Le Lamentin. The squadron arrived there on 3 February; the French landed there on 5 February.

The French squadron had reached Le Lamentin on the evening of the third of February. Groups of citizens at once formed in every street. On all sides people declared themselves convinced that the French were coming not to restore slavery but to overthrow the despotism of Toussaint Louverture. The citizens were already talking of organizing a guard of honor, of going out to meet the European troops and fraternizing with them. But one man alone, by his energy, forced the inhabitants to give up their plan: this was Lamartinière, known for his intrepidity and the violence of his character. He went through the streets exhorting the citizens to arm for the defense of the town; the French are coming to restore slavery, he said; but his voice found no echo. All the inhabitants believed in the magnanimity of France: most of them had suffered cruelly under Toussaint’s government.