relations, who were stolen, and carried away by a Danish ship. And I purpose to write to you more fully on the subject of the Slave Trade by the next ship. "I remain, with great respect and esteem for your worthy character, your humble servant, "G. S."

The promised letter to King Naimbanna was afterwards sent to Sierra Leone.

Mr. Sharp's MS. Notes contain little mention of the young Naimbanna, except the frequent recording of his name (as in the case of Omiah) at different dates, by which he appears to have been diligent in his attendance on him.

This youth was just twenty-nine years of age; and, some time after his arrival, was baptized by the name of Henry Granville, Mr. Thornton and Mr. Sharp being his sponsors. The account given of him by two clergymen, who successively superintended his education, is such as demonstrates a disposition every way worthy of cultivation*. In capacity, he does not appear to have been below the general class of

"A desire of knowledge was the predominant feature in his character: he would continually urge his instructors to prolong the time of their reading together. He was forward in declaring his obligations to every one who would assist him in the acquisition of useful learning: he would express regret if he had been led into any company where the time had passed away without improvement; and when it happened that he was left entirely to himself, he would employ not less than eight or ten hours of the day in reading. Though the disadvantages arising from the long neglect of his mental faculties were apparent, he showed signs of very good natural sense : he had also a faculty at distinguishing characters; and his mind, as might naturally be expected, was ready to receive impressions from those persons of whom he had conceived a good opinion. He had few advantages of person, but he was uncommonly pleasing in his behaviour, showing much natural courtesy and even delicacy of manners: he was also of a kind and affectionate disposition. He was quick in all his feelings, and his temper was occasionally warm; some degree of jealousy also entering into his character: in particular, he was indisposed to answer questions put to him by strangers concerning the state of his own country; for he was apt to suspect that they meant to draw comparisons unfavourable to its character; and he would therefore, on such occasions, often turn the conversation, by remarking, that a country so unfavourably circumstanced as Sierra Leone had hitherto been, was not to be supposed capable of having made any attainments worthy of being the subject of conversation in Great Britain." The following anecdote will show the extreme sensibility which he felt, when any circumstance arose which touched the honour of his country; and it will also explain the grounds of his peculiar jealousy on this subject:

The name of a person having been mentioned in his presence, who was understood by him

mankind.

"He learned, in the space of a year and half which, he passed in England, to read very fluently, and to write a letter in English without much difficulty. The alteration which, during the same time, took place in his mind, was also very great. The peculiarities which have been ascribed to Africans in general, had evidently subsided. He was deeply impressed with religious principles, and reverence for the Sacred Scriptures. His morals were pure, and he showed at all times a strong abhorrence of profane conversation and every kind of vice *."

Very sanguine hopes were naturally entertained that the education of the son of an African Chief in England might be of the greatest assistance in cementing a confidential union between the people of his country and the European colony of freedom; and the young Naimbanna appeared likely, both from his abilities and disposition, to lend the most important aid in introducing the improvements of science, and the comforts of civilization, into Africa.

to have publicly asserted something very degrading to the general character of Africans, he broke out into violent and vindictive language. He was immediately reminded of the Christian duty of forgiving his enemies; upon which he answered nearly in the following words: If a man should rob me of my money, I can forgive him; if a man should shoot at me, or try to stab me, I can forgive him; if a man should sell me and all my family to a slave-ship, so that we should pass all the rest of our days in slavery in the West Indies, I can forgive him ;—but' (added he, rising from his seat with much emotion,) if a man takes away the character of the people of my country, I never can forgive him.' Being asked why he would not extend his forgiveness to those who took away the character of the people of his country, he answered: 'If a man should try to kill me, or should sell me and my family for slaves, he would do an injury to as many as he might kill or sell; but, if any one takes away the character of Black people, that man injures Black people all over the world; and when he has once taken away their character, there is nothing which he may not do to Black people ever after. That man, for instance, will beat Black men, and say, Oh, it is only a Black man, why should not I beat him? That man will make slaves of Black people; for when he has taken away their character, he will say, Oh, they are only Black people-why should not I make them slaves? That man will take away all the people of Africa, if he can catch them; and if you ask him, But why do you take away all these people? he will say, Oh, they are only Black people—they are not like White people-why should not I take them? That is the reason why I cannot forgive the man who takes away the character of the people of my country.'"-Report, 1794.

A similar account is given of him in a letter from Granville Sharp to his brother Dr. Sharp, 23d September, 1791.

* Report, 1794.

The dispensations of Providence forbad the continuance of these hopes. The spring of the second year had scarcely arrived, during the progress of his education, when Mr. Sharp received the following

note :

Thursday, 17th April, 1793.

