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284 African Memoranda, CHAPTER VI. of their country than myself, from voluntarily placing them- Apology for those parts of the preceding Journal which may appear either illegal, or harsh.—Objections foreseen and answered.—Difficulties which we had to overcome stated.—■ Natives' opinion of the European character.—Advantages re sulting from our having remained upon the island. HuTNG brought my Journal to a conclusion, it may be necessary to say a few words on two or three points which might appear to require explanation, and to anticipate some objec tions which it is probable may be made to some of the trans actions related therein. Had I foreseen the exact situation in which I was to be placed, on the departure of the Calypso from the island of ’.Bulama, I am not sure that I should have sailed on the expe dition ; not that the prospect of the difficulties to be en- Motives for re quiring the colo nists’ as sent to be governed constitu coun tered would have deterred me ; but, the persuasion that, tion if I remained behind after the sailing of that ship, the law had had pro- armed me with no power to act with energy, would, I trust, set aside have deterred persons less scrupulously obedient to the laws previous to our England, selves in such a situation. To begin by avowing that the first act of mine, in the direc tion of the reduced colony, was an illegal one, seems to argue a degree of moral turpitude, inconsistent with the virtues which such a situation required. But when it is proved that such a