Retrospect of French Literature—Miscellanies. 
did not see them distinctly before, and 
fully proved to all, that there remained 
no other means of preservation either in 
respect to ourselves, or with a view to the 
external enemy, than to rise in a hody, if 
we wished to avoid approaching destruc- 
tion. This spontaneous movement, the 
ofispring of our oppressed bosoms, has 
produced an effect to the full as prompt 
as lightning. 
“ ina few days, the two divisions of the 
South were under arms; nothing could 
stop such an ixruption, because it was a> 
movement equally just and sacred, pro- 
ceeding from the rights of citizens, vio- 
lated with impunity. 
“ We have joined cur arms with those 
of our brethren of the South. Penetrated 
with the same sentiments as they, our 
united forces advanced to Port-au-Prince, 
in the most admirable order, preserving 
an exact discipline, and with a due re- 
spect to property, so that the labours of 
agriculture were not stopped for a single 
moment, nor a drop of blood spilt. 
“ That Providence which is infinfte in 
its decrees, has been pleased to manifest 
itself in so just a cause, by conducting 
our oppressor to the fate which awaited 
him; and he has found the chastisement 
of his crimes, at the foot of the ramparts 
of a city, which he had marched to with 
his forces, in order to float it with the 
blood of his equals. In short, to make 
use of his last expressions, (‘ il voulait 
régner dans le sang”) he wished to reign 
in blood! 
““ We should not have concluded our 
work, General, 1f we had not been pene- 
trated with the recollection, that there 
existed a chief calculated to command 
the army, with all that latitude of power, 
of which until now he had only the ap- 
pearance. 
*¢ [tis in the name of the whole of this 
army, always faithful, obedient, and well 
disciplined, that we beseech you, General, 
to assume the reins of government, and 
enable us to enjoy the plenitude of our 
rights, and of that liberty for which we 
have so long combated, and at the same 
time to become the depositary .of those 
laws, which we have sworn to obey, be- 
cause they are just. 
“ T have the honour to salute you, with 
a respectiul attachinent, 
‘“< PETION.” 
The next paper, which has for its 
title, “* Resistance 4. l’Oppression,” ap- 
pears to be a justificatory declaration in 
behalf of the insurgents. It is stated, 
‘that a frightful tyranny, long exercised 
649 
alike over the people and the army, had 
at length exasperated all, and induced 
them “to erect a mound against the tor- 
rent of devastation which menaced them.” 
“ Every thing,” it is added, ‘ seemed 
to announce, that we were about to be- 
hold the renewal of those scenes of bor- 
ror and proscription, those dungeons, 
those gibbets, irose funeral piles, those 
drownings, of which we were the sad anid 
unfortunate victims, under the iniquitous 
government of Rochambeau, of Darbois, 
of Ferrand, of Berger, &c. &c. 
‘In addition to the crime of despoiling 
many great proprietors, who had been 
thirty years in possession of their lands, 
but whose titles had been lost during the 
late commotions, the emperor was accus- 
tomed, in conformity to the example of 
the former government, to seize on the 
possessions of the little proprietors, and 
without regard to age or sex send them 
away from their homes: if particular con- 
siderations, or the general interest, could 
authorise such a measure” it is added, 
** would it not have been just to have 
granted an indemnification ?” 
“ Commerce, at once the source of 
_abundance and prosperity in states, lan- 
guished under this stupid man, and ex- 
perienced an apathy, arising solely from 
his vexatious and unjust conduct in re- 
spect to foreigners. Cargoes carried off. 
by violence, and agreements violated as 
soon as contracted, repulsed vessels of 
every kind from our shores; the assassina= 
tion of Thomas Thuat, an English mer- 
chant, resvected in this country on ac= 
count of his long residence, his irreproach- 
able conduct, and the benefits by him 
conferred, has excited universal indigna- 
tion. And for what cause was he mur 
dered? Thomas Thuat was rich—this was 
his only crime! The Haitain merchants 
themselves were not treated better; the 
very advantages seemingly conferred on 
them, were bestowed with a view to the 
profit which could be derived from those 
privileges.” 
Towards the conclusion we meet witha 
document, entitled ‘‘ Relation de la Cam- 
pagne Haitienne contre la Tyrannie,” 
from which we learn that the insurrection 
was general both on the part of the citi- 
zens and soldiery, and. that the conflict 
lasted from the [3th to the 17th of Octo- 
ber. We are assured, that Dessalines 
rushed on his destruction, without 
the least anticipation of his fate, which 
gives occasion to the remark; (Les 
Tyrans ont beaucoup de Flatteurs, et pas 
un vrai ami), that tyrants have many flat- 
: terers 
