THE WESTERN COAST. 25? 
by intercourse with their profligate countrymen, 
who, having contrived to convey themselves from 
the West Indies, infest the streets of London. As 
this evil had acquired considerable magnitude, a 
Committee was formed for the relief of the black 
poor, at the head of which appeared the benevo- 
lent Jonas Hanway. With this Committee Mr 
Granville Sharp, the indefatigable benefactor of 
the Africans, and Dr Smeathman, zealously co- 
operated. In 1786, the latter published his " Plan 
"of a Settlement to be made near Sierra Leone, 
" on the Grain Coast,' ' for the establishment of 
blacks and people of colour, as free men, under 
the direction of the Committee for relieving the 
black poor, and the protection of the British Go- 
vernment. To this plan the Committee annexed a 
hand-bill, inviting all persons of the said descrip- 
tion, who were willing to become colonists, to 
apply to Dr Smeathman, to whom they had en- 
trusted the formation of the settlement. In conse- 
quence of this measure, above four hundred blacks, 
with about sixty whites, but who were chiefly women 
of abandoned character, debilitated by disease, were 
embarked on board the transports furnished by go- 
vernment, with provisions, arms, and instruments 
of agriculture, and conveyed to Sierra Leone, where 
they arrived on the 9th of May 1787. As the 
exertions of Dr Smeathman had been terminated 
by his dissolution, and the cause of humanity had 
VOL. IT. R 
