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APPENDIX,

Thanks to the chairman..

Mr. Frend

propoles a delegate to be

fent to the convention.

856. Mr. Inglis faid, there would be foon a General Meeting, and suggested, that it might be better to defer the printing of the report, till the annual report was made, to which this report might be added.

857. Mr. Frend replied, that as this report contained fo much important matter, he could not confent to the delay; and must beg leave, that the motion for printing it immediately might be propofed. Upon this it was read from the chair, and passed with a very great majority.

858. A vote of thanks to the chairman was then paffed, for his conduct during the Meeting; after which a gentleman rofe, and made a fpeech of confiderable length, which could be heard only by the perfons neareft the chair, and which did not end in any motion.

The Meeting was then adjourned.

At a General Meeting of the Proprietors of the S. Leona Company, the 26th of
March, 1795.

859. The chairman (Mr. Thornton,) having taken the chair, the refolutions of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

860. The chairman defired to know, whether any perfon had any thing to propose, and after a short pause,

Mr. Frend rofe, and ftated, that he had taken the liberty at the last Meeting, of fuggefting the propriety of taking fome fleps, both to gain redress from the French Convention, for their late attack, and to prevent fimilar calamities in future. Since that time, he had more maturely confidered the fubject, and was confirmed in his opinion, from what had transpired at the last Meeting, that there were very good grounds to expect, that, on a proper application to the French Convention, the affairs of the colony might be put upon a very refpectable footing. That fuch ap plication might be confidered indeed by some persons, as unnecessary or improper; but, if we took a view of the fituation of the Company, and of the country at large, there would appear no profpects of future fuccefs, unlefs the colony could be preserved, for which there were neither fufficient capital, nor warlike preparations. As to the latter, the Company was founded upon better principles, than the politics of war, and could expect fuccefs, only by the station which it held, in the good opinion of it's neighbours. That little fupport could be expected from the British Government, was evident from the late ravages along the coaft of Africa, the prefervation of which was not a fufficient object to a minifter, and the fituation of the colony, rendered it liable at all times, to fall an eafy prey to a flight invafion. "On these grounds," faid he, " we muft, if we expect that our colony fhould fucceed, look forward to gain the benevolence of the power most capable of injuring us. And, if it fhould appear, that the Convention were likely to liften to our requeft, could a proper peifon be fent over to negociate with it, we were fortunate at prefent, to fee among

us a gentleman, whom every perfon would allow to be fully competent for the APPENDIX. undertaking, and whofe writings, then on the table, proved him to have not only the intereft of Africa, but of all mankind, at heart. From having travelled in Africa, and being firmly united with the Company, in it's views of enlightening the inhabitants, he could explain to the Convention, the real nature of the Company, and being the subject of a neutral power, he could do it with the greater propriety and effect. A measure of this fort was not to be undertaken, without the approbation of our own Government, and an application must be made for it's confent. He fhould therefore beg leave to propose the two following Refolutions.

rft, Refolved, that an application be made to Government, for permiffion to fend a perfon over to His propofi France, to negociate with the French Convention, on bufinefs relating folely to the concerns of the tions Company in Africa, and on the feas.

28, Refolved, that if Government fhould not object to this measure, Mr. WADSTROM be appointed to lay before the National Convention of France, an account of the institution of the S. Leona Company, and the loffes fuftained by it, from the late attack of a French fquadron, fuppofed to have acted without the knowledge or approbation of the Convention *.

861. Thefe

* As the above propofitions were brought forward by a gentleman, to whom I' made no application for this purpose, an explanation of the circumftance may not be improper. After my grief and furprize, at the calamity which had befallen the colony, had partly fubfided, I began to confider, Whether it might not be poffible for me, to contribute to it's reparation. The plan contained in the following address foon prefented itself to my mind, and, after mature confideration, I thought it my duty to submit it to the General Meeting, which had then been called to deliberate on this melancholy subject. The mode of bringing forward my plan, which feemed to me to promise most fucceis, was to request, that James Martin, Efq. M. P. a fubfcriber, whofe philanthropy, patriotisin, candour, and independent spirit, are deservedly refpected by all parties, would be so good as to read it in the General Meeting. This Mr. Martin very obligingly agreed to do, provided it fhould be in his power to attend. But fome business having intervened to prevent him, Mr. Frend's enlightened zeal in this great cause, seems to have prompted him to bring forward the above propofitions, rather than so favourable an opportunity of difculling them, in a full meeting, should be loft.

ADDRESS TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE SUBSCRIBERS
TO THE SIERRA LEONA COMPANY.

