A. D. 1792. 239 



The principal population of this colony confifted of 1,131 free Ne- 

 groes, who had been fettled in Nova Scotia at the conclufion of the lafl 

 war, but, finding the climate unfuitable to their conftitutions, had pe- 

 titioned for other fettlements : and they were accordingly conveyed in 

 fixteen velTels, at the expenfe of government *, to Sierra Leona, where 

 they arrived in March 1792. Thefe, added to the black people already 

 carried from London, formed a village, which got the name of Free- 

 town ; and by the conftitution of the colony the white and the black 

 inhabitants were entitled to enjoy equal rights and privileges. 



According to the Report of the directors, the expenses now incurred at home 

 and abroad in establisliing the colony amounted to - ^82,620 



The purchase of the land, cost of public buildings, roads, &c. 24,6S5 



The capital invested in shipping, merchandize, and debts - 27,400 



134,705 

 Remaining capital, placed at interest, or in the public funds - 108,194 



Total of the company's stock - - ^242,899 



The Sierra Leona company were not the only aflbciation formed for 

 the purpofe of introducing cultivation and fair commerce among the 

 natives of Africa. About the end of the year 1791 a number of gentle- 

 men formed themfelves into a fociety (without any adt of incorpor- 

 ation or any protection from government) for eftablifhing a colony on. 

 Bulama, a fertile ifland at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and near to 

 fome other great navigable rivers, or, failing that, upon fome other 

 ifland or diflri6l on the coafi: of Africa, for the purpofe of cultivating 

 the tropical produdions by the hired labour of the free natives of the 

 adjacent country. Above two hundred intended fettlers failed in three 

 vefTels : and, after an unfortunate fkirmilh with the natives, owing to 

 the want of an interpreter, wherein fome lives were loft, they purchafed 

 the ifland and a part of the adjacent main land, which they fet about 

 clearing and planting. But by a combination of misfortunes the colony 

 dwindled away; and in the end of the year 1793 Mr. Beaver, a lieu- 

 tenant of the navy, after having with great fpirit and unremitting per- 

 feverance kept together the fmall defponding remains of the colony till 

 then, and having baffled the repeated attempts of a treacherous neigh- 

 bouring prince to furprife him, was obliged to abandon the fruits of his 

 labours. Such was the event of an attempt to eftablifli a colony, v/hich 

 certainly pofleflTed many of the advantages, and was exempted from many 

 of the difad vantages, ufually attending fuch undertakings. 



the defire of acquiring them will be a powerful * Parliament granted ,^15,643:4:6 for thst 



ftimulus to the laudable and ufeful indiiilry of the purpofe. [33 Ceo. Ill, c. 72.] 

 natives, if the means of obtaining them by kid- 

 riapping their bretliren are taken from them. 



