called also St Domingo, the largest of the Antilles or Caribbee islands, extending about 420 miles from east to west, and 120 in breadth, from north to south; lying between 17° 37' and 26° of N. Lat. and between 67° 35' and 74° 15' W. Long. The climate is hot, but not reckoned unwholesome; and some of the inhabitants are said to arrive at the age of 120. It is sometimes refreshed by breezes and rains; and its salubrity is likewise in a great measure owing to the beautiful variety of hills and valleys, woods and rivers, which everywhere present themselves. It is indeed reckoned by far the finest and most pleasant island of the Antilles, as being the best accommodated to all the purposes of life when duly cultivated.

This island, famous for being the earliest settlement of the Spaniards in the new world, was at first in high estimation for the quantity of gold it supplied: this wealth diminished with the inhabitants of the country, whom they obliged to dig it out of the bowels of the earth; His Hispaniola, earth; and the source of it was entirely dried up, when they were exterminated, which was quickly done by a series of the most shocking barbarities that ever disgraced the history of any nation. Benzoni relates, that of two millions of inhabitants, contained in the island when discovered by Columbus in 1492, scarce 153 were alive in 1545. A vehement desire of opening again this source of wealth inspired the thought of getting slaves from Africa; but, besides that these were found unfit for the labours they were destined to, the multitude of mines, which then began to be wrought on the continent, made those of Hispaniola no longer of any importance. An idea now suggested itself, that their negroes, which were healthy, strong, and patient, might be usefully employed in husbandry; and they adopted, through necessity, a wise resolution, which, had they known their own interest, they would have embraced by choice.

The produce of their industry was at first extremely small, because the labourers were few. Charles V. who, like most sovereigns, preferred his favourites to every thing, had granted an exclusive right of the slave-trade to a Flemish nobleman, who made over his privilege to the Genoese. Those avaricious republicans conducted this infamous commerce as all monopolies are conducted; they resolved to fell dear, and they sold but few. When time and competition had fixed the natural and necessary price of slaves, the number of them increased. It may easily be imagined, that the Spaniards, who had been accustomed to treat the Indians as beasts, did not entertain a higher opinion of these negro Africans, whom they substituted in their place. Degraded still farther in their eyes by the price they had paid for them, even religion could not refrain them from aggravating the weight of their servitude. It became intolerable, and these wretched slaves made an effort to recover the unalienable rights of mankind. Their attempt proved unsuccessful; but they reaped this benefit from their despair, that they were afterwards treated with less inhumanity.

This moderation (if tyranny cramped by the apprehension of revolt can deserve that name) was attended with good consequences. Cultivation was pursued with some degree of success. Soon after the middle of the 16th century, the mother country drew annually from this colony ten millions weight of sugar, a large quantity of wood for dyeing, with tobacco, cocoa, coffee, ginger, and cotton, in abundance. One might imagine, that such favourable beginnings would give both the desire and the means of carrying them further; but a train of events, more fatal each than the other, ruined these hopes.

The first misfortune arose from the depopulation of the island. The Spanish conquests on the continent should naturally have contributed to promote the success of an island, which nature seemed to have formed to be the centre of that vast dominion arising around it, to be the staple of the different colonies. But it fell out quite otherwise: on a view of the immense fortunes raising in Mexico, and other parts, the richest inhabitants of Hispaniola began to despise their settlements, and quitted the true source of riches, which is on the surface of the earth, to go and ransack the bowels of it for veins of gold, which are quickly exhausted. The government endeavoured in vain to put a stop to this emigration; the laws were always either artfully eluded, or openly violated.

The weakness, which was a necessary consequence of such a conduct, leaving the coasts without defence, encouraged the enemies of Spain to ravage them. Even the capital of this island was taken and pillaged by that celebrated English sailor, Sir Francis Drake. The cruisers of less consequence contented themselves with intercepting vessels in their passage through these latitudes, the best known at that time of any in the new world. To complete these misfortunes, the Carthaginians themselves commenced pirates. They attacked no ships but those of their own nation; which were more rich, worse provided, and worse defended, than any others. The custom they had of fitting out ships clandestinely, in order to procure slaves, prevented them from being known; and the assistance they purchased from the ships of war, commissioned to protect the trade, infared to them impunity.

