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Assures him of the pleasure of seeing him and his wife at their last visit to Paris, and of the effect it had for the cause. Clarkson's two letters were discussed in some papers, though in less depth than would have been desirable, and in several there was only a bare notice of them. Gregoire discusses the preponderant frivolity of the French press, though there are exceptions. Gregoire goes on to discuss the impact of censorship on the press, which has forced [? Messrs. Comte and Dunoye], editors, to cease publishing in journal form and publish instead separate volumes. He is sending by an intermediary, Captn. Scobell, 'un ami des noirs' a volume of Observations, twenty pages of which are devoted to Clarkson's works. He has received a work on the slave trade, and slavery of blacks and whites, but thinks it may not be allowed to go to press since it contains some hard truths explicitly dealt with. If so, he will send it in a manuscript. Gregoire attaches M. Egion's receipt (1), and asks for his own to be returned or destroyed. He acknowledges Clarkson sending him his work on the Quakers (2), and Mr. Foster (3), whom he has not met, sending his works on the same subject. He requests help with corrections to his own works, his Histoire des Sectes, and a new edition of his Litterature des Negres. Mr. Wilberforce has sent the second edition of the life of Toussaint Louverture, by M. Stephen (4). Gregoire intends to write to him and send him copies of the letters written to himself by 'ce general' [Toussaint]. Cambridge University which in times gone by [jadis] awarded a prize for Clarkson's work, opened a debate some years ago on the question 'what are the advantages and inconveniences which may result from the new republic of blacks and coloureds established in the West Indies?' Gregoire asks was the prize actually bestowed, and what was the result of the debate? (5) He sends his compliments to Mrs. Clarkson, Messrs Robinson, Stoddart, William Smith etc. etc.

(1) In a postscript, however, he says he cannot find it.

(2) Portraiture of Quakerism (1806).

(3) It could be the odd Baptist preacher John Foster 1770-1843 (DNB) but probably not.

(4) James Stephen 1758 - 1832. This work is not listed among his 'chief' in the DNB.

(5) The Prize is probably a garbled ref. to Clarkson's prize Essay on Slavery, 1786, but the debate?

Conveyed by their mutual friend, Mr Allen, who will supply further details. He acknowledges Clarkson's zeal in seeing to the insertion in the papers of Gregoire's letter rebutting the slanders of [?Bertrand-Molleville]; other friends have done similarly in the German papers. He has discussed the state of St. Dominique with Mr. Weatherley, who is on his way to Vienna. Ten letters written to him from St. Dominique have been mislaid, gone astray or been intercepted by various means. He has sent various parcels of educational and devotional works to St. Dominique, but doubts after his conversation with Weatherley, whether they will reach their destination. Gregoire discusses political conditions in St. Dominique at some length.

If the recipient is in London, he will receive the letter from the hands of the Marquis (?Piresi). He is sending printed works by various deliveries. He sends a new copy of the second printed letter which he has addressed to an Elector of [?Lisere]. He has sent [?what] to Zachary Macaulay and already forwarded to Lord Calthorpe notes which attest that Senegal continues the slave trade. He has set a cry of indignation ringing in many papers, especially the Chronique Religieuse, and despite the fury of the 'marchands de sanf' (i.e. slave traders) against him, does not waver. He sends compliments to Clarkson's wife.

Acknowledges Clarkson's letter of 30 November which has dispelled his misgivings at Clarkson's previous lack of response. All that he has written of the merits of King Christophe, and his praise of his wife and the education of his two daughters, makes Vincent regret the more not having been able to stay with Clarkson, who had included Madame Vincent in his invitation. Vincent's initial fears about the Queen's high expenses in London have been relieved by Clarkson's excellent planning: she has nothing to fear from the winter lodged at Playford , and she and her daughters may return to their own sweltering climate when the fine weather comes. Vincent is contemplating with pleasure taking up in the Spring Clarkson's invitation to visit. He will bring materials concerning Haiti. He is accused of prejudice in favour of the blacks, and Clarkson's last letter, passed on to moderate people, has produced the same effect. In France, he is convinced, they are subject to greater prejudice, and accounts of the history of the Haitian revolution may not be published without awakening great antagonism. Nevertheless he believes that the Slave Trade is on the verge of being abolished, and that a new minister will adopt the opinion that it can no longer be tolerated, let alone encouraged. He looks forward to a reunion at Playford Hall, and a discussion of how to write the history of the Haitian revolution, at which prospect Clarkson's friend Greg[?oire] himself is dismayed. Vincent considers himself surrounded by enemies of truth, and in opposition to their prejudices and interests; this makes him the more desire the visit to England. He sends respects to Mrs. Clarkson and the family of Christophe.

