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306 African Memoranda. clucing civilization, and at the same time of abolishing slavery r and it the preceding account shall in the smallest degree lead to and the ship Hankey. Thus what was really intended to benefit the Africans, has hi therto only been of disservice to them: so much for Bulama. But how shall we es-- timate the extent of the mischief done to the African cause by the Sierra Leone com pany ? Here is a great company, with a very large capital, directed by members of the legislature, and persons of great commercial concerns and influence, from whom much might be expected : for, with their wealth, their knowledge, and their means, what might not be hoped, if the thing attempted be practicable ? But if, with alF these advantages, they completely fail, who can expect hereafter to succeed ? Nay? who will make the attempt ? It is in this point of view that I consider the Sierra Leone company as having done infinitely more mischief than good to the cause which they have so disinterestedly undertaken. Their whole conduct has been so absurd, as to strike every person, except those con cerned, at first sight; nay I could not have believed it, if I had not been a witness to it myself : and I said in the year 1794, (when I believe they had expended about .9^80,000 , if I am wrong in this sum, there are many able, and I dare say willing, to put me right) that as long as they pursued their then system, every farthing which they expended was completely thrown away. I know not whether the same system- be still pursued j but this I know, that if it is, every shilling laid out by them might as well have been thrown into the sea; and T boldly aver that if they ever do succeed, it will be by means quite different from those, at that time, adopted. I consider the abolition of slavery, and the introduction of letters and religion to the Africans, to be the chief objects of that company; without, at the same time, losing sight of the advantages to be derived from cultivation and commerce. The objects are amiable and interesting, and deserve the attention of all great and good men. How lamentable then must it be, to see such advantages, as this company has possessed for more than ten years, made not the least use of, nay, rather tending to retard, than hasten, the ob jects of their wishes. 1 hesitate not to say that they might by this time, by pursuing proper measures, have had as much fertile land in Africa as they could possibly occupy; that they might have had almost innumerable, populous, and well cultivated planta tions ; on all of which the people should have been much further advanced towards civi lization than they are at present; and that they should have had better notions of re ligion ; (as to letters, as far as mere reading and writing goes, probably much more could not have been done) and they should now have annually imported into this kingdom, African produce, to the full amount of one million sterling. I say all this might have been done, and I think I should have no difficulty in proving it. Now,