The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-18 00:00:00

AMERICA.

COLONIZATION ON THE COAST OF AFRICA

{From " The Sierra Leone Gazette," April 21.1

We have not for some time made any mention of the Ameri-
can Colonists, whose arrival in our harbour was noticed seyoral
weeks ago. It has just ()craned, that although their situation
and proceedings must be so well known in the Colony as to
render any statement respecting them in our columns altogether
superfluous, there are in Great Britain as well as in the United
States--and, we trust, in other countries also—many who take

a lively interest in the location and in the progress of these set.

tiers, and, to those so interested, no incans of communication
can apply so generally or so satisfactorily, .under the present
circumstances, as this Gazette. We therefore venture to state
in a summary way, but with perfect accuracy of informatinn,
that the principal gentlemen to whose care and direction :he set-

tiers liae coliimit',.ed,''smght, a fey. 14yi after their srrival• an

interview -wit". the colo-Aisl ..bie
• acti-u5 Governor, and some of the members of the CounL
cil of Administration for the colony, assisted. At this meeting
the American•gentlemen explained their objects fully, making
a candid communication 'of their instructions, and of all their
vinvs and objr..ts. This frankness they used expressly in the
confidence of the most amicable dispositions on the part of
those to whom they addressed themselves. Their confidence
was declared to be founded as well on the very friendly interest
taken in the American plans of colonization by the British Go-
vernment, from the outset, as on congeniality of character and
of objects between this colony and the proposed American set-
tlement. Due consideration was also bestowed upon the kind
offices and the favourable disposition strewn by the colonial
authorities to their American co-operators on the coast, for
the two-fold objects of suppressing the slave trade and
of civilizing Africa, by the formation of stations of free people
qualified for the purpose. These candid and manly decla-

rations were answered with corresponding friendship and

'frankness. The objections which had early existed in the
minds of all reflecting persons in the colony against the
establishment of an American settlement in the Shcrbro' were
freely avowed and fairly stated. They were objections which
could be felt equally by every American sincerely disposed to
the improvement of Africa. They were—

1. That the location in the Sherbro' was inconveniently near;
so that it would clash with the private interests of this colony,
and with the public benefits which would be conferred on the
adjacent Africans by the intercourse of the colonists. The sup-
plies of the principal articles of subsistence would be cut off, and
general small trade already established would be destroyed.--
An American settlement could not be wanted to dolor Africa
what was already done by the colonists, much less to derange
the rapid progress which would necessarily take place upon the
foundation already established.
These considerations had reference. to this colony, for which
the authorities in America and their agents avowed the most
friendly interest; and to the natives of Africa, whose deliverance
and improvement- would be the chief objects of the American
settlement, as they were already the chief objects of this. The
other considerations are paTticularly applicable to the American
bide of the question.
2. The location of the American settlement in the Sherbro',
waive/ready ascertained to be unadvisable, on groinstis particu-
larly to the Americans it was ascertained by their own experi-
ence that no large ships could approach nearer than a distance
of 30 or 40 miles to any spot where it would be expedient to
settle for their general and permanent purposes of improvement, j
the cultivation of the soil, and other pursuits of simple indus-
try. The settlers oflast season had been swept away by unspar-
ing visitations of disease, occasioned by bad air and bad water ;
and for these evils the• swampy nature of the country afford-
ed no remedy. The coloured agent upon whose fidelity and
servic.'s the greatest reliance had been placed, was proved not to
be trust-worthy, and the native chiefs were known to be unfa-
vourably disposed by the treacherous influence of this very agent,
and to be disinclined to fulfil their engagements respecting the
lands purchased from them.
3. At a moderate distance from this colony the settlements
could not clash one with the other; eitherin the range of their
beneficial exertions for the civilization and for the religious im-
provement of the African nations adjacent to them, or in the
industrious and commendable pursuits of the colonists for the
advancement of their private interests.
4. The season was so far advanced that sufficient time was not
left to clear ground and to erect weather-proof habitations be-
fore the Inset of the tornadoes, and the subsequent speedy ar-
rival of the heavy rains.
Upon all these grounds, or nearly these, coinciding with the
representations already sent forth. through this Gazette, for ge.
neral consideration in the Colony, in America, and in Eng-
land ; coinciding also with the sentiments freely declared to
the Commanders and Officers of the American ships of war
that visited the Colony, who appeared to feel the reasoning to
be equally forcible for their side as .for ours, the American
:gents were satisfied that it would not be expedient to place
their intended -settlement in the Sherbro' : they resolved, there-
fore, to send their colonial schooner with a select party down
the coast towards Cape Mount and Cape Mesurardo, to make
choice of a new and more eligible station for their establish- ,
ment.

Perceiving that the year was too far advanced to admit the
clearing of ground and the erection of houses in any newly ac-
quired settlement before the inset -of the rains, they requested
to know if they could be accommodated, upon terms which may
afterwards be adjusted, with the portion of land within this Co-
lony which might be necessary for purposes of residence and
cultivation in the interval, prior to the choice of a place, arid
the approach of the time for proceeding to the
,formation of
their settlements. To this requisition a satisfactory answer was
given: and his tiontiar. the acting Governor, in pursuance of
the disposition in whiCh all the Members of the Council con-
curred with him -to give the best accommodation which the Co-
lony could afford, visited several places :apparently.* most
eligible • hut some ground of objection arising from - inconve-
nience of water or lowness of situation, or some-001ov cause,
prevented, for a time, the choice of any. At length it was
proposed to the -gentlemen having charge of the' house and
lands of the late .Assistanttommissary-General Le Fevre, at
Foura Bay, to let those houses and lands for the year. An ar-
rangement was •in consequence made, in virtue of which the
American agents are now in possession of that place upon an
equitable rent. Their colonists are well housed, and they have
ample measure of land clear and reedy for cultivation.---ll was
exceedingly fortunate that- the American agents and their set-
tlers were thus immediately provided • with substantial habita-
tions. ,The heavy tornadoes already experienced could not have
been encountered with safety in a state of inadequate prepara-
tion.—We haVe further to mention, that an application from
these gentlemen for permission to re-land their provisions and
store free of duties, and to dispose of such part of them as it
may be necessary to sell for purposes of current use and exi-
gency, was freey and cordially assented to. The principal mer-
chants,. whose opinions the Governor and Council thought it
right to ask ; as their interests were principally concerned, ex
pressed their universal consent in the most liberal manner ; de-
claring.that they did not see any thing detrimental to their in-
terests in what was required ; but if it even had been e thing at-
tended with some inconvenience, they would gladly overlook
that inconvenience in their desire to accommodate the American
gentlemen, and to promote and facilitate their objects.—.-The
American agents, in consequence of ad these arranwments end
fneilitiks, are -now, as we have already intimated, established
setisfactolily in Fours Bay house and farm. Their schooner
may•be soon expected to return fioni her voyage cf selection
(own the coast. These c-ri 'opera her will then join their com-
panions et Fount Bey farm, and relnaiii until the pall:1g et'
the dryseason shall invite them 0-) procd to fix •Litemeuvts in
the pla-ee of their ultiennte deStination ; which place and h.s
in-
habetaiits, we trust, will ever be on terms of} mutual friend-.
ship, and in the constant interchange of reciprocal kind offices
with this colony. . . .