166 



I N S T I T U T I O'N. 



, Number of volumes published from the 

 *'> fiumdition of the Institute till 1806, by 



v '-.'' the three classes 16 in 4to. 



Xumlfrr of volumes published from 1806 to 



1812. 

 Volumes published by the Academy of 



Sciences 7 



Academy of Inscriptions ...... * 



Memoires cle Savans Etrangers .... 2 



Systeme Metrique 3 



Etat du Science et des Lettres .... 2 

 Prix Dccennaux 1 



Total 35 vols. 



The volumes of memoirs for 1813, 1814, 1815, and 

 1816. have not yet appeared. 



Ori : in of I.VSTITU riON, AFRICAN, R society for promoting 

 the toddy, the civilization of Africa, established in London in the 

 spring of 1807. It may be considered as a continua- 

 tion of the Abolition Society ; and owes its origin to a 

 few of the most indefatigable opponents of the slave 

 trade, who were nobly bent upon following up every 

 practicable measure for the utter extirpation of that ex- 

 ecrable traffic, and for compensating, by every benefit 

 in their power, the injuries which it had so long en- 

 tailed on the African continent. It was readily and 

 cordially befriended from the first, by the leading mem- 

 bers of that administration, who had accomplished the 

 measure of abolition in parliament ; and who, though 

 dispossessed at the time of all official power, were con- 

 sistently persevering in the prosecution of a cause, 

 which ought ever to have reigned paramount over all 

 party views and feelings. These, however, proved too 

 powerful for a time, for the calls of common humanity 

 and of Christian principle; and the keen political con- 

 tests which then agitated the kingdom, prevented that 

 concurrence of th j abolitionists, which might have been 

 expected in the objects of the institution. Hence it 

 was almost entirely neglected, till the return of more 

 peaceable times ; and till the appearance of the first re- 

 port of its committee in midsummer of 1807, brought 

 its claims more effectually before the public. To that 

 report, generally understood to have been drawn up by 

 Mr. Stephen, we must refer for an able statement of the 

 objects i if the institution, and the means proposed to be 

 pursued for their attainment, and content ourselves with 

 extracting the resolutions adopted at the same meeting, 

 as containing the best summary of its general views. 

 Objects in 1. Tiiatthisineetingisdeeplyimpressedwithasen.se 

 vjn. of the enormous wrongs which the natives of Africa 



have suffered in their intercourse with Europe ; and, 

 from a desire to repair those wrongs, as well as from 

 general feelings of benevolence , is anxious to adopt 

 such measures as are best calculated to promote their 

 civilization aiid happiness. 



2 That the approaching cessation of the slave trade, 

 hitherto carried on by Great Britain, America, and 

 Denmark, will, in a considerable degree, remove the 

 barrier which has so long obstructed the natural course 

 of social improvement in Africa; and that the way will 

 be thereby opened for introducing the comforts and 

 arts of a more civilized state of society. 



_ 3. That the happiest effects may be rerisonably anti- 

 cipated from diffusing useful knowledge, and exciting 

 industry among the inhabitants of Africa, and from ob- 

 taining and circulating throughout this country more 

 ample and authentic- information concerning the agri- 

 cultural and commercial facilities of that vast continent; 

 and that, through the judicious prosecution of these be- 

 nevolent endeavours, we may ultimately look forward 

 ta the establishment, in the room of that traffic, by 



which Africa has been so long degraded, of a legitimate Institution, 

 and far more extended commerce, beneficial alike to the ^1"""", 

 natives of Africa, and to the manufacturers of Great S- "Y"* 

 Britain and Ireland. * 



4. That the present period is eminently fitted for pro- 

 secuting these benevolent designs; since the suspen- 

 sion during the war of that large share of the slave 

 trade, which has commonly been carried on by France, 

 Spain, and Holland, will, when combined with the 

 effect of the abolition laws of Great Britain, America, 

 and Denmark, produce nearly the entire cessation of 

 that traffic along a line of coast extending between two 

 and three thousand miles in length, and thereby afford 

 a peculiarly favourable opportunity for giving^ a new 

 direction to the industry and commerce of Africa. 



5. That, for these purposes, a Society be immediately 

 formed, to be called "THE AFRICAN INSTITUTION." 



6. The society, disclaiming all projects of a colonial or 

 commercial nature, and likewise all schemes of religious 

 instruction, (though neither indifferent nor hostile, but 

 rather subservient and friendly, to that important ob- 

 ject. ) proposed to adopt the following means for promo- 

 ting the civilization and improvement of Africa. 



1. To collect and diffuse throughout this country ac- Means em- 

 curate information respecting the natural productions ployed. 



of Africa, and in general respecting the agricultural and 

 commercial capacities of the African continent, and the 

 intellectual, moral, and political condition of its inhabi- 

 tants. 



2. To promote the instruction of the Africans in let- 

 ters and in useful knowledge, and to cultivate a friend- 

 ly connection with the natives of that continent. 



3. To endeavour to enlighten the minds of the Afri- 

 cans with respect to their true interests, and to diffuse 

 information amongst them respecting the means, where- 

 by they may improve the present opportunity of sub- 

 stituting a beneficial commerce in place of the slave 

 trade. 



4>. To introduce amongst them such of the improve- 

 ments and useful arts of Europe, as are suited to their 

 condition. 



5. To promote the cultivation of the African soil, 

 not only by exciting ami directing the industry of the 

 natives, but by furnishing, where it may appear advan- 

 tageous to do so, useful seeds, and plants, and imple- 

 ments of husbandry. 



6. To introduce amongst the inhabitants beneficial 

 medical discoveries. 



7. To obtain a knowledge of the principal languages 

 of Africa, and, as has already been found to be practi- 

 cable, to reduce them to writing, with a view to fa- 

 cilitate the diffusion of information among the natives 

 of that country. 



8. To employ suitable agents, and to establish corre- 

 spondences, as shall appear adviseable ; and to encou- 

 rage and reward individual enterprise and exertion in 

 promoting any of the purposes of the institution." 



As a general, rather than particular mean of promo- 

 ting the whole views of the institution, its members de- 

 vote their individual attention, and united influence, to 

 the enforcement of the abolition laws, and the exposure 

 of every attempt to evade their efficacy. 



Among the foremost of this society's patrons may be Original 

 mentioned the Duke of Gloucester, who presided as 

 preMdent at its first establishment : and its original 

 committee, which consisted of the following persons, 

 namely, Earls Spencer, Moira, and Euston ; Viscounts 

 Howick and Valentia; the Bishops of London, Dur- 

 ham, Bath, Wells, and St. David's ; Lords Grenville, 

 Ellenborough, Erskine, Holland, Teignmouth, Head- 

 ley, and Henry Petty ; the Chancellor of the Exche- 



