SIERRA LEONE, 
315 
some time an office in the colony, of the zeal with 
which the Institution have pursued every object 
tending to the improvement of this colony, as 
well as the general benefit of Africa. Of this, 
the character of its members would be a suffi- 
cient pledge ; but it is farther rendered evident 
by the statements which they have chosen to sub- 
mit to the public. They very candidly, however, 
admit the circumstances which have obstructed 
the accomplishment, to the full extent, of the 
objects for which it was founded. It has been 
found impossible to preserve a uniform good un- 
derstanding with the native powders, whose vola- 
tile and turbulent habits render them prompt to 
embark in hostilities. The abolition of the slave- 
trade also has caused the colony to be viewed by 
no means with a favourable eye by the native 
chiefs. The wars in which it was repeatedly in- 
volved with them, gave a very serious check to 
its improvement. The management also of the 
negroes captured on their route to the West In- 
dies, is attended with considerable difficulty- 
The plan of making them purchase their liberty 
by a temporary bondage, under the name of in- 
denture, though it cannot deserve the epithets 
which have been applied to it, seems yet to have 
been very properly discontinued. The motley 
and equivocal character, however, which neces- 
sarily attaches to a great part of the population. 
