Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Baracoa, to a gentleman in this city, dated 18th August, 1799.

"By a vessel from St. Domingo, we are informed that there is dreadful work going on, between Toussaint, and Rigaud, the black and mulatto generals in that island. Rigaud (the mulatto) has met with some success; he has taken some of the towns that were in Toussaint's department of the island, and has put to death every white person he met with, without consideration of either age or sex. Several families have within a few days past come here from cape St Nicholas Mole (which is at present in the hands of Rigaud) who give a most dreadful account of the place. Many of these people have been glad to leave their property, and escape with their lives—indeed it is almost impossible to get away—for as soon as a vessel arrives her sails are taken ashore, and without you have great influence you cannot depart.

"Some of the whites at that place have offered one hundred joes to be taken off the island and carried any where, they think their lives in Such imminent danger. This unpleasant situation is however, not the case to such a degree in the parts in possession of the black general Toussaint, and who it is said is infinitely the strongest.— Provisions are very dear, but at present there is such a risk in carrying them there, that it is highly unadvisable to attempt it, for, the moment any arrives in Rigaud's department (cannot speak of Toussaint's) they are taken by his command, for the soldiers, with a promise of payment at a future day ; which I think highly probable, will never arrive."