IX. lony, who form the before-mentioned raw materials or CHA P. productions by means of industry into fome shape for use; and the third or last, the class of merchants in the colony, who are chiefly occupied in traffic and negociation, both within and without the colony. It is of very great importance, that every inhabitant, from the beginning, may class himself yearly under either of these three, and that the imposts may be laid by the colonial legislature, in fuch proportion, that the first class be taxed the lowest, and the last the highest, and that the right of voting, in all cases, shall be confined to the first class only *. PROPOSITION XIV. 195. That no colonist be allowed to poffefs more than a certain portion of land, fay acrest. PROPOSITION XV. 196. That, in order to prevent certain obvious irregularities, as much as poffible, every colonist that remains unmarried after the age of years, shall pay a tax to the community of per cent. on his property, and all married people fhall be encouraged in that state by an exemption from certain taxes. PROPOSITION XVI. 197. That no colonist be arrested or imprisoned for debt, * See the Plan of a free Community on the Coast of Africa, entirely independent of all European laws and Government, 4to. 1789, p. 23. +"Experience has shown the inconvenience of private persons poffeffing too large quantities of land in our colonies, by which means the greatest part of it must lie uncultivated; and the inhabitants are thrown at fuch a distance that they can neither affift nor defend one another." Reasons for establishing the Colony of Georgia, p. 29. See the Note to Prop. II. R 2 at, CHA P. at the inftance of another; but that it may be the creditor's IX. own fault, if he part with his property on truft*. PROPOSITION XVII. 198. That every ufeful mechanical invention, especially fuch as are calculated to abridge and facilitate human labour, in clearing and cultivating the foil, be particularly encouraged. See § 132 et feq. *Every individual belongs to the community, and not to any other individual. He cannot therefore be fold for money, far lefs for credit; becaufe credit is often given by infidious men, or debts bought up by them, in order to inveigle and confine their competitors; and competition is the very life of an industrious communi. ty. The number of persons who are lost to society, to their families and themselves, by imprisonment for debt, is very great. Sixty years ago, it was calculated that four thousand were annually caft into prison for debt in England, and that one third of their debts were never thereby recovered.-(See Reasons for establishing the Colony of Georgia, printed in 1733, page 18.) If the number of such victims has increased, as it is natural to believe it has, with the trade of the kingdom during that period, few thinking men will be disposed to rejoice at an extension of commerce which has brought fuch an evil in it's train. I am, indeed, credibly informed that, in the beginning of the present year (1794) no fewer than 27,000 perfons were confined for debt in the gaols of England and Scotland. What a number to be thus shut up from the eyes, and, I fear, too often excluded from the hearts, of their fellow fubjects! But it is to be hoped that the promoters of colonization in Africa, will effectually prevent this afflicting evil from entering into any of their establishments, always remembering that one of their primary objects is, the abolition of the flavetrade!-See 142, Query LI. CHAP. CHA CHAP. CHA P. X. COLONIES FORMED IN AFRICA, ON THE PRINCIPLES OF COMMERCE, by the Portuguese, Spaniards, French, Dutch and Auftrians. 199. MOST men yield a readier afsent to facts, showing what has already been done, than to arguments, proving what it is practicable to do. For the information then of persons who may be inclined to subscribe, or to embark as colonists, in any new undertaking of this kind, it may not be improper to introduce into this work, a short history of those modern European colonies which have already been established, or attempted, in Africa, on the principles of commerce, and of those which are now forming on the principles of humanity*. But it seems unneceffary to describe the temporary fettlements or factories. THE PORTUGUESE+. 200. The Portuguese explored the coast of Africa, before *The interefts of commerce and humanity were at firft fo fuccefsfully reconciled by the Dutch, at the Cape of Good Hope, that the sketch hereafter given of the first establishment of their colony in that part of Africa, deferves particular attention. Upon the whole, it appears to me to afford a very good model for forming colonies in general. + The following fhort account of the Portuguese colonies in Africa, I have compiled from the Atlas Maritimus et Commercialis, London printed 1728.-Mortimer's and Pofllethwayt's Commercial Dictionaries, both printed in London, 1766. -Tableau General de Commerce, Londres, 1787.-The Report of the British Privy Council, London 1789.-And the volumes already published of the Encyclopædia Britannica, 3d. edition now printing at Edinburgh.-It may be observed, however, that the prefent ftate of Portuguese Africa is different from what it was at the period which furnished the materials for these works. any X. Portuguese first explored the African coaft. CHAP. any other modern European nation; but from an ungenerous reserve on the part of their government, or from some other cause unknown to me, they have been so sparing in their communications, that I cannot pretend to describe their colonies with that certainty and precision which I wish*. Among other causes of confufion, unsettled orthography is not the leaft. For example in the kingdom of Congo, we meet with Congo, Kakongo, Cango, Coango, names in the application of which geographers do not seem to be agreed. Thus much, however, is certain, that the Portuguese poffef. fions in Africa are far more important than those of any other European nation; and that in the hands of an active people, they could not fail to become the fources of immense power and opulence. 201. Portuguese Africa, as it may not improperly be called, extends on the weft from about 5 deg. of north lat. to 10, fome fay 15 deg. fouth. Here, inftead of being cooped up within the narrow limits of trading factories, as they are on other parts of the western coaft, they are settled in colonies, under a regular government, and have built several large and well fortified towns. The foil, which is rich and well watered, they have, in several places, taught the natives to cultivate; for this kind of instruction forms no confiderable part of the policy of the Portuguese clergy, who have taken * I have the satisfaction of informing the reader, that since the above was written, the following sketch has had the advantage of being reviewed, and corrected in a few places, by Colonel Bolts, a gentleman whose knowledge of the eastern parts of Africa is allowed by those who have the honour of his acquaintance, to be very extenfive. Having spent many years in the eastern parts of the world, he published in 1772, "Confiderations on India affairs," in three vols. 4to; and, I believe, he has it now in contemplation to lay also before the public the result of his perfonal and acquired knowledge of the Eaft of Africa, not only of the coaft, but of the inland country. fo X. so much pains to convert the natives, that it is thought they CHA P. have been the means of making many of them better christians than themselves. Thus much at least appears, that the religion these fathers have taught the natives has contributed to soften their manners, if not to mend their morals, (See § 36, et feq. and § 146). As a proof of this, we are affured, that in many parts of this country, they are cloathed in the European fashion, to which they are fo habituated that, even were the Portuguese to leave the country, they would not foon abandon it. 202. Awerri, though in the kingdom of Benin, is subject Awerri. to the government of the Portuguese, who have here a castle and a garrison; also a church and a monastery. It is worthy of remark, that though the river of Benin is very fatal to the English and Dutch feamen who frequent it, yet the Portuguese, who dwell farther within the country, do not experience any peculiar infalubrity of climate. This is one instance, among many, which might be adduced, to make it probable, that the interior of almost all of the western parts of Africa is more healthful than the coast. (See § 76, and 80.) 203. Angola was first discovered by the Portuguese in Angola. 1484. They afterwards conquered feveral of it's provinces, and rendered the native king tributary for the rest, as his succeffors have fince continued. Their acquifitions may extend 240 leagues along the coaft, and, in fome places, 100 within the land. The capital is St. Paul de Loanda, which has a good harbour. It is the feat of the government, and, every three years, receives a new governor from Portugal. The country has been cleared, drained and cultivated in so many places, as to improve it's climate very confiderably. Some years ago, a number of people from Biscay were sent out to work the excellent iron mines in Angola; but they mifcarried, |