la-furveillance.. p. 3
1

LE S" prirrcipes: de-!' .Aifemblee . N ationale' a ce
decrete la Conftitution . particuliere de Saint-Domingue.
Celle de la France a pour bafe la liberte, l' egalite 5 celle de
Saint.;.Dbmingue repofe malheureufement fur la fervitude, & uqe
diftinCtion de clafies, d'ou depend la confervation de cette fu-
perbe Colonie. Tous les raifonriemens' poffibles echoueront -
contre cette verite .
Ces obfervations, hien" analyfees dans l'
generale, la raffurerent fur la crainte qU'elle avoit de ne point fe
trouver d'accord avec les principes de l' Affemblee Nationale!J'
&.de. a la calomnie'le pretexte'd'inculper fes intentionso
" "Les difterens Membres de l'Affemblee generale 'etoientbien
eloignes de pn.!voir' que l'heureufe revolution' qui a porte la joie'
& l'enthoufiafme dans les cceurs de tous les Franyois,; finirait
par porter a Saint-Domingue le deuil & la defolation. ...
porte. a .la France; q fait l10tre regime domeftiq ue, pburvu
qll'il tende a 'augmenter 1es" produCtions de la Colonie? pputvu
nous [oyons affujettis aUK Loix generales de' l'Empire?
pourvuque nous refpeCtions les rapports commerciaux? pourvu
que nous regardions 'la fujetion-.de ne traiter' qU'ayec ,la
COlnnle un jufte dedommagement de la :proteClion & des fecours
qU'elle nous accorde? pourvu que nous executions les Decrets
de l' Nationale, en tout ce, qui n'eft point contraire aux

11.
\ -
CHAP. IlL
,P31-.

CHAP. IV ..
P49-
ADDl'TIONAL NOTE'S
11 itnportea la Fl-ance que nous foyons heurenx., que nons
les den-rees & les marchandifesqu'eIie peut :nous
fournir, . & que Daus lu"i 'envoyions en echange beaucoup de
fucre, -de cafe, d'indigo, de cbton, de:cacao, &c .. Eufin,. illui
itnporte que la-Conftitution 'de .Saint-.Domingue fait.' telle,
qU'-elle uriiffe pour jamais cette Colonie a la Metropole, .&;
.concoure, ,par fes richeffes, :a lapr-ofperite de l'Etat.
D'apres ces refle.xions., fimples. & vraies, l' AiTemblee gene,:""
rale de Sai,nt-Domingue pofa -fes bafes conilitutionnelle's clans
fan Decret du 28 Mai(N .. 3--)
'C H ,A P. IV. p. 49.
.'--v--/ BuppreJ!ed it certain./ywt1s, and themfftrableOg! hurried to tm ..
. med/ate executzon, as if to prevent the further comtnunication and
full difclofure -ojJo weightyaflcret.
'THIS is a very remarkable faCt, and leads to moil: re:"
-fieCtions concerning the conduCt of the French loyalifi:s in Sto
Domingo; I fhall therefore prefent the reader with Oge's dying
declaration at length, as copied verbatini ,from the public re-
cords, when the difclofure was made nme months
to the Colonial Aifembly.
TESTAMENT
' ...
ANI>' .lI: L,US T RATIONS.
I;'
TES:TAIVIENT DE MORT D'OGE.
EXTRAlT des minutes du Con[eil Superieur1du Cap, l'an Inil
lept cent quatre-vingt-onze et le neuf mars
t
nous Antoine-
Etienne Ruott:e, confeiUer da roi,. doyen au Confeil Superieur duo
Cap, et PouTchereffe de Vertieres, aufii confeiller
du roi au Confei:l Superie!lf duo Cap, commiffaires nommes par la,
COUf, a l'effet de faire executer l'arretdeladite cour,.dus. du.prefent
mois,. portant condamnatioll de mort contre le nomme Jacques.
Oge, dit Jacquot, quarteron libre; leque]; etant en la . chambre'
criminelle, et 'apres leCture faite dudit arret, en ce qui le con-
cerne; a dit et declare, pour la'decharge de fa confcience, fer-
ment prealablement par lui prete, la main levee devant nous,. de
dire verite,,-.
dans le commen-cement du mois de [evrier dernier, fi les
iivieres n'avoient pas ete debordees,. il devoit fe faire un attroupe-
ment de' gens de couleur, qui devoient entralner. avec eux les
ateliers, et d'evoient venir fondre fur la ville du Cap -en. nambre'
tres-confiderable;, qu'ils etoient meme deJa reunis all nambre
de ODze mille ho.mmes ,;.que. le debordement des, rivieres' eft le
feu!' obffacle qui a empeches. de fe nfunir;; cette
de c.ouleur etant compoIee de ceux. du Mirebalais, de'
r:Artioonite; du; Lirilbe, de la. Grande -Riviere,
et de .. toute la'Colorue. cette . it..
tHait fortidu Cap cent hommes. .de.couleur pour .fejpindre:a cette
troupe. Qe l'accufe eft affure que les de cette revolte:
font les De.clains, .. negres libres de la. Grande-Riviere". accufes
au
223
CHAP.IVo
P49-

CHAP.IY
p.

