1 



EXPEDITION TO S 



U R I N A M. 



75 



ftrawberries, plums, apricots, and peaches, nor even CHAP, 

 common apples or pears. 



From the above obfervations, I take the liberty to fay, 

 that allowing Mad. Merian due praife for her beautiful 

 and valuable performance upon the whole, fhe has flill 

 fallen into very notable miftakes. To corredl them is a 

 duty incumbent on future obfervers ; nor does it by any 

 means imply a general cenfure on the elegant work in quef- 

 tion, nor can it appear extraordinary that it (hould contain 

 fome errors, when we confider that it is above an hundred 

 years ago fince flie prefented her difcoveries to the world. 

 In the courfe of fo many years therefore mankind, by 

 long experience and continued inve (ligation, have become 

 more enlightened, and are more accurately informed. 



Being now once more at Paramaribo, it may not be im- 

 proper to divert our attention for a while from the ani- 

 mal and vegetable productions to the government of this 

 fine colony; a topic which, I am perfuaded, fome of my 

 readers have long fince expe(5ted ; but not having had a 

 previous opportunity of gratifying their curiofity, I will 

 no longer delay the necelTary information, though to 

 fome the detail may appear dry and unentertaining. 



I have already mentioned the nature of the charter, 

 and ftated, that at prefent two-thirdi 'df Surinam belong 

 to the town of Amfterdam, and one-third to the Weft 

 India Company : alfo, that the judicial power is exercifed 

 by feveral different courts of judicature. — I fhall no\r 

 proceed to defcribe them in their proper order, as deli- 

 V L 2 vered 



