. ** AlHast winter I exerted my ntmost efforts to form a
Coaqiany of Merchoiits, undeir the title af the Sic Greorge's
Bay Company, to carry 6n an'teinest and lmnoand»le trade ^
with Afriioa, in carder te disconrage ima sapersede the
Aeteslable traifie in Sfefeir* This Gtfmpany now consist
|L b£one.hnndffed membecs, who wouU bare sent you some
fdief M^ before this time, if they could bave ebtaiped H
Bbyal CUmrter of ioeorporatiQ]!|^o secnre tbj^ s^arate
luroperty of the several MembeVfrom any daims oppn
them, beyond the amoiiht of their respective subscriptions
to the joinl^ stock of the Company* Bat the OTsired .
V'
* Neither of these letters has beea found among Mr. Sharp'^ -
papers. , ^*^
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f^ ISi MEMOIRS OF OUANVILLE SHARP* [III.
Cbarf^ M Dot y^jpfbtaiQid, aa^fcHrefore the Conpaay
eannot enter into any soch joiAexpenaes m miglit be
sufficient to procure yoor re-establisbment; bot bave
merely ordered a small temporary relief to be sent by the
Lapwing, entmsted to the care of the ^son appointed
to be their chief fiiotor, in case a Chapyr for a trading
Company should at last be obtained : and he is not
powered to giv€ you the clothing and a|»isious now
out, but merely to supply them gradcnpy, in return
such labour and assistance as yon may be aUe to afford
him, or for such African goods or prodfuce as you may
happen to have by you, of equal value in exchange* ">
** He will endeavour to treat with King Naimbanna,!
and King Jammy, and the other Chiefs, for a restoration
6f your late settlement on the Mountains of Sierra Leotie,
whictw having been twice purchased of them for the Kimr^
of EngiQnd, i» now undoubtedly become English territory*^^
so that if they delay to restore it, and should presume to
deny the fulfilling: the covenants they have signed (in-*
dnding their promises of being friendly to the ^ettlefsX
they will draw upon themselves a very severe retaliation
^ of vengeance fntei the Ki^ of England, as soon as any
of the ships or War can be snared from their present
destination. But J hope they^'mll be just and wise, and
prevent a war against them, by restoring the pqmhased .^
land as an act of copmon justice and right, remePbering
that the ij^ention of ij^dng that scidement was rso/Zy
with a view to promot^me improvement and weUare of
the natives of Africa, as well as for your good and ours ;
^ — it Deing thought the best mode of establisbltig an honest
^Pand honourable tradeiin the natural productions of the soil
of Africa, in return for good English manufactures, and
^ instead of thejMoody and wicked trade in tl|eir brethren
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10.] ^4^^ IBOKE. 153
tiie ISeffto SfaiTes ; for that is an udi^j6|b1 cfiibe» which;
in time» if contimiedy irill snrclj draiMli|f[D the vengeance
of God on themselves and all the nations that deal with
them^ thi^Jt abominable traffic ; and perhaps they them-
8elvjflpiim;last be conquered^ and sent away naked into
slavflF in t^taliation for the mnltHraftes of poor madb
Aat they have wickedly sold to the English^ Datch, and
French slave-dg^rs.
** They shoqj^dso be reminded, that one of the first,
promoters of the New Settlement was also Ihe first pro- ^^
meter of the freedom of Africans in England, and has W^
spent large sums of money to maintain the natural rights
of Black men, on 1^^ first coiiiji^ .over from Africa, as
well as from the West Indies ; so^ihat no Negro or Black
man can now be claimed as a slave, in England, or
Scotland, or Ireland. Therefore that sameyWend to Slacks
thinks he has some right to' claim their partianlar friend-
ship ; and that King Naimbanna, and King JSupmyy and
thfipther African Chiefs, as being fhemselvea-^lack men»
will faxoiijpiind promote hb endeavours to establish the
laws of freedom and natural rigAan Africa, agreeably to
the regulations of the plan inten(||pto ha^Si^ been observed
in the New Settlement, as such natural justicQ^U be the
most effectual means of promoting their' owi^ happinesii
and welfare.*' , â– v
The followiDg contains many similar sentiments,
more accurately and cautiously expressed, probably
also with better hopes, as the Charter was now on
the eve of being granted to the Sierra Leone Com-
pany. — **
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154 H£HOIES OF GEA^^KE SHARP. [][II»
"W^
V» tie worthy Mff^h SttiUtB^ lai$ IiMBHcanU ^iU
Territory p^atHued iy th$ King of Great Britam^
im SUrra Leone, caihd the Fromnce ofFreedoln.
