Reply to the Defence of the African Institution. 497 



M'Caifhy, in a letter to the Missionary 

 Society, in 1815, mentions tlial at that 



I«17.J 



Accumulated calamities heaped on tliese 

 unhappy creatures, from llie unmerciful 

 manner in which they are now stowed 

 in ships for their transatlantic passage, 

 th at cncrcased cargoes in such vessels 

 as escape might compensate for any di- 

 minution that had arisen from capture; 

 yet, for effecting little relief, and causing 

 jfreat additional sulferings, those defec- 

 tive abolitionists demand applause; and 

 England has expended a million and a 

 half of money from credulously following 

 their advice. 



In cultivation, no advancement has 

 been made ; it is true the institution sent 

 some cotton-sccd, but no laud was pre- 

 pared for its reception, no implements of 

 husbandry to assist, no experiment to 

 induce the proffered boon to be received 

 by the natives; consequently, tliis single 

 attempt at cultivation proved abortive. 

 -As to diffusing knowledge by schools for 

 teaching Arabic andSoosoo, it was never 

 beard of but in the Institution Reports. 

 Surely Alcthes will not require us to 

 bestow praise belorc the plans for civili- 

 zation comujeiicf. Had this powerful 

 party really and sincerely desired an uni- 

 versal abolition of the slave-trade, how 

 laudably might they have applied to the 

 minister, when England first determined 

 to protect Spain and Portugal, and then 

 manfully have declared they would sup- 

 port himonly on condition of his obliging 

 those allies, at that moment, to relinquish 

 the slave-trade. Why did they not say, 

 ill 1807, "A partial abolition must be in- 

 efficient and impolitic; the enemies of 

 Great Britain cannot carry it on; the 

 iriends of this nation, while we are ex- 

 pending our blood and treasures in their 

 defence, will not deny our rcijucst in this 

 cause of justice and humanity, or claim 

 such an advantage over our West-India 

 trade. If we arc obliged to wound our 

 i'eeliugs by continuing war, we must 

 bea! them by terminating this barbarous 

 traffic; while we contend for the liberty 

 of iiurope, we cannot allow the slavery 

 of Africa." This would have been their 

 language had their object been to eradi- 

 cate the evil; but abolition was merely a 

 popularitj-bell, which the tongue of the 

 declain)cr sounded at pleasure. Had 

 the comfort and instruction of llie ne- 

 grf)es l>een really an object with tlie In- 

 stitution, would they have sufler* d llicni 

 for eight years to bo cruelly In-atcd, 

 and barbarously nrglccted? Would 

 Ihfy also screen the authors of such 

 criminality from punishment, and load 

 them w itii praise alter the vilest proili- 

 jacy had been disclosed? Ciovcrnor 

 MO.MHJ.V Mag No. 2t)2, 



time he was establishing schools for the 

 captured negroes, and laments they had 

 not been instituted sooner. 



The Institution, from its commence- 

 ment, professed "to cultivate a friendly 

 connection wilh the African chiefs, to en- 

 lighten their minds, and induce them to 

 substitute a beneficial commerce in place 

 of the slave-trade." How easily might 

 this have been ellected; annual presents 

 would incline the chiefs to attend, and 

 we might quickly have convinced them, 

 that more articles conducive to their 

 comfort must be acquired by employing 

 the hands of their people in collecting 

 produce, and improving manufactures, 

 than from barteriog the persons of their 

 subjects. But this was not attempted; 

 public benefit would have followed, 

 while private interest must have bcea 

 curtailed: a partial abolition made Sierra 

 Leone a reservoir of wealth, and tlxat 

 was monopolized by the manager. 



The Institution professed to diffuse 

 religion and improve the morals of the 

 African; 5001. a-ycar is allowed for a 

 chaplain, yet, until within a kw months, 

 a regular clergyman never v as sent to 

 Sierra Leone. The Institution inform 

 us, that settlement contains four or live 

 hundred inhabitants; but the Wesley 

 Society declare, that it contains one 

 thousand Methodists ; and every persoa 

 conversant with the western part of 

 Africa declares, that it is the most de- 

 praved settlement on that coast. 



To bring the whole into one view, 

 we may see the slave-trade in as muclii 

 vigour at this moment as in 1807, witli 

 additional misery to the slave ; neither 

 cultivation nor civilization has been 

 extended in Africa; the native chiefs 

 have been incensed, and the inhabitants 

 demoralized. The Institution claims 

 public approbation, because the direc- 

 tors declare they are satisfied with their 

 own conduct, while it is evident they 

 have merely augmented the wealth of a 

 few partizans, and patronized a colony 

 for the propagation of Methodism. 



The Institution Reports also shew, 

 that about ten thousand pounds liavA 

 been subscribed as a fund to assist in 

 the civilization of Africa; the whole 

 is nearly exhausted, yet not five hundred 

 poinids appear expended on the object 

 for which it was intended; almost all 

 thrown away in delusive publications 

 and popularity - projects. A dozen 

 items are huddled in the account toge- 

 ther ; — why is this done, if they would 

 3 S baai 



