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African Memoranda. situation could not possibly have been foreseen, and that such an act arose from absolute and unconditional necessity, it will not, it is hoped, be condemned. It has already been related that we were ignorant of having committed any misdemeanour, in drawing up our constitution of government, previous to the arrival of the ships at Gravesend ; and, that in consequence of our memorial to government, we were permitted to proceed, on condition only of our “ having disclaimed and set aside a certain printed memorandum of agree ment, and constitution of government, for a colony about to be established on or near the island of Bulam, &c.” Now this was taking from us every semblance of command over the colonists; however, having gone so far, it was deemed, even under that disadvantage, better to proceed than to abandon the under taking. The subsequent events, which led to the abandoning of the island by the majority of the settlers, no one could possibly have foreseen ; but they were all such as rendered a coercive power, on the part of the governor, more necessary than ever. In this state of things, I had declared my resolution to re main on the island, which induced others to do the same ; and although the form of electing me President of those members of the council who remained, was not yet gone through ; yet, it was sufficiently understood that I was to direct, and that those who remained, did so on the faith of that opinion. Now, before I had expressed my determination to remain on the island, I had well weighed the propriety of such a mea sure: I saw the dishonour of retreating, and the difficulties of remaining: and putting private considerations out of the ques tion, which, if they had been suffered to have any influence at 8 285