^ DesdeBhttR Btreety X^ndoBy '
" Dear Friends^ . «d jMB»yj^i7ji|L
'*^e seT^xal adSounts I xeceived last year |lg|g^<>wr
m^fortimes |;aTe mb most sincere ooacem; and muck
,» more so, because it was not in my power^.as an indmdud,
to send jon any immediate «Mdstancei» I^iiug already sank
abo^e i400L of my awn private foxiv^e in eadeaYounng
to promote year welfare, part^ vk sending out settlers and
farther assistant by the Myra hrig in 1788, and partly
in assistiag. poor People of Colour lieiei^hp are desirous of
going to the setUement, and in supporting seyend setlieis
returned from thence^ whi<^ heavy isxpenseshay^l swalr
lowed up att that I could possifcly. spare. Itfy hop^
therefore, of promotiog jour weliare must now rest in th^
St* Georgn Bay Compamy^-'^ nmnbec uf ffierobaiits o^d
IpentlemeflT. of the £rst fortune and credit in London^^lfe
have associated to carry on an h4m(mrMe^;^a^ iRth
Africa, in such articl^Mte^Iy as are the natural produce of
^e soU, raised or pr<Bredby AB;boiiest itt4iBptry of tbf
inhabitant that the Natives may no longer he tempted (0
oppress sdPl enslave ^ach other.
** The CompaiJy have appointed Mr. Alexander Fal(Xm*
bridge, theMBtf*er of this letter, to be their chief agent;
and his brfiCer, Mr% William Falconbridge» to be his
assistant. They are strictly enjoined to have no concern
whatever in the Slave Trade; to which indeed they are
very far from having the least inclination, being both of
^ttm sincere friends to the People of Colour, and to the
nimiral and equal rights of men, and lovers also of justice,
peace, and qniet ; so that you may safely confide in their
advfce : allld be assured that they will do the best in their
P
t
tr
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tbat they smj. restore the Jfcid toAtcA fAey (i&«o/4n^^oU i
to the King of Great BrittHn and his heire for svgr.
' *^ The present iateqtioB of tlie British Oovemniwt ts^ ;
to iorest the ^aeral proiiexty of flie. King's lead mihe.
care of the St George's Bay Company, «1iet .it may to
trotter protected: &r the fntore; and thor Company will
grant free lots Hf land to all tfae'Settlen who will ^ngilg)a»
to support fie^ British GoTeronfent aocordiag to t|«i
fbrttep BegtlImons»-^pr(Wided they will promise not to
tvMe with any other mecohants tton the agents of the
Company, who will either purchase their produce at the*
market price of the country, or permit them to ship it
for England on board the Company's vessels, at a reason-
Ale idlowanee for freight and the expenses of;||Mkitain*
ihg the |ilc|tory; and the£lompany will snpply tfflK wiCk
British g^ods at a moderate profit*
" The Settlers mast also resolve to keep perfect order,
peace, and quiet, among themselves, by maintaining a
constant g^ard night and day, by rotation of all the males
above sixteen years of age ; that all offenders against the
peace may be immediately seized and imprisoned, and
tried by a jnry of the Settlers at the next Court : and
Coorcs mast be freqnently held for the maintenance of
jnstiee; for I have received grievous complaints from
several individuals among you, concerning the want of due
order and justice, and you must attribute the loss of the
settlement, in great measure, to that neglect of order and
d, wmch if j
tained, and had employed yourselves iS3ustrious1y in
forming proper earth-works or trenches round your town,
the Natives would not have dared to meddlQ:widi y^u.
iTour own experience will now sufficiently convinoe you^of
the necessity of joining heartily with Mr. FaIeonbri<i^>
justice, and military discipline, wmch if flP ^^^ main*
iSuus
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^ MEMOIRS OF GBANVIL^^ARP. [IIL
^ in fon^ig such works of defence^ he shall think
neeesjl^for the safety of tile settlement, in case he shall
be able to recover the land; and, of course, he will-
pay yon wages, according to the value of labour in that
oonntvy for whatever time you are employed in the service
of the Company.
^* Sincerely wishing you success, and that the blessing
of God may attend every honest exertion of vpur industry,
(of which I cannot doubt, provided you wUBincerely en^
deavour to maintain his laws of justice anorlghteousness^
among you,) I remain your constant friend and humUe
servant, ,.
" GRANVILLB SHARP.
TIwM^egoiiig documents have fully shewn the
Tirtuousendeiivour of a Chrietian to establish and
uphold a state of entire social freedom and justice.
