with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
with a brief notice of the neighbouring tribes, soil, productions, &c. and some observations on the facility of Colonizing that part of Africa, with a View to Cultivation; and the introduction of letters and religion to its inhabitants: but more particularly as the means of gradually abolishing African Slavery relative to an attempt to establish a British Settlement on the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the year 1792
Projekt: Bestände der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
LDP: Bestände der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Strukturtyp
Monographie
Parlamentsperiode
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Wahlperiode
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Titel
Chapter VI. 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 resulting from our having remained upon the island
African Memoranda. To all these questions there could be but one answer—Yes. I therefore determined to stay ; but how ? To be the nominal chief of a colony, without power, without authority ? No. To return I thought dishonourable to my country, to remain I thought essential to that honour. But I had no power from government; and it had declared that the settlers had no autho rity to invest me with any. What was to be done ? I did what I thought that government would have authorised me to do, if it could possibly have foreseen my situation ; and what my pe culiar situation will, I hope, justify me in declaring. I refused to take charge of the colony, until the assembled co lonists had agreed to be governed by that constitution which we had disclaimed previous to our sailing from England; and which they did on the morning of the 20th July, 1792, before I read to them my new regulations. This previous condition, in my then situation, was absolutely necessary; for although I knew that the people whom I had undertaken to direct were to be managed more by example than power, yet there were some among them, though few, who could be kept in order only from an idea of my possessing the latter: and though it was in idea only, for I certainly had none legally, I had, however the name of it, and the name only goes much farther than many people are aware of. Trivial as such an assent, on the part of the colonists, may ap pear to those who were never placed in similar circumstances, it was to me of the utmost importance, as it invested me with very great authority ; which probably will produce a smile, our numbers and situation being considered ; when I say that by the third article in the chapter on the executive power, it made me “ commander in chief of the military force by sea and land; and 287