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Back to two voyages to Sierra Leone, part 4 LETTER VI. My dear Madam, The Directors have acted so honorable and handsome it was not possible for me to hold out in refusing to return to Sierra Leone, besides increasing Falconbridge's salary near three times what it was, they have voted us a sum of money as an equivalent for the extraordinary services they consider he has rendered them, and as a compensation for our private losses of cloaths, &c. But surely mortal never was more harrassed than I have been by their importunities. They used every flattering and enticing argument, the ingenious brain of man is capable of, to no purpose;
— however, though all their rhetoric could not persuade me to revisit generous actions have effected it. Mr. Thornton is a good creature, one of the worthiest men I ever met, he has assured me, should any accident happen Falconbridge, I shall be well provided for by the Company; He has a1so as well as many others of the Directors, made me a profusion of friendly promises and professions so extravagant that if they came from any other set of men I should look upon them, either as chicanery, or without meaning. The Court has granted 50l. to be laid out in presents for King Naimbana and his old Queen, and have particularly desired, I shall purchase those for the latter, and present them as from myself, by way of enhancing my consequence. They have likewise grafted another sum for me to lay out in such private stores as I may chuse to take with me for our use after we get to Afrca; besides ordering a very handsome supply for the voyage. A few
days ago, I only hinted an inclination to visit my friends at Mr. Thornton said I mould have a Chaise when I liked, and the ex pence should be defrayed by the Company. Do you not think these are pretty marks of attention? We
have thoughts of setting out for of that undesciptionable pleasure, which lively affectionate minds involuntarily feel upon meeting the bosom friends and sportive companions of their youthful days, grown to maturity with hearts and countenances neither altered by absence, or rusted by corroding time. But I lament to say this happiness will be of short duration, being obliged quickly to proceed to Adieu, LETTER VII. Free 10th April, 1792 My dear Madam, HERE I am, once more exposed to the influence of a Torrid Sun, near three thousand miles apart from my dearest friends, experiencing, not only, the inevitable hardships of Colonization, but wallowing in a multiplicity of trouble and confusion, very unnecessarily attached to the instant Colony. We
sailed from we
found the Harpy, Wilson, a Company ship, that left prolonged, in consequence of being obliged to Hop at Teneriff for a few pipes of Wine. Immediately, on entering the river we were visited by Captain Wilson, and after the customary civilities, he told us, several Colonial Officers, a few soldiers, and some independant Settlers came passengers with him, who were greatly rejoiced at seeing the Amy; for being all strangers, they were at a loss, what to do, and wholly relied on Falconbridge to make good their landing. In the course of conversation many sentences escaped Captain Wilson, importing a very unfavourable account of his passengers, but imagining they proceeded from some misunderstanding between them and him, neither Falconbridge nor myself allowed what he said, to bias or prejudice us in any shape. Captain Wilson having directed the most eligible spot for us to bring up, waited until our anchor was gone, and them returned to his ship: Falconbridge accompanied him to make his obeisance to the Ladies and Gentlemen on board. In a short time he was confirmed, our surmise, with regard to disagreements subsisting between the parties, was well grounded, for they were constantly snarling at each other; but it required very little penetration to arrive at the true source of their animosities, and before I proceed further I must acquaint you, the Directors have appointed eight persons to represent them, and conduct the management of their Colony, under the dignified appellation of Superintendent and Council. It is a pity when making those appointments, they had not probed for characters of worth and respectability, as success in any enterprise greatly hinges on skilful, prudent conduct; qualities more especially requisite in an undertaking like this, laboring under a load of enemies, who will, no doubt, take advantage to blow the smallest spark of mal-conduct into a flame of error. Perhaps the Directors imagine they were particularly circumspect in their choice of representatives, if so, they are grossly deceived, for never were characters worse adapted to manage any purpose of magnitude than some whom they have nominated. Are men of little worth and much insignificance fit to be guardians and stewards of the immense property required, for erecting the fabric of a new Colony? Are Men, whose heads are too shallow to support a little vicissitude and unexpected imaginary aggrandizement, whose weak minds delude them with wrong notions of their nominal rank, and whose