XI. SIERRA LE QNA. pended on excluding all Europeans, those excepted who, be- CHA P. ing in the pay of the Company, were entirely subject to them. They feared that even a few independent colonists, of an improper caft, might endanger the colony, by corrupting the people, by disobeying government, and by exciting discontent; and that, if, for fuch causes, they should be excluded from the colony, they might refort (especially if they had left debts in England) to improper courfes among the natives, perhaps turning flave-traders at last.-By such confiderations, the Directors had been determined to exclude, for the present, all Europeans, except a very few. They had also enquired, very ftrictly, into the character and circumstances of their fervants, letting none go to S. Leona who left debts in England. But the principle of these important rules must have been given up, if the Bulama people, unknown as they were to the S. Leona Company, fhould be received there. The Directors had previously instructed the Governor and Council, to give every assistance to the Bulama colony; but, if they fhould leave Bulama, and come to S. Leona, not to allow them permanently to settle there. The government of S. Leona accordingly declined receiving the passengers from Bulama into the colony; but, after accommodating the fick for a short time, on shore, they supplied them with a few neceffaries, and with a veffel to assist in bringing them to England, as their own fhip, the Calypfo, was extremely @rowded,*. 391. And here it may be proper to mention that if either the Bulama Company, or any other fimilar inftitution, fhould hereafter attempt to form colonies in Africa, with a view to civilization, the Directors will gladly encourage such under*See in the Append. Notes, &c. refpecting S. Leona and Bulama, NoTE O. Company will affift in all attempts to civilize Africa. XI. SIERRALE per. CHAP. takings, as far as they can, without too much expense, and fresh hazard to their own colony; and they are well fuaded that the Proprietors, fuperior to every narrow jea loufy, and having the general benefit of Africa at heart, agree with them in this fentiment. ΟΝΑ. Difficulties in diftribut ing land; tho' Directors eager to effect it. Provifions allowed. 392. The chief object of the S. Leona government, after the fickness abated, was the diftribution of the lands, which they found more difficult than was expected. They could not, at once, give each individual his lot of 20 acres, the lands on the water-fide, or within a reasonable diftance of Freetown, being infufficient. Even the labour of cutting paths, and measuring so large a tract, would have been too great for one feafon. The N. Scotians were fo fenfible of this, that they agreed to accept 4 acre lots for the present, of which, however, they were very eager to have immediate poffeffion. The Directors, and the colonial government, were not less earnest than they, to effect this work. They were bound by the spirit of the promises made in N. Scotia; urged by the importunities of the colonists; and influenced by œconomy, to attempt a speedy diftribution of the land; fince each colonist either received provifions, till his lot of ground was given him, or else was empolyed under the Company, when perhaps there was no great call for his fervices. 393. The order of the Directors, respecting provifions, extended only to an allowance for a specified time, for the N. Scotians, the Company's fervants, and the few English colonifts; namely, 3 months full allowance, equal to the common army rations, and 3 months half allowance. But the government, conceiving that the motives for this gratuity, and the equity, and even neceffity, of the cafe, required an extension of it, continued it to those who were kept out of their 4 acre XI. SIERRA LE- distributed. acre lots, and were not employed by the Company. The Di- CHA P. rectors, though aware of this great expenfe, on confidering the circumstances, could not refuse their acquiefcence." 394. The importance of a fpeedy allotment of the lands 4 acre lots was felt fo ftrongly, that the Company's surveyor of buildings (their land-furveyor having returned to England, from ill health) fpiritedly attempted the work, with a party of Nova Scotians, even before the rains were over; but was repeatedly stopped by sickness. Almost all the next dry season was confumed. in diftributing the four acre lots; though very great exertions were made, by a large party. 395. The Directors are forry that the land near the town has proved not fo good as they had been led, by every information, to expect. Lieut. Matthews's defcription is far more favourable than obfervation on that fpot juftifies. To this serious disappointment may be afcribed, many difficulties and many unexpected charges. As the air, water and landing-place at Freetown, are certainly the best which can be found, it can hardly fail to be the chief place of trade; though other parts, at a moderate distance, especially on the the oppofite shore, will be the best for cultivation. Lands on Bullom fhore better than near town. 396. The improvement of the landing-place, the erecting Public buildof a church, a hospital, warehoufes and other buildings, of ings, &c. which the frames went from hence, the fencing and cultivating of a garden of experiment, and fome measures for defence, have alfo conftantly occupied a body of the N. Scotians, at a very great expense. No fort, however, has been thought neceffary. 397. In the fecond dry feason, the colony feems to have been improving, in all respects. The government was altered, a council of three having been fubftituted, by the Directors, for the council of eight; and two gentlemen, (Mr. Colony imcouncil. proves. New XI. SIERRA LE ONA. CHA P. (Mr. Dawes and Mr. Watt*) the one used to a new colony, the other to a tropical climate, were fent out as counsellors. From this time, minutes of council, and a journal of every material transaction, were kept, and copies fent to England; as were also periodical reports of the progrefs of each principal fervant, in his department, with the remarks of the government thereon. An indent was fent home, of all the European goods likely to be wanted, for the year, in the colony a more correct correfpondence was commenced, and the Court's original instructions, and their fubfequent, were now, for the first time, fully answered, When the intelligence began to be regularly fent home, internal order appears to have advanced materially. New plans of police were formed; more general harmony began to prevail; fome pains were taken to settle the Company's confused accounts; and more order, of every kind, was introduced. The public works also advanced; a plan was formed for rebuilding the town, on a larger scale; and the natives often flocked to the colony, viewing it's improvements with increasing fatisfaction. (See plate II.) Colony fuffers by war. displeased; but fatisfied again. 398. The breaking out of the war, indeed, damped the N. Scotians hopes, and interrupted the progress, of the colony. An embargo very unseasonably delayed some of the Company's ships. The prohibition to send out provisions, except in armed fhips, under convoy †, caused a temporary want of flour, which excited great murmurs, and the colonial government feared a fufficiency of rice could not be got. The advanced price of the Company's goods, from the war, aggravating the discontent, the N. Scotians loudly objected to that part of the * See in the Append. Nutes, &c. respecting S. Leona and Bulama, NOTE P. XI. SIERRALE ΟΝΑ. plan for rebuilding the town, which reserved fome ground CHA P. near the shore, for public use. This last point was fettled, after some conceffion, on the part of the Company. But the fecret cause of much of this diffatisfaction, was the conduct of one of the Company's fervants who, on Mr. Clark fon's departure, prejudiced many of the labourers under him, against the fucceeding government. 'They combined, by leaving their work, to raise the price of labour, already very high; but, the government remaining firm, they returned, in a week after, to their work, and their inftigator, who had also been very disrespectful to the government, having come to England, was difmiffed the fervice. To fatisfy the colonists, it was agreed, that two delegates from the N. Scotians, fhould be fent to England, to lay their complaints before the Court of Directors, a measure which appears to have had the expected good effect; for the colony has fince been tranquil, and has improved, in every refpect. obstructs co 399. Many occurrences of the fecond feafon, evinced the Slave-trade practicability of introducing cultivation, trade and civiliz- lony. Chiefs ation into Africa; though the flave-trade, and the oppofing undeceived. influence of these engaged in it, almost every where impeded, more or lefs, the Company's views. One of the counsellor's, and another fervant of the Company made a voyage fouthward to the Island of Bananas, Camarancas river and Plantain Island, and happily removed the prejudices, which fome of the chiefs had imbibed, from mifrepresentations of the Company's views. The information they gained falls under another head; as does also the progrefs of the Company's plantation, worked by free labourers, on the fide of the river oppofite Freetown, together with the benefits |