declaring that no white merchants should every quarter of the island. An unusually for the future have patents granted them to sultry atmosphere filled the valleys, and do business, and that those firms that pos- the sky, whether clouded or serene, assessed patents should only be permitted to sumed strange aspects, as if to presage trade during the lifetime of their present the misfortunes to come. Heavy volumes partners. This policy, however, was one of vapor hung on the peaks of Cibao and of retaliation. All European governments, La Selle, and overspread the country like not excepting England, discouraged and so many vast umbrellas; and before the goalmost forbade intercourse between Hayti ing down of the sun every day an extraorand the other islands of the West Indies. dinary livid tinge painted the whole heavens. It is probable that these acts would have Travellers coming across the mountains told had no effect on Boyer's popularity, had he of strange phenomena they had witnessed. not attempted of late years to play the des- To some groves of palm trees stretching pot too openly. He went so far as to imi- along the edges of cliffs had appeared wraptate the Russian autocrat, by forbidding ped in fire. The moon and stars by night, his subjects to leave the island without his and the sun by day, seemed dilated and permission; and, feeling that the House of wore an unnatural hue. But there was no Representatives sometimes crippled his prophet to speak in the language of warnmovements, undertook to purge it of the ing to the unfortunate Haytians. They had malcontents. He began this system in eyes to see, but they did not see. Though 1838, by expelling, under awe of a body many felt anxious and uneasy, none fled. of troops, though nominally by a vote of They were fated to destruction. On the the house, certain members who had been 7th of May, 1842, at a little past five o'clock most forward in the promotion of an address, in the evening, after a calm, sultry, hazy praying for redress of grievances, among afternoon, the whole island began to shake the principal of which was the appointment and quiver, and roll like a drunken man. of a president for life, with power, like a The loftiest mountains trembled, chasms Roman emperor, to adopt a successor. In opened on every side, streams hung sus1842, Herard Dumesle, brother of Charles pended in their course, houses, towers, Rivière Herard, and one of the expelled churches, palaces, came to the ground; and members, and André Laudun, a man of the sea, rushing upon the shore, threatened known liberal principles, were elected for Aux Cayes. The latter was chosen president of the chamber, and actually invested with the office. But Boyer procured, partly by threats, partly by persuasion, another vote, which reversed the former and deposed Laudun. No sooner was this made known throughout the country than a gradually increasing excitement, manifesting itself at first in murmurs, and then assuming the shape of open threats, evinced to the president that he had taken too bold a step. At the same time a conspiracy was set on foot at Aux Cayes, which soon spread over the whole country. A sort of carbonarism was instituted, and the materials of revolution rapidly accumulated. The chamber, encouraged by the general state of feeling, attempted to assert its dignity. Mobs collected to encourage it. But an army of 20,000 strong was called out on the side of government, and the unripe movement for a while checked.

Such was the situation of affairs when a most unexpected element of confusion was added to those that already existed. For many months a severe drought had parched the plains and dried the streams in almost SEPTEMBER, 1844. 9

for a moment not to leave a single Deucalion to tell the tale. It is useless to enumerate the places where the shock was felt and disasters occurred. Not a single town escaped without some casualty. In many quarters powder mills blew up; in others conflagrations began to rage as soon as the earthquake manifested itself; water and sea-sand gushed up in many places in the interior, and lakes took the place of savannahs. Thousands of lives were lost, and property to an incalculable extent was destroyed. But it was at Cape Haytien, the capital of the north, and the great depôt of agricultural produce, that the earthquake produced the most disastrous effects. It was Saturday, and the town was full of people come to buy and sell in the market. No preluding noises, no roaring of the sea, no subterranean rumbling announced the approach of the calamity. It came on suddenly. The vibration was generally lateral or horizontal, and from west to east, though one or two vertical movements were felt, as if the subterranean fire was struggling for an exit. The very instant the shock was experienced the houses began to tumble or rather to rush down upon the heads of their

twelve thousand inhabitants, more than half] There perished, it is supposed, about seven of whom were buried in the ruins. For thousand souls.

