"afforded of difmiffing from the Company's fervice, a number of N. Scotians, APPENDIX. "whom the governor and council had long been in vain endeavouring to fix on "their farms. The experience of the internal resources of the colony is mentioned "as very important. The colony has been left many weeks, deftitute of almost every

66

European article; much of the live-stock and all the boats and shipping destroyed; "and yet no want of neceffary food, nor any other evil, than what has been men"tioned, has enfued. The governor and council mention that they intend to "erect only one confiderable store, a large dwelling house and a church, all of country materials. The laft was fo far advanced, that public worship was to be performed in it, the Sunday after the date of the difpatches. Measures were also "taken for erecting a building on the Bullom fhore for additional fecurity.

66

829. "On the arrival of the difpatches, the Directors loft no time in fending out "two small veffels with an affortment of neceffaries. They alfo fhipped a few ma"terial articles on board the Amy (now the Company's only large fhip,) which had already in her a few goods for trade. Some perfons engaged in the Company's "fervice, (the number of whom, on receiving the above intelligence, was reduced,) "are alfo gone out in her: and among them Mr. Dawes, who having been two years "governor of the colony, had returned to England. His health and the circum"ftances of his family had induced him to think of leaving the Company's fervice; "but, when informed of a tumult having taken place (§ 443.) at S. Leona, his "zeal in the Company's caufe led him again to offer his fervices. The late more "ferious calamity, and the indifpofition of the acting Governor, Mr. Macaulay, "rendered Mr. Dawes's prefence fo defirable, that the Directors thought it their duty to accept this gentleman's offer.

66

86

Supplies im mediately fhipped. Mr. Dawes returns

to S. Leona.

Contraction of the Company's future plan.

830. "The Directors propofe to reduce within very narrow limits the Com"pany's future risk in Africa; and they also hope to reduce their general expenfes. The faving from removing many colonifts to their farms has been men"tioned. The contraction of the Company's trade will be accompanied by a cor"refponding abatement of charges. The diminution of fhipping will leffen one "chief fource of expenfe. In consequence of the late loffes, only one small vessel "has been purchased, the intended plan of trade not requiring more, and those "frequent fupplies on which the colony depended at first, being no longer neceffary. 831. "The Directors will here repeat, that however profperous the N. Scotians N. Scotians "may become, the great ends of the inftitution are not likely to be gained, unless want inftructthey fhall be furnished with European inftructors and governors. The untoward

they were misled, by perfons, who, with the best intentions, have unfortunately been drawn into the dangerous vortex of W. Indian speculation. The fugar apparatus, which was never set up or used lay rotting and confuming with ruft, till it received the coup de grace from the fledge hammers of the French and there is fcarcely a fugar-cane now growing at S. Leona,

difpofition

ors.

APPENDIX. " difpofition of too many of them, though it may be thought to make them lefs "worthy of affiftance, proves, however, the importance of affording them the "means of inftruction, and an intelligent and protecting government; and it should. "be remembered that 300 of their children, befides those of the natives, are now "under the Company's care. When the influence of the S. Leona government over many powerful chiefs, of whofe attachment feveral fresh proofs have been given, on the late trying occafion; when the ufes of that influence, the Company's progrefs in the interior, and all the other profpects of civilization formerly "flated are recollected, the Directors are perfuaded, that the proprietors, under "their former imprefhon, will rejoice at hearing that no events that have yet happened have fhaken the refolution of the Directors to profecute this great cause, "with unabated zeal.

Directors determined to perfevere.

Slave-trade checked.

Humanity and civilization the chief objects.

66

832. "The flave-trade, which, notwithstanding the war, had in fome measure re"ceived a confiderable blow from the French fquadron. The whole property cap"tured and deftroyed by it, is computed at £400,000, most of which was engaged "in that pernicious traffic. Some commercial advantages, as well as an increase of "the Company's influence, may poffibly refult from this deftruction of European "property on the coaft.

833. "The Directors cannot but repeat, that they truft for the cause of humanity, the honour of Great Britain, and the interefts of the Company, that the termina"tion of the flave-trade is approaching, and they reflect with fatisfaction, that the "maintenance of an establishment in Africa, for aiding the natural progress of civilization, and for promoting Real Commerce, may hereafter prove material, not only to the proprietors, but as a matter of national policy.

