REMARKS ON THE COLONY. 
85 
their absolute wants, and thus they fall back into a 
state of animal existence, little, if anything better than 
their original barbarism. 
No Englishman can visit the settlement without a 
feeling of honest pride, that his country should have 
been the first to attempt to atone for the deep miseries 
inflicted on Africa by the inhuman traffic in her chil- 
dren. But while he also reflects how much reparation 
he owes her for his more extensive complicity, he will 
not fail to confess that in this attempt, the result 
falls infinitely short even of the instalment proposed to 
be given. 
Sierra Leone has in fact reached that point in its 
career at which, unless some more energetic measures be 
adopted to carry forward the original design, its useful- 
ness must cease, and its retrogression will be rapid. 
Already it wears the aspect of premature decrepitude. 
An abundant population neglects its resources ; and 
in addition to the natural increment, it receives large 
I numbers every year, in re-captured slaves ; yet its wealth 
I and means of advancement do not keep pace with even 
I a natural increase in population. 
It wants in fact capital and energy, to call forth 
I the resources of the country and give employment to 
I the multitude of settlers, who in default of it, have 
become mere drones. The exertions of the Missionary 
Societies, in their great vocation, , are deserving of the 
highest praise ; — but how few labourers in such an exten- 
sive vineyard ? After all, unless the social condition of 
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