forty minutes there was one continual deaf- The principal place of refuge was an eleening sullen roar of falling houses. The vation called La Fossette, close to the bellowing of artillery in the greatest battle town. Here the survivors, most of whom that ever was fought can impart no idea of were dreadfully wounded, collected and lay the overwhelming torrent of sound that rose down on the bare quaking earth, almost from the devoted city. Every building, heart-broken, to pass the night. The shocks small and great, was levelled with the were repeated every five minutes, but there ground. Not a fragment of wall remain- was nothing more to shake down. The ed entire. The sky became suddenly dark roaring in the bowels of the earth was unand lowering, and clouds of blinding dust interrupted. Most expected, some wished, rising through the hot air increased the hor- that the earth would open and swallow ror of the scene. It is easier to imagine them up. To add to the horrors of the than describe the shrieks, the wailings, and scene, the ruins were soon wrapped in the struggles of the wretched crowd that flames, and many poor creatures, who had survived the first shock. Climbing over sunk exhausted upon them, were burned tottering walls and smoking ruins, all en- to death. Their shrieks could be distinctdeavored to make their way towards the ly heard at La Fossette, and added to the outskirts or the great square in front of the misery of the survivors, who imagined church, which, like every thing else, was every now and then that they recognized humbled in the dust. Some miraculous the voice of a friend in his agony. Few escapes are recorded. Men, women, and could muster strength or courage to go to children, who were sitting in balconies or their assistance, and several of those that in the upper stories of their houses, sudden- went perished miserably. A torrent of rain, ly found themselves unhurt in the streets. that fell about midnight, increased the Some were saved by standing under arched wretchedness of the wounded, without exdoorways, that protected them from the tinguishing the flames, which shone so falling mortar and stones, and were the last brightly on the limestone rocks that crown to yield to the successive shocks that finally the mountains behind the town, that many laid all prostrate. An English surgeon, thought a volcano had burst forth. By Mr. Daly, was stopped in the streets by a this light, too, the vessels in the harbor, father who bore his child with a broken crowded with fugitives, could be seen tossarm, and had courage enough to splinter it ing and rolling on the disturbed sea, that with a shingle in the midst of the toppling hissed like a seething caldron along the houses. There was only one family in shore. Suddenly, a column of light more which no death occurred. Many, with vivid than ever shot high into the heavens. limbs shattered by huge stones, endeavored It was followed by a terrific roar. still to drag themselves along. Others lay great powder magazine had exploded, and down awaiting patiently the death that soon blown numbers of miserable men to atoms. came to relieve them. Affection now displayed its untiring energy. Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, friends who had made their escape in obedience to the first impulse, hurried back amidst the tottering ruins to save those who might have been buried alive. Some were dug out within less than half an hour; others bruised, wounded, bleeding, and faint, were extricated in the dead of the night; but the greater number were left until the following morning; and many remained four, five, twelve, and even thirteen days, before they were found. It is scarcely possible but that some were left to perish of hunger and thirst. Hundreds were drowned by the rushing in of the sea, or swallowed up in the chasms, some of them three quarters of a mile in length, that opened in the streets.

The

The morning of the eighth dawned bright and balmy, but served only to reveal the extent of the general misfortune. At the foot of a huge heap of shattered hills, covered with uprooted trees, lay the smoking ruins of the town, and beyond stretched the still heaving sea, white with foam, and bearing on its breast the four ships which had served as a refuge to so many of the inhabitants of the cape. Presently, issuing from every ravine, and swarming along every road, hordes of black savages, armed to the teeth, appeared rushing on with wild yells to plunder the devoted town. In a few hours the streets were one dreadful scene of fighting. Every thing of value that was found, these inhuman villains madly struggled for; and hose who hadtaken refuge on La Fossette, could every where descry

