to the number of Slave-trading Vessels under the Flags of the Nations before-mentioned, that may actually be on the Coast; 3d as to the effects that the restrictions of the Treaties of Abolition, enforced by the means of the British Cruizers, may have produced on the Slave Markets on the Coast; 4th, whether, in the event of these restrictions being continued in force, the Africans will be likely to turn their attention to any other commerce than that of Slaves; 5th, how far the produce of the Countries lying betwixt the River of Sierra Leone and Cape Coast, and of those situated between Cape Coast and Cape Lopez, may be deemed capable of laying a foundation for legitimate commerce, equivalent to the Slave-trade, in affording supplies of the usual articles of Foreign produce to the Natives. (Inclosure 2.)—Answer of GENTLEMEN, E. GREGORY. EDWARD FITZGERALD. to His Majesty's Commissioners. Sierra Leone, 3d April, 1821. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note of the 8th ultimo, requesting that I would communicate to you such observations as I may have made, during my late Voyage on the Leeward Coast, on the existing state of the Slave-trade, &c. In looking over the points on which you wish for information, I regret that any Communications I can make must be of so general a nature as scarcely to afford you data on which to form any thing like correct conclusions. However, what I have seen and learned shall be laid before you. In answer to the first and second enquiries, " as to the number of Vessels that may have been on the Coast, and departed with Slaves, since July, 1820," and " as to the number of Ships, trading under the different Flags, that may be actually now on the Coast," it is impossible for me to give you a correct idea, at least so far as to distinguish those belonging to the different Nations; for, with the exception of the French, none show any Colours, and, doubtless, many avail themselves of the Flag of that Nation, who have no right to raise it. We left Sierra Leone on the 5th of August last, proceeding down the Coast; at Cape Mount we found two French Schooners, whose Cargoes were on shore at the Gallinas, Mannah, and Sugaree; one for 250, the other 350. Both these, I since learned, got safe to their destination. The Kroomen informed us there were then two at little Cape Mount. There was also one at Trade Town for 300. From thence, until we arrived at Accra, we saw no Vessel that we could ascertain to be engaged in Slaving. One Schooner proceeded to Whydah, where she found 3 Corvettes of 22 guns each, and 130 men, two Brigs of 14 guns, and two Schooners, all waiting for Slaves. Mr. M'Coy, the Master of our Schooner, saw 550 Slaves marched from the old French Fort (where Cha Cha, the Chief Slaver, resides) to the beach in one day, and from thence put on board one of the Brigs on the following night. One Corvette had sailed a few days before our arrival with upwards of 800 on board. Two of the Corvettes were chiefly manned with American Sailors, but showed no Flag; the other was Spanish (the Minerva.) She came to Accra when I was there, and took on board 150 in one night, from Accra, the Caboceer of the Dutch Town. I afterwards saw 125 Slaves in one house, all in irons, sitting in 3 rows upon the floor. These belonged to 2 French Schooners, that were eruizing from Popoe to Accra for a Cargo. With the exception of Half Cape Lahoo, from whence these have been sent, about the month of August last, (about 130,) I have great reason to believe that the Traffick in Slaves has been entirely discontinued from the Gold Coast. We saw several French, Portuguese and Dutch, going down to Whydah and the Bight of Biafra. I went on board four that seemed furnished with every thing indicating their destination to be for Slaves. At Trade Town we met a French Brig and Schooner, the Brig direct from Nantes vith a Cargo of 400; the Captain had his goods on shore, and was parchasing his Cargo at the Slave-house on the Beach, not daring, as sal, to trust King Wise at his Town in the Bush. However, His Majesty had, the morning I went up to his Town brought in 35 prisoners, hom his People had caught the evening before in a small Town in the Interior, and who were intended for the Vessel. At Cape Mesurado, the Brig Adolphe, direct from St. Maloes, had nearly completed her Cargo for 380. The Captain hesitated not to assure me that he cared not for British Cruizers, and that he should be on the Coast again in 5 months. At the Gallinas we saw another Schooner that was to sail in 3 days, with 250. I believe the following rough Statement may not be considered as overrated, at least it is the best guess I can give you from comparing the different Accounts, of which I took Notes at the time of receiving them. Say, since July 1820 to the end of February, so far as regards the windward Coast, and from July to November, to leeward of Cape Coast; viz. 4 Schooners.........for Gallinas...........at 300......... 1,200 4 Vessels......... ..for Accra........ 2 ditto................for Quitah............ 400 6 ditto...............for Popoe. 600 900 1,500 1,200 800 2,400 There are seldom less than 12 to 15 Vessels in Bonny River at a time, and from 20 to 25 in Calabar. Of the state of the Trade to the Southward of the Line, I have no particular information, and cannot give any opinion. The Slaves furnished at Lagos and Porto Nova are chiefly from Eyes, and are from the North Bank of the Niger, from Sego to Ahoussa. Referring to your third enquiry, I would observe, that the effects of the restrictions of the Treaties of Abolition are only visible from the Gold Coast to Sierra Leone, as the means at present possessed by the British Cruizers are not at all sufficient to reach the Slavers that frequent the large Rivers in the Bight of Benin and Biafra; and at Whydah and Popoe the Trade is still carried on with boldness and impunity. On the Windward Coast, however, where they still continue the Traffick, the Natives engaged in it are timid, and fearful of some dreadful visitation from the British Cruizers. The more intelligent of the Traders at the Gallinas, Mesurado and Trade Town, are also impressed with the belief that the British and American Menof-War will, in the course of 2 more Years, be enabled effectually to abolish the Trade at all those Places. The propriety of employing an increase of Force in this Service, and that Force of a different description from the present, has, I believe, already been represented to Government through the proper Channels; and if the suggestions made are followed, I have little doubt but that the Windward Coast would be kept clear, and a good account given of the Slavers in the Bight of Biafra. It is with pleasure I offer