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Un daa aymbolas suivants apparaftra sur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la cas: la symbols -^ signifia "A SUIVRE", la symboia V signifia "FIN". Maps, platas, charta, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba antiraly includad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to rifjht and top to bottom, aa many framas as raquirad. Tha following diagrams lllustrata tha mathod: Las cartas, planchas, tablaaux, ate, pauvant Atra filmte A das taux da rMuction diffirants. Lorsqua la document ast trop grand pour Atra raproduit an un saul clichi, 11 aat film6 A partir da I'angla supAriaur gaucha, da gaucha A droita, at d? htaut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nteaaaaira. Las diagrammM suivants illustrant la mMhoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 CONSlUfiftATlONS O N T ii B PRESENT PEACE, As far as it ii relative to tBe COLONIES, AN D T H I AFRICAN TRADE. Ma^na (fi Veritas (^ pravaJehiL L O N D O Nt Printed for W. Bristow, at the W«ft End of St. Paul's Church-yard. MDCCLXIII, [Price One Shilling.] '^ ';> f ■ T H H. ♦ J, *» « wj' , r ^ 1 » <■ 1 if A H " O'"- . .; ' TO THE BRITISH PLANTERS. Gentlemen, AN uninterefted defire of rendering fer- vice to the public, and not an idle whim, or vanity to appear in print, has induced the editors of the following fadts to publifh them. Author is a title they lay no claim to. By their unornamented energy alone is meant to gain the reader's attention, and to enforce the fadts advanced -, therefore, without further apology, they are prefented to you in a plain drefs, to point out fome meafures that were taken to miflead the legiflature, whereby the African trade, in the yeai 1750, was put upon fuch a plan, as, by the event, has proved ex- treamly detrimental to the Britifh colonies. On that account, the following flieets can be ad- drefled to none fo properlv as to you. We flatter ourfelves it will evidently appear by the contents of the following pamphlet, that the forts on the coaft of Africa, are by no means upon a proper eftablifliment j likewife that the prefent method of carrying on the Afri- can trade to thofe parts where the forts are fitu- ated, by the very high price given for Negroes there, which occafions the profit arifing to be a 2 divided I t'!l ( •" ) divided between the European merchants and the African traders, but muft become ex- treamly burthenfome and difadvantagcous to you, we believe every real planter will allow. We cannot admit certain individuals to be efteemed real planters^ not withftan ding they may have one or more plantations^ when at the fame time they are concerned as merchants in the colonies, who procure the (hips from the coaft of Africa to be configned to them -, of which it is conjedlurcd (and not without foun- dation) many of them are part owners j for thefe apparent reafons, it being their inierefl: to keep up the price of Negroes fo configned to them, as all fuch advance encreafes their commiffions. Therefore, in our humble opi- nion, no attention ought to be paid to any re- monftrance from people fo much interefted, or from thofe merchants who refide in Europe, that are connedcd with them, againft any pro- pofals that may be offered for the general uti- lity of the colonies, which has been the cafe ; and in confequence, very detrimental mcafures have been purfued through the mifreprefenta- tion of fuch opponents. Should fuch deftrudtive meafures be conti- nued, an abfolute diminution of the annual in- come from your eftates in the colonies muft in- evitably enfue, whether from the wane of Ne- groes, or your purchafing them at too high a rate. In either cafe, it will prevent your being able to raife as much fugar, and other plan- tation-prod u<5t you would othervvife do, or to ( iii ) to take ofF as great a quantity of the manu- fa^ures of the mother-country, as were you to have a fufficient number of Negroes at rea- fonable prices. Relying upon the above allega- gations, with thofe you willfjnd ii. the courfe of the following pamphlet, the editors prefumc you will think it moft expedient and conducive for your interefts, without lofs of time, to ap- ply to the legillative power, in order that fome fpeedy and efFed:ual meafures be taken and carried into execution for retrieving^ better re- gulating and extending that valuable branch of the Britijh commerce, the African trade. The prefent feems the moft proper time for fo great a national purpofe, in order to prevent the French getting the ftart of you, which they will exert all their power and abilities to ef-^ Je£i i for they are now not only making great preparations to carry on that trade themfelves, but they have already made feveral contraBi with Britijh merchants to fupply them with Negroes, So intent are they to fecure, by every method they can contrive, as great a number as poflible of thofe ufeful people, on which the profperity of the French colonies depend : befides, as peace is concluded, hij majefty's minifters, in whofe department it is, will have leifurc to examine minutely into the reafons that induced you to make fuch application. There- fore there cannot be a doubt from their known abilities^ and willingnefs to promote the public good by their care of tlie trade and commerce of thefe kingdoms, but they will give their moft ferious ■' 4> ( iv ) fcrious attention to any propofal you may lay before them for fo good a purpofe, as the ex~ tending and preferring the African trade ; and will be as defirous as yourfelves to purfue fuch plan as appears to them mod reafonable for pro- moting the general advantage of the Britifl^ cO" lonieSf and confequently the mother-country. The editors will not intrude farther on your time, than to hope fomething will be done to fecure that valuable branch of commerce to the Britifi fubjeSls, they being very defirous to promote the profperity of the Britifh colonies, and to affure you that they are with great re- fpe(St, Gentlemen, London, II April, 1763. Your moft obedient, and moft Humble fervantj;, The EDITORS. CONSI- Confiderations on the Peace, As far as i( is relative to the Colonies, and the African Trade. SINCE the preliminary articles of peace were publifhed by authority, we have hear*^ ipany perfons in coffee-houfps and other places, cenfyre and blame our negotiators, f(y their not having obtained better terms. They lay, ;hat our ajcqyifitions in North Ame- rica are of little confequence : yet when thefc ac- quifitions were in pofiefTion of our enemies, they thought them of ineftimable value. Can the mecr alienation of any property caufe fo fudden a dimi- nution of its original worth ? Surely then pique or diflike to fome of our peace-makers, or private intereft to have the war continued, mull have Jiurried thefe men beyond the bounds of reafoq. For if they would give themfclvcs the leaft time to refle<5t ferioufly, and judge difpa^lonately, they would find, that by retaining our conquefts in North America (which are extended beyond our mod fanguine expectations ) the greatetl benefit and utility muft arile to this the mother-country ; jftafmuch as we have put ourfelves in fuch a fituar B tion "If iir :■( M ■ C 2 ) tlon not only in the north, but alfo in the fouthetn parts, that it is to be hoped our inland fcttlers will live in a ncrfeft ftate of tranquillity ; and his ma- jefty*s fuDJedts carry on and cultivate that great branch of the Britifh commerce, without dread of the Indians, or interruption from the fubjefls of any foreign nation. This good effeft furely muil be allowed to be of immcnfe importance and ad- vantage to Great- Britain ; and would not have been the cafe if we had kept the fugar colonies ceded to France, inftead of part of our continen • tal conquefts. What was the occafion of the war but the ne- gotiators of the laft peace not fettling the diftinft limits and boundaries of the tcrrit.ories we and the French were to have in North America ? Wc rejoice thofe limits are now fettled, and hope fo eneftuf lly as to prevent future difputes. Among the many altercations concerning the preliminary articles, and the abilities ot our negotiators, it muft be allowed, with refpeft to the commercial intercft of this country, there is a noble Lord in high office, and of the cabinet, whofc acknowledged capacity, great application) and long experience, at a board where he fo judi- cioufly and eminently prefided, made him a moH; competent judge what meafures were proper to be taken for the fecurity, improvement, and exten- fion of the trade and commerce of Great-Britain and her colonies. Therefore, we cannot doubt, but his majefty has been well and faitlifully ad- vifed as to that part of our pacific negotiations ; becaufe the patriotic fpirit, honour and integrity of that nobleman are univerially known and ap- proved. It is not amifs to lay down as a maxim, that in general the information of merchants is not to be depended on by the legiflature, with re- Ipedt to trade ^nd commerce, for many other, befides pr ini to I m mi reJ blj ful m^ ii ( 3 ) befides this principal reafon; to wit— >A trade may be very prontable to a particular merchant, city or town, and, at the fame time, be very pernici- ous to the general interell of the nation, is a mofl notorious fa^. Have we not heard many falf- hoods aiTerted, and fcen many erroneous calcula- tions laid before the public, with an intereded view of obtaining fuch private ends, and of de- feating in fome very elTential points the public welfare ? Whatever fclf-intereftcd people may clamour to the contrary, there cannot be a doubt but his ma- jefty and his minifters, in their negociations, have given the moil ferious attention to the univerfal good of this country, without confining their views, or partially regarding whether North America is more valuable than the Sugar Jjlandsj becaul'e each merited their notice and care, being both of inefti- mable value to the mother-country, and recipro- cally fo to each other; and all three fo eiTcntiaHy connedled, that whatever happens