ixii ' DEDICATION. 
merica muft have feveral articles effential to 
tlieir commerce which they cannot find at 
home, but might be had in profufion from 
a fettiement in Africa. The naturaliil, whe- 
ther his q;enius led hini: to the ftudv of eroi- 
thology or botany, would have a noble field 
in tliefe regions for his refearclies, and the 
natives rendered favage by long <ind reite- 
rated perfecutions, would, by kind and gen- 
tle treatment, foon embrace the advantages 
arifing from a ftate of civilization. 
Thefe unoffending people have been moft 
grofsly abufed ; they have been defcribed as 
beings of the molt favage difpofition, delight- 
ing in blood, and of a nature as cmel and 
untractable as the lierceft animals of their 
deferts. But thefe. Sir, are the calumnies 
of their Chriftian perfeaiiors^ and have been fa- 
bricated for the atrocious purpofes of decep- 
tion. Take the reverie of thispifture5andyou 
will perceive the genuine character of the 
native African ; compaflionate, generous, 
hofpitable to thofe who do not come to in- 
jure or deftroy him ; truly grateful for ben- 
efits conferred, and not yielding in this car- 
dinal virtoej to the moft benevolent pupil 
of the iciences. V/ithout ever having enter- 
tained the moft diftant confideration of a 
Supreme Being, or the exiftence of a future 
ftate, his virtues are diftated by the genu- 
ine £eell::73 of nature, and expefting no 
reward, nor dreading any punifliment in a 
future life, for hi^. conduft in this, ftands a 
