SIERRA LEONE, ^71 
and the precautions of the Directors, in sending 
out frames of houses, materials for building, and 
various stores, were insufficient to prevent exces- 
sive indisposition, which occasioned discontent 
and depression of spirits, suspended labour and 
aggravated expence, nearly decimated the blacks, 
and carried off almost the half of the whites living 
on shore. The increased price of provisions and 
European goods, occasioned by the Republican 
war, the unexpected sterility of the soil in the 
vicinity of the town, with the inefficiency of the 
original council of government, which occasioned 
great irregularity, prodigaUty, and waste, for some 
time retarded the progress of the colony ; but 
after Mr Clarkson, whose transactions with the 
Nova Scotians had given such universal satisfac- 
tion, was invested with the sole power, order and 
energy were restored, periodical reports, minutes 
of council, and journals, were regularly transmit- 
ted to the Court of Directors, general harmony 
began to prevail, new plans of police were formed, 
the public works were rapidly advanced, and the 
natives began to divest themselves of suspicious 
fears, and view the improvements without appre- 
hension or jealousy. After the expiration of the 
office of Mr Clarkson, the discontent in some de- 
gree revived, and the Nova Scotian blacks, irri- 
tated by the apprehended misconduct of some of 
the Company's servants, exhibited indications of 
23 
