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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES
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A N
ESSAY
ON THE
IMPOLICY
OF THE
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
IN TWO PARTS.
B y
The Rev. T. C L A R K S O N, M. A.
LONDON:
Printed and Sold by J. Phillips, GEORCE-YAR»i Lombard-street.
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^ WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Efq.
j^ GNE OP THE
I MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
FOR THE COUNTY OF YORK.
SIR,
'TpO a Gendeman, like ydu, whofe publick and private adlions are founded on principle, and who are con- tent with doing your duty without the tribute of popular applaufe, I fear that the perufal of this page may be rather diftreffing : nor am I fure that I fliall not, in fome degree, incur your cenfure, for having printed it without either your permiffion or your knowledge. You will confider, however, how difficult it is for me, who am ac- quainted with your exertions in the caufe of humanity and freedom, to pafs them over on fuch an occafion as this. I truft, therefore, that in addrefling this little book to you, as a zealous advocate in behalf of the opprelTed
Africans,
301073
C ii )
Africans, you will excufe the liberty I have taken, under the circumftancc now explained; and I mull intreat you to believe, that no encomium fliould ever have been paid you by me, unlefs I had believed it to have been previoufly earned.
I have the Honour to be, Sir,
Your fmcerc.
And obedient Servant,
THOMAS CLARKSON,
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
TT may be expected, that, in offering fo many articles of information to the publick, and fuch as will materially afFeft the policy of the flave trade, fomething (houldbe faid of their authenticity, or the afllirance the publick may have, that they are true.
The produftions of Africa are the firfl objects of con- fideration in this work. Whatever I have faid relative to the exiftence of thefe, has been colledled from living evidence, and of the greateft part of them I have now ^ecimens in my pofJeJJiGn.
The cruelties, pra<5tifed by the officers of flave vefTcls on the perfons of their unfortunate crews, (which is another obje(3: of confideration) has been ftated from various depofttions^ voluntarily made laft year. I have had alfo ocular demonjiraiion^ as far as a fight of their mangled bodies will be admitted as a proof, that fuch cruelties were exercifed upon them ; and I have had the fatisfaclion of making fome of the perpetrators acknowledge them, by the payment of a fine.
The lofs of feamen, both in the flave trade and other trades, (which is a principal objeft of confideration in this work) is fo exaft, that, though it was neceflary to have an account of no lefs \hz.nfeven or eight thoufand of them to afcertain the fa^, yet the name of every individual can be given.
The lifl: of plantations, that have been cited as havlno- fupported themfelves independently of the flave trade, has been made up either from letters lately received on the fubject, or from the oral ftatcment of the proprietors themfelves, or from thofe gentlemen who became ac- quainted with their fituation by living near them.
With
( iv )
With rcfpcc^ to other ftatements, which I may diflin- guifli by the name of mifcellaneous, they are of equal authority. I have always gone for them myfelf to the fountain head ; and, with the afliftance of my worthy afTociates in the caufe, neither labour nor expenfe has been fpared in obtainmg them from that quarter.
Having faid a few words on the authenticity of the pages now to be offered to the publick, I {hall only add- that I (hall think myfelf fufficiently repaid for any trouble I have taken, if they tend to throw any light on the fubje£l ; and to convince mankind, that Providence has univerfally made the fcale to preponderate in favour of humanity; or that the African flave trade has not that found policy for its bafis, which people have but too generally imagined.
AN ESSAY
r 3 )
PART f.
JNTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
JN a former ElTay, on the *« Commerce of the Human * Species," I particularly enlarged on the injuftice and inhumanity of that, which is exhibited in the African trade. In the prefent, I fhall undertake to (hew (unlefs I deceive myfelf greatly) that it is as impoliitcky as I have proved it to be inhuman and unjuft.
There are many general arguments, that muft occur t© «very fenfible and diunterefted man who is at,all acquainted with the fubje<3:, againft this commerce, independently of its iniquity or its barbarous efFedts.
