16 Biographical Memoir of Baron de' Beauvois. 



the Cape with fire and sword. The latter movement was the 

 most appalling, and that which required the most decisive mea- 

 sures. M. de Beauvois armed himself, and commanded several 

 detachments sent against the Negroes ; but the numbers of the 

 latter compensated for their ignorance, and they continued to 

 gain ground. It was necessary to ask immediate assistance, not 

 of France, which was too distant, and of which the men of St 

 Marc had nothing to expect, but of the nearest European co- 

 lonies, without distinction of nation, for the insurrection of the 

 slaves threatened all. Deputations were repeatedly sent to 

 Martinique, the Spanish part of St Domingo, Jamaica, and the 

 United States. 



In the month of October 1791, M. de Beauvois was dispatch- 

 ed to Philadelphia, along with a merchant of the Cape, named 

 Pay an, for the purpose of exciting the zeal of the French mi- 

 nister, M. de Tenian. He resided there nearly two years, em- 

 ploying the greatest assiduity in procuring funds and provisions 

 for Cape Town, which the war with the Negroes frequently re- 

 duced to a state bordering upon famine. 



But, in the interval, the revolution had followed its inexor- 

 able course. The ideas which prevailed in France left no 

 hopes that the legislative assemblies should deal with the pre- 

 tensions of the whites- The discontent of the latter was daily 

 increasing. Commissioners sent from France, the too famous 

 Polverel and Santhonax, being ill received by them, supported 

 themselves by the mulattoes. The discord among the castes 

 every where increased; and, on various occasions, manifested it- 

 self by bloody combats. At length, after several months of dis- 

 order, the commander of the troops, Galbaud, gained over by 

 the party of St Marc, having declared against the commission- 

 ers, was, by their order, sent under arrest to the fleet. Prisoner 

 as he was, he succeeded in making the crews mutiny; and, with 

 them, made a descent upon Cape Town ; obtained possession of 

 the forts, and put the cottimissioners to flight. The mulattoes, 

 in order to assist them, raised the slaves. Galbaud, in his turn, 

 with his officers, retreated to the ships. The sailors and Ne- 

 groes, equally without leaders, vied with each other in plunder- 

 ing ; and, amid this confusion, on the 21st June 1793, Cape 

 Town became the prey of a dreadful conflagration. 



