STATE PAPERS. 



269 



with still greater ardour. Their 

 first wishes, their persevering mea- 

 sures have been for peace. The 

 English minister repels it : the Eng- 

 lish minister has betrayed the secret 

 of his horrible system of politics. To 

 ravage France, to destroy her ma- 

 rine and her ports ; to efface her 

 from the map of Europe, or to de- 

 grade her to the rank of a secondary 

 power ; to keep all the nations of 

 the continent divided, in order to 

 get possession of the commerce of all, 

 and to enrichherself by their spoils; 

 it is to obtain these frightful suc- 

 cesses, that England is prodigal of 

 gold, profuse of promises, and that 

 she multiplies intrigjues. 



But neither the gold, nor the pro- 

 mises, nor the intrigues of England, 

 will chain to her views the powers 

 of the continent. They have heard 

 the wish of France; they know the 

 moderation of the principles that 

 guide her ; they will listen to the 

 voice of humanity, and the power- 

 ful voice of their interest. 



Were it otherwise, the govern- 

 ment which has not feared to offer 

 and solicit peace, will remember 

 that it is for you to command it. 

 To command it, we must have 

 money, iron, and soldiers. 



Let all make haste to pay the tri- 

 bute which they owe to the common 

 defence ; let the young citizens 

 march. It is no longer for factions 

 — it is no longer for the choice of 

 tyrants, that they are going to arm; 

 it is for the guarantee of all that is 

 most dear to them; it is for the 

 honour of France ; it is for the 

 sacred interest of humanity and of 

 liberty. Already have the armies 

 resumed that attitude, the promise 

 and the presage of victory ; at the 

 sight of tliem — at tlie sight of the 

 whole nation united in the same 



interests and the same wishes, do 

 not doubt. Frenchmen, that you 

 will have any more enemies upon 

 the continent. The first consul has 

 promised peace ; he will go and 

 conquer it at the head of those war- 

 riors whom he has more than once 

 led to victory. With them he will 

 know how to find again those fields 

 still full of the remembrance of their 

 exploits ; yet in the midst of battle, 

 he will still invoke peace, and he 

 swears to fight only for the happi- 

 ness of France, and the repose of 

 the world ! 



Letter written by the General-in- 

 Chief of the Army of St. Dwningo 

 to the Authorities civil a?id military, 

 and all other Citizens of the City 

 qfCayes, and Instructions given 

 to the Deputies sent by him to the 

 said City, Bearers of the said 

 Letter. 



Leogane, 20th Messidor 

 (\Oth of July), 8th Year 

 of the French Republic, 

 one and indivisible. 



Toussaint Louverture, General-i7i- 

 Chiefofthe Army of St. Domingo, 

 to the Magistrates of the People, 

 and all the French Citizens of 

 the Department of the South, civil 

 and military. 



I A vail myself of the opportunity 

 of citizen Vincent, chef de bri- 

 gade, director-general of the forti- 

 fications of the colony, sent by the 

 French government to be an eye- 

 witness of the events and calamities 

 of the civil war produced by the 

 conduct of the evil-disposed, and 

 the enemies of public tranquillity. 

 I join to him a deputation of two 

 citizens, Arrault, and Cesar, the 