to the difadvan- tage of the one, mull in proportion affedt the other. For the Weft India iflands depend upon North America, in a great mealiire, for provifions, mill, and other timber ; as well as for horfcs, cat- tle, and many things abfolutely neceflary for the ufe of the plantations ; which are paid for in fpecie, fugar, rum, melalTes, and other plantation- produce : moreover, the melaflcs being diftilled into rum in North America, are of great advantage to the merchants there, in carrying on the African trade diredlly from thence, which enables them to make returns for thole manufaftures, i^c. thev receive from hence wi h greater facility. AH pofii - ble care fhould be taken to prevent his majefty's fubjedts purchafing fugar, rum, and particularly melaffes, in the French iflands, by prohibiting their importation into North America, by laying a B 2 higher ( 4 ) higher duty upon thofe articles than that laid by an J'ib, made m the fixth year of his late iriajefty'd reigh, entitled, " An aft for the bettfcr ftcUriiig *' -ind encouraging the trade of his majcfty's fugar " colonies, t3c" whereby fuch high duties were laid on all foreigil fugars, rums, and melafles, to be imported into any of his majcfty's colonies in America, as, it was thought, would anfwer all the ends of a prohibition. • But experience has Ihewn that law, and alfo thofe pafTed in the 12th and 15th Car. II. are too weak to anfwer the purpofcs for which they were defigned ; and that fome more efFeftual remedies muft be found to prevent the Britifh traders of North America importing foreign fugar, rum, and melaffes, which wis a great tride carried on by them from the French iflands before the war ^ and by that means the commodities from North America, wanted in the fugar iflands, were greatly advanced to the Britilh planters. And as the northern traders often refufed to take any thing from them but ready money, which drained them of almoft all their gold and filver, fbr want of which they were often brought into great diftrefs; therefore all the money the North American traders ufed to receive from the Britifli planters, nas carried to foreign fugar colonies, and there laid out in the purchafe of fugar, rum, and melafles, which were carried to our northern colonies, and there fupplied the place of fugar, rum, and melafles from the Bri- tifli fugar iflands -, and confequently robbed them not only of the confumption of fo much of their produft, but alfo of their gold and filver too. Whereas if the planters in the foreign colonies were obliged to purchafe what they want from the Britifli fubjefts with ready money only^ and not allowed to give their fugar, rum, and melaflfes in barter for the fame, it would make the ballance of that I « ( 5 ) that trade for the future much more in our favour* than it has been againft u5 ; becaufc we having ih greatly extended the Britilh dominion on the con- tinent of America, the French in their fugar iflands cannot be fupplied with what they want from thence but by the Englifh-, therefore the Britifli traders may chufe to be paid for their mer- chandizes in fuch manner as theyfliallpleare, which the French will be under a ncceflity of complying with. It is well known to thofe who are acquainted with the fugar iflands, that the profits of the plan- ter depend upon the vent he finds for his rum and ttielaffes •, for if fugar only, and no rum and me- lafTes could be produced from the fugar cane, ic would hardly pay the expence of culture* and ma- nufacturing it into fugar. Therefore as the con- fumption of rum and melafles is flopped or in- creafed, the fugar colonies (whether Englilh or fo- reign) muft refpedtively thrive or decline. And as rum is not allowed to be imported into old France, or any of its colonies (becaufe it interferes with brandy, which is the produdt of the mother coun- try) this evidently (hews how much it is in the power of Great-Britain to check the progrefs of the French fugar iflands, and advance that of her own. For if the bringing French rum and me- laflTes into any of the Britilh dominions, can be ef- fedlually fliopped, all the profits made by rum and melaflfes, in the French fugar colonies, would be loit to them ; becaufe they could find no vent for it in any other part of the world. This point ftridlly attended, and invariably ad- hered to,, and the African trade iecured to the Bri- tifli fubjeds, to the extent of their , atural and undoubted right, would diminifli the growtli of fugar in the French iflands, and inrreaie it in our own; and miglit, with the addition of our ne\y luifitions, vcrv probablv in the courie of fome acq I years, I ( ■ ( o years, be a means of enabling the Englifh to urt- derfel them at all foreign markets in Europe, and confine them to their own confumption. There- fore it is humbly fubmitted to the confidcration of tlie legiflative power, whether this trade, ib appa- rently hurtful to the national intereft of this king- dom, (which will molt certainly be carried on in the fame manner it was before the war) ought not to be ftopped without delay ; and the importation of foreign fugar, rum, or melafles, into any of the Britifh colonies in North America, prohibited under fuch penalties, and with fuch encourage- ments to inform and feizc> as may be adequate to the crime, in order to put an effeftual ftop to fuch a pernicious and deftruftive commerce. From what has been before obferved, it will, it is prefumed, evidently appear how neceflary it mull be for the advantage of the Britifli fugar co- lonies, to promote as much as poflible the fale and confumption of rum and melafles, upon which, in a great meafure, the well-being and profperity of the planters depend. On that account, and in order to promote fuch defirable purpofe, fuppofe the duties on mehfles, and the excife on rum, were to be lowered, fuch procedure would favour our plantations in their rivalfliip with France, and the leflening thefe duties will, in a great meafure, prevent the fmuggling of foreign brandy to fuch a degree, as may probably augment the revenue arifing therefrom, by a greater quantity of rum and melafles being difpofed of, which confequently mull confiderably encreafe our navigation; and the dilkl vantage to our rivals in trade will be in pro- portion to our fuccefs. Befides, rum, if it can be got at a realbnable rate, will greatly increafe the confumpdon of malt fpirits, by mixing them in fuch proportion as are fuitable to the palate of an infinite variety of people. This is evident from the e: e: a h ourt- and "herc- ionof appa- king- on in htnot tation iny of libited uragc- uateto :o fuch will, it ffary it gar co- ale and which, ofperity , and in fuppofe m, were rour our and the meafure, r to fuch revenue rum and 'equently V and the e in pro- it can be zreafe the r them in iate of an lent from the ( 7 ) the great quantities, and the various prices that fpirits are fold for under the denomination of rum, which are from 5 J. or ys. to loj. per gallon. The trade carried on between Great Britain, Ireland, North America, the Weft India iflands and Africa, is of greater advantage to this coun- try, than all our other trades whatfoever, arifing from the great exportatbn of Britijh manufadures, Eaft India goods, provifions as well as linens from Ireland^ which are paid for with fpeciey futgar^ to- hacco^ rice, cotton, and other plantation-prociucei and with the commodities of Africa, fuch as gold- duft, kees wax, elephants teeth, gum Senegal, various forts of dying wat^ds^ and particularly Negroes for the pUmtaiionS', whence it manifeftly appears, upon the African trade, and the invaluable commerce of our colonies, above two-thirds of the Britifh navigation depends ; and for this very obvious rea- fon it may be afTerted, that in the veflels employed for faid traffic, the moft ufeful failors for manning his majefty's navy (the great bulwark of this na- tion) are bred -, becaufe they are inured to the manner of living on board Ihips, as well in the hot as in the cold climates ; which is not the cafe of failors taken out of coafting veliels, colliers, and traders to the north feas, as hath been frequently experienced by the many (very ufeful) lives in our expeditions to the Eaft and Weft Indies being loft^ and that fatality was chiefly owing to their not having been accuftomed to live on llilt provifions,^ and to bear the exceflive heat of the climate, which they were unacquainted with, and unprac- tifed in. To prevent the like cataftrophes hereafter, when occafion fhall require, we would propofe the chu- fing out of the leveral Ihips that may lie in the harbours of Great-Britain, fuch failors only as ftiaU have been a voyage or more to the hoc countries, to. ill ^1 i * f 8 }• to man furh expedition fleets for thofe parts of the world, where the fun's power is ftrong, as the more probable means of preferring the lives of a great number of thole valuable failors, who may not have had a feafoning, and have been moftly employed in the coalVing trade and Ihort voyages. We have been induced to throw out this hiot, in hopes that it may engage the attention of ibme more able pen, to form a fcheme for fuch a good, humane, and noble end, before the cammence-t mentcf another war.