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APPENDIX. huts of the colonists were neither wind nor water-tight, which increased the mortality fo much that, though in June only 9 died, no fewer than 42 were carried off in July. Such was the general distress and indolence, that the remaining tranfport, which had in the greatest quantity of stores, was not cleared and ready to fail till the 21ft of Auguft.

Neceffity obliges the colonifts to

plant.

Provifions&c. finally ferved

out.

682. Her departure brought the colonifts to fome fenfe of their condition; for they then plainly faw that, without exertion, they muft inevitably perish, when their present flock of provisions should be exhaufted. In the intervals of fair weather, therefore, they began to plant rice, Indian corn, &c. which throve very well. Stock was very scarce and dear; yet fome of them had poultry in their yards, which they had brought with their spare cloaths, &c. and others had faved a a part of their weekly allowance of provisions; for several individuals had all along been induftrious and temperate.

683. By the 13th of Sep. the provisions, the cloathing, tools, &c. were entirely served out to the colonists, and, on that day, the arms and ammunition were fent on shore. From the mortality which had taken place, there remained several surplus articles which Capt. Thompson ftored on fhore as public property, for the benefit of the community.

Capt. T. 684. On the 16th of Sep. (1787) Capt. Thompson, in the Nautilus, failed from leaves S. Le- the colony, which mortality and desertion, chiefly the former, had reduced to 276 ona. Colony reduced to 276 persons, namely 212 black men, 30 black women, 5 white men and 29 white women. Capt. Thompson having witneffed the reformation which the failing of the transports and the approach of his own departure had wrought in the poor people, was not without hopes of their final fuccefs; for he confidered that the furvivors were then seasoned to the climate, and that neceffity would oblige them to plant the ground and to build comfortable houses in the approaching dry feason.

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685. Most of the above particulars are extracted from the journal of Mr. T. D. Woodin, kept on board the Nautilus; and fome of the most material of them were confirmed by Capt. Thompfon, in his evidence before the H. of Commons (Minutes of Evidence on the flave-trade 1790, p. 171.) It is a remarkable fact, that the Nautilus, furrounded as fhe was by the ravages of death, for above 4 months, loft only one man, the reft of the ship's company enjoying perfect health, though confined entirely to falt provifions, and on a station where a flave-fhip would most probably have loft the greater part of her crew. This circumftance muft furely be admitted as a proof, not only of Capt. T's prudent care, but that the mortality on fhore was not fo much owing to the climate, as to want of fhelter, and to intemperance which had debilitated many of the poor wretches, long before they faw S. Leona. This, however, is far from being the only inftance of King's fhips being perfectly healthy on the coast of Africa (see § 78.)--Mr. Woodin mentions bad water as a frequent caufe of difeafe on the coaft, and affirms that, in two former voyages he made,

made," the water lower down the coast, gave the people Guinea-worms, fome of APPENDIX. which did not appear out of the flesh for 8 months after leaving Africa. These, continues he, "the company of the Nautilus were not troubled with, and is a con. vincing proof that S. Leona is the most eligible fituation on the coaft for a fettlement, having plenty of wood and excellent water." (See § 52.)

