1S06.] 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
REPORT of the CHAIRMAN and COURT 
of DIRECTORS of the SIERRA LEONE 
COMPANY, re/peciing the PROGRESS, 
STATE, and PROSPECTS, Of the CO- 
LONY of SIERRA LEQNE. 
ie the following paper it is propofed, 
firft, togive a brief hitory of the fer- 
tlement of Sierra Leons; fecondly, to 
enumerate the feveral caufes which have 
hitherto obftru&ted. its progrels ; thirdly, 
to ttate the degree of probabili: Yo which, 
in the option “of the Direftors of the ve 
erra Leone Company, ftill exifis, of effect- 
ing the object of the Company’s inftitu~ 
tion, fuppofing the colony to be rendered 
fecure, and encouragement to be given to 
it by a bie ere sid frota G -yernment ; 
fourthly, to mention what will be the pro- 
bable expence of affording this fecucity 
and encouragement ; and, laftly, to notice 
the difficulties and burthens which wil! be 
caft onthe Government, fuppofing the un- 
dertaking of the Sierra Leone Company 
to be now relinquifhed. 
I. Hifiory of the Settlement. 
The Sierra Leone Company was infti- 
tuted about one year before the commence- 
ment of the late war. Its capital was 
‘bout 230,Co00l. 
The general objet of the founders of 
it was the introduction of civilization into 
Atrica. The principal means propoted 
for effecting this end was the eftablithment 
of a fecure faétory at Sierra Leone, with 
a view to a new trade in produce, chiefly 
wiih the interior ; but the reception into 
the fettlement of near.1200 Blacks, who 
had taken part with Great Britain in the 
American war, in confeqaence of a pro- 
clamation fromthe Commander in Chief, 
and who had petitioned the Government 
to be removed from. Nova Scotia on ac- 
count of the coldnefs of the climate, gave 
a new character to the undertaking. The 
want of afufficient power and authority 
to controul thefe colonifts, has proved, as 
will hereafter be fhewn, a principal hin- 
drance to the progrefs of the fettlement, 
and achief caufe of the difappointments 
ef the Company. 
The Nova Scotia Blacks landed at Si- 
erra Leone in March 1792. The rains 
commenced in the following May, and an 
almoit univerfal ficknefs then taking place, 
no opportunity was afforded to the colo- 
niits of cultivating their lands until the 
fucceeding dry feafon. 
The expence of an undertaking of fuclr 
magnitude mult in any cafe have been con. 
fiderable. Inthe prefent inftance that ex- 
Report refpecting the 
Colony of Sierra Leone. S15 
pence was fo much increafed by various 
unforefeen difficulties experienced in the 
firft two years, as to amount to more than 
110,@00].* 
In February 1793 the war broke out; 
which, as will hereafter be more particu- 
larly fhewn, has Reve one principal ob- 
ftacle to the progre/s of the fettlement. 
Tt was the wifh of the Company to « 
rect the labour of the cclonifts to sana 
tion on their own account ; but most of 
them were at fir indifpofed to fpecula- 
tions of this fort ; chuSng rather tolive in 
the town’ as long as they could by any 
means earn a fubhttence there, than to en- 
gage in the work of cultivating ther un- 
cleared lots of land in the country. 
The following circwmftance has alfo 
hindered cultivation. The colonifts drew 
lots for their lands. The lands of fome, 
though fertile and contiguous to the town, 
fell into the hands of individuals who ne- 
glected to rill them. Thefe lands were 
forfeitable after a certain period ; but the 
weaknefs of the Government rendered 
them fearful of exercifing their right of 
enforcing the forfeiture. The temper of 
the Nova Scotians was fuch from the firft 
as to give a very extraordinary degie of 
trouble to the Government. 
The Company eftablifhed a plantation 
on their own account, and a garden of ex- 
periment. The objeét of thefe was chicf- 
ly to provide plan‘s and feeds, and to en- 
courage cultivation in others. A botaniit 
was retained for two years in the fe'tle- 
ment. His report is favourable to the 
hopes of the Company. 
In 1794 an expedition was made to the 
interior by two of the Company’s ter- 
vants, who travelled three hundred miles 
= Expended in ‘the fir two years and 3 
half 3 viz., 
In provifons granted by the Com- 
pany to the Nova Scotians, 
about be ike eee | £eeO.0oe 
In providing fhipping for the tempo- — 
rary accommodation of the colo- 
nifts, and other fhipping ex- 
pences wees bee ae 30,000 
In Buildings, Set 253009 
In laying out lands, and incultiva- 
’ tion, Pegs oa ,000 
By the accident of the Company’s 
ftore- -thip taking fire, ages NS 15,000 » 
Salaries of fervants, ex, ence of paf- 
fage, &C., Be te Seige 12,590 
Expence of home-eftablifhment, a€& 
of incorporation, éc. Sst 4,000 
£111,500 
eeerkaee 
Sia ialan!, 
= ee = —— 
Ne 