The foreign trade of the colony was its only resource in this distress; and that was illicit; but as it continued to be carried on, notwithstanding the vigilance of the governors, or, perhaps, by their connivance, the policy of an exasperated and short-sighted court exerted itself in demolishing most of the sea-ports, and driving the miserable inhabitants into the inland country. This act of violence threw them into a state of dejection; which the incursions and settlement of the French on the island afterwards carried to the utmost pitch. The latter, after having made some unsuccessful attempts to settle on the island, had part of it yielded to them in 1697, and afterwards enjoyed by far the best share.

Spain, totally taken up with that vast empire which she had formed on the continent, used no pains to dissipate this lethargy. She even refused to listen to the solicitations of her Flemish subjects, who earnestly pressed that they might have permission to clear those fertile lands. Rather than run the risk of seeing them carry on a contraband trade on the coasts, she chose to bury in oblivion a settlement which had been of consequence, and was likely to become so again.

This colony, which had no longer any intercourse with the mother country but by a single ship of no great burthen, that arrived from thence every third year, consisted, in 1717, of 18,410 inhabitants, including Spaniards, mestees, negroes, or mulattoes. The complexion and character of these people differed according to the different proportions of American, European, and African blood they had received from that natural and transient union which restores all races and conditions to the same level. These demi-savages, plunged in the extreme of sloth, lived upon fruits and roots, dwelt in cottages without furniture, and most of them without clothes. The few among them, in whom indolence had not totally suppressed the sense of decency and taste for the conveniences of life, purchased clothes of their neighbours the French in return for their cattle, and the money sent to them for the maintenance of two hundred soldiers, the priests, and the government.

In the year 1788, the revolutionary principles which began to agitate Europe, made their way to the West Indies. His His Hispaniola. The French association for abolishing the slave trade, called Amis des Noirs, kept up a correspondence with such rich Mulattoes as had come to France for their education, and its members laboured to convince them that there was neither civil nor political distinction between them and the white people. These ideas were strengthened by the celebrated declaration of the national assembly, that all men are born and continue free, possessing equal rights. The consequence was, that the Mulattoes of Hispaniola broke out into open rebellion, but for want of unity of design they were soon overpowered.

This spirit, however, still continued to exert itself, and the assembly of France having avowed its design not to interfere with the internal affairs of the colony, discontent and remonstrances were exhibited by the factions friends of the negroes. They considered this as countenancing the African trade, and an acknowledgment that the planters were not colonists, but independent people. This idea struck the colonists themselves, for by a decree they debarred the king's delegate from having a negative on any of their future acts. The Amis des Noirs, in the mean time, exerted all their influence to kindle and cherish a spirit of rebellion in the minds of the people of colour; for which purpose they carefully taught one James Oge, then residing at Paris, the doctrines of equality and the rights of man, urged him to return to St Domingo, place himself at the head of his people, and rescue them from the opprobrium of the whites, pledging themselves to procure arms and ammunition for him in America, that the affair might be kept as profound a secret as possible. He accordingly set sail for New England in July 1792; but all the vigilance of the parties concerned could not deceive the government of France, and his portrait was sent to St Domingo before him. He made the island in October, and declared soon after by virtue of a manifesto, that if the privileges of the whites were not conferred on all without discrimination, he would instantly take up arms to obtain them by force. With a small detachment of 200 men he massacred all the white people that came in his way, as well as all those of his own colour who refused to join him. This little army was very soon subdued, and their misguided leader was punished as a traitor.

The French national assembly decreed that every person 25 years old and upwards, if he possessed property, and had lived two years in the colony, and paid taxes, should be permitted to elect the members of the colonial assembly, on which account the people of colour inferred, that this privilege was bestowed upon them. It is uncharitable to believe that this was the intention of the national assembly; but Gregoire and others carried their favourite point, that Mulattoes born of free parents might not only elect their own representatives, but also sit as members in the colonial assemblies. In consequence of this measure, all the white people fell victims to the indignation of the people of colour. The negroes were now fully determined to recover their liberty. On the 23d of August 1791, the people in the town of the Cape were informed that the flames in the adjacent parishes had revolted, a report which was too soon confirmed by the arrival of those who had escaped the massacre. Hostilities commenced between the two parties, and terminated with the loss of 2000 white people, while not fewer than 10,000 Mulattoes and Negros perished by famine and the sword, and several hundreds by the hands of the executioner.

