90 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
colour. This is not the opinion that was held at the time, as it was then 
supposed that the African Company had been exerting influence to secure 
the removal of the Maroons from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone. An 
examination of the correspondence shows that this belief’ was ill-founded, 
Early in 1799 the Secretary of State reopened negotiations with the 
African Company, which did not respond with warmth ; in fact, showed 
a great unwillingness to undertake the charge of these people. In May 
Wentworth wrote that he had heard of the negotiations, but his letter of 
the 23rd was very cautious. On the 24th, the following day, he gave the 
proposal for the removal of hisapproval, and added, showing the changed 
feeling towards them after nearly three years’ residence in the province, 
that the inhabitants had great satisfaction at their being taken away. 
Difficulties, however, continued to be raised by the African Company to 
their reception, owing to the danger apprehended from their being 
settled on the mainland, and the necessity of placing them on an island 
from which an exit would not be easy. Finally they recommended the 
acquisition of the island of Bulam, at a sufficient distance from Freetown, 
which would not only accommodate them but the Caribs—an incidental 
evidence of the intention to remove that body of people also from the 
West Indies, where they had played the same part in St. Vincent as the 
Maroons had done in Jamaica. Obstacles to their speedy shipment arose, 
too, in Nova Scotia, where transports could not be obtained, although in 
February, 1800, they were ready to embark at an hour’s notice. When 
this was overcome, the agent for the African Company protested against 
their sailing before August, as otherwise they would arrive in the rainy 
season. On the 6th of August Wentworth reported that they had em- 
barked and were ready to sail, but before leaving they made an offer to 
contract for the delivery of 500 slaves, presumably to be caught after 
their arrival at Freetown—not a good augury of their future behaviour. 
They arrived in Sierra Leone on the Ist of October, 1800, assisted to quell 
an insurrection among the negroes previously sent from Nova Scotia, 
three of whom were executed, several banished, and some of the ring- 
leaders escaped among the natives. The conduct of the Maroons in 
Africa was on the whole satisfactory, but they still retained a longing to 
return to Jamaica, so that little cultivation was done, nor is it likely 
much would have been done in any case, although they are reported to 
have become good mechanics and labourers. What became of them 
subsequently it is beyond the scope of this paper to trace. 
