SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 65 



The public offices in Stabroek are numerous; but, as build- 

 ings, they present nothing very striking in architectural gran- 

 deur or beauty; a sameness of wooden houses pervades the 

 whole town. The best is the governor's office, where there 

 are two clerks and a private secretary employed. As is 

 customary, the captain and myself waited on his excellency, 

 accompanied by the gentleman to whom I was addressed, and 

 presented him with a copy of the manifest, after signing 

 which, he issued a permission, which was to be given in at the 

 custom-house, authorizing the captain to break bulk. On 

 my being introduced to him, he received me very politely, 

 asked me jocosely if I was a descendant of the famous Lord 

 Bolingbroke, and expressed himself highly pleased with that 

 nobleman's literary works, saying that he had them in his 

 library. - 



All official documents and colonial papers pass through 

 the governor's office, and for every time he signs his name, 

 his private secretary receives two dollars, for which he no 

 doubt accounts to the principal. Evidences given before the 

 courts of justice are in the form of affidavits, which must be 

 made before his excellency. Passports for people leaving the 

 country, permissions for ships to load or discharge, powers 

 of attorney, and various other papers of a similar tendency, 

 must undergo his signature : thus, beside suffering a previous 

 tax from the office, out of which they are first granted, they 



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