1004.) 
infe& which they named the bug-a-bug 5 
that provifions of all forts were exceffively 
{carce and dear; that there were few vel- 
tiges of cultivation in the very environs 
of Freetown ; that its inhabitants, and all 
the colony, lived in almoft hourly terror 
and danger from the. hoftilities of the 
natives ; that the whole body of the colo- 
nifts lived in extreme defpondency as to 
their fituation, and expected that it would 
be foon entirely abandoned. His infor- 
mation as to the pollibilities of trade, for- 
tification, and culture, tended all to.repre- 
fent the fettlement, as not worthy tobekept. 
The explanations of the Directors and 
their fervants, have fince fatified govern- 
ment, that, at Sierra Leone, Capt. Hal- 
lowell had viewed things in a light fome- 
what too unfavourable. It. has been 
found alfo, that the Blacks from Nova 
Scotia, and the Maroons, could not, in 
good faith, be entirely abandoned by the 
Britifh Government, and would in any 
a@ther fituation occafion an expence to it, 
perhaps greater than may be fufficient to 
relerve and reftore the coleny of Sierra 
fee Expeétations are alfo indulged, 
that, upon the entire abolition of the 
flave-trade, the colony may foon obtain a 
flourifhing trade with the natives, in the 
exehange of Britifh manufactures for the 
raw produce of the inland parts of Africa. 
Upon thefe confiderations, the fetile- 
ment is not to be abandoned ; and its civil 
and military authosities are to be, in fau- 
ture, underthe immediate adminifiration of 
the Britifh government. 
Upon the moft favourable eftimate that 
ean be made, the Company does not now 
pofiels in England, value above the 
amount of 7,2371. 6s. gd. Hence, what 
they have at Sierra Leone would prove of 
little wfe, fhould. the fettlement be abaa- 
doned. 
Tove Committee of the House of Commons to 
ewhom the Petition of the Court of Direc- 
torsof the Sierra Leone Company Was re- 
Jerred bave lately made the followiag 
Keport: 
“ The att ntion of your Committee 
has been principally directed to afcertain 
the following poin's ; 
s« sft. The alterations which have taken 
place in the colony fince the report of the 
jait committee. 
“© 2d, The pref ni fate of the colony. 
€¢ 3d. Phe objections to maintaining the 
colony in its picfent Givation, and thofe 
which vould arife t> iis evacuation. 
fe ath, ne expectation woieh may be 
entettalced of the iutuie advamcemeat of 
the colony. - PS 
on 
Prefent State of the Colony at Sierra Leone. 
28. 
<6 sth, The means by which that ad 
vancement may be moft eafily and effec- 
tually promoted, 
<< In profecuting the firfl. head of their 
enquiry, your Committee have, in the firft 
inftance, adverted to the progrefs made in 
the extenfion of civilization, cultivation, 
and trade, in the native produce of Afri- 
ca, as the objects for which the colony, 
was infituted ; and in the fecond, to the 
internal adminiftration, fecurity, health, 
and populaiion of the colony, as _necefla- 
rily conretted with the fuccefsful purfuie 
of thefe objects. 
«“ Trade and civilization appear hitherto 
to have made but little progrefs ; and the 
advantages poflefled by the flave dealer 
over the fettlers of the colony, arifing 
from the fuperior profits they obtain, 
and the partiality of the native chiefs to 
that {pecies of commerce, prefent an ob- 
{tacle, which, while that trafic is fuffered 
to continue on the coaft, no effort on the. 
part of the colonifts for the extenfion of 
their trade, however perfevering, can be 
expected wholly to furmount. In addi- 
tion to this permanent difadvantage, the 
war with the natives, occafioned prin- 
cipaliy by the inadequate ftate of de- 
fence in which the colony has heen left, 
has for a confiderable part of the time 
which has elapied fince the laR& report, 
fufpended the intercourfe with the neigh- 
bouring nations, and reftrained even that 
{mall extent of trade which might other- 
wife have Been expected to take place ; 
while thofe natives who had repaired. to 
the colony for employment, and had been 
in fome degree domefticated in its terri- 
tory, have teen induced to fly from the 
colony, chicfly from the apprehenfion they 
entertained of being left expofed to the 
relentment of its enemies. ‘Thefe incon~ 
veniences, however, appear latterly to 
have dimiaifhed, in confequence of the 
mea(ures taken to improve the fecurity of 
the colony. The native chiefs have been 
led to entertain a greater refpe&t for its 
power, and the native Jabourers have 
fhewn a difpofition to return and enter 
upon their former occupations, — 
‘© The prevalence of war, as well as 
an.appreheniion which has exifted in the 
colony of the probability of its being fi- 
nally abendosed, appear alfo for a confi- 
derable time to have fufpended the pro- 
grefs of cultivation ; but~when the return 
ot the native labourers afforded to the co- - 
Jonifts the means of availing themfeves of © 
theic induttry, ic was again in fome de- 
gree refumed, and by the Jaft accounts 
iaem the colony, yams and plantains, 
which 