* It muft be allowed by thofe who have a general knowledge of the trade and commerce of Great- Britain and Ireland, that the Negro trade on the coaft oi Africa^ is the chief and fundamental fup- port of the Britijh colonies, by fupplying them with that race of ufeful people called Negroes, to be employed in cultivating the lands. But when there is either a deficiency of them, or that they arc purchafeable but at high prices, then fuch checks muft greatly impoverilh our Qritifh planters -, and in coni'equence, confiderably diminifh the wealth, power, trade and navigation of thefe kingdoms., the encreafe of which has been, in a great mea- ilire, owing to the extcnfive commerce to and from our colonies and plantations : therefore their not being properly fuppiied with Negroes, muft be extremely detrimental to them •, which induces VIS to make fome obfervations upon a memorial taken notice of in the Public Ledger, of tlve third <>f November laft, wherein it was aflcrted, that fir William Meredith, one of the reprefentatives in parliament for the town of Liverpool, had pre- iented a memorial to the right honourable the earl • It i$ here humbly ireant, not to fend tljofe Tailors that may ^e preflcd out of cojliers, or oafting veflcls, diredly on fouthern voyages, till they have been ufed to live upon fait provifions for l«me tizn^ on board fnips of war in a cold climate. rts of as the of a may noftly ages, iot, in ibme good, nence-- reneral Great- on the :al fup- :m with to be :n there :hcy are checks rs •, and wealth, igdoms., at mea- to and "ore their es, muft 1 induces roemorial the third ted, that itatives in had pre- le the earl )rs that may on fouthern )rovifion8 for of ( 9 ) of Egremont, one of his majefty*s principal fccre- taries of ftate, " fetting forth the great advantages " of the trade of Guadaloupe, where they received " 234^^05/. lis. id.* for 12,347 (laves, the " cargoes of 41 (hips, purchafed in Africa with '* Britilh manufactures •« praying that the poflfef- " Hon of that ifland might be thought of in the " negotiation for peace, if not incompatible with " the general fcheme of affairs." This memorial we could not have expeftcd from that quarter, recolleifting that the great Hardman is no more. Had he been living, it would not have been wondered at, as he was noted for his contriving, and being induftrious at procuring and prefenting, memorials and petitions. He even influenced fome merchants of the town of Rippon in York- fhire, to petition the parliament, when that great and important trade to Africa was under its con- fideration. He likewife prevailed on many other towns to petition, all as little intcrefted and con- necled with the trade of Africa, as Rippon -, and faid Rippon was never famous for any other manu- fad:ory, that we could hear of, but that of making fpurs ; and the cream of the jeft is, that not a Tingle pair, as a commercial article, was ever fent to Africa ; at the fame time many other meafures were purlued, very lingular methods taken, and ablblute untruths aiTerted as fadts, to miflead the legiflature, in order, as it is fuppofed, to prevent the forts and fettlements being put upon a proper eftablilhment, that were all as inconfiftent as the Hippon petition. It was at that period boldly advanced at the bar of the hou(e of Commons, and with great in- duftrv propagated among the members, that the forts m Africa wereonly ufcful, as marks of po(re(non f Suppofed to be paid for in plantation -produce. C and I 'i I i m ! M (10 ) and fovcrcignty; which, if true, why has 19,565/. 14 J. id. llerling been expended in building; part of a fort at Anamaboa^ to the ^oth June, 1 750, as ap- pears by the African committee's accounts to that time, when the further building of that fort was put under the direftion of the board of ordnance • ? which fum has been fmce paid by the public more than the annual grant of 10,000/. then infifted as fufficient for the fupport of the forts. But we have been informed, thofe prevaricating advocates have fince altered their opinion, and think it a very in- adequate fum for fuch purpofe : and it appears by the votes of the honourable houfe of Commons, application has been made to parliament to enlarge the annual grant •, and there was granted for the year 1761, 13,000/. and for the year 1762, the like fum, by which it is conjectured the faid advo- cates have found it abfolutely neceffary that the forts ought to be kept in a better (late than that of marks of pofejfwn and fivereignty only. But that cannot be done, when we condder in what manner the money granted by parliament to the African committee, is appropriated in Africa, which the government never receives any account of. The great argument made ufe of to the then miniftersf , to obtain a diflblution of the late Afri- can company, by the advocates for the prefent fyflem, was, that 10,000/. was quite adequate and fufficient for * the fupport and maintenance of the forts. This, I believe, was one of the ftrongeft * It appears by the accounts of that board, there has been ex« pended by them to the 31ft March, 1761, in finilhing faid fort 15,024/. iSs. r^d. fo that rebuilding it has coft 34,590 /. \zs, 5 d. fterling, which fort is only uiefal for the defence of the Negroes in the town under it, and to proteA them from their enemies of their own colour, who have no cannon or mortars, and to defend the landing-place, that no (hip of force can get near. •f- His grace the d — e of N le, f y of ft e; the right honourable H — yP— Ih— m, firftlord of the I y, and c.— r of the e— — r. reafons ye^ id ap- that was :c»? more :d as have have •y in- xsby nons, [ilargc )r the 2, the advO- lat the that of idcr in ncrit to Africa, 3unt of. le theft tcAfri- prcfcnt late and of the Irongcft Ls been ex- g faid fort ;go/. MS' nee of the from their or mortars, m get near. ^ ^e; the y, and reafons c >• > reafons for thofc miniftcrs adopting their fcheme, which had as much truth in it, as nna.^y other af- fertions at that time made ufe of. ^»» The late company, from their experience, in- fifted that fum was very infufficient-, which it really was, even to give in prefents annually to the prin- cipal natives, to cultivate fuch an intereft as is not only ncceflary, but abfolutely eficntial to fupport and promote the honour, power, jurifdidtion, and trade of Great Britain on the coaft of Africa. However, there has been granted, fince the forts were put under the care of the prefent Africa committee for their fupport, from 2d February, 1751, to 2d February, 1763, 136,000/. which is iIj333/. 6\f. ^d. per annum, exclu five of what was expended in building the fort at Annamaboa. Notwithftanding faid grants, the forts have not been kept even * as marks of poflcflion and io- vereignty •, which undeniable truth the editor is ready to prove, if called upon. Mourii! mourn! O Liverpool, for the lofs of thy great hero and champion, who was at all times ready to enter the lifts in defence of thy trade and commerce. But, Britain rejoice ; for what may have been for the advantage of the town of Liverpool, might be greatly detrimental and pre- judicial to the general trade and com.merce of this country and its colonies*, which furely muft clearly appear from the beforementioned memo- rial. For I believe it will be allowed, if we were to encreafe and extend the number of our colonies in North America, and the Weft-Indies, it would be difadvantageous to Great Britain, unlefs they can be fupplied with a fufEcient number of people for their defence and cultivation, at as reafonable • The African committee have alfo received to the end of the year 1756, i6zo/. 8/. 8ur colonieSy ar<; fo. mate- rially conrenicd and inteHled. For the lands in Britain niuft alvviiys rife aid full in proportion as our manufadures and nvigation profpcr or de- cline, and the national r<'cnuecnct'eafeor diminifli, as the trade of our co>nic3 is in a more or lei's ilourifliing w \y. ' Therefore uch d i bc- thofc es, ill 1 fully ppUed ceded : plan- ieflion, )ifcd to ipt faid toclc'd, rcdun- St. Do- nuft be )wer fo leci as e inter- for the ch anti- ; would ningo to ice fuffi- li means age that aduce of t to her, eiving a , and in d manu- 5 alio the fo. mate- lands in ortion as cr or de- diminifli, )ie or lei's Therefore C 15 ) ' Therefore is it not evident, that there is not a man in this kingdom, who, in proportion to his polTefliOn and property in the community, doe«5 not partake of the benefits and advantages accru- ing from the African^ North American, and ffA'Ji Indian trades •, and who would not be a fuffcrer in proportion to his fituation in life, fhould they di- minifli, by falling into the hands of people belong- ing to any other nation ? where, fuppofing it to be the cafe, the profit of thole valuable trades muft confequently center. For notwithdanding the advantage the French inhabitants would have had by our retention of thofe iflands, they would take nothing from us for the ufe of themfelves, or their plantations, but what they were obliged to out of the greateft ne- cefTity J as we have no wines to fupply them with, which are proper for that country : fo that they would have their wines, and every thing elfe they could pofflbly procure, from France i having been accurtomed from their infancy to wear French, which they would ever look on as their own native manufadures. And forry I am to fay, too many of them are ufcd io the Britilh colonies, as wc^ll as in this country. For vehich reaibn they would always have a dillike to Britifh manufaftures, and that would induce them to purfiie every niea- fure to fmuggle their own into thofe iQands •, and for the fake of profit, many EngUfli traders would be induced to carry them from the IQe of Man, Guernfey, Jerfey, and other places, in preference to thofe of their own country, which has already been the cafe. But fuppofing it not fo, the re^l profits of thofe iflands, while pofieffed by French inhab'^-ants, would not center in Great Britain, but in France ; becaufe, on account of the difft - fence in religion, they \jrould fend their children I hither for education, and make provifion for them- . . felvcs =1- jl f «6 ? Trlvfs to retire there, always looking upon It as their home. Even (o our pUnttrs do in regurd to Great Britain \ fur all thofe who go to the Weft Indies, or are born there, have no intention to end tiieir days in that climate, but are always aiming to lay by ;. fufficiency to go home, as they call it > tliat is, the Englijh planters to come to Crtat Bri- tain^ and the French to Frattte. By what has hitherto been advanced, furely it will evidently appear to every impartial reader, tliat had we rctainVl the French fugar iflands, they would not have been of any advantage to this country, but on the contrary. It is not the num- ber of iflands, where fugar, tobacco, rice, and other pUntation-produdts are raifed, that will be advantageous to this or any other country, with** out they can be fupplied with a fv/Bcient number of Negroes for their cultivation ; the land being all tilled by hand-labour with the hoe, as there is no ploughing with oxen and horfes in the Weft Indies, except in Jamaica, where two Of three planters have ufed the plough to foroc part of their plantatioos, where the foil was light, and of a fandy nature ; and all other work is done by Negroes^ as, Europeans cannot do any laborious work there. Their field labourersy fugar boilers^ diftilltrs^ ceo- fers, mili'VirightSy catpcnterSy mafins, buil4frs^ /miths^ and houfe fervants, are bla(;k3 -, therefore it is not the number of iflands, but the greateft number of the bejl l^egrees that benefit the mother-country ,^ 'which fort we can make appear, the French fince the year 1729, in times of peace, to the com- mencement of the prefent war, have been con- ftantly fuppUed with. That is one of the true caufes why they have produced fuch quantities of f\?gar, and other plantation-produft •, that for fc- veral years before the war, they were become our rivals at foreign markets^ fo far as to draw from thence \ diM ( 17 ) thence a great annual balance of trade in favour of France.