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CHA P. IX.

SPECIFIC PROPOSITIONS APPLIED TO THE CASE OF A NEW COLONY.

Si quid novifti rectius iftis,

Candidus imperti; fi non, his utere mecum.

172. IN the

HOR. DE ART. POET.

'N the seventh chapter, I have made fuch obfervations as appeared to me useful and expedient, for the first establishment of a new colony in Africa; and in the eighth, I have delivered my opinion respecting some of the permanent regulations. Still fome of my readers may perhaps expect a more specific and practical plan than what I have yet proposed; for most men are much affisted in comprehending and deciding upon a subject, by having it reduced to something like a system. It hath been well obferved, by Dr. Watts, that method and system, though lately too much neglected, are nevertheless excellent auxilliaries to the mind, in forming an adequate idea of any subject that comprises many mutually dependent parts. And, if there be any subject in which system is peculiarly neceffary, the science of government is certainly that fubject. To gratify (therefore the lovers of order) I infert, with a few necessary alterations, the following Propofitions, which I had the honour to lay before the subscribers to the Bulama Affociation, for their confideration, at a meeting held on the 29th of April 1794.

PROPOSITION I.

173. That those who may be disposed to subscribe to fuch an undertaking, form themselves into a company

FOR

CHA P.
IX.

CHAP.
IX.

FOR CULTIVATING AND RAISING

TROPICAL PRODUCTIONS

on the western coast of Africa, between the 6th and the 14th degrees of north latitude*.

174. That such company select from among themselves a court of directors to manage the whole concern; to fell land; to engage colonists; to receive money or commodities; to pay money, and dispose of commodities; to appoint their own officers and agents, both in Europe and in the colony; to send out vessels, to trade wherever it may be found beneficial for the whole concern, &c. and to lay a proper and fatisfactory account of their proceedings, before a general meeting of the subscribers, every year.

175. The directors of this court ought to consist of two claffes.-The first class should have the care of the cultivation of the people, or the introduction of morals and civiliz

* My reasons for selecting this part of the coaft, for the fubject of my book and map are-1ft, That it is much nearer to Europe than any equally productive portion of the coaft.-2dly, That owing to the trade-wind and currents, as well as the smaller distance, voyages to and from this part, can be performed fooner than to parts lower down, and incomparably sooner than to any island in the West Indies (fee § 6, note)-3dly, That the harbours are better on this part, than any known harbours on the Western coast of Africa.-4thly, That this part of the coast is more fertile than any part convenient for European navigation, and particularly than the tract of coast immediately to the northward of it.-5thly, That the inhabitants appear, upon the whole, to be more disposed to peace and industry, than on any other portion of the coast.-6thly, That very little of this portion of the coaft is occupi ed, or claimed, by European powers.-7thly, That this part is less infested by the flave-trade, than any other portion of the coaft, where that traffic is at all carried on.-8thly, That, on account of navigable rivers and the good difpofition of the the inland people, the interior countries are more easily acceffible, from this part of the coaft than almost any other.

IX.

ation, together with every thing that regards moral order CHA P. and regulations.-The fecond clafs fhould have the care of the cultivation of the foil of the colony, or the raising of productions, it's management, and the difpofal thereof.

176. If fix directors were established for each class, the business being more systematically divided, would be more cafily managed. Each director should be placed at the head of his particular department, and become answerable to the whole court of directors, as the whole court of directors should be responsible to the subscribers and the colonists at every general meeting.

177. By this mode of arranging the business, it will become necessary to have a general meeting, of the whole court, only once a quarter. Each class might meet once a month, and every director, as the head of his particular department, might manage the business in such a manner as may best fuit his convenience.

178. It seems to be the indispensable duty of every director, not to reject any petitions, or propofitions, that may be presented to him, but to lay the same before the meeting of his class, with his own opinion thereon: and all fuch petitions or propofitions, prefented before that clafs to which they belong, should be included in a report to the next quarterly meeting of a general court of directors, who are to decide upon the fame, and which court should direct that all fuch papers fhould be properly digefted and entered in the general reports, which every year fhould be laid before the subscribers.

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С НА Р.
IX.

Promotive

with respect to morals.

Executive

with respect

to order.

THE FIRST CLASS,

which regards the cultivation, civilization and order of the people, and their preservation in the colony and it's dependencies. This Class may be divided into the two following divifions, and each of these into three departments.

FIRST DIVISION.

1. For promoting regular marriages in the colony, as the
foundation of all focial order and true religion.
This head depart. includes three kinds of duties.
1. The adjustment of differences between married partners.
2. The promoting and encouraging the marriage of young men.
3. The promoting and encouraging the marriage of young women.

Sees

150, 153.

2. For promoting education and inftruction, which is the
fecond object of importance, and without which
no civilization can take place. This department
includes alfo three duties, viz.

1. The preparatory or family educat. of children under 10 years.
2. The education of boys, feparately, above ten years of age.
3. The education of girls, feparately, above ten years of age.

See $

144,

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3. For promoting ufeful occupations or employments in the colony. This is of effential confequence, next to the two before mentioned, in order that the colony may flourish. The objects for this depart. are,

1. Children.

2. Men.

3. Women.

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SECOND DIVISION.

1. The executive department of the laws, viz.

1. The laws of justice.

{2. The laws of police, and

2. The laws of police, and polity, (fee § 166.)

3. The Economical laws.

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2. The executive department for the performance of the

healing art, as comprehending

I.

The Medical.

2. The Surgical.

3.

The Pharmaceutical.

See $162.

3. The executive department for the performance of external worship, particularly in the three effential ordi

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Promotive

with refpect to practical

art.

THE SECOND CLASS,

which regards the cultivation of the foil and the preserva-
tion of the colony. This Clafs, like that on the opposite
fide, may
be divided into the two following divifions, and
each of these into three departments.

FIRST DIVISION.

1. For promoting the production of raw materials in the co-
lony from the three natural kingdoms, viz.

1. Animal,

2. Vegetable,

3. Mineral.

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2. For promoting the internal trade and manufactures of the
colony, or the formation and the employment of
the before mentioned raw productions for, the
immediate use of the colony, reducible to

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3. For promoting the commerce of the whole colony, viz.

1. Their interior or colonial trade,

2. The trade of exportation,

3. The trade of importation.

}

See 165.

CHAP.

IX.

Executive

with refpect

to peace.

SECOND DIVISION.

1. The executive department for the defence of the colony
when attacked

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ing the expences of

1. Public charities

2. Public works

3. Public defence

}

See § 170.

3. The executive department for all thofe political affairs,
whereby the colony must maintain its connection

With its government or direction,

2. With other companies or colonies,
3. With it's neighbouring African nations.

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