242 SOCIAL CONDITION OF AFRICA. 



was reduced to sixty-four. But the philanthropic zeal 

 which prevailed in Britain for the colonization of Africa 

 suifered no abatement. An association was formed under 

 the titles of the St. George's Bay, and afterward of the 

 Sierra Leone Company, with a capital of 250,000/., for 

 the prosecution of this interesting object ; and they soon 

 found another quarter whence a supply of colonists might 

 be drawn. During the American war, a number of negro 

 slaves in the revolted colonies, on the invitation of the Bri- 

 tish government, had deserted their masters and joined her 

 standard. After the unfortunate issue of the contest, these 

 fugitives claimed the fulfilment of a promise said to have 

 been made, that they should have lands allotted for their 

 subsistence. The proffer now made of grants on their na- 

 tive shore, and in a more congenial climate, was cordially ac- 

 cepted. In March, 1792, they were landed at Sierra Leone, 

 to the amount of 1131, in addition to 100 Europeans who 

 had arrived in the preceding month. A fever, however, 

 which the negroes had brought with them, aggravated by 

 the unhealthy nature of the climate, carried off a consider- 

 able number ; and to this latter cause of mortality half of the 

 European settlers fell victims. The improvement of the 

 colony was also much retarded by a very general spirit of 

 insubordination ; and, in 1794, it was barbarously plundered 

 by a French squadron, which caused losses amounting to 

 upwards of 50,000/. However, the settlement had gra- 

 dually recovered, and was beginning to make some progress, 

 when, in 1800, it was recruited with 550 maroons, or insur- 

 rectionary negroes from Jamaica, who had been originally 

 transported to Nova Scotia. They arrived at a very sea- 

 sonable moment, when a disturbance had just broken out 

 among the original body of negroes, which the British 

 crews were busily employed in suppressing. 



Notwithstanding all that had been done for the miprove- 

 ment of Sierra Leone, which had more than absorbed the 

 original capital of the company, very little progress was 

 yet made towards fulfilling its objects. No spirit of indus- 

 try had been infused into the inhabitants, and no amicable 

 connexions formed with the neighbouring states. The 

 company had scarcely the means of supporting it any 

 longer ; but there appeared reason to hope that the more 

 energetic and inflwential efforts of government might yet 



