T

At the moment when the divi

sion of the centre, admiral Gantheaume, was about to set sail, the frigate La Corneille, from Jamaica, entered the road. I hasten to acquaint you with the news received by her.

The English admiral, sir John Duckworth, behaved with the most distinguished politeness to captain Villemandrin, and ensign de Vaisseau Clouet, who carried to him my dispatches. He seized the opportuHity of celebrating the return of peace between the two nations: the frigate saluted the admiral and the town with a discharge of thirteen pieces of cannon, which were returned in the same manner by the admiral and the forts. All the captains of the English squadron hastened to make preparations for the visit of captain Villemandrin, and many received him to the sound of warlike music. Our officers remarked, that the portrait of the first consul was very general amongst the English squadron. (Signed). VOL. XLIV.

Villaret.

I received the letter which your excellency did me the honour to write to me, communicating the arrival at the Cape of the French forces under your command; and I am flattered by the confidence with which you have honoured me in in

forming me of the state of those

forces and their destination. This information is perfectly conformable to that which I received from his majesty's ministers, who transmitted to me at the same time orders from the king, my master, to treat the French nation with all possible respect.

So far, however, as relates to provisions, which your excellency seems to fear you may be in want of, I sincerely regret that our present situation, in consequence of the arrival of a great naval and military force, renders it impossible for me to give you any hope of assistance. Our own resources are so limited too, I have been obliged to detach frigates to different points, in order to seek the means of preserving us from entire distress, and I have, as well as your excellency, sought to draw succours from the American continent.

It is with sentiments of grief that I have learned the hostile reception your excellency has met with, and the direct violation of all the duties

TH

HE time is arrived, when order will succeed to that chaos which has been the necessary conse"quence of the opposition made by the rebellious to the landing of the army sat St. Domingo.

The rapid operations and progress of the army, and the necessity of providing for its subsistence and its establishment, have, hitherto, prevented my attending to the definitive organization of the colony. I could not, moreover, have any fixed for certain ideas of a country with which I was totally unacquainted, and consequently could not, without mature deliberation, form an opinion

of a people who have been, for ten years, a prey to revolutions.

The basis of the provisionary or ganization which I shall give the colony, but which shall not be definitive till approved of by the French government, is liberty and equality to all the inhabitants of St. Domingo, without regard to colour.

This organization comprises, 1. The administration of justice. 2. The interior administration of the colony combined with those measures which its interior and exterior defence require,

3. The imposition of duties: the means of raising them and their application.

4. The regulations and ordinances relative to agriculture.

5. The regulations and ordinances relative to commerce.

6. The administration of the na

tional domains, and the means of making them most beneficial to the state, so as to be less burdensome to agriculture and commerce,

As it is of infinite interest to you, citizens, that every institution should, in an equal degree, protect agriculture and commerce, I have not determined upon this important work, without having first had recourse to, and consulted with, the most distinguished and enlightened citizens of the colony.

I have, in consequence, given orders to the generals of the south and west divisions to select for each of these departments seven citizens, proprietors and merchants (without regard to colour), who, with eight more which I shall myself choose for the department of the north, are to assemble at the Cape in the course of the present month, to impart their observations to me on the

plans

plans I shall then submit to their consideration.

It is not a deliberative assembly I establish. I am sufficiently acquainted with the evils which meetings of this nature have brought upon the colony, to have that idea. The citizens who are thus chosen, being honest and enlightened men, to them will I communicate my views; they will make their observations upon them, and will be able to impress on the minds of their fellow-citizens, the liberal ideas with which government is animated.

Let those, then, who are thus to be called together, consider this appointment as a flattering proof of my consideration for them. Let them consider that, for want of their counsel and advice, I might pursue measures disastrous to the colony, which would ultimately fa'l upon themselves. Let them consider this, and they will find no difficulty in leaving, for some time, their private

reestablishment of tranquillity in this immense and beautiful colony.

You have received dispatches containing the details of the military events which took place during the latter end of March and the beginning of April. Beaten every where, and dispersed, terror established itself in the camps of the rebels, who were without magazines, almost without powder, and who were reduced to live upon bananas.

The arrival of the squadrons from Flushing and Havre gave the last blow to the rebel power.

Christophe informed me that he had always been a friend to the whites, whom he admired; that all the Europeans who had been at St. Domingo could attest his principles and his conduct; that imperious circumstances, which often decide the conduct of public men, had not left him at liberty to pursue that line of conduct which he wished; and,lastly, he desired to know if there was still any safety for him? I replied, that with the French people there was always a door open to repentance; that it was the constant habit of the first consul to weigh the actions of men, and that one crime alone, whatever might be its consequences, would never efface from his mind services performed; that it was true, that the instructions I had received previous to my departure ware personally favourable to him; and lastly, that if he chose to place himself at my discretion, he should have rea

son to be satisfied.