au proces_.; DUlnas, 11. 1.,; Yvon, 11. 1.; Bitozin, m. 1. ';
. Pierre Godard et Ion' on. L de 'lcl.'Grande ...
Riviere.; Legrand Mazeau .et Touit'lint l\;f.azeau, n. 1.,j'Pierre
111.-1.; Ginga Lapaire,,. IJamadieu, les
"Jean ,Pierre Gouay. Jofeph Lucas, mulitres libres; ,Maurice:,
n. 1..; taus accufes au proces ..
les grands n1oteurs, aubas de la cote, font les nommes
Daguin, accufe au ,proces.; Rebel, demeurant au Mirebalais_;
Pinchinat, acctife au proces j,Labafiilie, egaletnent accufe au
'proces; et que racc.ufe, ici prefent, croit devoir nous declarer
etre un des p1us .. 4e la qui amu en
grande partle qui a eclate clans les environs de Saint-Marc,
et qui cherche a en exciter une nouvelle; qu'il y a dans ce mo-
ment plufieurs gens de couleur, dans differens quartiers, bien
'refolus a. tenir a Ieurs projets, malgre que ceux qui trenlperoient-
dans' la perdroient la vie'; 'que }'accufe, ici prefent, ne
peut pas fe reffouvenir du nom de taus; n1ais qu'il fe rappelle que
le fils de'Laplace, q.l.; dont lui accuf6 a vu la [reur clans les
prifons, a quitte le Limbe pour aller faire des' r-ecrues clans le
quartier d'Ouanaminthe; et que ces recrues et ces foulevemens
de gens de couleur font foutenus ici par la prefencecles llommes
Fleury et l'Hirondelie Viard., deputes des gens de couleur aupres.
de l'aifembh:!e nationale; que lui ici ignore fi
les deputes fe tierinent chez eux; qu'il croit que le
Fleury fe tient au'Mirebalais, et le nomme l'Hirondelle Viard
clans le quartier de la Grande-Riviere.
Iui accufe, ici prefent, declare que
voltes ,exifte dans les (outerrains: qui fe trouvent _ entre: la
a Marcan et le Canton du Giromon, pa'roiife' la, Grande-;
Riviere; qu'en confequence" fi'lui accufe pOUVQit
fur les lieux, i1 fe feroit fort de prendre' revoltes;'
que l'agitatien dans laquelle il fe trouve, relativement a fa pofi-
tion aauelle, ne lui permet pas de nous donner des plus
circonfiancies; qu'il nous les donnera par la [uite, lqrfqu'iL fera
un peu plus tranquil;. qu'il lui :vient en ce h?-0ment a
nomme Caftaing, libre de c.ette de.pendance; ne
trouve :manier'e dans rafiaire mais
nOlls que)1 fon frere Oge :eut Juivi J'im-,
dudit Cafiaing, i1 fe feroit 'a de bien. plus, grandes
extremites; qui eft tout ce qu'i1 nous a dit pouvoir nous declarer
gans moment, dont lui aVOilS don ne aCte, qu'il a figne avec
nous et le greffier.
Signe i la J. RUO,frE, POURCHERESSE
, DE ,VER _ LANPAIS,,-greffier., '
EXTRA1T des minutes du greffe'du ConJeil Superieur du Cap,
ran mil fept le dix mars,trois herires
de relevee" en' la chambre rious 'Aritoihe...;Etienne
Ruotte, confeiller du 'roi, doyen duConfeiI Superieur du' 'Cap,
et Jofeph de Vertieres', auffi confeiller, du roi
audit Confeil sit periellr du-Cap, cominiffaires nommes par la'
cour, fllivant arret- de ce jour, rendu- fur les conclufions du pro-
cureur general du'roi de ladite cour, a de proceder au re- '
colement de la declaration faite par le nOlnme Jacqnes 'Og6,
G g lequeJ,
caAP ..
p. 49-;

CRAP. IV. lequeT,apres' ferment par lui 'fait, la "main levee devant "nous ae.-
P:4i9.; dire . .la v.erite, eta pres lui. avciir: fait" pat le de la.
-.declaration: du jour ravons interpelle:de nOlls declarer .ii:
ladite contient verite,. s,'il veut rien . -n'y
et.s'il y' pediae.
_ A repondu; q:ue ladite declaration du jour d'hier contient:.
verite, y perfifre,. 'qu'il y ajoute que les' deux' Didiers
freres, dont l'un plus grand que l'autre, mulftttes ou: quarterons
libres-, ne.les . .vu que cette fois-; Jean-Pierre G'erard, In'.
du Cap,'et eaton, 1. aufli du' Cap"font em1110yes a gagner:- ,
les ateliers. de' la (}rande.,-Riviere,; qu:'ils font enfemble de jour;)
et que. de. ils font difperfes. - -
Ajoute encore que lors de- fa cenfrontation avec Jacques -Lucas;,
iI a ete- dit par ce dernier, que Iui ici prelent
Je
Vavoit me-
nace de le Jaire pendre; a lui accufe; a. repondu a
Jacques Lucas, favoir que Jacques .
. Lucas n'ayant pas infifie, lui accufe pas declare le' motif de'
cette In en ace,. pour ne pas perdre ledit' Jacques, Lucas ;
nQ\Js eUes . fe font ;. que ledit.
lui ayan,t git qu'iJ. f9:1,develes de M. Bonamy
et q,e divexs: de. la p9\lr aller.
, l" h M C dO ).. I ,l
ego.rg.er . C; .,e=9. . ' Ineau j all p.rero.1e,r coup
cQfne, i1 f4r c.es s' fe- Jo.in-
dl;'oit1ot a la tWs' - .1Qi teBant
Qlancs, de. a4 Jac'"'l
que pendu;.
<I,u'il l'in,nant a fau-e les
clans
ANp IL L' U ST R AT I O N S,
. . -. . .... ' .: ,. - . .:
, (tans diff'erep$ coins_ avec ,que ici prefcnt,
,pogs qu'ila donne audit porppoi1elles de' tafia,
trois bouteilles de vin et du pain;' qu'il que
ledit Lucas en fui[oit; que la troifieane fois que ledit Lucas en
vint chercher; IlJi ici pr4.fentJ ,1ui qu'il
faifoit de ces vivres; ledit repondit <J.u.e c'6tojt
_ P9ur qu'il avoit difperfe de q?e
qJ.Ji prouve que ledit Lucas le de foulever les
<1[claves contre et de faJre
c'eil: la propofition qu'il fit a Vincent fr.ere de
, lui accufe, de, v.enir [tIr l'ha bitation J acq ues Ll,1.cas? pout
etre plus a portee de [e Joig.dre aux negres qu'il ayoit
que iilui ,accufe n'.a pas fajts a (a confrontat;ion
ledit J acqtJesLucas, c'efi qu'il s'efr qu'ils n'etoient pas
, c.Onu.u.s, et qu'il pas youlu le perdre; qu'il a du moinsla fatis-
faCtion ce cri01e horrible et cannibale; qu'il
.s' etpit de, en j ,tors de fon
que ce meme Lppas cehli quia vouJu couper la a deux
blao.cs prifonniers, et I).otamment au pour lui avoir
, enlev.e une femme; que Pierre'Roubert ota le fabre des mains
de LUGas, et appella ,Tin5=ent ,Oge" frere de lui
ici prefent, qui :fit aU9it que cepen'dant
ces prifoIaniers ont en jufiice que lui qui
avoit eu ce deifein; que meme a la confrontation ils le lui ont
foutenu ;mais que le fait s'etan,t de nU,it, le(dhs prifonniers
ont .pris, lui pour l(!dit Luc,as" ]ui accufe n'a
ceife delescombler ; lr;t, luj accufe
a cru qu'iletoit [uffifant de clirc que ,ce t:l'et9it pas lui, et d'afiir-
mer qu',il n'avoit jamais cette femtne.;
G g 2 hui


