THE DISTANCE OF THE FIXED STARS:

Since the Phythagorcan system of the world has been revived by Copernicus, and now adopted by all the mathematicians for the true one, there seemed ground to imagine, that the diameter of the earth's annual orbit, which, according to our best astronomers, is at least 40,000 times bigger than the semidiameter of the earth, might give a sensible parallax to the fixed stars, thereby to determine their distance; but there are some considerations, which make us suspect that even this basis Is not large enough for that purpose: M. Huygens, who is very exact in his astronomical observations, tells us, he could never discover any visible magnitude in the fixed stars, though he used glasses which magnified the apparent diameter above 100 times; now since in all likelihood the fixed stars are suns, perhaps of different magnitudes, we may, as a reasonable medium, presume that they are generally about the magnitude of our sun; let us then, for instance, suppose the dog-star to be so; the distance from us to the sun being about 100 times the sun's diameter, it is evident, that the angle under which the dog-star is seen in M. Huygen's telescope must be nearly the same with the angle of its parallax to the sun's distance, or semidiameter of the earth's annual orbit; so that the parallax to the whole diameter can be but double such a quantity, as even to M. Huygen's nice observation is altogether insensible; the distance therefore of the fixt stars seems hardly within the reach of any of our methods to determine; but from what has been laid down, we may draw some conclusions, that will much illustrate the prodigious vastness thereof. 1. That the diameter of the earth's annual orbit, which contains at least 160 millions of miles, is' but a point in comparison of this distance, at least it must be above 6000 times the distance of the sun; for if a star should appear through the aforesaid telescope half a minute broad, which is a pretty sensible magnitude, the true apparent diameter would not exceed 18"", which is less than the 6000th part of the apparent diameter of the sun; and consequently, the sug's distance is not the 6000th part of the distance of the star. That could we advance towards the stars 99 parts of the

2.

whole distance, and have only the 100th part remaining, the stars would appear little bigger to us than they do here; for they would shew no otherwise than they do through a telescope, which magnifies an hundredfold. 3. That at least 9 in parts in 10 of the space be tween us and the fixed stars can receive no greater light from the sun, or any of the stars, than what we have from the stars in a clear night. 4. That light takes up more time in passing from the stars to us, than we in making a West India voyage, which is ordinarily per formed in six week's; that sound would not reach us at that distance in 50,000 years; nor a cannon-bullet in a much longer time; this is easily computed, by allowing, according to Mr. Newton, 10 minutes for the pas sage of light from the sun hither, and that sound moves above 1300 feet in a second of time.

MEMORANDA RESPECTING HAYTI.

His

Character and Anecdotes of Dessalines. Dessalines, at the time of the revolution, in 1791, was slave to a negro. His quondam master still lived in Cape Francois, and was well known to Mr. name was Dessalines; and the emperor Jean Jaques, took that surname from him. He was a shingler (what would be called a tiler in this country), and the now em peror formerly worked with him at that trade. The old man told Mr., that the emperor had always been "a stubborn dog, but a good workman."

Dessalines retained great affection for his master; one more proof of that gross falsehood, so industriously pro pagated by the advocates of the present West-Indian system, that free negroes are more cruel than whites to their slaves. He had appointed him to the office of his chief butler. I asked whether he could find no more honourable station for him, and was answered, none that the old man would have liked half so well. He was extremely happy, and made amends for the abstemiousness of the emperor, who though he kept a good cellar, drank nothing but water.

Dessalines could not read, but had learned to sign his name. He employed a reader, and used to sit in a most attentive attitude to hear the papers that were read to him. Among these, were some of Mr. Wilberforce's speeches on the Slave Trade, which Mr. had seen, as translated and printed by his imperial majesty's order, in the Gazette of Cape Francois.

