Palm Oil, so useful in the manufacture of soap, might be obtained in unlimited quantity, and if the duty upon it were sufficiently reduced, it would go far as a substitute for tallow.

Indigo grows wild in almost every part of the African coast; there is also another plant used by the natives as a blue dye, which appears to impart a more indelible colour; these if properly manufactured, might prove a substitute for that which is brought from the East Indies, under the disadvantages of a voyage more than thrice as long as that from Africa.

Rice forms the principal food of the Africans, and might doubtless become an article of export for the supply of the West Indies and Europe; and as the inferiority of the African rice is supposed to be chiefly owing to a defect in the manner of separating its husk, the model of a mill properly adapted for that purpose has been sent out.

Coffee, supposed of a kind not inferior to the Mocha, grows wild on the mountains of Sierra Leone. Sugar-cane grows luxuriantly in Africa.

Malaguetta pepper, used by the natives in seasoning their food, and which is also in considerable demand in this country, is found wild in great abundance on the windward

coast.

A variety of other spices including the Cayenne, ginger, cubebs, cardamums, species of nutmeg and cinnamon, are found in Africa, and might be cultivated with advantage.

Castor oil, musk, and various other drugs might also be brought thence, together with the Indian arrow-root, tapioca and sago.

Tobacco is cultivated on a small scale in various parts of Africa, and might, if it were desirable, be cultivated still more extensively.

Cotton might be cultivated to any extent, in Africa, and the Institution has at considerable expense, sent seed of the most approved kind, to Sierra Leone and other parts, as well as machines to bring it into a state fit for this market.

In the month of June 1808, Mr. Loutherbourgh presented to the Board of Directors, through his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, a sample of a species of hemp, that had been manufactured from the leaves of a particular kind of palm tree, abounding in the river Sierra Leone and its neighbourhood; some cord made from it has been recently tried, and it is found stronger than common hemp, in the proportion of five to four, and not more deteriorated than it, by the process of

tarring; the Directors have ordered a ton of it to be sent over, that experiments may be made on a larger scale; they havealso forwarded the necessary machinery to hackle and clean the hemp. The fibres of the plantane tree, which is found in vast quantity in Africa, make a very strong rope.

The Institution is informed by a gentleman of Liverpool, that the bark of the mangrove tree may be made a useful substitute for oak bark in the tanning of leather. The high price of this article in England, renders this communication of consequence; the governor of Sierra Leone, who was written to on the subject, reports in a letter dated March 6, 1809, that an experiment had been made on the mangrove bark in the colony, by one of the Nova Scotians, who declares he never saw bark like it (meaning so good) in America.

Castor oil: the nut which produces this useful medicine is found in great abundance on the western coast of Africa, and the Directors have sent out a suitable apparatus to express the oil.

Silk is an article which might doubtless be raised in considerable quantity in Africa; the consumption in this country is very great, as well as the difficulty of procuring it in the present state of the continent. The Directors with a view to this object have sent a considerable number of white mulberry trees, the favourite food of the insect, to Sierra Leone, Goree, and Senegal, and we have the pleasure to hear they have taken root, and are in a very flourishing state at all these places. Silk worms eggs inclosed in small glass bottles, according to the directions of Andrew Wright, of Paisley, have also been forwarded, and we are in daily expectation of hearing of their

arrival.

The Directors, through their active and indefatigable secretary, Z. Macaulay, have forwarded to Africa many useful plants, most of which have succeeded; also a variety of seeds with which Dr. Roxburgh, of Calcutta, has obligingly furnished the Institution, and among others the following:

Crotalaria juncea, or salsette hemp, sunn of the Bengalese, whose fibres yield a hemp not inferior to the best Russian. Corchorus capsularis, paat or jute of the Bengalese. Melaleuca leucardendron, or the cajaputta oil tree. Tectonia grandis, the justly famed timber called teak. Dalbergia sissoo: sissoo is the Hindoo name of this quick growing, most beautiful, and useful timber tree, the wood of which is much used in the marine yard for furniture, &c. &c.

Terminalia catappa, and procera; two beautiful and highly useful timber trees; the kernels of their nuts are as good as filberts.

Aleurites triloba, a large tree: the kernels of the nuts yield a very pure oil.

Phascolus lunatus, Dolichos tetragonolobus and gladiatus, Carpopogon niveum. These four are all very excellent substitutes for kidney and Windsor beans.

The statement just given of the natural products of the country, will shew that there are capabilities in Africa which only require cultivation: to encourage exertions toward this point, the Institution has offered premiums of fifty guineas each, to such persons as should first import in this country the largest quantity of the following productions, the growth of Africa.

1. Cotton wool, not less than a ton.

2. Manufactured indigo, not less than one hundred weight. 3. White rice, not less than ten tons; and a like premium for the cultivation of coffee.

