139 
countries situated from three to five hun- 
dred miles northward of the Fish River. 
On considering this subject with atten- 
tion, I own some very potent objections 
have taken possession of my mind respect- 
ing the usual manner of colonising which, 
for centuries past, the enlightened nations 
have invariably pursued. 
It cannot have escaped those people who 
are conversant in history, that since the 
establishment of Christianity in Europe no 
savage country has been settled from that 
continent without having missionaries or 
clergy of some order to accompany the ad- 
venturers. The piety of the measure would 
at this day be applauded, if experience 
had not taught us the impolicy of it ; for 
I believe it will be found that hitherto the 
adoption of this practice has been seldom 
attended with a single good consequence. 
But without recurring to the histories of 
Mexico, and the eastern w^orld, to eluci- 
date this opinion,! shall confine my observa- 
tions to the savages in Africa, and what effect 
I can conceive would be produced by th ein- 
troduction of any order of clergy amongst 
them. 