* But this efeU would have been pre- vented, if f roper mcaiures had been purfucd by us for the prcfervation of the African trade, to thai part of Africa where the hardy Negroes, who arc inured to labour in their own country, were to be purchafed. The French, from the year 1729, to the end of the year 1738, carried from the Gold Coaft, Pcpo and IVhydah^ fifteen or feventeen thoufand of thole valuable people annually \ when four thoufand^ in any one year during that period, were not carried to the Britifh plantations ) which is the true/t reafon that can be affigned for the prolperity of the French colonics, and the main fpring of the great increafc of their produft. For they do not underfland the cultivation and management of a plantation in any degree equal to the BritiHi plan- ters: therefore their advantage and fuccefs has been owing, in a great meafure, to the good and hardy labourers they have had co till their landj and manufadture the produfb of it. We doubt not but the merchants trading to Africa will fey, they have imported fmce the year 1729, more Negroes into the Britijh fugar iflands, than the French h2ivc to theirs in time of peace (to the commencement of the prefent war). We admit they have, of Negroes from Gamhin^ CaMar, J5e- ney^ Bemn, the windward coaji^ and Angola. But we take upon us to aflcrt, they cannot with truth fay, they have imported to the colonies as • For fcveral yenrs before the war, the French received froa foreign nations above 1,000,000/. flerling for the article of fu- gar only ; befides a large fum for indigo, and other Weft India produdls : the lofs of which will induce them, without delay, to puih on their trade to Africa with the urmoll vigour, which, we know, they are making great preparations to do, that fufii* ciently points out the necefiity for fome mesfures to be fpec- dily taken to prevent thci D many % .r n V A 1 1 i i u f?;7 ( '8 ) many Negroes from the Gold Coaji, Popo, and H^h dahj which are the moft valuable for the laborious cultivation of the fugar-cane, and other planta- tion-produft, and manufaduring it into fugar and rum, for the following reafons. The Gold Coafii PopOi and IVhidah Negroes arc born in a part of Africa that is very barren •, a fmall bullock carried thither from another part, when fatted, 'will fell for near 32/. a fheep for '>.oJ. ^our fmall fowls for 4J. ftcrling, and all other proviiions in proportion, except fifh; and their coarle kind of bread, which is their chief food. On that account, when able to take the hoe in hand, they are obliged to go and cultivate the land for their fubfiftance. They alfo live hardily; \'o that when they are carried to our plantations (as thjy have been ufed to hard labour from *"ieir in- fancy) they become a llrong, robuft people, and can live upon the fort of food the planters, i ^low them •, which is, bread made of Indian corn, and fi(h, fuch as herrings and pilchards fent frohi Bri- tain, and dried fifh from North America, being; fuch food as they lived upon in their own country. Indeed they live better in general in our planta- tions ; and they are always ready, on their arrival there, to go to the hard work neceffary in planting and manufadluring the fugar cane. On the other hand, the Gajnbia, Calabar^ Boneyi and Angola Negroes are brought from thofe parts of Africa^ that are extremely fertile, where every thing graws almoft fpontaneoufly ; and where a bullock may be bought for lefs than 20 j. a fheep for I s. and a dozen of fowls for the fame. They have every other necciTary of life in great plenty. On that account, the men never work, but lead an indolent life, and are in gcner::! of a lazy difpofi- lion and tender conftitution -, for the neceffary work among them is done by the women, which is little more I i . iC «9 ) more than fetching wood to drefs their viifluals ; fo that when thofe people are carried to our fugar iflands, they are obliged to be nurfcd, to be taken great care of, and brought to work by degrees. The planters, when the Gold Coaft and Whidah Negroes were carried to the fugar colonie?, be-r fore the French interfered in that trade, found there was not 4 fufHcient nuniber to extend their cultivation, by parrying on all the different plant- ing bufinefs, and therefore were accuftomed to pur- chafe thofe tender (the worft fprt of) Negrpes, and employ them for houihold fervants, tq raife corn, aloes, look after cattle, bying them up to trades and eafy labour, knowing them unfit for the liard work neceflary \i\ fugar-piantatiop§. The Negroes of the river Gambia are better thai} the laft-mentioned ; both of which are much more proper for the North American planters, as they have plenty of provifions at afmaU expence, and^ on that account, can ufe them to gentle labour, and inure them, by degrees, tp work with the fame fort of food they wpre j^cuftpmed ^o in their own country. But that is not the cafe of th^ planters in the fugar iflands ; which fu/ficiently proves how difad- vantageous it muft be tp haye fuch imported there, in preference to thofe that would, be fo immedi- ately ufeful and ferviceajble, or to let the Frencli purchafe the better, fort. Yet Tuch has bi?en the caip, it being for the in- tereft of the African merchants to fupply the Brir tifi planters with the inferior fort, as each Negro cofts much lefs on the coaft pf Angola^ Sec. than thofe from the Gold_ Coajij &c. which faves a great deal in the outfet of the cai;goes fqnt to Africa^ aiid confequently greatly encreafes the. net profit on the voyages, as the tender and worll fort of I !f^egroes will fell in the fugar iflands for near ?s '•M P 2 e;reat Pf: ill i iwv ( 20 ) grej^t ^ price each as the bcft, provided there is none of the latter at market ; and a greater num- ber of the former being fubjeft to die, muft cn- crcafe the demand. This I thought proper to take notice of, to (hew how neceffary it will be for the intereft of this country, that the French Ihould not for the future be allowed to trade in Africay at cape Appollonia^ or between it and the ri^er Volta^ where, and at jpopo and Whidah, to the eaftward of that river, the valuable Negroes beforcmentioncd, adapted by their natural conftitution for cultivating the fugar plantations, are to be purchafed j otherwife in times of peace, they will be conftantly making en« croachments as heretofore ; fo that when the late company's governor at Cape Coafi Cafile faw a Prenck veffel upon the Gold Coalt, he ufed to or- der an officer to go on board with a mcflage to the following purport. " You are ordered on board the French vefTel; to tell the mafter, th^ governor and council do not make trade with the fubjefts of France,*. nor do they fuffer the natives to trade \yith them. But as there fubCflis a good friehdlhip and alli- ance between the king of Great Britain and th^ French king, if the mafter (hould be diftrefled for water, or fuch like neceflaries, he might have it upon application, by admitting an offi- cer on board, to prevent his having intercourfe with the natives, or others, till he fliould have received fuch fupplies; but that he ihould not be allowed to trade to the weftward of the river Volta, which if he attempted, proper mcafures would be taken to prevent and obftruft his com- merce. Therefore, ihould he neglect ^hofc or^ ders, and rece»"e any damage thereby, it would • The officers commanding the out-forts, had abfolute orders , n ( 22 ) tual manner, by putting the forts upon an efta-jl bliftiment, that the officers commanding them may be in iuch fituation, as to protect the trade under their care from the encroachments of any foreign- ers, will inevitably happen. It is alfo neceflary to remark, that the French fhould not be permitted to re-fettle a faftory they had before the w^r at Abreda, about a league be- low James Fort^ in the river Gambia^ which was deftroyed by that gallant fea officer, and brave commander Sir George Pocock, in the year 17449 but fettled again after the peace -, and again de- ftroyed this war by Capt. Marlh, commander of his majefty*s Ihip Harwich. If they are not permitted to re-eftabli(h that fadory, and the trade of Gambia and Senegal rivers •are purliied in a proper manner, Goreem\\ be of no coniequence, but an expence to France, for many good reaions we think it improper at prefent to en- large upon \ knowing there is a work in hand that will foon be pubJilhed, wherein all the advantages of the African trade are fully confidered from the time LETTERS PATENT wete granted by king Charles the fecond, the a^thdrvof September, 1672, to eftabiim and incorporate the late royal African company of England; (hewing how thyo thou- fand ounces of gold weekly, which ?an be proved from authentic vouchers, and continued fo to do until fuch time as the private tradei;s made inr croachments upon them, and overftocked the coun- try with goods by their competitions with each other, which the natives took the advantage of, and infifted upon the traders lowering the price of European merchandize, and raifing that of Africa, by keeping their ftaves, gold and ivory up to an cx( :bitant price, and thereby getting as great 51 quantity of goods, for a few flaves, as was iufficient for their confumption ; and was the caufe of fewer * In cafe the French were not permitted to carry them away, as they did befoj-e the roads were llopt. t 50,090 ounces of gold dufta; 3/. 