CHAP. VII. filver, &c. to circulate freely, by their weight and ftandardand will not the establishment of thefe fimple regulations render commerce fubfervient to manufactures, and both fubfervient to agriculture—and, in fine, will not the grand object of the whole community be the production of ufeful and neceffary commodities, and ultimately lead to FREEDOM, PEACE, and HAPPI NESS. Its import ance. Schools and fhips. 143. CHA P. VIII. HINTS ON THE ESSENTIALS OF A COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. THE EDUCATION. 'HE happiness and stability of every fociety, entirely depends on the virtuous qualities of the individuals who compose it; and, if there be no influx of strangers, the continuation or increase of the fociety will depend on the rifing generations, who are fucceffively to become members of it. The mind receives it's most permanent impreffions and habits during the period of nonage. The education of youth, therefore, is a matter of the highest importance to every fociety. So very important is it, that, in my opinion, it ought to form a diftinct department of the administration of a new colony. 144. For the inftruction of such children, either of the apprentice- colonifts, or of the natives, as may fhew marks of genius and inclination for literature, it will be neceffary to establish fchools. But, from what I have obferved, it appears to me, that paternal care during childhood, and strictly regulated appentice VIII. apprenticeships afterwards, would be found the most eli- CHA P. gible mode of education for those who wish to pursue the ordinary business of the colony; and who might receive fufficient inftruction, from their parents and masters, in reading, writing, arithmetic and the principles of religion, as well as in the manual arts which they might choose to learn. fhould in ftruct natives. 145. And, in order to accelerate the civilization of the Colonists natives, every colonist should undertake the education, both with respect to body and mind, of two negro children, to be received as apprentices, on certain conditions to be fixed by law. These apprentices ought, at ftated times, to be examined before the fuperintendants of education, who should be empowered to fix the time of their coming of age, after which they are to be entitled to all rights of members of the community, and to be accountable to the same, for their conduct. By fuch means, a small number of colonists might, within a few years, furnifh the community with a valuable acceffion of negro members, inftructed in christianity, trained to regular habits and diurnal labour, and who would foon spread a tafte for fuch acquirements, and purfuits, among their countrymen. 146. It were also to be wifhed, that a school for the natives of Africa were erected in fome fertile part of Euwhere the cultivation of raw materials is more purrope, fued than manufactures and commerce. To fuch school negro children might be fent to be trained up, till a certain age for an active, social life, and returned to the colony, when their elementary inftruction may have prepared them for such apprenticeships, as have been just mentioned. Along with the theory of religion, they should be taught the practice of it, in order to form them for union with Q their Schools and apprentice fhips fhould with theory. join practice VIII. CHAP. their Creator, and harmony with society.—All their exercifes, bodily and mental, fhould be directed to focial and religious ufes. Thus their understandings would be gradually opened; practice would follow theory, and action fpring from inftruction. In short, it appears to me, that the children fhould be taught, not only the general principles, but the actual practice, of cultivating land, making bricks, building houses, and of the most common and necessary trades, such as thofe of taylors, blacksmiths, &c*. Such a courfe would tend much more to form their minds for ufeful, focial purposes, and for fpreading civilization in their own country, than the most refined literary accomplishments. Not that I would wish book-learning to be excluded from this plan; but, unless the pupil manifest uncommon talents, and an earnest defire for pursuing science or literature, I would certainly confine him to reading, writing and common arithmetic. African ready fent to Europe for education. 147. The defire of the Africans to have their children children al- educated in Europe, appears from their voluntarily fending them over for that purpose. There are generally from fifty to seventy of these children at school in Liverpool, befides those who come to London and Bristol, "to learn fense and * In the commercial academy of Hamburgh, which I have vifited, and which is now conducted by the very able Profeffors Bufh and Ebeling, the most effential mechanical arts are taught, both in theory and practice; and that academy, mutatis mutandis, offers an excellent model for fuch a one as I recommend.-Forfter laments that O'Mai, a native of O’Taheitee, though he spent near two years among the fashionable circles in London, was not taught the ufe even of the most effential mechanical implements. Being unable, therefore, to be useful to his countrymen, it was fit that he should be furnished with the means of amusing them; and he accordingly carried out a portable organ, an electrical machine, a coat of mail and a fuit of armour!—His country man, Aotourou, whom M. de Bougainville brought to France, died there, after receiving an education equally infignificant!-Forfter's Voyage, Preface. get VIII. get a good head," as they exprefs it. After receiving a CHA P. common school education, they return to Africa, where they endeavour to dress and live in the European manner; and they value themselves much, and are respected by their countrymen, on account of their European education*. Many African children were formerly fent to France for the fame purpose. RELIGION. 148. At a time, when such differences of opinion prevail among all ranks of people, in civilized nations, in confequence of their unsettled notions concerning God; it might be esteemed presumptuous in me to offer any opinion of my own on this momentous fubject. of God. 149. I shall therefore content myself with mentioning African idea what I have been able, with my utmost affiduity, to collect of the opinion of the Africans on this subject. They believe fimply that there exifts one God, the Creator and Preferver of all things; and, in order to fix their ideas, they think on God, in some form or other; for, to believe in any thing without form, they seem to think is to believe in nothing. Yet, although fome of them appear to confider the fun as the emblem of God, for they turn their faces towards it when praying, they seem all to believe, that God must be a man, or in human form; as they cannot think of any more perfect or refpectable form to compare him with. How easy would it be to bring a people already predispos ed, by their natural dispositions and principles, to receive christianity, the bafis of which is a confidence in one God, * Privy Council's Report, part I. detached pieces of evidence N. 4.-I received a fimilar account, by letter, from the late Mr. R. Norris of Liverpool. CHAP. and that this God is manifefted in the perfon of Jefus VIII. Toleration recommended. Employ. ment pre Christ? 150. All that I can venture to offer on this head, to the confideration of the founders and directors of any new colony, is diligently to look out for the most active, focial and virtuous perfons, as the first colonifls; taking care to promote early and regular marriages as the very foundation of all focial order. For experience fhews, that the irregularities, which neceffarily refult from a celibacy, are the primary causes of moft of those disorders which too frequently convulfe civil focieties.-The reft fhould be left to the Providence of the Lord, who is the only fearcher of hearts; allowing, with a generous toleration, the colonifts to fettle this very delicate matter among themselves, free from all external restraint or imposition from any one quarter whatso ever. EMPLOYMENT S. 151. It is a trite obfervation, that "people who have novents vice. thing to do, will do mischief." To prevent idleness, therefore, is to prevent vice, which may be much more eafily excluded from an infant fociety, than eradicated from an old one, where it has already taken root and borne it's peftiferous fruits. For this grand purpose, I can think of no means likely to be fo effectual as the formation of a distinct department, in the government or direction, which fhall have for it's object, the study of the characters and inclinations of the youth, with a view to their instruction in occupations neceffary in the colony. It should also be the bufinefs of the fame board, to provide employment for grown perfons, male and female, the frequent want of which, in most countries in Europe, gives rife to many, or most, of those vices and crimes which infest society. Thus the ob ject |