Paris. Vincent arrives there.

Toussaint had the Colonial Constitution, which was in fact nothing but an act of independence, published in every town of the colony with pompous display, to the sound of trumpets, drums and martial music. He hastened to put it into print and to flood the colony with it. Colonel Vincent, who was leaving for France, was charged with presenting it for the sanction of the government of the mother country. Vincent renewed to the governor his apprehensions for the future. He urged him above all not to send it in print, but in manuscript, sealed and closed, so that the French government might consider it, and even modify it if need be. “I have already had it published throughout the colony,” answered Toussaint. “You have been imprudent,” replied Vincent. “You should have awaited the sanction of France, which will probably refuse its approval to your work; for it belongs to her alone to give laws and governors to Saint-Domingue.” Toussaint, with ill humor: “If you will not take charge of it, I shall send it to France by way of the United States, on a neutral vessel.” Perceiving that he had spoken to the governor with too much frankness, Vincent fell silent, took the packet, saluted him respectfully and withdrew. He went to the house of Colonel Christophe and handed him an unsealed letter for the governor, in which he urged him to distrust the counsels of the English, and those of the colonists, most of them bad Frenchmen. Christophe, pressing his hand cordially, said to him: “Colonel, you are the only Frenchman who loves the inhabitants of Saint-Domingue; all the others deceive them and labor for their ruin.” While showing him his veneration, Christophe let him see how far he distrusted France. Vincent embarked, accompanied by several European officers. He would reach Paris on 22 Vendémiaire, Year 10, thirteen days after the signing of the preliminaries of the Treaty of Amiens.