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VOL. XXVII. No. 7.] LONDON, SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 1815.

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SIERRA LEONE.

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awefully pending state of the abolition, imperiously demand from me some efSEVERAL years ago I endeavoured to "fort at this moment. Private exertion draw the attention of the public to the "I have exhausted; from high authority proceedings of the Sierra Leone Compa- "I am personally excluded; therefore to ny, of which Mr. WILBERFORCE was 'public appeal I am driven. It is the the protector, patron, and chief.—I en- only means by which I can fulfil my deavoured, but in vain, to make the pub-" duty to the King, my attention to the lic perceive, that the whole thing was a colony, over which I judicially preside, ⚫ deception, originating in folly, or in a de- " and manifest my zeal for the civilizasire to gain popularity. I have now be-"tion of Africa, and the abolition of the fore me a pamphlet, written by Mr. "slave trade.-I shall commence with 'a THORPE, Chief Justice of the Colony," review of what has been done from the which proves, in the clearest manner, "establishment of the Sierra Leone Comthat my opinion of this thing was per- pany;* whose avowed objects were to fectly correct. The author, in the form encourage trade with the west coast of a LETTER, addresses himself to Mr. "of Africa; to promote cultivation, adWILBERFORCE; and from this Letter vance civilization, diffuse morality, I shall make two extracts, which I dare "and induce some attention to a pure say, will be sufficient to convince the system of religion in Africa;' as also, reader, that this specious project has "not to suffer their servants to have the wholly failed in its pretended object, slightest connection with the slave and that it was very foolish, to say the "trade; neither to buy, sell, or employ least of it, to squander the public money 66 4 any one in a state of slavery; and to on such an undertaking. repress the traffic as far as their influence would extend.' This was a wise and truly beneficent plan, promising "wealth to England, and happiness to "Africa; but I have enquired, and found "that no part of it was ever carried into effect. The Company obtained, in a "very short time, a superabundance of land, finely situated, and well circumstanced, on the Sierra Leone river,† in exchange for a few insignificant articles "of merchandise; they collected together from London, Halifax, and Jamaica, near two thousand settlers at very little expense; they had zealous and affluent, supporters in England; they had un"prejudiced and tractable (though un"enlightened) natives to negociate with; "and they had near two hundred and fifty thousand pounds capital; yet

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First Extract. "The unbounded benevolence and un-" "paralleled philanthrophy attributed to you, I am confident will induce you to excuse this hasty and unornamented epis"tle; but my continuance in England

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being very uncertain, I am impelled "precipitately to commit myself to you" "and to the public.-You have been for "above twenty years considered the pa"tron of Sierra Leone, and you are de"signated the Father of the Abolition.'" "The effect of my exertions for that co"lony, and the spirit of my decisions in support of the abolition, I hope will prove, that I have been as sincere a "friend to the one, and practically as "beneficial a promoter of the other, as any unassuming individual. Thus embarked, I should consider it a dereliction of principle, and a proof of insensibility, to neglect exerting myself "at all times in this great cause; but "the calamitous accounts I have recently received from Sierra Leone, and the

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good there, as the inhabitants were "too far sunk in sin and immorality;

"they very quickly made the natives" few months, and a missionary for a "suspicious, the settlers discontented, few years; but they had Methodist "their best servants were obliged to seek "teachers and preachers in abundance; establishments under the native chiefs,† "the benefits derived from their precepts "and although they had a monopoly of" may be imagined, from the missionary "the trade, and their will was the regu- assuring me on his leaving the colony "lation of profit, they sunk almost to" in 1812, relinquishing his house and 68 bankruptcy, from causes enveloped in “3501. per annum, 'that he could do no "mystery, and applied to Government "for support and protection. To the "Nova Scotia settlers they promised "land for cultivation; twenty acres for "each man ;§ ten for his wife; and five "for each child; but this promise they never fulfilled: || no man was allowed above a fifth of the land to which he "was entitled; and implements to culti-" "vate even such a portion, were difficult" natives,tworked them themselves with“to find, and too expensive to procure. "out pay, and hired them to others for "The settlers could not raise in the co- pay; suffered slaves to be brought in "and taken out of the colony; allowed "them to be seized and delivered to their "masters when, they sought protection;