whole time M occupied with contemplating their fancied consequence, in place of attending to the real and interesting designs of their mission, calculated for the executors of a theory, which can only be put in practice by wise and judicious methods? Certainly not; yet of this description are the greater part who guide and direct our Colony; a majority of whom came passengers in the Harpy, and who, intoxicated with false ideas of their authority, wished to assume the prerogative of controling Captain Wilson in managing and governing his ship; but the latter treated their arrogance with contempt, and consequently grew the dissentions alluded to, which have since been the cause of many disagreeable unpleasant occurrences. Falconbridge soon returned with Captain and Mrs. Wilson, whom we had invited to dine with us; four Honorable Members of the Council, dressed cap a pie in a uniform given them by the Directors to distinguish their rank, came with them; to make their bows to your humble servant, as the wife of their superior, Falconbridge being the eldest member of the supreme body. A message was then sent to King Jemmy (opposite to whose town the Amy lay) to announce our arrival to him and King Naimbana (who was there at the time,) requesting they would come on board.. Naimbana, accompanied by Mr. Elliotte and a number of attendants, soon complied with our request, but Jemmy would not be prevailed upon. The old King was overjoyed at seeing me; being seated, Falconbridge shewed him the portrait of his son,* a present from the Directors. The picture is an admirable likeness, and the poor Father burst into tears when he saw it. He stayed with us five days; and, notwithstanding every courteous art was used to persuade King Jemmy to honor us with a visit, we could not effect it. He once consented on condition I remained in his town a hostage till he returned; this I agreed to, and went on shore for the intention; but his people dissuaded him just as he was going off. * The first of his family transferd on canvas, You may remember I mentioned in a former letter, the ground where the first Settlers were driven from by King Jemmy, being the most desirable situation here-abouts for a settlement, but by the Palaver it was objected to; however, with coaxing, and the irresistibility of presents, King Naimbana was prevailed upon to remove whatever objections there were, and on. the 28th of February put us in quiet possession
of the very spot; which is named establishment.* *It
is situated on a rising ground fronting the sea; six miles above from through: before the town, is pretty good anchorage for shipping, but the landing places are generally bad in consequence of the shore being bound with iron rocks, and an ugly surge most commonly breaking on them. The second day after our arrival there was a grand Council held on board, the Amy, when their Secretary delivered Mr. Falconbridge new instructions from the Directors, directly counter to those he received
in and Council, and acquainting him, Lieutenant Clarkson was appointed Superintendant. This
has disconcerted Falconbridge vastly, and inclines him to construe their
conduct to us in as juggle and chichane, for the mere purpose of enticing him here, knowing he was the fittest, nay only person, to secure a footing for the Nova Scotia Emigrants; but I cannot think so harshly. After
been here a fortnight, Mr. Clarkson arrived with the Blacks from some days before him. When
he left Nova a malignant fever infested the Ships, and carried off great numbers. Mr. Clarkson caught the fever and miraculously escaped death, which would have been an irreparable loss to the Colony, being the only man calculated to govern the people who came with him, for by his winning manners, and mild benign treatment, he has so gained her affections and attachment, that he can, by lifting up his finger (as he expresses it) do what he pleases with them. They are in general, a religious temperate, good set of people; at present they are employed in building huts for their temporary residence, till the lands promised them can be surveyed, when that will be God only knows; the surveyor being a. Counsellor and Captain of our veteran host, is of too much consequence to attend to the servile duty of surveying, notwithstanding he is paid for it. Few of the Settlers have yet got huts erected, they are mostly encamped under tents, made with sails from the different ships, and are very badly off for fresh provisions; indeed such is the case with us all, and what’s worse, we have but half allowance of very indifferent salt provision, and bad worm eaten bread.* *The