groups of infuriated blacks with swords, The most remarkable circumstance in daggers, and guns, engaged in desperate con- the history of this catastrophe is the total flict with each other. A desultory fire was apathy with which the blacks of the interikept up on every side. Many of the mer- or, even when they did not actually join chants collected in armed bodies, and attack- in the plunder, beheld the misfortunes of ed the plunderers, putting them to death their fellow-citizens. The same feeling without mercy, as they deserved; for they seems to pervade the whole of this injured stabbed and shot the wounded wherever and vindictive race. Even in Jamaica, they found them, and tore necklaces and ear- when a fire takes place, the former slaves rings from women who lay half dead among look stupidly on without attempting to af the ruins. Even the soldiers and their of- ford any assistance, and in every other part ficers joined in the pillage. The surviving of the West Indies their conduct is almost inhabitants, that ventured unarmed into invariably the same. Frequently, indeed, the town, were ruthlessly murdered. Four the first flash of a conflagration is a signal men found a piece of linen and fought for for plunder. In Hayti, we must regard the it. Two fell beneath the strokes of the conduct of the blacks on this occasion, as others, who were about to renew the con- partly indicative of a state of political feeltest, when some officers rode up and shot ing directed against the mulattoes, and them dead. An article of trifling value those more fortunate negroes, who, by acwas discovered by two blacks armed with quiring property, had learned to identify swords. They left it on the ground, and themselves in some respect with them. It rushed at each other. A desperate en- must be remembered, indeed, that an upcounter ensued, and one being at length per class had by degrees been formed in cut down, begged for mercy, but his ruth-Hayti, composed of the two races, actually less opponent plunged his sword into his divided amongst themselves, but apt, like breast. At that moment a shot from a the aristocracy of England, to combine neighboring ruin brought the villain to the against the lower orders. This circumground, and he never spoke more. No stance had diverted the attention of many city taken by storm was ever sacked with greater ferocity. A gentleman, armed with a pistol, was endeavoring to save some of his property; five blacks came up in succession to disturb him, and he shot them all, reloading coolly after each discharge, and continuing what he was about until the next plunderer came to meet his death.

from the incessant action of the rivalry of the two races, which in reality is the cause, proximate or remote, of almost every event that has taken place of late in Hayti.

Many, besides, had been totally ruined, and looked forward to the storms of revolution for an opportunity of regaining their position in the world. It was their fancy to fish in troubled waters.

The mass of the population, though astonished for a while by the awful visitation we have described, soon recovered sufficient elasticity of spirits to return with This state of things continued with little fresh ardor to their intestine discords. But abatement for nearly a week, during which it is very possible that the physical convula pestilence, engendered by the effluvia of sions which had taken place around them so many dead bodies, swept away a great may have prepared their imaginations calmnumber of the survivors. At length, how-ly to receive impressions of civil strife. ever, order was restored, and the wretched remnants of the population of Cape Hayti began slowly to endeavor to clear and rebuild it. But many, their hearts overladen with sadness and unable to bear the sight of a place where they had suffered so much, embarked for various foreign countries, or retired to remote quarters of the island; and even unto this day, in spite of the great events which have since occurred, many who were witnesses of the terrible calamity we have described, retain a sadness which they will probably carry with them to the grave. It was remarked, however, at the time, that not a tear was shed; the blow was too severe and too sudden; it stunned the faculties, and checked the natural overflowings of feeling.

