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
Madame G----, a pretty little Parisian, who was his favourite, is
inconsolable. She faints when any body enters the room, and repeats his
name in gentle murmurs. In the evening she languishingly reposes on a
sopha placed opposite the door, and seems to invite by the gracefulness
of her attitudes, and the negligence of her dress, the whole world to
console her.
The most distressing accounts arrive here daily from all parts of the
island.
The general in chief is at Port-au-Prince, but he possesses no longer
the confidence of the people. He is entirely governed by his officers,
who are boys, and who think only of amusement. He gives splendid balls,
and elegant parties; but he neglects the army, and oppresses the
inhabitants.
A black chief and his wife were made prisoners last week, and sentenced
to be shot. As they walked to the place of execution the chief seemed
deeply impressed with the horror of his approaching fate: but his wife
went cheerfully along, endeavoured to console him, and reproached his
want of courage. When they arrived on the field, in which their grave
was already dug, she refused to have her eyes bound; and turning to
the soldiers who were to execute their sentence, said "Be expeditious,
and don't make me linger." She received their fire without shrinking,
and expired without uttering a groan. Since the commencement of the
revolution she had been a very devil! Her husband commanded at St.
Marks, and being very amorously inclined, every white lady who was
unfortunate enough to attract his notice, received an order to meet
him. If she refused, she was sure of being destroyed, and if she
complied she was as sure of being killed by his wife's orders, which
were indisputable. Jealous as a tygress, she watched all the actions
of her husband; and never failed to punish the objects of his amorous
approaches, often when they were entirely innocent.
How terrible was the situation of these unfortunate women, insulted
by the brutal passion of a negro, and certain of perishing if they
resisted or if they complied.
This same fury in female form killed with her own hand a white man who
had been her husband's secretary. He offended her; she had him bound,
and stabbed him with a penknife till he expired!
How often, my dear friend, do my sighs bear my wishes to your happy
country; how ardently do I desire to revisit scenes hallowed by
recollection, and rendered doubly dear by the peaceful security I there
enjoyed, contrasted with the dangers to which we are here exposed. Yet
the Creoles still hope; for
"Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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