The only premium which has yet been adjudged is that for the importation of cotton. A piece of plate, of the value of fifty guineas, has been given to Messrs. Andersons, of Philpot Lane, for having imported upwards of 10,000/b. weight of cotton, the growth of the Island of Tasso, in the river Sierra Leone; it was of a good quality, and sold for 2s. 8d. per pound. It would have sold at a higher price, had it been properly gathered and cleaned. A small quantity of cotton, sent home by the Governor of Sierra Leone, though defective in the same respects, sold for 2s. 10d. per pound. Messrs. Andersons have greatly enlarged their cotton plantations in the river Sierra Leone.

But however excellent their exertions may be as collateral means of advancing the main object, they can only be considered as of secondary importance: in vain would you point out to the African, sources of emolument, if you had not previously taken pains to instruct him in the nature of private rights, and what is due from man to man: it is therefore to be wished, that the managers of an Institution capable of doing so much good, would proceed more directly to their point, by endeavouring to find out persons whose characters are perfectly unexceptionable, who are acquainted with some of the useful arts, such as blacksmiths, carpenters and agriculturists; and who, for the sake of so good a cause, would submit to some

privations, and exert their skill and talents for the benefit of Africa.

If such people were settled among the natives in different districts, under the protection of the British Government, or even of native chiefs, they might, by example, convince them of the benefit to be derived from a civilized life; and such an attempt, though necessarily attended with great expense, would most certainly be supported by a British public.

As the immoderate use of spirituous liquors has been equally the bane of barbarous and civilized states, too much attention cannot be directed towards the discouragement of this practice wherever the Society may have any influence; it has been found one of the principal impediments to the civilization of the Indians of North America, and when once this has been removed, the work has gone on successfully.

The settlement at Sierra Leone, which reckons 2,500 inhabitants, might be rendered a most important station for a school, if the efficacious plan of Lancaster was adopted; by this method 4 or 500 children of the natives, or even 1000, if they could be procured, might be taught by one master, at the charge of not more than 300l. or 400l. per annum : the benefit of these measures would be incalculable, and the reports of their progress from time to time, doubtless of such a description, as to secure any funds that might be required for its accomplishment. Indeed the necessity of this measure is pointed out by a gentleman on the spot, Mr. H. Meredith, who in a letter to the secretary, dated from Cape Coast Castle, stating the means he would recommend for improving the condition of Africa, distinctly specifies schools, which, he remarks, should convey a knowledge of the elementary branches of learning, as reading, writing and accounts, and should combine with this, instruction in agriculture and other useful arts; he likewise recommends the introduction of European implements of husbandry in place of the hoe and

bill.

"I am pretty well convinced," he adds, "that little can be accomplished without the benefit of schools, which must be on an extensive plan. The children of the most distinguished and respectable families are to be chosen for instruction, in preference to those of less note; as, by their influence and authority, when they come of age, the designs of the Institution would be materially extended. The kings of Apollonia, Dahomy, and Asiantee would willingly send one or two of their children; and the Cabouers, and different

persons of respectability would follow the same plan. Indeed, every person of consequence would cheerfully submit to having his child separated from him, for the purpose of receiving knowledge that would put him on a footing with a white."

Our limits will not at present permit us to enter much further into this subject; but we purpose to report upon it from time to time as circumstances may occur, and shall now notice the exertions of the friends of humanity in counteracting the endeavours of unprincipled men to exercise oppression, in defiance of the laws and habits of our country.

Some time about the month of September 1809, Mr. Roscoe was informed that nine black men were confined in the Borough gaol of Liverpool for debt; and on further enquiry, he learned that they had been arrested by the master of a Portuguese vessel from the Brazils, then in the port, for the purpose, as was supposed, of keeping them in safe custody, until his ship should be ready for sea. As it appeared clearly that in such a case no debt could exist, Mr. Roscoe engaged two friends to put in bail for the defendants; but before an order was obtained for their discharge, the master and his agents being aware of these proceedings, surrounded the gaol with a great number of Portuguese seamen, and other persons, armed for the purpose of seizing the prisoners; and the attorney for the master sent an order to the gaoler to discharge them.

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The black men, however, were apprized of their danger their fellow prisoners declared they should not be taken away by force; and the keeper of the gaol, with a spirit of humanity which does him the highest credit, informed them, that although they were at liberty to leave the prison, they might stay as long as they pleased; the ruffians were therefore obliged to depart without their prey, and the next day Mr. Roscoe attended a meeting of the magistrates and recorder, when an enquiry took place into these proceedings; and the agents, and the master having undertaken, on his not being prosecuted, that the men should be set at liberty, and that he should pay all the costs and relinquish further proceedings, they were immediately released from their confinement. The magistrates shewed a proper indignation at this abuse of the process of their court: but it appearing that the Portuguese captain could not speak English, and that he had been induced to adopt these measures by the advice of others; and it also appearing that these negroes were considered of great value, having been bred to the sea, and one of them being the