" ,

,.' ..,..,

" .. ' ."" ..
CHAP. IV. ilfe croyoit oblige,. pour la decharge de fa
', .. : ..:P .. :notts reridre les faits tels qu'ils font" et d' infifter
l'a .. jamais'conriue .... " .
"
Ajout;e' 'raccufe' que le' nomme . Fleury et Periffe; lepre--
miet, l'un: des dep':ltes des' gens de couleur pres de l'afTemblee.
font arrive's'en cette Colonie par un batirnent:
lais :avec le nomme rHirondel-le Viard; que le capitaine a' mis
les'deux premiers' a Acquin, 'chez un nomme Dupont, homme de
coUleur; et le nOnime l"Hirondelle Viard, egalement'depute des
gens de au Cap. Ajoute encore f'accufe, qu'iI nous avoit
'declare, le jour d'hier, nOmlne Laplace, dontle pere efi ici
dans les p'rifons
j
faifant des a 'Ouanaminthe, eft' :,d.u' nbrfl-
bre de 'ceux qui ont marche du Lin1be contre le' Cap;' que
pour eloign er les foup9ons, il eft aUe ap Port-l\1argot, DU: il s'eft
tellU 'cache' plufieurs jours, 'feignant d:>avoir une fluxion; que
ledit Laplace pe-re adit, a lui accufe, qu'il '. etoit' fur' que fon .
. voifin, qui eft un blanc, ne depofera pas contre lui, malgre qu'il
fache toutes fes den1arches; qu'il etoit afilu'e que le non1me
,Girardeau, detenu prifon, ne declareroit rien, parce qu'il etoit
trop fon ami pour le decouvrir,; qu'enfuite, s'il le if
. feroit force d'eh denoncer beaucoup d'autres, tant duLimbe que,
des' autres quartier.s:.
,Obferve r accufe que lorfqu'il nOllS' a pa'rIe des moyens em-
ployes par Jacques'Lucas pour foulever les' negres efclaves, il a
olnis de nous dire que Pierre Maury avait envoye une trentaine
chez LucilS; que lui accufe, avec l'agrement d'Oge'!e
jeune., (on renvoya, ce qui occafionna une plainte gene ...
les gens de couleur difantque c'etoit du renfort; que lui
a,ccu{ci,
A N'D " I:L LU.ST'R-A T I
:a.ccu[e eutmenle a'cette ,occafion' une rixe avec le plus, grand
:.des Didiers,avec1equelil manqua 'de febattre,au pifrolet, pour'
vouloir lui foutenir qu'&ant libre et. cherchant a etre afiimih!
aux. blanes, . il n' etoit 'pas fait pour etreaffi.lnileaux ne-
gres efclaves; que d'ailleurs foulevant les e{claves, c'etoit
detruire les proprietes des blanes, et qu'en les detruifant" ils
detruifoient les leurs propres; que depuis que lui accufe etoit
'dans les prifons, il avu un; petit 'billet 'ecrit par ledit .Pierre
Maury a }ean-Frans-ois .. Teffier,:par lequel il -lui marque qu'il
continue a rama1Ter, et que le negre nomme Coquin, a-la dame
veuve Cafiaing arme d'une de garni en ar-
gent et d'une manchette que Iedit Maury lui a veille a
'tout'ce qui fe 'paffe, et rend compte taus ,les fairs' audit Maury ;
qui 'eft tout ce que ici prefent,. 'nOllS declare, et.'l- nous
coujurant d'etre perfnades que, s'il Iui etoit pollible d'ohtenir'
miferieorde, il s' expoferoit volontiers a tous Ies danger.s pour faire
a-rreter les chefs de ces n;voltes;. et que dans toutes les circon-
fiances, il 'prouvera [on zele e.t fourefpecl po'ur les blanes.
, LEGTURE a lui de fa declaration, dans Iaquelle it' perfifie:
pour contenir ver.ite>. lui en donnons aCte, q.u'il a fignc' avec nous
et le greffier ..
Signe,i la minute J. RUOTTE, POUCHERESSES.
DE VER'TIERES, 'et LAN'DAIS" greffier.
expedition eollationee; figne- gr.effier.
.... .. ..
"A copy of the preceding document, the exiftenceof which
1 had heard of, but very much doubted, was tranfmitted
to
CHAP.IVe
49-

