cords of the admiralty of this town and in the office of the civil ordonnateur.

Cannon being of great consequence for the defence of this town, citizen Berard could find very few. He asked me for 3 three pounders which were in one of our forts; 1 promised them to him, but having been obliged to erect a battery which was indispensable, I was under the necessity of omitting to fulfil it. He then requested permission to go to Borgne for others I could not permit him on account of the utility of the artillery there. In a word, he found at Port de Paix but two cannon, three at Coulevrine which he purchased with my permission, of citizen Florestal, an inhabitant of that town.

Under these circumstances, citizen Berard went to the Cape to complete his armament. As I could not after what had been done for the Republick, refuse to accelerate the arming of this vessel, I wrote to Vilatte commandant at the Cape to render him assistance.

It is a

All the facts above related are perfectly true. matter of publick notoriety that la Vengeance arrived here a commercial vessel; that she was sold to Rouge a citizen of Port de Paix; that he obtained a commission for cruising against the enemies of the Republick; that she was commanded by Jean Antoine Berard; that her armament begun here under my own eyes; that it was completed at the Cape in virtue of my letter to the commandant; that he sailed thence on a cruise against the enemies of the Republick: therefore the prize made by the said Berard being by a privateer legally armed and agreeable to the laws of the French Republick one and indivisible, cannot be contested.

In faith whereof we have delivered the present declaration to serve and avail when and where it ought.

Given at Port de Paix, under the seal of the Re[L. s.] publick, and countersigned by our secretary, the 1st Fructidor, 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible.

By the commander in chief,

ET. LAVEAUX.
HENNIGIN,

First aid-de-camp and secretary.

We the mayor and municipal officers of the town and parish of Port de Paix, island of St. Domingo, certify to

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47

all whom it may concern, that the citizen Et Laveaux is commander in chief of the French windward islands in America, that faith should be given to his signature above, as well in as out of judgment.

In faith whereof we have delivered these presents, signed with our hand, and sealed with the seal of the municipality.

Given at Port de Paix, at the town house, 2d Fructidor, 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible.

Cape, 28 Thermidor, 3d year of the Republick.

I, VILATTE, Commander in chief of the town of the Cape and its dependencies,

Certify that the schooner La Vengeance, of Port de Paix, captain Berard, entered this road the 1st Prairial last, with two cannon and sailed thence on the 5th of the same month with 6 cannon, to cruise against the enemies of the Republick. Annexed hereto is a letter of recommendation from general Laveaux to this effect to protect his armament. VILATTE.

Port de Paix, 28 Floreal, 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible.

ETIENNE LAVEAUX, commander in chief, to Vilatte, colonel of the 1st regiment, principal commandant at the Cape.

The citizen Jean Antoine Berard, captain of the privateer La Vengeance, goes to thy port-I recommend him to thee as a good and virtuous citizen patriot.

The citizen Bariere has taken five of his crew from him; thou wilt permit him to replace them from Bariere's two vessels.

In case citizen Berard should want two cannon, thou wilt deliver them to him, in case they can be spared, on his paying the treasurer their value. Salut.

ET. LAVEAUX.

Certified to be a sincere and true copy from general Laveaux. Cape, 28 Thermidor, 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible.

VILATTE.

We, the mayor and municipal officers of the town and jurisdiction of Cape Francois, certify and attest to whom it may concern, that citizen Vilatte, who signed the above, is colonel of the 1st regiment and principal commandant of the town of the Cape and its dependencies, and that faith should be given to his signature, as well in as out of judgment.

In testimony whereof, we have signed these presents, and thereto affixed the seal of the municipality of this

24th Floreal, 3d year, sale of the schooner la Dorade, by Francis Michel to Jacques Rouge.

BEFORE the undersigned notaries of the French Republick, in the jurisdiction of Port de Paix, island and coast St. Domingo therein residing, appeared Francis Michel, captain of the schooner la Dorade, now anchored in this road;

Who by these presents, in the name and as attorney of Baron (the power of attorney having been shown to us) declares to have voluntary sold, quit claimed, ceded, abandoned, and transferred, from this time and for ever, promising hereby to warrant the same both in law and fact, to Jacques Rouge, merchant at the Cape, now in this town, for himself, his heirs and assigns, the said schooner la Dorade, of the burden of about 50 tons, together with her boat, tackle, apparel, cables, anchors, appurtenances, and every thing thereunto belonging, without exception or reservation, which the said purchaser declared himself well acquainted with, and such as is designated in the inventory formed and executed by the said parties, signed and marked by them and the said notaries, which is annexed to these presents.

