TOUI88AJ (T L'OUVERTURE.


did I see on board a number of people who had been arrested
with her ? Many or these persons had not fired a shot. They
, were innocent men, fathers of families, who had been torn from
the arms of their wives and children. All these persons had
shed their blood to preserve the colony to France; they were
Officers of my staff, my secretaries, who had done nothing but
by my orders; all, therelgre, were arrested without cause.
 Upon landing at Brest, my wife and children were sent to
 different destinations, of both of which I am ignorant. Gov-
 ernment should do me more justice : my wife and children have
 done nothing and have nothing to answer for; they should be
 sent home to watch over our interests. Gen. Leclerc has occa-
 sioned all this evil; but I am at the bottom of a dungeon, una-
 ble to justify my.elf. Government is too just to keep my hands
 tied, and allow Gen. Leclerc to abuse me thus, without listen-
 ing to me.
 Everybody has told me that this Government was just;
 should I not, then, share its justice and its benefit ?
 Gen. Lecl-rc has said in Ith letter to the minister, which I
 have seen in the newspaper, that I was waiting for his troops
 to grow sick, in order to make war and take back the command.
 This is an atrocious and abominable lie: it is a cowardly act on
 his part. Although I may not have much knowledge or much
 education, I have enough good sense to hinder me from con-
 tending against the will of my Government; I never thought
 of it. The Fren':h Government is too strong, too powerful, for
 Gen. Leclerc to think me opposed to it, who am its servant. It
 it is true, that when Gen. Leclerc marched against me, T said
 several times that I should make no attack, that I should only
 defend myself, until July or Augut ; that then I would com-
 mence in my turn. But, afterward, I reflected upon the misfor-
 tunes of the colony and upon the letter of the First Consul; I
 :then submitted.
 I repeat it again: I demand that Gen. Leclerc and myself be
 judged before a tribunal; that Government should order all my
correspondence to be brought; by this means my innocence,