The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-24 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIERRA. LEONE

(Further extracts from Mr. Shreeve's work on the above
Colony, ready for the press.)
FREETOWN.
LIBERATED AFRICAN DEPARTMENT.—Phis depart-
ment is situated on the edge of the harbour, near the
watering tank at King Jemmy. It consists of two large
yards, with a residence for the assistant-superintendent,
and good storehouses for the service of the Africans on
their release from the slave-hold. One yard is for the
males, the other for the females, with every convenience
for cooking and other comforts. On the arrival of a
slave vessel, with a cargo of these unfortuoates, the mar-
shal of the Mixed Commission Courts proceeds on board,
and, having made his inspection, forwards his report to
the Commissioners. The medical officer examines their
condition, and, if no disease be on board. they are imme-
diately landed from the crammed and pestilential slave-
hold, and placed in the yard of the department. The
emaciated and infirm are sorted out, arid sent to the Co-
lonial Hospital, at Kissey ; and in cases of contagious
diseases raging on board—a very common visitation, from
the fact of 300 or 400 being packed within a small com-
pass—the vessel is sent to quarantine. The arrival of a
cargo of slaves is a peculiar and affecting sight. Before
their capture it is the policy of the dealers to impress
them with a terror of the English, persuading them to
believe that they are the most cruel masters, and will
exercise unheard-of tyranny over them should they fall
into their hands; but how thoroughly is the illusion dis-
pelled, when one of our cruizers carries them into port,
where every appliance for their comfort, crowned by free-
dom, proclaims them to be men and brothers! The sud-
denness of the change is bewildering, and these children
of nature are obliged to refer to superstition for an expla-
nation. Some are literally stupified by the, transition,
whilst others abandon themselves to the wildest enjoy-
ments—shouting, dancing, and singing, until the hills
induled t
and shores re-echo the gratitude of their hearts for Old
England's benefactions. This celebration
by of freedom
lasts many days, and is humanely ghe officers
of the department.
This department, and the treatment of the newly-
arrived Africans, have lately undergone a material change.
Under the old arrangement, after having been a due time
in the yard, the youths were located in the vOlage schools,
where, receiving a certain amount of education, they were
apprenticed as domestic servants, or to trades. The
adults were sent to the villages, where they received an
allotment for a farm, implements of agricul•ure, with
provision and clothing for one year, all found ny govern-
ment, in which time it was supposed art, they would be
able to support themselves under the guidance and ma-
nagement of the managers of their respective districts.
This system, however, after a long trial, with every faci-
lity given to them, was found not to have answered,—
retrogression instead of progression i &rig the result.
The department is now discontinued, managers re-
duced, and only such retained as are necessary to govern
the district, under the new arrangement. This original
experiment has been succeeded by emigration to the West
Indian colonies (an admirable plan of Lord Stanley).
The emancipated are, as heretofore, landed at the depart-
ment, food and clothing supplied to th-m, and, after a
preparatory period, the uncontrolled choice of emigration
in large and comfortable ships provided by government,
where every attention is provided for them on the pas-
sage, and a provision upon their landing. In case they
do not wish to emigrate, they are at liberty, by associa-
ting with their own countrymen, to remain in the colony
and follow their own desires. Emigration, however, is
gladly accepted by many,—relying so fully upon British
sympathy, that all destinations and propositions are
faithfully trusted. Several, on the other hand, prefer
entering the army, captivated by the allurements of mar-
tial pageantry, and in a very short time, from good Usage,
become perfectly contented, and look upon the freeman
of the town with an amusing sang froid and contempt,
saying, "Me no freeman ;me Queenman l"—a compli-
ment to the Majesty of England, which probably has
never reached St. James's. Many grave objections and
censures have been urged against the emigration of the
newly-emancipated African, and the measures of govern-
ment for carrying it out ; but this opposition emanates
from interested parties in the colony, especially the Wes-
leyan missionaries, who spare neither time nor exertion
to defeat the project, in their eachisive register the
Watchman, nominally but not really their own, it having
been established with far more liberal intentions, and for
much more general purposes, than the sob.cribers are
allowed to enjoy. Other opposition comes from parties
in England, from a want of local knowledge an.; experi.
ence, so requisite to form a correct judgment of the powers
tine condition of the African upon his own soil. As to
the question of the inalienable rights of freedom, there'
can be no doubt; nor does emigration control it. The
African at home, from nature, strengthened by habit and
example, is of an indolent distn-ition ; but by a change
to another country, where industry is the order of society,
be readily devotes his energies to that which he sees adds
to the respectability and comfort of others, and gradu-
ally, and often immediately, becomes a regenerated being,
in which improved condition be is sustained by the encou-
ragement and advice of superior morality, education, and
experience, to any that his most ingenious inquiries can
obtain at home.
In Africa such advantages are more confined, a mis-
sionary or a teacher here or there, being all that is afford-
ed; and even were they more numerous, the climate is
so inimical to the exertions of the Europe; n. Whatever
good may be imparted, it is comparatively moderate, nay
many who have been converted to christianity, have re-
verted to their former habits and belief, and exercised
within the very precincts of the missionary's house, their
idolatrous ceremonies. There are the Ako and Ebo, and
many other notions of the liberated. who have eghbraeed
the false religion of the prophq, wbich b.ine more COD.
-genial to their cup-mitt:ma, from aunt, Ximating more
closely to their original superstitious impressions, are
more easily comprehended, and consequently more readily
believed than Christianity; and I am sati•fi.d, whatever
their professions may be, and notwithstanding the self-
flattering reports of our labourers in the vineyard, that a
great number of the liberated lip-christians are heart-
mahomedans—and no stronger argument can be possibly
adduced to prove that emigration must ultimately be bene-
ficial, by transporting the fanatic and superstitions child
of nature far from scenes, connexions, and influences
which it is but reasonable to expect, must have, an almost
insurmountable preponderance, and if there be any chance
of overcoming this, it must be by a more general inter-
course with total strangers of superior minds and better
customs. If Africa is to he regenerated by her own sons,
it is only to be accomplished by themselves, the'r sons,
and sons' sons, becoming the chief agents in the great
work of salvation, both in soul and body ; one well-in-
formed, and true native christian, would do more towards
reformation amongst his brethren, than all the missionary
Doves, that ever took wing to feather their nests in the
colony, can accomplish.