Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

FROM HAYTI.

The sch'r Mary Ann, which arrived at St. Mary's from Port au Prince, left there a number of American and British vessels. Flour $14, Coffee scarce and high. On going in was boarded by a forty-four gun frigate, one of Christophe's squadron of ten sail, then firing on the Mole, while his troops were besieging it by land. The commodore [a negro] sent in by the Mary Ann a very threatening message to Petion informing him that he would burn the place, and sink his fleet then in port, if he did not surrender; Petion smiled at it, and observed he was ready to receive him. One of the generals had been killed at the Mole, who was buried with great pomp. It was generally supposed that Christophe would succeed in driving Petion out of the place.---Rigaud was to leeward a small distance, and sent word if they would displace Petion, he would come in with his force.

In addition to the above, a gentleman who left Port au Prince the latter end of August, furnishes the following particulars relative to the existing state of affairs in that country at the time of his departure:

The Mole was still in possession of the troops of Petion, under the command of gen. D'Arve, (who succeeded Lamarre) but closely besieged by the army, and blockaded by the fleet of Christophe. It was supposed to contain provisions for 3 or 4 months, but the general opinion was, that it could not hold out longer than that time.

This position is the only one now occupied by Petion in the northern departments of the island, and should it fall, the whole military force of Christophe will no doubt be turned against the south.

The advanced posts of Christophe extend to L'Arcahaye, which is only about fifteen miles from Port au Prince, the capital of Petion's dominions. This city would afford a powerful obstacle to the conquests of Christophe, as it is nearly surrounded by a strong wall and entrenchment lately constructed, should not treason find its way among the inhabitants. Unanimity appears to be wanting. The people are mostly divided into factions. One party is attached to the president, another is desirous of placing Rigaud at the head of the government, and a third is suspected of being in favour of Christophe.

If these conflicting sentiments continue to prevail, Port au Prince must fall.

General Rigaud, from whose talents, energy and popularity, so much was expected, was lying sick at Jeremie.

General Gomoy had not surrendered with his army to Rigaud, as was reported, was still in a state of open hostility against the authority of Petion, with a force of about 500 or 600 men. A negotiation had in reality been opened, and a personal interview took place between the two chiefs, but without producing any amicable arrangement. Gomoy is a negro, as such is opposed to the influence of the mulattoes, and has declared himself to be in the interest of Christophe.

Should this statement be entirely correct, after the reduction of the Mole, the conquest of the south will most probably follow, for as the war has assumed very much the character of a war of colour, and as the blacks are much more numerous than the mulattoes, disaffection will more generally prevail among the troops of the south, who are principally black. We should not be surprised to see, in a short time, the same horrible system of extermination practised by the negroes against the people of colour, which was formerly put into execution by them conjointly against the unfortunate whites.

It has already been commenced by Christophe within 3 or 4 years, during which time a number of influential and important men of colour at the Cape and elsewhere, have been sacrificed to his jealous resentment.

In addition to the above statement, a letter is just received from the Cape, dated the latter end of August, says, it is confidently asserted that from the active operations then carried on against the Mole by Christophe, it could not hold out longer than seven days. This calculation, however, we presume, is premature, as it differs so materially from the account from Port au Prince, which may be considered as that of the besieged.