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pedition against the city of St. Domingo called again for his services.

Clervaux at the time of his death was between forty and five and forty years of age. His height was about six feet, his person well made, and his deportment majestic. His education was necessarily circumscribed from the nature of his early avocations, and extended no further than the simple knowledge to read and write. His disposition was mild, generous, and humane, his manners accomplished and commanding, and his affability so extreme as to remove all restraint in his company. In his dress he was something of the petit maitre, he was in some degree vain of his consequence, and at times exhibited a considerable share of hauteur. But with these foibles he was just, which is a character can scarcely be applied to any other Haytien chief, and upon the various occasions where the whites were devoted to massacre and destruction, he used all his exertions to befriend them. I have conversed with several Frenchmen who were acquainted with this officer, and they all unite in the testimony that he was a good man. In his character as a soldier, he was foremost among the brave, and in private life he was sincere in his professions. Upon the whole it may be said of this man, that he was the best friend the whites had among the chiefs of the island, and the one who would have caused them the least distress.

I am thus particular in portraying the merits of this general, because I fear I shall seldom have a similar opportunity of describing so great and good a character. Most of the distinguished personages, whose biography I shall hereafter attempt will he found to bear so powerful a contrast to this sketch, that their vice and deformity will more readily appear.

On the 25th of July following, the emperor made his appointments of officers under the constitution, and as some of these important characters may, at a future day, make a figure in the history of the island, I shall acquaint you with their names and ranks. In addition to this, as the influence of these generals may be presumed to be most extensive in the immediate vicinity of their departments, and as a knowledge of their geographical distribution may be desirable in cases of intestine com

motion, I will annex, to the name of each officer, that of his place of residence, so that by casting your eye over the map, you may readily see the neighbourhood, in which he holds his command.

Henry Christophe, general of division, was promoted to the grade of "General in Chief of the army of Hayti:" residence at the Cape.

Paul Romain, a brigadier general, to the grade of general of division, commanding the first division of the north, residence at Limbe.

François Capoix, a brigadier to the same grade to command the second division of the north, residence at the Cape.

Louis Gabart, a general of division to the command of the first division of the west, the chief place of the empire, residence at St. Marks.

Alexander Petion, a general of division, to the command of the second division of the west, residence at Port-au-Prince.

Nicholas Geffrard, a general of division to the command of the first division of the south, residence at Aux Cayes.

Jean Louis François, a brigadier, to the grade of general of division, commanding the second division of the south, residence at L'Anse-a-vaux.

Andrè Vernet, a general of division, was appointed minister of finances and of the interior.

Etienne-Elie-Gerin, a brigadier, was promoted to the rank of general of division, and appointed minister of war, and of the marine.

Juste Chanlatte, who had for some time been secretary of state, under the title of "Secretary General," was continued in his station. The last three resided at the city of Dessalines, the seat of government.

When I inform you, that of the foregoing officers, those mark-ed in italics are negroes, and the rest men of colour, you will easily perceive the preponderance which the former hold in the military department of the government.

Thus was every thing arranged for a permanent support of the Empire. A strong unanimity appeared to exist among the grand dignitaries, and a disposition to support, with their united

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powers, the interests of their sovereign, Jacques the Great. All ideas of external conquest were completely abandoned, and as the war in Europe, was not likely soon to terminate so as to afford an opportunity for another French invasion, time was found for the encouragement of agriculture and commerce. The fortifications in the mountains had not yet been entirely finished, but were rapidly progressing, and much of the attention of the chiefs, was engaged in their completion.

In this state of things did I find the island on my arrival last month, and having thus far brought down the history of events from the epoch of my former visit, I shall resume my narration of those subjects which come more immediately within my notice.

R.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

HUME AND ROBERTSON COMPARED.

MR. OLDSCHOOL,

In your Port Folio for June last, I observed a comparison drawn between the accounts given by Hume and Robertson, of the sack of Rome by Bourbon, much to the disadvantage of the former historian.-If critics would be content to express their opinions with moderation, and avoid extravagance both of censure and praise, the nature of taste affords such a range for peculiar modes of thinking, that an ample indulgence of opinion might be taken without danger. The question on the general comparative merits of these celebrated historians is gone to rest, although for a time it excited much agitation and interest in the world of letters. The general superiority of Hume over his rival is settled into a tranquil undisturbed sentiment, without any detraction from the genius and talents of Robertson.

