364 



NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, ings, and remarks on the colony of Surinam, which I 

 had the fatisfadtion to fee him honour with the higheft 

 approbation. I then returned him my thanks, not only 

 for the material affiftance he had afforded me in com- 

 pleting this work, but for the unlimited marks of regard 

 and diftindtion with which he had treated me from firft 

 to laft, during the whole time I refided in Guiana. 



Availing myfelf of his friendfhip, I ventured, two days 

 after, to give him the following very uncommon reque/l, 

 praying him to lay it before the court ; which, with a 

 ^ fmile on his countenance, and a hearty (hake by the handj 

 he actually promifed me to perform ; viz, 



i *' I, the undcr-fubfcribed, do pledge my word of honoury 



*' (being all I poffefs in the world befides my pay) as hail, 

 " that if my late ardent requeft to the court for the emanci- . 

 " pation of my dear boy Johnny Stedman be granted, the 

 " faid boy fliall never to the end of his life become a charge 

 " to the colony of Surinam. 



(Signed) " John G. Stedman." 



" Paramaribo, 

 Feb, iSthy 1777. 



Having now done the utmoft that lay in my power, t 

 for feveral days waited the refult with anxiety, but with- 

 out meeting with the fmalleft hopes of fuccefs; thus, 

 with a broken heart, I was obliged at laft to give him 

 (fweet fellow) over for loft, or take him with me to 

 Europe, which muft have been plunging a dagger in the 

 bofom of his mother.. 



While 