:.230
tomerom St. Domirigo in the :month of July 1795, 'inclofeci
in a letter from a gentleman of -that ifland, whefe attachment
iIr ....J
to 1:he Britiili. Cannot be fufpeCl:ed., and whofe means ,
:mationwere equal to any: This 'Letter is too remarkable to
be {)nlitted, and I hope, .as I .conceal his name) that the writer
will pardon its publication': It here f01l0WS.
'. .
Je vousenvoye :ci joint, le teftament de JaquesOge execute
.au Cap ;le 9 Mars 1.791. 'Yoici mes reflexions fur les'
les faits-:
. '10. Jaques Oge depofe le connu ae:puis long tems
par les Briffotins dont il etoit Ull des Agents. .11 Domme
les chefs des Mulatres) qui dans toutes les parties la
:Colonie devoient executer un plan digne des Suppots de
l'enfer
.2
0
11 depofe que rab on dance despluies les .. erues
:Des :rivieresavoient empeche IJexecutiondu projet au meis
.de fevrier.
3. I1 declare quefi on veut lui- accorder mifericorde,
il s' expofera aux dangers de faire arreter les chefs.
Oge eft execute, avecvingtde le .9. 179 r.
Son teframent eft garde fecret jufqu'a la fin de '1'791 (apres
l'incendie generale de la 'partie du Nord)qu'un de r Af-
fembh!e Coloniale oblige imperieufenlent le Greffier du Con1eil
du Cap a en delivrer des copies. Q.!!e Helas" .q ue
-les cou pables font auffi nombreux qu' atroces et crueis'! .
3
AND I L LU ST RAT IO N'S.
ten. Coupables: Les hommes de nOlnmes par la de- CHAP. IV.
pofition d)Oge. p. +9'
La.. '.
2., (et an rp-oins autant s'ils ne font plus) Le ConCeit du Cap,
qui a faire.executer Oge, et qUI a garde Iefecret fur res. de:-
pofitions .fi interreffantes.. -
3:. Le General Blanchelande- et tous les chefs militaires quii
JilOn. pas fait arreter fur toutes les' perfonnes- de Cbuleur
par Oge et ne les opt confr:ontes avec lear accufateur .
Mais Doa: on a pr,ecipite. l'execution du malheureux Oge.; on
a, garde un fecret dont la puolicite' fauvoit- la Colonie.O'n a:
milfe libres, tous lea. chefs des revoltes; on. les a laiffe: pour-
leursprojets. deftruClifs ...
Si les Chefs ffi-ilitaires, le- les magiilrats civils,
fait arteter au mois, de Mars 179 I, les mulatres Pinchinat,.'
Cafiaing,Viard,. et tous les autres, ils n'auroient pas- pu con-
leur'crime le 2.5; fuivant.. Les Regimens de Nor-
mandie eJ d' qui d' de etoient..
, aiTes: fOJtts POUf tousles gens de corueur coupables" et
s'ils ne l'avoie'ntpas ete, et. ere fut le motif,. eut em-
peche Blanchelande dtagir, pourquoi Blanchelande envoya tH"
an roois de, Mai 1'79 I >, des tro,upes- de ligpes que lui envoyoit de
la Ma.rtiniqJ)e,. M.. d.e:. Rehague E.
La ferie de tOllS ces faits prouve- evidelnent la coalition des
contre revolutionaires avec les Mulatres, dont ils ont ete la dupe,..
vitt.ime .. ra;riyee Polverel et San-
thonax .. -.
2]Z

p. sf?

A 0 PI T ION A, L NOT E S
CHAP. V. P.56.
Maudut"t JlJarted back,'&c.-rzvhile a jingle If/ted
uiJ tit his difellce.' ,- ',' " . . ::
,....; ,
:'In this; laftparticular 'I-was an:d-.rej<?ice that
I have an opportunity of correCting my m:ifiake., The, fol-
lowing detail of that bloody tranfaCtion has been' tranfmitted to
me from St. Dotningo {inee the firfi iheets were ,printed: H, Les
grenadiersdu regiment de Mauduit, ,et d'autres vo'ix parties
la foule,' demandent que le Colonel faffe reparation a la garde
nationale. On exige qu'il faffe des excufes' pour l'infulte qu'il
lui a fait. 11 prononce les excufes qu'on lui demande;
grenadiers, ne font points fatisfaits, ,ils veulent qu'il les faffe a
genoux. U ne rumeur terrible fe fait entendre: ce fut alors que
plufieurs citoyens, mb,te de ceux que Mauduit avail le plus' vex!,
fendent la foule, et cherehent a le foufiraire au mouvement qui
fe preparoit. On a vu dans ee moment le brave
apres avoir ete atteint d'un coup de feu a -l'affaite du 29 au 30
JuilIet, en defendant le comite (fie page 34) recevoir un, coup
de sabre en protegeant les jours de Mauduit . On petit r'endre
juftice _auffi a deux officiers de Mauduit: Galeflau et Germain
n'ayant pas abaridonne leur Colonel jufqu'au,
mais des foldats etoit a fon comble, et il n'etoit
plus temps.
MAUDUiT preffe par {es grenadiers; de s'ag.enouiller, pour
demander pardon a la garde nationale, et refufant confiamment
de
AND ILL U S T RAT ION s.
de sty foumettre, re9ut un coup de sabre a la .figure, qui le,
terraifa; un autre gl-enadier lui coupa a l'inftant' la tete, qui fut
portee au bout d' une bayon1Zette. Alors le reff'entiment des foldats
et des matelots livres a eux memes, n'eut plus de bornes: ils fe
tranfporterent chez Mauduit, oll ils trainerent fon corps, tout y
fut brif6, rompu, &c. on d6earela meme la maifon
t
&c. &c.
C H A P. VI. p. 77-
233
CHAP. V.
P56.
\.-.-.---:
CHAP. VI.
p. 77-
It was COfJ1puted that, witb-in two 1110nths after the revolt began, '--v--I
upwards'if 2,000 white per:fol1s had been majJacred, & c .
I N the month of Ot1ober 1791 the Colonial A{[enlbly of
St. Domingo,fent two Commiffioners (Mefs. Raboteau and Le-
moine) to negociate a loan of 'nloney in the Ifland of Jamaica;
on the fecurity of their internal taxes a'nd port duties. As an
ACt of Affembly was necellary to give effect to the meafure, it.,
, was propofed in the hou{e, by the author of this work, to
011 this oecaGon . 100,000 of the publick money, but the mo-
tion was over-rilled by' a majority.' The houfe however or-
dered the Receiver to advance the, French Commiffioners
l.lo;ooo Sterling on the fecurity of bills by the Colonial
Government on the treafury of France; but this offer was de-
clined by the Colonial Affembly. In the courfe of this bufinefs
the French Commiffioners were examined at the bar, and from
the examination of on'e of thofe ge:ntlemen I have feletl=ed [ome
, H h ()f
VI.
p77;'