The iirft connexion, which the Europeans ever had with the Africans, was for Slaves. This continued to be for many years the only traffick for which they had intercourfe with each other. Some Britilh merchants, however, finding by the reports of their agents, who had vifited this coaft, that it abounded with gums, wax, amber- gris, honey, ivory, and gold, held out to the natives the profpe6l of a new and additional trade. The Africans were no fooner made acquainted with, than they embraced •the plan. They began to collect the different articles ac- cordingly, and have continued in the purfuit of them, though Jiot without hazard to their perfons, to the prefent day.
The commercial connedlion between the Europeans and Africans became by thefe means mcwe extenfive than be- fore, and continued on this fcale, till it was difcovcred that the fame continent abounded with many valuable woods.
The merchants of that day, apprized of the difcovery, ammediately propofed their fchemes as their predecefTors
A 2 had
4 On the Impolicy of the
had done before, but defpaired of fuccefs ; conceiving that the Africans, who bore the chara<Ser of an indolent peo- ple, would never engage in fo laborious an employment as that of cutting wood.
They were, however, agreeably difappointcd. The Africans embarked in this with as much alacrity as in the former fcheme. They went more than two hundred miles into the inland country, cut down wood fimilar to that which had been pointed out, and in the rainy feafons brought it in their canoes to the fhips, enabling the fame merchants to gain a profit on the new article, though fold at an eafy price. This trade was diftinguifhed by the name of the wood trade, and is carried on more extenfively now, than at any former period ; though the whole of the trade in the natural productions of the country bears no fort of comparifon with that in flaves.
This narration of fa6b carries with it, firft, a proof of the commercial fpirit of the Africans, who have no fooner had a new and additional line of intercourfe pointed out, than they have embraced it.
Now, if we confider that the African foil is undoubt- edly more fertile than that of any other quarter of the globe ; if we confider that its natives are poflefled of the commercial fpirit defcribed ; that they fpealc the European languages ; that they are adepts in arithmetical calcula- tions, and capable of condu<f\ing trade, it muft furcly be the highefl impolicy that fuch a country, and poflefled by fuch inhabitants, fhould be fcarcely known but as a mart for human blood. It muft, I repeat, be impolicy in the higheft degree in the Europeans, becaufe, under the cir- cumftances now defcribed, much higher advantages might be derived in another line of trade.
It fhe'vs, fecondly, that the difficulty of engaging the Africans in any new line of commerce would not be fo great, as has been generally imagined.
It is certainly much to be feared, that, while flrr.is continue to be the grand defideratum of our African Inter- courfe, very little can be expcfted from any additional trade in the natural productions of the country. Not but that more of the natives would be found to embark in it: fban there Arc at prefent, but that thefc would be fo few
for
African Slave Trade* 5
tor the purpofe, while the chief part of our attention was diredted to the other, that it could hardly be carried to that extent, which would render it of much national importance.
But fuppofe that the flave trade were abolifhed ; fuppofe that we now entered into the one with as much zeal and alacrity, as we had done formerly in the other j would it not be reafonable to prefume, that, under fuch encourage- ments, we fliould foon have a valuable and an extenfive trade ? If the Africans could go two hundred miles into the inland country, and engage in the laborious employ- ment of cutting wood, it is reafonable to think, that they could be brought to become the cultivators of their own lands. I prefume alfo, that^r^^ labour could be introdu- ced among them : it being rto more difficult to introduce cultivation, or any fyjlem of cultivation there, than it was, fince the beginning of the flave trade, to have given birth to the various offices of brokers upon the coaft, to have communicated to them the European languages, to have introduced the different media of exchange, and to have cftabliflied the whole of that regular fyftem of trade, which fubfifts at the prefent day.
Thefe obfervations being made^ I fhall lay down two pofltions : firft, that the Africans, by proper encourage- ment, can be brought into hah'tts of labour : and fecondly, thatyr^^ labour can be made the medium, through which the produftions of their country may be colle6led, or brought to maturity and ufe.
