Le Cap. Christophe’s feast celebrated; Dessalines arrives in the evening.

The same day (15 July) the town of Le Cap celebrated Christophe’s feast day with the greatest pomp. The civil and military authorities went to his residence and presented their homage to him. Mr. Roumage the younger, principal administrator of the division, addressed the following speech to him: “General, the members composing the administration of this division, whose organ I have the honor to be on this occasion, lack words strong enough to show you the feelings of interest, respect and attachment that they all bear you in the depths of their hearts. The virtues and eminent qualities that so justly distinguish you have inspired in them the most sincere attachment and devotion to your honorable person. Yes, general, we feel at every moment the inexpressible blessing we enjoy in possessing you; and so we fully appreciate the great advantage that flows from the harmony and happiness you procure for your fellow citizens, who find in you a father, a virtuous, enlightened and impartial chief, the consoler and support of the unfortunate, and a magistrate whose every action is guided by humanity. We can therefore seize no better occasion than the one that presents itself today, the anniversary of your august feast, to renew to you the sincere assurance of the liveliest feelings we have vowed to you, and to address to the Supreme Being our prayers that he grant you his divine protection and pour out upon you, your respectable wife and your children his most ineffable favors; that he let you enjoy the most perfect satisfaction and entire prosperity; that he preserve your precious days from all danger, and keep them for our happiness, and to second and carry to their end the paternal and beneficent labors that our august Emperor never ceases to undertake for the felicity and preservation of his faithful people.”

Christophe was touched by this speech and showed in his reply the dignity of a monarch. The editor of the Gazette du Cap, Rouanez the younger, an educated man, drew up the programs of these solemnities and most often composed the speeches that Christophe delivered, from notes that Christophe supplied him. The citizens of the town of Le Cap were in general far more devoted to Christophe than to the emperor. While General Christophe was thus receiving the homage that in most of the other towns of the empire was paid only to the head of the State, Dessalines entered Le Cap in the evening of the same day (15 July). Immediately upon his arrival all the authorities went to the palace and expressed to him in warm terms their feigned devotion.