The Sun.
London, England, 1821-02-21 00:00:00

AFRICAN COMPANY.

Mr. GOULBURNrose to move. for leave to bring
in a Bill for abolishing the African Company.
It was not meant by this measure to bring any
charg3 against the Gentlemen forming that Corn-
par:y.. .1t did not originate iu any feeling that
they had misapplied the means confided to their
care, but from various reasons it appeared de-
sirable that. the business heretofore managed by
them should be transferred to the Colonial De-
parlirsent. He movefl for leave to bring in a Bill
to-Lbolisb the African Company, and trausfer'to
,his Majesty ali the possessions and forts hereto-
fere -vested in them.

Mr. MARRY.A.I'T said, they had lately heard
much of the injustice of considering those guilty
who had not been tried, but in the present case
the General Court of the African Company was
treated as guilty after a trial, and after a most ho-
ne,drable trial, before a Committee. of that House
in 1817. In that year a Committee, after a most
laborious inquiry, had recommended that the
Company should still be continued, and he
could .wish to know what had since transpired,
to induce Ministets to take a course direct-
ly opposed, to that decision. He knew that a
report had since been made by a gallant
OtFacer (Sir G. Collier) in which they were sloe),
ken of in the highest terms. He also knew that
they had sent an expedition to the interior
of Africa which had completely succeeded, and
established a correspondence with the King of
.Ashantee, from which they were likely to obtain
more correct -information reSpecting the interior
of Africa than had ever been obtained before.—
This had been aCcornplished at a very small ex-
pealfe, while all the xpensive expeditions sent
vat from Sierra Leone had failed. He was at a
Joss to know- on what data this Measure Was
grounded. 'Unless some new facts had transpired
1817, unfavourable to the Company, he
coa;d not see the wisdom; of removing them from
the situations which they had filled with equal
credit -to themselves (as was in fact admitted by
the Hon. Gentleman Ilimself) and advantage to
the Country.
• Mr. GoanoN had been a Member of the two
Committees which inquired into the affairs of the
African Company. They had decided for continu-
ing the sovereignty (so. he might call it) in the
bands of the Company, .merely because they had
bait a choice of difficulties. When. it was con-
tended that taking away their power was in ef-
fect a sarraaan ou-the country, it ought to be re-
membered that the Company was originally estate
-Wished to encourage the Slave Trale; so when
that was abolished, it might reasonably be ex-
.pected that the Company would be abolished
also. He believed advances to
.the amount of
30,0001. had been made to the African Com-
pany.; A saving of expeusa might now be effect-
ed. The salaries of 1001. to each of 'the Mem-
bers, .and 3001. to the Secretary of the' Company
might be rediqed2 wad the business could as well.

be performed by the Colonial Department. He
would call the attention of the Honourable Mem-
ber (Mr. Marryatt) and of the House to a pas-
sage in the Report of the Committee, which
recommended the keeping up of the African
Company and its establishment, upon the ground
of expected advantages which might arise from
their commercial and geographical discoveries.
Now he certainly thought it a vain hope, that
any advantages which might be gained upon that
station, in a commercial point of view, should be
equal to the expense at which the Company was
maintained. With respect to the fears, that the
present Bill was likely to be a dangerous increase
to the power of the Crown, howevel jealous he
might be of the extension of that power, yet he
could not see how Court patronage could be much
benefited by the appointment of a Governor to
an African fort. And he did not conceive that any of
bur young aspirwnls in diplomacy would be inclined
to a residence in Tombuctoo. He should support
the introduction of the Bill, but desired not to be
considered as pledged to it thereby, or prevented
from opposing any part of it when it came in de-
tail before the House.
Mr. W. gNIITH wished the Hon. Member who
had taked upon him the advocacy of the Af-
rican Company, would go back beyond the
Abolition of the Slave Trade, and see what the
Company had clone to compensate for the ex-
pense at which it had been supported during
the last century ; what it had done, either in
procuring information respecting the commerce,
or the produce of the country. He would find
that neither this country nor the natives of
Africa had derived the least advantage from it
whatever. The forts themselves were not fitted
for any- purpose of defence, neither were they
calculated to inspire the native Chiefs or Kings
with any high respect for the English Government.
He only regretted that such a measure as the
present had not been adopted some years sooner,
as it might have saved a useless and unnecessary
expense. _ _

Mr. WiLuer.FotteE said, that to facilitate the
objects connected with the Abolition of the Slave
Trade, and the progress of civilization, it was not
only expedient, but indispensable that the Go-
vernment should have the sole direction of the
affairs usually transacted by the African Company.
Mr. Go u I.nu as replied. The motion was then
agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. GouLstuns, it was or-
dered, that the House should resolve itself into
a Committee on Friday next, for granting a rea-
sonable allowance to such persons as should not
he continued in th 4, management of the said forts,
or retained in the service of Government.

Mr. J. P. GIANT moved, that certain Papers
be laid on the table, containing Accounts of the
Funded and Unfunded Debts, and the Charges
relative to the same.—Ordered.