MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
93 
The Spanish campaign was gone through, again and again, and 
never tired him. He gave us an excellent dinner, as did Odumata 
repeatedly. Both were extravagantly enraptured with the miniature 
of an English female, and called all their wives to look at it. 
Having been advised by a note from the Governor, of the 
arrival of an Ashantee boy and girl at Cape Coast Castle, sent by 
the King without any explanation, I desired an audience on the 
subject, and forwarded the following letter, which also communi- 
cates the baseness of one of the King's messengers, just returned 
from the Coast, and other inauspicious circumstances. 
Coomassie, 1 0th Aug. I8I7. 
John Hope Smith, Esq. Governor in Chief, &c. &c. &c. 
Sir, 
The King has explained to me that he sent the boy and girl you 
mention to have arrived at Cape Coast, to become the property of 
the Committee or Government, conceiving it to be obHgatory on 
him, in justification of his possession of the notes, to allow an 
Ashantee family to rear itself under the Governor's protection, for 
the service of the Settlement, and as an acknowledgment of the 
duties he owes it. He begs me to observe that he put the same 
plates of gold around their necks which distinguish the royal 
attendants. 
I had reason to believe, from a coolness and some invidious 
comparisons on the part of the King, that the messenger lately 
arrived, Ocranameah, who was so particularly recommended to 
your favour, had been unjust in his report of the treatment he had 
experienced. I did not hesitate to avow my impression to the 
King, having solicited an audience for the purpose. The King 
