Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo: In a Series of Letters, Written by a Lady at Cape Francois, to Colonel Burr, Late Vice-President of the United States, Principally During the Command of General RochambeuSansay, Leonora
History
Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo: In a Series of Letters, Written by a Lady at Cape Francois, to Colonel Burr, Late Vice-President of the United States, Principally During the Command of General Rochambeu
Sansay, Leonora
Haiti -- History -- Revolution, 1791-1804; Haiti -- Social life and customs
At break of day the fete was announced by the firing of cannon: at
eight o'clock the procession left the church, and passed through
the principal streets, which were strewn with roses; the fronts of
the houses were decorated with green branches, formed into arches,
intermingled with wreaths of flowers. The troops under arms were placed
in double ranks on each side of the street. The procession was opened
by a number of young boys dressed in white surplices, singing a hymn
in honour of the day. They were followed by young girls, crowned with
myrtle, bearing in their hands baskets of flowers, which they strewed
on the ground as they passed along. The band of music followed, and
then the priests, bearing golden censors, in which were burning the
most exquisite perfumes, preceded by four negroes, carrying on their
shoulders a golden temple, ornamented with precious stones, and golden
angels supporting a canopy of crimson velvet, beneath which the sacred
host was exposed in a brilliant sagraria. After them marched general
Closelle, and all the officers of the civil and military departments.
The procession was closed by a number of ladies, covered with white
veils. As the temple passed along, the soldiers bent one knee to
the ground; and when it returned to the church, high mass was sung,
accompanied by military music.
Clara and myself, attended by her everlasting beau, major B----, went
all over the town, and so fatigued our poor cavalier, that he actually
fell down; but he is fifty years old, and at least five hundred in
constitution; he has been very handsome, has still the finest eyes in
the world, is full of anecdote, and infinitely amusing.
General Closelle is very handsome, tall, and elegantly formed, but not
at all gallant, consequently not a favourite with the ladies; and for
the same reason, a great one with the gentlemen, particularly those who
are married. Since the departure of the general in chief he has put
every thing on a new footing: the fortifications are repairing, and
block-houses are erecting all round the town.
A few days since the negroes attacked a block-house which was nearly
finished. A detachment commanded by general Mayart, was instantly sent
out to support the guard. As he passed under my window, I told him to
hasten and gather fresh laurels. He replied, that at his return he
would lay them at my feet; but, alas! he returned no more. The negroes
were retreating when he arrived: a random shot struck him, and he fell
dead from his horse. This young man came from France about a year ago,
a simple lieutenant; he was very poor, but being powerfully protected,
advanced rapidly in the army; and, what is infinitely surprising,
thirty thousand dollars, and a great quantity of plate, were found in
his house at his death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account