Thefe are the only data, which I fhall require j and, having laid them down, I ihall proceed immediately to the point, making a replication to all the arguments, which I have ever yet found to be advanced in defence of the policy of the trade in flaves.
CHAP. I.
,"6 On the Impolicy of ths'
CHAP. I. SECTION I.
The Patrons of the trade have been long accuftomed to advance, that it is a trade of great value to the nation.
I confefs that I have never been able to comprehend their meaning. I flidl therefore, before I attempt to make a reply, canvafs the exprefTion.
Do they mean that the flaves taken from Africa become labourers in the colonies ? that thcfe labourers make fugar ? that this fugar produces a revenue, and that the trade there- fore is of great national importance ? If this be their" meaning, I reply, that it h fugar that produces the reve- nue, and not the flave. — That the cane can be cultivated' by free men^ and farther, that it can be cultivated, under certain regulations, without the importation of another African from the coaft.
To fuppofe then that they afcribd to the inftrument which may be varied, what is due only to the fixed object of cultivation, or, at any rate, to a concatenation of cir- cumftances, is to fuppofe them to be incapable of difcri-^ mination, and is therefore a fuppofition, which I am not at liberty to make.
Do they mean again, that flaves employ (hips to tranf- port them ? that thefe fhips employ feamen, and that thefc feamen are the pillars of the ftate ? But thefe are but appendages of the trade. Rice, cotton, indigo, tobacco,, and other productions of the African foil, would, in this point of view, be equally beneficial. — I prefume then they muft mean that flaves,. confidered of themfelves as a com- modity, and without any of the appendages defcribed, conftitutc an article of commerce, that is highly benefi- cial to the flate.
This being prefumed, I fhall ftate the qucftion in the following manner.
Africa has two forts of commodities to offer us, — her natural productions, and — her flaves.— The qucftion is, in which of the two, confidered abftraftedly by themfelves, it is moft politick to deal. If in coiif(;quence of fuch a
comparifon
African Slav^ Trade. f
Comparlfon It fhould appear, that a traffick In the one would be of much more riatiorial Importance than in the bther, I prefume that the other, inafmuch as it ertgrofles the principal part of our attention, and diverts it from bne that would be more beneficial^ will be allowed to be impolitic^.
To reply to the argument advancedj I fliall firft tura my attention to the woods of Africa.
In the preceding chapter it was obferved there were twd trades eftablifhed upon the coaft, independent of, and having no connection with, the trade in flaves. The firft: eftablifhed was that in gums, waXj ambergris, honey, ivory, and gold. The fecond was that in woods, Thefc trades are now united. Thfi merchant, who fits out ^ veflel for wood, fits it Out alfo for as many of the other commodities as he can procure. However, the great bulk of his cargo^ and objedl of his voyage, being that of Wood, his veflel is termed a wood vejjel. I make this dif- tindtion, not only becaufe the rrierchant makes it himfel^ but becaufe I fliali have occafidn to ufe the expreifion in. many parts of the work.
The firft African woods, that were known to be bbje<Sts iof commercial importance, were Camwood and Barwood. Thefe were imported by themfelves for fome yeai"s. In Jjrocefs of time, however, it was found that EboHy was a native of the coaft : aiid foon afterwards Lignum Vit<& was difcovered.
Thefe are the only African woods, that are brought home as commercial articles at the prefent day. But as we already import, or ftiall import in a little time as much, of thefe as can poffibly be confumed, no new profpe£ts are to be formed from thence. I (hall therefore pafs them over, and advert to fuch, as being now in embryo, would, if called forth by the abolition of the trade in flaves, afFord a fubftitute for it of greater benefit to the hation.
That Africa abounds with hidden treafures, may be colledted from thofe, which accident has already difcover* ed. It is certain, however, that this extenfive continent is as yet unexplored. The vegetable produ£tions are but little known, and the foffils lefs. The barks, woods, roots, fruits, and leaves, have been hardly noticed by any A 4 naturalift;
B On the Impolicy of the
naturalift ; and the ftones, earths, bitumens, and oref, have not been fo much as feen by the eye of a chemical obferver.