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that he would remove to the Boollam "shore, try new ground, and endeavour "to instruct the natives, improve their ""condition in this life, and prepare

them with a knowledge of, and con"duct for, the world to come.' Lastly, their servants constantly purchased the

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lony even rice and yams for subsistence; "their very existence depended on a sup"ply from the neighbouring rivers. Had "land been granted at the commence- permitted their storekeeper to supply "ment to the settlers as promised; had "the slave factories, slave ships, and to they been enabled to cultivate and "feed the trade in every possible way. "raise provisions for consumption and "Even in Mr. Ludlam's last administra"barter, they would soon have render-"tion of the government, two cargoes "ed themselves independent of, and less "of slaves, taken from the Americans, "profitable to the Company; whose" were publicly sold at twenty dollars a "storekeeper purchased provisions from "head. "head. So much for their efforts to

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દર

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the natives, paid for them in merchan- " repress the slave trade, of which they dise, and sold them to the settlers; "had professed such an abhorrence, "this might have produced little profit," and which the act of parliament for "but it secured great control. Even the incorporating the company forbade plants indigenous to the soil remained" them to pursue. Is it possible the di"uncultivated. Cotton, coffee, indigo, "rectors did not know, hear, or believe, "tobacco, &c, &c. were conspicuous; "this, or any part of it? If disappro "but it was in all the wildness of nature. "bation had attached to such conduct, "Such were their efforts to promote cul-" is it probable they would continue in "tivation. In civilization they proceed-"their confidence, after they had heard "ed so far as to send two persons to "of it, the persons who managed their "Teembo,** (a few days walk from Sier- concerns? Or did they imagine by trumpeting their abhorrence of this diabolical traffic, fulminating against every person implicated in it, and blazoning the virtues of those who seemed anxious to exterminate it, that they "would prevent those transactions from being divulged; or if revealed, that

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ra Leone) and educated half a dozen "African boys in England sufficiently for" common clerkships in the colony."As to religion and morality, they had a "Church of England clergyman for a

Appendix, No. I.

✦ Some of them returned to the colony after the Abolition act passed, and reside there at present. Vide Parliamentary grants.

§ Lieutenant Clarkson,who signed the agreement. Settlers remonstrated in vain, then ensued an insurrection.

¶ Falconbridge's Account, p. 189.

* Vide Company's Report.

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they could induce this nation to dis-" ged with him near ten years before *credit any authority that might dere" your accession; yet you are now held "to give them utterance? The OmniThe Omni-" up to this enlightened age, and would "scient will know and judge; impotent "be handed down to posterity, as the humanity may conjecture! After six-" parent that generated the abolition of teen years experiment, trade having slavery, emancipated, enlightened, culfailed; cultivation being retarded; citivated, and civilized Africa! Be it as vilization unattempted; religion and it may I have examined already the morality debased; and the slave trade" means adopted to effect some of those nourished; every plan defeated, every "praise-worthy objects, and how far artifice exposed; the Company, desir- they have succeeded; now I shall proous of relieving themselves from the ceed to shew, how little your theory enormous expense, prevailed on Go- "extended to pure abolition, and that, vernment to accept a surrender of the "practically, you have not been in the colony, and formed (to uphold their slightest degree successful. That you **old influence) a society called the Afri-" most laudably assisted Sir William Institution: having taken leave of " Dobbin, and others, in procuring Bills "the expense, they demanded to be paid to be passed for meliorating the condi"for their buildings, and did accordingly "tion of slaves in their Transatlantic * receive a large sum from the treasury,† passage, I delight in acknowledging: although they had before obtained (by "but when I behold you for near twenpleading poverty) one hundred thou- ty years professedly struggling with the sand pounds from Government for the great and all-commanding minister of improvement of the colony: their books "this country; whose administration of "and agents were removed; while many "this government you admired, and to "of the poor settlers who had toiled for "whose private friendship you were de"them for years were left unpaid. The "voted; it is wonderful this benevolent case of some of these old, impoverished, and destitute people, I represented" *before the chairman of the Sierra Leone Company, in a committee of the "African Institution; but no redress was offered: I simply requested that all "their demands might be referred to * arbitration in the colony; and even this was not complied with.”

