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SUPPLE-
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CHAP. him every idea of liberality seemed to have departed from Gorce: for (2.) After this inaufpicious event, we were very uncivilly treated by the agents of the Senegal company, who would neither grant us a veffel to proceed along the coast, nor furnifh us, as they were ordered, with those goods which they well knew were abfolutely neceffary, for our proposed journey into the interior parts. (3.) A French corvette which arrived at Goree, brought the disagreeable news, that hoftilities had commenced between Great Britain and France. Though this report afterwards proved to be groundlefs, it greatly increased the difficulties in our arrangements with M. Blanchau, the new governor. (4.) The general war, which the most powerful negro nations were provoked, by the oppreffive monopoly exercised by the Senegal company, to declare against the French, rendered it impossible for us to penetrate to the interior, through the extensive maritime territories of those justly irritated princes *.

Return to
Europe.

616. Controled by these irresistible caufes, we were obliged to return to Europe, and to content ourselves with those obfervations on the adjacent coast, and that intelligence refpecting remoter parts, which our opportunities enabled us to make and to collect; and which, though not fo extenfive as we wished, afforded my fellow travellers no mean specimens of the natural treasures of Africa, and fully convinced me of

The late Senegal company of France, had contrived to obtain perhaps the most extensive privileges ever enjoyed, by any fimilar establishment. Every article from which a mercantile profit could be squeezed, not excepting the natural curiofities of the country, fell under their gripe. As an inftance, I may mention that I could not get a parrot, without it's paffing through the hands of the company's agents. In fhort, fuch was their unconscionable rapacity, as not only to rouse the vengeance of the negro nations, but alfo to excite the filent but deep felt refentment of the mulattoes of Goree and Senegal, whofe very existence depended on their commerce with the neighbouring continent.

the

the practicability of establishing European colonies, on feveral CHA P. parts of that coast.

617. Of all the places we vifited, Cape Verd appeared to me the most eligible fituation for a new colony*. The natural advantages of this promontory, are indeed so numerous, that nothing but the general inattention to Africa, which has fo long prevailed in Europe, can account for the neglect of fuch a fituation. (See § 2 et feq.) Being nearly furrounded by the sea, and abounding with bold elevations, and rich vallies, watered with excellent springs, it is undoubtedly as healthful, fertile and defensible, as any part of that coast, within a convenient distance from Europe. Befides an eafy intercourse with Europe, this Cape has an advantage altogether peculiar to itself, in the vicinity of the cleanly, airy and healthful town of Goree, where the colonists might be well accommodated, till they could erect houses on the adjacent continent, and from the fame town the colony might derive occafional affistance, during the delicate period of it's infancy. But political confiderations forbade me to cherish any hope of forming a colony at Cape Verd. The French had twice purchased that whole peninsula, from King Damel, for that express purpose t. The last bargain was made by

the

* I might have obferved, in the text, that Joal, Portudal, Cape Rouge, and one or two other places which I vifited, are all more or less proper for colonies. But it may be necessary to add, that the whole country adjacent to Fort Louis, in the river Senegal, is fo unfavourable to health, as to be an unpleasant, not to say an unfafe, habitation for Europeans. See § 80, 97.

+ The neceffity of fometimes re-purchafing the fame tract of land from the negro princes, may arife, (1.) from their fimple idea of property, which appears to depend intirely on immediate occupancy. If the purchaser do not refide on the land, and cultivate it, they conclude that, having no ufe for it, he has given it up, and confequently

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c. Verd, &c.

eligible for

colonization.

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CHA P. for support in this, than in my native, country, where the abfurd war with Ruffia was absorbing the attention, the treasure, and the blood of a nation then fuffering under the influence of ruinous councils*. Nor were my hopes ill founded, though they have hitherto been deferred; for my applications to the British Ministry, were fo effectually supported by persons of the first respectability, that, in 1789, a veffel was ordered to be equipped, for an expedition to discover the most proper fituations for colonies, on the Western coast of Africa.

