Sonthonax embarked at the Cap at Toussaint’s ultimatum, after warning cannon shots at midnight.

Toussaint goes to the Cap: after several conferences, both with Raymond and with Sonthonax, and wishing to use the most flattering forms, he wrote to the commissioner on 3 fructidor, Year V (20 August 1797): “That it is time for him to betake himself to his post in the legislative body, to tell France what he has seen, the prodigies of which he has been a witness, and to defend the sacred cause of liberty (1).” Sonthonax could not resist this pressure, which was backed by a numerous army gathered at the Petite-Anse under the orders of Toussaint himself. He nevertheless wished to work upon the minds of some Black officers of the garrison of the Cap. But on 7 fructidor (24 August), at midnight, three alarm cannon shots, fired from the Petite-Anse, came to spread terror in the Cap: Toussaint gave him until eight o’clock in the morning to embark.

Then the Robespierre of the New World, so called in the Five Hundred by Villaret-Joyeuse, accompanied by Raymond, by general Léveillé, commandant of the town, by two or three other officials, and by madame Villevalex, his wife, left the seat of government at six o’clock in the morning, crossed the town amid a mute and silent population, and went to embark on the ship the *Indien*. This solemn silence, which no applause, no murmur, no insult came to interrupt, must have stirred in very different ways the heart of this proud and despotic man, who in his two missions caused as much evil as good. The *Indien* set sail the next day and steered for Havana, where they would not allow the ex-commissioner to remain. Fortunately for Sonthonax, he reached France after the elimination, in the legislative body, of Vaublanc, of Villaret, and of the moderate part of the deputies. The Jacobin had an easy game; his audacity, which had been so much cast down, rose again; admitted on 16 pluviôse, Year V (4 February 1798), to the council of the Five Hundred, he exculpated himself as best he could of his faults and his shame.