THE ATTAH’s “mouth/' 
287 
Johnson, the interpreter, was then desired to say, “that 
the party came hy order of the Captain of the ships, 
who, with three other gentlemen, were Commissioners to 
the Attah from the Queen of England, conveying her 
Majesty's desire to make a friend of the Attkh, as also of 
all good black men. That the Commissioners hoped the 
Att^h was in good health, and they would be very glad 
if he would come on board, and receive the Queen’s 
message from their lips. That the interpreter himself 
had been -once a slave, taken when a boy from this very 
place ; but, through the power of the Queen, he was 
made a free man ; and such her Majesty wished all men 
on earth to be.” 
A small present, sent by the Commissioners, was 
then shewn the Attah ; on which he asked through his 
^ mouth,’ or prime minister, “ if they had said all, and if 
they had done and being informed they had for the 
present ; the Att^h, through his ' mouth,’ replied ; 
“ I am glad, and I first thank God to see you 
near me. If your countrymen are glad to see me, they 
must believe what I say. The late King wished white 
men to come to his dominions, but he did not care to 
see them. I am now the Attah, or King, and white 
people have come to visit me, and it gives me great 
pleasure. If they intend to be true friends, they must 
not he in a hurry \ for I like my friends to eat and 
drink with me several days. If a stranger comes to me, 
I cannot let him depart without a fair and proper 
