MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
65 
Mr. James confesses that he desponds of consummating the 
objects of the Mission ; we do not ; we would be responsible for 
all of them, but we diffidently await your decision. We must claim 
this momentary calm of the King to ourselves, because it only 
affords us the credit, or rather the justification of having done our 
duty, which we are resolute in repeating Mr. James has not. What 
has been said through Mr. Bowdich is here reported faithfully ; we 
have not committed the Governor or ourselves. 
Gentlemen, our situation is critical ; if your answer determines 
the King on war, we are his prisoners ; if, as we cannot doubt, the 
valour of our countrymen again retards his progress by defences 
as memorable as that of Annamaboe, we may be the victims of an 
irritated soldiery, though we feel it would be with the reluctance of 
a generous prince, who is not independent, but, unfortunately, 
controlled by a military despotism, which deposed his brother and 
invested him. 
But, Gentlemen, if in your better knowledge and reflection, you 
cannot consistently with your honour and your trust, meet the 
King's demand, the history of our country has fortified our minds 
with the illustrious example of a Vansittart, and his colleagues, who 
were situated as we are, when the dawn of British intercourse in. 
India was scarcely more advanced than its dawn in Africa now ; 
and their last request to their Council is our present conclusion to 
you — " Do not put our lives in competition with the honour and 
interests of our country.^" 
We are, &c. &c. 
(Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. 
W. HUTCHISON. 
HENRY TEDLIE. 
