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136  TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE.

Before he arrived, Toussaint received a letter from one of his partisans, advising him to retain the British general.
9. On the general's arrival, Toussaint was not to be seen immediately, but at length he appeared with two letters in his hand. "There, general," said he, "before we talk together, read these : one is a letter just received from Roume, (the French commissioner,) and the other is my answer. I would not come to you until I had written my answer to him, that you may see how safe you are with me, and how incapable I am of baseness." General Maitland, on reading the letters, found one to be a very artful attempt to persuade Toussaint to seize his guest, as an act of duty to the republic, and the other a noble and indignant refusal.
10. "What!" said Toussaint, in his letter to the perfidious Frenchman, "have I not passed my word to the British general? How then can you suppose that I will cover myself with dishonor by breaking it? His reliance on my good faith leads him to put himself in my power, and I should be for ever infamous, if I were to act as you advise. I am faithfully devoted to the republic ; but I will not serve it at the expense of my conscience and my honor."
11. When these negotiations were settled, he devoted his undisturbed attention to the arts of peace. And one of his first objects was the reg-

TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE.  137

ular cultivation of the soil—upon which the prosperity of every country materially depends. Slavery being now done away on the island, the planters who returned, were obliged to employ their laborers on the footing of hired servants, and the negroes were required to labor for their own subsistence.
12. Obliged to work, but in a moderate manner, and for suitable wages, and at liberty to choose their masters, the plantation negroes were generally contented, healthful, and happy ; and in due time, the island reached a state of refinement and ease, scarcely to be credited. A writer who visited the island, says, "The men in general are sensible and polite, and many of the women are very engaging."
13. As the islanders had thrown off the shackles of slavery, it appeared necessary, for the well-ordering of government, that a new constitution should be framed. Toussaint, assisted by some of the Europeans, acted a conspicuous part in this work, which, after being prepared, was submitted to a general assembly convened from every district, by whom it was approved and adopted, and proclamation thereof was made in due form on the first day of July, 1801.
14. In the autumn of that year, every part of St. Domingo was in a quiet submission to the negro chief, and rapidly improving in wealth and happiness, under a wise administration. The cessation
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