Hourly observation of the world forbids us to
^ wonder that his pure views found insuperable
^ obstacles in the adverse interests amidst which he
attempted to establish it, as well as in the vices and
errors of the very men for whose sake the experiment
was made. With men of whatsoever description^
"* casually selected from their kind, hopes of such a
^. nature must have proved equally feUacious; more
especially while the experiment was to be supported
by the pow^ only^||f. a single hand. Granville,
* vigilant an A^esolute, maintained the guard of his
epterprise to the last moment of possible safety, and
then subpiitted with humility to his defeat, con-«
vinced that he had aimed at an acbievemeot beyond
the grasp of mortality.
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10.] SIERRA L£ON£« 157
His enthusiasm differed in this point from the
feverish fervoar which too often assumes its name.
His hopes were frequently eccentric, his eajyressions
of them nearly as much so : his conduct was that of
temper, of prudence, of rational hope, and diligent
precaution. But although his strong mind perceived
the necessity of having recourse to the accessory
strength of the Company, which was now formed
and incorporated^ by an Act of Parliament, he roust
have been more or less than man not to have re^
gretted the demolition of that ideal fabric of bap*
piness, which he had wished to raise for an afflicted
portion of mankind. The writer of these Memoirs
has witnessed the struggle of his mind on this oc-
casion : yet his memoranda contain no remarks of
this nature ; and once only on paper such remarks
appear to have escaped the fence of his piety and
coarage, in a letter to a friend whose name is not
mentioned; and even then the communication
appears less to have been voluntary, than extorted
by feelings of personal regard, and an anxious con-
cern for the health of the friend to whom he writes.
^* Sir, ^ Lesdenhall Street, Ijondon, ftth October, 1701.
** Dr. Lettsom haying informed me that you have again
expressed a desire to receive from me some accounts
respectPI the new settlement on the coast of Africa, for
the sake 9f the poor free Blacks in America, it is neces-
sary for me to acquaint you that I tong ago» jon your first
requisition^ -wrote . out for yon a very fall account of it,
whieh probably never reached your hands* Having
'aflberwards reoeived similar applications from John Jay,
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158 BiEMOIRS OF 6RAlfVILL£ SHARP. [Ill-
Esq.^ in behalf of theBbcb at New Yorli, and frimi the
Rev, Mr. Hopkins, in behatf of th^ Blacks at Rhode
Island. I sent to both these gentlemen copies of what I
had written for you, and several copies also of the printed
Regulations ; so that the free Blacks of America have
not wanted information on the subject : but I suppose the
accounts they have since heard of the many disadvantages
that the poor Settlers have laboured under for want of
pecuniarj assistance, and their subsequent misfortunes,
may probably have prevented any fnr(|^er application from
these gentlemen : and the inducettients to go thither are
still further curtailed (at least I apprehend they will be
deemed so in your esteem) by the new Act of Parliament
in favoor of the Sierra Leone Company ; because the
community of settlers, though they are now restored to
their actual possessions in the settlement, are no longer
proprietors of the whole district as before, as the land
has been granted, since thej were driven out, to the
SiBtra Leone Company ; so that they can no longer enjpy
the privileges of granting land by the flree vote of their
own Common Council, as before, nor the benefits of their
former Agrarian Law, nor the choice of their own Go-
vernor and other officers, nor any other circumstances of
perfect freedom proposed in the Regulations: all these
privileges are now submitted to the appointment and
controul of the Company, and no settler can trade inde-
pendently of it.
^' I am very sure that such restraints cannot accord with
your ideas of perfect liberty and justice* Bnt )(Vuld not
prevent this humiliating change: the settleipent most
have remained desolate, if I had not thus far submitted
to the opinions of the associated sab|gribers. Howevev,
all slavery, and the oppression of involuntary labour* ttca
absolutely prohibited, iv|d the li^w% of Eafl^pid axe to be
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id,3
MBMIA tfiONE.
1£9
established. I hope to preTail on the Comtmny to biod
themselyes t^ reciprocal conditions in trade';' to famish
goods at certain fixed profits to all Settlers equall j^ without
respect of persons, aiid to purchase their pcoduce on
equal terms ; in order to inake amends for the monopoly,
and to make it their interest to maintain the mutual terms
iliTioIate*
'* Tor yonrsdf I mentioQ these very, disagreeable eir*
comstaiieea -vith less chagrio. and relaqtaape thm I ^oi^Mfi^
do ft akiybpdy dse, because I think they must deter yon
fropi all thoiigkts of remoyiog. to Africa, . which would be
attended, with a oonsiderable risk oA^ealtby as well to
yourself as to your amiable and accomplished partner; so
that your removal, under the present circumstances, would
not be justifiable."
