By now Isaac DuBois had also been dismissed from the Company's service. Thornton wrote to Clarkson explaining that Dawes had passed on to the directors a disrespectful letter DuBois had written to him which they could not overlook. Nor could they overlook his having left the Colony for Jamaica as a passenger on board a slave ship. (Add. MS 41263, Thornton 16 September 1793). A further unmentioned offence in their eyes must have been his supporting the settlers’ complaints. Clarkson replied in dismay, “With respect to DuBois I am to [sic] much hurt to say anything about him – His behaviour was so exemplary, his Manners so engaging, and his zeal and industry to promote the Happiness and Comfort of the Colony so conspicuous that I assure you I attribute the first foundation of the Colony in great part to him” (ibid. Clarkson, 24 September 1793).

To DuBois, who wrote asking him for a character reference, Clarkson replied, “Truth obliges me to say, that I attribute the commencement of regularity, order and the comfort of the Colony, principally to your exertions, and your readiness to comply with every request of mine for the good of the Company with respect and cheerfulness – I must also thank you for your kind and humane treatment of those committed to your care, and the great allowances you made for their Situation, as well as for your firmness in enforcing a just and proper behaviour of the People towards the Company – all this I informed the Directors upon my arrival in England” (ibid. Clarkson 3 November 1793).

And in a letter to a friend in Nova Scotia he wrote, “ …. the Government there has induced a man to resign whom I can justly say has done more good in the Colony than all the rest put together, but he happened to have rather a more enlarged Mind than his Superiors and would not brook their behaviour to him …. I fear altho’ I mentioned him so handsomely upon my arrival and specified the numerous works he had undertaken and completed yet they will not listen to any thing he may have to say to vindicate his behaviour in quitting the Colony.