166 CHAP. XI.
1794
H I S T O R Y
O F
commiffioners.—The garrifon, confifting of about forty Britifh convalefcents, threw themfelves into a fmall fort on the feafhore, which they gallantly defended for two days, when a fri gate came to their relief from the Mole of Cape St. Nicho las.—The triumph of the Mulattoes, however, was tranfient. Colonel Brifbane attacked them on the fide of the land, and recovered the town; making upwards of three hundred of the infurgents prifoners, and driving the reft over the Artibonite river; but the advantages which he had obtained on the plain, were loft in the interim. T h e negro chiefs no longer folicited to capitulate, but appeared in greater force than ever. Being joined by the fugitive Mulattoes, they foon repaffed the river; and having, in the beginning of October, obtained poffeffion of two out-pofts (St. Michael and St. Raphael) they had procured plenty of arms and ammunition, and now threatened fo for midable an attack on the town of St. Marc, as to excite the moft ferious apprehenfions for its fafety. Such was the fituation of affairs in the weftern parts of St. Domingo about the period of General Horneck's arrival. T h e northern province (the Mole of St. Nicholas and the town of Fort Dauphin excepted) was entirely in poffeffion of the rebel negroes; and unhappily, in all other parts of the colony, the weaknefs of the Britifh was fo apparent, as not only to invite attacks from the enemy, but alfo to encourage revolt and con fpiracy in the pofts in our poffeffion (c). Rigaud, who com manded (c) Colonel Brifbane had fcarcely driven the Mulattoes from St. Marc, and reftored order and tranquillity in the town, before a dark confpiracy was agitated among