44 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
to settle all palavers for him with the people of the forts, and that 
he had thought we came to make all things right, and so to make 
friends with the Ashantees/' The King had previously observed, 
as literally rendered, that " the forts belonged to him,'^ meaning 
(as the context, and the whole of his sentiments and conduct have 
confirmed) nothing humiliating to our dignity and independence ; 
but simply, that the advantages derived by the Fantee nations 
from the forts, should now be his. He desired the officer to be 
pointed out to him who was to be the Resident ; and then enquired 
if that was all our palaver, he was told yes : he said he would give 
us his answer the next day. 
Soon after we returned to our house, the King's linguist delivered 
this message. " The King knows very well the King of England 
has sent him presents ; if you wish to be friends with him you 
must bring these presents to his own house, and shew them to him 
and his friends, and not give them before all the people.'^ This, in 
our judgment was a policy, to prevent any favourable bias of the 
body of caboceers and people anticipating the King's and his 
councils satisfaction of our motives and professions. 
We attended : all the curiosity the packages excited could not 
incline the King to regard them, until he had desired distinctly to 
understand who had sent them, the King of England, or the 
Governor. He was told, the Company to whom the forts belonged 
under the King; the interpreter seemed to render it the King indi- 
vidually ; it was more intelligible, and the agreeable impression it 
made was striking. The presents were displayed. Nothing could 
surpass the King's surprise and pleasure, but his warm yet dignified 
avowal of his obligations. " Enghshmen,'' said he, admiring the 
workmanship of the different articles, " know how to do every 
thing proper," turning to his favourites with a smile as auspicious 
to our interests, as mortal to the intrigues of our rival, Much of 