17J. 6^. an ounce, ^ J 30 tons of ivory, on an average, is worth about 220/. a ton, is 6,600/. ij Wl^ich was upwards of 26,666 guineas annually. toeing in X 47 ) feeing tronght from the inland countries, as by ttid high prices, before obferved, the Negroes got what goods they wanted for the fmalJ number fold, which alfo prevented their bringing gold to market, and by which means that valuable branch of the African trade, of fuch importance to this country, was in a great meafure deftroyed, and the profits thereof centered with the natives of Africa. . "We believe the private traders will admit they have not altogether imported from Africa into thefe kingdoms two thoufand ounces of gold annually*; and that (ince the adl of parliament for diiTolving the late company, and putting the forts arid fcttle- ments under the management of the committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa, the officers commanding there, have not taken gold fufficient to pay the annual falaries of their fervants, though they are fewer in number than thofe kepc by the late company. From what has been ftated, we conjecture it will appear, that the Britijh forts in Africa are not upon a proper plan*, if they were, the commanding offi- cers for the committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa, would, in eleven years and up- wards, have opened thofe roads (which have been lb long ftopt) that the colonies and mother-country might receive thofe great benefits and advantages beforementioned, by having the trade brought down to the forts without interruption^ from the • We think it proper to bbfefve, which we conjedlura the merchants will not attempt to deny, that they only put oil board their (hips fuch cargoes as the mailers judge will be fufH- cient to purchafc the number of Negroes each fhip will carry, which when compleated, they will fell any fmall remainder of their cargoes for gold or itory, if to be got : but ihey often find a difficulty in doing it, for thereafons before advanced ; and they have many times been obliged to cuxty them from Africa for want of purchafers, entirely owing to their giving fuchgrtaS prices for Negroes. J^' 2 femctel* ^mm ( 28 ) rcmotcft parts ofJfriea, as it was in the time of ilia ]ate company's profperity •, but that has not been done, and as the Britifh traders dechned that trade many years before the Fremb felted the opportu- nity of ftepping in, and renped fo great advantages thereby, as to have carried to their colonies, noc fewer than one hundred and fifty thoufand of thofe ufcful people, from the year 1 729 to the year 1 739, This induces us to think, that the Britl/b mer- chants foifook that trade, and made the oppofltion they did to the late company, to get the forts and V fectlements under their management, to prevent other people putting them upon a proper eflablifh- ment, that might hinder the French making the encroachments they have made in time of peace (and confequently carrying to their plantations thofe moft ufcful people) in order to follow their more favourite trades to Benin, Calabar, and the coaft of Angola, bccaufe there they can purchafe three hun- dred Negroes with a cargo of 3600/. value, when that number upon the Gold Coaft would cod m March laft 4950/. ♦. Therefore we fear the pri* vate intereft of faid oppofers rather gained an af- cendency over them, to the great prejudice and dil- advantage of the Britifh colonies and the mother- country, and to the great emolument of the French 5 which we thought proper to obferve at this junc- ture, and to hint alfo, that it will be more fully fet forth in the defcription of the African trade before- mentioned. We hope to fee a minifler at the head of the ad- miniftration in this country, devoid of fadlion and corruption, that no private pique or prejudice againft perfon or party will fo far influence him, ai not to pay a due and impartial attention to what is * If the French are allowed to trade on the Gold Coaft, a cargo to purchafe 300 Negroes, will coft, if wc may judge by ' former times, above 6000/. laid ( i9 ) laid before the legiflative power, relative to that valuable branch of Bricilh commerce, the African trade. Wc fhall rejoice that Aich enquiries will not for the future be prevented by minid rial direction, as happened at a certain period, when it had cod great pains and expence to bring a matter of the utmoD: importance to this country to a hearing,, which was fru(lrated» by putting a previous queftion in a great adembly on purpofe to prevent fuch enquiry ; not- withftanding feveral perfons had been examined with rcfpedl to the African trade, as well as the ex- penditure of public money • ; and for no other rea- fon, as V e could learn, or can conceive, than* that one of the greateft planters in the world (who at this time fo worthily fills the firft office in this me- tropolis) promoted faid enquiry ; which, under a wile and able rrinidcr, would have been a fufiicienc reafon for examining minutely into an affair of fuch national confequcnce. For what muft be prejudicial to that planters in- tereft, m ift in proportion be fo to every other in the fugar colonies : and thofe of fmall property muft feel the effedls of being fupplied with the word fort of Negroes at exorbitant prices, more than ithofe of affluent circumftances. Wc have the honour to know that gentleman well, and are fully fatisfied he was induced to excrc himfelf in behalf of that enquiry, not from a mo- tive of private intereft, but for the general good of ail thofe interefted in, and concerned for the pro- fperity of the Britifi colonies. We therefore hope he will long live to employ his great abilities in promoting all good, and op- pufing all bad meaiures, with that zeal and * As would h&ve appeared by the report of the committee of the honourable houfe of common?, in the yciu 1758, had ic been examined into. Ipirit ft '( 30 ) fpirit he hath always done, as alfo to prevent* to thcutmoft of his power, any minifter (hereafter) daring to fmugglc accounts into a certain aflcmbly, although great objcdlions had been made to them, before thole objeflions were canvalTcd and cleared up i and that he will ever oppofe the ifluing public money intended for other fervices, till a fatisfaftory account is given, which has been the cafe*. How- ever, we Ihall not at prefent enlarge fufther upon this head, becaufe we know an abftradt of the re- port of the committee, appointed by the honour- able houfe of commons, will foon be publilhed, to which we beg leave to refer our readers. When the enquiry, relative to the African tradfj was under confideration before the honourable hoLife of commons in the year 1758, Mr. Pitt, that wifp, great and able ftatefman, who has done his king and country fo many eminent and good fer- vices, was pleafed to declare, that he believed the then method of carrying on the African trade wanted alteration and amendment. He alfo added> that when we fliould be fo happy as to have a peace, he would be at all times ready to examine into it, and give all the afliftance in his power to put it upon fuch a footing, that our plantations might be fupplicd with the beft and moft valuable Negroei at realbnable rates. We doubt not but he wi)l make good his promife to lend his able afTiftancc* and alio to recommend it to the adminiftration tO begin fuch an enquiry, and continue it, in order to amend the prefent, or form fuch other plan, as will preferve and fecure that valuable trade to the Britijh fubjcfts, as the only and certain means to encreafe * There was ifTued 10 the African committee, by warraqt from the right honourable the lords commiflioners of the trei- lory, in the ytar I7^|' 7140/. i\s. ^d. out of the vote ^ credit for 800,000/. notwithllanding fcveral objeiHons were made before the committee of the honourable houfe of com- mons tliat fuch fom was not due. lbs ( 3' ) the produce of the BritiJIj^ and Ifir^n that of th:» Ircncb colonics. For, with the iflAnds we aheaiiy poflcfs, and thole which it appears by the prelimi- naries are to be ours, we (hall have a Tufficien: number to raifc fugar, i^c. for the confumption of ^11 Europe, if our Britifli planters are properly liip- plied witl> the bc(l fort or Negroes for their ctilti- vation. When that gentleman has aflifted in doing thi? further fervice to his country, we fincerely wifli him a long ferics of uninterrupted health, to enjoy the fruits of an honourable and permanent peace •, and that he may be held in that ef^eem, reverence and honour, he lb juftly merits from all lovers of this country. Should Inch an equiry he made, we hope fomc method will be found out, to examine all perfons at the bar of the houfe of commons upon oath ; for if th:^t could be done, it would fave the houle a deal of trouble, and prevent their receiving fall^ information in matters of the utmoft confequence %o this nation and it§ commerce. Becaufe we have heard people aflert at that bar, what, to our know- ledge, they at the fame time knew to be intirely falfc ; which we moft fincerely wifH could be re- medied i or at leaft that perfons examined there, upon matters of importance, lliould be informed they will be examined with refped^ ;o the fame mat- ter upon o^th, at the baf of the houfe of lords, which we prefume may be done; and if done, will |?e attended with great and good confequences tp, ll^e whole conimunity. Wq cannot omit obfcrvingi tha,t it was induftri- pufly reported, propagated, and even urged as an argument in a great aifembly, when the ftate of the fugar idands was under their