The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-11
FRANCE AND HAYTI.

Par, an Prince, under date oil March 18TH.
gives full particulars of the difficulty be.
tween the French squadron and the Emperor
Of Hayti-a brief account of which we pub.
,;shed few days ago The French Admiral,
Duauesne, is the same who is reported as
having promised to come to the aid OF Cuba,
If molested by the United States. After read
ing the account of his proceedings at Port
au Prince, 1t must appear of the slightest
imaginable consequence, how many such old
women come to the support of Cuba. We
can now readily see why Admiral Duquesne
has not been sent to the Black Sea or the
Baltic. Apersonage so warlike in words ana
recreant in deeds, would show to but little
advantage before the frowning batteries Oh
Sebastopol or Cronstadt.
On the 9Th of March, Admiral Duqueshe'
with that frigate, brig and steamer winch
were to blot the United States OF America
from the roll of ratiens, in case she iaih the
weight of her little finger upon the Island OF
Cuba, arrived in the harbor of Port au
Prince. 1t was 10 o clock at night when the
ilustrious warrior came to anchor; but, not
withstanding the unseasonableness of the
hour, and being no doubt in a great hurry to
get to Cabs, that he might swallow up any
predatory horde of fillibusterers who might
be in that neighborhood, he went at once on
shore, called without uniform or notice on the
Haytien Minister of Foreign Affairs, and de-
manded an audience with the Emperor. His
black Majesty was not to be seen on official
business at that time Of night Whether he
had gone to bed, or was out on spree, is not
stated, but at any rate, Admiral Duquesne
was not permitted to behold, at that time, the
light of the Emperor's sable countenance.-
Soon after, the Frenchman, in high state of
indignation, wrote letter, demanding imme-
date payment Of three millions of francs,
part of a debt due from the Haytiens to
France, and which had been put in the hands
of this marine constable for collection. He
said if his Majesty did not fork over within
forty eight hours, he would either blockade
the ports or fire upon the city.
In no wise intimidated by this ferocious
menace, Faustin the First, exhibiting ma
.iesty of spirit equal to the emergency, sum-
rious nations of Christendom stationed in the
city, and graciously offered his royal ear to
their opinions and advice. What advice they
ventured to suggest, is not stated but they
were informed of the French menace and
assured that the Government of Hayti would
not be responsible for any damage that for
eign citizens might sustain in consequence.
This was on the 18th ult., at o'clock in the
morning. During that and the succeeding
day, the Emperor put his Notifications and
fleet in good order; inspected his guns, men
and ammunition in person, and disported
himself about the beach, like warlike croco-
die, eager to take a snap at the martial boots
of Admiral Duquesne. However, another
attempt was made at peaceful negotiation
and in the evening of that day, the French
Admiral coming on shore, by appointment,
was met by Government Commissioner,
provided with drafts On England and cash
to the amount claimed. But the Admiral de
clined to receive payment till different ar
engagements we're made for future payments.
1t seems, according to the correspondent of
the Herald, that in 1s48 "an arrangement
was made between the Haytien Government
and France, that one half the receipts of the
IS Haytien custom-houses, which, at the time,
would amount to nearly five hundred thou
! aand dollars, should be annually paid-seven-
teen hundred thousand francs, or about three
hundred and thirty-fve thousand dollars,
should be applied to the indemnity due
France, and the balance of the half receipts
of the custom-h houses to be applied towards
the interest due on a debt that the govern
ment owes some banker in France; and it is
in consequence of the receipts at the Gus
tom-houses being cons derably reduced from
what they were in 1948, that the French Ad-
miral insisted that a specific sum should be
annually paid He also demanded 10000
francs for injuries inflicted by Haytien up
on French halter at Cape Haytien some
years ago. But the Emperor refused to give
satisfactory sum for the halter, resisted the
other demand, and continued his warlike
preparations. At nine o clock on the night
of the 9th, he gave as his final answer, "That
the Government of Hayti would do all it
could in honor, as Government; but, not
"NuSbdAuluS Tic iiu0dltuil2 letter IL had
received, it would not be forced into disa-
greeable measures and farther, that they
were prepared for any emergency" The
AZ hours were now drawing to a close the
soldiers were in motion; the matches were
lighted; Souloque was showing his ivory eve
rywhere among the batteries, when the Adj
miral Duquesne, not liking the strong smell
of sulphur, which followed in the train of
this Prince of Darkness, and concluding that
it would be better to receive the debt due the
French Government, in gold and silver, than
in iron and lead, inglsriously succumbed and
accepted the first proposals of the Havt;en
Government. This valorous and np;sson,
French Admiral, who has lately invoked the
Governor General of Cuba not to be afraid
of the Americans, for he, Duquesne wos
coming to their aid,-raised the Haytien fl .
to his mast, and saluted It. Thus ended the
first military demonstration of the French
,.,;r<, IS tho All;ad powar, - A. W,