562 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
enthusiasm for the republic, who accompanied them, and having likewise freed them¬ 
selves by their courage, from an equal number of soldiers, who, seconded by the 
discontented subjects of the colony, had conspired its ruin, by manifesting open 
rebellion to the orders of their chief, looked forward with confidence to a state of 
tranquiltlity. It no longer contained in its bosom any individual, who would not 
be interested in its preservation, being fortunately governed by a general, who, 
although holding his place under the French government, had no other wish than 
that of the Colonial Assembly. This Assembly, renewed every year, by the nomi¬ 
nation of the citizens of the colony, could have no other interest, nor any other 
design, than its happiness and prosperity. 
But the power of the governor was now become entirely dependant on the will 
of individuals, and discord soon arose among them, respecting the laws about to 
be established for the re-payment of debts contracted in paper currency ; the de¬ 
preciation of which had increased in such a proportion, that it at length represented 
but a thousandth part of the nominal sum it expressed. The depreciation of this 
paper currency, issued in the colony by the administrators, in the name of the French 
Republic, unfortunately was not settled, till it was fallen to that point of debase¬ 
ment, by a deposit of merchandize in the magazines of the general commune; 
certain quantities of which, fixed by the law in this respect, were given to every 
bearer of paper currency, who wished to exchange it. 
As soon as intelligence reached the Isle of France repecting the laws, which the 
two governing Councils of France had decreed, relative to the payment of these 
debts, contracted at the time of the paper currency, the creditors, who were greatly 
favoured by them, demanded the execution of it. The debtors, on the other hand, 
represented with force and truth, that the circumstance in general, under which the 
different contracts had been made in the colony, being different from those which 
had taken place in France, it would be evidently unjust to apply the same laws, 
when there was an apparent difference, both in the manner, situation, and con¬ 
tracts of the colony. In this shock of discordant interests, the Colonial Assembly 
being directed alone by past circumstances, adopted a mode of payment founded 
on the principles of justice; and this unpleasant business was on the point of 
being finally arranged, when the creditors excited a conspiracy, in order to dis¬ 
solve the Assembly, and obtain colonial laws more favourable to their interests. 
Blinded by their views of personal interest, and without reflecting on the conse- 
