Leclerc was eager to receive proposals of peace,--to owe a respite to
dissimulation itself, rather than continue the war, under his present
difficulties. It was weary work, keeping up a show before the eyes of
the blacks, when, of the twelve thousand soldiers whom he had brought
with him, five thousand had fallen in battle, and five thousand more
were in the hospitals. Twenty thousand had arrived within a few weeks,
from France; and, of these, scarcely eleven thousand remained fit for
service. Happy indeed was Leclerc to receive replies to his overtures
of peace; and anxious was he to testify every respect to the generals
whom he had lately insulted and defied. He revoked their outlawry,
commending them to the esteem and good offices of those to whom he had
desired to deliver them as traitors. It is true, he transmitted to
France magnificent accounts of the surrender of the blacks, of their
abject supplications for their lives, and of the skill and prowess by
which he had subdued the rebels, and restored the colony to France. But
these boastings were not known in Saint Domingo; though the true state
of the case was whispered in Paris, as regarded the mortality among the
white troops, and the formidable influence still retained by the negro
leaders.
Leclerc invited Toussaint to visit him at Cap; as well aware, doubtless,
as Toussaint himself, that this open indication of amity was necessary
to protect the army from the ill-will of the blacks, who would not
believe, on any other authority than L'Ouverture's own, that he had made
peace with the invaders.
It was a mournful, though showy demonstration, and all parties were glad
when it was over. As L'Ouverture rode from Le Dondon to Cap Francais,
followed by a guard of three hundred and fifty horse, he was greeted by
the inhabitants with the profoundest respect. Only in by-places, or
from the depths of some wood, did a few voices sing, in negro language,
the new song which was spreading over the island in praise of August,--
exhorting to patience and peace till August. As he entered the town of
Cap, the thunder of artillery reverberated from the heights around.
Every fort along the coast, every vessel in the roads, fired its salute;
and the inhabitants of every colour issued from their houses, to pay
honour to their adored L'Ouverture.
Leclerc stood ready to receive him, and to administer to him the oath of
allegiance in the hall of Government-House, the doors of which stood
wide, and were carefully kept so by Toussaint's own guard, who would
not, for a moment, let their commander be hidden from their sight. They
formed in the Walk, and in the court of Government-House, remaining in
fighting order, with drawn sabres, during the whole of the interview
between the late and the present Commander-in-chief.
With an unaltered countenance, Toussaint took once more the oath of
allegiance to France;--the oath which it had never been his desire to
break. He smiled when he heard this simple act proclaimed by another
roar of artillery, such as might have greeted a victory. Leclerc
frowned; for it was not followed, as he had hoped, by acclamations. The
echoes died away into deep silence.
It was an awkward moment. Leclerc hoped that Toussaint would lead the
conversation. But Toussaint was deep in thought. Gazing on the anxious
and sickly face of the Captain-General, he was grieving at heart that
he, and so many thousands more who might have lived long and useful
lives at home, should be laid low, in the course of a bad enterprise
against the liberties of the natives. The mournful gaze of his mild
eyes confused the Captain-General, so that he said the first thing that
occurred, in order to break the silence. He observed that he understood
there was some business yet standing over for settlement between the
parties who had so happily met at last. He had no doubt that General
Toussaint would see clearly that in his allegiance to France was
involved the duty of accounting to the government for the wealth of the
island, whether open to estimate or concealed in the mornes, or
elsewhere.
"I have heard something of this before," said Toussaint, "and are as
ignorant as yourself of any buried treasure. In this island, Nature is
so perpetually bountiful, that we have not the temptation which we are
told exists elsewhere, to amass wealth against a time of dearth. I have
no treasure."
"If so, how could you have proposed to remain out of the bounds of the
law, as you did till lately? Nature is not bountiful on the
mountain-peaks, which must then have been your abode. At least, Nature
does not there bring forth arms and ammunition. Without treasure, with
which to purchase supplies, how would you have obtained arms and
ammunition?"
"I should have taken yours."
Leclerc saw that even his own followers were more disposed to applaud
than resent these words; and he, therefore, changed the topic.
"It is fortunate, then, for all parties," said he, "that future
struggles are avoided. We are friends. Let it go abroad through the
whole island that we are friends."