647. "Here I fhall only observe, that the British feamen and foldiers feem to be fent APPENDIX. those coafts, as if with a view to make them a facrifice; fo that the wonder is not that fo many die, but that so many return. But by proper precautions, it may probably be as little furprising in a few years, that 100 perfons fhould return hearty and well, from a 3 years residence on the coaft of Guinea, as after a 3 years circumnavigation, which, till governments condescended to confult men of science, were generally at tended with the lofs of three-fourths of the feamen. 648. "Should any thing herein offered want elucidation, I fhall be obliged to you for your remarks. Hammersmith, 21ft July, 1783. I am, &c. HENRY SMEATHMAN." Subftance of a Plan of a Settlement, to be made near Sierra Leona, on the Grain Coaft of Africa, intended more particularly for the fer vice and happy establishment of Blacks and people of colour to be shipped as freemen, under the direction of the Committee for relieving the black poor, and under the protection of the British Government. By Henry Smeathman, Efq. who refided in that country near four years." London printed 1786, in dva. See § 338. (1.) "ANY person defirous of a permanent and comfortable establishment, in a most pleasant, fertile climate, near SIERRA LEONA, where land is cheap, may do it on the following advantageous conditions. (2.) "They will be carried out at five guineas each person, and supplied weekly during the voyage, with 5lb. Bread, 1 ditto Beef, 3 ditto Pork, ditto Molaffes, 1 ditto Flour, 1 ditto Pot Barley, ditto Suet, ditto Raifins, 1 pint Oatmeal, 1 ditto Peas, 2 ditto Rum for grog; with Pimento, Ginger, &c. (3.) "They will also have the fame allowance, for 3 months after their arrival, and which will coft 3l. 15s. fter. for each person. (4.) "Those who can afford to go as fteerage, steward-room, or cabin paffengers, will be accommodated accordingly. (5.) "On their arrival in Africa, a convenient tract of land will be purchased for the community, to be their joint property. A townfhip will then be marked out, and houses run up by the joint labour of the whole, for immediate shelter: this may eafily be effected there, as materials are so near at hand, that 10 or 12 men may erect very comfortable habitations, in a few days. (6.)" Each person will be allowed, by common confent, to poffefs as much land as he or she can cultivate, to which they may always add as much more as their neceffity, or convenience may require. (7.) "It is proposed to take out proper artificers, for erecting the neceffary buildings, and dividing the lands. (8.) "Befide the produce obtained from their own lands, individuals, by moderate labour, will have other eafy means of procuring, not only the neceffaries, but alfo Head's of Dr. APPENDIX. alfo the comforts of life. Fowls, hogs, goats, and fheep, are very cheap, being propagated with a rapidity unknown in Europe; plenty of fish may be easily caught; and the forefts abound with venifon, wild-fowl, and other game. (9.) "Such are the mildness and fertility of the climate and country, that a man poffeffed of a change of cloathing, an axe, a hoe, and a pocket knife, may soon place himself in an eafy fituation. All the cloathing wanted is what decency requires; and the earth turned up of 2 or 3 inches, with a flight hoe, produces any kind of grain. (10.) "These favourable circumstances, combined with the peaceable temper of the natives, promife the numerous advantages refulting from the quiet cultivation of the earth, and the exportation of it's productions, which may be very advantageously exchanged for European manufactures. (11.) "The climate is very healthy to thofe who live on the productions of the country. The cause why it has been fatal to many whites, is, that they have led moft intemperate lives; have fubfifted chiefly on dried, falted, rancid and other unwholesome provisions; and have indulged beyond all bounds, in the use of spirits. They have been also cooped up in ships, small craft, or factories, stationed for the advantage of trade, in close rivers or creeks; not choosing healthy fpots, as is now propofed. Add to this, that the furgeons of ships trading thither, have hitherto been generally ignorant of the proper mode of treating diseases in that climate; or they have not been fufficiently fupplied with medicines. Many perfons have perished for want of good diet or nursing, and not a few from the total neglect of that mutual affiftance, which the fettlement propofed will furnish. (See $74 et feq.) (12) "The adventurers on this new establishment will be under the care of a physician, who has had 4 years practice on the coast of Africa, and as many in the W. Indies; and who being well provided, accompanied by skilful assistants, in furgery, midwifry, &c. and by feveral experienced women, they will enjoy every neceffary affiftance. (13.) "It is alfo intended that the adventurers shall be accompanied by a clergyman, and a schoolmaster and mistress, at the expence of the whole community. · (14.) "Such will be the fituation of thofe, who cultivate their plantations for their own advantage: but, as many, instead of working wholly for themselves, may choose occafionally to ferve the agent, or any other individual, for hire: fome will employ their money in cultivation and trade: in that case the labourers will be fupplied with provisions, and paid for their daily labour in the currency of the country. (15.)" Only 8 hours of fair labour each day will be required, in fummer or winter; and on Saturday's only 6 hours. The fabbath will be fet apart as a day of reft, inftruction, and devotion. (16.)" The colonists being under the protection of the British Government, will confequently enjoy both civil and religious liberty, as in Great-Britain. (17.) Difputes relative to property, or offences committed among themselves, APPENDIX. will be fettled according to the laws, by their own peers, in a town meeting. (18.)" Offenders against the natives, in neighbouring diftricts, will be amenable to the laws of the country, unless the agent shall be able to compound for the