from the English; and though it was re-taken by an English squadron, it was ceded to the Dutch in 1669, by an order of king Charles.

The Dutch have always been infamously notorious for their cruelty to their slaves. The negroes who had taken refuge in the woods of Surinam from their inhuman masters, about 1726, began to increase in numbers and boldness, and were enabled to commit several outrages, as well from a spirit of revenge, as with a view to obtain subsistence and arms.

In 1780, a most shocking and barbarous execution of eleven of the unhappy negro captives was resolved upon, in the expectation that it might terrify their companions, and induce them to submit. One man was hanged alive upon a gibbet, by an iron hook stuck through his ribs; two others were chained to stakes, and burnt to death by a slow fire. Six women were broken alive upon the rack, and two girls were decapitated. Such was their resolution under these tortures, that they endured them without even uttering a sigh.

These cruelties failed in producing the intended effect, and were followed by an act of bad policy, whereby the colonists sued for peace from their slaves. Intervals of peace succeeded war in which thenegroes were generally successful, until 1772, when a body of new revolters, named the Cottica rebels, had nearly given the finishing blow to Surinam. These negroes were commanded by a desperate fellow named Baron, who erected a strong settlement between the river Cottica and the sea-coast, Here he was unsuccessfully besieged for several weeks, until the rangers (a Negro corps employed by the planters) by their indefatigable efforts, and, however strange to think, implacable enmity against the rebels, found out and discovered to the Europeans the under-water paths of communication to Boucon, several being shot and drowned in the execution of this important service.

The regulars, on this intelligence, now forded the swamp. on one side, and instantly making a feint attack on the fortress, drew Baron with all the rebels, as was expected, to its defence; while the rangers, having crossed the swamp on the

other side, embraced the opportunity of leaping over the palisadoes, sword in hand, without opposition.

A most terrible carnage at this time ensued, while several prisoners were made on both sides, and the fortress of Boucon was taken; but Baron, with the greatest number of the rebels, escaped into the woods, having first found means, however, to cut the throats of ten or twelve of the rangers, who had lost their way in the marsh, and whom he seized as they stuck fast in the swamp; and cutting off the ears, nose, and lips of one of them, he left him alive in this condition to return to his friends, with whom however the miserable man soon expired. Such was the state of affairs when captain Stedman landed in Guiana.

'As a contrast to the preceding scenes of horror,' says our author. I will present to the reader a description of the beautiful mulatto maid Joanna. This charming young woman I first saw at the house of a Mr. Demelly, secretary to the court of policy, where I daily breakfasted; and with whose lady Joanna, about 15 years of age, was a very remarkable favourite. Rather taller than the middle size, she was possessed of the most elegant shape that nature can exhibit, moving her well-formed limbs with more than common gracefulness. Her face was full of native modesty, and the most distinguished sweetness; her eyes, as black as ebony, were large and full of expression, bespeaking the goodness of her heart; with cheeks through which glowed, in spite of the darkness of her complexion, a beautiful tinge of vermillion, when gazed upon. Her nose was perfectly well formed, rather small; her lips a little prominent, which, when she spoke, discovered two regular rows of teeth, as white as mountain snow; her hair was a dark brown inclining to black, forming a beautiful globe of small ringlets, ornamented with flowers and gold spangles. Round her neck, her arms, and her ancles, she wore gold chains, rings, and medals: while a shawl of India muslin, the end of which was negligently thrown over her polished shoulders, gracefully covered part of her lovely bosom, a petticoat of rich chintz alone completed her apparel. Bare-headed

and bare-footed, she shone with double lustre, as she carried in her delicate hand a beaver hat, the crown trimmed round with silver. The figure and appearance of this charming creature could not but attract my particular attention, as they did indeed that of all who beheld her; and induced me to enquire from Mrs. Demelly, with much surprize, who she was, that appeared to be so much distinguished above all others of of her species in the colony.

"She is, sir," replied the lady, "the daughter of a respectable gentleman, named Kruythoff; who had, besides this girl, four children by a black woman, called Cery, the property of a Mr. D. B. on his estate called Fauconberg, in the upper part of the river Comewina.

"Some few years since Mr. Kruythoff made the offer of above 1,000l. sterling to Mr. D. B. to obtain manumission for his offspring; which being inhumanely refused, it had such an effect on his spirits, that he became frantic, and died in that melancholy state soon after; leaving in slavery, at the discretion of a tyrant, two boys and three fine girls, of whom Joanna is the eldest.*

"The gold medals, &c. which seem to surprize you, are the gifts which her faithful mother, who is a most deserving woman towards her children, and of some consequence amongst her cast, received from the father (whom she ever attended with exemplary affection) just before he expired.

“Mr. D. B. however, met with his just reward; for having since driven all his best carpenter negroes to the woods by his injustice and severity, he was ruined, and obliged to fly the colony, and leave his estate and stock to the disposal of his creditors; while one of the unhappy deserters, a samboe,† has by his industry been the protector of Cery and her children. His name is Jolycœur, and he is now the first of Baron's captains, whom you may have a chance of meeting in the rebel camp, breathing revenge against the Christians.

In Surinam all such children go with their mothers; that is, if she is in slavery, her offspring are her master's property, should their father be a prince, unless he obtains them by purchase.

+ A samboe is between a mulattoe and a negro.

"Mrs. D. B. is still in Surinam, being arrested for her husband's debts, till Fauconberg shall be sold by execution to pay them. This lady now lodges at my house, where the unfortunate Joanna attends her, whom she treats with peculiar tenderness and distinction."

Having thanked Mrs. Demelly for her account of Joanna, in whose eye glittered the precious pearl of sympathy, I took my leave, and went to my lodging in a state of sadness and stupefaction. However trifling, and like the style of romance, this relation may appear to some, it is nevertheless a genuine account, and on that score I flatter myself may not entirely be uninteresting to others.

"When reflecting on the state of slavery altogether, while my ears were stunned with the clang of the whip, and the dismal yells of the wretched negroes on whom it was exercised, from morning till night; and considering that this might one day be the fate of the unfortunate mulatto I have been describ ing, should she chance to fall into the hands of a tyrannical master, or mistress, I could not help execrating the barbarity of Mr. D. B. for having withheld her from a fond parent, who by bestowing on her a decent education and some accomplishments, would probably have produced, in this forsaken plant, now exposed to every rude blast without protection, an ornament to civilized society.

"I became melancholy with these reflections; and in order to counterbalance, though in a very small degree, the general calamity of the miserable slaves who surrounded me, I began to take more delight in the prattling of my poor negro boy Quacoo, than in all the fashionable conversation of the polite inhabitants of this colony: but my spirits were depressed, and in the space of 24 hours I was very ill indeed; when a cordial, a few preserved tamarinds, and a basket of fine oranges, were sent by an unknown person. This first contributed to my relief, and losing about 12 ounces of blood, I recovered so far, that on the 5th of March I was able, for change of air, to accompany a captain Macneyl, who gave me a pressing in. vitation to his beautiful coffee plantation, called Sporkesgift, in the Matapaca creek.