France, notwithstanding the rudeness of their construction, cannot be read without deep interest. "Et toi, qui du malheur as bu la coupe amère, De la religion interroge la voix; Interroge ton Dieu gémissant sur la croix; Est plus grand devant moi que le blanc qui l'outrage." (Revue Encyclopédique, tom. i. p. 135, 136.) We could cite many other passages from fables, madrigals, ballads, &c.; but as they do not essentially differ from the similar effusions of the French muse in Europe, we proceed briefly to glance at the other literary productions of the Haytians. A nation, among whom all the arts are yet in their infancy, cannot have any complete historical works. Slaves yesterday, to-day free, it may perhaps be asked, what narratives of past events can they have, for the instruction of future ages ? These very men, however, who, a few years since, were placed on a level with the brute creation, have already rich materials for history. The blacks, while in a state of slavery, were widely different persons from those we now see in a state of civil liberty. Their customs, their manners, their genius, their language, their hatred, and their affections, are all strikingly displayed in their historical writings, which may be divided into four classes, viz.:Correspondence, Memoirs or Narratives, Biographical Sketches, and Journals. The ill-judged expedition of the French, in 1802, under General Le Clerc (of which we have given an outline in the former part of this article) gave occasion to a correspondence between him and the black chieftains who opposed him, especially the lamented Toussaint and the present sovereign of Hayti; whose letters are characterized by energy, elegance, and dignity. So active was the mind of Toussaint, that, like Cæsar, he is said to have dictated to five secretaries at once. To a general, who ap plied to him for some money, he wrote, "C'est un esprit malin, que je tiens dans un coffre fort; je ne l'ouvre pas, crainte qu'il ne s'échappe." Many specimens of the correspondence of these distinguished chieftains are preserved in the works at the head of this article, to which we refer our readers, as also for the correspondence between Dessalines and Rochambeau (which is characterized by the same force and dignity of thought), at the time the French were obliged to abandon Saint Domingo. To the letters between the commissioners from the king of France and the late president Petion, we have already adverted. They contain valuable materials for history; and the letters of the president are distinguished for their masculine vigour and calm reasoning. Among their historical specimens, the most remarkable is that of J. Chanlatte, a citizen of the republic of Hayti. Its principal design is to relate the events that took place during the expedition of Le Clerc; and, without entering into details relative to the war, or confining himself to chronological order, he exposes the causes of the cruelties then perpetrated, and describes them minutely. This writer is gifted with an ardent mind: his pages abound with exclamations, hyperboles, inversions, and terms foreign to the genius of the French language; yet, notwithstanding all these irregularities, we frequently meet with passages which extort our admiration. To give the reader some notion of his style and manner, we select the following sketch. It is well known that bloodhounds were brought from the island of Cuba to devour the unfortunate blacks. Chanlatte relates the manner in which these animals vented their fury on a wretched African, and omits no circumstance which can affect his readers; such as the savage burst of cruelty and joy on the landing of the dogs," the pomp and circumstance" of the punishment,-the sanctity of the place where it was inflicted (the court of a nunnery), an amphitheatre in which seats had been raised, the hapless victim fastened to a stake, and his limbs dismembered in the arena by the famished bloodhounds. But, to convey a more accurate idea of this scene, we give the description in the author's own words. "Ils sont entrés en rade, ces chiens soigneusement choisis; ils débarquent pêle-mêle, et cet heureux événement est signalé par l'allegresse générale.... C'est à qui s'empressera d'admirer ces bourreaux d'une nouvelle espèce, de jeter des fleurs sur leur passage. Partout on distribue les cocardes et les rubans qui doivent les décorer; le très petit nombre d'Européens, que ce délire inhumain révolte, ou frémit d'épouvante, ou se cache, ou ce tait. "Bientôt ces animaux sont stylés à l'usage auquel on les destine; une diète, savamment calculée, irrite encore leur voracité naturelle. Du moment qu'on les juge assez préparés, on annonce avec solennité le jour, l'heure, l'instant affreux où une créature humaine, par la seule raison qu'il à plu au ciel de la revêtir d'un épiderme noir, va être exposée dans l'arène à ces monstres. Toute la ville du Cap accourt à ce spectacle; des banquettes sont préparées autour d'un amphithéâtre élevé dans la cour d'un couvent de religieuses: ce qui rappelle les cirques ensanglantés des Romains; on s'y précipite, on s'empresse d'y prendre place. ""Barbares exécuteurs! Spectateurs farouches! La sainteté de cet asile n'a pas suspendu vos desseins criminels! L'idée d'un tel supplice n'avait pas glacé le sang dans vos veines! Mais, le signal est donné, et déjà la victime est traînée en pompe vers le poteau. Elle est fortement attachée, et pour ainsi dire clouée au gibet. Aussitôt, des piqueurs actifs agacent leurs meutes, les excitent, les enflamment, tantôt en les rapprochant, tantôt en les éloignant de leur proie. Quand on s'est assuré que la rage des dogues est à son comble, on les lâche contre l'homme devenu leur pâture. Le malheureux avait déjà subi tous les genres de mort, à la seule vue de ces effrayans préparatifs. Au même instant, les chiens, d'autant plus acharnés que leur ardeur avait été plus long-tems comprimée, s'élancent, fondent à la fois sur toutes les parties de son corps, et les déchirent. O souffrances non encore éprouvées! O attentat d'une espèce nouvelle contre l'humanité! 