Home: Documents: Diaries: Mission To America: 113-122
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Home: Documents: Diaries: Mission To America: 113-122 |
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 123-129
113 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
Bill of Fare Daily Breakfast
Dinner 1 lb Salt Fish & 1 oz butter with 2 lbs Potatoes 4 day in the week 1 lb Beef or ¾ lb Pork with Pint ½ Pease on Pork days & 1 lb Bread with Turnips on Beef Days-3 days in the week- Supper 4 oz Rice or 8 oz Indian Meal with ½ Gill Molases or Q~ oz Brown Sugar The above a man's or woman's full allowance-Supposing
a 1000 Blacks embark for Sierra Leone, and that 600 of them are 16 years
of age & upwards and 400 under 16, the following provisions will he
necessary for 1200 Bushels Potatoes 120
Bushels Rice December 18th - This morning obliged to continue mustering the people to find out their situation with respect to clothing, by four in the afternoon finished all in the neighbourhood of Halifax, amounting to up wards of 700 Souls-Dined with Mr. Tremaine and in the evening went to Mr. Marchinton's Meeting House to hear him address the Blacks. The whole of his discourse was well adapted to the occasion, but I have no time to enter into particulars, came home in the evening & employed writing & C- December 19th - Met the Committee of Council at Mr. Brymer's, and had a long conversation respecting the Shipping already taken up & various other business. As the Sierra Leone was reported to be out of repair, and could not be got ready for a fortnight, it was thought most prudent not to engage her, but positively to engage the Eleanor, which therefore was only conditionally determined-I particularly talked about my own commission-Went to Mr. Bulkeleys office and took down the names that had been stuck up for the last few weeks, agreeable to an act of the Province-Gave orders for all the Free Blacks in this neighbourhood to be 114 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
December 20th - My room continually full from eight to eleven-At that time I went to Mr. Brymer's to meet the Committee, appointed to expedite the business. Visited all the shipping, from thence went to Ordnance office & examined all the guns, stores & c, I was to receive from that department- Gave several orders on board the Lucretia; perplexed with numberless applications-Dined & spent the evening at Mr. Dights-The whole of the company remarked the decent orderly behaviour of people here; passed a very agreeable evening- At ten at night it began to snow, hail and rain, and appears as if winter was likely to set in- Received the following petition from the inhabitants of
Birchtown- To the Honorable Mr. Clarkson Agent of the Sierra Leone Society Whereas a number of us formerly were inhabitants of Birchtown, near Shelburne Nova Scotia, but now intending under inspection to embark for Sierra Leone would therefore humbly solicit that on our arrival, you will be pleased to settle us as near as possible to the inhabitants of Preston, as they and us are intimately acquainted, so in order to render us unanimous, would be glad to be as nearly connected as possible, when the tract or tracts of land shall be laid out. Humbly relying upon your interest in this matter and in compliance with this request will be bound to pray-The inhabitants of Birch Town- December 21st - Wrote a few lines to Mr. Thornton-Called to take leave of the Admiral-The Sierra Leone upset along side of wharf in consequence of a hard gale of wind, and all her ballast being out, but fortunately she was got up again with little or no damage-Employed the whole of this day in forwarding the business in all its various branches.-
115 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
December 22nd - Busy all the morning in getting part of my Stock on board the Lucretia-Visited the different stores and all the shipping to hurry them as much as possible-Dined with Mr. Cochrane; upon my return home Peters met me by appointment to arrange the people on board the vessel, he intended to go in-I was extremely mortified and distressed at the behaviour of Peters this evening I can only attribute it to his ignorance-I could not possibly enable him comprehend how necessary it was for regularity and subordination on board the ships, he still persisted in his obstinacy; he vexed me extremely and I went to bed, much indisposed- December 23rd - At eight this morning visited Mr. Cochrane's Brig Betsey and gave orders respecting the manner of fitting up the Berths- The whole of this day entirely employed in getting on board my stock, medicine chests & c, visited the different stores- Received the following Petition from all the people assembled here- Halifax-December 23rd 1791
