Military and political leader of the Haitian Revolution, born a slave, who delivered both emancipation and independence to his people (1743-1803). LS in French, five pages on three sheets, 7.25 x 11.5, printed Toussaint Louverture letterhead, September 18, 1798. Letter to Haiti's French director of fortifications, wrangling with last vestiges of shared control of the nation. He complains of the French-appointed governor Gabriel, comte d'Hédouville, accusing him of fomenting dissent (translated): "The most perfect harmony reigned on his arrival and already the seeds of divisions are showing. He carries a suspicious spirit against the men who have best served the republic. He only dreams of plots, gatherings, and uprising." He notes that the colony is vulnerable to the ignorance and prejudice of new administrators, and compares Hedouville unfavorably to his predecessors. Louverture takes full credit for having relieved the island of its enemies and re-established order and progress: "I found the colony dismembered, delivered to all the horrors of civil war—ruined, burned down, sacked. I return it to France purged of external enemies, peaceful and its culture having made great progress." In closing, he denies accusations of barbarous conduct by former slaves, and assures his correspondent that the nation's newly freed population has embraced the rule of law: "The Blacks received their former masters with open arms…They will always be good, humane and friends of the law." In fine condition.
Toussaint l'Ouverture had declared his support for the French in 1794, defecting to them with a large swathe of land in the island. In 1798 General Maitland reached an agreement with him that the British would evacuate Port-au-Prince and other places, Toussaint having given assurances to save the white planters, and declared that the laws against the emigrés meant nothing to him.
By effectively handing over the whole island to Toussaint, Maitland exacerbated the rivalry between him and the mulatto leader Rigaud. He further split the contenders by surrendering Môle-St-Nicolas to Toussaint and not to General Hedouville.
Toussaint's efforts in the present letter to discredit Hedouville reflect the success of the Commissioner's strategy, following the example of Maitland, of fanning the rivalry between the leaders. But by October, the military situation now settled, Toussaint was free to promote the circulation of rumours about the commissioner, including one that he wanted to reintroduce slavery. The resulting demonstrations led to Hedouville hurriedly leaving for six months in France.
Toussaint's correspondent, Colonel Vincent, was the trusted associate of King Christophe. He was active in introducing into the island the highly profitable system of fermage, and presented the first draft constitution (after it had been proclaimed) to Napoleon in 1801. His last service in connection with the island was to find a house for Christophe's widow and daughters, in Pisa in 1824.
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