es then sitting in
the National Assembly. The People of Colour in the same island greatly
exceeded the Whites in number. They amounted to thirty thousand, and were
generally proprietors of lands. They were equally free by law with the
former, and paid their taxes to the mother-country in an equal proportion.
But in consequence of having sprung from slaves they had no legislative
power, and moreover were treated with great contempt. Believing that the
mother-country was going to make a change in its political constitution,
they had called a meeting on the island, and this meeting had deputed them
to repair to France, and to desire the full rights of citizens, or that the
free People of Colour might be put upon an equality with the Whites. They
(the deputies) had come in consequence. They had brought with them a
present of six millions of livres to the National Assembly, and an
appointment to General la Fayette to be commander in chief over their
constituents, as a distinct body. This command, they said, the General had
accepted, though he had declined similar honours from every town in France,
except Paris, in order to show that he patronised their cause.

I was now very anxious to know the sentiments which these gentlemen
entertained on the subject of the Slave-trade. If they were with us, they
might be very useful to us; not only by their votes in the Assembly, but by
the knowledge of facts, which they would be able to adduce there in our
favour. If they were against us, it became me to be upon my guard against
them, and to take measures accordingly. I therefore stated to them at once
the nature of my errand to France, and desired their opinion upon it. This
they gave me without reserve. They broke out into lavish commendations of
my conduct, and called me their friend. The Slave-trade, they said, was the
parent of all the miseries in St. Domingo, not only on account of the cruel
treatment it occasioned to the slaves, but on account of the discord which
it constantly kept up between the Whites and People of Colour, in
consequence of the hateful distinctions it introduced. These distinctions
could never be obliterated while it lasted. Indeed both the trade and the
slavery must fall before the infamy, now fixed upon a skin of colour, could
be so done away, that Whites and Blacks could meet cordially, and look with
respect upon one another. They had it in their instructions, in case they
should obtain a seat in the Assembly