TOUSSAINT L'OUVMBTURIE. 297

i'my brothers-in-arms from Europe, and to receive at the same
time the orders of the French Government; and in order to
march with greater speed, I left all my escorts. Between-Sc.
I Michel and St. Raphael, I met Gen. Dessalines and said to him,
S' I havesent for you to accompany me on my tour to Port-de-
SPaix, and to Mole; but that is useless now. I have just received
 two letters from Gen. Christole, announcing the arrival of the
French squadron before the Cape."
 I conmmiuicated to him these letters, whereupon he told me
 that he had seen from St. Mare six large vessels making sail for
 the coat of Port Republicain; but he was ignorant of what
 nation they were. I ordered him then to repair promptly to
 this port, since it was possible that Gen. Christophe having
 refused the entrance of the Cape to the general commanding
 the squadron, the latter might have proceeded to Port Rtpubli-
 cain in the hope of finding me there; should this prove true, I
 ordered him, in advance, to request the general to wait for me,
 and to assure him that I would go first to the Cape in the hope
-of meeting him there, and in case I should not find him there, I
 would repair at once to Port Republicain to confer with him.
 I set out for the Cape, passing by Vases, the shortest road.
 On arriving upon the heights of the Grand Boucan, in tie place
 caUed the Porte-Saint-Jacques, I perceived a fire in the town
 on the Cape. I urged my horse at full speed to reach this town,
 to lind there the general commanding the squadron, and to as-
 certain who had caused the conflagration. But, on approaching,
 I found the roads filled with the inhabitants who bad fled fi m
 this untfrtunate town, and I was unable to penetrate farther
 because all the passages were cannonaded by the artillery of the
 vessels which were in the roadstead. I then resolved to go up
 to the Fort of Bel-Air. but I found this fort evacuated likewise,
 and all theL pieces of cannon spiked.
 I was. iunseqIuectly, obliged to retrace my steps. After pass-
 ing the hospital, I met Gen. Chrmtophe, and asked him who had
 order. l the town to be fired. He replied that it was he. I
 reprimanded him severely for having employed such rigorous