Nor is this ignorance of the natural produftions of Africa to excite our wonder or furprife. The Africans, moftly in an unimproved ftate, and at bcft ignorant of the various mechanical arts that are praflifed in Europe, and of the various commodities that are the objcfts of European commerce, cannot be fuppofcd to be capable of pointing out, of themfelves, fuch of their own productions as would be valuable in trade.
The Europeans, on the other hand, that is, nine in ten, who vifit this extenfive continent, vifit it ior Jlaves. This is the grand objedl of their voyage. It engrofles all their thoughts, and occafions them to overlook even the com- mon productions of the place. And fo true is this obfer- vation, that many, who have vifited this coaft for years, can give no better account of it in this refpc6t, than thofe who have never feen it at all. I muft add too, that little Icifure, and ftill lefs opportunity would be afforded them, in the prefent pofture of affairs there, of gratifying therr wifties, even had they a turn for botanical or chemical purfuits.
To thefe circamftanccs then, but ultimately to the trade in JJaves^ is to be afcribed the ignorance before mentioned. Under thefe difadvantages, the reader will hardly expecSt that I fhall be able to fay much of the woods of Africa. Such, however, as accident has dif- covered within the laft three years, fhall immediately be pointed out.
Within the period now a/figned it has been fully fub- ■ftantiated, that mahogany grows upon the coaft. About eighteen tons of it were coIle£ted there, and imported into this country in the year 17H6.
Not long after this, a vefTcl, having delivered her (laves in the Weft Indies, returned home. In difchar^ing fome firewood, vihich had been taken in upon the coaft, a fmall biUet was difcovcred of a different appearance from the reft. This excited the attention of the difcoverer, who fent it to be polifhcd. It proved, in confequencc of this trial, to be the tulip wood, fo called from its refemblancc
African Slave Trade. , 9
to that flower, the ground of it being of a flraw colour, and inlaid with crimfon veins. This wood would be of the greateft importance to cabinet workers and inlayers, and fo valuable, that they would be glad to purchafe it at the rate of three (hillings per pound.
The next fpecies of wood, that excited the attention of the importer, was a fmall log brought home in one of the wood veflels before defcribed. It was of a pale ftraw colour. The veins of it were yellow, and had a beautiful appearance. It was remarkably light, and yet clofe grained, and feemed peculiarly adapted for mufical inftru- ments. It would have made, however, elegant light fur- niture, and would have been in great requeft with the artifts of the former defcription.
About the fame time, in which this log was difcovered, another wood veflel, belonging to the fame port, brought home a fpecimen of the bark of a tree, that produced a very valuable yellow dye, and far beyond any other ever in ufe in this country.
The virtues of it were difcovered in the following man- ner. A gentleman, refident upon the coaft, ordered fome wood to be cut down to ere6l an hut. While the people were felling it, he was ftanding by. During the opera- tion, fome juice flew from the bark of it, and ftained one of the ruffles of his fhirt. He thought that the ftain would have wafhed out, but on wearing it again, found that the yellow fpot was much more bright and beautiful than before, and that it gained in luftre every fubfequent time of wafhing. Pleafed with the difcovery, which he knew to be of fo much importance to the manufa61:urers of Great Britain, and for which a confiderable premium had been offered, he fent home the bark now mentioned as a fpecimen. He is fince unfortunately dead ; and little hopes are to be entertained of falling in with this tree again, unlefs fimilar accidents fhould difcover it, or a change fliould take place in our commercial concerns with Africa.