A.'DDITIONAL NOTES.
of the particulars given in the text. It is a curious and impor-
tan,t document; and conceiving that 'fome of my readers win
not be difpleafed' to. have an opportunity of perufing the whole"
I hive fubjomed it,.. as follows:
(,. ON 16th ofOaober lail: (1791) when I left Cape Vran-
s:ois, 182 fugar plantations, and 950 coffee, cotton, and indigo
fettlenlents had been plundered and deftroyed, and the buildings
thereof burnt down; one hundred thoufand naves,. as can
be computed, were in rebellion, and the men of Colour in a ftate
0f infurreCtion in every part of the Colony except round the
Cape. An the whites that fell into their hands were indifcrimi-
nately murdered, and about 1,200 families reduced to fuch a
dreadful :tate of mifery, that they \vere forced to receive their
clothing and fufiftance either from public or private charity.
it The 10[s. in this year's crop ,\-vas eftimated' at *
St. Domingo livres, which are nearly equal to . 50 ,000
fof the currency of Jamaica. The value of the capital could
not then be afcertained, but it rnuft amount to an immenfe
nun, confidering the 10[s of frock, flavesJI arid buildings.
41 Since I left the town of the Cape, the rebellion has extended
it!elf to' the eaftern parts of the plain, and 246 coffee fettle ...
tlements and a few fugar plantations have been deilroyed; this
will add about [,.,300,000 t Jamaica currency to the 10fs of this:
year's crop.
* Nearly [,. J ,900,000 fterling. . .
2
t 1:. 2 Ioi}oofierling.
The.
. A N D ILL U S T R A.T ION S.
ct: The lail: accounts I have received from St. Domingo inform
Ine,. that detachments of regulars and militia have in
furpfifing and difperfing feveral negro in con-
fequence of which a few gangs of flaves have returned to their
rnafters' efiates;. hut thefe advantages have occafioned extreme
fatigue. to our troops, though they have not been able to reduce
even the of the rebels.
" The quarters of Doudon and Grande Riviere are occupied
by fuch a number of rebels, that \-vithout a larger body of
troops than- we are . poife1fed of, \ve cannot attempt to attack
them with any hope of [ucce[s.
" We are reduced to remain {hut up as it were within the
town of the Cape, and it \vith great difficulty that vie can
inan the line of poits which are necefi:1.ry to prevent the rebels
from attacking the weftern and. fouthern parts of the W.and.
N otwithftanding the activity of our troops, a body of the rebels
found m{:ans to pafs thofe pofis, .in order to fpread their ravages
, in the mountains of L'artibonite, caned Les Caho.f; the inha-
bitants whereof have united their forces to repul[e and itop
.them, but after killing a fe"r, t4e reft efcaped into the "roods,
and there is rea(on to apprehend that the rebellion may [oon
extend itfelf to that part of the ifianc;l, which \vould in a few
days become a prey to a general conflagration
. " At this jllnct:ure ,\-ve received a copy of the decree of the
national aifemblyof the 24th of September lafr,_ \vhereby our
. rights are acknowledged; but we fear too late. ,,1 e have only
H h :2 a copy
23S
CHAP. VI ..
.p. 7'1-
CHAP.-VI.
, 'p. 77-