46

- 834. "The Directors have thus stated the grounds on which they are encouraged "to perfevere. They fhall endeavour to contract both the risk and the expenses "of the Company, on the principles flated; at the fame time purfuing their main "object, in fuch a way as not to relinquith the commercial advantages they have "gained, nor in any degree to fufpend the measures neceflary to promote the unin"terrupted progrefs of civilization."

835. The report having thus been read, a motion was made and feconded, that the thanks of the meeting fhould be given to the Directors, for the indefatigable pains they had taken, in promoting the ends of the inftitution. This motion passed unanimously.

836. A gentleman, (Mr. Friend,) rose, and addreffing the chair, requested the Directors to inform the meeting, Whether a report now in circulation was true, That, on the first fetting out of the colony, the French Convention had intimated to the Directors their good wishes towards the inflitution, that it would not in any way impede it's progrefs, and requested to have a lift of the flips employed in the fervice of the Company, that proper orders might be

The Chair

man explains this fubject,

iffued to the commanders of ships of war of every kind, not to moleft the fame, but APPENDIX. to protect them to the utmost of their power*. Upon the answer given to this queftion, a refolution might be entered into, probably tending, not only to alleviate our prefent calamity, but to prevent the repetition of a fimilar injury in future. 837. The Chairman rofe and explained to the Meeting, the nature of the communication alluded to; that a Mr. Stone, when in Paris, having a particular connection with a committee of the Convention, had mentioned the S. Leona undertaking, and had been authorized by one of their committees to write to the Directors, requesting a full account of the defign of the institution and the names of the ships employed in their service, and to affure them of the good wishes of the committee, to so noble an undertaking. This account was confirmed also, in another part, of the debate, by Mr. Wilberforce who stated, that in confequence of Mr. Stone's communication to them, they had waited upon Lord Grenville, the Secretary of State, and by his permiffion, had given to Mr. Stone, when in England, a lift of the ships to be by him communicated to the National Convention, and as he was thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the inftitution, desired him to reprefent it in its proper colours+.

838. Mr. Frend testified his fatisfaction with the information from the chair, as debate takes it gave him hopes that the Meeting would come to a refolution to enter into a better place. communication with the French Convention, ftating to it, that our inftitution was founded on the general principles of humanity; and as the French nation were the avowed advocates of these principles, it could not be supposed, that they would fanction any measures in direct opposition to the happiness and liberty of the Africans. 839. To this it was objected by a gentleman, that the traitorous correspondence bill was an infurmountable obftacle to fuch a communication.

840. Mr. Frend replied, that he was not fo well acquainted with mercantile affairs, as the gentleman who spoke last; but he underflood, that very lately, fums of

During the last war, the like generous protection was given by the French Ministry, to the celebrated Captain Cook, and also to the ships liberally fent by the British Government, with supplies for the fufferers by the great hurricane at Barbadoes and Jamaica, in 1780.

† As I confider this fubject of great importance, especially refpecting the future indulgence of the French to the colony, I have taken much pains to investigate it. Among other enquiries, I asked Mr. Thomas Clarkson, who was then in the Direction, Whether he did not think, with me, that as the colony was of a peculiar nature, inftituted entirely for the benefit of mankind, and unconnected either with mercantile concerns or national quarrels, there was no neceffity of laying the generous proposal of the French before the British Miniftry. With that frankness which characterizes this friend of the human race, Mr. Clarkson replied, That he was fo much of my opinion, that the oppofition he met with in fupporting it, in the Court of Directors, (an opposition undoubtedly dictated by the best motives,) was one of the chief causes which induced him to resign his feat among that refpectable body. He added, that he had, however, the fatisfaction to find that several of the Directors joined him in opinion; although the majority thought the affair ought to be laid before the Miniftry.

APPENDIX. money had been remitted under the sanction of Ministry, by houses in the city, to perfons in the enemy's country.

The attack not authorized

Convention.