I fhall now mention another valuable wood, which, like all thofe that have been pointed out, was difcovered by accident in the fame year. Another wood vefTel, be- longing to the fame port, was difcharging her cargo. Among the barwood a fmall billet was difcovered, the
colour
to On the Impolicy of the
colour of which was (o fuperior to that of the reft, as i^ lead the obierver to fufpecS^, that it was of a very different fpecies ; though it is clear that the natives, by cutting it of the fame iizc and dimenfions, and by bringing it on board at the fame time, had, on account of its red colour, miftalcen it for the other. One half of this billet was cut away in experiments. It was found to produce a colour that emulated the carmine, and was deemed to be fo va- luable in the dying trade, that an offer was immediately made of fixty guineas per ton for any quantity that could be procured. The other half has been fmce fent back to the coafl, as a guide to colle£t more of the fame fort ; though it is a matter of doubt, whether, under the cir- cumftances that have been rebted, the fame tree can be afcertained again.
I could mention here feveral other woods, which would perhaps be new to the reader, and which would form a valuable branch of trade ; but thofe which I have men- tioned already, are fo important of themfelves, as to preclude the necellity of a longer lift. I fhall therefore confine my obfervations to thefe.
If the flave trade were abolifhed, and the two pofitions, mentioned in the former feclion, realized, it is evident that a trade might be ftruck out in the preceding articles to great advantage and extent. The demand for maho- gany is increafmg not only in this country, but in Ger- ?nany, to a confiderable amount. Suppofe then that the new trade were eftablifhed, what advantages would refult from the importation of this article in particular from the coaft ?
Thefe advantages, I reply, will be beft feen by compa- rifon. The principal part of the mahogany, which we import, comes from the Bay of Honduras, and is cut by Jlaves. In Africa, according to the pofition laid down, it would be cut hy free men ; a circumftance of the higheft importance ; as the exertions offrfe, compared with thofe o( ferviJe labour, are at leaft in the proportion of three to two. The infurance alfo from the Bay of Honduras to the Britifh ports is from five to ten, while that from Africa to the fame place is but two and a half per cent. The raw article, therefore, from thcfc circumftances, and
additional!/
African Slave Trade. tx
additionally that of lower freightage, would be brought into the hands of the merchant and manufadurer, cheaper by more than a third than it comes to them at prefent.
I muft add too» that the voyage in the latter cafe is much lefs dangerous than in the former. That the infurer would be benefited bv the change j and that as it is a maxim long eftablifhed, that the cheaper the material the greater the demand for it, a confiderable increafe would be made to the exportation of this article ; a circumftance^ in every point of view beneficial to the nation.
With refpedt to the other woods, thofe for cabinet ixrork and dyln?^ no advantages can refult from comparifon, be- eaufe there is no other place upon the globe, from whence fuch treafures could be derived.
The former, hov/ever, would certainly be of great eonfequence. We already excel all the artifts of the world in this particular department, and export largely.-— But what an addftional fcope would the many and variegated woods of Africa afford to the tafle and ingenuity of our countrymen ! It is to this tafte and ingenuity, confpicuous in the variety of patterns, and beautiful and harmonious difpofition of things, that we are to attribute our fuperiority in this Kne of mechanifm, and that we become mechanics for the worH.
But with refpedt to the latter, they are certainly beyond all valuation. It is well known, at leafl in particular manufeiluring towns, that the African dyes are fuperiour to thofe of any odier quarter of the globe. — Our manu- fefturers have long viewed them with a jealous eye. They have promifed themfelves prodigious fortunes, and their country a lafting and extenfive benefit,, could they but make themfelves matters of the art or myftery of the compofition of thefe invaluable dyes. It is certain, how- ever, that almoft all the colours, which the Africans ule, except that of blue, are procured from their own trees, either by friction or decoftion ; and that though they have merit in the preparation of them, yet the great myftery would ceafe, if the flave trade were aboliftied, as fuch an event would give us an opportunity of making the difco- very,. and of introducing diera as articles of commerce.F«
Ifhall
12 On the Impolicy of the
I ihall make no further ohfervation on this head, than that if accident has difcovercd fuch invaluable treafures as thofe defcribed, what might not be expe(5ted, if this ex-* tcnfive continent were explored ? It at prcfent affords us, comparatively fpeaking, fcarcely any thing elfe but flaves. Will any pcrfon allert, that the woods of Africa alone, without reference to any of its other productions, would not be more lucrative both to the merchant, the manufac- turer, and the nation, than the whole trade mJJaves?
