Difference between revisions of "General Whyte's Proclamation to the People of Saint-Domingue (1794)"
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− | Brigadier General [[John Whyte]] the commandant of the British forces in [[Saint-Domingue]] at the time | + | Brigadier General [[John Whyte]], the commandant of the British forces in [[Saint-Domingue]] at the time, issues a proclamation on June 8, [[1794]] claiming British sovereignty over the colony, after [[Toussaint Louverture]] had made an alliance in order to advance his fight for the freedom of the [[slaves]] in Saint-Domingue. The colony was the richest and most productive at the time. While the British captured [[Port-au-Prince]] and some other key cities, they never establish full control over Saint-Domingue and despite the threats in the document, the revolutionary forces in the colony do not lay down arms. |
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'''Proclamation of his excellency brigadier general Whyte, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in [[St. Domingo]].'''<br> | '''Proclamation of his excellency brigadier general Whyte, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in [[St. Domingo]].'''<br> | ||
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:The commissioner and their agents, in order to carry into execution those perfidious designs, which have proved so fatal to the lives, the laws, the liberty, and the happiness, of this once flourishing colony, have every where calumniated the British government. | :The commissioner and their agents, in order to carry into execution those perfidious designs, which have proved so fatal to the lives, the laws, the liberty, and the happiness, of this once flourishing colony, have every where calumniated the British government. | ||
− | :General Whyte, who has the honour to represent his Britannic majesty. Assures the inhabitants of Port au Prince, and its vicinity, that the object of his majesty and of his government is to restore peace among every class of inhabitants. | + | :General Whyte, who has the honour to represent his Britannic majesty. Assures the inhabitants of [[Port au Prince]], and its vicinity, that the object of his majesty and of his government is to restore peace among every class of inhabitants. |
:Those parts of the colony, which have already placed themselves under his majesty's protection, can bear a faithful testimony that there is nothing oppressive in the behaviour and laws of the English. | :Those parts of the colony, which have already placed themselves under his majesty's protection, can bear a faithful testimony that there is nothing oppressive in the behaviour and laws of the English. | ||
− | :A considerable part of the people of St. Domingo has been seduced from its duty; these persons are hereby invited to return to their occupation, to lay down their arms, and to forget every cause of resentment. | + | :A considerable part of the people of [[St. Domingo]] has been seduced from its duty; these persons are hereby invited to return to their occupation, to lay down their arms, and to forget every cause of resentment. |
:The English government demand, and will obtain, by force if necessary, that peaceful obedience which is due to its mild and just laws. | :The English government demand, and will obtain, by force if necessary, that peaceful obedience which is due to its mild and just laws. | ||
− | :The mulattoes will find in the general and the government every disposition to favour their interests; they are considered by the English, who are and will continue to be their friends. | + | :The [[mulattoes]] will find in the general and the government every disposition to favour their interests; they are considered by the English, who are and will continue to be their friends. |
:The negroes, who have been so long the dupes of the vile artifices of the commissioners, will soon be convinced that the English disdain falsehood and deceit. | :The negroes, who have been so long the dupes of the vile artifices of the commissioners, will soon be convinced that the English disdain falsehood and deceit. | ||
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− | Done at Port au Prince, the 8th of June, 1794. | + | Done at [[Port au Prince]], the 8th of June, [[1794]]. |
(Signed) | (Signed) | ||
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− | == | + | ==Source== |
− | ''The Annual Register, or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1794''. London: Printed by R. Wilks for W. Otridge and Sons, etal. | + | * ''The Annual Register, or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1794''. London: Printed by R. Wilks for W. Otridge and Sons, etal. |
+ | |||
+ | ==External link== | ||
+ | * David Geggus: Yellow fever in the 1790s: the British army in occupied [[Saint Domingue]]. Med Hist. (1979) January; 23(1): 38–58. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1082398]. | ||
[[Category:Documents of the Haitian Revolution|Whyte's Proclamation to the people of St. Domingue]] | [[Category:Documents of the Haitian Revolution|Whyte's Proclamation to the people of St. Domingue]] |
Latest revision as of 02:16, 8 July 2006
Brigadier General John Whyte, the commandant of the British forces in Saint-Domingue at the time, issues a proclamation on June 8, 1794 claiming British sovereignty over the colony, after Toussaint Louverture had made an alliance in order to advance his fight for the freedom of the slaves in Saint-Domingue. The colony was the richest and most productive at the time. While the British captured Port-au-Prince and some other key cities, they never establish full control over Saint-Domingue and despite the threats in the document, the revolutionary forces in the colony do not lay down arms.
Proclamation of his excellency brigadier general Whyte, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in St. Domingo.
(Signed) John Whyte, Brigadier-general commandant. |
Source
- The Annual Register, or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1794. London: Printed by R. Wilks for W. Otridge and Sons, etal.
External link
- David Geggus: Yellow fever in the 1790s: the British army in occupied Saint Domingue. Med Hist. (1979) January; 23(1): 38–58. [1].