24 TiMEHRI.' 



this colony and the west sea coast of Berbice would 

 have taken place, had your Excellency not so promptly 

 adopted the expedition, the result of which I hope will 

 be satisfaftory." 



The Court thanked the Governor for his zeal and 

 energy, and resolved that "their thanks be given to 

 Captain Edmonstone for the alacrity with which he 

 had again come forward and taken charge of the party 

 who went to the woods, and in order to testify in the 

 most gratifying manner their high estimation of his 

 services, it should be proposed to the Financial Repre- 

 sentatives at the next Combined Court, to unite in grant- 

 ing Captain EDMONSTONE exemption from Colonial 

 Taxes for the period of his life. 



The expenses of this expedition amounted to the large 

 sum of /"i 00,000, and the Colony Chest being empty, 

 the Governor was obliged to borrow /"i 9,000 from the 

 Orphan Chamber to pay the Indians for their services. 

 Some difficulty occurred in adjusting the share of Berbice, 

 but it was at length decided that the whole cost should 

 be divided between the two colonies in the proportion of 

 one third to Berbice and the remainder to Demerara. 

 To pay the latter, a produce tax was imposed in Demerara 

 and Essequebo, 



The great difficulty that remained was the disposal of 

 the prisoners. The Berbice planters wanted to get their 

 slaves back, but in accordance with Edmonstone'S 

 terms this could not be granted. It was decided that 

 the Governor should try to sell them in some of the 

 West India Islands, but none of the colonies would allow 

 them to be brought within their jurisdi6lion. The 

 Governor tried Trinidad and Martinique, and sent a 