James, of about this time; from her a quantity of beans and other provisions were purchased which was a fortunate circumstance for the Colony, then in a starving state. Painfully do I say, nothing promises well.—Mr Clarkson, as Superintendant, is so tied up, that he cannot do any thing without the approbation of his Council, and those opinionated upstarts thwart him in all his attempts. He is an amiable man, void of pomp or ostentation, which his senatorial associates disapprove of exceedingly, from the ridiculous idea that their dignity is lessened by his frankness. How truly contemptible it is to see men stickle in this way after foolish unbecoming consequence blind to the interest of their employers, whereby, they must, without question, rise or fall. Their absurd behaviour+ make them the laughing stocks of the neighbouring Factories and such masters of slave ships as have witnessed their conduct, who must certainly be highly gratified with the anarchy and chagrin that prevails through the Colony. +Few days escaped without a quarrel, which sometimes came the length of blows: Members of Council were daily ordering goods from the ships, not wanted, and inevitably to be destroyed, merely for the purpose of shewing their authority. The Blacks are displeased that they have not their promised lands; and so little do they relish the obnoxious arrogance of their rulers, that I really believe, was it not for the influence of Mr. Clarkson, they would be apt to drive some of them into the sea. The independant European Settlers are vastly disappointed, and heartily wish themselves back in their own country. This is not to be wondered at, when in addition to the calamity of being in a new Colony, over-run with confusion, jealousy, and discordant sentiments, they are exposed to the oppression of wanting almost every necessary of life, having no shops; where they might purchase, or any other medium of procuring them. I have only one piece of pleasing intelligence to give you: –– The Colony just flow is .tolerable healthy; a very few deaths have occurred among the blacks since their arrival, and but two among the Whites, the latter were Doctor B–– , (our physician,) and the Harpy's gunner. The gunner's death was occasioned by that of the former, who brought on his dissolution by inebriety and imprudence; being a member of the Magisterial body, he was buried with all the pomp and ceremony circumstances would admit of. While the corpse moved on in solemn pace, attended by Members of Council, and others in procession, minute guns were fired from the Harpy; in executing this, the gunner lost his arm, of which he died very shortly. I yet live on ship board, for though the Directors had the goodness to send out a canvas house purposely for me, I have not the satisfaction of occupying it, our men of might having thought proper to appropriate it another way. Mr.
Gilbert, our clergyman, returns to Clarkson has purchased for the painful, but indispensable intention of sending the Directors information of our distracted, deplorable situation; at the same time exhorting them in their wisdom to make some immediate, efficacious change in our government, without which their Colony will, irrecoverably be stifled in its infancy. Mr. Gilbert is a man of mild agreeable manners, truly religious, without the hypocritical shew of it; he is universally liked in the Colony, and I am sure his absence will be greatly regreted; but Mr. Clarkson's indisposition, rendering him unable to write so fully as he wishes, or necessity demands, has prevailed on
him (Mr. Gilbert) to return to he may neglect to do in writing. A
party of us will accompany him to the hopes of procuring fresh stock, and other necessary sea stores, which are not to be had here for love or money. I do not think it will be in my power to write you from the Banana's; shall, therefore, close this letter with sincere hopes my next may give you a more favourable account of things. Farewel, &c, &c. LETTER VIII. Free Town, July1, 1792. My dear Friend, W E accompanied Mr. Gilbert to the Island Banana's, where he. succeeded in getting some fresh stock, and after staying there two days, departed for your quarter of the globe, and I hope is safe arrived in The Banana's derives its name from the fruit, so called, which grows there spontaneously, and in great abundance, as do most tropical fruits It is
a small sociable, and obliging people. 'They have a town much larger and more regularly built than any other native town I have yet seen; the inhabitants are mostly vassals to one Mr. Cleavland, a Black man, who claims the sovereignty of the Island from hereditary right. The houses are chiefly constructed in a circular form, but of the same kind of stuff with those I formerly noticed. In the center of the town is a Palaver, or Court House; here we observed a bed neatly made up, a wash hand bason, clean napkin, and every apparatus of a bed chamber. This had a very curious appearance; but we were told, the late Mr. Cleveland used to indulge himself with the luxury of sleeping in this airy place, and the inhabitants superstitiously thinking (though he has been dead more than a year,) he yet invisibly continues the practice, they would not, upon any account, forego the daily ceremony of making up his bed, placing fresh water, &c. as was the custom in his life time. The idolatry shewn the memory of this man, I make no doubt is greatly encouraged by his son, as it secures consequence and popularity to him. He was from home, I therefore did not see him, but understand he is clever, and (being educated in We sailed from the Banana's in company with Mr Gilbert, consequently my time was so short, that I am not able to give you but a very superficial account of that island; but shall refer you to Lieutenant Mathews's
