Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Norfolk Sept. 30.
HAYTI.
Extract of a letter to an American gentleman at Port au Prince, to friend in this town, dated August 1816.
In former communications I ventured to introduce to your notice his majesty Henry I, (commonly called--Christophe King of Hayti, and Alexander Petion Esq. President of the Republic of Hayti--That introduction was general. It may now, perhaps afford you some interest to become more particularly acquainted with some of the circumstances which distinguish the private and public characters of these two individuals, who controul the destinies and fortunes of the people of this Island.
" Christophe has heard from some of his flatterers, that one of the cardinal Maxims of- the British Constitution is that " . he King can do no wrong." Either through ignorance or policy, he adopts the maxim, not in its modified and restricted construction, buf in jls orignl and literal acceptation; and seeing reason why the attribute of inf libility should not belong as well to a Kig of Hayti as to a King ot Eangland, he has engrafted it on the Constitution of bis Kingdom, and under its sanction, gives full exercise to the vices ot his charac- ter.
The timid circumspection of teran ny pervades his whole administrator and is no where more strongly evirce than in the exteme rigor of bis polia. No pretext whatever can procure to the stranger periission to visit the interior and to obtain a view even of the enj. rons of the Capital (Cape Franco's) is tended with somuch tr uble and expenc, that few persons are willing to encounter them. His Majesty not choosing to cor. fide his august person to the zeal and af. fection fhis faithful subjecis. has with drawn himself to " Sans Souci" a frti. fied-place 18 mjles in the interior-Te this place a messenger mu-t be dispatched for a passport under the sign manuald the King himself and even after you have obtained this, vou cannot stir afoot on your promenade without two sable sons of Mars at your elbows.
" At Port Au Prince, the Metrcgolis of the Republic, these scrupulous re straints are unknown. On the conter. Petion has made it his policy to encan-. age foreigners in their visits totbe plantations. Their reports, on reiurno from those visits, are uniformly faver ble. The inhabitants are so kindad hospitable, that inducements -are ft quently found to remain with them tea Sr twelve days. They are graduailyad- vancing in agricultural improvements are steady and industrious in their par suits, and cheerful and contented mn their conditions. These circumstances afford too strong an eridence of the will and just aduninistration of Petion, not to render him solicitous to exhibit themt foreign observation.
" All intercourse between this pace and the Cape by land is prosbited by Christophe upon pain of death; aud toat rempt to clear outa vessel fran Care Francois to Port au Prince,would exjof ve-sel and cargo to contiscation, ane waster and crew to imprisonment. Brt here no inquiry is made as to the rout by which the stranger arrives, and wh ther bis journey has been bv land or water. he is alike cordially received ar hospitably entertained-Foreign vess are cleared for the ape with_as, litt difficulty as for an, er port. ther in dist ess, in seareh of a market,o with any other objeet. must proceed t arrival, or be entered ' and uploadeo. sea again in twenty four hours after her whatever may besthe state of the markel. in the ports of the Re ublic, no spectied time-is required tor entering; and rs- sels have trequcntly rev ained here sere- ral days, and not fir dmg purebasets, have gone elsewhere in porsuit of bter ma.kets.
"All letters to or from Cape Francois nust be opened and exaprined in the pre sence of Christ phe, ir fore they are de livered ; a na row suspirious. inqusite uveted to the persous to whraio they at directed ; a nal meas re: toaily in this part of tay a.
King, and is as sordid and avarieind in "Christophe is a merchant as .e bitrary in the other, Shis offe s ak charac prrowant and hpugh always niuch-below the ord cause when he bids. n one is jouad bs price must aecepted
It is not so with Pétion, who although he has been arduously enough to become his competitor.

As a planter and sells the produce of his plantation, yet does so at a fair price, to the merchants resident here, and receives from them the supplies necessary for his government, on which they frequently obtain exorbitant profit.

The ports of the Republic have been thrown open to all nations, and the effect of this liberal and enlarged measure, has been to introduce in profusion the produce and manufactures of Europe and America, and at the same time to procure for the productions of the Island, prices heretofore unprecedented.

In the various departments of government, Pétion is ably supported by men of worth, zeal, and activity: for the selection of whom, he is indebted, not more to good fortune, than to the force and accuracy of his own discernment.

The municipal police of Port-au-Prince requires much improvement--numerous impositions are practised upon foreigners by that class of persons who are a necessary, though not a very respectable appendage to commerce. The day laborers often demand payment for works never done, and threaten you in case of refusal, with arrest and prosecution; and if you have firmness enough to resist their means, they attack you with the foulest and most abusive epithets.

The Pilots too are much complained of for their extortions and impertinence; but as they have you most completely in their power, these complaints are rarely brought before the authorities competent to redress them. Proper diligence and attention in the Police Officer, might very easily suppress these inconveniences; but while they continue as remiss as they now are, strangers must pocket the offence and submit to the trouble as well as they can.

No alteration has yet been made in the Tariff fixing the duties on American productions. I am at a loss to understand the propriety of the original distinction between the duties on importation from America and from England; and am still more surprised at its continuance in contradiction to the promise made to our merchants and agents here. I hope however to have it in my power in my next, to inform you that this cause of complaint on our part, no longer exists.