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for their labour. They have at prefent fome fort of industry, which by example might be increased. They would not at once be brought to regular and diurnal labour; but by little and little they might be reconciled to it*.'

66

In 1789, he published a small tract, now out of print, compiled from his journals, and intitled Obfervations on the Slave-trade in a Voyage to the Coast of Guinea." That trade was then under parliamentary investigation in England; and the author was flattered that his little piece might contribute to it's abolition. At prefent the colonization of Africa fhares the attention of the friends of the fame cause. With renewed alacrity, therefore, he again fteps forward, agreeable to his promife in the above-mentioned tract, in hopes of promoting that grand defign, by proving that the colonization of Africa is not only practicable, but, in a commercial view, highly prudent and advifeable.

The reader has no doubt, by this time, discovered that the perfon who now addreffes him is a zealous friend to the Africans. But it is prefumed that his zeal is not inconsistent with fober truth; and that friendship to the Africans is not incompatible with friendship to the Europeans, and to all mankind. The author has ever thought that the most likely way to promote the civilization of mankind, would be to lead their activity into the cultivation of their country, as the best exercife for their affections, and to diffufe among them a spirit of liberal commerce, to exercise their underftanding. Thus, cultivation and commerce cftablished upon right principles, rendering the mind active, would early difpofe it for the reception of pure moral instruction: commodities in this cafe could not fail to become the

Privy Council's Report, Part I. Art. "Produce."

B 2

vehicles

vehicles of ideas and inventions; the best systems of morality or religion would of confequence foon prevail; and the human species thereby would be ultimately improved and exalted.

Thinking thus, the author, particularly fince he trod the fertile foil of Africa, and surveyed her rude, but valuable, natural ftores, has often been grieved and aftonished that fuch a country should have been fo long overlooked by the induftrious nations in Europe. Of this and fome other curious circumstances relative to Africa, he will endeavour, in the enfuing tract, to trace the causes. Here he will only ask, in the words of the celebrated Professor Zimmerman of Brunswick, "Why have not other mercantile nations long ago opened their eyes, and looked into the benefits that would arise from a better knowledge of Africa? It may be answered, that, befides the prejudice that so strongly governs the world in general, we must not altogether reproach them. One of the finest and most increasing Dutch colonies is that at the Cape of Good Hope. France has flourishing colonies in the Isles of France and Bourbon. Portugal has feveral important establishments, and Denmark has lately given us a proof of what she intends to do. The day, I hope, is not far distant when Africa will enrich Europe with the most lucrative commerce." Indulging the fame pleafing hope, the author most chearfully joins his efforts with those of the benevolent and enlightened Britons, who are now endeavouring to form colonies in Africa-happy if his perfonal obfervations, fupported and illuftrated by the best authorities, should contribute to remove prejudices, and to prevent dangerous mistakes in those who may hereafter enter upon fuch undertakings in that quarter of the world.

AN

AN

ESSAY

ON

COLONIZATION, &c.

1.

СНА Р. І.

OBSTRUCTIONS TO COLONIZATION, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA.

WHE

first Europe-an colonists ill digested..

HEN the maritime nations of Europe first at- Plans of the tempted to found colonies in the Indies, they had prodigious difficulties to encounter. Few of the adventurers feem to have been aware of the serious nature of fuch undertakings, and of the neceffity of proceeding on regular and well digefted plans. Many of them appear to have embarked with expectations of the speedy acquifition of wealth; but without well knowing where they were to land, and to reap this golden harvest. Even the best informed of them were unapprized of the inconveniences which they were to guard againft, and unacquainted with the diseases of hot climates, and the means of prevention and cure; efpecially with that invaluable medicine, the Peruvian bark. Many of the lower class of fettlers were men of debauched habits, and unaccustomed to the labour of clearing land; and all of them but indifferently provided!"

CHA P. with the accommodations and diet neceffary to fupport them

I.

Africa hitherto ne

glected.

Caufes of

under their exertions. Such, except in the cafe of Pennfylvania and one or two others, appears to be a pretty good general fketch of the characters and conduct of the first European colonies. We cannot here be more particular; but, if the intelligent reader will call to mind the various difafters and diftreffes which the original fettlers of most of the modern European colonies fuffered, he will not wonder that fome of them failed, but that almost any of them succeeded. The liberal spirit of enterprize, however, which then animated the merchants of fome nations, and the governments of others, in many cases, repaired first miscarriages, overcame every obflacle, and at length founded colonies, fome of which now emulate powerful nations.

2. While fuch splendid establishments have been formed in Afia and America, "it is melancholy to observe that" Africa, a country much more acceffible to European commerce than either Afia or America, and, "which has near 10,000 miles of fea-coaft, and noble, large, deep rivers, fhould yet have no navigation; ftreams penetrating into the the very centre of the country, but of no benefit to it. In fhort, Africa, though a full quarter of the globe, stored with an inexhauftible treasure, and capable, under proper improvements, of producing fo many things delightful as well as convenient, seems utterly neglected by those who are civilized themselves*." It may not be amifs briefly to state what appear to me to have been among the causes of the neglect which the respectable author here notices.

3. One grand incitement to European enterprize, in the this neglect. fifteenth century, feems to have been the discovery of a

*Poftlethwayt's Dictionary, Article "Africa."

paffage

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I.

paffage by sea to the East Indies, which should lay open CHA P. to all nations the commerce of that country, then monopolized by the Venetians. In 1492, Columbus, in queft of a westerly passage to the East Indies, was unexpectedly interrupted in his course by the islands of America. In 1497, Vasquez de Gama pursued and accomplished the same object, by doubling the Cape of Good Hope.

trade.

4. Both thefe events appear to have operated greatly to The Slavethe disadvantage of Africa. The coast of that continent, after having served as a clue to conduct navigators to the East Indies, was itself comparatively neglected; not on account of any natural inferiority in it's foil, climate, or productions; but because the Africans, not having advanced fo far in the arts as the East Indians, nor having then discovered fuch quantities of the precious metals as the Americans, could not immediately fupply the European demand for those desirable productions, which the commerce of the East afforded. Thus Afia and America became the principal theatres of the ambition and avidity of the Europeans; and happy had it been for Africa if they had fo continued. But it is diftreffing to recollect the rapid progress of European iniquity among the fimple and untutored nations inhabiting the other quarters of the world. Their operations in America were deplorably injurious to Africa. was foon found that the aborigines of the former could not endure the toils impofed on them by their new masters. "The natives of Hifpaniola alone were reduced, in fifteen years, from at least one million to about 60,000*." Hence arose the apparent or pretended neceffity (for there never can be any real neceffity to commit villainy) of resorting to

Robertfon's Hiftory of America.

It

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