1827.] Sketches of tiayti. 117 



island, and assured them that their persons and property should be protected as 

 long as they felt disposed to remain. The majority accepted this unexpected offer. 

 But it soon appeared that Dessalines was as destitute of veracity as of forbearance 

 or generosity. A few weeks only had elapsed, when he issued 'a proclamation of 

 so inflammatory a nature as astonished even his own officers, and suddenly deprived 

 the French residents of every hope. ' It is not enough,' he says, ' to have driven 

 from our country the barbarians who, for ages, have stained it with our blood. 

 It is become necessary to ensure, by a last act of national authority, the permanent 

 empire of liberty in the country which has given us birth. Those generals, who 

 have conducted your struggles against tyranny, have not yet done. The French 

 name still darkens our plains ; every thing reminds us of the cruelties of that bar- 

 barous people. What do I say ? There still remain Frenchmen in our island 



When shall we be tired of breathing the same air with them ? What have we in 

 common with that bloody-minded people? Citizens! men, women, young and 

 old, cast round your eyes on every part of the island ; seek there your wives, your 

 husbands, your brothers, your sisters : Whatdid I say ? Seek your children- 

 your children at the breasts ; what is become of them ? Instead of those interest- 

 ing victims, the affrighted eye sees only their assassins, tigers still covered with 

 their blood, whose frightful presence upbraids you with your insensibility and 

 slowness to avenge them. Why then do you delay to appease their manes ?' 



" Dessalines was not the man to rest in mere threats. Shortly after he issued 

 the proclamation, he visited the towns in which the French lived, and put them to 

 the most violent deaths, personally assisting in destroying them. At Cape Frangois 

 his proceedings were marked by the basest treachery. Having carefully marked 

 the houses in which the helpless victims of his fury resided, as soon as the day was 

 closed he proceeded, at the head of his savage band, to execute his dreadful pur- 

 poses. This was a night of horrors. The negroes themselves, accustomed as they 

 had been to scenes of blood, shuddered at this renewal of massacres. But Dessa- 

 lines soon ascertained that, notwithstanding the strictness of his orders and his 

 search, several had escaped discovery. To these he now offered forgiveness and 

 protection, provided they would publicly appear to receive his assurances. Many 

 of them, hoping that some remains of sincerity might still exist in the heart of this 

 savage, and knowing that at best their lives were in continual danger, appeared on 

 the appointed spot at the time specified. He was waiting their arrival, surrounded 

 by the companions of his cruelty j when, instead of granting the promised protec- 

 tion, he caused them all to be shot. 



' He now proceeded to take such steps as appeared to him necessary for the 

 permanent establishment of his authority. The name of Governor of the Haytians 

 he rejected, as indicating a degree of power more limited than that which he 

 actually possessed. He determined, therefore, to assume the title of Emperor ; 

 and on declaring his intention, with little previous consultation either with his 

 officers or the people, he was hailed as such by the army, and conducted by them 

 to the house which now became his palace, amidst their applauses and apparent 

 good wishes for a long and prosperous reign. His power was absolute ; and it may 

 easily be conceived in what manner and for what purposes he employed it. In the 

 mean time, his employments were as trivial and absurd as his treatment of the 

 people was impolitic and tyrannical. He was even delighted, when assuming some 

 comic character, he endeavoured to represent it before his officers and the people. 

 He was especially anxious to be considered an elegant and accomplished dancer, 

 and would sometimes exhibit himself in public. At length his principal officers, 

 convinced of his inability, disgusted at his follies, and wearied with his cruelties, 

 resolved on cutting him off, and electing another chief in his stead." 



De Vastey, the only writer Hayti has yet produced, denies that Chris- 

 tophe participated in the conspiracy against, and murder of, Dessalines ; 

 but he is no authority, for he was dependent upon Christophe ; and had he 

 written otherwise, his life would have been the penalty of his hardihood. 

 Dessalines was destroyed in 1806; and two claimants of the first station 

 speedily appeared, in Christophe, the Governor of Cape Francois, and 

 Petion, the Governor of Port-au-Prince. The majority of Petion's officer* 



