The celebrated Graman Quacy.
London, Published Decr. 2nd, 1793, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
In returning the visits of my friends, I paid one to Mr. Andrew Reynsdorp, who shewed me the loop and button of his hat, which being diamond, had cost him two hundred guineas—such is the luxury of Surinam. But even this is exceeded by the magnificence of M. d’Ahlbergh, who, when I waited on him, besides a gold snuff-box set [[349]]with brilliants, value six hundred pounds sterling, made me remark two silver bits (small pieces of money) set in gold, and surrounded with diamonds, with this inscription:
“Soli Deo Gloria. Fortuna beaticum, &c.”
Having signified my surprize at this peculiar attention and respect to two sixpences, he declared to me that they were all the money he had in the world when he first came to Surinam from his own country, Sweden.—“Did you work?” said I.—“No.”—“Did you beg?”—“No.”—“You did not steal, sir?”—“No: but, entre nous, I whined and acted the enthusiast, which sometimes is very necessary, and I found preferable to the other three.”—To which I answered, “Sir, your candid confession brings back to my remembrance your usage of your negro slave, Baron, after having promised him his manumission in Amsterdam, and fully proves what you have just asserted.”—One instance more of the extravagance and folly of the inhabitants of this colony, and I have done: Two of them disputing about a most elegant and expensive carriage that was imported from Holland, a law-suit ensued immediately, to determine who was to possess it, during which time the coach was left uncovered in the street till it fell to pieces, and was totally destroyed.
On the 10th of February, most of our officers being now arrived at Paramaribo from the camp, Colonel [[350]]Fourgeoud entertained the whole with a feast, as he was pleased to call it, at the head-quarters; an old stable lanthorn, with broken panes of glass, hanging over our heads, which I expected every moment to drop into the soup. And here he acquainted us, with evident marks of satisfaction, that he had at last put a final end to the expedition; having, notwithstanding there was so little blood-shed, perfectly accomplished his aim in rooting out the rebels, by destroying TWENTY-ONE TOWNS or VILLAGES, and demolishing TWO HUNDRED FIELDS with vegetables of every kind, on which they depended for subsistence: also, that the intelligence was now confirmed, that the negroes were to a man fled over the River Marawina, where they and their friends were settled, and protected by the French colony of Cayenne, who not only gave them shelter, but supplied them with every thing they wanted. On which good news we all heartily congratulated him, and drank further prosperity to the colony of Surinam with three cheers; the future safety of which now depended on the new cordon or path of circumvallation, defended by the troops of the Society, and the corps of black soldiers or rangers.
In Dr. Firmyn’s works, Colonel Fourgeoud and his troops are twice mentioned as the saviours of the colony; and by the Abbé Reynal they are noticed as a very brave and valiant corps: compliments to which they are with truth entitled. And what cannot but redound to his honour, is, that at the time he imposed such hardships [[351]]on his own troops, he never deliberately put a rebel negro captive to death, nor even, if he could avoid it, delivered them into the hands of justice; well knowing, that while it was his duty to expel them, nothing but the most barbarous usage and tyranny had driven these poor people to this last extremity. Indeed I myself, whom during the first three years he persecuted with unremitting severity, must do him the justice to say, that he was indefatigable in doing his duty; and that, though confused, I believe him at bottom to have been an undaunted and very BRAVE OFFICER.
He further acquainted us, that the vessels, with a fresh supply of provisions from Holland, had been cast on the lee-shore in the Texel Roads, one of them having her upper cabin stove away, with the second mate and three of her men washed overboard; he added, however, that part of the stores had been saved, and loaded on board two bilanders, which were this very day arrived in the River Surinam. And now, so much in particular was I become his favourite, that he even made me his confidant; and declared, that he proposed keeping the last arrived troops, however fast they were dying away (and who had lately lost a man by straying in the woods) encamped for many months after our departure. He then began to tell me what officers he meant, if possible, to ruin on their return, and which, by his recommendation, he intended to promote: but here I took the liberty to stop him short, by declaring, upon my honour, that those very gentlemen should be apprised by myself of their impending [[352]]danger, if he persisted in carrying this cruel plan in execution. This at least had the effect to end the disagreeable conversation: when, in my turn, I added, “Sir, permit me farther to put you in remembrance of these very troops you have just mentioned, in regard to their truly distressed situation at the Casseepore Creek; while their surgeon is gaining gold watches and diamond rings by curing fashionable diseases among the gentry at Paramaribo.” To which he replied, “Vous êtes un brave garçon;” and promised to take my hints into consideration.
I was now invited once more by Captain Mackneal to spend a few days on his coffee estate, Sporksgift; but though I was prevented on this occasion from accepting the invitation, I will take this opportunity to describe that useful berry, which, not being a native of Guiana, it is said was first planted in Surinam by the Count de Neale, though others ascribe it to one Hansbach, a silver-smith, in 1720[2].
