1830.] Ancient and Modern Systems of Slavery. 391) 



this part of the African coast, and, landing at Cape Coast Castle, saw his 

 faithful slaves comfortably settled there. He afterwards embarked with 

 Pasko, a rascally African, who had attended the expedition from its 

 commencement, in the Esk sloop-of-war, and, after a circuitous voyage, 

 reached England in April, 1828. We were much pleased with the gentle 

 simplicity of his manner and address, both previous to his sailing, and 

 after his return from Africa. He has since proceeded on a second 

 expedition (accompanied by a younger brother), to endeavour to trace 

 the course of the Niger from Fundah to Benin. We wish him every 

 success, and will hail the second arrival of ' Nassarah Curramee' (the 

 little Christian) in his native country with the greatest satisfaction. 



The correctness of our views in regard to the total inadequacy of the 

 measures hitherto adopted for the suppression of the slave-trade, and 

 the civilization of Africa, through our establishments at Sierra Leone, is 

 amply confirmed by the present state of society in the interior, as de- 

 scribed by the travellers from whose books we have made extracts. 



M . Caillie, in particular, having assumed the character of an Arab, 

 had a good opportunity of ascertaining the actual opinions of the super- 

 stitious and deceitful natives, in regard to the English character and 

 religion. He found them everywhere wedded to Islamism, or their 

 native superstitions ; and that their only motive for occasionally visiting 

 the settlements on the coast was, to extract as much as possible from the 

 ' Kafirs.' 



We have already so fully stated our opinions on this subject,* that 

 it seems unnecessary to enlarge further upon it. The truth of the pre- 

 dictions contained in the full and candid, but long suppressed, explana- 

 tory letter of Governor Ludlam to Mr. Zachary Macauley, dated Fort 

 Thornton, April 14, 1807, are now in most points fully confirmed. 

 Speaking of the probable consequences of the Abolition of the Slave 

 Trade, he truly states that " under a luke-rvarm government, smuggling 

 may be practised to any extent :" and we have seen the extent to which 

 it is practised by foreigners ! We, moreover, do not hesitate to state 

 our opinion, that if his Majesty's Ministers remain luke-warm as to its 

 being so continued, and do not speedily adopt measures to avert the 

 destruction of the agriculture of our own colonies, even British subjects 

 will not be deterred by any consequences from assisting foreigners in the 

 continuance of this now cruelly conducted trade. " To abolish the 

 Slave Trade," says Governor Ludlam, ef will not prevent the Africans 

 from remaining a savage and uncivilized people. To abolish the Slave 

 Trade is not to abolish the violent passions which now find vent in that 

 particular direction. Were it to cease, the misery of Africa would arise 

 from other causes ; but it does not follow that Africa would be less 

 miserable : she might even be less miserable, and yet be savage and 

 uncivilized. " This will, doubtless, be acknowledged : and it may be 

 asked, why I repeat so obvious a truth. I answer, because the writings 

 of the abolitionists have a contrary impression. They speak of the 

 darkness in which we have kept Africa, and of the happiness which w r e 

 may now look forward to, as if it were an unquestionable fact that 

 Africa would have been civilized, had it not been for the Slave Trade : 

 nay, further, that civilization, Christianity, and happiness, are now to 

 be looked forward to as the natural effects of abolition !" We recollect 



* Vide " Sierra Leone and the Slave Trade," Monthly Mag. for March last, p. 204. 