Acknowledges his of the 16th June received yesterday, and explaining that he has delayed writing himself until he should receive news from Haiti. Mr. Foulerton's [Fullerton?] son was due to return in May and accompany Vincent to England, taking advantage of Clarkson's invitation, but young Foulerton has not arrived. Vincent thinks that Clarkson has overestimated the worth of his Observations, but has no objection to the publication of something of which Clarkson evidently approves. Sends regards to Mrs. Clarkson.

Acknowledges, on his return to Paris, Clarkson's of the 2nd September, thanks Clarkson for his renewed invitation, and expresses his regrets at not having been able to see him at his (Vincent's) last visit. He also regrets not having made the acquaintance of Benjamin Laroche, whose work he admires and considers worthy of writing a history of the Haitian revolution, for which Vincent has materials which he would be happy to make available to Laroche. Thanks Clarkson for the return of his little manuscript on the two black leaders of Haiti, which he does not think was approved by Fullerton senior and junior. They were at first zealous admirers of King Henry, who presented them with great commercial opportunities which have vanished with his death; Vincent regrets the change in opinion concerning the King he so much respected. He has learned with pleasure that the Queen and her children have retired to England, and asks Clarkson to relay his devotion to her should he correspond; he has already asked Fullerton junior to do so, and has confided to him a token of his remembrance to be resented to her. He has brought back from England information about the last revolution in Haiti, and the character of the King, not favourable to King Henry, which he will pass on when he finds the opportunity, and he asks Clarkson for any that he has. Clarkson has noted the main themes in pencil in the margins.

Acknowledges his letter of the 14th, discussing the return of Mr. Foulerton [Fullerton?], and the news he has brought of the fate of Christophe and of the country of Haiti. Vincent expects that the government of the North will be assimilated to that of the West, and that Paul Romain will be elected President at Cape Henry (1). He comments on the suitability of Romain for the task, and elaborates the differences between the situation in the North and that in the South and West, where there are a greater proportion of coloureds ('hommes de couleur'). He considers the attitude of the censored press towards a black ruler, and the unreasonable charges leveled at Christophe in the same way as was the case with Toussaint, now universally admired by any reasonable person. He encloses his Observations on the two great leaders of Haiti (Toussaint and Christophe?), so slandered by ignorant opinion, which no journal in Paris will be able to publish, but which might do better in England. He solicits Clarkson's information on the situation in Haiti. (1) If this was right it did not happened. Boyer was made president (Clarkson Biography p. 151).

Describes his ambitions to visit England with the coming of spring, but excusing himself due to age (he is seventy) and incapacity, being bound not least by the worsening illness of his wife. The imminent departure of Madame Christophe and her daughters from Playford awakes further regrets at not having been able to retrace the past in their company. Vincent wishes that the King's son, Ferdinand, (who had been confided through Vincent's offices to his worthy friend Des Guieux) might have been sent to France for an education which would have stood him in good stead for service to his father (1). Vincent asks that his good wishes and devotion be conveyed to Madame Christophe, and presents his compliments to Mrs. Clarkson. (1) The prince was in fact murdered by the revolutionaries at the time of the suicide of Christophe.

Recounts a meeting with Gregoire at which Clarkson was talked of and Vincent took to Gregoire ' an excellent account of Senegal and especially the slave trade which is still carried on there, though less actively…' He expects Gregoire to publish something in consequence, worthy of both of them. He asks news of Madame Christophe and her daughters, and proposes to facilitate with all possible conveniences their reception in Italy, should they dread the English weather too much. He has written to them via a friend of the daughters, but does not know whether his letter reached its destination. He requests Clarkson's care for another refugee, M'selle Toussain[t], grand-daughter of Toussaint Louverture, who is about to land in England. Vincent assures Clarkson of the great admiration he inspires in him, and wishes that on this New Year he may find in this life - as he is sure to do in a better - recompense for his unwearying labours for the human race.

Announces his pleasure that with the arrival of Mr. Foulerton [Fullerton], junior he has been able to make the journey to London, but excusing himself for reasons of fatigue from making the journey to Ipswich to see Clarkson. He spoke with Gregoire before he left, who was very anxious to be remembered to Clarkson, and Vincent attaches a writing of Gregoire's to this letter [not here]. He discusses in detail the disordered condition of Haiti as relayed by Foulerton, which he does find reassuring.