The Deputies of Colour now began to visit me at my own hotel.  They informed me, that they had been admitted, since they had seen me, into the National Assembly.  On stating their claims, the president assured them, that they might take courage; for that the Assembly knew no distinction between Blacks and Whites, but considered all men as having equal rights.  This speech of the president, they said, had roused all the White Colonists in Paris.  Some of these had openly insulted them.  They had held also a meeting on the subject of this speech; at which they had worked themselves up so as to become quite furious.  Nothing but intrigue was now going forward among them to put off the consideration of the claims of the free People of Colour.  They, the deputies, had been flattered by the prospect of a hearing no less than six times; and, when the day arrived, something had constantly occurred to prevent it.

At a subsequent interview, they appeared to be quite disheartened; and to be grievously disappointed as to the object of their mission.  They were now sure, that they should never be able to make head against the intrigues and plots of the White Colonists.  Day after day had been fixed as before for the hearing of their cause.  Day after day it had been deferred in like manner.  They were now weary with waiting.  One of them, Oge, could not contain himself, but broke out with great warmth—­“I begin,” says he, “not to care, whether the National Assembly will admit us or not.  But let it beware of the consequences.  We will no longer continue to be beheld in a degraded light.  Dispatches shall go directly to St. Domingo; and we will soon follow them.  We can produce as good soldiers on our estates, as those in France.  Our own arms shall make us independent and respectable.  If we are once forced to desperate measures, it will be in vain that thousands will be sent across the Atlantic to bring us back to our former state.”  On hearing this, I entreated the deputies to wait with patience.  I observed to them, that in a great revolution, like that of France, things, but more particularly such as might be thought external, could not be discussed either so soon or so rapidly as men full of enthusiasm would wish.  France would first take care of herself.  She would then, I had no doubt, extend her care to her Colonies.  Was not this a reasonable conclusion, when they, the deputies, had almost all the first men in the Assembly in their favour?  I entreated them therefore to wait patiently; as well as upon another consideration, which was, that by an imprudent conduct they might not only ruin their own cause in France, but bring indescribable misery upon their native land.