he describes as unable, from their character and insufficient numbers, to avail themselves of the advantages of the territory.

"These poor people," he continues, "are in want of many necessaries, and have no religious instruction. They earnestly required in their last letters that some respectable merchants or factors might be prevailed on to settle among them, in order to keep open a constant communication with England by their trade, which, they think, will be a means of relieving their wants.

"A proposal has therefore been made to form a Company of Merchants for the trade of Sierra Leona; and several respectable gentlemen have given their names as subscribers, to promote a measure

which may hereafter prove of great national importance to the manufactories and other trading interests of this kingdom*

Having succeeded in recommending his proposal to the attention of the City, he began without delay to solicit the assistance of the Government in procuring vessels for the Company's first expedition. It will be no surprise to find, at such a moment, the friendly offices of him who was destined to be the future vindicator, in the British Senate, of the cause of African freedom.

William Wilberforce, Esq. to Granville Sharp, Esq.

"I have been speaking at the Treasury respecting the vessels in the condemned hold. I shall be much obliged to you if you will favour me with the names of the particular vessels on which you have an eye.

"I am, my dear Sir," &c. &c.

66

Treasury, Twelve o'clock, 25th January, 1790."

In a note to this little work are the following anecdotes, (from Punchase's Voyages):— "On the south of the bay (of Sierra Leone) is high land, full of trees even to the sea-side, having divers coves, &c. &c. On the farther side of the fourth cove is the watering-place, of excellent water, continually running; at which place, on the rocks, we found the names of divers Englishmen, which had been there: amongst the rest, of Sir Francis Drake, which had been there seven-and-twenty years before (viz. in 1580); Thomas Candish, Captain Lister, with others."-" And Ogilby also testifies, that on the island in the river of Serre Lions, the English possessed a small fort, erected for the more secure managing of their trade, which, in the year 1664, the 18th of December, the Dutch, under the conduct of the Admiral de Rutter, with a fleet, without reason surprised and took," &c. p. 376.

"Dear Sir,

From the Same to the Same.

"The vessel in the condemned hold must be sold at a public sale: half the proceeds go to the Rigging Office, half to the King. If you think it worth while (the whole sum for which the vessel will sell being about 1407.), I think it probable I may be able to get the Treasury to make a present of their half; and, if you will intimate your wishes to that effect, I will endeavour to expedite the sale of the vessel. I understand it is in high order and equipment. "Very truly yours," &c. &c.

"Dear Sir,

G. S. to William Wilberforce, Esq.

"The Lapwing, in the condemned hold (about forty tons burthen), I am informed, will be completely suitable to be stationed at St. George's Bay, for the coasting traffic; and I earnestly solicit your application to the Treasury, to obtain a grant of the King's half of her value, for the St. George's Bay Company.

"There is also a larger vessel in the condemned hold, named the Hope, of about one hundred tons burthen, which would be big enough, on our first trial of the trade, for the ship of communication between England and the new African territory; so that the two vessels together will completely set us up as to shipping for the present. But the Hope is so rigged, that, by the rules of the Custom-house, she must be broke up and pulled to pieces.

"However, as she would be much more valuable to the Company when properly rigged as a brig; and as she has spars, sails, &c. that could, at a small expense, be converted into a lawful form of rigging; perhaps, if she should be advertised for public sale, and the Company's agent should be the highest bidder, she might be saved from being broke up, on our engaging to alter the construction to a legal form."

"Dear Sir,

G. S. to the Same.

"February 13, 1790.

"I send herewith a few printed copies of the Description of St. George's Bay,' and beg leave to acquaint you, that the New Company purposes to meet on Wednesday next, at the King's Head in the Poultry, at twelve precisely; and if you shall think proper to honour us with your name as a subscriber, we shall be

heartily glad if you will be pleased to assist us at our meeting, and propose such of your friends as you think would approve of being included in the Corporation. "The broker employed for the Company was the highest bidder at the Custom-house sale yesterday, for the Lapwing sloop. He thought it right to bid to 186., which sum I have paid him.

"It is of great importance to the safety of the New Settlement, that the Charter of Incorporation should be expedited as soon as possible."

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

The Memorial of Granville Sharp, Citizen of London, in Behalf of himself and Others,

፡፡ HUMBLY SHEWETH,

"That the Black poor, and others, subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, who settled on the land lately purchased by your Majesty for their use at Sierra Leona, consisting, by the last account, of about two hundred persons, men, women, and children, are so extremely poor that they cannot effectually avail themselves of the extraordinary natural advantages of that fruitful and healthy district without some further aid; and therefore they have earnestly requested in their last letters, that some merchants or factors might be induced to settle among them, in order to keep up a constant communication between England and the new English territory in Africa, whereby they hope to procure the necessary aid and assistance.

