DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0225
ACCOUNT QF TOUSSAINT L?OUVENTURE.
195
visit at Toussaint’s camp in the country. So well was the
character of this negro chief known, that the General did
not scruple to go, with only two or three attendants, though
it was a considerable distance from his own army, and he
had to pass through a country full of negroes, who had
lately been his mortal enemies. The Commissioners of the
French Republic, however, did not think so well of the ho-
nour of this virtuous chief, having absolutely written a pri-
vate letter to Toussaint,'begging him, as he was a true repub-
lican, to seize this happy opportunity of making the Bri-
tish General a prisoner. General Maitland proceeded to-
wards Toussaint’s camp, and on the way received a letter
from one of his friends, apprising him of the plot, and
warning him not to put himself into the negro’s power.
As the good of His Majesty’s service, however, required
that confidence should, at this period, be placed in Tous-
saint, though even at some risk, General Maitland bravely
determined to proceed.
When arrived at Toussaint’s head-quarters the negro chief
was not to be seen. General Maitland was desired to wait,
and having stopped for some time without seeing Toussaint,
his mind began to misgive him, as was natural upon a recep-
tion so seemingly uncivil, and so conformable to the warn-
ing he had received. Our hero at length entered the room
with two letters open in his hand : “ There, General,” said
this noble chief, “ read these before we talk together : the
one is a letter just received from Monsieur Roume, and the
other, my answer. I would not come to you till I had writ-
ten my answer to him, that you may see how safe you are
with me, and how incapable I am of baseness.” General
Maitland read the letters, and found the one an artful at-
tempt to excite Toussaint to seize his guest, as an act of
duty to the Republic; the other, a noble, and indignant
refusal, concluding with these words : “ What 1 have I not
passed my word to the British General ? How then can you
c c 2
195
visit at Toussaint’s camp in the country. So well was the
character of this negro chief known, that the General did
not scruple to go, with only two or three attendants, though
it was a considerable distance from his own army, and he
had to pass through a country full of negroes, who had
lately been his mortal enemies. The Commissioners of the
French Republic, however, did not think so well of the ho-
nour of this virtuous chief, having absolutely written a pri-
vate letter to Toussaint,'begging him, as he was a true repub-
lican, to seize this happy opportunity of making the Bri-
tish General a prisoner. General Maitland proceeded to-
wards Toussaint’s camp, and on the way received a letter
from one of his friends, apprising him of the plot, and
warning him not to put himself into the negro’s power.
As the good of His Majesty’s service, however, required
that confidence should, at this period, be placed in Tous-
saint, though even at some risk, General Maitland bravely
determined to proceed.
When arrived at Toussaint’s head-quarters the negro chief
was not to be seen. General Maitland was desired to wait,
and having stopped for some time without seeing Toussaint,
his mind began to misgive him, as was natural upon a recep-
tion so seemingly uncivil, and so conformable to the warn-
ing he had received. Our hero at length entered the room
with two letters open in his hand : “ There, General,” said
this noble chief, “ read these before we talk together : the
one is a letter just received from Monsieur Roume, and the
other, my answer. I would not come to you till I had writ-
ten my answer to him, that you may see how safe you are
with me, and how incapable I am of baseness.” General
Maitland read the letters, and found the one an artful at-
tempt to excite Toussaint to seize his guest, as an act of
duty to the Republic; the other, a noble, and indignant
refusal, concluding with these words : “ What 1 have I not
passed my word to the British General ? How then can you
c c 2