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The two passages selected for comparison in the Port Folio, are both so unexceptionable and fine, that a man might have preferred either or neither, without the hazard of heresy or ab

surdity-But when we are told that Hume's description neither requires nor awakens any energy of expression or vivacity of tone in reciting it; that the narration is "tame and uninteresting," one is led to a more particular inquiry into the justice of the criticism-I have scanned the two passages with attention, and cannot hesitate to say, that if Robertson has more vivacity in his narration, Hume has more energy-Robertson's description has less originality of thought, figure and expression; dealing more in the common terms and images for similar events.Speaking of the effect of the fall of Bourbon upon his soldiers, Hume says, they were "rather enraged than discouraged by his death,"-Robertson gives the same idea with more words, but less discrimination and force." Instead of being disheartened by the loss, it animated them with new valour."-Now the feeling excited by the loss of a favourite commander, is rather of rage and revenge, than of valour.-The conduct of the conquerors, is described by Hume in a sentence full of fine reflection and strong expression." This renowned city, exposed by her renown alone to so many calamities, never endured in any age, even from the barbarians, by whom she was often subdued, such indignities as she was now constrained to suffer."—In a preceding sentence he tells us, the soldiers, "entering the city, sword in hand, exercised all those brutalities which may be expected from ferocity excited by resistance, and from insolence which takes place when that resistance is no more."-Look then to his description of virgins violated in the arms of their parents, and on the altars to which they had fled for protection; of the tortures inflicted upon aged prelates, for the discovery of their sacred treasures, and if it be found tame and uninteresting, it must be to nerves differently organized from mine.

Is not the very first sentence of Robertson, deficient of elegance both of construction and expression? "Bourbon's troops, notwithstanding all their valour;" Here is a long, painful and unnecessary parenthesis, for we know, without this parenthetical information, that whatever happened to Bourbon's troops, did happen notwithstanding their valour-But what did happen? they "gained no ground, and even began to give way."-Here are two as common and vulgar phrases as are to be found in

any gazette account of a battle, and, lest they should not be mean enough, they are linked together by that paltry "even."-Bourbon's throwing himself from his horse, leading and encouraging his men, and mounting the wall, is indeed full of animation, but not very new-I do not see the necessity of marking with so much exactness the place of the wound-To have said it was mortal was enough for the historian; the surgeon might require more particulars of its nature, its length, depth and position; which precision would have been also necessary in an indictment against the man who shot the gun, as appears by a Virginia case lately published in our newspapers-Robertson then proceeds with his favourite even. "It is impossible to describe or even imagine the misery," &c. It would have given the whole force of his idea to have said, it is impossible to imagine, &c. I have, however, no desire to depreciate this excellent historian, or to treat him disrespectfully, although I think his style is frequently too florid and diffuse for a recorder of facts, and sometimes wanting in energy and precision. The rest of the extract introduced in the Port Folio, is worthy of all commendation.

Without making invidious and unnecessary comparisons, permit me to direct the attention of your readers, to Gibbon's account of the siege of Rome, by the Goths in 537, and its defence by Belisarius. I would make a full extract of it, but it would be too long you will indulge me in transcribing a part-Belisarius was, by the misconduct of some of his troops, suddenly surrounded with a small party of horse, by the innumerable squadrons of the barbarians-After a most animated account of the assault made upon his little band, and of the particular efforts used to destroy him by pointing out the horse on which he rode, the historian proceeds. "The Roman general was strong, active, and dexterous: on every side he discharged his weighty and mortal strokes; his faithful guards imitated his valour, and defended his person; and the Goths, after the loss of a thousand men, fled before the arms of a hero.-They were rashly pursued to their camp; and the Romans, oppressed by multitudes, made a gradual, and at length a precipitate retreat to the gates of the city: the gates were shut against the fugitives; and the public terror was increased, by the report, that Belisarius was slain-his

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