"That your Memorialist, in consequence of this request, has solicited and obtained promises from several respectable gentlemen and merchants of London, that they will form themselves into a Company, and advance their respective shares and proportions of money, to enable them to send proper factors and agents to St. George's Bay, the principal harbour of the new English territory, in order to promote and carry on the trade of the settlement in British manufactures with the Natives of the neighbouring coast and rivers in Africa, provided your Majesty will be pleased to grant them a Charter of Incorporation," &c. &c. &c.

CHAP. X.

IT was in the midst of such zealous and anxious efforts, that, in the month of April 1790, news arrived of the calamity mentioned in the previous narrative, regarding the total dispersion of the settlers and the burning of their town. Mr. Sharp immediately made a representation of the outrage to our Government, and, being admitted to an interview with the Minister, was directed by him to procure information as to the best means of affording relief. This charge was speedily executed.

G. S. to the Right Honourable William Pitt, &c. &c. Chancellor of his Majesty's Exchequer.-[EXTRACT.]

Right Hon. Sir,

"Leadenhall Street, 26th April, 1790. "Since I had the honour of representing to you the deplorable situation of the poor people that were lately compelled to evacuate the new settlement at Sierra Leona, I have carefully consulted several friends on the best means of affording them some immediate temporary relief at the least possible expense.

"If a vessel was to be chartered on purpose for the voyage, the charges would be very heavy, and time also would be lost in preparation. But as I have lately purchased, through the favour of Government, a small vessel, the Lapwing, of thirty-four tons, intended for the St. George's Bay Company, to be employed in the service of their factory in that Bay, in case they should succeed in their application for a Charter; and as they have already engaged a proper master for the said vessel, and a principal factor (both acquainted with the coast), and also some proper assistants, whose salaries are already commenced, it will occasion very little more expense to them, to employ this little establishment in carrying out, and dispensing to the best advantage among the poor people, whatever sum Government shall think proper to allow them; and a much less sum in this way will be necessary, as the Company take upon themselves all the expenses of their own people. It is conceived that, with this assistance of the Company, a sufficient supply, for the present, of necessaries, clothing, and

provisions, from hence, and some few articles of traffic to barter for fresh provisions and other necessaries on the spot, may be procured at the expense of three hundred pounds, provided the Government will, in addition, be pleased to order a small armed schooner, or sloop (any that are now actually fitted for his Majesty's service), commanded by a lieutenant of the Navy, to proceed immediately with the Lapwing, for the protection of the poor people, and to keep them together; because the agents at Bance Island profess that it is the interest of their employers that the settlers should all be dispersed, though these gentlemen themselves have always been very obliging, and have frequently informed me of opportunities of writing by their vessels.

"The sending out an armed vessel that is already fitted and copper-sheathed, will not, I conceive, occasion any great additional expense; but it is certainly worthy the consideration of Government, whether it may not be rather mɔre proper to send out at once a stout sloop of war, with a sufficient number of marines, to retake possession of the settlement, and restore the settlers to their houses and cultivated lots of land, lest any foreign power should in the mean time purchase the same land as being now evacuated; for there is not really any spot equally valuable on the whole coast of Africa. If possession is not speedily regained, the Native Chiefs will conceive that the rights of the Crown. of Great Britain are superseded by the evacuation; and the French, who have still, it seems, a factory in the neighbourhood, will probably be tempted to purchase the land; for I have just received a very sensible pamphlet from the author, Doctor Lanthenas, an eminent physician at Paris, wherein he strongly recommends to the French nation the immediate establishment of some free settlement, on the coast of Africa, 'like to that,' he expressly says, 'of the English at Sierra Leona.

"The information acquired for the gentlemen associated to promote discoveries in the internal parts of Africa, clearly proves that the establishment of a caravan from the New Settlement at Sierra Leona to Gongee (about six or seven hundred miles distant) would open to us a most valuable internal trade, which at present supports with profit the expense of caravans which travel three thousand miles under great disadvantage; so that the saving and profit of the proposed intercourse would certainly be very great.

"With sincere respect and esteem, Right Hon. Sir," &c. &c.

The fate of the settlement and the settlers was now in suspense; and, after nearly two months of anxious expectation, Granville renewed his entreaties for their protection.