NOTE DD. See § 538. APPENDIX. Bulama expe dition retarded, by the Minifter's in terference. 873. It is to be lamented that so many interruptions concurred to retard the first Sailing of the Bulama expedition; fince the great mortality was chiefly to be afcribed to the fhips arriving on the coaft in the rainy season. Among other causes of this delay, we are to reckon the interference of the Ministry, who, when the fhips were waiting at Portfmouth for a fair wind, fent an order to detain them, till certain articles in the conftitution, or agreement of the colonists, were renounced. This circumftance obliged Mr. Dalrymple to return to London, which was attended with confiderable lofs of time. Had the leading object of this undertaking been commerce, efpecially monopoly, this expedition would, no doubt, have fallen immediately within the province of the Minifter. But seeing that it was undertaken for a purpose little, if at all, connected either with commerce or finance, I should think the Ministry might as well have permitted them to go out unnoticed. My reafons for enter taining this opinion, I have already hinted at, § 837 note. 874. I fear that many, I do not fay all, of the Bulama colonists but ill deferved Bad character of the generalthe refpectable name of Yeomen, or the humble, but creditable, appellation of La- ity of the Bubourers. The yeomanry, or the middle clafs of country people, are juftly account- lama colonists, ed the moft virtuous members, and the moft ftable fupport, of every community. How far the generality of the Bulama colonists answered this description, may be collected from Mr. Beaver's account of them. (See the extracts from his letters in Note GG.) But he excepts Mr. Aberdeen, Mr. Hood and a good number of other perfons, whofe excellent example, in every respect, could not have failed to operate powerfully on any fet of beings not wholly loft to every fenfe of fhame and decency. 875. The truth is, and I am grieved to observe, that this undertaking was hurried through it's first flages, with a precipitancy, which but ill accorded with the prudence and caution necessary to such a defign; especially with the most delicate part of it, the choice of colonists. See § 127 et feq. 301 n.-Mr. Beaver was also very unfortunate in his grumettas; but not in the choice of them; for his fituation precluded every idea of choice, and he was obliged to take fuch as he could get. "You will fee," fays he, in the letter laft quoted, "by the, open lift, No. 12, that many have been discharged for attempting to ftab others, a common crime among them; and one fourth of my grumettas have been here, for having committed murder, on the Island of Biffao."-Thus, in the character of this vile crew of idlers, drunkards, cowards and affaffins, white and black, we already fee a caufe of failure, which even the fortitude and perfeverance of a Beaver, aided by the virtuous cooperation of fome worthy colonifts, could not poffibly counteract. APPENDIX. NOTE FF. See § 538. Bulama colo for want of an interpreter. 876. Among the many misfortunes which befel the firft Bulama expedition, we nits attacked, muft affign the chief place to the fatal misunderstanding, mentioned in the text. L call it a misunderflanding; because it appears to have been entirely owing to the want of an interpreter, to explain the pacific views of the colonifts to the native princes, who, not being able to diftinguish them from invaders, of course, attacked them. To obtain an interpreter was Mr. Dalrymple's chief reafon for calling at Goree. Having myself experienced the good offices of several respectable inhabit— ants of that place, I had reason to believe I could facilitate Mr. D's good reception there. I therefore gave him a letter, of which I infert the following copy, as a proof that I always understood the fole object of this undertaking, like that of S. Le— ona, to be THE CIVILIZATION OF THE NATIVES. La générofité et l'hofpitalité, avec les quelles, moi & mes compagnons de voyage, le Dr. Sparrman & le Capit. Arrhenius, fumes. reçus de vous, Meffieurs, me font espèrer, que je puis hardiment profiter de la préfente occafion pour vous temoigner ma vive reconnoiffance et gratitude des civilités dont vous m'aves comblé, & en même tems pour introduire et recommender à vos honnêtetés ceux de mes amis, qui vont s'éta blir fur la côte d'Afrique principalement Monfieur Dalrymple. Ce n'est qu'un vrais et noble transport pour l'humanité, qui les a engagés à s'expatrier, et à courir les dangers férieux, aux quels les expofe l'enterprise courageufe de chercher un azile dans quelque endroit fur la dite côte, pour le feul et grand objet de civilifer les pauvres habitans de l'Afrique; objet fi digne de notre fiècle et de la noble fenfibilité de votre cœur. J'ai étudié trop long tems le fond du caractère François pour ne pas ètre perfuadé, que cette nation eft douée des prémieres qualités qui font l'homme civilifé; c'eft à dire, la fenfibilité humaine et la