SONTHONAX LEGER & POLVEREL ETIENNE: Léger-Félicité Sonthonax (1763-1813) and Etienne Polverel (1740-1795) First ...

SONTHONAX LEGER & POLVEREL ETIENNE: Léger-Félicité Sonthonax (1763-1813) and Etienne Polverel (1740-1795) First French abolitionist Legislators. Civil Commissars in Saint Domingue, they promulgated the full abolition of slavery in the north province of the island. A very interesting L.S., `Sonthonax´, and `Polverel´ twice, one page, folio, Port-au-Prince, 29th April 1793. The present letter was written only two months before the promulgation of abolition and is signed by both legislators in the name of the French republic and in their capacities as `Delegates in the French Islands of America to re-establish the public order and peace.´ The document is an order given to the Commandant of Port-au-Prince stating `..to arrest immediately citizen Madame Chavanne and to take him provisionally on board the vessel of the Republic called Eole, until we give further orders..´ The document bears an ink stamp to the front with printed letters “Civil National Convention, delegation in Saint Domingue – In the Nation´s Name”. With blank integral leaf. VG £200-300 The arrest order most probably correspond to the wife of black General abolitionist Jean-Baptiste Chavanne (1748-1791) Haitian abolitionist who, together with mulatto Vincent Ogé (1755-1791) leaded the first revolt claiming for the freedom of all slaves. They were arrested and sentenced to be hammered to death, showing great bravery during is terrible torture in the presence of assembly members and authorities.