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
I have found numbers of my French friends here, and among others madame
M----, who was more than gallant at the Cape, and who at St. Jago
appeared not insensible to the pleasure of being loved. She left her
sister in a fit of jealousy and went to Jamaica, hoping to captivate
some Englishman, or at least to rival him in his attachment to roast
beef and Madeira. But it seems she has been disappointed, no lover
having yet offered his homage to her robust attractions. She accuses
them of wanting taste, and hates the place and all who inhabit it.
I have also met here my little friend Coralie, whose adventures since I
parted with her at the Cape, have been distressing and romantic.
Her mother and herself had been persuaded to remain at the Cape, after
the evacuation, by a brother on whom they entirely depended, and
who, seduced by the hope of making a fortune, staid and shared the
melancholy fate of the white inhabitants of that place. Coralie and her
sister were concealed by an American merchant in his store, among sacks
of coffee and boxes of sugar. Their mother had been led, with the rest
of the women, to the field of slaughter.
The benevolent man who concealed these unfortunate girls at the risk
of his life, after some weeks had elapsed, and the vigilance of the
negroes a little relaxed, entreated the captain of an English frigate
to receive them on board his vessel, to which he readily agreed.
Disguised in sailors' clothes, and carrying baskets of provisions
on their heads, they followed the captain to the sea side. As they
approached the guard placed on the wharf to examine all that embarked,
they trembled, and involuntarily drew back. But their brave protector
told them that it was too late to recede and that he would defend them
with his life. As the English were on the best terms with the negroes,
the supposed boys were suffered to pass. On entering the ship the
captain congratulated them on their escape, and Coralie, overpowered by
a variety of sensations, fainted in the arms of her generous protector.
A few days after, they sailed for Jamaica. On entering Port Royal,
the frigate was driven against a small vessel, and so damaged it,
that it appeared to be sinking. The boat was instantly hoisted out,
and the captain of the frigate went himself to the assistance of the
sufferers. The passengers and crew jumped into the boat, and were
making off, when the screams of a female were heard from below, and it
was recollected that there was a sick lady in the cabin. The English
captain descended, brought her up in his arms, and put her in the boat.
Then, saying that the vessel was not so much injured as they imagined,
ordered some of his people to assist him in saving many things that lay
at hand. Four sailors jumped on board, and followed their commander to
the cabin, where they had scarcely descended, when the vessel suddenly
filled and sunk. They were irrecoverably lost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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