a copy of the decree, it has not been received officially, no
troops are yet arrived to enforce the execu tion of it; and that
decree in ay , in our critical circutn.ftances, add to our calamities.
inafn1uch as the free people of colour, knowing the- enormity of
their crimes, declare that they will {aaner periih than fubmit
to this lail: decree; they are again fanning a camp in the parifll-
of La Croix des Bouquets, near Port au Prince,.md every hoar
I dread to hear of their having commenced hoftilities againft
the white inhabitants; if fo, our -ruin is inevitable.
" If this illould unfortunately be the cafe, your Ifiand, Gentle-
men, would of eau rfe be expofed to fimilar defiruCtion, as the
fuccefs of our flaves \vould induce your own to rebel againft
you.
" Negroes have not [ufficient refolution to encounter the
whites in the- field of battle.; but'no men bear with greater for-
titude hunger, pain, and fatigue, when once their -imagination is
heated, and their refolution fettled; we have amongft us men,
,vho, pretending to be philanthropifts" have preached freedonl
even to our ilaves ,; thefe men are conneCted with Inen of \JV'eight
and fortune in Old France, by whom they are, greatly encou-
raged, and \vho are alfo connected with the philanthropifts in
Great Britain, froJn whqje conduB, indeed, the firfl example was
taken; and I moft fincerely -pray" that this iiland may not be
expofed to the fame evils as have refulted alnongft us from
fu.ch an enonnous -mifinterpretation and mifapplication of phiod
lanthropical principles.
" The
.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS.,.,
l The means leff'us for our de(ence are but fe, and feeble,
and it is indeed furprifing that we have been able to refift Gur
enemies for fo long a, tilne; we owe much to the power of opi-
nion, and't@ the fuperiority the negroes have been accuftomed
to yield to the whites. The forces we have to defend every part'
of the colony, confiils of about I GOO men of the regiments of
Artois and Normandy; 700 of the regiment of the Cape, in-
cluding the fick, who are in great J?umber; 1200 ftipendiary
troops, paid - by- ourfelves;, and 6000 or 7000 militia, which
have been without the leaft difc'ipline or order ever fince our
fatal political divifions. Our maritime force confifrs ill one
{hip of 7 4 guns,. two frigates, and two floops of ,var co.
" It is with fuch feeble lneans that \ve are to' face the free
people of colour, and the flaves in rebellion. We have applied
for relief to our neighbours and allies, the Spaniards; but it has
been refufed by the Spanifh gevernment, with inhumanity and
infult; private men among them, and- fame of the commanding
officers on the lines between us and them",appear to have flcond-
, ed the rebels" by ftpplying theln with ammunition, and by deliver-
ing into their hands JoJne if tbe wretched inhabitants, had )led
to then] for refuge.,
" Our publick treafury is not only free of debt, but there i&,
even mORey due to it, yet it is abfolutely empty; it being un-
pollible at prefent to colleCt the taxes, or otherwife to provide
for the expenee by the war, and the neceffity of
gi-ving relief to, unfortunate' families in \vanta,
CHAP. VI.
P77
Cl-lAP. VI.
p. 77

CHAP.
VII.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
" The fiate of our monthly expenees is nearly as follovvs :
3000 regular troops, at 3 livres a-day, is 9000
livres a-day, equal per month to - 270,090
4oqo women, and children at public allow-
ance, at 2 livres a-day, is per month - 240,000
Expences of officers, clothing, arms,_ ammuni-
tion, &c. - 410,000
Total Livres - 920,000
of St. Domingo currency, or about .34,166 * Jamaica cur-
rency per month, without including feveral other extraordinary
expenees, fuch as that of adminifi:ration, rewards, maritime ex-
peditions, &c.
" Were we deprived of the neceffary funds to pay our troops,
and to [upply them with provifions, they [oon would join the
mulattoes, and we ihoi.ild be ruined without any refource. The
forces which are expected from Europe would arrive too late;
and they could then only revenge, and nO.t defend us.
" RABOTEA lJ."
CHAP. VII. p .. 8S-
p. 85
..
'The flciety of Anus des Noirs reflrted without flruple t(J thofl lllf!Cl-
I fores which their fellow labourers in London fii'l hifitated to adopt
JE repeterai que c'eit a vous; d.e
philantropie! qu' appartient l'honneur de ces bouleverfements:
:)(: .. 240,500 fterling.
c'eft
AND' ILL US T RAT ION S.
c.'e1l: a VOilS feuls que 1'0n poit le deperiffement des reff'ources
nationales. Si VOllS n'aviez pas fappe jufqu'aux fondeInens .--la
plus. brilIiante colonie de &c. &c.
Rejlexions fitr la Col(}nic, de St. Domingue, tom. p. 66.
C H A P. X. p. 142
239
CHAP.
VII.
p. 8S-

CHAP ..
x.
They declared by prOCla1Jlation all manner of jlavery aboliJhed, p. 14
2
.

&c.-This proceeding ,vas. ratified in February,. followed by
the National Convention in a Decree, of which follows a Copy.
DECRET de la Convention Nationalel' ,du 16 Jour de' Plu-
viofe; an fecond de la Republique une et indivi-
ble.
LA Convention Nationale decla're que l'efclavage des Negres
dans toutes les Colonies eft aboli;. en eonfequence el1e' decrete
que taus le hommes" fans difiinCtion de couleur, domicilies dans
, Colonies, font citoyens et jouiront de tous les droits.
aifures par la conftitution.
ELLE renvoie au comite de falut public, pour lui fnire , in-
ceff"ament un rapport 1ur les mcfures a prendre pour aifurer'
l'execution du prefent decret .
VUe par les infpecreurs. Si"gnl
Augeu;
Cord ie r,.
So- E . Monnelo
Collationn6-
5 Feb.