Voyage to board an American ship, commanded by an Irishman, who has since then been here entertaining himself at the expence of our Senators. He invited them all to dine with him, which being accepted (by every one but Mr. Clarkson and Falconbridgc,) they were treated with true Hibernian hospitality, and made beastly drunk. Our illegitimate son of Mars was of the number, who the master of the ship cull'd out for his butt; he not only played upon him during dinner, but afterwards finding him lull'd into the arms of Morpheus, in consequence of too much wine, had the ship's cook, a slave, dressed in the noble Captain's dashing coat, hat, sword, &c. and stationed immediately before him with a mopstick on his shoulder, when the master, himself, fired two pistols, very heavily charged, within an inch of his ear, and having thus roused him from his lethargy, the sable cook was desired to shew with what expertness he could perform the Manual Exercise, which he went through, our Hero giving the word of command, to the ridicule of himself, and great amusement of his colleagues and the ship's crew. Since this, I have taught a large overgrown female Monkey of mine to go thro' several manoeuvres of the same, and have made her exhibit when the Captain came to see me, who not seeing the diversion I was making of him, would sometimes take the pains of instructing her himself; but, poor fellow! he has been
sadly galled lately, by the arrival of a gentleman from military capacity. When I last wrote to you, I was in hopes my next would atone by a more favourable and pleasing account, for the hapless description I then gave of our new Colony, but alass! alass! in place of growing better, we seem daily advancing towards destruction, which certainly awaits us at no great distance, unless some speedy change takes place. There is about twelve hundred souls, including all ranks of people, in the Colony, seven hundred, or upwards, of whom, are at this moment suffering under the affliction of burning fevers, I suppose two hundred scarce able to crawl about, and am certain not more, if so many, able to nurse the sick or attend to domestic and Colonial concerns; five, six, and seven are dying daily,* and buried with as little ceremony as so many dogs or cats. *About three-fourths of all the Europeans who went out in 1791, died in the course of the first nine or ten months. It is quite customary of a morning to ask "how many died last night?" Death is viewed with the same indifference as if people were only taking a short journey, to return in a few days; those who are well, hourly expect to be laid up, and the sick look momentarily for the surly Tyrant to finish their afflictions, nay seem not to care for life! After reading this, methinks 1 hear you invectively exclaim against the country, and charging those ravages to its unhealthiness; but suspend your judgment for a moment, and give me time to paint the true state of things, when I am of opinion you will think otherwise, or at least allow the climate has not a fair tryal. This is the depth of the rainy season, our inhabitants were not covered in before it commenced, and the huts they have been able to make, are neither wind or water tight; few of them have bedsteads, but are obliged to lie on the wet ground; without medical assistance, wanting almost every comfort of life, and exposed to nauceous putrid stenches, produced by stinking provision, scattered about the town. Would you, under such circumstances, expect to keep your health, or even live a month in the healthiest part of the world? I fancy not; then pray do not attribute our mortality altogether, to baseness of climate; I cannot imagine what kind of stuff I am made of, for though daily in the midst of so much sickness and so many deaths I feel myself much better than when in I am surprised our boasted Philanthropists, the Directors of the Company should have subjected themselves to the censure they must meet, for sporting with the lives of such numbers of their fellow creatures, I mean by sending so many here at once, before houses, materials for building, or other conveniences were prepared to receive them, and for not hurrying a supply after they had been guilty of this oversight. But I really believe their error has proceeded from want of information, and listening with too much credulity to a pack of designing, puritanical parasites, whom they employ to transact business; I cannot help thinking so, nay, am convinced of it, from the cargoes they have sent out, composed of goods, no better adapted for an infant Colony than a cargo of slaves
would be for the Two
vessels arrived from and the Trusty of Bristol, a large ship they chartered from that port; several passengers came in each of them, in the former w ere a Member of Council, a worthy discreet man; a Botanist, who, I cannot say any
thing of, having seen but little of him; a sugar planter, who is since gone