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Second Extract.

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measure was not carried. You knew Mr. Pitt was all powerful with his party, and the sole director of his admi"nistration you had a commanding,

connected phalanx of friends in Par"liament; and on this occasion, you had "the people's support, and the finest feel

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ings of the nation to gratify; yet for twenty years you did not carry this Bill; though you apparently acted with "such a commanding associate. It is " evident you never did make it a "sine qua non" of the continuance of your support of Mr. Pitt's Administration: "the speaking on it, for it, and about it, "was "ad captandum vulgus:" it served "to uphold the pendulum in its vacillancy between the minister and the pesa new Administration was formed, to ple. But what is still more wonderful," "the members of which you were not "the devoted friend; of whose measures

"I have now, Sir, arrived at the time for addressing you as the Father of the Abolition. I presume, by accepting the appellation, you hold yourself thereto enti"tled; yet, 'tis passing strange;' for Mr. Clarkson, (whose active humanity, indefatigable industry, in the cause of " abolition, can never be sufficiently ap-.. preciated or applauded,) was certainly engaged in this great cause near twenty years before he enlisted you under "his banners. The invaluable and ever *to be regretted Mr. Granville Sharpe, "was nearly fifteen years in the cause of injured Africa, before you joined his.. * amiable band of philanthropists. Many other worthy personages, whom Mr. Clarkson's History records, were enga

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substitute for the slave trade, appears evidently to have been a premeditated plan, well laid before the Act passed, "from the interesting letter which your worthy Secretary, Mr. Macaulay, wrote. to Governor Ludlam, dated London, 7th of May, 1807*. You somewhat "misconceive (says he) our ideas in this "country on the subject of African slavery. While the slave trade lasted,I certainly was averse to giving any direct encouragement to the purchasing of slaves, with a view to the benefit of their labor for a certain given period; "but I always looked forward to the ""event of the abolition, as removing

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"conscientiously support any ministers," that would not assist you in carrying "it into effect? The whole tenour of your "language on the subject would have prompted and justified this demand;" "but you did no such thing; the integy, the humanity, and the consisten"cy of these distinguished statesmen, in"duced them to give their whole un"bribed, and voluntary assistance, in "accomplishing this great work. The "Bill was evidently carried by their exertions; and cannot be attributed either 66 2 to your perseverance or benevolence. "Allow me to look at the Abolition "Act minutely, which I hope will not "appear to be an offspring of your's," many objections to that system.'-though the features rather proclaim "Thus the Abolition act is to give us "the parent; for you avow it is not sla- "slaves without purchase, by seizing. very, but the Slave Trade, you dislike. "them from our allies; and then the "In your Letter to Prince Talleyrand," framers of this magical act (which is to "you say, The abolitionists took all "free and enslave at the same moment), opportunitiesof proclaiming that it was "acknowledge, that they lock forward to the Slave Trade, not slavery, against" its removing many objections to our "which they were directing their efforts."" purchasing Africans, for the same "The Abolition Act upholds the same "avowed and specific purpose ourselves! principle; but it did not express the "As I view and consider this whole "true uncontaminated principle, nor the plan, the act, the promoters, and the "fine feeling of this magnanimous coun- manner in which it has been en"try.--By the seventh section of the forced, I am scarcely able to suppress "Act, slaves taken as prizes or forteit-"the language that would express my ures, may be enlisted for the land or sea service; or may be bound as ap- what he says 'You somewhat_mis"prentices, whether of full age or not, "conceive our ideas in this country, on "for a term of fourteen years;' and by "the subject of African slavery.' This "sections 16th and 17th, it is laid down, is, we are the most abominable hypo that when the term of apprenticeship "crites on earth; proclaiming to the "has expired, they may be apprenticed" world, that from the finest feelings of anew; and the service of a negro sol-"justice and humanity, we are abo"dier is directed to be for life;' so that 'lishing the slave trade; yet, in the "here is involuntary servitude for ife es- "most surreptitious manner, we are de"tablished by an Act of Parliament pur- "termined to pursue it vigorously, and` porting to abolish slavery. The sal-" raise all tropical producet by slaves, "dier may endure some sea sickness in "not in the West Indies, but in Africa.--"crossing the Atlantic, I suppose, be- "The West Indian planters and mercause he receives some compensation; "chants suffered, and complained long but here is a permanent, sedentary sla- since; but when they perceive the auvery for life, under the name of ap- "thors of their calamity planning to obprenticeship, without any compensa-"tain plantations without purchase, la"tion, established by this liberating Act "bourers without expense, territory from "of our Legislature: and the seat of this" the Gambia to Angola, and a monopoly "new slavery is in Free-town, in the co"lony founded by the most benevolent men, on the most liberal plan: exalted "as the freest spot on earth, to enlighten" benighted Africa; and displayed to the world as the finest example of Bri"tish liberty, and British philanthrophy! "But with sorrow I must declare, this