colonifts

Mr. Sharp

to relieve the

fends a veffel

686. In March, 1788, the Rev. Mr. Frazer returned, on account of ill health. Be- In Mar. 1788, fore his departure, many of the colonifts had fold their mufkets, &c. for rum. The healthy, but fickness had entirely ceased: but fo many had emigrated to the flave-factories, &c. many hademis grated. as to reduce the number of the colonills to 130, whom he left in perfect health, he himself having been then the only fick perfon among them. The emigration he attributed partly to the fickleness of the people, and partly to the want of live flock, which even the more induftrious, who remained, were too poor to purchase. 687. In May 1788, Mr. Granville Sharp chartered a veífel of 160 tons, at his own expenfe, in which he shipped two months provifions for 50 perfons who had engaged to go out, with cloathing, arms, tools, &c. and a fum of money to buy live colony; ftock on the coaft. On Mr. Sharp's application, Government furnished £200 fter. more, for the purchase of flock. On the 6th of June, the vessels failed with 39 perfons on board, the reft having deserted. The vessel touched at St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd Islands, and did not arrive at S. Leona till the 6th of Aug. But the captain, who was alfo the owner of the vessel, took in no live stock at Saint Jago, or any where else; but, contrary to his own express contract, he delivered to the colonifts goods to the value of a certain number of cattle. Thofe goods he doubtless car- but the capried out with him from England, in the way of a job, a species of frugality which the tain deceives captain certainly had as good a right to practise as any other man. He appears indeed to have made a profitable job of this whole business. My reafons for faying fo are, ift, His being owner, as well as captain, of this chartered veffel. 2dly, The unconscionable length of his voyage outwards. 3dly, His having goods ready, cut and dry, to deliver in lieu of cattle; for it is not likely that he carried those goods from England for any other purpose, as he well knew the poor colonists were unable to pay for them. 4thly, Part of the money intrufted to him was Government-money, which was alone a firong temptation to a job. 5thly, I have heard perfons of strict veracity, well acquainted with this whole bufinefs, declare that Capt. T-1-r acted as Thus did an unprincipled fellow dare to frustrate the benevolent intentions, not only of Mr. Sharp, but of the British Government itself.-I have been well informed that this expedition alone coft Mr. Sharp between 5 and £600 fter. exclufive of the £200 given by Government, and of 150 guineas, fent him by a worthy person whose name, if I could difcover it, should accompany that of his friend; for, I think, all fuch examples ought to be made public, for the imitation of the rich, and the confequent comfort of the poor. Mr. Sharp, I know, is of a different opinion; but, from the nature of the transactions, his generofity, on this and fimilar

a

occafions,

him.

APPENDIX.

Many coloniftsemigrate, 2 fold as

flaves. Man of war ordered

to call at S.

Leona.

St. George's Bay Co. afterwards in

Occafions, could not be concealed: and, indeed, I knew moft of the circumftances of this expedition, at the time, having been often on board the vessel, while she lay in the Thames, and having taken care to inform myfelf of the refult of this bufinefs. 688. By a letter from Mr. Weaver, the Chief Magiftrate, dated S. Leona April 23d, 1788, which arrived after Capt. T―l-r had failed, it appeared that most of the colonifts had then emigrated, fome to the flave-factories, and others on board flave-ships; also that King Tom, prefuming on the weakness of the remainder (whose numbers Mr. Weaver did not specify) had fold two of them for flaves, and threatened to fell more. The furgeons and other whites, tempted by large falaries, had entered into the fervice of the flave-merchants, at the neighbouring factories. This difagreeable intelligence, Mr. Sharp immediately communicated, by letter, to Mr. Pitt, requesting that directions might be given to the captain of the ship of war, then under orders for the coaft, to represent to King Tom the impropriety of his behaviour, and to secure the people from farther injury. Orders to this effect were accordingly given to the captain.But I am forry that the want of materials prevents me from purfuing this narrative.

689. I think, however, I ought not to omit that, previous to the incorporation of the prefent S. Leona Company of A&t of Parliament, in 1791, a number of gentlemen, corporated in- anxious to promote the civilization of Africa, which, from the Report of the British

to S. Leona

Co.

Privy Council, feemed very practicable, and to collect the surviving, and really most deferving colonists, had associated, under the name of "the St. George's Bay Company." Of the minute made at their firft meeting, the following is a copy.

690. "At a meeting of the Gentlemen difpofed to encourage a free trade to St. George's Harbour, on the coast of Africa, held this 17th of Feb. 1790.

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Several of the above gentlemen were chofen Directors of the S. Leona Company, Od. 19th 1791. (See § 333.) Indeed the S. Leona Co. was formed out of the St. George's Bay Co. or rather, it is the fame affociation, incorporated (for 31 years) under a different name.

"RESOLVED,

(1.) “RESOLVED, That the erection of a Company, for the purpose of opening APPENDIX. and establishing a trade in the natural productions of Africa, to the Free Settlement in St. George's Harbour, is a measure highly proper."

(2.) " RESOLVED, that the thanks of the Meeting be given to Mr. Sharp, for the

pains he has taken in the business: and he is hereby requested to take to his affift- Refolutions. ance, fuch profeffional and other advice, as he may find neceffary to the project." "In cafe the proposed establishment fhould take place, we agree to take the shares of £50 each, fet down against our refpective names.

