The National Register.
London, England, 1811-12-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

URRECTION AT :MARTINIQUE.

We have been favoured with the following highly interest-
ine particulars of a most alarming revolt in the Island of Mar-
tinique. Happily the insurgent s were soon subdued, and several
of them have already sneered the exemplary punishment due
to their crimes. Their leader was a fellow of the name of
Moliere, who as.umed the title of Vissount.
The following are the details of the Insurrection : •
" On the 17th of October last, information was given to the
Prornrcur du Roi (the King's Attorney), that on the ensuing
evening, at eleven o'clock, an iasurrection of the free people Of
colour and the negroes was to take place; whenit was intended
to set fire to th.. populous town of St. Pierre in several places,
giving the alarm of fire, to force open the stores where there
were cutlasses and bill-hooks, and then make a general massacre
of the white men as they made their appearance in the streets,
but the women were to he spared for min r purposes. In case
they did not succeed to the utmost of their wielies, then they
were to storm St. i\lartlia's battery, on the left of the town, and
turn the guns upon it. By the fortunate discovery of the plot,
nit the eve of its execution, neasures were immediately taken
for its prevention. Some of the chief of the banditti were seized
by the police in the course of the day; and tattlers of them
withdrew from the town. At seven o'clock , Tn. several
people were seen on the heights which immediately overlook
the town, and also an inhabitant caine in with the intelligence
that from 70 to 80 of these miscreants had assembled at his
house, with swords, pistols, Fee. and that they were fast in-
creasing. I dent.-Celonel Mackie of the 3d Battalion of the
60th Regine nt, and Commandant of St. Pierre, sent immedi-
ately a detachment to surround them ; at their approach the
banditti fired at them, and took to their heels : after a fat lining
ptumuit the whole night for 19 hours, the detachment could not
succeed in taking more than three ur tour of them. During the
whole of the night strong patroles of the Goth paraded the streets,
assisted by most of the white male inhabitants, uncertain when
the fatal moment might arrive, or the dismal cry of " Fire,"
beard. On the following morning several of thu ringleaders
were taken up, and lodged in the gaol ; a strong detachment
fro;n the garrison, and parties of Militia, were sent to scour the
country to re•,tore tranquillity. On the 'elst, the town was
again thrown into a state of alarm: from 4 to 500 :laves, headed
by live of their chiefs, endeavoured to enter the town, expecting
there to he joined by a considerable number of the domestic
slaves. A' the mob was seen collecting from all parts of the
country, the houses were again shut up, and despair reigned
Once more throughout the plate. By the active exertions of
Lieut. Col. Mackie, assisted by his men, three of their Chi" fs
were taken, the negroes dispersed, and order again restored.—
The head of the insurgents, thus baffled in all his attempts, pri-
vately entered the town at night, and endelivoured to niehe his
escape on board a 'mall vessel, but not succeeding, he blew out
his brains. His name was Moliere, a free coloured man, and a
native of this island ; he had been for sonic time at St. 1), mingo,
and returned with the title of Viscount. About 130 of the in-
surgents had been apprehended, and at their trial, fifteen were
found guilty, and hung on the 10th of October.
" The distinguished and meritorious part acted by the British
garrison to quell this dangerous le volt was publicly noticed by
Major-General Wale, Commander of his Majesty's force in the
island, as well as by the inlial'itants, who testified their grateful
acknowledgments in a letter transmitted by the Procureur
du
Roi. These testimonies reflect much honour upon the vigi-
lance and conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Mackie, upon the
Officers under his cononand, as well as the general discipline of
the corps, and are a just tribute to their good conduct, to which
we owe the preservation of this valuable Colony."

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