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XI.

SIERRALE-
ON A

number of N. Scotians who embarked, and the delays and CHA P. disappointments which followed. When the Directors in-. vited these colonists, they unavoidably acted on probabilities: though aware of incalculable circumftances, their prompt decifion was indispensable. They thought it prudent to make the promises before stated; and, on the faith of which, the N. Scotians have croffed the feas. But the Directors fairly avow, that, befides a literal compliance with them, they confider themselves morally obliged not to let the colonists suffer any extremities, which the Company can relieve, till they can derive fupport from their lands, or from fome other means. Hence they have never hesitated to send out such goods, as they had reason to believe strictly neceffary; leaving it to the discretion of the government to credit the colonifts with fuch neceffaries. Had the land round Freetown been as fruitful as was described, and had the N. Scotians been as manageable and industrious as they were reprefented, and, for fome time, appeared to be, the charges attending them would certainly have been lefs, and the advantages greater.

409. Yet, under every difficulty and disappointment, the Advantages. advantages of the migration of this body of colonists have been important; but more fo to themselves, and to Africa, than to the proprietors. A quicker improvement in point of health, from the extenfion of the town, and of cultivation; a greater facility in inducing valuable men to go out; a farther extension of the Company's reputation in Africa, and a quicker progrefs in civilization; but, above all, a far greater fecurity against hostile attacks-all these advantages evidently belong to a large, rather than a small, undertaking: and, if there be no danger that the funds, which may properly be deftined to the establishment of the

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XI.

CHA P. colony, should be prematurely exhausted, it can scarcely be denied, that so powerful a body of colonists, must afford a superior prospect of ultimate fuccefs.

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SIERRA LE

ΟΝΑ.

Statement of

funds and ex

penfes.

410. In discharging their important trust, the Directors have endeavoured to practise that œconomy which is connected with found policy, and substantial justice,—to the Proprietors; to their fervants; and to the colonists.

411. In the following statement, though the fum total of the expenses of the colony can hardly fail to be tolerably correct, yet many particulars, from the causes stated, are merely taken from estimate.

EXPENSES incurred in establishing the CO LO NY.

Charges antecedent to the incorporation of the Company, confist-
ing chiefly of two fmall veffels, fent to explore the country.
Charges of incorporation

-£. 1200

650

1850

Charges of home establishment, viz.

Furniture and repairs of the S. Leona House

Housekeeper's falary, coals, candles, rent, and taxes, &c. for about
two years, to Christmas 1793.

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Printing, advertising, poftage, books, &c. for about 2 years, to ditto
Officers and clerks falaries to ditto

Educating and clothing natives fent to England, and their paffages, about

Charges of the establishment at S. Leona, viz.
Temporary allowance of provifions to all the Company's fervants,
and expense of the table of the governor, botanift and mineralo-
gift, &c. eftimated at

Paffage of fervants and artificers out and home, eftimated at
Their travelling expenfes and other charges in England

Amount of falaries to S. Leona fervants, for about two years, to

Christmas 1793

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Incidental

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3530

17840

1500

Outfit and Maintenance of SHIPPING employed for the protection, and
accommodation of the colony, and in collecting provifions, &c. about
Provifions to the colonists, before they were put into poffeffion of their
lands, eftimated at

Loffes and gratuities in England, confifting chiefly of fums advanced to the
Company's fervants, which were not recovered, through their dying or
retiring from the fervice, and of gratuities paid according to the terms of
the Company's engagement, to the near relations of the deceafed *
SUPPOSED EXPENSE in ESTABLISHING the COLONY
To which add the lofs of the fhip York, eftimated at

And other loffes by robbery, damage through exposure to the cli-
mate, and articles that proved unferviceable

SUPPOSED EXPENSE of ESTABLISHING the COLONY, the
LOSS INCLUDED

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15000
3000

20000

1245 64620

18000

£.82620

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There remains £. 160279, to be

accounted for, which is done in the following manner:

DEAD STOCK at S. LEONA, which, though ftated as part of the remaining effects of the Company, is not to be confidered as convertible into money, nor as bearing a value equal to it's coft, confifting of buildings, lands, &c. at S. Leona. Buildings belonging to the Company, viz.

Coft, at S. Leona, of a church, warehouse, range of fhops, two hofpitals, two dwelling-houfes, and four canvas houfes, fent from England, about

Coft, at S. Leona, of materials for finishing the buildings, viz. bricks, deals, fcantlings, &c. about

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3930

4500

8430

I prefume, that no falary has been paid to the botanist, or to the mineralogift, in his life time; nor has a single farthing, as far as I have understood, been yet given to the diftreffed widow and orphans of the latter; though he may be faid, with fome propriety, to have facrificed his valuable lite in the Company's fervice. See § 400 and the note on it. C. B. W.

С НА Р.
XI.

Brought forward

Putting together the buildings fent out, and erection of other build

ings for the Company's fervants, about

SIERRA LE- Improving the landing place, making a wharf, roads, and sundry

ONA.

public works, about

A large crane, fire engines, &c.

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Furniture for the governor, phyfician, and chaplain

Lands, viz.

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Purchase of lands at S. Leona, and cultivation on the Company's account 1750
Allotment of lands to the N. Scotians, on which a rent is referved
to the Company, about

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2500

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African produce in England, eftimated at

1000

Cargoes of three veffels now on their paffage out

£. 16900

Deduct for goods not paid for

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Goods at S. Leona, or on board veffels on the coast
Value of dollars in the colony, about

7900

1000

Debts due from the colonifts to the Company, much the greater

part of which is expected to be recovered, about

Prefent estimated value of the Company's shipping

Total capital now invested in trade

Property belonging to the Company placed at

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Total remaining effects of the Company, the dead flock at S. Leona

included

108194 £.160279

XI.

ΟΝΑ.

great, and

why;

412. Such is the prefent ftate of the Company's funds, C. HA P.. and of the expenses, which last, certainly very far exceed every expectation, owing to the above-mentioned unfore- SIRA LES feen causes, which it may be proper to recapitulate, and Expenfes bring into one point of view:-1ft. The inefficiency of the original council, which occafioned great irregularity, and, it is feared, much prodigality and waste.-2. The fatal fickness of the first rains, which fufpended industry and greatly aggravated expense.-3. The badness of the foil near the town, which, by denying present support, has thrown that expense on the Company.-4. The burning of the York.→→ 5. The war, which has rendered additional protection neceffary; has raised the cost of European goods; increased the expense of living at S. Leona; prevented the expected decrease in the price of labour; and enhanced the charge of necessary public works. To the war are alfo to be ascribed the long and expenfive detention of fome of the veffels; the difficulty of procuring, and the increased expense of maintaining and paying, failors; and the uncertainty of intelligence caused by the war has been not only a pecuniary difadvantage, but a very material inconvenience.

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fening.

413. The charge of £. 20,000 for provifions, and that of but are lef£. 17,840 for maintenance of Company's fhips, in the protection and use of the colony, have greatly exceeded expectation. But the former has now entirely, and the latter very nearly, ceased. The Directors are also using their best endeavours to confine all the expenses to the trade, cultivation, and annual establishment of the Company; ̈ an object which, they truft, is nearly effected; for, while the chief difficulties of the colony are fubfiding, the Company's burden is ceafing.

414. On reviewing the past, the Directors own that fome

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