The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-01-31 00:00:00

.

BtOGRAPHY.
THE EMPEROR OF HAYTI.'
the tiro worlds have already re-echoed with the
ittine lad lithe a&s of barbarity of 3. 7. Dessalines
but few persons hive learned the train of uninter-
rupted crimes and atroeitirs of this African, whose
ferocity is at teat equal to. if it does not surpass that

tflSkers.
beesstlines. ttanifietted froth the coast of Guinea
1e0.31. Domingo. served as a domestic to a free ne-
gro prOprietor, of the name of brssalines, when
the insurreaion Voice out. He was tken called
lean Jaiiines, and commenced the career of his
crimes, by assassinating his mum, of whOse name
and effects he immediately took possession. lie
then joined himself to the bands of Biasson, who
had been pmclairised Chief of the Insurgents. He
Obtained in this body the command of a small corps,
With which, like a torrent, he over-tan the most

fertile and populous part of the country, in order to
seek for objets on *hom he might exercise his
cruelty. Death marched in his train, and presented
itself m the most terrific fortis ; neither sex, age,
or rank, were respeted ; a speedy death was a fa-

your, in compArison of the slow and dreadful tor-

tures which he inflicted on a venerable old nun, on

the mother of a family, and even an infant in the
cradle. This barbarian had caused a police officer,

of the name of Blew, to be nailed alive to the door

of his own housc, and ordered his limbs to be cut
off by a hatchet, one by one. Soon after, he
happened to discover the retreat of a poor car-
penter : he wished him to undergo a species of
suffering, emblematical of his profession ; in con.
sequence of which, he had him fastened be-
tween two boards, and sawed across. Biasson had
fixed his head-quarters in a sugar plantation, which
necessity alone had induced him to spare. It was
There that he deposited all the spoils of the unhappy
colonists, %Ole had fallen beneath the fury of the

Blacks. There were seen heaped together in the
square, bloody arms and brilliant ornaments ; ma-
thematical instruments, and iron pots; vessels of
plats and foul linen ; china vases, and skins of ani-
mals ; costly diamonds and human skulls, in the
hair of which they remained fastened; superb car-
pets, and disgusting rags. On certain days these
spoils were distributed to those who had executed the
greatest number of massacres, or burned the greatest
number of habitations ; and the great Chief, after
having praised their zeal, advanced them accord-
be!.
Stimulated by cupidity or ambition. Dessalines
resolved to secure the good-will of Biasson, by a
great aa of atrocity. One day, when this Chief of
the Blacks had set out on an expedition, which
would keep him at a distance for some time, be
seised the opportunity of his absence to execute the
projea he meditated. He advanced rapidly, with
a torch in his hand, towards a part of the Island
where insurreCtion had not yet extended its ravages.
He succeeded in taking three hundred prisoners,
most of whom were women, children, and old men,
whom he condueed, in chains, to the camp of
Biasson ; and on the eve of the day, when the
Chief of the Blacks was expeaed to return to quar-
ters, he caused these three hundred viaims to be
massacred, and their heads fixed on the spikes which
sarroanded the first court of the habitation of the
Chief.
Biasson, on his arrival, contemplated with a fe-
rocious joy this spectacle so well worthy of such a
cannibal. He congratulated Dessalines on his zeal,
and appointed him to a situation in his guards.—
Such was the cause of the first advancement of this
ferocious African in the Black army. It was at
this time that Touissaint Louverture appeared in the
Camp of Biasson, who, charmed to find a man who
could read an. 2 write, received him, and made him
his private Secretary, and soon after Captain of
his guards. It was then that the intimacy of Touie-
-aint and Dessalines commenced. This last conti-
nued to enjoy the confidence of Biasson, who

charged him with the direftion of the tortures in-
Card on the Whites, who had been made prison-
ers, azd this k th► manner in which this barbarian
ordered sn,l effretea it. TI-r day of these horrible
butchetws, all the prisoners were assembled un one
spot, in a little meadow, round which the Blacks
placed themselves. and formed the inclosure des-
tined fcr the executions. There the unhappy

Whites *ere condueled naked, their hands tied
behind their baeh ; the sufferings commenced with
they were fastened by the chin to
pointed and hooked, in which man-
sometimes more than twelve hours
which terminated their torments ; by
cruelty, the iron tore, from time to
shed v:elims, who were immediately
and forced to utter the agonies of
death. Those Whites of a mikldle
two and two, between planks
together, and delivered to sawyers,
asunder. The yonngest had first
out with a cork screw, and were

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the old men r they
pieces of iron, poin
net they waited son
for that death %Thiel
an unheard of erne
time, the wretched
hooked again, and
. the most !-.orrid dea
er were fastened
arengly tied toget
- who cut them ast
their eyes torn oui