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CHA P. and 100 natives, a ftrength sufficient for defence, as well as to erect buildings and clear land for future colonists *.

BULAMA.

Eftimated expenfe.

586. As the Trustees are inclined to think that an under-
taking, on this small scale, will be most generally agreeable,
they will confine their estimate to it's probable expense.—
If the war continue, they think it will be necessary to pur-
chafe faft failing packets, of between 70 and 100 tons, of which
three may
be fufficient for the firft expedition.

Thefe, copper-bottomed and fitted for fea, may coft about £1200 each.
Wages of 9 men for each will be about £162 per month, or for 6 months
Infurance out and home, 20 per cent on £5000

Goods for trade

£.

3600

972 1000

1000.

Means of detraying it.

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Salaries for one year for Governor £300, Store-keeper £2co, two Surgeons
£400, Surveyor and aft ffiant £400, and 14 others £40 each, is +
Cash to pay port charges, &c.
Expenfes at home-

Total eftimated expenfe

1860

500

500

£12,932

587. The means of defraying this and all future expense, are obviously to arise from the fale of lands, of which millions of acres may be advantageously purchased. Besides Bulama island, and the large district, called Great Bulama, purchased by Mr. Beaver, and which, together, may contain 500,000 acres, he might, with equal ease, have bought the

*See in the Append. Notes &c. respecting S. Leona and Bulama, NOTE G G. No 14.

In my opinion all these falaries fhould be doubled; for it cannot be expected that men of real worth and ability, will chearfully enter on the laborious duties of a new undertaking, in a new and untried climate, for incomes which, (except thofe of the labourers,) are scarcely equal to what fuch men can obtain at home. In particular, I think £300 a year for a Governor, £400 for two furgeons, by far too little for perfons, on whofe abilities and exertions, under Providence, the fuccefs of a new colony, in a great measure, depends. See § 125, 127.

oppofite

XI.

BULAMA.

Lands fhould the beginning

be divided, at

of fecond year.

opposite shore of the Rio Grande, and the valuable territory CHA P. of Ghinala, and, in short, any lands belonging to the Papels and Biafaras that he chose. (See the large map.) It is therefore perfectly within bounds to calculate that 1,000,000 of acres may be bought by the Affociation, and fold again to Europeans, which at £60 for 500 acres (the reasonable rate of the first subscription, see § 180,.n.) would raise £120,000 fter. a sum which the Trustees deem amply fufficient to colonize any lands which His Majesty may, by his charter, be pleased to authorize the Affociation to purchase *. 588. The Trustees are farther of opinion, that if an expedition, on the small scale they have pointed out, fhould be thought advisable, and should fucceed, the lands fhould be divided at the beginning of the second year, and the proprietors be called upon to locate their purchases. (§ 181. The furveyors will then have had fufficient time to make such surveys, as will be necessary for the divifion of the lands: and it is obvious, that the fooner this takes place, the fooner may a vigorous cultivation be expected to commence. 589. The Trustees are fully warranted in entertaining the most favourable opinion of Bulama and it's neighbourhood. They are convinced that the country, when cleared, will be healthful for Europeans; that the foil is rich; that, even in it's prefent neglected flate, the country abounds with valuable woods, plants, fruits and animals, with a great variety of spices; that the harbours are excellent and swarm with fish; that the native tribes are few, and, except the Bijugas, friendly; and the Rio Grande, and other navigable rivers in the neighbourhood, afford a prospect of opening a most advantageous commerce with the interior parts of Africa.

* See in the Append. Notes, &c. refpe&ting S. Leona and Bulama, NOTE HH,

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Trustees' opi

nion of the foil,

&c. of Bu

lama.

CHAP.
XI

Petition for a charter for Bulama pre

pared.

African facts not yet publifhed.

590. It only remains for the Trustees to apologize for the length of this report, and to bespeak the same candour and regard to truth in judging of it, which have guided them in discharging the delicate task of it's compilation.

591.

To the above (abridged) Report, andthe notes and papers in the appendix therewith connected, I have only to add, that a petition for a charter to incorporate the Bulama Affociation, has been prepared, and will, no doubt, be communicated to the British Ministry, as soon as circumstances seem to promise success to the application. But, in the present posture of public affairs, Minifters are of course so much occupied in concerns of a more preffing nature, that they cannot reasonably be expected to confider this propofition with that collected attention which it deferves, and which, it may be hoped, the return of peace will fhortly enable them to bestow on this and fimilar subjects..