"Mr. Naimbanna presents his compliments to Mr. Granville Sharp, and is sorry to inform, that letters have been received this morning which mention the death of his very dear father. His son, however, has, in his affliction for his loss, a pleasing hope that he died in the faith of Jesus Christ, and that his soul is happy. Mr. Naimbanna takes the first opportunity of mentioning it to his friend Mr. Sharp, because he knows he shall have his tenderest sympathy."

This unfortunate event induced the young Prince to return home. The following month he took leave of his protector, and set out for Rohanna.

S." 18th May. Parted with Mr. Naimbanna about three o'clock at Fulham."

Mr. Naimbanna to Granville Sharp, Esq. Garden Court, Temple. "Dear Sir, Plymouth, 23d May, 1793. "Since I arrived at Plymouth, I have greatly wished to write you, pursuant to my promise made you before I left London, which I have been prevented from doing by my engagement with my kind friends here, all of whom have received me with great pleasure.

"The Naimbanna is ready for sea, and will proceed for Sierra Leone as soon as she can procure her proper papers from the Custom-house, which I hope will be soon. I purpose to write you again on my arrival at Sierra Leone; and assuring you that I feel sensibly your great attention to me, I beg leave to conclude myself

"Your most sincere friend,

66 H. G. NAIMBANNA."

This amiable youth did not reach the abode of his family. Two or three days before the vessel arrived at Sierra Leone, he was seized with illness, and died within a few hours after landing at Freetown. A suspicion arose among his countrymen that he had been

poisoned during his voyage; and a long palaver was held, which terminated in an entire removal of their apprehensions. Naimbanna's mother, no less alive to the sentiments of regal generosity than her husband or her son, withdrew the charge which had been brought against the captain of the vessel, and, coming herself to Freetown, with expressions of the utmost confidence in the Governor and Council requested them to take another of her sons under their protection *.

According to the information of a servant of the Company, who sailed in the same ship with the young Naimbanna, he had left Plymouth in perfect health; but as soon as he reached a warm climate, he began to feel a slight complaint in his throat, and occasional pains in his head. His mind was at the same time anxious and uneasy, for he was evidently dismayed at the prospect of those difficulties with which he expected that he should have to combat after his return. Numberless were the plans which he amused himself with devising, for the purpose of spreading Christianity, and opening the eyes of his rude countrymen ; but he seemed constantly to be tortured by the idea that something would obstruct his designs; and the dread of disappointment seemed to press upon him more strongly in proportion as he drew nigh to his native shores. The heat also began to affect him very violently, and a fever ensued, which was attended with delirium. In one of his lucid intervals he desired the person who gave this account, to assist him in making his will, by which he entrusted his property to his brother, for the use of a young child, his son; and he introduced into the will an earnest request that his brother would exert every endeavour to put an end to the Slave Trade. When he reached Sierra Leone he was insensible of every thing that passed, and his life was despaired of. His mother, together with some younger branches of the family, came down to the Governor's house, where he was laid, and, after a few hours' attendance on his dying bed, they saw him breathe his last. The Governor and Council mention, that nothing could exceed the agitation and distress shown by his mother on the event of his death."

"Thus terminated the days of this amiable and enlightened African, from whose exertions, if he had lived, the Company might have expected the most important and extensive services. It may be remarked, however, that, notwithstanding his untimely and much to be lamented death, he has rendered at least one important service to his country, by furnishing a memorable instance of the effect of education on the mind of Africans, and a most encouraging and happy omen in favour of his benighted countrymen."-Report of the Sierra Leone Company, 27th March, 1794.

CHAP. XII.

THE history of the colony from the time of these events has been related in the previous narrative. A few of Mr. Sharp's papers refer to it at various periods.

Some time after the barbarous invasion of the settlement by the French, he received a printed apology for the conduct of France, which he thus notices in a letter to Mr. Macaulay, Governor of Sierra Leone.

"I had intended to send you a small printed tract, which was brought to me from France by a Swedish gentleman. It was drawn up and read in a public Committee by Bishop Gregoire, a man of benevolence and learning: it is a panegyric on the principles and intentions of our English settlement at Sierra Leone, wherein he apologizes for the hostile attack which his countrymen, the French, had lately made upon it, and which he asserts was by no means intended by the French Government."

During the progress of the Company, continuing anxious to promote the welfare of the settlers to the utmost of his own power as an individual, he sent a large collection of Bibles and other books, for the use of the schools and library at Sierra Leone. He continued also to send such tracts as he had either written or collected on subjects which he conceived to be of importance to the actual state of the colony.

G. S. to Zachary Macaulay, Esq. Governor of Sierra Leone.-[EXTRACT.] "Dear Sir, "Garden Court, Temple, 29th September, 1796. "Enclosed I send you a copy of the memorandums annexed to several of the articles in the catalogue of books which I sent to the public library some time ago, as perhaps some of the hints may be useful, more especially those