Bothwell, August 20, 1845. We are always most anxious to announce to our readers, and of course to the public, any manifestation of a kind and friendly feeling towards any Government officer who has performed the duties of his office with satisfaction and propriety. In accordance with this feeling on our own part, we have much pleasure to make public the very handsome testimonial, which the inhabitants of Bothwell have presented to Mr Wilkinson, their late Postmaster. The testimonial, in the first instance, was in the form of a purse of money; but, as was the intention of the donors, the amount was appropriated to the purchase of a very handsome silver salver, richly embossed, chased, and otherwise ornamented. The salver is inscribed with the words contained in the highly complimentary address to Mr Wilkinson, and not more complimentary than merited, and which will be found appended to this notification: it has been manufactured by Mr Cole, of Liverpool-street, and presents an admirable specimen of colonial workmanship. It weighs, we understand, upwards of sixty ounces. We now subjoin the correspondence connected with this, to us and to the colony, as now situated, interesting occasion:
Dear Sir, We, the undersigned, have the honour to request your acceptance of the enclosed purse. It was our desire to have presented you with a testimonial in the shape of a piece of plate; but our inability to procure it has rendered it necessary for us to evince our sense of your upright and obliging conduct as Postmaster, and our esteem for you as a private resident amongst us, by begging you to receive the amount of the subscription, and to devote it to any purpose most satisfactory to your own feelings. We think it right to inform you that we had intended to have placed the following inscription upon the testimonial, had we been enabled to have procured one: "Presented to T Wilkinson, Esq., from the inhabitants of the district of Bothwell, in testimony of his upright and obliging conduct in the management of the Post-office, and as a mark of their private esteem and regard." We have the honour to be, dear Sir, your faithful, obedient servants - George Nicholas, Frederick Synnot, Walter Synnot, John Tod, Duncan McRae, John Robertson, Robert Whiteway, Alexander Reid Jnr, Humphrey Morgan Howells, William Moyes, Edward Andrews, John Merry, S. T. Haslett, Samuel Barrow, Alexander Reid, Robert Barr, Frederick Patterson, Edward Nicholas Jnr, James Macdonald, George Bisdee, William Harris, James Fisher, Richard Bennison, William Horne, William Russell, Robert Officer.
Wentworth, Bothwell, August 27, 1845. To Samuel Barrow, Esq., and the gentlemen signing the address.
My Dear Sir, In acknowledging the receipt of your communication of the 20th inst., I should indeed be most insensible and ungrateful were I not to feel highly gratified by the very flattering manner in which you have been pleased to convey to me your approbation of my conduct as Post-master of this district; but it would be equally presumptuous on my part to arrogate to myself, to the full extent, the merit your kind and friendly feelings have prompted you so handsomely to express towards me. In the performance of the duties of my appointment, I have ever considered that, after a strict compliance with my instructions, I could not afford myself a greater pleasure than offering every accommodation and facility in my power to my friends and neighbours, in transacting their business with my office; and it is highly gratifying to me to find that I have been successful. The sum accompanying the address shall be appropriated (if possible) according to your original intention, and at the earliest opportunity; but I trust you will give me credit for sincerity when I state that the expression of your approval and regard are of themselves so gratifying to me, that every other consideration is absorbed in the pleasing reflection that you consider I have merited them. In again, therefore, acknowledging the compliment which your letter conveys to me, I beg to remark that where the water runs most smooth, there its flow is usually the deepest and strongest; and I am therefore well assured that you will believe me most grateful, though in conclusion I express myself in our simple phrase, I most truly and sincerely thank you. I am, dear Sir, most truly and faithfully yours, T. Wilkinson. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8757492