Lancashire, 
m 
181 ].] 
father’s decease, Paul had not received the 
benefit of education, and scarcely knew the 
letters of the alphabet, but this disadvantage 
he obviated by his assiduity j and at the pe¬ 
riod of his marriage, cou d not only read and 
write, but was so well skilled in figures, that 
he was able to solve all the common rules of 
arithmetic. He then applied himself to the 
*tudy of navigation, in which, by the assist¬ 
ance of a friend Ije made a rapid progress. 
Being now master of a small covered boat of 
about 12 tons burthen, he hired a person to 
assist him as a seaman, and made many ad¬ 
vantageous voyages to different parts of the 
slate of Connecticut, and when about 23 years 
old he married a native of the country, a 
descendant of the tribe to which his mother 
belonged. At this period Paul formed a con¬ 
nection with his brother-in-law Miciiael 
Wainer, who had several sons well qualified 
for the sea service, four of whom have since 
laudably filled responsible situations as cap¬ 
tains and first mates. A vessel o.*-' 23 tons was 
built, and in two voyages to the straits of 
Bellisle and Newfoundland, he met with such 
success as enabled him in conjunction with 
another person to build a vessel of 42 tons 
burthen, in which he made several profitable 
voyages. During the year 1797, after his 
return home, Paul purchased the house in 
which his family resided, and the adjoining 
farm. For the farm and its improvements he 
paid 3,500 dollars, and placed it under the 
management of his brother, who is a farmer. 
By judicious plahs, and diligence in their 
execution, Paul has gradually increased his 
property, and by his integrity and consistency 
t)f conduct has gained the esteem and regard 
*of iiis fellow citizens. In the year 1800 he 
Was concerned in one half of the expences of 
building and equipping a brig of 162 tons 
burthen, which portion he still holds. One 
fourth belongs to his brother, and the other 
fourth is ow'ned by persons net related to his 
family. This vessel is now commanded by 
Thomas Watner, Paul Cuffee’s nephew, whose 
talents and character are perfectly adequate 
to such a situation. The ship Alpha of 268 
tons, carpenter’s measure, of which Paul 
owns three-fourths, was built in 1806. Of 
this vessel he was the comraander; the rest 
of the crew consisting of seven men of colour. 
The ship h.is performed a voyage under his 
coramand from Wilmington to Savannah, 
from thence to Gottenburgh, and thence to 
Philadelphia. After Paul’s return in 1806 , 
the brig Traveller of 109 tons burthen was 
built at Westport, of one half of which he is 
the owner. After this period Paul, being 
extensively engaged in his mercantile and 
agricultural pursuits, resided at Westport. 
Tor several years previous to this Paul had 
turned his attention to the colony of Sierra 
Teona, and was induced to believe from his 
communications from Europe and other 
sources, that his endeavours to contribute to 
its welfare, and to that of his 
.r-LlS, Mu.'?.19, 
might net be ineffectual. Under these im¬ 
pressions he sailed for Sierra Leona in the 
commencement of 1811, in the brig Tra¬ 
veller j his nephew Thomas V/ainer being 
the captain. He arrived there after a two 
months’ passage, and resided there about the 
same length of time. The African Institu¬ 
tion, apprised of his benevolent designs, ap¬ 
plied for and obtained a license, which being 
forwarded to Pauh Cuffee, induced him to 
come to this country, with a cargo of Africaa 
produce. For the more effectual promotion 
of bis primary intention, he left his nephew 
Thomas Wainer in the colony, and with the 
same disinterested views brought with him 
to England Aaron Richards, a native of 
Sierra Leona, wfth a view of educating him, 
and particularly of instructing hini in the art 
of navigation. From the exertions of one in¬ 
dividual, however ardently engaged we ought 
not to form too high expectations but, from 
the little information we have obtained of his 
endeavours amongst the colonists at Sierra 
Leona, and the open reception which he met 
with amongst them, there are strong grounds 
of hope that he has nut sown the seeds of 
improvement upon an unfruitful soil He 
arrived at Liverpool a few weeks since in 
the brig Traveller, (consigned to W, and 
R. Rathbone,) navigated by eight men of 
colour and an apprentice boy ; and it is but 
justice to the crew to observe that, during 
their stay, they have been remarkable for 
their good conduct and proper behaviour, and 
that the greatest cordiality appeared to pre¬ 
vail among them. He went twice to London, 
the second time at the request of the board of 
the African Institution, who were desirous 
of consulting with him as to the best m'cans 
of carrying their benevolent views respecting 
Africa into effect. From the preceding me¬ 
moir, the reader must have become acquaint¬ 
ed with the prominent features of Paul 
Cuffee’s character. A sound understanding, 
united with energy and perseverance, see.ms 
to have rendered him capable of surmounting 
difficulties which would have discouraged an 
ordinary mind 5 whilst the failures, which 
have-attended his well-concerted plans, have 
rather resulted from casualties, than from 
error in judgment. Born under peculiar dis¬ 
advantages, deprived of the be.nefits of early 
education, and his meridian spent in toil and 
vicissitudes, he has struggled under disadvan¬ 
tages which have seldom occurred in the 
career of any individual. Yet under the pres¬ 
sure of these difficulties, he seems to have 
fostered dispositions of mind which qualify 
him for any station of life c® which he may 
be introduced. His person i$ tall, well form¬ 
ed, and athletic ; his deportment conciliatingj, 
yet dignified and serious. His prudence 
strengthened by parental care and example, 
no doubt guarded him in his youth, when 
exposed to the dissolute co^mpany which un¬ 
avoidably attends a seafaring life ; whilst 
leligion^ his mind by its secret 
3 £ guidance 
