HAYTI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 96, 6 November 1852, Page 4

HAYTI.

The New York Herald gives full accounts of the long-anticipated coronation of the black Emperor of Hayti and his " smutty consort," which took place at Port-au-Prince on the 18th of April, with the most ludicrous burlesque of pomp and form imaginable:— v The Crown which adorned his royal pate, and the splendid robes which covered his glossy hide, were manufactured for him in Paris, according to the most approved pattern and design. The arrival of the emblems of royalty;— his crown and sceptre —was celebrated in his domiuions with salvos of artillery and general illuminations. They were conveyed in grand procession from the Dock where they were disembarked, to the vaults of his palace, and sentries were placed over the precious commodities until the day of coronation. The gems which glittered on his diadem were taken from those of his royal subjects who possessed them, and the jewellery which shone on his spangled robes was also procured by the same right royal means. But Soulonque, following ths custom of European monarchs, rewarded those whom he had thus despoiled by bestowing on them, for their services to the State, titles and grand crosses, and ribbons, without limit. The coronation was fixed to take place on the.llth of April, but her Majesty the Empress, determined to enact her part with as much splendour as became her rank, was dissatisfied with her share of the jewels, and kicked up a grand muss with her imperial consort, from whose head she snatched a large share of its natural woolly ornaments. A postponement of the ceremony was the consequence, and in the interim great exortions were made to gratify her Majesty. But Soulouque's attemps had completely ' despoiled the Egyptians,' and there were no'jewels to be had among them. In this critical emergency, however, the foreign merchants and consuls and residents were petitioned to give their assistance, and through them the vanity of the Hayti en empress was satisfied. Then came the great and eventful morn of the 18th April, a day to be commemorated in all the annals of royalty." A letter adds the following details of the ceremony itself:— " For the last two months the troops were pouring in from every quarter of the country. In they came, helter-skelter, some with sticks, some with guns, a great number of the latter without locks ; some with coats, but the majority Avithout them. The soldiers that had been lucky enough to procure shoes were more fortunate than their officers; but would you believe that many of them had not their lower humanities covered, or, in other words, were innocent of breeches ? In fact, no one but those who reside here, or have resided, would believe the ludicrous figure they presented as they marched into town ;°but certainly it is no fault of the unfortunate slaves that they are in such a miserable and' starved condition, as their daily pay amounts to about four Haytien dollars, or equivalent to twentyeight cents. " As there was no dwelling here sufficiently large for the coronation, there was a large tent erected on the Champ de Mars, capable of containing from ten to twelve thousand people. At a distance of about four hundred yards there was", another erected immediately'behind the Government Palace, which served as a robing chamber for the imperial family. On the east end stood a platform on which there was a Catholic altar ; the rest of the tent was partitioned off lor the deputies, nobles, ladies of honour (black), consuls, and foreign merchants. " As early as two o'clock, a.m., the troops assembled and formed into a square, and a double line was stationed along the route leading to the palace, thus protecting their ebony majesties from violence. Then came the "senators and deputies, dukes, earls, ladies of honour, who were led to the place assigned for them by the master of the ceremonies. Their majesties were to make their appearance at six o'clock, a.m., but, with true negro punctuality, they did not arrive until nine. They were 'announced by the discharge of artillery^ music, and loud and long vivas from the spectators, and none shouted more.lustily than the foreign merchants, while, at the same time, they inwardly cursed him and his government for ruining the commerce of the country. " Their majesties were preceded by the VicarGeneral (whom the Pope would" consecrate Bishop at the request of Soulouque after all the concessions he promised to make) and about

twenty priests. Her Majesty first made her appearance, attended by her ladies of honour, under a canopy which is seen at Roman Catholic ceremonies on the occasion of the procession of the Holy Sacrament. She wore on her head a tiara, and was robed in a most costly apparel. You are aware that previous to her husband being elected President she was a vendor of fish, and had the reputation of being a correct woman (a miracle in this place). But Soulouque resolved (as the Irish express it) to make her an honest one, by marrying her on Saturday night last. You could not, in your good city, produce a woman in any of your markets who could walk with such a stately step, or play the part of Empress better than she did on the occasion. Soulottque then followed, accompanied by all the distinguished nobility, under a similar canopy, wearing a crown : that, it is said, cost thirty dollars, having in his hands two scep'res. " Their Majesties were led to the prie-dieu, where they first said their prayers, and were then conducted to the throne. The ceremonies then commenced by the Vicar pronouncing a solemn benediction on the crown, sword of justice, scaptre, cloak, ring, collar, and imperial cloak of the Emperor, after which were blessed the crown', cloak, and ring of the Empress. Then came the President of the Court of Cassation (the Supreme Court of Hayti), accompanied by the deputies, and presented to Soiilouque the constitution of Hayti, demanding of him to swear not to violate it, and he then placed the Crown on his head, and placed the Bible on the pages of the constitution, and said, {I swear to abide by the constitution, and to maintain the integrity and independence of the empire of Hayti.' Then the master of the ceremonies cried aloud ' Long live the great, glorious, and august Emperor, Paustin the First' So ended the pomp and pageant of crowning onr nigger Emperor."