841. This was answered by an obfervation, that fuch remittances related not to the traitorous correfpondence bill, but to the bill for preventing money belonging to foreigners, to be fent out of the kingdom. Mr. Frend urged, that it was of little confequence to what bill these remittances related, fince the fact was allowed, that perfons, in the city, were permitted to correfpond with others in the enemy's country; and, in fact, it would be abfurd to fuppofe, that the governors of this country had not the power to fend a flag of truce into France, or to enter into any carte! for the exchange of prifoners. His intended refolution did not imply a correfpondence with the enemy, without the fanction of Government. All that is intended was, that the Directors should wait upon the Governors of this country, to state to them the fituation of the S. Leona Company, the hopes they entertained of the French Convention, and to requeft permiffion to fend over fome perfon to the National Convention, to negociate on the means of fecuring the future tranquillity of the colony.

842. Upon this, a defultory converfation took place. It was urged that the fubby the French ject was of too delicate a nature, to be debated in the prefent critical times; that the Company must not ftand too forward, when there were hopes of great fupport from our own Government.-Among this and other matters, an interefting account was given by Mr. Inglis, one of the Directors, of the attack upon the colony, in which it was affirmed, that this attack was not made by the orders of the French Convention, but by a company of privateers, which probably made no difference between this and the flave-fettlements on the coaft. This account was confirmed by several other perfons. Mr. Inglis faid, that he had this information from a captain lately arrived, who was at that time at S. Leona. This captain fays, that feveral flave-merchants of Bourdeaux and L'Orient, had fitted out fome brigs and cutters, to run down the whole coaft, with which they were very much acquainted, in order to deflroy the English flave-factories, and upon request to the Convention, had obtained one two decker, which they had equipped at their own expence.

Mr. Frend's motion.

843. Mr. Frend expressed his fatisfaction, at hearing that the calamity was not owing to the National Convention. He conceived therefore that he had now better grounds for making his motion.

844. The chairman obferved here, that as there had been motion made and seconded, another could not be made till that was difpofed of. Upon which the motion of thanks to the Directors was read, and paffed unanimously.

845. This bufinefs being difpatched, Mr. Frend begged leave to fuggeft, that he had heard no fufficient reafons why he fhould not move, That the Directors be requested to take fuch fleps as fhall appear to them proper, for opening a communication with the French

French Convention, for the purpose of infuring, in future, the tranquillity of the APPENDIX. colony.This was feconded by Mr. Audley.

846. Upon this the chairman got up, by requeft, and propofed that the Meet- Adjournment ing should be adjourned. propofed,

847. Mr. Frend fhewed fome furprise at this propofal, and begged leave to obferve, that a motion had been regularly made and feconded; and therefore he did not fee the propriety of adjourning, till the subject had been regularly discussed. 848. Several perfons, from different quarters, testified the fame opinion, by calling but not carrie out, go on, go on.

849. Mr. Wilberforce expreffed his wifh, that the queftion might be fairly agitated. 850. Several perfons now declared their opinions on the matter before them. Some expreffed their wishes, that a negociation might be entered into. Some exprefled their fears, that, in the prefent times, it would not be prudent to make a refolution upon the fubject; but that it would be better to leave the Directors to act ac cording to their best judgment, and the apparent wishes of the meeting.

ed.,

851. Mr. Frend here obferved, that he was by no means defirous of obtruding a The matter refolution, which might in any ways tend to thwart the object which he and all the left to the Di rectors, Company had in view, namely, the civilization of the Africans, by the prosperity of the rifing colony; and it would be fufficient, from the conversation that had taken place, that the Directors were now informed of the defires of the Company, and were left to act in this, as in many other cafes, to the best of their difcretion.

852. Here this matter dropped, and after a little paufe, Mr. Frend got up and obferved, that he feared one point had been forgotten, in the interefting debate which had taken up fo much of the attention of the Meeting, and begged leave therefore to move, that the report, which had been read from the chair, fhould be published and circulated.

853. This motion was feconded; but was oppofed from different quarters, on the grounds, that it contained many minute details, not fit for the public eye; that there were expreffions, which might give offence to the French nation, and that it would be better to leave it to the difcretion of the Directors.

854. Others obferved, that people in the country were much interested in this fubject; that they had dwelt on the calling of the present Meeting, and would be greatly disappointed, if they were not favoured with the means of information; and that many who had heard it read in a curfory manner, might wish to peruse it at their leifure.

port.

855. Mr. Frend apologized for rifing so often, and begged leave only to obferve alfo the printto all the objections made to the printing of the report, that he would leave the cor- ing of the rerection of it to the judgment of the Directors; and that they should be defired to print it in the manner least offenfive to any one, and in the best mode for the information of the Company at large.