114 C H A P. VIII.
H I S T O R Y
O F
ing he repaired with his attendants, took the neceffary oaths, and entered on his government without opposition. H e de clared, at the fame time, that he was not dependent on the civil commiffioners, and not bound to execute, at all events, their proclamations. A VERY quick interchange of letters took place between the new governor and the commiffioners. H e defired them to re pair immediately to the Cape, that he might communicate the inftructions he had received from the executive council. They anfwered that he was an entire ftranger to them; that they had feen no decree of the national convention by which they themfelves were fuperfeded, and that being vefted with authority to fufpend or appoint a governor, as they alone might think proper, he could only be confidered as an agent fubordinate to them selves :—They added, that they were then affembling an army to fupprefs a rebellion in the town and neighbourhood of Port au Prince ; but that as foon as the bufinefs was at an end, they would repair to the Cape, and examine into the validity of his pretenfions.
1793.
ON the 10th of June the civil commiffioners, having reduced Port au Prince and Jacmel, arrived at the Cape. The ftreets were lined with troops, and they were received by Galbaud with atten tion and refpect. A very ferious altercation however immediately took place between them,highly difadvantageous to the governor. There existed, it feems, a decree of the national affembly, enact ing that no proprietor of an eftate in the Weft Indies fhould hold the government of a colony wherein his eftate was fituated; and M. Galbaud was poffeffed of a coffee-plantation in St. D o mingo..