HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
528 
revolution; and from that moment the Jacobins of the island were composed only 
of bad men, who had no other object than to disturb the government. The military 
commission nominated for judging the prisoners, found no difficulty in dissolving 
itself, by objecting to the mode of its institution. 
The news of the downfal of Robespierre, and of the Jacobin clubs in France, 
being then brought to the colony, the Colonial Assembly, already strong from the 
change that had taken place in the public mind, freed itself from the yoke of the 
Cbaumiere, by causing the different Jacobin leaders to be arrested, and shutting 
up the place of their meeting. The guillotine was taken away from the public 
square, and the prisoners were set at liberty without having undergone any trial, 
for which there were no solid grounds, in the general opinion of the colony. 
The principal Jacobins, to the number of thirty, who had been arrested, were 
immediately sent to France. 
1795. The information the colony had acquired respecting the decree that gave 
freedom to the Negroes, kept it in the greatest anxiety, on account of its attachment 
to France, as well as the certainty of the misfortunes which such a measure would 
occasion, the moment it was put in execution. The events of St. Domingo pre¬ 
sented a most frightful picture of the consequences resulting from it. 
The planters, who are the greatest proprietors of Negroes, were alarmed at their 
situation, as they well knew that their existence was but precarious while the decree 
remained disannulled; and perhaps they entertained the opinion that they should 
be happier if they belonged to a government that would protect their property. But 
they whose fortune depended upon commerce, and who had already formed to them¬ 
selves exterior resources, as well as those who in time expected to form them, pre¬ 
served a passive attachment to France; wishing, however, to retard as much as 
possible, but without compromising themselves in the business, the execution of this 
decree, if an official order should arrive to that effect, and particularly if it were sup¬ 
ported by a power adequate to that object. 
1796. Such was the state of opinions when, on the 18th of July, a squadron of 
four frigates, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sercey, presented itself, having 
on board two agents of the Directory, named Baco and Burnel, sent out to take 
upon them the government of the colony. It being the Decad* almost all the mer¬ 
chants of the town, according to custom, were gone to their country-houses, as well 
• What the French, now, term Holiday, 