to the disgust, and the Gentleman who has superseded our gallant Captain, and who, I understand is also a cotton planter, but it is not likely he will have much to do in either of those departments for some time; his fellow soldiers being mostly dead, and agriculture not thought on. In the latter came the Store-keeper, with his wife, mother-in law, and a large family of children; a mineralist, and several clerks and tradesmen, in all twenty-three.* * Six
returned to remainder died in the course of three or four mouths. Those vessels brought so little provisions, (with which they should have been wholly loaded) that we have not a sufficiency in the Colony to serve us three weeks. The goods brought out in the Trusty and quantities by other ships, amounting to several thousand pounds value, at this moment line the shore, exposed to the destructive weather and mercy of our neighbours, who cannot, I am sure, withstand such temptation. Those remaining on ship board, I have heard Falconbridge say, are perishing by heat of the hold, and damage received at sea. Notwithstanding the Company's property is thus suffering, and our people
dying from absolute want of nourishment, Mr. Falconbridge has been refused
the Packet to go in quest of cattle, and otherwise prosecute the duties of his office as Commercial Agent. She
is the only vessel fit for the business ; but it is thought necessary to send
her to things were ordered judiciously, she might have made one serviceable trip in the mean while, and answered three desirable, purposes by it: relieve the Colony, bartered away goods that are spoiling, and please the Directors by an early remittance of African productions; in place of this she has only been used as a Pleasure Boat, to give a week’s airing at sea, to Gentlemen in perfect health. Mr. Falconbridge has had no other opportunity but this to do any thing in the commercial way; the Directors no doubt, will be displeased, but they should not blame him; he is placed altogether under the control of the Superintendant and Council, who throw cold water on every proposal of the kind he makes. His time is at present employed in attending the sick, particularly those of scrophulous habits, while our military gentleman, who has acquired by experience some medical knowledge,, attends those afflicted with fevers, &c. This is the only physical help at present in the Colony, for though we have two surgeons they are both so ill, as to disable them from helping either themselves, or others; one of them returns to I am, &c. LETTER IX. My dear Friend, You must not promise yourself. either instruction or entertainment from this letter, for my strength of body and mind are so debilitated by a severe fit of illness, that with much ado I could summon resolution enough to take up my pen, or prevail on myself to write you a syllable by this opportunity, but having made a beginning (which is equal to half the task,7 I shall now endeavour to spin out what I can. I was confined three weeks with a violent fever, stoneblind four days, and expecting every moment to be my last; indeed I most miraculously escaped the jaws of death: fortunately, just as I was taken sick, a Physician arrived, to whose attention and skill I consider myself principally indebted for my recovery; I am yet a poor object, and being under the necessity of having my head shaved, tends to increase my ghastly figure. You will readily guess it was very humbling and provoking for me to loose my fine head of hair, which I always took so much pride in, but I cannot help it, and thank God my life is preserved. A few weeks since arrived the Calypso, from Bulam, with a number of disappointed adventurers who went
to that the rainy season, who meant afterwards to return to Bulam: but they entertained wrong notions of our Colony, when they supposed we had it in our power to accommodate them, for most of our own gentlemen are obliged to sleep on ship board, for want of houses or lodgings on shore. The adventurers seem vexed at being thus defeated in their expectations, and intend to return to Perhaps you have not heard of the Bulam expedition before, and I can give you but a very imperfect account of it, however, I will laconically tell you what I know. A Mr. Dalrymple was engaged by the Directors of the Sierra Leone Company to come out as Governor of this Colony; but they disagreed from some trifling circumstance, and Mr. Dalrymple feeling himself offended, set on foot towards the latter end of last year, a subscription for forming a settlement on the Island I am speaking of, in opposition to the Sierra Leone Company; A number of speculators soon associated, subscribed to Mr. Dalrymple's plan, and I fancy, prematurely set about the completion of its objects, before they had well digested the theory, or accumulated a sufficient fund to ensure success; be that as it may, they purchased a small sloop, chartered the Calypso and another ship, engaged numbers of needy persons, who with many of the subscribers, personally embarked in the enterprize, and placing
themselves under the direction of Mr. Dalrymple,
