Home: Documents: Diaries: Mission To America: 123-127
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Home: Documents: Diaries: Mission To America: 123-127 |
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 129-135
123 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
Witness John Clarkson Attested James Spry Heaton James Morden
Employed all this morning in hearing disputes and deciding upon them- The weather uncommonly fine; it really appears as if Providence favours the place, for since my arrival here, we have experienced the most pleasant mild weather, such as the oldest inhabitant never witnessed before-Visited all the ships, the Captains & Owners still negligent in drying the berths, in spite of everything I can urge for the necessity of it, the consequences will be, not only detention of the whole, at an enormous expence to Government, but I fear the people's health will be greatly affected by it-I still feel myself very much indisposed-Dined with Mr. Sterns, in the evening called upon Mr. Stuart to read over the Charter Parties, returned home, wrote for two hours, and passed the remainder of the evening at Dr. Boggs, parted at two in the morning, having taken a happy farewell of the old year- January 1st 1792- A little before eight this morning, thirty of the Black people going to Sierra Leone, came to my door, with each of them a gun to salute me, and wish me many happy returns of the day; as I am obliged to be very circumspect in my conduct, I thought it most prudent to desire them to go down to the Wharf, when they might salute there- This morning at breakfast, I was informed that one of our women Mrs Fennel had been delivered of twins and was doing well. After this intelligence, the most distressing account was brought me of one of our people being suffocated on board the Somerset through carelessness; this man whose name was Thomas Miles, was at the age of thirty-six, a hearty, Stout, industrious, good man-I want words to express my anger and distress upon this occasion, but it is out of my power to help myself, for I cannot call the Captains or any of the men to account, as the Charter Parties are not signed yet, and I have reason to believe, some of the people, whose vessels will go with me, will raise objections when they come to the last push, thinking that as there are no other vessels in the Harbour, which could be got ready in the course of a fortnight, they may demand & do what they please- This morning, prayers at St. Pauls were offered up to Almighty God, for a safe voyage to the Fleet, bound for Sierra Leone, and thanks given for the fortunate passage made by the different vessels with Free Blacks on board, from different Out-Ports-Dined with Mr. Wallace,
124 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
at nine returned home, employed in writing till past one in the morning, preparing instructions &c for the Fleet- January 2nd- This morning, accompanied by Mr. Hartshorne, visited every ship in the harbour-The weather the most pleasant ever known-Took a family dinner with Mr. Hartshorne, and at eight, according to appointment, met at my own house the Black Captains of all the Companies to the amount of nearly forty people-Employed myself till past one in the morning fixing the number of clothes wanted by each family-against their names in each list- Gave several orders, particularly for the six vessels hired by Government to put off from the Wharf & anchor in the Stream Received the following letters Halifax January 2nd 1792- Sir His Majesty's Council having referred us to your letter to the President, on the 30th of December requesting that an Assistant Surgeon to the one sent out by the Sierra Leone Company may be appointed and set with the Fleet from hence, we are instructed to inform you that the President would be happy to comply with your request, from a conviction of the utility of such a seasure, but His Majesty's principal Secretary of State not having authorized the incurring of any such expence on the part of Government, the council cannot advise it, nor the president, take upon him to incur any additional cost to Government on that account. We are Gentlemen. Your Most obedient Servants Alexander Brymer ) Committee Thomas Cockrane ) of S S Blowers ) Council Mr. John Clarkson and Mr. Lawrence Hartshorne Halifax January 2nd 1792 Sir/ His Majesty's Council having referred you letter to the president, of the 30th ultmo to us, as their Committee for superintending the embarkation of the Black people destined for Sierra Leone, requesting to be informed, what you are to do as Agent of the Fleet, with any of the vessels that may
125 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792 be obliged to put in a foreign Port in distress, and also how you are to dispose of the Property of Government, that may be put on board for the use or accommodation of the Passengers, or vessels, after their arrival at Sierra Leone- In answer to the first inquiry we are instructed to say that you will receive a commission or warrant from the President to act as Agent for the Fleet, together with a copy of the Charter Party entered into with the owners of the vessels, and you must use your best discretion in all emergencies, that may happen after you leave this Port, for the safety of the Passengers and the good of the voyage- As to the Second inquiry, you will see that by the Charter Party the Master of each vessel is obliged to deliver over to you at Sierra Leone, all the Provisions and property that may be then unexpected belonging to Government, as you may judge best at your arrival We are Sir Your most obedient Serv- Alexander Brymer Thomas Cockrane S S Blowers Mr. John Clarkson January 3rd-From eight in the morning till four in the