He still hesitated: several co

lumns were ready to attack him; and some slight rencontres took place. At length Christophe informed me that I had not sent to him any orders. I directed him to repair alone to the Cape; to send

Yy 2

thither

thither all the cultivators who were still with him, and to assemble all the troops who were under his orders. All this he punctually executed. More than 2000 inhabitants of the Cape, who were in the most distant hills, have returned. His magazines and artillery are in our possession, and about 1200 soldiers who were under his command, are united to our troops. A part of them have been disarmed, and sent back to culture; and the remainder I propose to incorporate with the colonial troops.

The submission of Christophe completed the consternation of Toussaint. He employed every means to inform me of the unfortu nate situation in which he found himself, and how much he saw with pain, that he was continuing a war without object, and without end. He added, that circumstances the most unfortunate had already occasioned many evils, but that notwithstanding the force of the French army, he was still strong enough to ravage and destroy the country, and to sell dearly a life, which had been sometimes useful to the mothercountry.

These communications, frequently reiterated, gave rise to the most serious reflections in my mind.

Three fourths of the colony had still escaped the miseries of desolation; and Toussaint and the blacks, although they had ravaged a part of the country, and carried on the war with extreme barbarity, had never seen France, had never received, during twelve years, any other than false ideas of our strength and our character.

I informed Toussaint, that if he would repair to the Cape, pardon might yet be extended to him.

Toussaint did not hesitate to profit by the permission I had given to him: he came to me, solicited for pardon, and swore to be faithful to France. I accepted his submission, and ordered him to repair to a plantation near Gonaïves, and not to depart from it without my permission.

I have placed Dessalines in a plantation near Saint Marc.

All the cultivators who had been carried off have returned. I have incorporated with the colonial troops, as many of the black soldiers as I thought might be allowed to con tinue under arms.

The magazines, and the pieces of artillery which had been drawn up steep rocks, and hidden in the most secret places, are daily delivered up to us: there are still more than on hundred remaining.

A new epoch commences: you will see by the arrett, and the measures which I have taken, that we are occupied with activity in or ganizing the administration of the country.

The bad season has commenced, but the repose which our troops will now experience will enable us to go through it with the least possible loss We have abundance of provisions, thanks to your care.

Health and respect.

(Signed)

Leclerc.

The Same to the Same.

Cape, May 8, 1902.

We are labouring to reestablish the Cape, with an activity which it is difficult to conceive. This town is rising out of its ashes.

I cannot dissemble the mischief which has been done in several can. tons of the colony; but having now, however, received the different ac

counts)

counts, I am convinced that more than three fourths of the colony are untouched. The quarters of l'Artibonite, all the south part, the Mole, and Fort Liberté, are entirely pre served.

American vessels arrive in crowds in our ports, laden with flour, with deals, and other materials for building. Citizen Pichon writes me, that the Americans are much discontented at the measure which I took at the moment of my arrival; but I think they are wrong. Agents of the American government were with Toussaint, who did not always suggest to him the best opinions. Muskets, powder, and cannon, were furnished with a renewed activity from the United States, as soon as the preliminary treaty was known there. It was natural, therefore, that I should take measures to prevent that communication with the rebels. Our commissaries in America were not sufficiently alive to the interests of the public purse. An unfortunate little brig which you sent thither cost 28,000 francs (1166l. 13s. 4d.). Citizen Pichon ought to have known that the brig was not worth half that sum.

The national commerce begins also to send out some vessels. I have given orders to place the colonial 8ystem in a state of activity as speedily as possible. Vessels coming from France pay no duty whatever on importation. They pay ten per cent. on exportation, but it may be found suitable to exact only five. As to the rest, I expect your directions farthwith. This can do no injury to commerce, as you can proportionably diminish the duties on West India produce,

The colony, otherwise, is in a situation to receive such commercial

regulations as you may make; and if the great commercial towns prepare to furnish us with what we want, there will be little difficulty in reviving the edicts' of 1784, respecing the customs.

For the rest, citizen ministers, assure the first consul that I shall not lose an instant in considering the instructions given to me, in every point of view, political and commercial; and that I shall regard the day when the national commerce will be alone sufficient for St. Domingo, as a happy day for myself and the army, as a colonial war ought to have for its result the triumph of commerce.

I have sent general Dugua into the south part: general Rochambeauis on the side of St. Marc.

I can only pronounce an eulogy on the whole army; but I must make particular mention of the zeal and services of gen. Rochambeau.

I must also praise the activity of the chief commissary Daure. Health and respect. (Signed)

Leclerc.