Closing the Books: Governor Edward Carstensen on Danish Guinea 1842-50

1846

184 CLOSING THE BOOKS|196| 13 January 1846 Proposal to cease sending duplicates of the reports. G.J. 286/1846; duplicate 39/1847. Chief Fort Christiansborg, 13 January 1846 As is known to the Board, it has been the practice until now, both by the Board and the Establishment, to send duplicates of all letters dispatched to each other. But since both the Board and the accountants have frequently ordered the Establishment to practise very strict economy when forwarding mail parcels from here, we take the liberty of suggesting that duplicates from here in the future should cease, by which the mail parcels should in general become considerably smaller. Most letters send from Guinea are usually sent by English ships, of which very few in general are shipwrecked, but should this occur, we are immediately informed about such an accident and would be able to forward the duplicates, as a complete copybook is kept. But in the most unlikely event that the Establishment should not be made aware that a parcel had disappeared, the Board would always notice this by the consecutive numbers contained in all letters coming from here, and then on request the duplicates could be forwarded. This change might result in the Board, perhaps in some cases, having to do without one or two reports for a longer time, but the Establishment does not believe that this possibility will occur, when it is a question of saving of approximately half the cost in postage and a not insignificant volume of writing. In spite of cessation of sending duplicates, as suggested above, yet it is a matter of course that the Establishment should be both entitled and obliged to send duplicates of any letters that are seen to be of particular importance and interest188 . Edw. Carstensen H. Schumacher J. Bergenhammer 188 To this petition, on 30 April 1846, the Board resolved: “Duplicates should still be dispatched”. 185 1846|197| 13 January 1846 Remarks concerning accounts rendered after the visit of the brig Ørnen at the Coast. G.J. 287/1846, filed under 125/1850; duplicate 40/1847. Chief Fort Christiansborg, 13 January 1846 Hereby the Establishment, in the line of duty, has the honour to dispatch an account of the expenses incurred by the presence of the brig Ørnen here at the Coast, and at the same time [the expenses of] the journey undertaken to Quetta or Prinsensten; [the combination] of which amounts to a total of 292 Rdl. 48 dam g. Ct. Some of these expenses, as shown in the account, are occasioned by the case against Sebah-Akim and Adum, which must be regarded as completely accidental, and as such, not to be repeated whenever a warship should again be visiting the Coast. It is the same situation with the trip to Quetta, which might be repeated, but it should not be necessary to bring soldiers and remidors from the fort, and the considerable expenses connected to that could then be saved. The scarce provisions which were supplied to the crew of the brig would not amount to any considerable sum, particularly since, according to the knowledge of the Establishment, almost all goods were purchased from the local warehouse, and it is at that purchase that Captain Krenchel has forgotten to pay for 3 iron rods mentioned in the list. With regard to the 43 potter of rum which Captain Lieutenant Krenchel requested for delivery to the Ussu Elders and the garrison when seeing him off, the Establishment would have to ask the Board whether this should be borne by the Establishment or the payment should be refunded by the one who ordered it. The poultry listed at the end of the account, after a verbal request by Captain Lieutenant Krenchel to me, Carstensen, was ordered on board by me and as such paid for by me. Since Mr. Krenchel has not with a word mentioned this delivery, I am ignorant of for what purpose it is requested, but as far as one or another expense |198| in the captain’s 186 CLOSING THE BOOKS account is concerned with this, I ask to have the amount refunded by an arrangement by the Board. If Captain Lieutenant Krenchel should regard this delivery as a private matter, I would certainly not burden the Board with this matter any further, but would prefer, in that case, to present it to Mr. Krenchel as a gift, which...