afternoon I was not able to quit my house, from numberless people constantly crowding in-Found myself extremely faint and my spirits were not in the least heightened at the news of another poor fellow having lost his life, but this was from sickness: his name was Lot Slaine - Went on board the Lucretia and called on board the different vessels, to settle complaints respecting the manner of receiving the people as well as their luggage-Took a family dinner with Mr. Hartshorne to talk over the business generally-At eight by appointment met all the Captains of the different Companies, and began with the assistance of Mr. Hartshorne to make out the Certificates, for every individual, that he might receive the proper proportions of land, agreeable to the proposals of the Company-Went to bed at half past one- January 4th-This morning received the following letter from Mr. Marchinton- Dear Sir I take the liberty to give you a hint of my opinion in regard to Lotting out the land to the people at Sierra Leone, viz Take 15 in number, or more, according as they are in 126 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792 Companies, and begin at that part of land you intend to make the first settlement, calling it No 1 & so on to 15 or more according as you divide your Companies, and let every Captain draw for himself and Company, and he that draws Lot No 1 shall contain land for that whole Company, and the following numbers in the same manner, after that I conceive the people will be better satisfied for the people in every Company to draw amongst themselves-I think the Church School and burying Ground, should be lotted out in first in such parts as may be found most useful-But I suppose you will have the Town Lots laid out according to the Harbour-This you will be best judge of-The sooner the people is put on their lands the better-I cannot tell what more to say on the matter-Sincerely wishing you a good passage to Sierra Leone, and a quick return to your friends in London I remain with my best wishes Your most obedient Servant Philip Marchinton Employed, visiting the different vessels and running over the town to get charcoal for the different pots, to dry the decks and Bed places-The greatest part of the Free Blacks, on board their different vessels-Teazed as usual to such a degree, that it occasions me to speak cross to the people, when they make their applications-This upon reflection hurts me much, and makes me quite ashamed of myself, but on the other hand it is vexing to have at least one hundred applications daily, of the most trivial nature, when I have it not in my power to gratify them, or if I had I dare not tell them so, fearing the consequence; but God knows, their applications are from extreme misery and want- Took a family dinner with Mr. Hartshorne, and in the evening appointed the different Captains of the Companies to meet me, to assist me in making out their certificates. Employed till past one, wrote out my night signals and at two went to bed- Received a letter from Peters, complaining that Mr. Sheriff Clark, had taken a man out of one of the ships for debt January 5th-All this morning employed as before in looking after the ships-At four dined with Mr. Hartshorne and at six met by appointment the different Black Captains , at nine dressed and went to the Assembly, returned at 12 and went to bed- January 6th-This morning people calling upon me as usual with numberless wants, kept me in my room till five o'clock-Dined with Mr. John Grant, returned home early in the evening and employed myself in making out a form of weekly account & arranging my papers &c- January 6th - This morning busy in packing up my clothes, and
127 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
sending them on board the Lucretia-The Attorney General and Collector called upon me this morning, the latter with the Register Tonnage of each ship from the Custom House-By four in the afternoon, got everything on board and dined afloat for the first time- Received a letter from Peters desiring me to pay a bill for him to Mr. Sheriff Clark- Received my Commission to command the Expedition from the President of the Province, agreeable to the instructions from the Secretary of State-Attended at Mr. Wallace's to meet the owners of the different Transports, to see them sign the Charter Party of Affreightment, between them and the Government, took this opportunity of suggesting to them the necessity of their giving private instructions to their different Captains to pay proper attention to the terms of their agreement, more particularly as to the behavior of the Captains to the Free Blacks, their zealous attention to all orders received from me for the comfort and health of the Passengers and their best endeavours to keep Company with each other during the voyage-After the agreements were signed the different Captains met at my house, when I explained and delivered to each of them, the signals I had formed for the guidance of Transports during the voyage-In the course of the day the Bishop called upon me and gave me a Sermon, which was intended to have been delivered at Digby to the Free Blacks going to Sierra Leone, by the Rev Mr. Viets Missionary at Digby, but they having embarked, sooner than was expected, the Bishop presented it to me In the evening called upon Mr. Hartshorne and supped with Mr. Wallace to talk over the business of the day, and to suggest matters for his consideration- A copy of the Charter Party, will appear in the Appendix, as well as the Signals for the different Ships also the Sermon given me by the Bishop The following is a copy of the Tonnage of the shipping delivered
to me by the Collector of the Customs-
129-135
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