compaffion pour la partie fouffrante de notre race; ou un amour decidé pour tout ce qué To the Chevalier de Blanchau, Governor of Goree: and to Mr. d' Aigremont, the King's regulating Commifjary at Gorée. Manchester the 29th of Feb. 1792 GENTLEMEN, The generous hofpitality with which you received Dr. Sparrman, Capt. Arrhenius and myself, give me reason to hope that I may venture to take this opportunity of testifying my lively gratitude for your many civilities, and of recommending to your good offices my friends, who are about to form an establishment on the coaft of Africa, especially Mr. Dalrymple. Nothing but a noble zeal for the cause of hu manity prompts them to expatriate themselves, and to face the dangers attending a fearch for an afylum, on fome part of the coaft, for the fole and grand object of civilizing the poor natives of Africa—an object worthy of our age, and of the generous feelings of your hearts. Having long ftudied the character of the French, I am perfuaded that they are endowed with the best qualities which diftinguish civilized man, namely a humane fenfibility, compaffion for the fuffering part of our species, and a warm regard for all the means of promoting human happiness. The qui peut rendre l'homme heureux. Auffi, Meffieurs, le monde entier fera un jour l'éloge de tous ceux qui auront contribué aux fuccès d'un projet, auffi grand et auffi noble que celui, entrepris par ces amis de l'humanité, et l'hiftoire elle même fignalifera toutes les anecdotes qui l'accompagneront. Je me flatte que ces herôs de l'humanité ont le fiècle, la philofophie et tous les grands cœurs en leur faveur; en conféquence, vous ne pouvés que les bien acceuillir, et dans cette espérance non douteuse, J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c. The world, Gentlemen, will one day do juftica APPENDIX. to the conduct of thofe, who fhall have contributed to the fuccefs of the great and noble enterprize of thefe friends of mankind, the events of which hiftory will record. I flatter myself that thefe zealous philanthropifts will have the fpirit of the age, philofophy, and every heroic mind in their favour; confequently I cannot doubt but you will receive them well, in which hope, I have the honour to be, &c. 877. At Goree, Mr. Dalrymple was advised by M. St. Jean, a merchant of that place, to put into the river Gambia, where he could not fail to find fome person difpofed and qualified to accompany him, as an interpreter. But Mr. D. was prevented from taking this falutary precaution, by the diffention which prevailed among the members of council on board the Calypfo, and which, I have been credibly informed, was chiefly excited by the violent conduct of Mr. Hancorne. Thus thwarted and disappointed in a measure, so absolutely neceffary, and seeing no probability of harmony being restored among his associates, we are not to wonder if Mr. D. refolved to abandon an undertaking, in which he had embarked from the pureft motives; but which it was no longer in his power to promote in the manner he wifhed. NOTE GG. See § 540, 545, 562, 568, 570, 578, 579, 580, 585, 587. 878. In this Note, which will be unavoidably long, I fhall give extracts from Mr. Beaver's letters and other original papers, refpecting the Bulama undertaking. Extracts from Mr. Beaver's letters from Bulama to the Trustees of the Affociation, dated the 22d Nov. 1792. 879. (1.)" The great mortality muft certainly be attributed to the great labour Mortality at and fatigue, attendant on those who firft attempt to fettle a colony, and the neceffi- Bulama owing to fatigue, &c. ty we were reduced to of working in the rains, in order to have a fort to defend, and not to the cliand a house to cover us. At the beginning of the dry season, when we expected mate. the ship was to leave us, had we been strong enough to have worked but little, and that during the intervals of the rains, I really think but few would have died. But with little frength, we found it necessary to work from morn to night, except when the rains poured like torrents, and by these we were often caught, when going APPENDIX. in the boat, either on board or on shore. The climate I really think a good one, and it is reckoned, by all the traders, the healthieft fpot on the coaft. Provisions in plenty. Land cleared. Mr. B's perfevering refolution, founded on conviction. Coloniftsmoftly drunken profligates. Cultivation and trade. Colonists, able to hire labour 880. (2.) "My vifit to Biffoa has enabled me to kill a bullock for the colony every week, befides fowls which I have occasionally ferved out to the fick. 881. (3.) "Notwithstanding the decrease of our numbers, and the generally long fick lifts, we have been able to clear about 12 acres of ground, on the crown of a hill. 882. (4.) "I am determined to ftay, fhould my fervant only remain with me, till I hear from you; and then, if you abandon the colony, I fhall reft fatisfied with having done all that man could do for it's fuccefs. 