CHAP.
x.
p. 142

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Collationne a l'originai, par nous prefident et fecretaires de
la Convention Nationale, a Paris le 22 'Germinal, an fecond
de la Republique Franqaife une et indivifible. Signl, Amar,
Prijident. A. M. Baudot. Monnot. Ch. Pottier, et
Secretaires.
As nloil: of the iflands fell into polTeffion of the Eng-
liih [oon after that this extraordinary decree was pronlulgated,
the only place ""here it was attempted to be enforced, was in
the fou thern province of St. Domingo, . and the mode of en-
forcing it, as I have heard, ,was as fingular as the decree itfelf.
'-rhe negroes of the feveral plantations were called together,
and infonned that they were all a free.people, -and at liberty to
quit the fervice of their n1afiers whenever they thought proper ..
-They were told however, at the fame -time, that as the Re-
publick wanted foldiers, and the ftate allo,ved no man to be
idle, fuch of them g,S left their mafiers, would be compelled' to
el}lift in one or other of the black regiments then forming.
At firft many of tile negroes accepted the alternative, and en-
lifted according;Jy; but the reports they foon gave of the rigid
difcipline and hard fare to \vhich they were fubjeCt, operated in
a furprifing manner on the refi, in keeping them more than
ufuall'y quiet and induftrious; and they requefted that no change
ll1ight be made in their condition.
eHA P.
AND
C I-i A P.. X. p. 143-
Of rht revolted negroes fn !/;e Northern province, many had
perifhed of difeaJe and famine. & c.
FROM the vaft number of negroes that had fallen in
and the frill greater' number that perilhed from the caufes above
-mentioned, it was comp'uted in the year 1793 that this clafs of
people at that period had fufiained a diminution of more than
'one hundred thoufand. (Rejlexions jitr la Colon/e, &c" tom. 2.
p.' 2. I 7.) Since that time the mortality has been frill more
rapid, and, including the 10fs of whites, by ficknefs and emigra-
tion., I do not believe that St. Domingo at this junCl:ure (J
'1796) contains more than two fifths of the whole number of
inhabitants (white and black) which it poffeifed in the beginning
of 179 I .. -According to this calculation upwards of 300,000
'. hUn1all. beings have miferably periilied in t1lis devoted
within the laftfi:x years!
C H A 1'. X. p. 14-7-
..
'ihe propoJitio,,!s; or terms qf capitulation, had been pre1Jioujly ad.
juJled between tbe people qf1eremie, by iheir Agent, Mr. Charm/fly,
anld General Williamfln, &c.
As 1 conceive that thefe articles were drawn up in
adjuftedwith the King's minifters previous to Mr. Char ...
I i nlilIy's
241
CHAP. Ko,
p. 14-3
CHAP. X:.
p.147"
,
,CHAP.'X. mil1y's return from thence, I ilial1 pre[ent them to the
The paffages which I:hav.e printedoin italick are,remarkable ..
TE-R f'{;'s' 'OF CAP1 ;'ULATloNpropofld',bj, the Inhabitants-
if La Grande Anfl (-including the "at Jeremie),
reprefllZted by M()if. de Charmilly,pqffeJ!ed of full po-wers
I;ya CommflJio1tfrom'the' Councifqf Public Safety ,of tbe
. aforifaid 'dated the' 18th ifAitgUj!'I793', tuid pre-,
fiJztedto his' Excellency Major :General WilliclInjOn, his,
, MajeJly' S:"Lieutenant ' Governor if Jalljaica,fir his. Ac.:...
, 'eeptance ..
, 'Article
'of, 'Sf. DOlningQ, depri.Jed ofalrrecburfe
to ,to'deliver thenl: 'from the tyranny under
wnich' no\v hn p"lore th,e ,protection of his Britannick
, Mdjefty" and, take; the oath: of :.fidelity :a:'nd' , allegiance' t6him;
'fuppIicate him,to tak'e their colbny-:6nder his :and
t6 treat'the'm as:g66ct and faithfuf ftibjects 'till agenetal
at which they !hall be finally fubjeCl:ed to' the terms then
agreed upon between his Britannick Majefiy, the Government if
France, and the Allied Powers, with refpeCl: to the Sovereignty
of St. Domingo.-Anfwer.Granted.
, Art.' That, tiU order tranquilJity are reftored at St ..
. :the, appointed by his Britannic.k Iy.Iajefty
{hall have full' poir:er to regulate and,
()f Safety and Police he {hall judge proper.-' Anf. Granted.
Art. III. That' no one {hall' be' rnolefted- accQun t 'of any
. anteriot difcurbances" except thofe who are legally accufed, in
fome
AND '.I L L U S T R 0 N S.
fome of Juftice,of havipg coml?-1ittedmurder, or of CHAP., X.
by fire, or,of ha\ring" inftigated, others 14-7
to-cpmmit thofe crimes .. -:-Anf. ' Granted. '.. . I
'A'rt'. IV.' 'That' the' Mulattoes' iliall have all the
'by'" that: 'cla'fs of inhabitants' in the Britilh illands.-
1\.il:f.: :: Granted.:: --, '
, ,A[t.,V. That if, a,t, the conclufioll of the war, the colony re-
the Sovereignty of his Britapnick Majefty, and order
is 'eftablifued, therein; in fuch cafe, the laws refpeCting pro-
perty and, all civil rights, which were in force in' the flid colony
bifore the Revolutidn in France, ]hall bepreflrved: neverthelefs,
until a Colonial Affembly can be formed, his "Britannick' Majei1:y
IhaIl have the right of determinlng provifionally 'upon any mea-
fures which the general. good" and tranquillity, of the cQlony
may require; but that no Affembly '1hall. be called till order is
every part of the colony i and, till that period, his
Majefiy's Governor fhall be affified in all the details
, of Adminifiration and Police, by a Comluittee of Six Perfons,
whic:h he,fl1all the power of choofing from among the pro-
prietors of the:, three 'Provinces of which the colony confifts.-
Anf. Gran ted. ..
Art. 'VI. That, in confequence of the devaftations \vhich have
taken 'place in .the c,olonyby fire, and pillage, the
Governor appointed by his Majefty, 011 taking of the
colony, to fatisfy ?emand of Inhabitants in, this refpect,
jhall be authorized to grant, for the paYJ1zentoj' debt j, a of
'ten :years, which flall be computed froln the date if thejilrrelld::r; fiild
, " I i' 2 '. "
244-
ctIAP. 'X.
p.