GENTLEMEN,

Having, at your laft Meeting, with inexpreffible concern, heard the dreadful Report read, concerning the late unexpected attack upon the colony of S. Leona, by the French, I feel myself too fenfibly interested in the prefervation and object of the colony, not to offer, on this critical occafion, the refult of that experience, which I have obtained, by having been hitherto inceffantly, and not unfortunately, employed, in the caufe of oppreffed Africa.

Not to occupy your time unneceffarily, I will endeavour, gentlemen, in a few words, to lay before you a plan, in the execution of which, I flatter myself that I may ftill be rendered useful to the caufe of humanity, and the Company be effentially benefitted, in the prefent précarious fituation of their colony.

There is reafon, gentlemen, to believe, that if a proper reprefentation of the real object and principle of the S. Leona Company, together with a full and impartial account, of the late furprize and attack of the colony, were laid fairly before the National Convention, by fome pel fon not immediately concerned

APPENDIX

debated, and

objected to

854. These refoluti ns were feconded by Mr. Highmore, who enlarged on the propriety of the application, particularly as it was brought forward in fuch a matiner as could not offend any party.

1

862. Mr. Elliot objected to the measure, as interfering with the Government at home, to which he did not fee how we could confiftently apply; fince all, intercourse, between the two ftates, was forbidden. But he admitted, that, if the mea fure fhould be adopted, Mr. Wadfrom was a very proper person to carry it into execution.

863. Several others objected very ftrongly to the refolutions, chiefly on the grounds, that it would be indelicate to apply to the Minifter; that an affair of this fort fhould be left entirely to the Directors, who would undoubtedly manage it with the greatest propriety; and that the Company was affembled to chufe Directors, and not to tranfact any other business, which indeed would be improperly introduced.

864. On the other hand, it was contended, that this was the proper mode o f bringing forward a question, in which the Company was fo much interested; that, with refpect to the future Directors, they were not at present known, and therefore no flight could be meant to them; that the great end of all these Meetings, was to give an opportunity to individuals, to fuggeft what might be for the general good, and to keep up a proper intercourfe between the Directors and the Company.

865. Mr. Frend obferved, that he rofe in confequence of the chairman's request to all fubfcribers, to bring forward any measure which they might have to propose. 866. Mr. Granville Sharp hoped, that no difference might appear upon this queftion, and, for the fake of the inftitution, that Mr. Frend, whofe motives he doubted not were founded on the best principles, would confent to withdraw his motion, and another person suggested the propriety of some amendment to it.

867. Mr. Frend faid that his fole view was, to fuggeft what appeared to him moft beneficial to the Company; and that, if the end was obtained by any mode whatever, in which the Meeting agreed, it was the fame to him, whether his refolu

cerned in the undertaking, fecurity might be obtained, against the repetition of fuch a catastrophe, and probably fome compenfation might be offered for the injury already sustained.

The proper defign of the colony, as it refpects the annihilation of the flave-trade, and the enlight. ening of Africa, ought therefore to be laid before the Convention, together with an account of the recent events, fo contrary to the interefts of humanity at large, and which must be prefumed to have been the confequence of a compleat ignorance, of the real intention of the colony, in the squadron which fo unfortunately ruined it.

Being the fubject of a neutral power; having been likewife, throughout my life, actively engaged in the caufe; and prefuming myfelf qualified, in fome degree, from my experience and knowledge, in what concerns the interefts of Africa; I fhould be happy, if, by my personal service with the French Convention, I could contribute to the welfare of the Company, and through it, to the happiness of the inhabitants of a great continent.

tions were entirely withdrawn, or amended by any other person, so as to meet the APPENDIX. wishes of the Company.

868. The withdrawing and the amending of the refolutions were opposed in a and rejected. defultory conversation, and at last the first resolution was proposed, and on a shew

of hands, there appeared to be a very fmall majority against it. Of course the fe

cond refolution was not put to the vote.

869. This business being fettled, Mr. Williams, Solicitor and Secretary to the Election of Court of Directors, got up and faid, it has been proposed and feconded, that new Directors. H. Thornton, Efq. (the prefent chairman) be the chairman for the next year, requefting those who were for the motion to hold up their hands, which being done, thofe of a contrary opinion were defired to hold up their hands. No hand was held up, and the chairman was declared elected. Mr. Williams then repeated nearly the fame words for the next candidate in his lift, and proceeded in this way till all the thirteen Directors were unanimously re-elected, except one, who having refigned, another gentleman (Mr. Hunter) was chofen in his room.

NOTE CC. See § 537, No. 7, alfo § 180, 181.

