very infancy of emancipation to the arrival of the expedition of Leclerc.  The slaves were made free under the government of Santhonax and Polverel.  When these retired, other white commissioners succeeded them.  When Toussaint came into power, he was not supreme; Generals Hedouille, Vincent, and others, had a share in the government.  Toussaint himself received his commission from the French Directory, and acted under it.  He caused it every where to be made known, but particularly among his officers and troops, that he retained the island for the French Government, and that France was the mother-country.

A sixth class of slaves emancipated in bodies may comprehend those, who began to be liberated about eighteen months ago in the newly-erected State of Columbia.  General Bolivar began the great work himself by enfranchising his own slaves, to the number of between seven and eight hundred.  But he was not satisfied with this; for believing, as he did, that to hold persons in slavery at all, was not only morally wrong, but utterly inconsistent with the character of men fighting for their own liberty, he brought the subject before the Congress of Venezuela.  The Congress there, after having duly considered it, drew up resolutions accordingly, which it recommended to the first general Congress of Columbia, when it should be assembled.  This last congress, which met at the time expected, passed a decree for emancipation on the 19th of July 1821.  All slaves, who had assisted, in a military capacity, in achieving the independence of the republic, were at once declared free.  All the children of slaves, born after the said 19th of July, were to be free in succession as they attained the eighteenth year of their age.  A fund was established at the same time by a general tax upon property, to pay the owners of such young slaves the expense of bringing them up to their eighteenth year, and for putting them afterwards to trades and useful professions; and the same fund was made applicable to the purchase of the freedom of adults in each district every year, during the three national festivals in December, as far as the district-funds would permit.  Care, however, was to be taken to select those of the best character.  It may be proper to observe, that emancipation, as above explained, has been proceeding regularly, from the 19th of July 1821, according to the terms of the decree, and also according to the ancient Spanish code, which still exists, and which is made to go hand in hand with it.  They who attain their eighteenth year are not allowed to go at large after their liberation, but are put under the charge of special juntas for a useful education.  The adults may have land, if they desire it, or they may go where they please.  The State has lately purchased freedom for many of the latter, who had a liking to the army.  Their freedom is secured to them whether they remain soldiers or are discharged.  It is particularly agreeable to me to be able to say