STOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE. 255

oIt n the discussions of his council-chamber. But he was lit-
,.iuainted with the human heart, and was unable to inter-
Wthe peculiar character of Africans. In war he was active,
na and presumptuous. Blindly obedient to the wishes
n'tie First Consul, he made peace consist of a complication of
ahbles, divisions, treachery, and violence. By these deplora-
Serimes, he was reduced to the state of impotence which
5 been described. As he had'none of the qualities of a
Mist commander, a funeral oration pronounced in his honor,
6i a few soldiers, who had escaped from the fever and
a sword, was a mere harmonious assemblage of idle words.
hauine, Leclere's wife, affected the marks of extraordinary
jitning, Pt she betrayed appearances by choosing for her
ipanion ont- of the most handsome men of the army, and re-
iiid to her ordinary habits of luxury, pleasure, and voluptu-
less. After ha ing had her husband's body embalmed, she
iaed the sea to France. When her vrssel appeared at Mar-
Wes, the inhabitants, at the sight of the Consul's sister, a widow,
ouatig, in tears, manifisted their sorrow by decorating the
t and the streets with crape and funereal garlands. The to-
as of sadness had been commanded, but they had some real-
P for many of them had seen her grow up to adolescence
fin their walls.
b'mournfhl procession she entered Paris. Brothers, sisters,
wwives, then shed true tears at the remembrance of sons,
ers, and husbands, whom they had lost in the expedition.
Illne herself let some tears fall when she saw her brother,
embraced her with joy and tenderness. Then she spoke
fim eloquently of Saint Domingo as a land of fire, blood,
Desolation. The Consul heard her in silence, and said,
Pre is all that remains of that fine army,-- the body of a
Kier-in-law, of a general, my right arm, a handful of dust;
ps perished, all wUil peri-h. Fatal conquest I cursed land I
I7aious colonits! I a wret..hed slave in revolt These are
S*causes of so many evils." He concealed from himself for
moment that he had sent away so many brave warriors
 awa ma


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