and a few others, sailed from April last, and arrived at Bulam in June. I understand they were all novices in the arts and modes requisite for attaining their wished for possession, which was unfortunate, for their ignorance led them into an error, that proved fatal to several. Although
the Islands, who by some means or other, learned the errand of the adventurers, and to prevent them from getting
a footing without consent of the proprietors, secretly landed a party of men
on the they, for several days watched the motions of Mr. Dalrymple's people; between thirty and forty of whom having disembarked and landed, (without any previous ceremony, according to the custom of the country,) the natives took the1 first opportunity to catch them off their guard, sell upon them, killed five men and one woman, wounded two men, carried off three or four woman and children, and obliged the remainder to return to their ship. After
this Mr. Dalrymple went to the neighbouring
where he, through the medium of a merchant of that country, became acquainted with the measures he should have adopted at first, and; having courted the friendship of the native chiefs, and made them sensible of his peaceable and honorable intentions, they restored the women and children uninjured and gave him possession of the Mr. Dalrymple had accomplished this but a short time when he fell sick, and many of the emigrants foreseeing frightful hardships which they were unwilling to encounter during the present rains, he and they resolved to return to The upon it. Since their arrival here many of them have died, and the ship is just now very sickly. ––So much for Bulam. Now I must say something of ourselves, which I have the heartfelt satisfaction of telling you before hand will be more cheerful and satisfactory than any thing I have heretofore said. By the last ship, Mr. Clarkson received instructions from the Directors, vesting him with more ample powers than he held before: this was much to be wished for, and its beneficial effects are already visible. Directly after getting this enlargement of authority, Mr. Clarkson invited all the gentlemen and ladies in the Colony to dine at a mess-house, built for the gentlemen who came out in the Siena Leone Packet; every one who was well enough, gladly attended to celebrate a meeting which was intended to give birth to pleasantness, unanimity, and perpetual harmony; and to deface every thing to the contrary, that previously existed in the Colony: The day I am told (for being sick at the time, I could not be there) was spent, as it should be, with every demonstration of satisfaction, by all parties, and the house was named Harmony Hall, by which name it is now, and I suppose ever will be known, while a stick of it stands; This house, and the one I have, are all the buildings yet finished, (I mean for the Whites), but several others are about. The Colony is growing healthier every day; most of the Blacks are able to turn out to work. The men are employed in the Company's service, and receive two shillings per day wages, out of which they pay four shil1ings per week for their provisions. The women are occupied in attending their little gardens, and rearing poultry. The natives daily grow more intimate with us, and are constantly bringing in fruits of different kinds, but seldom any live stock, unless now and then a few fowls, or perhaps a goat, which they barter away for cloath, soap, or spirits. Every moon-light night we hear the drums of King Jemmy's town, which is scarcely half a mile from hence. This music of our neighbours, for a long time after we arrived, used frequently to alarm the Colony; but by custom it has became familiar. For several months King Jemmy could not be persuaded to
come into his visits so often, as to be very troublesome. Whenever he comes, a boy attends him with a pair of horseman's pistols, loaded, and I will not be surprised if he does mischief with them some day or other for he never returns home until he has drank a sufficient quantity of rum or brandy, to kindle his savage nature for any manner of wickedness; The last ship brought out a large house of one hundred feet in length, which is to be erected in the vicinity of the town as an hospital; but the people being mostly on the recovery, I think it would be more advisable to erect it as a store-house, and thereby not only save the Company's valuable property, which is just now perishing for want of shelter; but would serve as a repository for vending many goods that are wasting on board of ships, which would greatly contribute to our comfort, and which we are deprived of from not having a proper place where they might be exposed to sale; and again, I do not think our Blacks will submit to be sent to an hospital, therefore, the intention will be frustrated, however, the house is so constructed, that it can be put up or taken down in a few hours, consequently may, at any time hereafter, be removed; and we understand several houses of the same kind are expected in two large ships, which are hourly looked for. Since the rains, we have been sadly infested by a variety of insects, but more particularly cockroaches and ants; the latter come from their nests in such formidable force, as to strike terror wherever they go. You