592. As to that part of the Appendix which relates to Sierra Leona and Bulama, I would obferve, that it contains every paper and document, which can with propriety be given to the world, at this time, from my African collection, the whole contents of which I hope to be, one day, at full liberty to communicate to the public. Not wishing to excite expectations which I have not fome profpect of gratifying, I can only fay, at present, that I have long been, and now am, engaged in collecting every kind of information respecting Africa; and that, when all obftacles to publication are removed, I may be able to contribute my share towards convincing the Europeans of the value of that neglected quarter of the globe.

593. From what has been stated in the four foregoing (abridged) Reports, refpecting the British colonies at Sierra

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XI.

the great

ect of the British colo

nies in Africa.

Leona and Bulama, every intelligent and candid reader will CHA P. easily collect, that the leading principle, in both undertakings, has been a fincere defire to communicate to the injured nations of Africa, the bleffings of civilization. Not that mer- Civilization cantile confiderations have been entirely excluded. The reader will perhaps trace a few ideas of this kind, which, like tares among the wheat, have intruded into both inftitutions. But he will also discover that, far from having been suffered to predominate, they have been, on every occasion, rendered as fubfervient to the generous views of both the Affociations, as circumftances would permit. He will candidly remember too, that the minds of the present generation of Europeans have been fo entirely pecuniarized (if I may venture to coin a word) that no enterprize, quite free from the base alloy of mercantile speculation, can be expected fuddenly to be undertaken. So violent a transition could scarcely be permanently beneficial, and might ultimately be very injurious. Social improvement is, in it's nature, progressive, and though it's advancement may not be perceptible to vulgar eyes, the philofopher will trace it by comparing the present with the paft; and the Christian will reft satisfied, that every real improvement which, in the course of Providence, has once been begun, will in due time, arrive at perfection.

594. Some persons, I know, who are apt to doubt the existence of disinterested motives, because, perhaps, they do not feel them stirring in their own bofoms, have not fcrupled to attribute to the promoters of the grand enterprizes we have been describing, the fame selfish views which actuate all commercial adventurers. I believe few of my readers will fufpect me of partiality to commercial fpeculation: several

The prefent

generation of

Europe PE

CUNIARIZED

of

CHA P. of them know that I have been jealously watching the rife,

XI.

Names of Sub

fcribers to

African colo

nization.

progrefs and objects of these interesting enterprizes; and, fo fully am I convinced of the general purity of the motives which actuated the Directors of the S. Leona Company, the Trustees of the Bulama Affociation, and the Subscribers to both, that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of adorning my Append. with their respectable names. I wish it were in my power to convey them to the moft diftant regions, and to nations yet unborn. But I can at least indulge the pleasing hope, that their meritorious exertions will be attended with the refpectful imitation of their cotemporaries, the grateful remembrance of pofterity, and above all, with the bleffing of Providence.

I am fure I cannot better employ the remainder of this page, than by respectfully fubmitting to the benevolent in general, especially to the promoters of African colonization, the following

Cafe of real and preffing Diftrefs:

A refpectable tradesman in this metropolis, whose imprudent zeal in the Bulama undertaking, had filled his mind with high expectations of immediate success, embarked for that Island, with his wife and three unmarried daughters, and his and their whole property, leaving behind him two daughters married in London. The difappointment of fuch expectations, added to the hardships and loffes he experienced, in the unfortunate catastrophe which befel the colony, preyed fo much on his health and spirits, that he died at S. Leona, fhortly after the Calypfo arrived there. ( § 545.) Having lost their protector and their property, the disconsolate females returned to England, filled with anxious cares respecting their future fubfiftence. They have since struggled hard to maintain themselves by needlework, which their good education both enabled and difpofed them to execute. But, unfortunately, they have never been able to procure a regular supply of this kind of employment. While fubfifting thus precariously, sometimes with, and sometimes almoft without, the neceffaries of life, the husband of the eldest married daughter was imprisoned for debt, and, after languishing for 10 weeks in the Fleet prison, in a damp cellar, laid with flag-ftones, and crowded with 8 other persons, he expired in a galloping confumption. The husband of the other married daughter, who was his furety, has lately been also arrested, and is now confined. Thus, to this difconfolate family are now added, the two married daughters, with their two children. In short, thefe fix helpleis females and two infants, are now pining with want, in the house adjoining to that in which I live.

Those who are disposed to relieve them with money or needle- work, may receive fuller information respecting their cafe, from DARTON and HARVEY, No. 55, Gracechurch-street.

N.B. I was unwilling to commit the above to the press, till I had fully fatisfied myself of the truth of this statement. But, in addition to other enquiries, I have fince viewed the wretched apartment above mentioned, and was informed by the person who attends it, that the debtors confined in it, are generally feized with a galloping confumption, which foon carries them off. (See § 197.)

DANISH.

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