MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
101 
CHAPTER V. 
Proceedings and Incidents U7itil the Signing of the Preliminaries to a 
General Treaty. 
[The Governor's reply to my communication on the subject of the Commenda 
palaver, reached me on the 27th of August.] 
Cape Coast Castle^ August 11, 1817- 
T. E. BowDicH, Esq. 
Sir, 
I ENTERTAINED a Confident hope that no further mention would 
have been made bj the King concerning the Commendas, after the 
receipt of my letter, and I am sorry that he should allow so insig- 
nificant a set of people to protract in the least the settlement of our 
union. As it is my particular wish to remove this impediment, I 
have used every endeavour to bring the affair to a conclusion, and 
trust the King will not suffer it to be invincible. The Commendas 
are also naturally anxious for its termination, but their poverty is 
so great, that they have it not in their power to comply with his 
demand. They have acknowledged their fealty to the King, and 
have agreed to pay the sum of 120 oz. of gold, of which, messen- 
gers are sent by his nephew to enquire whether he will accept. This, 
with the sum they have been unavoidably obliged to promise the 
principal persons deputed to negociate this business, will increase 
the sum to at least 150 oz. The many proofs the King has had of 
