162 rTH LIuE of

dcr the pretext that you have not any order from the
General.
 Fance has made peace with England, and its Gov
sends to Saint Domingo btrces able to subdue rebels, if
are to be Iound in Saint Domingo. Asto %nu. Citizen-G
I avow that it would give me pain to reckon you among
I warn you that if tbhis 'ery day you do not put into my-
session the Forts Picolet, Belair and all the batteries
coast, to-morrow at dawn fifteen thousand men shall be
barked. Four thousand at this moment ar. endingg at|
Liberty. eiOht thousand at Port Republican; you will fiol
proclamation joined tr thii commuuiieation ; it expresses t
tentionq of the Fn-nrIh Go'erument; hut, rinmemtber, wha
esteem your conduLt in the colony iha inspired inm with, Ii
you responsible for whatever may take place.
 "The General-in-chik' of the. army o' Saint Domil
 and Captain-General of the colony. I
 (Signed) LECLERai

 The letter, and the tone of the Captain-Gencral served d
to inflame the spiritt of r,.;istance, whith had time to gd4
strength, be.:atse the squadron, not being able to procure piI
was obliged to gain the open sea without hbing able to land
troops. Christophe mustered the .oldiers of the line and tl
them swear to conriner or die, conformably to the proclamri
of Touscaint L'Ouv,-rture,. dated the 18th of December, 1t
The proIlamation ol Leclere. intended to win over thed
authorities and the inhabitants, assumed a more pacific chah
ter, and promised to all the soldiers and functionaries of,
colony, whatever their color, the confirmation of their rankls
their otfi.:es. Smitten with fear. some of the civil author
endeavored to prevail with Christophe, but he was not a 4
to be easily overcome. ;i
 That thief, born in the island of Grenada, first an emancj
ted slave, then an innkeeper, a tradesman, and a .:attle-del
ended hb becoming a kin,. To the advantage of great heq