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"These undermentioned gentlemen were not present; but they have fignified their defire to subscribe, viz. Mr. Alderman Le Mefurier, W. Morland, Efq. Mr. J. Phillips, Mr. Jo. Shaw, and Mr. Vickeris Taylor."

NOTE C. See § 335, 473.

after their

691. The circumftances attending the breaking up of the first colony at S. Leona, Situation of in Nov. 1789, are stated in the fecond report of the Directors, (fee § 473.)-The the colonists, colonists having loft their houfes and their little property, took immediate refuge in difperfion. Bob's Ifland, belonging to the factory at Bance Island, where, however, they do not appear to have remained long. Mr. Alex. Kennedy, in a letter “to the St. George's Bay Company," dated Bance Island, Feb. 9th, 1791, writes thus concerning them. "Some fettlers paid me a vifit last week. When I gave them Mr. Granville Sharp's letter, they seemed very much overjoyed; and the thoughts of not being forgot in England feemed to give new life to them. About 50 of them live at Pa Bofon's, about 12 miles above Bance Island, and a few live and sometimes work on Bance Ifland. The others are fcattered up and down the country. I cannot get any exact account how many there are, &c. I have been up where they live, and I understand, the chief, Pa Boson, expects a confiderable present for the time they have been living with him. They bear a very bad character among the flave-mer chants here; but I am rather apt to believe it is not so bad as they say; for I saw, every thing very regular; and they have a kind of church where they fay prayers every Sunday, and fing the pfalms very well. I attended, when there, personally, with fuch of my people as were with me, and they all feemed to pay great attention." Without

G g

APPENDIX,

Mr. Falconbridge fixes

them at Granville town.

Accounts of

S. Leona,

Without obtruding my own reafonings concerning their character, I cannot help observing, that such an account of them as the foregoing might naturally be expected, after repeated calamities had carried off the incorrigibly vicious and improvident, and doubtless had also improved the furvivors. Befides, ftrong neceffity would at length effectually recommend the examples of those who had all along been regular and induftrious.

NOTE D. See § 336.

692. At the palaver held on this occafion, Mr. Falconbridge, in behalf of the St. George's Bay Company, repurchased, from King Naimbanna, and the subordinate chiefs, for goods worth about £30 fter. all the land which had formerly been purchafed by Capt. Thompfon. But it was agreed that the colonifts fhould not build on the former fpot. Mr. F. therefore took poffeffion of a village, consisting of 15 or 16 good huts, which the natives had recently abandoned, from a notion of it's being haunted; and he rightly thought that their fuperftitious fears would tend to prevent their hostile attempts, especially in the night. In about 4 weeks, he erected fome additional huts, and a house in which he depofited the ftores and ammunition he had brought out for the relief of the colonifls. But, not trufting to the honour of the natives of the place, he regularly appointed a guard every night. This new village he named Granville Town, in honour of it's benefactor Granville Sharp, Efq.

NOTE E. See § 337, 367.

693. Lieut. Matthews is not the only author who has given a favourable opinion the climate of of the climate of S. Leona.-Old Purchas (Vol. I. p. 44.) gave a good account of that place, from the obfervations of a Mr. Finch, made in 1607.-In Ogilby's Africa,. printed in 1670, we read that "Serre Lions, according to Jarrick, many take for the healthfulleft place in all Guinea," and that "the air is better for a man's health, than, in many places of Europe, &c."-" We fhall only mention," fays Dr. Lind, "the high hills of S. Leona, upon whose fummits the air is clear and ferene, while thick mifts and noisome vapours overfpread the lower grounds: yet, even at this place, the English inhabit a low valley, merely for the benefit of a spring of good water, the carriage of which, to any part of that hill, might be easily performed by flaves," (Dif. of hot Clim. p. 158.)-And if by slaves, why not by freemen, especially blacks? for I do not believe that the Doctor would have recommended any labour that could injure either freemen or flaves. Is it not probable that the benefit of trade (which the Doctor elfewhere alludes to as the caufe of the unhealthful fituations of "trading factories," (fee 75,) may have partly dictated this most abfurd and pernicious choice of the English refiding, in his time, at Sierra Leona? And may we not hope that fuch preference of trade to health, is now at an end, in that river?-But farther: Mr. U. Nordenskiold, brother of the gentleman of that name who lately died at S. Leona, among other places in Africa proper for coloniz

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