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1 1842|19| 6 September 1842 The death of Governor Wilkens and the subsequent distribution of offices. Wulff, a civil servant, combines the positions of warehouse keeper, bookkeeper and secretary. Carstensen takes over as governor. Relations with neighbouring Negro tribes described as peaceful. Installation of Atha, Prince of Akim. The plantation Frederiksgave and the price on coffee. The ague. G. J. 270/1842; duplicate G.J.297/1843; an extract 271/1842, filed under 539/1844. Chief Fort Christiansborg, 6 September 1842 A heavy duty rests on the Establishment to report to the distinguished Board the death of the Interim Governor Wilkens24 . On 26 July, Governor Wilkens came back to the fort after a three -day stay at the plantation Frederiksgave25 . In the morning of the same day, he caught a fever, and after a few days, gall ran into his blood, thus complicating the illness. With repeated [treatment] of emetics and laxatives the complaint was finally struck back, but the patient was left in an extremely weak condition. However, the governor felt better, and every day his friends found him more cheerful and he was looking forward to a quick convalescence. Indeed, on Sunday 21 August, he drove out to get some exercise and fresh air to build up his strength. But all of a sudden, only two days later, symptoms of dysentery appeared. For two weeks the patient suffered from diarrhoea, but the doctor |20| said the remedies that were used would stop it, but no, the diarrhoea turned to dysentery. On Tuesday 23 August the illness, which in this country is extremely dangerous, was in this case so severe that during the night of 26 August, at 11:30, the patient had to succumb. Governor Wilkens died peacefully, he did not know death was so close, and its sudden arrival saved him from sad thoughts like being conscious of the inevitability of death (which we were already aware of on that Friday morning) would have caused him. Governor Wilkens was buried on Saturday 27 August in the afternoon. The burial was decent and solemn. 24. Bernhard Johan Christoph Wilkens, b. 1810, naval of`cer, interim governor in Guinea 1842. 25 Frederiksgave, the royal plantation at Sesemi, about 20 km north of Christiansborg. was reconstructed in 2008. 2 CLOSING THE BOOKS The Establishment regrets that recent events, namely the death of Governor Wilkens, the many transactions caused by the Negroes’ New Year’s celebration, the civil servants’ incompetence in connection with registration and auction of the estate of the late Governor Wilkens, hindered the dispatch of a voluminous extract of the Establishment’s Council and Negotiation Protocol. It will not be forwarded with this report, but be presented to the distinguished Board when another ship leaves the Coast in two weeks’ time. The honorary Board will therefore in this report find the Establishment’s decision as to the dispute regarding bookkeeping and secretarial functions. The following is a direct report: The Establishment was of the opinion that the bookkeeping office should first be offered to Mr. G. Lutterodt26 , who is on allowance [vartpenge27 ] as a civil servant, and then to the garrison surgeon, Dr. Sannom28 , but with the secretarial function separated. The Establishment’s motive for doing this was that a separation [of the two offices] had been the practice until three months ago, and the Establishment at the time felt that the office of secretary should, if possible, be in the hands of a judicial officer – and that even in this recent, exceptional, situation it should continue to be in force. The Establishment felt, further, that the forthcoming arrival of a Danish,|21| transport ship presumably would change the situation concerning what might be decided regarding the appointment to office; also that the short-term appointment to office to one who is totally ignorant of the function might cause difficulties for the Establishment. The Establishment therefore approached Mr. G. Lutterodt with an offer of the position of bookkeeper, separated from the office of secretary until the arrival of the Danish ship. Mr. Lutterodt could not undertake the engagement for such a short period of time. The Establishment then turned to the garrison surgeon Sannom with the same offer, describing 26 George Lutterodt, merchant in Accra, previous assistant at Christiansborg until he was dismissed in 1816 and then came on allowance, but in 1842 he was appointed executor of the estate of W.J. Wulff. In 1847 he was...

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