The present sale being thus made for and in consideration of the price and sum of 66,000 livres deniers, which sum of 66,000 livres the said Francis Michel acknowledges to have received, before these presents, from the said Jacques Rouge, in money and colonial produce, furnished by the said Rouge for completing the said sum of 66,000 livres, wherefore the said Francis Michel perfectly exonerates the said Rouge from the price of the said schooner la Dorade.

The said Francis Michel disseizing himself in the name of the said Baron of the ownership and possession of the said schooner la Dorade, in favour of the said Rouge, so that the latter may use and dispose of her from this day as a thing to him appertaining, by means of these presents, the said Rouge hereby acknowledging himself in possession of the said schooner, and as being therewith contented, because he has seen, visited and examined, for that, &c. promising, &c. obliging, &c. an act thereof.

Done and passed at Port de Paix, in our chambers, the 24th Floreal, 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible, and after reading the same to the said Francis Michel and Jacques Rouge.

Bressat, Notary.

Domingeaux, Notary, and keeper of the said minute.

The following is the tenour of the annexed paper: Inventory of the schooner la Dorade, captain Francis Michel, made at Port de Paix, the 12th May, 1795, (O. S.) 3d year of the French Republick, one and indivisible. To wit:

1 eight inch cable, one third worn, 1 eight do. half worn, 1 six do. one fourth worn, 1 three do. 1 three do. halser, half worn, 1 coil of cordage, of 24 yarns, new, 1 do. 18 do. (cut) 1 do. 9 do. 2 spare etagnes, 4 tackles complete, 24 spare blocks of different sizes, 1 top block, 8 marling spikes, and 4 scrapers, the running and standing rigging half worn. Spars-2 good lower masts, 1 bowsprit, 3 topmasts, 2 lower yards, 2 topsail yards, 1 Boine, 2 boom crutches, 2 royal yards, 4 studding sail yards, 1 cangau et ses bouts de dehors, 4 oars for the schooner, 1 yawl, 2 port anchors, 1 crow. Sails-2 fore sails, one third worn, to main sails, do. 2 jibs, do. 2 do. three fourths worn, 1 top sail, one third worn, 2 do. half worn, 1 flying top gallant sail, half worn, 1 clin for one third worn, I stay sail, half worn, 1 fleche du eul, one third worn, 4 studding sails, half worn, 1 jury sail, half worn. Carpenter's tools -2 saws, 2 axes, 4 augers, 1 varpose, 1 plane, 3 chisels, 1 gouge, 3 marteaux, rasp and other small utensils. 4 sets of pump rigging, 1 pump hook. Cooking utensils-1 caboose, 1 small copper cauldron, 1 do. tin, 2 pans, 2 coffee pots, 2 soup ladles, 1 gridiron, 1 frying pan, 1 tin canteen, 6 glasses, 6 forks, 6 knives, 6 spoons, 1 dozen plates, 4 dishes, 1 candlestick, 1 wax do. 1 coffee mill, 14 wooden cannon, 5 cans, 6 wooden bowls, 12 iron bound hogsheads, 3 barrels, 4 buckets, 1 funnel, 1 tin pump, 2 lanterns, 1 barrel beef, broached, 1 cheese, 1 half barrel of butter, broached, 2 barrels vegetables, both do. 1 box of candles, broached, 10 quintals of biscuit, or thereabouts. Articles belonging to the binnacle-1 azimuth compass, 3 common compasses, 3 half hour glasses, 2 do. for the log, 1 log complete, 2 national flags, I American flag, 1 long ven, 1 binnacle, 1 copper lamp, 8 barrels en botts. Provisions-200lbs. biscuit, nearly, 1 half tierce of rice, 1 barrel peas, threefourths of a barrel of beef, one-fourth of a barrel of corned do. about 10 lbs. of butter, one-fourth barrel of rum, onefourth do. salted fish, one-half do. flour, three-fourths do. do.