194< STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



board several merchant ships in the river, and sailed to its en- 

 trance, there to wait for assistance from abroad. This retreat 

 left the rebels in undisturbed possession of the whole colony, 

 and threw the inhabitants of the neighbouring colonies, par- 

 ticularly of Demerary and Essequebo, into the utmost conster- 

 nation, as they were the most contiguous to Berbice, and ap- 

 prehended a visit from the rebels, which must have been at- 

 tended with the most unhappy consequences, as their own 

 slaves were at least five times more numerous than the white 

 inhabitants, and betrayed so eager a disposition for revolting, 

 that it was feared they would not have patience to wait for as- 

 sistance from their brethren in Berbice, i 



In this critical situation, however, they experienced the ad- 

 vantage of their connection with the subjects of Great Britain, 

 as at this time a ship of war, belonging to Gedney Clarke, 

 Esq. collector of his majesty's customs at Barbadoes, which 

 had been put into commission by Admiral Douglas, and was 

 commanded by a lieutenant of the British navy, arrived with 

 a company of marines, and another of soldiers, raised at the 

 expence of Mr. Clarke, who was proprietor of several planta- 

 tions in Demerary, as were several other gentlemen of Bar- 

 badoes. . This armament effectually frustrated the rebellious 

 designs of the slaves in Demerary, and the civil dissentions 

 among the rebels of Berbice diverted them from their intended 

 visit. In the interim, however, the governor of Berbice re- 



