ESCAPE OF THE REPUBLICAN EXILES. 125 



though Surinam was the only place to which they 

 could possibly go, it was altogether out of the ques- 

 tion that they should go in the canoe ; that it could 

 not hold them, nor, if it could, could stand the sea; 

 that the distance to the nearest point, Fort Orange, 

 was at least a hundred leagues ; and finally, that the 

 Dutch governor had prohibited, under the severest 

 penalties, all landings from Cayenne, in consequence 

 of the notorious intentions of the Cayennese French- 

 men to revolutionise the Dutch settlements in the 

 most revolutionary mode. 



This last difficulty was in some degree met by the 

 assistance of a friend in Cayenne, who procured eight 

 passports in feigned names, Gallois, Picard, &c., signed 

 by Jeannet, such as he was in the habit of giving to 

 the occasional traders from Surinam to the French 

 colonies. But the grand point was where to find a 

 pilot. This essential instrument was soon curiously 

 supplied. 



The Directory, in the plenitude of their power, 

 setting aside all law, and eager only for plunder, now 

 issued an order for the seizure of neutral ships, in 

 other Avords, an act of general piracy. The oppor- 

 tunity was not lost by the Cayennese governor, nor 

 by his subjects, for every row-boat in their possession 

 was instantly sent to sea, with full privilege to rob 

 everything. An American ship, with a cargo of 

 flour, provisions, and wine, was steering for Cayenne, 

 for which port her freight was actually intended. 