confiderj^tion in the year ^758, that the Rritifh planters had formed a j^hC'iie for a monopoly, by agreeing only to cuiti- vaw ■fK 1- I W'' 1 ( it ( 3» ) vate fuch part of their lands as would produce buH a certain quantity of fugar, in order to raifc the price, and cxa^ingly to obtain as nnuch for a little as a great quantity ; which was as true and likely to be the cafe, as if the jarmers of Great Britain^ Ireland^ France^ Sweden^ Poland and Denmark were to enter into a combination to leave fuch parts of their lands uncultivated, with an unfair intent of railing the price of grain j which we believe any ptrfon will readily admit can never be brought about, although a correfpondence may be eaner, and in much lefs time carried on between the far- mers of thofe nations, than the planters of our fa- gar-colonier, as thofe of Jamaica cannot corief- pond with ^arbadocs, or any other part of the fu- gar iflands, fooner than by way of Great Britain or North America^ which would at leaft be fix months before they could hear from each other •, that im- pediment alone is fufficientto fhtw, that people thus feparated, though ever fo weU inclined, can never form a monopoly. Befides, would it not be abfurd, even to fup- pofe that the farm-^rs of Great Britain, and other nations, who inhabit corn countries, do not raife as much grain upon their farms as they poffibly can procure fervants at reafonable wages, and can llock them with horfes, cattle, ^c. at a cheap rate ? But if they are obliged to pay great wages to. their fervants, and extravagant prices for their ftogk, they can then only put in execution the cul- tivation of their lands by degrees, which is exadly the cafe of the Britilh planters ; for had they a fuf- ficicnt fupply of the proper fort of Negroes at rea-p Ibnable rates, they would not Ipt any of their land lie idle that was worth being cultivated. Therefore the true reafon why fome lai/ls may lie unplanted in the <\igar iflands is, it would greatly prciudicc any planter in their circumftances, ■ ■ ■ t;o: ( 33 ) io attempt to make new plantations with thofs tender fort of Negroes, who have been carried to' them in great numbers for fcveral years pad, and fold at the extravagant prices from 50/. to 54/. and upwards each; whereas the beft fort of Ne- groes, at the time the late company cultivated and prelerved the trade on the Gold Coaji, Popo, ancl l(Vhidah^ fo as to prevent the French carrying the bed fort of Negroes to their plantations, who therefore were (bid in ours at the moderate prices of 20 L to 25/. a head the higlicfti which was a very great encouragement to the planters 10 clear their lands, and cultivate new plantations, enabling them thereby greatly to improve and encreafe the produdt of the iflands, which it mud be their in- tered to do to the very extent of their power, if their lands are fituated with any fort of convenience for \vater, or other carriage, to convey the produd oif iheir plantation to the fea-ports^ notwithdanding what was at that tinie advanced to the contrary, to fervc particular purpofes, and in order to diverc the attention of the legillature from the real caufes. For whatever people aiay thinlv, who are not well acquainted' with the colonies, becaufe they fee fomc of our planters come to fettle here in great opu- ler\ce ; that is no reafoii why thofe rertiaining in the colonies are ail rich •, for if they ivefe, few of them would day there : on the contrary, they are obliged %o cultivate their lands with the greated pains and indudry, in order to raife as much fugar and other product as they pofiibly can, to pay the debts they owe : for there is not a fugar iiland but what is confiderably indebted to Great Britain; fo that whatever difadvantages the planters of our colonies labour under, they mud terminate by being pre- judicial to this country. We cannot help once more obferving, it is not having the mod fugar idands that will be the F greate^ is: I, ( J4 ) greatcft benefit and advantage to the mothef-cCtirtJ try, unlefs fuch iflands can be fupplied with a fufft- cicnt number of the beft Negroes for their cultiva- tion-, therefore as Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland and Denmark have cncrcafed their number, and extended their colonies to fuch a degree, that Africa cannot fufficicntly fupply them all with Ne- groes, including thofc that the Portuguefe want and carry off. On that account, in our humble opinion, the contcft ought to be, not iviio has the molt iflands, but who can fecure the trade to thofc parts of Africa, where the beft and greateft number of thofe ufeful people arc to be procured, as the only means to promote the intercft and pro- fperity of their colonies who may be fo lucky to fucceed in doing it, but will be very difadvantageous to their competitors. From what has been before obferved, I prc- fume it will be admitted that every equitable method ought to be purfued and put in practice by Great Britain, to fccurc to herfelf as much as poflible the African trade, in order to prev«?nt the French p irchafing Negroes. For the fame reafon we take all the meafures we poHibly can, to hinder the Smuggling wool, or any of our artificers and manufacturers going to France. It cannot be too much kifilicd on that the Negroes are of as much confequenee and ufe for the cultivation of our co- lonies, as the wool is to our manufactory, for thefe obvious reafons -, that the Negroes are the artificers, manufacturers, and labourers in the colonies; bc- caufe the whole ptoccfs, from clearing and pre- paring the ground to plant the fugar cane, and manufacturing it into fugar and rum, and the put- ting it on board the Ihips, is the work of Negroes ; therefore it furcly mult be very prejudicial to our intereft to fell any of thofe ufctul people to the French, even were they to pay gold or filver for them; ( 35 ) them : there are, befides, much more cogent rea- fons to be given why we fhould exert ourfelves to prevent the French, as much as we can, carrying them frm Africa. If there fhould at any time be more Negroes brought to the Britilh colonies than are neceflary for the cultivation there, which I have great reafoa to believe is fcldom, or perhaps will never be the cafe, then fuch Negroes may be fold to the Spa- niards or Portuguefe, becaufe they would pay gold or filvcr for them ; and moreover, the flaves fo difpofed of, would be employed in the mines of America, and not in cultivating fugar and other plantation produce, as would be the confequence if the French were allowed to be the purchafers j by which means they would be effedtually enabled to : ecome our rivals in trade, as well on account of their national encouragement and advantages pecu- liar to them, by which they may be capacitated to fell the produft of their plantations confiderably cheaper than we can ours at foreign markets*. In • Becaufe it will employ a great number of French fhips and failors, and be a market for their manufaftures, which they fell, and alfo their Eaft India goods, cheaper confiderably th*:i we can nurchafe ours, which mud confequently be hurtful to our navigation, lefl'cning at the fame time the confumption of. our irvjuiadlures. p, . ,3„, .he competition between the traders of both natloni Vfcu: . -.»e *othe black dealers an opportunity of raifing the price i/i ii'ir Negroes, which advance the French can better afford that* v'.', as mud appear from what is beforementioned, as well as from the following fa£t ; which is, the;^ pay an an- chor of brandy or two, and at fome places three or four, in the price of a flave, at the rate of four pounds each anchor, con- taining about eight gallons, and cofts in France but from eight to te I niiUings. Whereas there is not any article can be bought in El. gland fo profitable and vendable a commodity among the blocks for thirty (hillings (as French brandy) that will pay in i<"; purchafc of a ilave at four pounds. 1 1 F 2 This I ( 36 ) In order to remove the prejudices of many worthy and tender-minded perfons againfl: the Kegro-trade, which from a delicacy natural to civilized nations^ they declare to be quite contrary to al| di(5l:ates of humanity, and a difgrace to the profeflbrs of the chriftian religion, we (hall lay before them and the public a true ftare of the cafe. As there is no occa- /lon to enlarge how eflentially and abfolutely necef- fary it is to have Negroes for the cultivation of our colonies, which is explained in the foregoing fheets; therefore we fhall only beg leave to obferve, by the bcfl: information that coiild be obtained, Africa jn general is divided into little kingdoms and dates, which, when : ^nce, the natives thereof breed Haves for fale, ». ,r farmers do (lock on their farms, and fell them as their neccfllty requires, which was a traffic carried on among themfcKTs be- fore Europeans traded thicherj and when over- ilocked, their pradlice was putting to death (often with great torture) the prifoners taken in war. Thofe that are bred fiaves, are always very defirous to be; p'urchafed by white people, as they are infinitely bet- ter ufed than by their black piaftefs, who ajlqw ^nem but a bare fubfiftance, and treat thern with the greatpft barbarity ; and werp ufed to put fe- yeral to death through cuftom, when they buried perfons above the comrhon rank, and oftentimes iperely throwgh wantonnefs, which is prevented by their having found an advantageous ^nd lucrative inarkct for them. . Thispbferyation is chiefly meant to point out how neceflliry it is to hinder, as much as poffible, the French from trading to Gamjiia, Senegal, or between cape Appolonia and the river Volta, *here the Britifli forts arefituated, and where much the greateft numbers of the moft valuable Negroes are to be pro- cured, which furely we have a right to do, and may be efFeded, if proper meafurcs are purfued for fo defirable a purpofe. ', • - • Thof^ ( 37 ) Thofe Negroes taken in war, or prifoners for fe » lonionfly committing crimes in defpight of the laws^ made by the officers commanding the European forts, fuch laws having -been agreed