OUR COMMERCE WITH AFRICA. 387 



done with comparative economy : the one by 

 merely establishing a trading post ; the other, 

 by acquiring a small territory and importing 

 West Indian and American free negroes, who 

 would bring with them the knowledge they have 

 acquired in the cultivation of sugar and other 

 tropical produce, and would form, in fact, agricul- 

 tural schools for the benefit of the surrounding 

 population. 



If the first plan were adopted, I would recom- 

 mend each post to be commanded by a captain, 

 with two subalterns and a company of the Afri- 

 can regiments ; a force quite sufficient to main- 

 tain itself against any power that could be 

 brought to bear upon it. The officers should be 

 prohibited from trading, but should be allowed 

 promotion after a certain period of service. The 

 houses to lodge the parties in might be brought 

 in frame from Fernando Po ; and the erection of 

 a stockade would be the only defence requisite — 

 and that more for the purpose of preventing in- 

 trusion than from any apprehension of an at^ 

 tack. 



If the latter plan were adopted, a civil esta- 

 blishment would be necessary, and consequently 

 the expense would be considerably increased ; 



2c 2 



