Anna Maria Falconbridge Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Map of Sierra Leone
- Editor's Introduction
- Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Dedication
- Preface
- Letter I
- Letter II
- Letter III
- Letter III [sic]
- Letter IV
- Letter V
- Letter VI
- Letter VII
- Letter VIII
- Letter IX
- Editor's Comment
- Letter X
- Journal
- Letter XI
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XII
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XIII
- Letter XIV
- Editor's Comment
- Letter to Henry Thornton
- Appendix
- Editor's Comment
- The Journal of Isaac DuBois
- Alexander Falconbridge An Account of the Slave Trade
- Index
Editor's Comment
from Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Map of Sierra Leone
- Editor's Introduction
- Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Dedication
- Preface
- Letter I
- Letter II
- Letter III
- Letter III [sic]
- Letter IV
- Letter V
- Letter VI
- Letter VII
- Letter VIII
- Letter IX
- Editor's Comment
- Letter X
- Journal
- Letter XI
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XII
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XIII
- Letter XIV
- Editor's Comment
- Letter to Henry Thornton
- Appendix
- Editor's Comment
- The Journal of Isaac DuBois
- Alexander Falconbridge An Account of the Slave Trade
- Index
Summary
As the next letter shows, a decision about Falconbridge had already been taken. Henry Thornton, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, had written privately to Thomas Clarkson on 30 December 1791 with doubts about Falconbridge.
We were at first considerably pleased with him and after a few weeks inquiry and deliberation were so far satisfied as to appoint him chief Commercial Agent at a salary of £250 p. a. adding £100 present also – We discovered in him however by degrees a great constitutional warmth of temper which has rather alarmed and made us fear, lest with power in his hands he should be carried to any sudden act of violence – want of punctuality and of regular commercial habit has also made us think him as unfit for the Leader in a commercial Factory, tho’ notwithstanding both these points we are disposed to think favorably of him in general and we are grateful to him as I am sure we ought to be for the services he has rendered to the Company.
Clarkson however sent his brother, John, who was directing affairs in Sierra Leone, a more explicit account (“for your own privacy and conduct”) of how the Company intended to treat John's erstwhile campaign comrade and bodyguard (letter dated January 1792).
After telling him that Falconbridge's salary had been raised to £250 a year, he went on, “The Directors however do not approve his conduct. They consider him hot, rash and impetuous; as likely to involve us in Wars; and as perhaps not over careful how he offends those united with him in office”. They had only sent him back because he had made friends with Naimbana and Elliot, and it was now for John to try and supplant him in their affections:
As your influence increases, that of Falconbridge will decline. This is in fact what the Company wish: for it would be a Pity that the noble Objects of our Institution should be hazarded by the Impetuosity and Warmth of Temper of an Individual, or that we, with so large a Capital, should be wholly at his Mercy.
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- Information
- Anna Maria FalconbridgeNarrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the Years 1791-1792-1793, pp. 98 - 99Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2000