620. The command of this veffel was, undoubtedly with great propriety, conferred on Captain Roberts of the

* I am forry to observe, that I myself have, in more than one inftance, been made the dupe of fuch councils. In particular, in the year 1774, I was fent to Sollingen in Weftphalia, by order of the late King of Sweden, to engage swordcutlers to come over to that country. M. Sandels, counsellor of the board of mines, who was at the head of this political, or rather warlike, manoeuvre, hinted tome, in confidence, that the King even then, (viz. fo early as 1774,) meditated an attack on Ruffia, and was determined to have fwords made in Sweden, without the knowledge or affiftance of any other European power. Young and inexperienced in court machinations, I was prevailed on to undertake this bufinefs, without being well apprized of the hazard to which I exposed myself. For, after engaging fome cutlers, I found that a flavish law in that place, prohibited thofe poor creatures from endeavouring to better their condition, by emigrating to other countries. I was therefore arrested, and confined for several weeks in the citadel of Duffeldorf. But this did not make me abandon my object, in which I at last succeeded so well, that I brought over with me 27 perfons, who were established at Eskilstuna in Sweden, where their deftructive manufacture is now carried on, in as great perfection as at Sollingen, an acquifition to my country, which I now blush to have been the inftrument of introducing; and, for which I have nothing but the inexperienec of youth, and miftaken notions of patriotifm and honour, to offer in excufe. When engaging therefore with Guftavus III. in the African expedition, I ought to have recollected how little reafon I had to depend on the philanthropy of a monarch invefted with unlimited power, and befet, as he was, on all fides, by wicked and interested courtiers.

Royal

CHAP.

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by a threat

ened war with

Spain;

Royal Navy, whose nautical education under the great Cook, whom he accompanied in his voyages round the world, eminently qualified him for such an undertaking. I had the daily fatisfaction of seeing the equipment proceed, under the able inspection of Capt. Roberts, when a mercan- Difappointed tile dispute about a paltry cargo of skins, purchased by a British ship on a barbarous coast, claimed (forfooth) by Spain, had nearly ended in a war between the two nations. Ridiculous as was the cause of this conteft, it's confequences to my scheme were serious; for the ship having been equipped, Capt. Roberts waited a confiderable time for orders; and, after all, I had the mortification to see him commanded to proceed on a fecret expedition, which I had every reason to believe, was connected with this Nootka Sound business. (fee $324.) From the year 1790, to the commencement of the present war, the peace of Europe was too precarious for me to hope for attention to any application on this subject; and the destroying sword must be sheathed, before I can rationally think of renewing them*. Thus has this undertaking been four several times interrupted by preparation for,

* When in Africa, I was much ftruck with the inclination I every where obferved among the negroes, to fpin and weave cotton; and was often furprized at their perfeverance under all the difadvantages which attend imperfect machinery. I brought home, however, one of their simple looms, and several specimens of their cloth, of different qualities, fome of which are even elegant enough, to have convinced every English manufacturer, who has feen them, that the fabricators want nothing but inftruction and encouragement, to make them excellent artizans. As I had hopes of returning one day to Africa, I thought I could not better employ that time, during which I was obliged to wait for the final determination of the British Government, than in endeavouring to obtain a competent knowledge of the cotton manufacture. Accordingly, I entered into that business at Manchester; and, I truft, the knowledge of it I there acquired, has qualified me, in one respect, to contribute to give the natives of Africa, that inftruction, which has hitherto been denied them by civilized nations.

Cc 2

or

XI.

CHA P. or the actual ravages of war, that scourge of the human species, that invariable disturber of every enterprize, calculated to advance their moral improvement, or their focial happiness.

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yet not hopeles.

621. Yet I do not think these difcouragements, fhould make me despair of the ultimate fuccefs of the proposed plan; though it must be confessed that, in any preceding century, fuch a plan would probably have been regarded as an instance of enthusiasm, approaching to infanity. But the cruel reign of prejudice, especially respecting the war-system, appears to be drawing faft to a period, and mankind are apparently advancing to a new and exalted degree of improvement. Thofe great, yet fimple truths, which craft and ignorance have hitherto concealed, begin to be unveiled by a light, which, though occafionally intercepted by lowering clouds, feems destined to display Social Harmony, in all her lovely proportions, to the admiring and obedient nations.

APPENDIX.

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