As the people here have hitherto conducted themselves, not only to my mind, but to the satisfaction of the whole town, I promised them, as a regard for their good behaviour, that I should order the whole to have fresh beef on Christmas Day- This pleased them very much- Distributed clothes to those immediately in want- Busy about the Signals-dined with Mr. Hartshorne- visited the Lucretia- At half past 7 Mr. Wallace, Mr. Hartshorne and myself came home and began to arrange the people & their baggage, to go on board the different ships; Settled sufficient to fill the Venus, Parr, Mary & Beaver: parted at 12 o'clock- December 24th - At eight this morning mustered the men I had previously settled to go into particular Ships-Ordered all their baggage on board Was greatly teazed in arranging them. One wished to go with one family, and another with another- In the midst of our hurry the
116 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
Dined with Mr. McIntire and at seven returned home, and engaged till 12 o'clock in writing out my signals & c-The order given by the General Commanding the Army here has been attended with great inconvenience and loss to Government, independent of the misery the poor Blacks are exposed to, from being obliged at this inclement season of the year, to go off to the vessels in boats from the Transports, having been obliged to quit the Government Wharf-If I had had the least suspicion giving offence, I would have called upon the General, or done anything which etiquette required, but as the Wharfs belonged to Government, I had not the least idea, but that the ships were entitled to lay alongside, and that matters had been arranged by Mr. Wallace with the proper departments, or I would have got the President to settle the business with the General- But I am sorry to observe how little the interest of Government is attended to, even by those whose conduct ought to be influenced by the highest feelings of Honour & Patriotism- December 25th - Several people called upon me this morning- At eleven went to church, received the Sacrament The Bishop administered the bread and the Rector the wine. I was gratified at having this opportunity of attending at the Altar, as I shall not in all probability have another for some time, for life is very uncertain, and particularly why I am going, and more so when I consider the weighty charge which occasion me the greatest anxiety of mind-It therefore is particular pleasing to me that I have had this opportunity of gratifying my feelings previous to my voyage-From thence went on board the admiral's ship to inform him I intended to hoist my pendant tomorrow, and that I should scale my guns either on Tuesday or Wednesday- Called upon or three of our sick people, and was happy to find them somewhat better, particularly my friend David George The weather very cold-Dined Mr. Hartshorne and spent the day with him- December 26th - This morning at daylight hoisted my Pendant board the Lucretia-At eight visited the Beaver, Venus, Mary & Parr see if proper fires were burning to air the vessels- Mr. Hartshorne returned to breakfast with me- Settled some disputes-Plagued as usual, Took a walk with Mr. Cochrane, to visit part of his premises, which he had kindly allotted for the use of my poultry- Made out the list of the Preston people, and appointed them to go on board
117 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
To John Clarkson Esqre Agent for the Sierra Leone Company and a Lieutnt in the Royal Navy-The Memorial of us the Black people of Preston, humbly sheweth that your Memorialists hath got some Pots & Beds, and sundry other things, which are too heavy for us to carry five or six miles upon our heads, we therefore hope you will be pleased to order carts, or sledges, whichever may be most convenient, when the time comes to remove us, and we shall, as in duty bound, forever pray- To John Clarkson Esqre Agent for the Sierra Leone Company and Lieutenant in His Majesty's Royal Navy- The Petition of us whose names are under-written humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioners hath lived neighbours in the Township of Preston between six & seven years, and are all united together and are well acquainted with each other, and our Petition is, that you will be pleased to settle us altogether on our lands at Sierra Leone without being intermixed with strangers, and your Petitioners, as in duty bound shall ever pray-
118 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
December 27th - All this morning running about to see that the different work-people were industrious-Gave orders for the Captains the different Companies, to send proper people on board their respect vessels, to attend the fires made in the 'tween decks for drying the berths Distracted with Petitions of various kinds-It is impossible for me to walk the streets three yards without meeting some one who is in great distress, asking me to lend them money to give them a shirt, shift & c. Dined with Mr. Hartshorne-Fitted the Beaver with her full complement of men; the evening visited some of the sick people, and employed arranging the on board their different ships- December 28th - Could not get out of my house till near one o'clock from the number of people continually coming in-I dread what anxiety and trouble I