i04 N A R R A 1^ I V E OF AN 



CHAP. Till this time I had chiefly been Joanna's friend; 

 t,^„„,^^^^^ but nov*' I began to feel I was her captive. I renewed 

 my wild propofals of purchafing, educating, and tranf- 

 porting her to Europe ; which, though offered with the 

 moft perfedf iincerity, were, by her, rejected once more, 

 with this humble declaration : 



I am born a low contemptible flave. Were you to 

 " treat me with too much attention, you muit degrade 

 " yourfelf with all your friends and relations ; while 

 the purchafe of my freedom you will find expen- 

 five, difficult, and apparently impoflible. Yet though 

 a flave, I have a foul, I hope, not inferior to that of 

 an European ; and blufli not to avow the regard I 

 " retain for you, who have diftinguifhed me fo much 

 above all others of my unhappy birth. You have, 

 " Sir, pitied me ; and now, independent of every other 

 " thought, Ifliali have pride in throwing myfelf at your 

 " feet, till fate fliall part us, or my condu6l become 

 fuch as to give you caufe to baniili me from your pre- 

 fence." 



This fhe uttered with a down-cafl look, and tears drop- 

 ping on her heaving bofom, while fhe held her compa- 

 nion by the hand. 



From that inftant this excellent creature was mine ; — 

 nor had I ever after caufe to repent of the flep I had 

 taken, as will more particularly appear in the courfe of 

 this narrative. 



I cannot 