883. (5.) "With respect to our prospects, I am more and more convinced, that the colony, if at all fupported, will fucceed. We want a reinforcement of men, and we should have them foon; but not fuch as the laft. They fhould be carpenters, blacksmiths and bricklayers, men accustomed to labour-not such as we brought out, habituated to drunkennefs, idleness and all the vices of the capital; moft of whom came here in dread of punishment, for crimes committed againft their country's laws; and let them be bound by articles to a certain duty, for a limited time, before they are entitled to any lands. 884. (6.) Send us a furveyor, and thefe lands may inftantly be put into cultivation. 885. (7.) "The merchants of Biffao already look to this, for a fupply of English goods, which they abfolutely cannot do without. 886. (8.) " If "If you have any new fubfcribers, let them not come out, unless they ers, if credit can afford to hire 2 or 3 grumettas to clear their grounds. Those who can do this, ed, for a time, may come out with a certainty of it's anfwering. And to fupply these new advenwith provifions, may be turers with provifions, it would answer very well to any one to send a small veffel fure of fuccefs. to America, and let her bring hither beef, pork, flour, fish and lumber*. With thefe articles give credit to the planter, and I will infure his being able to pay his debts, at the end of the 2d year, and have a tolerable income, in 5 or 6 years. Let men, I fay, who can afford to hire grumettas, and merchants who chufe to fet up aftore, and trade for ivory, wax, &c. come out, and I will answer for their fuccefs. But, with fuch labourers, and fuch fubfcribers as we brought out, the finest country, with the greatest advantages, would never flourish. I have to request, gentlemen, that you will not delay informing us, whether another embarkation is to take place or not; as I fhall wait with anxiety to know the fate of my endeavours for this infant colony." * Mr. B. evidently means, till the lands can be brought into cultivation. From From Mr. Beaver's letter, dated Bulama, 16th March, 1793. 887. (9.) "The good people of England need not be afraid of coming out. They will find a fort ready to protect them. They need not be much afraid of the climate: I think it a healthy one. They need not run the risk of clearing a spot of ground to build on: I have already as much cleared as a large town would cover. They need not work, as we were obliged to do, for a covering or defence, either when it rains, or in the heat of the fun; for I will fhelter them. They need not be frightened; for I will infure their fafety. In fhort, they need not be expofed to any of the inconveniences which we have experienced, and therefore I think it fair to fuppofe, that few of them will die.In another part of this letter he fays, "Those who may hereafter come out, will find a fort ready to protect them; and if we hold it till then (and I think that, at this inftant, I could refift the united force of Africa) we furely shall be able to hold it, when reinforced. In fhort, had I 25 Europeans here, I would make the Bijugas fear me," &c. Colony pre pared to re ceive new in habitants. wanted. land and fixed ftock at Bula 888. (10.) "The most neceffary man, in the next embarkation, is a furveyor. Surveyor, &c. The people already think it hard, that they have no ground of their own to work upon. The next is a furgeon, and the third, I think, a clergyman.-I will not give you my own opinion, but that of Capt. Moore (who carries thefe dispatches) of the Value of the prefent value of this place. I put to him the following queftion. Suppose I 'fhould wifh to fell this block-houfe, with the ftores, ammunition and whatever elle ma. it contains, together with the cutter and a few acres of ground round the house, suppofe 300, to the proprietors of the Ifles de Los, or any company of merchants who may chufe to settle themselves, or other people here, for the purpofe of trade, what would be it's value? He answered £10,000 at least. I asked him what he conceived, from prefent appearances, land, taken one part with another, might be worth, in this ifland, per acre? He anfwered £1 fterl*. Unless he is very wide from the mark indeed, Gentlemen, I think this island worth keeping. When Commercial once you are firmly fettled here, you may command, without a profpect of a rival, profpects. the whole trade of the many navigable rivers and creeks, between the rivers Gambia and Nunez. Wax and ivory are the principle articles. Matchore, one of the kings of the Rio Grande, was here the other day. He brought me wax and ivory, which I bought. He begged that I would fend the cutter to Ghinala to purchase He said that his house was full, and that he kept it for me. The wax and ivory I have difpofed of, for the more useful articles of cloth and linens, to pay the grumettas their wages, more. • The purchasers of uncleared land in the Ceded islands, paid £3 11 3 per acre. See § 180 note. |