The empress was the most handsome and most accomplished negress perhaps in the West Indies. She was the favourite mistress of a rich planter, at whose expense she had been well educated; and Mr. spoke of her as a highly amiable woman, who did all she could to soften the natural ferocity of her husband's character, though it would appear, with little success. He had daughters by a former wife, but no son. He was a man of profligate habits. This extraordinary man was short in his person, but strongly made; of great activity, and invincible courage. His military talents were thought superior to those of Toussaint, but in general capacity he was vastly inferior to that illustri ous character, and was not thought by Mr. to rise above mediocrity. He commanded great respect, but it was by the terror he inspired. Yet it would appear that he was sometimes open and affable, and that he could even be generous. He was distinguished by some odd caprices, evidently the effect of personal vanity. He was fond of embroidery and other ornaments, and dressed often with much magnificence, at least accord ing to his taste and ideas: yet at times he would put on the meanest cloths he could find, and exhibit himself publicly in them. But what was still more singular and ridiculous, he had a great ambition to be an accom plished dancer, and actually carried about with him a. dancing-master in his suite, to give him lessons at leisure hours. Nor conld a more acceptable compliment be paid him, than to tell him he danced well, though con trary to the ordinary case of the negroes, he was very awkward at that exercise. His age was about forty-two. He was put to death in the year 1806, soon after I received this account.

Character and Anecdotes of Christophe.

Christophe, who was then second in command, but has since succeeded Dessalines, is a man of a very dif

ferent character. He was born at Greneda, and was also a slave at the time of the revolution. He was about the same age with Dessalines, and like him, had been an early friend and faithful adherent of Toussaint; and seemed by no means so dissimilar in character to that great man, as Dessalines had proved himself in particular, he was not stained by any gross vices, but was a good husband and father, and observant of the duties of religion. Christophe was of a hospitable turn, keep good wine, and partook of it freely, though not to excess: As commander in chief at Cape Francois, be often gave public dinners, and entertained very handsomely, not to say magnificiently. The officers of the British navy, as well as foreign merchants, were his frequent guests. Both he and Dessalines had a propriety, and even dignity of manner, which were very extraor dinary in uneducated men.

Though Christophe was equally illiterate with Dessalines, he much exceeded him in general capaciiy. Mr.

said, he was a man of uncommonly strong natural parts, and spoke in the colonial assembly in a very able and forcible manner. He understood the English language sufficiently to enable him to converse in it with

ease:

He was so far from suspecting treachery; or feeling disaffection, after peace had been concluded with Le Clerc, that he entrusted his eldest son to general Boudet, when that officer, a fovourite of Buonaparte, returned to France; and he gave him 8000 dollars to defray the expence of the lads education. The general pocketed the money, and put out his charge as foot-boy; a station in which unless murdered by Buonaparte, he probably still remains,

Christophe had once an opportunity to shew his moderation of temper and good sense at the expense of our national credit. Captain-had the command of a man of war on the Jamaica station, and was frequently on shore at Cape Francois, where our officers had always been very respectfully treated. He went one night to the theatre (for it continued open there till the time of the massacre), and took with him a large party of marines. When the seamen, at a late hour, were returning to their boats, the black centinel on the wharf stopped one of them, who carried a large bag or sack, it being contrary to regulations that any goods should be conveyed from the shore at night. It is said, that the

bag contained a French child, whom they were humanely carrying away in that clandestine manner, at the request of its parents, the emigration of the white French being at that time strictly prohibited. The boatmen would not give way to the centinel, who gave the alarm; and the news of the dispute being carried to the theatre, captain- marched his marines to the wharf, and, instead of paying respect to the laws, was very outrageous with the black soldiery. On this Christophe was sent for, who hastened to the place to prevent mischief. On his arrival, he gently and respectfully expostulated with captain, on the impropriety of breaking through the necessary regulations of the barbour. You and your officers and people,' said he, << may go on board at any hour you please, though even this is contrary to rule; but the centinel did right, and must be supported, in the embarkation of any goods at this hour." In returu, captain loaded him with abusive epithets, and used other language of the most offensive kind, A word or a sign from Christophe would have been certain destruction to the whole party; but he preserved the most perfect self-command, and reproved the vulgar insolence of the British commander with a dignified moderation. You are." said he, "a disgrace to the English navy; but I shall not judge of your countrymen in general from you. I consider and shall treat you as a boy. Go off in safety; but learn to behave yourself better in time to come..

After this, of course, captain landed no more; and our navy officers, in general, kept aloof from the island till a new squadron arrived on the Jamaica station. But their successors were on very good terms with the Haytians, often entered the harbour of Cape Francois, and were handsomely entertained on shore by the black commanders. The negro chief, were notwithstanding of opinion, that we were in general determined enemies to their freedom.

END OF VOL. II.