shall have in fixing these people on our arrival in Africa, every body seems negligent on board the vessels, I no sooner leave them than they forget everything I have been desiring them to do; in short I find myself so ill by four in the afternoon, that I am sometimes inclined to let them do as they please, sooner than injure my health, particularly when I consider that most of my anxiety, is on account of the heavy expence to Government every day the vessels are detained here- At 5 dined with Mr. Tremaine, and at eight appointed all the Captains of the Companies to meet me this evening- This morning 180 people arrived from Saint John's-Ordered to form themselves into Companies, and their respective Captains to meet me this evening-At half past two in the morning, I settled the lists of near 1200 of them on board their respective ships, and I hope to the faction of nine tenths of them December 29th - At eight this morning breakfasted with Mr. Blowers the Attorney General, went on board all the ships, at least three times each during the day, and was much hurt to find that neither the Captains or owners, paid any attention to the drying of the vessels, though Mr. Hartshorne & I particularly desired them the preceding day; this displeased me much, as the vessels are only detained for want of the berths being dried, and it appears that the Merchants here wish to delay them-Dined with 119 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
December 30th This morning wrote two letters to the President of the Council copies of which are as follows-
To the Right Honorable Richard Bulkeley, President
of His Majesty's Council, Commander in Chief & c Apprehending as we do, that the present embarkation of Black people for Sierra Leone, is more imperfect, on account of the number of people going than we expected either by Government or the Company, and feeling it a duty encumbent on us, to represent to you, whatever appears necessary for the safety of those people, we think it proper respectfully to inform you, that if they should prove sick on the voyage, it would be impossible for Mr. Taylor the Company's Surgeon, to attend to many in a manner that appears to us necessary for their general safety, we therefore submit to you whether if an assistant Surgeon could be had, it would not be complying with the intentions of Government, in the Complete accommodation of those people-We have further to observe, that there is (as Mr. T informs us) plenty of Medicine in the Company's chest, for the purpose without any additional expense on that account, we therefore respectfully submit it to your consideration, whether such an appointment be necessary or not and remain with due respect Your most humble Servants Halifax December 30 1791 Sir/ As the vessels bound for Sierra Leone will be ready to sail the beginning of the ensuing week, and as you have done me the honor to appoint me, to conduct them, I am desirous of being informed how I am to act in the various situations I may be thrown into, in consequence of having such a Command- First I wish to know what I am to do with the vessels, should it happen that one or more of us are obliged to put into a foreign Port from distress, and secondly how are the
120 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
I remain Sir, with the greatest respect Visited all the Barracks and ships gave orders for the long boats of each ship to be over at Dartmouth by Eight o'clock tomorrow morning, to bring over the baggage of the Preston people, found the ships in a damp State, and the Captains & Owners as usual negligent- At five dined with Mr Belcher; the generality of people there, seemed to think, that our business would not succeed, but as they have been used to Slavery all their lives, and probably prejudiced against the measure did not wonder at their conversation- December 31st - This morning I received the under-written letter from the President of the Council, & gave the following receipt for Ordinance Stores Halifax December 13th 1791 Sir/ It having been represented to the late Lieutenat Governor of this Province by the Right Honorable Henry Dundas, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, that Lieutenant Clarkson of the Royal Navy is appointed to conduct such Black people residing here as are willing to go and settle at Sierra Leone And he having represented to me that the number of vessels which will be under the Convoy, will amount to sixteen, which will require frequent signals, especially during the night as well as at other times and for other Services that may arise during the voyage. And that four Carriage Guns, either three or four pounders, with as much Gunpowder and Ball, as will amount to 50 rounds a gun, with a small proportion of Muskets, together
121 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
122 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
Office of Ordnance Halifax 31 December 1791
Ordnance Storekeeper, the before named Ordnance & Stores,
123-129
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