The news of these transactions having reached Paris, the members of the assembly were persuaded that they had carried their principles of equality by much too far, and they repealed their celebrated decree which had placed the people of colour on a footing with the whites. Commissioners (three in number) were sent to restore peace between the whites and Mulattoes, but as two of them were men of infamous characters, and incapable of extinguishing the flames of rebellion, they returned to France without being able to accomplish the object of their mission.

The Amis des Noirs having again acquired the superiority in the national assembly, Santhonax, Polverel, and Ailhaud, with 6000 men from the national guards, were ordered for St Domingo. The governor of the island perceiving that these commissioners took all the authority on themselves, and resolved to reduce him to a cipher, he remonstrated against their proceedings, in consequence of which he was immediately arrested, and sent a state prisoner to France. The commissioners afterwards disagreeing among themselves, Ailhaud was dismissed from their councils.

Unsuccessful attempts were made by the British government to subdue the commissioners and their adherents; but after performing prodigies of valour, the troops of Britain were compelled to relinquish the island, more perhaps by disease than the sword of the enemy. The chief government of it then fell into the hands of Toussaint L'Ouverture, by whom it was converted into an independent republic, the supreme authority over which he continued to hold till the signing the preliminaries of peace in 1801.

When this event took place, Bonaparte, with the consent of the British government, sent a fleet from Brest, with a considerable army under the command of General Le Clerc, who, after various actions at length subdued Toussaint; and, notwithstanding that French general pledged himself for his safety, he was in a short time sent prisoner to France, where he soon after died, or, according to conjectures not very improbable, was put to death by order, or with the connivance, of the ruler of that kingdom.

The French troops under General Rochambeau being obliged to evacuate Hispaniola, the freedom and independence of the island were proclaimed by the conquering chief, DeSailles, who assured all those who were willing to remain in it, of his cordial protection, and allowing such as were so inclined freely to depart with the French army. The succours which attended the arms of this black chief, and the goodness of the cause in which he fought, were very much tarnished by the horrid massacres of the white people, which he not only countenanced, but attended in person. Attempts to negotiate with DeSailles were made by the British government, but without effect, his demands were so extravagant which he held out as the basis; but his army was in such a forlorn condition, as to create no apprehensions of danger from such an enemy. After this, however, DeSailles experienced a signal defeat on the plain of St Charles from General Ferrand, when 1000 of his men were found dead on the field, and himself obliged to retire towards the Cape. Hispaniola. St. Domingo was afterwards denominated Hayti, of which Jacques Dessalines was chosen the first emperor. It was declared a free, sovereign, and independent state, and slavery was abolished. The citizens were pronounced brothers at home, equal in the eye of the law; and it was declared that one man could enjoy no advantage over another, but such as might originate from services done to the cause of liberty and independence. Such as emigrate are to forfeit ever after the title of citizen of Hayti, and also if they are found delivering of disgraceful punishments. Every citizen must have some mechanic art, and no white man is to be permitted to set a foot upon the island with the title of a proprietor. All distinction of colour was ordered to cease, and the people of Hayti to be ever after known by the generic title of Blacks.

The empire of Hayti is one and indivisible, and its territory distributed into fix military divisions. The islands of Samana, La Tortu, La Gonave, Les Cayemites, La Saonne, L'Isle à Vache, and other adjacent islands, are to be considered as integral parts of this empire.

The emperor is commander in chief of the army, and the empress is to have a fixed annual allowance after the decease of the emperor, as princess dowager. Laws are made, sealed, and promulgated by the emperor; and he appoints at his pleasure all counsellors of state, generals, and other agents of the empire, sea officers, judges, and other public functionaries. The house of every citizen is by the law declared to be his asylum; marriage is declared a civil rite, divorce is allowed, all religious opinions tolerated, and good faith in commercial transactions is to be religiously maintained. The constitution was accepted at the imperial palace on the 20th of May 1805 by the emperor Jacques Dessalines, and he promised to defend it to the last breath of his life.