450 TRAVELS IN 
formed of foliciting his pardon, and of ob- 
taining from the Government leave for him to 
return to the colony. He thanked me with 
emotion for the kindnefs of my intentions : 
but, though he had great confidence in the 
friendfliip with which Colonel Gordon ho- 
noured him, and ftili greater in the zeal I dif- 
played for his welfare, he had little hope of 
my fuccefs ; no inftance, he faid, of fuch 
pardon having ever been known. 
I encouraged him as much as I could, by af- 
furing him of the warmth with which I would 
folicit the favour. Indeed, that with which he 
infpired me at the moment was fo great, thaJ:> 
not doubting of fuccefs, I protefted he fliould 
foon hear from me, and requefted him to be 
in readinefs to fet off at the earlieft notice. 
He liilened to my confolatory promifes with 
tears. But the fear of iheir failure was predo- 
minant ; and his Imagination, fo long tortured 
with continual anxiety, depided to him a thou- 
fand chimeras, which he dared not combat him- 
felf, and which I had great difficulty to deftroy. 
To diffipate thefe gloomy Ideas, and revive 
his fplrlts, I turned his mind to another ob- 
jed. I fpoke to him of his little hermitage 
near the O^'ange, related my adventure with 
the 
