538 HISTORY 



take his departure."'" He insisted that Fesbitt should abide by the former 

 agreement, and recommended that the Secretary of State should lend his influ- 

 ence to enforce that agreement, and he determined to remain at Fassau until 

 he should receive a reply to his despatch making these recommendations.™ 

 Lord Eussell refused to make any change in the instruction. 



The Governor might now have hoped to go away from the Colony on his 

 leave. But Nesbitt continued to embarrass him. The latter desired the 

 use of Government House during his incumbency of the government in order 

 that he might perform the social duties of the head of the government. The 

 Governor had planned to leave the building vacant and to have it repaired 

 during his absence."^' This caused further delay in the Governor's departure. 

 He finally sailed in May, 1842, more than two years after the permission to 

 leave was granted.""'' 



This episode illustrates both the vanity of Nesbitt and the strictness with 

 which Francis Cockbum adhered to his business engagements. It was cer- 

 tainly mortifying to the older inhabitants to be set aside for the younger men, 

 but doing it in this instance did not endanger the public interests. Charles E. 

 Nesbitt was an active public man and made an efficient administrator. His 

 elevation to the position was made through no mistake of the Secretary of State. 

 His ability was perhaps second to that of none of those who administered the 

 government of the Colony." 



™Nest)itt's and Anderson's names had stood at the head at the list in the in- 

 struction for swearing in the Council. In his despatch No. 97, of March 12, 1841, 

 Cockburn recommended that they should be placed at the bottom of the list. Lord 

 John Russell replied that the appointment of Nesbitt, and the new instruction, had 

 been made advisedly, and that no change would be made. Ds., S. St., 1841, No. 

 110 (Aug. 28). 



™ Cockburn to Russell, No. 130. 



""'Cockburn had consulted his Council, in which Nesbitt was sitting, on this 

 matter and it had not occurred to the latter to raise objections to the vacancy of the 

 building during the Governor's absence. The Council had concurred with the 

 Governor in his resolve to repair the house. It had not been occupied by former 

 temporary administrators. Cockburn regarded this conduct as discourtesy on the 

 part of Nesbitt. (Ds. to Russell, No. 132.) On July 31, the Governor wrote further: 

 " During the last twenty years it has not been expected that the temporary adminis- 

 trator of the Government should with his limited salary give public entertainments 

 and it has not been done. . . I am anxious that Government House should be 

 vacant during my absence. I solicit your assistance again in sanctioning the 

 previous agreement." (Ds. to Russell, No. 136). 



'^' Nesbitt to Stanley, No. 1. 



""^ After his return from England, Francis Cockburn wrote to the Secretary of 

 State as follows: " I have much satisfaction in testifying to the zeal and efficiency 

 with which he has conducted the various departments of the public trust which 