a few remarks upon your fourth and fifth enquiries, as from my knowledge of those parts of the Coast to which those enquiries principally relate, and from the intercourse I had with the Natives, I am enabled to speak with a confidence which, to those who have not had the same opportunities of observation, might appear much too sanguine. Along the whole range of Coast where the restrictions may be considered as having been effective (that is, from Accra to Trade Town,) industrious habits are extending their beneficial influence amongst the Inhabitants; a greater attention to agricultural and commercial pursuits is evidently increasing; and these pursuits want only encouragement to render them productive of extensive gain to the Merchants, and to make them the means of supplying the increasing wants of the Natives. As a proof that on the total abolition of the Traffick in Slaves, the Africans would, in the course of a short time, turn their attention to other pursuits, I would refer you to the fact, that though, previous to the abolition, the Inhabitants of the Gold Coast actually purchased palm oil from the Lago and Benin Traders, for domestic purposes, yet, in the course of the last 12 months, there were shipped from the same Country above 500 tons of that commodity. The establishment of a Colonial Government, with the consequent extension of the benefits of British Laws, and the regular administration of justice, to the Fantee and Adanessee People on the Gold Coast, is an event much to be desired by every benevolent friend of Africa, It would completely prevent any Slaves from being carried off the Coast from Cape Lahoo to the Rio Volta. The security and protection afforded to Persons and property, the comparative salubrity of the climate, the openness of the Country, and a soil peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of various articles of tropical produce of extensive consumption in the European markets, together with the low price of labour, would, I conceive, encourage Settlers from home with other than merely commercial views. Their success would encourage the Natives to the employing of their numerous domestic Slaves in similar objects, which is what is chiefly wanted, to lead to the rapid civilization and improvement of the African People. To accelerate this improvement, however, not only the fostering hand of Government, but the exertion of those enlightened friends of Africa, who have for so many Years, with unremitting assiduity, laboured for her benefit, is absolutely necessary. It is necessary that those who wish well to her interests should take every opportunity of directing the attention of His Majesty's Ministers to the best means of extending British influence and protection to those parts of the Coast where the Slave-trade has been discontinued; to press upon them the expediency of affording every possible facility to those whom the pursuits of business may induce to establish settlements with the views of cultivation; and most essentially to impress on their minds the great importance of immediately directing the benevolent exertions of the National School and Missionary Society, particularly the former, to those Parts where they would meet with a welcome reception. Along the whole Coast from the Kroo Country as far as Appollonia, the Inhabitants are all anxious to cultivate a close and increased connexion with the English, and the Chief Men desirous that their sons should be taught to read and write, or, as they express it, "to s'ane book all the same as white man." In corroboration, and as an evidence of the existence of this spirit, I have only to acquaint you that the Caboceers of Accra and of Cape Lahoo sent their sons with me to this Place to be educated, and had I been aware that the object would have been so liberally met by the Government here, I could have brought two or three of the Chiefs' Sons from every Town on the Coast where I am known. I shall, probably, early in September, bring up 10 or 12 more, to be placed at School here for 2 or 3 years. By so doing, good, I know, will be produced, which may eventually lead to consequences important and beneficial. It certainly would be no discredit to the Colony of Sierra Leone, which has already deserved well of our Country, to be in after-times considered as the sacred fountain, originating and supplying those streams of knowledge and civilization which the enlightened philanthropist confidently anticipates shall in time overspread this great, though hitherto much neglected, Country. That the produce of the Countries lying between the River Sierra Leone and Whydah, (the Countries farther to the southward not having come under my own observation, I do not presume to give an opinion respecting them) would, in the space of a few Years, by proper encouragement, lay the foundation of an extensive legitimate commerce, fully equivalent to the Slave-trade, I think admits not a doubt. On the establishment of a new Government at Cape Coast, a more active Commercial Intercourse between this Colony and that Settlement, it is probable, will be carried on; and it ought to be an object with both Governments to encourage the Chiefs along the whole Coast to visit both Establishments, to send their Children and People to them to learn mercantile Trades, &c. as well as "to s'ane book." I can assure you, that they only want such opportunities, and a recommendation of them by those in whom they have confidence, to embrace them with alacrity. But the chief intercourse that the Natives have had with White Men, has been with the Traders, who come to Africa direct from England, run down the Coast, purchase what the Natives bring to them," and return home, in most cases, after they have seen the Coast but 3 or 4 times; consequently they have little opportunity, and perhaps less inclination, to point out any thing to the Natives which might tend to enlighten or to improve them. The Countries from the Kroo Country to Bereby, merit the particular attention of Government, as the Inhabitants are a fine and industrious race of People, most of them speaking English, and desirous that Englishmen should settle among them. The landing for boats is good at Grand Sisters, Gansway, and Cape Palmas; at this latter place, there is an excellent Harbour and good anchorage. The establishment of a British Colony at Cape Palmas would be a great point gained towards the general object. The Country is rich and not unhealthy, and produces pepper, gums, ivory, fine timber, and a supply of rice sufficient to direct the views of the West India interest hither, instead of to our rivals on the other side of the Atlantic. The River Cavally has a long course from the Interior, and affords the means of |