| Description | Addendum: [Note by Bickersteth at top of letter saying that when the letter was written Wenzel and Renner were in conflict and Wilhelm was under Wenzel's influence. Passages below marked thus *, he refers to this note]:
Harrison heard that Butscher had destroyed a parcel of his letters for forwarding and was very upset, but the report proved false. Relations between Bashia and Canoffee are poor.
Renner refused to allow Wilhelm and his wife to go on a trip to improve their health.*
After the latest Bashia fire Renner blamed Wilkinson for spreading the monthly missionary registers among the slave traders, but later told Wenzel that he had done so himself.*
Wilkinson became steadily more insolent and was offended by criticism of a boy who drowned while disobeying Wenzel's orders. This turned into a major row and Wilhelm discharged Wilkinson. He professed repentance and was re-employed but then went to Mungke Bake and complained of being cheated. At the ensuing palaver Bake forced Wenzel to give Wilkinson a bill for £10. Wilkinson threatened violence and is now utterly discharged.
Wilhelm is concerned about Fernandez' temper and irreligious nature in the matter of his helping him in translation. A second interpreter would still be needed.
Wilhelm believes that both Wenzel and Renner are preventing him leaving the settlement and have made it impossible to post this letter.
Postscript: 30 May 1816: On 25 Apr he engaged Lewis Gomez as interpreter on one month's trial. |