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 I. Proceedings of the Committee of a Society for establishing a Colony on the Western Coast of Africa, from the Period of its Institution, till the Departure of the Colonists from England
African Memoranda. 3 Indian islands might be easily raised on the island of Bulama, iZ.Qi. and in its neighbourhood ; but this was only a secondary object; Nov. 2. at least I can aver it to have been so with them, though different sentiments might have actuated others, and certainly did,* to join in the enterprize. But cultivation was considered by us only as the means which might lead to the civilization of the Africans, and eventually put an end to their slavery. Much had been said, and much had been written, on the subject of the slave trade for the last six years, and it had been strongly contended that the Africans were incapable of enjoying the blessings of liberty ; f setting aside argument and debate on the subject, whether they are, or are not capable of enjoying that blessing, this is an experimental attempt to prove either the one or the other. To try therefore whether or not these poor degraded people are capable of holding that rank in the society of nations, which it is natural to suppose all people are capable of attaining, if they have but an opportunity of ac quiring knowledge, was the end of our institution. To purchase land in their country, to cultivate it by free natives hired for that purpose’; and thereby to induce in them habits of labour and of industry, it was thought might eventually lead to the introduction of letters, Religion and civilization, into the very heart of Africa. * Some confined their views to cultivation, others meant to unite it with commerce, while a great number had the latter in view only. + It is with the utmost reluctance that I ever use the word “ Liberty,” since under its sacred name we have seen a neighbouring nation, after having committed every crime known either in savage or civilized life, reduced to the lowest degree of the most abject slavery. B 2