ST.
DOMINGO.
67
places in armed bodies ; and the whites, by a mournful fatality, C H A P . VI. fuffered them to alTemble without moleftation. In truth, every man's thoughts were directed towards the meeting of the new colonial affembly, from whofe deliberations and proceedings the extinction of party, and the full and immediate redrefs of all exifting grievances, were confidently expected. M . Blanchelande himfelf declares, that he cherifhed the fame flattering and fallacious hopes. " After a long fucceffion of violent ftorms, " I fondly expected (he writes) the return of a calm and ferene " morning. T h e temperate and conciliating conduct of the '' new affembly, during their fhort fitting at Leogane, the cha'' racters of moft of the individual members, and the neceffity, " fo apparent to all, of mutual conceffion and unanimity on this " great occafion, led me to think that the colony would at " length fee the termination of its miferies ; when, alas, the " ftorm was ready to burft, which has fince involved us in one " common deftruction !" I T was on the morning of the 23d of Auguft, juft before day, that a general alarm and confternation fpread throughout the town of the Cape, from a report that all the negro flaves in the feveral neighbouring parifhes had revolted, and were at that moment carrying death and defolation over the adjoining large and beautiful plain to the North-eaft. T h e governor, and moft of the military officers on duty, affembled together ; but the re足 ports were fo confufed and contradictory, as to gain but little credit ; when, as day-light began to break, the fudden and fucceffive arrival, with ghaftly countenances, of perfons who had with difficulty efcaped the maffacre, and flown to the town
K 2
for
1791.