But, be it known to those whose hearts and ears I
have before invoked, that many children of these unfortunate parents
were fair and beautiful, which valuable charms singularly excited
the cupidity of the tyrant, who betook himself to selling them for
purposes most infamous. A child overhearing the conversation of
three English gentlemen who made an excursion to the settlement, and
being quick of ear, conveyed the purport of it to his mother, who,
in the night, summoned a council of her confidants to concoct the
means of gaining more intelligence. The boy heard the visitors, who
stood in the great mansion, which was of stone, say, "Did the
wretches know their rights they had not suffered such enormities of
slavery." It was resolved that three ask for long tasks, under the
pretext of gaining time to catch turtle on the coast; but having
gained the desired time, they set off for St. Augustine, which they
reached, after swimming rivers and delving almost impenetrable
morasses. They sought the attorney-general of the province, Mr.
Younge,--I speak his name with reverence-and with an earnest zeal
did he espouse the cause of this betrayed people. At that time,
Governor Grant-since strongly suspected of being concerned with
Turnbull in the slavery of the Greeks and Minorcans-had just been
superseded by Tonyn, who now had it in his power to rebuke a tyrant,
and render justice to a long-injured people. Again, on the return of
the envoys, who bore good tidings, did they meet in secret, and
choose one Pallicier, a Greek, their leader.
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