penalty. (19.)" In addition to those persons who are able to pay for their paffage, it is intended to conduct this enterprife, on the most humane principles: it will be extended to others who have not money, on condition of agreements for their respective hire, to be calculated according to the ages and abilities of the parties; fo that every one may be fure of having a comfortable provifion made, after a short period, on the reasonable terms of moderate labour. (20.) " And whereas many black persons, and people of colour, refugees from America, disbanded from His Majefty's fervice by fea or land, or otherwife diftinguished objects of British humanity, are at this time in the greatest distress, they are invited to avail themselves of the advantages of the plan proposed. (21.)" The committee, appointed for the relief of the Black Poor, having reprefented their unhappy fituation to the Right Hon. the Lords Commiffioners of the Treasury, Government has agreed to furnish them, not only with a paffage and provifion, but also with cloathing, provisions for 3 months after their landing, together with all forts of tools and implements of husbandry, necessary for the establishment of a new colony, according to the schedules annexed. (See § 129.) (22.) "Such persons will be also entitled to the neceffary allotment of land, and other benefits, in as great a latitude as will render their lives easy. (23.) "An opportunity fo advantageous may perhaps never be offered to them again; for they and their posterity may enjoy perfect freedom. Settled in a country congenial to their conftitutions, and having the means, by moderate labour, of the most comfortable livelihood, they will find a certain and fecure retreat from their former fufferings. HENRY SMEATHMAN." SCHEDULES ABOVE REFERRED TO. (24.) The Weekly Allowance of Provifions for the Voyage, and for 3 Months after their Arrival, the fame as above. 649. To Dr. Smeathman's plan is annexed the following hand-bill, which throws fome light on the hiftory of the Colony at Sierra Leona. BLACK POOR. "IT having been very maturely and humanely confidered, by what means a fupport might be given to the Blacks, who seek the protection of this government; it is found that no place is so fit and proper, as the Grain Coast of Africa; where the ne. ceffaries of life may be supplied, by the force of industry and moderate labour, and life rendered very comfortable. It has been meditated to fend Blacks to Nova Scotia, but this plan is laid aside, as that country is unfit and improper for the faid Blacks. "The Committee for the Black Poor* accordingly recommended Henry Smeathman, Efq. who is acquainted with this part of the coast of Africa, to take charge of all the said persons, who are defirous of going with him: and to give them all fit and proper encouragement, agreeably to the humanity of the British Government. Batfon's Coffee-house, By defire of the Committee, JONAS HANWAY, Chairman, 17th May, 1786. "Those who are defirous of profiting by this opportunity, of fettling in one of the most pleasant and fertile countries in the known world, may apply for further information to Mr. SMEATHMAN, the Author of the Plan, and Agent for the Settle ment, at the Office for free Africans, No. 14, Canon-street." * A lift of that respectable Committee is inferted at § 331, note. 650 Dr. 650. Dr. Lettfom, to whose liberal communications I have been much indebted, APPENDIX. has favoured me with the perufal of a great number of Dr. Smeathman's original letters to him, fome of which are, in many respects, very interesting. From them it Dr. S's letters appears, that Dr. S. while in Paris, was much engaged in the improvement of air to Dr.Lettiom balloons, a pursuit natural enough to his philofophic mind: but I believe his proposed application of it was altogether peculiar to himself; for he declares his refolution to appropriate all the profits, which might refult from his intended aeronautic adventures, to his African scheme. Men of a sportive fancy, may perhaps deride this idea, as little elfe than a project to build one aerial caftle upon another. But a fittle reflection will remind them, that fome of the greatest discoveries were originally projects. They will remember, that Galileo was not only derided, but persecuted; that Columbus was treated as a projector; and that even Newton, though fupported by demonstration, was ridiculed and contradicted, before he was underflood. Without ranking Smeathman with such names, it seems but just to allow him the praise due to that generofity, capacity and perfeverance which prompted him, under many difcouragements, to purfue an arduous enterprize, only as the means of attempting one ftill more arduous, and far more useful.-But my limits will not admit any farther particulars refpecting this fingular genius. This is the lefs to be regretted, as Dr. Lettfom well knew, better than I, how to apply Smeathman's letters, and the other valuable MSS. in his poffeffion, to the benefit of mankind, which I am perfuaded he ardently wishes to promote. For a proof of Dr. Smeathman's tafte for Natural Hiftory, especially the more useful parts of it, fee his account of those destructive insects the Termites, (Wood-ants, Wood-lice, Bug-abugs,) in the Phil. Tranf. for 1781. 66 The following interesting Paper is taken verbatim from a Scarce Book, entitled, Philofophical Experiments and Obfervations of the late Dr. Robert Hook, "S. R.S. &c." published by Mr. Derham, London, 1726. Tranfcript of a Paper of a Quantity of Gold up the River Gambay, in 1693. 651. "YOUR importunity, together with my gratitude to you, for your most curious informations and inftructions in the mechanics (without which, I confefs my labour had been in vain) has extorted that from me, which, I confess, the resolution I had a-new taken to the contrary, by refolving never to divulge, either for love, or force; to which end I expect, according to your faithful and folemn vows of fecrecy, both of the business itself, and likewise of which I would not The writer reshould be known to the King for £10,000, being content with what proportion it quires fecrecy. |