Meanwhile the secret society, at Aux Cayes, was taking advantage of the general excitement to diffuse its principles and dispose the minds of the people for a revolt in their interest. But it was not until the beginning of 1843 that they had sufficiently ripened their plans to put them into execution. A frightful hurricane had, in the meanwhile, again devastated their unfortunate country; and a third disaster ushered in the new year. On the 9th of January a dreadful fire burst out at Port-au-Prince, which the late earthquake had scarcely

began to advance its forces along the promontory eastward towards the mainland and the capital. At Pestel took place the first serious collision, in which General Lamarre, commanding for the president, was shot by one of his own officers. In a sec

touched. Six hundred houses were burn-] the other hand, the committee of public ed down, and property to an immense safety, at Jeremie, agitated the country amount destroyed. No sooner did the vol-with untiring perseverance; and, at length, umes of smoke that swept along the sky and the deep red glare of the flames announce the disaster than the blacks of the mountains were again in motion, and the scenes of Cape Haytien were renewed. Houses which the fire had not reached were attacked by the mob, and defended ond battle, not far from Jeremie, another with desperate energy, though with various of Boyer's generals, Cazeau, was killed, success, by their masters. The authorities and his men routed or taken prisoners. were paralyzed, and it was not until the Herard then marched upon Little Goave, savages returned, glutted with blood and the troops of the president retiring before plunder, to their haunts, that they made him, and dispersing as they went; but at any attempt to assert the majesty of gov- Leogane he came up with a force which, ernment. Malouet might now have ex- though much inferior to his own, gave him claimed, with reason, 'Il faut que la colo- battle. The result was decisive of Boyer's nie de Saint Domingue soit encore dans les fate. He now resolved on flight, applied tenebres; car je cherche sa police, et je ne to the officer of a British sloop of war then la trouve pas.' The weakness of the gov-in port to take him on board with his famernment now became evident. If they ily, collected about 40,0007. in money, could not repress an unorganized multitude, with a quantity of jewels, and having pubwhat could they do against a real revolt? lished a proclamation, by which he formally The argument was cogent; and, towards abdicated the presidentship, embarked unthe end of January, it was resolved to be do-regretted und unpitied. All felt that someing. A place called Praslin was selected as thing was removed from over their heads the scene of the first overt act, which cir- which had cast a sombre shadow on their cumstance has gained for the leaders of the souls. His tyranny had rather been continrevolution the name of the Heroes of Pras-uous and depressing than wild and bloody. lin.' The commandant of artillery, Rivière Herard, (absurdly reproached by the 'Jamaica Gazette,' which has furnished us with some valuable materials, with being a horsebreaker,) here assumed the title of chief of the executive. Aux Cayes was now invested, and General Borgella, who held it for Boyer, compelled to capitulate..

Accordingly, many who did not precisely hate him felt relieved when he was gone, and looked forward with something like hope to the provisional government which was shortly installed at Port-au-Prince.

We shall pass over the remaining events of the year with a remark or two. The victory achieved by the blacks did not When General Herard proposed to treat enable them to take that prominent position with Boyer, the only answer he received in the government which they had expectwas, that no negotiation could be opened ed. This may be explained by the fact with rebels having arms in their hands. that nearly all the great military offices But as the troops began to exhibit signs of having been in the hands of the mulattoes, disaffection, and even to go over to the they alone were qualified to command. popular party, it became evident that the Accordingly, on the 17th of December, most prompt and energetic measures would General Rivière Herard was proclaimed alone suffice. These, however, there seem-president by his troops and adherents. ed no one capable of resorting to. Gen-There was a momentary show of opposierak Inginac, the secretary of state, came tion; Quixotic allusions were made to the trembling back from Goave with his forces illegality of a military election-the poor towards Port-au-Prince, without waiting people thought themselves in a free counfor the enemy. Herard, meanwhile, and try-they had cheated themselves with a his rapidly increasing army, remained sta-name; but on the 9th of January, 1844, tionary at Tiburon, whither Boyer should the choice made in the camp was confirmed have marched and driven him into the sea. in the city, and the news spread over the But he suffered the whole country to be world that Herard had been elected by the excited to such an extent, that at length to unanimous suffrages of his fellow-citizens. attempt to exert his authority would have Sanguine politicians began, thereupon, to been merely to betray his weakness. On indulge in delightful anticipations. We

