TIMES OF SICKNESS, c&c. 
123 
us, came running from tlie crowd towards us, and we 
went forward to join in the general welcome and shake 
hands with the new arrival. The rooms allotted to Mr. 
Forson not being comfortable, he and Joseph took up 
their quarters with us, and though he was not hasty in 
revealing his plans, he seemed full of hope that he should 
soon be able to take us with him to the Coast, but we had 
been so often deceived and disappointed that we were afraid 
to indulge in such pleasant anticipations. The prince 
wrote to us frequently, but very cautiously, yet we 
believed it was through him that Mr. Forson had come to 
try and negotiate our deliverance. He appeared to be 
making liis way ; the king had given him one of the 
returned Ashantee prisoners as servant, to aid him in his 
communications with the Coast, and all the released cap- 
tives appeared devoted to him. 
The ambassador was anxious to announce his arrival 
to his friends at the Coast, and asked us to join him in 
sending a messenger. To this the king objected ; not as 
he said on his own account, but his large family (the 
chiefs) did not understand such things; it would there- 
fore be better for us to defer writing. 
At the Adae, April 23d, Mr. Forson received the same 
sum as ourselves (nine dollars), and showed his thorough 
acquaintance with the customs of the country by distri- 
buting numerous presents to all the members of the king's 
household. The next day he entered very fully into his. 
arrangements and plans regarding us, reading Mr. Ussher's 
letter to us. It began by thanking the king for every 
kindness shown us, but at the same time explained that 
we had nothing whatever to do with the war, and that we 
were neither British subjects or natives of the Protectorate. 
Our own governments, particularly the Prussian and 
Swiss, had interceded for our liberty, and he, Mr. Ussher,. 
was commanded to use every means in his power to effect 
