1790-Jan.: In January 1790, the government at Port-au-Prince called for on-board visits and searches of all arriving vessels to prevent the entry of seditiou…

1790-Jan.: In January 1790, the government at Port-au-Prince called for on-board visits and searches of all arriving vessels to prevent the entry of seditious materials. Authorities ordered the seizure of revolutionary papers, books, and engravings capable of fomenting trouble within the colony. The decree specifically targeted “slaves coming from France” who were suspected of carrying radical ideas back to the plantations. Even foreign travelers were subject to arrest and detention, demonstrating the extreme concern over the uncontrollable spread of ideas. These tight security measures highlighted the colonial administration’s struggle to manage the mobile populations of the Caribbean waterfront.