will think it strange, that such an insignificant insect as the ant is in another country, to storm the habitations of people, and drive out the inhabitants; but I pledge my veracity to you, I have known them in one night, force twelve or fourteen families from their houses, who were obliged to make use of fire and boiling water to destroy them, which are the only weapons we can attack them with, that will effectually check their progress. Musquetos are not so troublesome here as I have felt ;hem elsewhere; but we have a perpetual croaking of frogs and buzzings of various vermin, very discordant and unpleasant to the ear of a person in perfect health, yet much more so to those who are sick. There has been several large serpents killed in the Colony, but none of the overgrown size; Lieutenant Mathews and other authors mention, the largest I have heard of, measured, nine feet in length.— We have been twice visited by some ferocious wild beast, supposed to be a Tyger; the last time it was attacked by two mastiffs of ours, who were beat off and materially injured. One of my poor domestics, a
very heavy he came off with little damage.. There are many good hunters among our Settlers, through whom we sometimes get wild deer or pork; the latter is a coarse unpleasant food; I lately had a haunch, the hide of which was full an inch and an half thick; the former is meagre, dry meat, very unlike your English venison, but such as it is, we are glad when it comes in our way. Some little time ago an accident happened, one of the most expert hunters we have, which has considerably lessened our supply of game; he was laying in ambush near where he new a deer frequented; another person, in pursuit of the same, passing hard by, and hearing the rustling of leaves, immediately fired into the thicket from whence the noise proceeded, and lodged the greater contents of his gun in the head and right shoulder of his unfortunate rival, but, not killing him, he brought him home, two miles through the wood, on his shoulder. Falconbridge extracted several of the shot, and thinks he may recover. Our Botanist and Mineralist have, as yet, made little proficiency in those branches of natural philosophy; the confusion of the Colony has retarded them as well as others; they are both Swedes, and considered, very eminent in their professions. The Mineralist is about to make an excursion into the interior country, and is very sanguine in his expectations. He has but slightly explored the country hereabouts, and been as slightly rewarded;, the only fruits of his researches are a few pieces of iron oar, richly impregnated with magnetism, with which the mountains abound. The Botanist, is preparing a garden for experiments, and promises himself much amusement and satisfaction, when he can strictly attend to his business. His garden is now very forward, but it is attended with considerable expence; however, a mere nothing, when put into the great scale of Colonial charges, which, including shipping, Officers' salaries, wages of labourers, and provisions, does not amount to less than the enormous sum of one hundred and fifty pounds per day, without naming incidental charges, such as presents to natives, daily waste and destruction of property, &c. Those aggregated from the birth of the Company, to the present time, may at least be computed at 25,0001. This is not a supposition of my own, for I have heard it from those who must certainty be informed on the business; but notwithstanding the Company's purse is so much weakened, by folly and want of circumspection, if the harmony and good understanding, at present existing in the Colony, continues, it is yet sufficiently strong, by being applied with method, and proper exertions, not only to retrieve their losses, and answer their original laudable and magnanimous purposes, but amply requite any pecuniary motives they may have. Mr. Falconbridge has obtained permission from Mr. Clarkson to commence his commercial career, and had selected goods for the purpose, but was checked by illness, and is dangerously ill at this moment. If he recovers, his first assay will be on the Gold Coast, where he anticipates success and often says he hopes to cheer the despondent Directors, by a valuable and unexpected cargo. Mr. Clarkson thinks it too early to meddle with trade, from the idea that it will procrastinate the regularity and comfort of the Colony, which he is strenuously endeavouring to establish, but from my slender notion of things, I humbly beg leave to differ from him, and rather suppose it would greatly contribute to accelerate his wishes; at least it would not be the smallest hindrance, or by any means interfere with our police, which to be sure will not yet bear a scrupulous investigation; however it is mending, and I dare say, in time, our able, zealous pilot, will steer us clear of the labyrinth which he found us entangled in. May it be so, is the earnest wish of, Your's, &c.
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