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 XI. Advantageous position of the Country sketched in Chapter VIII for the purposes of Cultivation and Commerce — its Colonization proposed — Commodities intended to be there produced ...
4^0 African Memoranda. condition of the blacks in our West India islands, it would add to their present misery, rebellion, murder, rapine, and cruelty ; and would at once sweep from the face of the earth all the white population of our western possessions, by the hands of assassins. And of par- There is however one mode of emancipation which seems tial emanci- . ■ . . . 1 pation. unobjectionable, and which is, I understand, practised by the Spaniards. That is to suffer a slave to work out his freedom by days. This is done when, from habits of industry, he has acquired so much property as will amount to the value of the sixth part of his annual labour, (Sunday not being reckoned) with which he buys his freedom for Monday ; having this day to his own use, the exercise of the same industry will afterwards enable him to buy Tuesday; and these two days will soonei' enable him, by the same means, to purchase Wednesday; and so on till he has completely emancipated himself. From this mode of emancipa tion I cannot see any danger, as it can be effected only by the industrious, and habits of industry once taken up are not likely to be laid by. Blacks who have so freed themselves would in all probability prove good subjects. If it be said that, freedom once acquired, there is no motive for the continuance of those industrious habits, I say that, freedom once acquired, there are other motives which will operate almost as strongly; and those are, in his new situation, to acquire respect; and this will gene rally be done by the acquisition of wealth, which will require the exercise of similar industry. Whether this be ever practised in our own colonies I do not know. The above mode might pos sibly be improved by admitting the purchase of half a day, or even one working hour, at a time.