,1\ D n.J T ION A L' NOT E s:
tIJe jUfpenjon' Of allintertji upon tDe flall frOm
if "'life IfcOfAugt# 179 I, and termr/,tate at. tbe expiration if
ten years above mentt'oned grmzted fir the it 'ai'1
{urns due to minors by their ,guardian&:t .or to abfellt by
thofe who mapage,tnent of their orfr'oin"one
planter to for the transfer of 'to be ,in.":'
eluded in the above fufpenfion.-Anf.
Art. VII. That the duties of importation an(t
upon an European Ihan be the fame as in the-
En,glilh co1on'ies.-1.\nf, In confequence, the tariff'
{hall be 'made, public and affixed., that everyone may be ac-
q uainted therewith.
A'rt .. VIII. That the 'manufaCturers of 'white fugars {hall
preferve the right of .ex.porting 1:heir claycd {ugar&, ;ftabJect to,
fuch regl:dations as it may he nece1Ta:ry to make with .t:efpeCt . to;
them.-:-Anf .. Gir-anted. In :the duties :uponvvhite
fugars :fhall be the fame a,s were taken ID the colonyofSt.
Doiningo in I'j'S9-
Art. IX.. That the CatbolicReligion 'iliall :oe prefervd and
maintained, but that no other mode of Evangetic worJhip -ilia'}l;
be exclude.d.-Anf. Granted. On condition that fuch priefis,
as . have ,taken the Oath prefcr.ibed (by the perfons .exercifing the:
powersof Government in France 'thall 'be fentaway, and re-
'placed !by -others. .
Art. X. The local taxes .defiined to acquit the expenees of
garrifons, and of the Adminiftration of the colony {hall be af-
. fe:lfed in the fame Inanner .as in 1789,. e.xcept the alleviafions
3
ANt> OBSER.VATIONS.
'tem-itmnces 'lh.al1 granted to-the inhabitants whofe
property has fuffe-J"ed by re, till poffeffions .ar.e repaired.
Jhall be ke-ptby .the .colony' .ail the {urns cad. ...
vanced on the part of Great Britain for fupplying the ,deficiency
of the taxes; vvhich deficiency, as well as all the public ex-
penees of the Colony (excepf thofe of his Majefty's naval
forces., deftined for its protection) iliall always be defrayed by the
faid colony .. -Anf. Granted.
Art. Xl. His GOY5!:(IJOr of St. pp.mingo
!hall apply to the Spanifh Government, to obtain reftitution of
the n.egr.o.es {old {he Spanih teJjritof:Y by the re-
'V,olted GrAnted.
Art. The in American bottoms, pf provi-
:6ons, cattle, and wood of every kind from the United
States of America, ihall be allowed at St. Domingo.-Anf .. -
Granted.' On condition 1."hat the American \vhich fhall
be employed -trade, -(hallhave only one deck;. and this
-importation ,!hall he allowed only -as long as it fha:H appear ne-
. ceffa-ry for tbe -re-efiabliihment or fubfifience of the Colony, or
until -meafures have'heen taken for putting it in this refpeet
upon -the fame footing as other Engliili Colonies; -and an exaCt
:account -fhall ;be kept of the faid ve1fels, with the .defcription
of their cargoes, and ihall be tranfmitted every three months- -to
the Right H0Il:0urable the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's
Treafury, as well as to one of ' the -principal Secretaries of State;_
and on no account whatever -{hall any of the [aid -vefTels be aI-
lowed -to take in return -any -produCtion of the Colony., except:
and -rum ..
Art. XIII .. -
24-';
.. ,.
ADDITIONAL .NOTES
CHAP. Art. XIII. No part if the aflrifaid conditiol1sjha/I be co,yideretf
p. 147 as a rejlriCiion to the power of the Parliament of Great Britain,

CHAP. XI.
p.
16
9-
'---'v--'
to regulate and deterlnzize the Political Goverllflzent if the Colony.--
Anf. Granted ..
CH A P. XI.p. 169.
'The jillJ1e fate arzvaited Lieutenant' C%neIMarkha"t, & c.
I CANNOT deny myfelf the melancholy fatisfacrion of
ferving in this v/ork the following honourable tribute to the
Dlemory of this amiable officer, \vhich \vas given out in ge-
neral orders after his by the Comman4er in Chief.
,Head (garters, 28 March 1.795 .. ,
Brigadier General Horneck -begs the officers,
nliffioned officers, and privates of the. detachment, '\:Vhich, on
26th Infr. proceeded under the comln.and of Lieutenant Colonel
1\-:1arkham, on a party of obfervation, to receive his very
thanks for their gallant behaviour, at the attack of t4e
advanced paft .; . taking their and. cannon, and deftroying
their ftares.
At the fame he cannot fuffic;iently expre[s his feelings on
the late affliCting lofs, that has been fufiained in Lieutenant Co-
lonel.Markham; \vho, .. meritorious as an.
officer and a man, lived univerfally ref peCted and _an.d
died
AND ILL U S T RA TI 0 N S.
247
died leaving a bright example of military, facial, and private CHAP. XI.
virtue.
The Brigadier General likewife requefis Captains Martin and
Wilkinfon, of the Royal Navy, to receive his acknowledgments
and thanks, for the important affiftance they have afforded;
not only on this occafion alone, but on every other, wherein his
Majefty's fervice has required their co-operation. He aIf<=>
begs Captain Martin to do him the favour, to impart the like
acknowledgments to the officers of the Royal Navy, and to the
refpective fhips companies under his command, for the zeal and
good conduct they have fhewn whenever employed a