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the slave trade from England to Portugal "and Spain; it has thrown our colonies back, and advanced the Brazils and Ha"vannah more in six years, than thirty had done before. Do not let it be

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supposed, that I would have had the "sin and degradation of the slave trade. "continue to be attached to England: "when justice immolates wealth on the "altar of humanity, it is an, offering grateful to her benevolent spirit; but this Act has scarcely diminished the number of slaves carried from the coast; "the Portugal and Spanish trade has so "wonderfully increased, that the dif "ference is insignificant since ours was abolished, and what is worse, it has augmented the negroes' sufferings in "the trans-atlantic passage: the Brazil ships are not only filled most unmercifully, but the Spaniards (in general) "from the Havannah, fearful of our cruisers, come without irons, and there"fore, for security,stow those unoffending "beings into the hold, like lumps of Cam "wood; never opening the hatchways

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"taken near three, thousand of the finest
slaves, may have retarded the benef
"of this plan: but though slow, it wil
"be sure.
A peace will leave the cap
"tured negroes without diminution, or
competition. The Brazil and Havan-
"nah produce will throw the West In-
"dia planters out of the foreign market;
"and here will be an effort to underse!!
"them in the home market. But this i
too large a field for me; I shall only re
mark, that Prince Talleyrand, many
"years past, explained the advantages"
"that would arise to France, by culti.
"vating colonial produce in Africa;
though he did not recommend the
"confiscation of property, that by a fie-
"tion might be turned to the very use
"which caused it to be confiscated.--Sir,
"I lament being obliged to speak of my-
self; but our relative situations with
respect to the slave trade and Sierra
"Leone, being the cause of this public
"address to you, it is necessary to shew
"what we have done, what benefit has
"arisen, and then to point out the best
"mode my humble efforts can devise,
"for insuring a secure, perfect, and uni-
"versal abolition, by which Africa may
"be raised from its degraded and be-
"sotted state, to its natural elevation
"in the civilized world.-It is evident
"that the objects you had in founding
"the colony of Sierra Leone, have com-
"pletely failed. The dissipation of your
"funds proved the injudiciousness of
66 your trade;
cultivation and civilization
were not attempted. The native chiefs*
considered your servants as faithless
"and perfidious, your colony was a wil-
"derness, your settlers poor and dissa-
Itisfied, and the slave trade nurtured,
"until Mr Thompson arrived as gover-
"nor. The abolition act has transferred

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* Four most extraordinary letters in Arabic from those chiefs to our universally beloved Sovereign, establishing this, and denominating the persons, are now in London, and translated.

The true state of Sierra Leone, in 1808, will be clearly seen from documents sent to the High Court of Admiralty by Governor Thompson; from his correspondence with Lord Castlereagh (then Secretary of State for the Colonies); from the Protest of the Governor and Council against the Abolition Act; and the system of apprenticeship, transmited for the Privy Council; and lastly, from Governor Thompson's memorial to the Treasury in 1813.

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