870. It is fomewhat curious that both the S. Leona and the Bulama Affocia tions should have been betrayed into tranfatlantic errors, in their agricultural con

The following, as far as I have been able to learn, is the latest intelligence received from S. Leona. I apprehend it was inferted, by authority of the Directors, in the Daily Advertiser of Friday, May 29th, 1795, from which paper I have copied it.

"On Monday last dispatches were received from Sierra-Leona, dated the 14th of March, by which it appears, that the colony had materially recovered from the effects of the late depredations of the French, although no fupplies had fince that time arrived from England: a cargo of neceffaries had, however, been purchased from an American fhip which called there. Great and fuccessful exertions had been made by the fettlers in opening and cultivating new farms, as well as in pufhing their trade with the neighbouring parts. A delegate from the fociety of the Friends of the Blacks, in Rhode Island, (a black man of intelligence) had arrived at Freetown, with whom it was agreed, that about 10 or 12 free black families, from Rhode Island, should be permitted to migrate to Sierra Leona; proper teftimonials of their character being given. The utmost harmony prevailed in the colony, and the neighbouring natives continued to fhew the most friendly difpofition. Some deaths had happened foon after the departure of the French, in confequence of the hardships which were then suffered; but both the blacks and whites were in general restored to good health, before the date of the difpatches, The Company's fhip, the Amy, was met at and all the neceffary buildings were nearly finished.sea within two days fail of Sierra Leona, which carried out a supply of neceffaries and feveral paffengers, among whom was Mr. Dawes, who is returned to the colony as Governor."

The fame conveyance alfo brought some interesting accounts of a journey, partly by land, partly by water, made by Mr. Watt and Mr. Gray, to the river Cazamanca, and the adjacent country. The particulars I have not been able to learn; but I have been lucky enough to procure their route, which the reader will find traced on the large map.

Impolitic con

dition publifhed by the Bulama Affocia tion.

cerns.

APPENDIX ceras. Whatever may have caufed this remarkable coincidence, I fcruple not to predict that the effects would be deplorable; for, if the W. Indian mode of cultiva tion fhould be eftablished at S.. Leonia, the labourers would become fpiritlefs, hopelefs, abje&t drudges; and, if land-nionopoly, managed by agents, fhould be an article of the conftitution of Bulama, the colony would comain in it's vitals the principle of it's own decay or ruin.--The condition quoted (§ 537, No. 7) if ultimately adopted, would be neither more nor lefs than a permiffion to a few greedy fpeculators in Europe, to make their fortunes, by obftructing the population, the making of roads, the means of defence, the improvement of the foil, and confequently of the climate; in a word, by cramping, in every poffible way, the progrefs of the colony. For how can any colony thrive, if monied drones, living in a diftant part of the world, be fuffered to veft fums of money in it's land, for the notorious purpose of letting it lie wafte, till the refident colonifts, by cultivating the furrounding country, fhall have ftamped a new value on this defert, which the fpeculator, or his heirs, can then leifurely fell at an exorbitant profit?

American,

Probably fug871. The condition juft mentioned appears to me fo glaringly abfurd and impolitic, gefted by fome that I cannot help fufpecting that fome fpeculator in American or W. Indian lands has found means to elude the vigilance of the Trustees, and to foift it in among the terms of the Bulama Affociation. But, having already touched on this fubject (§ 180, 181) I have only room to obferve, that I can now add another refpectable authority to those I there cited: I mean, that of the learned Dr. Browne of Jamaica, who very properly exposes the folly and injuftice of this practice. (Civil and Nat. Hift. of Jamaica printed 1789, p. 12.) As an inftance, he mentions a tract in St. James's parifh, held by about 120 monopolifts, though nearly equal in extent to Barbadoes, where land-monopoly never prevailed, and which, in 1676, was peopled by about 70,000 whites and 80,000 blacks. It fill contains about 100,000 of both complexions, and the population of Jamaica exceeds not 300,000; fo that the little Ifland of Barbadoes may be faid to contain about one-third of the population of the extensive Island of Jamaica, on a furface equal to that which, in the latter, is held by about 120 monopolifts!

it's effects exemplified in Jamaica,

and would ruin Bulama.

872. The application to Bulama is easy. That ifland may be nearly equal in extent to one-third of Barbadoes. Now the queftion is fimply this: Whether it would be moft defirable that it fhould be occupied by 40,000 or 50,000 inhabitants, or by 40 or 50 monopolifts, or rather their agents, who perhaps may condefcend, when it fuits them, to fell the land for double or triple the price it coft them? But I presume enough has been faid, to convince every impartial man that the condition in queftion is compleatly repugnant to the interest of any colony, whether confidered as a distinct community, or as an establishment intended to promote the civilization of the natives in it's vicinity.

NOTE

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