SECTION II.
But the woods, though uncommonly curious and va- luable, are not the only articles that arc to be put into the fcalc on this occafion. Another valuable commerce would be opened to us in other commodities, fuch as drugs, peppers, and fpices.
That Africa abounds with many valuable drugs, is not only evident from the teftimony of thofc who have refided there, but from our late and prefent importations. We have already derived many valuable drugs from that quar- ter : but thefe, like the woods, have been accidentally difcovered, while others ftill more valuable, are yet in embryo.
The firft, that were the objc£ts of commerce, were gum fenegal, fanguis draconis, almonds, and afterwards palm oil.
In procefs of time the virtues of gum copal were dif- covered by the French, who imported it into their own country. We were not long unacquainted with this event, or with the advantages, that rcfulted from the difcovery. We endeavoured to obtain a dcfcription of the tree that produced it, and, having fuccecdcd in our attempts, pointed it out to the natives, and brought its produce home.
The next that were brought to light, were gum rubrum aftringens, and gum euphorbium. Thefe continued to be the lafl on the lift, till the year 1786, when gum guaiacum made its appearance from the coaft.
AU
African Slave Trade. i^
t All thefe articles, or at leart fpecimens of them, have been brought from thence into this country, and we have there- fore a pofitive proof of their exiftence there. I cannot fay, however, that they have been regularly brought. In fome years not more than two or three, and in others little more than fpecimens of them have been colle6ted ; no regular plan, as in other trades, having been yet eftabliflied there ; nor would any fuch plan be likely to be attended with fuccefs, whilrt thejiave trade engrolles our attention.
Without mentioning the variety of drugs that might be brought from Africa, I (hall immediately point out the advantages of having them from thence.
It is clear that all thofe, which we obtain from Spanifli America and the Brazils, are clogged witli an expenfe, that would be avoided in having them from the other quar- ter. In the firft place there is a double freightage, and in the (econicl, cbmmiflion, both of which would be faved were we to import them immediately from the coaft. The importer too would procure them at a lefs rate from hence, than even from the Eaft Indies or Turkey, which are the only remaining places, from which he colledts them at prelent.
I come now to the peppers of Africa. The firft, that was difcovered or imported, was nialaguetta, or grains pf Paradife. This has now become an article of trade, and is regularly brought to us, either by the wood or flave veflels, every year.
The fecond was the long pepper. A few barrels of this have been occafionally imported, but in fuch fmall quantities, as fcarccly to deferve notice. ,
The third was the black pepper. This was found to be of a greater pungency, and of a finer flavour than the Afiatick. Two cafks of it were brought to England about fix years ago: and this, I believe, was the only fpecimen from the coaft ever exhibited in this country.
The fourth was the cayenne. A captain of one of the wood vefTels procured a fmall quantity of it, and brought it home in the year 1787.
I have hitherto mentioned fuch of the African peppers, as being fimilar to thofe from other quarters now in ufe, arc known by nartie. There was one, however, dif- covered
>4 ^^ THE Iivrpoiicy of the
â– covered 9bout twenty years ago on the fame coafl:, with ehe name of which not any pcrfon, to whom it was {hewn, was at all acquainted. It was brought to Liver- pool in a flave veilel, and preferved ; and was of fuch un- common fragrance and flavour, as to have retained its qualities to the prefent day.
This account of the preceding articles, but particularly that of the latter, will give the reader an additional proof of the riches to be found in the African foil. He will fee the great advantages, which would refult from a trade in thefe alone. But he vnW Jiever be able to ellimate the lofs •which ut fuftain 'hy the trade in Jiavesj which hinders the -country from being farther exploreJ, and thofe inexhaufti- ble treafures from coming forth, which arc now buried ;jnd concealed.
