The New York herald., 1850-07-22
Visit "a the Emperor OF Hayti.


wise, prudent, nor polite
Visit to the Emperor OF Hayu.
The following graphic account of visit pas 10
the Emperor Faustin |. by a french gen et' ~
will be read with interest The obyset % 'le
writer of the letter in visiting the West la tla
Islands was 10 inquire into the state OF the negro
population, he being a member OF the prlncipdi
abotionist societies in France. IL VIII be seen,
however that the present letter has no reference
10 the peculiar object of his journey, bli IS conhned
exclusively 10 an account OF his visit to the courto
the new Emperor -
KINGSTON, OAmMcA,) March IS, 1850.
In order however, not 10 extend
INV letter TO an undue lengtn, shall postpone the
account Of the picturesque portion ef my Journey,
and limit nv self to description Of his Majesty
the Emperor Faustin and his court
On my arrival at Port-au-Prnce my first care
was to ask M. Raybaud, (the French consul,) TO
present me TO the man who, at the present moment,
is the centre of attraction, admiration, and envy IN
this remote portion OF the globe After delay of a
few days, nj. Raybaud informed aie that the desired
interview should be granted, and that he had ar
ranged that it should take place on the following
day. At the appointed time We went TO the
palace. This editice, which was in former times
the residence of the governors of 81. Domingo,
assumes an imposing and even royal appearance
when compared with the wretched novels q!
which the rest Of the town is composed IN point
of fact, however ii would be considered very medl-
ocre in any country where architecture has made
some progress. The palace is very low, being
composed of only one story, raised a few feet
from the ground, and approached by four or hve
steps, which extend all around the edifice court
which is rallied in, and in which the Emperor passe
review OF his troops every Sunday, reminds one
vaguely Of that of the Tuileries. On entering the
palace we were shown into a waiting room, which
examined with attention. The floor is in white
marble, the furniture in black hair cloth and straw.
On richly carved table appeared beautiful bronze
clock, representing the arms Of Hayt-namely,
suImounted with the Phryg ygian cap. The walls
were decorated with two fine portraits, hung so as
to correspond with each other. The one repre-
sents the celebrated French conventionalist, the
Able Grogoire, and the other the reigning Empe-
ror of Hayti. The former is the work of an Euro
pean artist the latter does honor to the talent of
mulatto artist, the Baron Colbert. | should, per-
haps, have remarked more, il my attention had not
been attracted by the step of his Majesty in the
neighboring apartment, into which we were pre-
sently ushered. This apartment is hung with the
portraits att Of all the great men Of Haiti and i is in i
atey approached his Majesty, who was alone in
the room and standing. The Emperor was dressed
In handsome green uniform, irreproachable either
in material or form. He were two gold epaulettes,
ornamented with two silver stars; plaque provi-
sionally omamented with CRYSTAL decorated
his breast. He had sword by his side, and
carried his hat in his hand. He commenced
by giving us a very cordial shake of the
hand. He then sat down a fdutet.ii, and wait
ed, with some appearance of confusion and timidi-
ty, till nj. Raybsud addressed him. We had, at
his invitation, sat down upon chairs. The consul,
after mentioning my name and profession, inform
ed the Emperor that had come TO visit his en-
pre- simply from motives of curiosity and amuse-
ment, and that il would have been great disap-
Island without having had the honor of being re-
ceived by his majesty. To this speech added,
at was the only object of my voyage" at the
same time half rising from my seat The Emperor
initiated my movement, and thanked me, adding at
the same time, 81 have already had the pleasure
of seeing this gentleman at the review On Sunday"
IL was now my turn to offer my thanks for this
fiatteIing "reminiscences. The conversation con-
unued IN the same manner for about twenty mi
nutes. When we rose to take our leave of the En-
peror, he again shook hands with us. Three salu-
tStlons on our part, and as many his, concluded
Faustn Soulouque is completely black, but his
features have not by any means that savage and
hideous form which ignorance attributed to the
negroes OF purely African origin; On the contrary,
his features are pleasing, and there is peculiar
sweetness in his smile. Though 81 years Of age,
ne does not appear 10 be more than 30. la height,
he is middle sized. His breast is large and project
ing, his shoulders broad, and his launches clumsy
like those for which Louis XVIII was peculiar
From the regularity of his features, his profile
looks like that Of Roman emperor. When stand
ing, ms corpuiencs makes him appear little
though naturally tacifurn, he is always dignfed
and choice in his words. IL is right rectify an
error which attributes 10 him an entire ignorance
sf the French language. In my presence, he spoke
very correctly, and without any mixture of cresli-
cisms. He has also been accused of not being able
either TO read or write The truth is that he signs
his name legibly, and even in cases of necessity
writes letters, and besides thai he reads every
ning, without the aid of q secretary, the new his
tory of Hayu, which has just been published by
M hodion, native of much merit, who has re-
Gently been created baron, lie is greatly annoyed
at the carcatures OF him published in the Paris
Charirari, and the jokes Of the press in general
On this point he is susceptible to an Incredible ex-
tent.
Faustin soulouque is of the most humble orr
Hp WAS horn al fha Of M
Wallet. This gentleman, who ~ an European, has
been pointed out 70 me. He has succeeded in es-
Gaping all the revolutionary storms which have
agiiated this country, and at present is nhabi-
tant Of Port-au-Prnce. The Emperor Soulsuque
having one day recently met him, went up to him
and said, Although am an Emperor 10 the rest
MASTER ste S "And f""G, replied @ NJ NOV viatiea HUa % eossT
myself as your subject" How strange are human
dsstinies
At the period OF the evacuation Of Hayt by the
French, the emancipated slave entered a soldier
the army OF General Dessalines. From step 10 step
he rose 10 the rank of colonel, and he held that
rank at the period Of the fall Of the President Boyer
a grave event, in which the present Emperor was
not at all implicated. From his staciturnty-a qua
liy which among the blacks is considered to de-
note the most approved wisdom and discretisn-he
was admitted into the secret OF the several conspi-
racies which succeeded each other, from 1913 10
ls47. Having been created general Of division
under Richer, he only owed his election as Empe-
ror to the accident Of his name having been men,
toned IN the Senate at the moment when the
votes were divided bstweeu two candidates neither
OF whom had sufficient majority. lie then be-
came the means Of Cancellation between the par
ties. The blacks voted for him on account OF his
ebony skin, the mulattos because they thought
they had no reason 10 fear the ambition Of one who
had iill then been quite unknown. But the latter
were not long in discovering that they had given
10 Themselves master and not a flexible instru- |
ment. Hence proceeded the sanguinary events of |
the month Of April, lSfs.
Soulouque triumphed in consequence of his |
displaying a terrible energy Of character. His |
victory was disgraccd by some frightful exe- |
cutions. Perfdious counselo,s drove him i'm |
te course of vengeancs, speaking Of nothing |
less than eyterminu'ng the whole celorcd race, |
who form the finh OF the population Of Hayti |
In this state Of matters the consul general of |
France acquired forever the gratitude Of humanity |
In the midst Of the balls which whis,led through /
~. .,,..,. ., par,- 49,, u.;,a' n a',. \ ~ ~. .I /