MR. FLANGE'S SECOND EMBASSY. 
173 
which had been so often expressed before that his majesty 
would set his innocent white prisoners free. The Dutch 
governor Ferguson also sent, with the news of the 
termination of the confederacy, presents to the king, con- 
sisting of the costly mirror before alluded to, and a 
general's helmet and sword. 
He described Akjampong as having behaved in so 
violent a manner that had an Ashantee king been thus 
treated by a guest, he would certainly have had him be- 
headed, but out of regard to the old friendship of the two 
governments he had only had him conveyed to Asim, from 
whence he would find his own way back to Coomassie, 
and he begged the king to forgive him as the governor 
had done. 
The sympathy of de Haes, the Dutch commander of 
the frigate Wassenar lying before Elmina, touched us 
deeply; he interceded for us in a special letter, sent 
presents to the king, and begged in his own name for our 
release. The ofticial answer to the king's letter was en- 
trusted by Mr. Hennesy to the Ashantee messengers, 
Kotiko and Afirifa. He agreed to a ransom of £1000, but 
not a farthing more, and if the king permitted us to leave, 
the money was to be paid at the Prah. Mr, Plange 
hoped the king would be so satisfied with his yearly 
present being doubled, that he would not desire any 
additional ransom. But our hope was not bright, we had 
ceased to look for anything from men. Our trust was in 
the Lord, in the crisis which we felt was now at hand. 
(See Appendix Y.) 
One day we were suddenly summoned to the palace 
with Mrs. Plange, that the king might show us his wives, 
and little Rosie was especially invited. After long 
waiting we were led into the inner court, where sat the 
monarch surrounded by little boys ; opposite to him, and 
the central figure in a group of thirty others, was the first 