were now to have a real black republic. I was the excitement which spread like a Every packet was expected to announce contagion to every nook of the state in the appearance of a negro Solon at Port- 1843, and the disappointment that was au-Prince. Philosophers and philanthro- general throughout the country when Ripists, whigs, and even tories, indulged the vière Herard took the lead. The Dominifond delusion; and many enthusiastic ad- cans complain that in the interval during vocates of emancipation began to look for- which this general governed by martial ward, already, to the reception of the rights law, he traversed the department of St. of citizenship. But alas for the mutability Jago, stripped the churches, sold employof the affairs of this world! ments, annulled elections; and they point It is well known, that in 1822 the Span- to the notorious fact that he reached the ish portion of the island, occupying two- presidency by means of his army. Not thirds of its whole extent, but comparatively the least offensive of his acts was his inunpeopled, was annexed to the republic by carceration in the dungeons of Port-auPresident Boyer. This was consummated Prince of a number of Spaniards accused with the utmost ease. The French, it is of entertaining designs of going over to true, and this is worthy of remark, endea- Colombia. It is a curious circumstance vored to prevent it, but were foiled. The that Boyer, during his stay at Jamaica, Spaniards, one and all, were weary of the was detected intriguing with some Colomrule of the mother country; but a portion bian officers to join him in endeavoring to of them only desired to be united with recover his power. Another fact must be Hayti; the others would have preferred coupled with this, namely, that in May the the yoke of Colombia, separated from them ex-president was seen at Havre on his way by seven hundred miles of ocean. How-to the West Indies. Has he received any ever, Boyer's rapid march silenced all dis- encouragement from the French governcussions among the Dons, and the whole island was united under his rule. Whatever may have been the faults of this distinguished man he cannot be refused a capacity for government superior to most of his fellow-islanders. From 1818 to 1843 he maintained the integrity of his dominions, and it is only since his abdication that a sort of centrifugal tendency has shown itself in various parts of Hayti.January and February of this year passed away in quietness. It was thought that, satisfied with this amended constitution, in which the principal feature was the reduction of the term of the presidentship to four years, the Haytians would now work out their own regeneration. But, on the 1st of Is there not here an evident presentiment March, the Spaniards set forth their griev- that all would shortly be not so very quiet, ances in a public manifesto, and flying to and that whatever disturbance took place arms declared themselves a free and inde- would be in consequence of dissatisfaction pendent state separate from the Haytian with the constitution, just as was ostensibly republic. The charges made against Bo- the case? To our mind the connexion of yer and the Haytian government are ex- M. Juchereau with the affairs of St. Dominpressed by the Dominican people in vague go, however the French journals may deny language; but one fact is established, name- the fact, is as evident as that of M. Lesly, that the white portion of the popula- seps with those of Barcelona. As to the tion of the eastern division looked upon the papers containing plans of French domiblack with the utmost hatred and abhorrence. nation found on Colonel Pimentel when he It appears also that the Spanish portion of the was taken prisoner by Herard, they may or island had greatly deteriorated under Boyer's may not have been the offspring of his own rule, and that he had committed many acts imagination; but we confess it appears to us of oppression, and treated the people as if very unlikely that he should have no ground they had been conquered by force. But whatever for his speculations. Certain it is, the immediate cause of the Spanish revolt | however, that when the garrison of St. Do

ment? Several reasons may be assigned for believing that he has. On the 13th of January last arrived for the first time at St. Domingo, the focus of the Spanish insurrection, a French consul, by name M. Juchereau de St. Denis. On the 16th his official installation took place, the French flag was hoisted and honored by a salute of twenty-one guns. The arrival of our consul,' says the writer of a letter in the Journal du Havre,'' seems to have caused much satisfaction in the town, where every thing is at present tranquil. The articles of the new constitution were already known, and its promulgation was expected every day.'