to by the na- tives under their command and prote<5tion» alfo by thofe laws made by the kings and princes in the in- land countries, are now ibid, but often unwilling to go on board fhips j perhaps, on account pf having lived in a better fituation in their own country thari thofe who have been bred up in flavery from their infancy ; therefc e they often contrive to make their efcape, and by fpeaking the language, per- iiiade others to join and afllft them to take the (hip from the Europeans, of which we have had too many fatal inftances, and is entirely owing to their ig- norance in not knowing the place they are deftined to i and alfo that they will be much better treated and looked after in our colonies than they ever were in their country ; fo that when bought by Eu- ropeans, they are in a manner refcped from a ftate of mifery as to treatment ; for in the colonies, when they are fick, they have great care taken of ^hem, and phyficians to adminifter proper medi- cines for their relief; which, on a fimilar occafion, their black mafters would give themfelves no care or concern about them. Befides, many of them are inftrudled in the principles of religion, and become chriftians and men of property, which, from experience, we know to be true, having talked with feveral who had no defire to fee their own country, living much more comfortably in our colonies. And we think it would be politic to fend two or three Negroes on board every (hip that goes to Africa, that can talk the different lahguages of the counti-ies the mafter of fuch (hip intends to trade to, that they might inform their countrymen how they had ben treated. Such meafures, wp arc convinced, would prevent the ( 3» ) the lofs of many lives, by the Negroes being fatis- fied they were going where they would be better treated than in their own country ; and, at the fame time, to eradicate that opinion many of them have, that they are going to be fed and eaten, which, if cfFeded, would be a means to quiet their minds, fo as not to attempt rifing on board of Ihips. * In all fludluating focieties, fuch as merchants trading to a country fo remote and little known as Africa, many more than the majority are liable to be impofed on, even in the trade they intend to fupport, a misfortune owing to the want of local knowledge, and perfonal experience. What chance for truth do thofe merchants in ge- neral (land, whofe ears few other accounts rea^ '♦, than the imperfeft relation of fome mailer c a fhip, mariner or traditionalid, little to be crediteo, and lefs to be depended upon ? As to the former (if capable) he has little tim.e or opportunity to fpecu- late into the trade, manners, cujioms, and temper of the natives, which they are feldom long enough at a place to do ; and who, from motives of imme- diate profit, purfue meafures they think moft con- ducive to make a quick voyage, which is all they turn their minds to ; yet many of them, when they arrive in Europe,, will take upon themfelves to give information in the moft interefting matters ; which, without having lived in the country for a coniiderable length of time, it is impoflible for them to do with accuracy and any degree of truth, notwithftanding fuch impofitions being propagated, have m general prevailed and influenced the minds of people to fuch a degree, that thofe of certain boroughs, far from having, as has been before ob- ferved, the leaft connexion, intereft, or fo much as acquainted in the moft minute manner with the African trade, prefented their petitions to the ho- nourable n t fi t t t b c 1 > t t t 39 ) nourable houfe of commons to lay open the famei though many of the faid boroughs have not fince fent the moft trifling adventure to Africa, which ac that time, and before, when the forts were under the diredtion of the late royal African company, the trade was much more free and open than it has been Iince under the management of the committee of th'' company of merchants trading to Africa, which we conjecture will appear from the follow-* ing extract of letters, certificates and affidavits \ we think it highly necefTary, and even our duty, to lay before the public, thereby to fhew how far they have been impofed on by falfe pretenders to knowledge. Extraft of a letter from on board the Fly (loop at Briftol, Alexander Graham, mailer, dated i6 March, 1750, to the late royal African com- pany's governor at Cape Coaft Cattle. " I write this to acquaint you, that the French veflels failed two days ago *, I acknowledge my- felf obliged to you for the method you have taken to fend them off, am very much obliged •' to you for your advice ; have fent my armourer ** to alter fome handcuff's, your permifHon will *' much oblige, ^c" Extraft of a letter from fix Piritifh matters of vef- fels, dated on board the Polly in Annamaboa Road, 20 March, 1750. To the fame. " Your favour of yefterday we received, and ** thank you for the promife of affiftance, in pro- " teding the privileges of the Britifh fubjedts trad- *' ing to this place, too much invaded by the *' French, and too little proteded from home, but * The original letters and certificates, with authentic copies •f tke afHdavi{s, are in. the hands of the publiiher. " at «c «t •I! r ( 40 ) ^* at" this time fhall have no occafion to trouble h 'ou. x he French fhip is failed, i^c. >f IV C( tc «( hxtrt.t of a letter from Richard Haflcins, mafter of a (hip from Briftol, dated Annamaboa Road, 27 Dec. 1750. To the fame. *' Am much obliged to you for your kind intel- ligence, atnd all other favours ; I fhall be obliged to you to difpatch the carpenter as foon as pofli- ble, being in great want of him. I am, ^f." ^^ Extrad of a letter from Johfi Jepfon, ma(!er of a fnow from Rhode-lftand, dated Annamaboa Road, 3 July, 1751. To the fame; *' I am forry you are going off the coaft : but however, as 1 can do no more for you, beg to return you my hearty and fincere thanks for your many favours from time to time, not only from your willingnefs to fupply us with any thing in your power of tradefmens work, or any other thing ; but alfo for your pains *' and vigilance in proteifling the trade, ^c, " which wifl always be juilifiable, and hope will " redound to your honour and credit, which is the *' finccre wifh', i^c" ^ • Extradt of two letters from Henry Ellis, matter of , the Ihip Hallifax, from Briftol, dated Arinama'- boa Road, the 13th, and 28th July, 1751. , To the fame. C( cc The boards you Tent me were of real fervice; I hope you will not omit charging any expence I put you to, as I can difcharge that, though not fo eafily your good offices : we cannot help the death of the flavcs, they are mortal ; but do nor think it advifeable to give them rice, as that *•' kind of diet firft gave them a fwelling." cc «( cc cc cc { 41 ) Pt. S. He landed all his Hckly fjaves, which Were kept and taken care of in the caflle. " We arc not a little aftonifhed at the pains ** thefe new agents take to prejudice the (hipping here, by fettling fadtories afhore to intercept the trade, and by giving equal price) with us, iii order to difttels us the more *, it has already beett fome thotiey out of the merchants pockets ; we have been obliged to raife the price, or lie idle« under the hardmips we endure. I cannot help obferving the chagrin of the Liverpool captains, " who loudly compl^' . of the new management.'* " I entirely join ilfue with you, that this oew- fram*d projefi will bccpme an errand job, though but for a feafon } for 1 look upon it, the phyfic of commerce, which, though it may dilorder^ as at prefent, will in the end work its cure. I am, i^c" iC cc «c (C «( «c tt cc i u ■ V Extraft of a certificite of eight Britifti mafters of • veffcls, dated Ahriamaboa Road, 3 July, if 51, To the fame* *' We beiiig informed that a report hath beea fpread, that the late royal African cotiipany's governor commanding on this coaft, hath, dur- ing his command, afted in an arbitrary tyrant nic matiner, both to Europeans and natives on this coaft ', do hereby, in juftice to the deputa- tion of that gentleman, voluntarily certify, that we never heard of, or experienced^ any part of his charadter or behaviour but what was humane and good« tending to promote the Britifh inte- reft and trade in thefe parts. And farther, tbac he has, from tirhe to time, readily afliftcd us with all things each Or iny of us ftood in need of at cape Coaft Caftle, during his command there, to the utmoft of his power, as we fin" Q « ccrcly #< iC cc AC •C «c 4c «c «c "That the late company's governor, during ^^ the continuance of his authority and command V on thccpaft of Africa, did «vcry thing in his V .** power ( 43 ) •• power to promote the Britifli intercft and trad* ** there : and from time to time afliftcd in doing ** us fuch fervice as our occafions required. In ** witnefs whereof we fet our hands, ^c. t^c" We think it unneceflary to trouble the public with any further proofs relative to the condudt of the late royal African company and their officers, to (hew that they did every thing in their power to promote the trade of the Britifh fubjefts in Africa, as we Ihall rdervc them for a work that is in hand j therefore will only ftate fome fa^ls re- garding the African committee, their governors, and officers by them appointed to have the com- mand and management on the Gold Coad and Whydah in Africa^ for the public to form their judgment froni^ That by an adt of parliament, pafled in the 23d: year of the reign of his late majefty, the trade to Africa was intended to be made free and open to .tU his majefty's fubjeds, without diftindlion or preference, But contrary to the intentions of the faid a6l, that trade has been engroiTed and mono« polized hy the officers of the committee on the Gold Coaft and Whydah, by their entering into a confederacy or joint ftock, and intermixing the government fupplies with their own merchandize, and by that means aHotted themfelves fo as to command faid traffic. Thofe officers have many other great advantages over free merchants and traders, fuch as having a confiderable part of their private merchandize fent to them freight free, their extraordinary influence over the natives, by the command of the feveral caftles to depofit their effc(5ls in, falaries, main- tenance, European fervants, artificers, dodlors, caftle- flave.