&c« Sec.
IT
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4
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160 MEMOIRS OF GEANVIILE SHARP. [IIL
CHAP. XI.
The accomplishment of the Charter put a close to
the laborious and unprecedented efforts of an indi-
M^ublI, during foUr years, to support an undertakii^
of such extraordinary magnitude ; and although that
individual may naturally be supposed to have re*
mained the. mosd^Hvarmly attached of any to an
enterprise of which he was the source, he thence-
^ ' forward only shared in exertions, of the most laud-
able and arduous nature, with men, whose devoted-
ness to a clause which they conceived to be interesting
tQ humanity and important to religion, through an
unremitting coorse of personal attention, fatigue, and
risk, may be thought to merit precedence even in
the high distinction so long possessed by England
for her virtuous philanthropy.
During the first period of the establishment of the
Sierra Leone Company, appear the following : —
MS. — ' May 3. Committee of Sierra Leone Com-
* pany.
/ f July 13. At twelve o'clock at the London
* Tavern : chosen Director, with twelve more of the
* Sierra Leone Company.
^ * July 14. Committee of Directors at Mr. Wil-
' liams's."
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11.] NAIMBANNA, KING OF ROBANNA. 161
In the election of the Company's officers, the
compliment, so often paid to Mr. Sharp on other
occasions, of placing him in the chair, was here
omitted, as the philanthropic object of the settle-
ment had by many been deemed so highly visionary,
that it was judged advisable to elect a chairman
whose ordinary connections with concerns of more
acknowledged substantial foundation might se^m to
authorise the expectation of success. The person
chosen was the late Henry Thornton, Esq.
But although Granville stood thus mingled with
the general body, on an equal footing with all, and
with the common title only of Director, a superior
respect, attached to his name, distinguished him
among the colonists of Africa. An instance of the
influence of character will be found in the following
lapecdotes. —
Naimbannai the sovereign chief of Sierra Leope,
was of a disposition little corresppndent to the
opinion, which prejudice had impressed on Euro-
peans, of African manners and tempers. He was
peaceable and benevolent; desirous of knowledge,
and of affording protection to all whp were capable
of imparting it. The first Settlers at Granville-town
opened to his view new prospects of improvement.
Among the Negroes who had returned to Sierra
Leone, was Elliot, his secretary, who, while in
England, had learned to read and write our language,
through the customary kindness of Mr. Sharp; and
bis proficiency in lexers excited ia Naimbantia a
VOL. II. M
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162 MEMOIRS OF GRANVILLE SHARP. [III.
great desire of obtaining the advantages of an
European education for his sons. It has been seen,
by Elliot's letter to Mr. Sharp, that Naimbanna
offered to appoint a school, to be placed under his
superintendence ; and this offer being declined, the
King sent one of his sons to France for instruction,
and another was placed under a Mandingo teacher,
a Mahometan : the eldest son, John Frederick,
having resolved to make his way to England for the
same purpose, was on the point of concluding an
agreement with the master of a slave-vessel for his
free passage thither, when the Company's agent,
Mr. Falconbridge, arrived at Sierra Leone. Nairn*
banna, having witnessed that officer*s upright and
respectable conduct during his stay in the settlement
readily consented to his son's desire of embarking in
the Company's ship on her sailing for England, in
spite 6f the strongest remonstrances from the neigh-
bouring Chiefs.
He had made the fullest inquiries into the details
of the establishment at Sierra Leone, and was sen-
sibly affected on learning its real motive. The
original author and promoter of it appeared to him
an object of veneration ;. and when he consigned his
son to the bands of Mr. Falconbridgey he charged
him at the same time with a letter addressed to
Granville Sharp^ entreating him that he would
in all things direct the education of the young
prince.
The following extracts from his letter will show
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11.] NAIMBANNA's LETTER. 163
the amicable and generous sentiments of an African
sovereign.
** It has been told, that these people, the free Settlers
from England, would io time drive me by force of arms
back in the country, aad take my post from me. I have
received several accounts, from factories and captains of
ships, against the settlement, which I took no notice of,
as I conceived it was^ in my opinion, spite or envy that
they had against their living in this country ; bat have
served the Settlers in any little request they asked of me,
and have endeavoured to keep peace between them and
my people, and also among themselves, by settling a
great many disquiets between them. It was pleasure to
dp it, as I thought they would become useful to us all in
this country, by teaching us things we do not know ; and
common reason must tell, that the most ignorant people
in the world would be glad to see their country made good»
if they had idea how it might be done.