66 En vain les cris de l'humanité aux abois invoquent le ciel et la terre; en vain une voix expirante sollicite la pitié. Vaines clameurs! prières superflues! La pitié, elle a fui de cette contrée avec sa population originelle; les Européens s'en sont dépouillés; en passant le tropique. . . . . Enfin, le martyr, succombant sous l'excès de ses maux, adresse au ciel un regard éloquent, devenu la leçon de ses concitoyens puis, son crâne s'affaisse sur son sein décharné, et les voûtes célestes s'entr'ouvrent au dernier souffle de l'innocence.' (Revue Encyclopédique, tom. iii. p. 142, 143.) The kingdom of Hayti is not without its historical productions. The Count de Limonade, who is Christophe's principal Secretary of State, has published an animated historical sketch of the occurrences in Hayti, from the capitulation of the French army to the year 1811, when Christophe ascended the throne; and we understand that Baron de Vastey, of whose literary labours we have already made honourable mention, is at this time occupied in writing a history of his sovereign's life, from his earliest years, which is to be amply illustrated with authentic documents and letters. The death of the president Pétion gave occasion to a wellwritten biographical sketch of his character, and one or two memoirs of other blacks who have signalized themselves in the republic, have been given to the press; but as we have no accurate information concerning them, we shall conclude the present sketch by briefly noticing the journals or newspapers of the Haytians. In the monarchy, the Royal Gazette of Hayti is published at Cape Henry; and in the republic, three other news P papers make their appearance at Port-au-Prince. These journals contain the public acts of the two governments, together with news from other parts of the world, and various articles of criti cism, morals, politics, and literature, and, in short, whatever relates to the interests of the nation. The establishment of a black empire in the midst of the British West Indies excited the most fearful apprehensions in the minds of the planters. Subsequent events have shown that, however well-founded those apprehensions might seem, they have little to fear, so long as their slaves are treated with kindness and humanity. The abolition of the nefarious traffic in slaves, and other wise measures of the British legislature, have already contributed to ameliorate the condition of the slaves; and we may reasonably expect that, in proportion as these measures have their full effect, the condition of the negroes in our West Indian colonies will be progressively improved. In their present state entire freedom would be no boon to them. Nothing indeed can prepare their minds for its reception and enjoyment but the introduction of Christianity, and the diffusion of moral and religious education. We have no data by which we can compute the actual number of Christian slaves in the West Indies; but we know generally that, in almost all the larger islands, there are active and zealous mis sionaries, who devote themselves to the pious and benevolent task of imparting religious instruction to those neglected outcasts. In Antigua, especially, this greatest of blessings has been imparted to many thousands of slaves, who bear the yoke of Eondage with patience, cheered by the hope which the Gospel reveals, as the end and compensation of all their sufferings. In many other islands, the prejudice of planters against the tuition of their slaves is silently wearing away; while the number of those, who, from various causes, are favourable to their instruction, is gradually increasing and a conviction is gaining ground, most advantageous to the interests of all parties, of the inefficacy of human restraints and punishments to produce that uniform obedience, which is seen in well-instructed and religious slaves. These are truly encouraging signs of the times; and when we add to them the increasing liberality of British Christians in this country, we may reasonably indulge the hope that the period is not far distant, when the entire black population in the West Indies shall hail with devout gratitude the day, that transported them from their native deserts, to make them free men in the noble sense suggested by the New Testament. ART. IV.-Discourses on the Three Creeds. By the Rev. Dr. Nares. 8vo. Baldwin, Cradock, & Joy, 1819. Of all the controversies which have divided the Christian world "from the beginning of the gospel of Christ," down to the present times, that concerning the Trinity may be regarded as the chief. The truth of this remark will be equally evident, whether we consider the sublimity of the doctrine, or the violence and animosity with which the controversy has been conducted. For in proportion as the subject is beyond the comprehension of man, in the same proportion have men been dogmatical in discussing it. Whoever has made himself well acquainted with the history of the Christian church will be satis fied that this statement is not exaggerated. It must be admitted, however, that it is strictly applicable only to the earlier periods of that history. For though the controversy still subsists, yet we have, now, nothing of that rancour and bitterness, and nothing of that ferocious zeal, which make such a conspicuous figure in the writings even of the fathers of the church. A milder spirit has been infused into the controversy, and a temper more consonant to the religion of Jesus; of which the work before us is a most laudable example. Dr. Nares, the learned and reverend author of the Sermons now under review, is already well-known to the public as an able defender of the orthodox faith, against the innovations of modern Unitarians; first, by his Letter to the Rev. F. Stone; and se condly, by his remarks on what the Unitarians have been pleased to call an Improved Version of the New Testament: and, again, he has been induced to enter the lists, in order to repel an attack upon a sermon preached by himself, before the University of Oxford in 1814, and printed by desire of the Vice Chancellor. This attack was made in a tract professing to be written by an unlearned Unitarian, in which it is asked, whether the established church can possibly be right in dooming to everlasting perdition those who do not believe its creed, or worship with its forms? -If this unlearned Unitarian had acted a consistent part, and humbly solicited the counsel of the learned, Dr. Nares would have had no fault to find with him; but he says he is unlearned, and yet he ventures to decide peremptorily in a case which requires all the aids of learning. The attack above alluded to seems to be chiefly directed. against what is "commonly called the creed of St. Athanasius. But Dr. Nares regards the three creeds acknowledged by the church of England, as being so intimately connected, in scope or spirit, that an attack upon one of them is an attack upon all. |