*, canoe -men, canoes, medicines, (lores and neceflaries of all forts, being un- ^er their management and dircftion. Befides, the G 2 prefents I I .(> 44 ) prcfents to princes, cabocccrs, and great men of the countries, being defrayed by the public, toge- ther with the faid benefits arifing from the govern- ment fupplies J and many other advantages which they have taken, whereby they acquired fuch a fuperiority over the free traders, as obliged the merchants of Briftol and Liverpool to apply by memorial in the year 1753, (taring therein the foregoing fa(5ks to the lords commiifioners of trade and plantation for redrefs, which will appear by faid memorial, fupported by the following affidavits. " Affidavit of William Brown, malter of the Briftol, fworn ^OJune, 1753, faith, that when he was laft in Africa carrying on trade, was in- formed by Brew, chief of Tantumquery, andWir- thers, chief of Winnebah, that they were engaged in partnerfhip in the flave trade with Melvil, Young, and the other officers at cape Coaft Caftlc.** *' That Melvil and others told deponent, they expcdled a (hip from Holland with a Dutch cargo, which (hip they had fomc time before fent to Jamaica with flaves." " That he was in company with Dacres, chief of Accra, who informed him Young was coming to turn him out of the fort, by reaibn he would not enter into partner(hip with Melvil and Young ; that Dacres declaimed he ihould have been glad to have continued his employ, but rather than be uneafy he would quit it, anc^ foon after did fo. That deponent could not purchafc from the chiefs of forts, (laves undei^ an ounce and half* or two ounces a head more than he gave for thofe of equal goodnefs to the Negro traders, occafioned by the trade being carried on by the chiefs of the forts." ** That deponent was informed by the Negroc9 ** at Annamaboa, if he wanted to trade under the «* forts, he muft take canoes and canoe-men ; for *^ the C( i( (C (( On the foregoing affidavits, and other alle- gations and fads, " the n:^'-chants of Briftol and ^ , ♦' Liverpool «( i( (t tt C( <( C( C( «c cc «( C( C( C( cc (C cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc (C (C cc C( cc ( 47 ') Liverpool prcfented a memorial to the lords of trade, fetting forth among other things, That an aft was pafiTed in the year 1 750, for making the trade to Africa free and open, for which end the management of the forts and al>i fairs were trufted to the care of nine perfons, a committee, as there fet forth-, that thefaid com- mittee had the power of appointing officers and fcrvants for managing their affairs in Africa, and difcharging them at pleafiire for not obey- ing their orders, or other mifdemeanors ; and they were to take care tha^ the orders given their fervants did not extend to public detri- ment, or the hurt of the free traders." ** That officers were appointed, and leave given to trade (but not with foreigners, except Portu- guefe, for gold and tobacco) fo that they be- came the regulators of the market. The com- mitte, by the ad, are annually to lay before the general meeting of the company of the cham- bers of London, all refolutions, orders and in- ftruftions given their fervants previous to fuch meciing, and copies to be fent to Briftol and Liverpool; but they have not fo done.'* " That the committee's chief agents, infteadof regarding the intereft of their conftituents, have afted oppofite theretc, as foon as in power. In- ftead of aflifting the free trader, they entered into a joint (lock copartnerlhip, and attempted a monopoly more formidable than any could have been at home, as they were on the fpot, and had the whole power.'* " That the merchants of Briftol had advice of the chief proceedings from their com- manders, which on their return they found too true; and that by the attempts of the chiefs to engrofs the trade, the prices of flaves were raifed I much bighcr rlian ever known. cc Alfo that the commanders I li V «( cc ( 48 ) ** commanders were denied what ftrangers wcfC •' always before aflifted with, viz. canoes, canoc- *' men, wood, water, (^c.** " That a memojial was laid before the com- •' mittee for their relief, but, to their great fur- prize, they found their complaints were treated as groundlefs furmizes, and unjuft afperfions of the charafter of their officers, arifing only from perfonal prejudice and party interelt •» a Ceeond and feveral repeated appli'Mtions were made, *• and the committee ai laft informed the mana- " nagers, that they had referred the matter to the " lords of trade." Accordingly their lordfliips heard the matters in difpute between the mer- chants of Briftol and Liverpool, and tlut of the committee. •* And were of opinion, that the officers and fervants employed by the committee^ ought not to be allowed to trade for Ne-^ groe-flaves further than the amount of the falaries allowed them by the com- " mittee •, and that fuch flavcs fliould be difpofed of for ivory, gold, bills of ex- change, or other proper returns to Eng-< land only." The committee paid no regard to their lordlhipS opinion, confcquently we conjefture, no regulation or orders has fince been given by them to their fer- vants; or if there has, the execution of fuch orders have not been enforced ; for it is a truth which cannot be contradicted, that governor Melvil to his deathy and the other officers of the committee, during his command, carried on the Negroe trade, and fcnt them from Africa to America for their own ac- cou'^'^s, without the leaft referve or reftraint-, zKa that ^overnor Senior, and the officers under his command, did the fame •, and that governor Bell, who commanded at cape Coaft Caftle, when the laft C( «c cc (( an and company, or K any ( 66 J any other rcfpe^lable merchants in the city of LoBr don, to fend out a fteward to fuperincend and take care of the improvehieut of fuch eftate j and that they were to take fecurity from faid fteward for the value of any monies or merchandize, 6?f. that he may be entrufted with, to pay the fervanis refiding thereupon, and other expences ; alfo charges of building and repairs. Is it to be fuppofed faid gentlemen, notwithftanding he had the greateft faith in, and opinion of the integrity and honefty of fai4 merchant9, would be fatisfied with their giving him ^n account only of their having fentfucli fteward> merchandize, ftores and provilions to his eftate, without an account from the fteward, properly vouched, of the application thereof in Atrica? Surely no ! then tf a private perfon thinks it nc- ce0ary to have fuch an authenticated account, we fubmi^ it to the judgment of our readers to deter- ii)ine, whether they think it reafonabje the public ihould cxpp'St the fame or not. We, for our own parts, are inclined to believe, tkat people intrufted with the application of public monies, at fo great %drftancc as Africa, when they can make fuch ^ifbTnenfe advantage of jt as the c^ommitte^s officeri ' can, will be induced to embrace the opportunity, however difsdvantageous it may be to their coun- try, when they areWtisfied little care wiH be taken how they account for the fame. We fhail conclude this pamphlet, with inlcrt-* 5nga copy of a petition, figned by the planters of the ifland of Barbadoes, in the year 1710. The rear fons and obfervations contained therein, in our humble opinion, fully point op., that they fore- faw what has in efFe<5t fince happened; therefore we beg leave to fubmit it to our readers tp fprni their oS^n judgment upon. To ( 6; ) »H To th^ queen's mod excellent majcfty, The humble petition of feveral planters and others; inhabicanu of your majefty's illand of Barb*- does. •c <( i( >i l« (C f« c« «I f» (( iC «( it (( 4t (( cc iC ti cc Sheweth, . ' •* That the tender care and regard your majefty hath conftantly had of all your fubjedls, en- courages your petitioners, who are deeply con- cerned in the trade to Africa. The conftant fupply of Negroes at moderate prices, being the chief fupport of this colony *, whereby we can only be enabled to preferve the ftaple of fugar, and other commodities, and to afford them in greater quantities, and cheaper than othernations; mod humbly beg leave to lay before your majefty, that for many years, while the royal African company had the folc management of that trade, this idai^d was duly fupplied with a fufHcienc number of Negroes at moderate prices, from lo/. to 20/. per head the higheft, which was a very great encouragement; and enabled us greatly to improve the manufacture of this idand. But for feveral years paft, fince the trade has been laid open, the number of Negroes im- ported by the royal African company., and fe- paratc traders together, have not been fufficient to fupply this ifliand ; and thofe which have been imported, have beeri fold at extravagant prices, from 20/. to 40/. per head, efpecially thofe which arc* tolerably good j which your petitioners conceive to have been occafioned by the diffe- rent interefts of thefcparate traders, each bidding upon the Oiber j of which the natives upon the " coalt ( 68 ) *^ coaft taking advantage, have raifed the price of* " their own commodities, and funk the price of *• thofc of Great Britain, and this ifland ; which **• is an unfpeakable damage, and difcouragement ♦* to your petitioners, tends to the ruin of this " trade, the lefTening your majefty*s revenue, and " the navigation of Great Britain." ** Therefore your petitioners humbly pray, *' that the Britifh interell on the coaft of Africa may be preierved •, and the trade put upon fuch a foot, that a fufficient number of Negroes may be had upon the coaft, on moderate terms', and your petitioners fupplied at reafonable ratei here. (( (C (( t( tc 4( " And your petitioners, as in duty bound, fhall » ever pray Barbadocs, Aug. I, 1710. •* Robert Vaughart, ** Thomas Carney, ^f. ^c. ^c*** FINIS. S R R J