" And again, I must let you know, that, if there were
no other reason for my wishing for the welfare of the
settlement, I should do it, that there might be a stop put
to the horrid depredations, that are so often committed in
this country by all nations that come here to trade. There
are three distant relations of mine now in the West Indies,
who were carried away by one Captain Cox, captain of a
Danish ship ; their names as follows— -Corpro, Banna, and
Morbour. These were taken out of my river Sierra
Leona. I know not how to get them back. I never hurt
or deprived any person of their right or property, or with-
held from them what is their due ; so I only let you know
6f these lads, that there will be an account taken of them
one day or another.
*' As to the* Settlers, I could only wish that you will
MS
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164 MEMOIRS OF GUANVILLE SHARP. [III.
send me over oue worthy of taking the care and command
of the place ; then you need not be afraid of their prosper-
ing in this country. Mr. Falconbridge, during his time
out here, I approved much. I ever was partial to the
people of Great Britain, for which cause I have put up
with a great deal of insults from them, more than I should
from any other country.
'* My son, 1 hope, you will take care of, and let him
have his own way in nothing but what you think right
yourself." ♦
Mr. Falconbridge arrived in England with his
charge on the 22d of September 1791 ; and the
Directors, moved by the friendly disposition of
Naimbanna, adopted immediate measures for pro-
curing for his son those advantages of which he justly
entertained ^ hopes from our country. Mr. Sharp's
answer will show with what feelings of mind Naim-
banna's proposal was received by himself, and with
what consequences it was attended.
To King Naimbanna, King of Rohanna.
** Sir, " November 11, 1T91.
" The extraordinary proof you have been pleased to
give of your good opinion and confidence in me, by
entrusting your son, by Mr. Falconbridge, to my charge,
demands my best endeavours to fulfil your good intentions
as amply as possible ; and, even if I had not before thought
myself under great obligations to you for your kind and
very friendly conduct toward the poor Black Settlers at
Sierra Leone, whose interest I have had so much at hearty
* Reports of the Sierra Leone Company.
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11.] NAIMBANNA. 166
and who have repeatedly (both in letters to me, and many
by word of mouth) acknowledged your conthiQed favour
and condescending behaviour toward them, in conversing
with them sometimes like a father. — I say, even without
all these incitements to a grateful return on my part toward
your son, yet his own natural good disposition, modesty,
behavii(ur, and great diligence and application to learning,
would alone be sufficient to ensure my esteem and regard
for him.
** On hb first arrival in London, Henry Thornton, Esq.
the Chairman, or chief presiding Director, of the Sierra
Leone Company of Merchants, very kindly invited him to
his house ; and, as Mr. Thornton is a gentleman not less
distinguished by his virtue and amiable qualities, than by
his ample fortune and rank in life, I thought myself happy
that, your ^on should see so good an example.
'' Mr. Thornton, and the rest of the Directors of the
Sierra Leone Company, have undertaken the chai^ of
paying a proper tutor for the education of your son. Mr*
Thornton recommended the Rev. Mr. Gambler, of ,
in Kent, about forty miles from London, to be entrusted
with the charge ; but before I consented to entrust your son
to his care, I received a very strong testimony of his good
character from two English Bishops, not less eminent for
their learning, piety, and diligence, than for their high
station in the Church of England.
'' I shall deliver to Mr. Falconbridge a letter from
the Consul-General of the Danish Nation, residing in
London, ta the Governor-General of the Danish Factory
on the African coast, instructing him to make particular
inquiries after your three relations, who were stolen,
and carried away by a Danish ship. And I purpose to
write to you more fully on the subject of the Slave Trade
by the next ship.
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166 MEMOIRS OF GRANVILLE SHARP. [IIL
** I remain, vith great respect and esteem for your
worthy cbaractev, your humble servant,
" G. S."
The promised letter to King Naimbanna was
afterwards sent to Sierra Leone.
Mr. Sharp's MS. Notes contain little mention of
the young Naiaibanna, except the frequent record-
ing of his name (as in the case of Omai) at different
dates, by which he appears to have been diligent
in his attendance on him.
This youth was just twenty-nine years of age;
and, some time after his arrival, was baptized by the
name of Henry Granville^ Mr. Thornton and Mr.
Sharp being his sponsors. The account given of
him by two clergymen, who successively super-
inteaded his education, is such as demonstrates a
disposition every way worthy of cultivation *. In