The next article is that of fpices.
The only fpices, that have been yet found in Africa, arc the caffia or wild cinnanwn, which is plentiful, and the nutmeg, of which a few folitary plants have been dif- covt^cd. Thcfe were moftly in a wild and unimproved (late ; but by proper care and attention, there is no doubt, but that they might be brought to as great perfection, as thofe in any other place.
The Dutch fupply us at prefent with thefe articles. They have become of late very exorbitant in their de- mandf, and, wer€ they ftill to increafe their prices, wc {bould be obliged to fubmit, as they have a monopoly of this trade.
Were our attention turned to the encouragement of thefe articles upon the coaft, it is clear that we might be the importers of our own fpiccs, and break the monopoly of the Dutch.
The great advantages that would arife from having them from this quarter, (hall immediatelv be pointed out. The difference in a voyage only from England to Africa and back, and from Holland to the Moluccas and back, is at leaft fixtccn thoufand nu'Ics. The wages of feamen em- ployed of courfe (6 much Jonger in this voyage than in the other, the greater confumption of provifions, and wear and tear of fhips, clearly point out, that if the Dutch were to Iowa their prefent prices to oac bal^ thcfe articles
would
African Slave Trade. 15
would not come into our hands at fo cheap a rate from thence, as thofe which would be imported from Africa. Now if we add to this the <;onfiderations of double freightage, infurance, and commiffion, and that the fpices of Africa would be cultivated by free men, whereas in the Moluccas they are cultivated by flaves, it is a matter capable of proof, that we fhould import them from that continent for one fifth of their prefent price.
There is yet one circumftance, of great importance, which ought never to be forgotten. We pay for th^ greateft part of thefe articles at prefent in money. Were jthe trade alluded to cftablifhed in Africa, we Ihould pay |br fheqi \n our manufa^ures*
SECTION III.
Among the other articles, which the African continent produces, are tobacco, rice, and indigo, each of which, would form of itfelf a diftin£l and valuable branch of trade.
Tobacco is to be found in almoft every divifion of this continent in the greateft luxuriance, and, from the pecu- liar richnefs oi the foil, is fuperiour in quality to that which America produces.
Rice is to be found in moft parts of Africa, but grows fo luxuriantly on the grain coaft in particular, that a fupply might be drawn from thence fufficient for all the markets of Europe. It is extraordinary, that this rice Ihould be finer in flavour, of a greater fubftance, more wholelbme and capable of prefervation, than the rice of any other country whatever, and that in every point of view, it fljould be fuperiour to the reft.
Nor is the indigo of Africa, with which that continent abounds, lefs confpicuous for its pre-eminence in colofir» The blue is fo much more beautiful and permanent than that which is extradled from the fame plant in other parts, that many have been led to doubt, whether the African cloths, brought into this country, were dyed with indigo or not. They apprehended that the colour in ^hefe, which became more beautiful upon wafliing, muft
have
iS On the Impolicy of the
have proceeded from another weed, or have been an cxtradHon from fome of the woods, which are celebrated for dying there. The matter, however, has been clearly afcertained. A gentleman procured two or three of the balls which had been juft prepared by the Africans for life. He brought them home, and, upon examination, found them to be the leaves of indigo rolled up, and in a very fimple ftate.
The reader may imagine by my account of the produc- tions of Africa hitherto named, and by my ftatcment of their fuperiority to others, that I have been rather dealing m fi<5iion, than dcfcribing their real ftate. But it is well known that Africa poflellcs the moft fertile foil of any in the globe : and I appeal to thofe who have vifited this coaft, and to fome of the manufafluring towns in this kingdom, if my aflcrtions are not ftri<5^1y true ; if the rice of Africa is not beyond all others in point of flavour, fubftance, and capacity of prefervation ; and if the indigo is not of that beautiful, permanent nature, as to have 3| title to the pre-eminence afcribed. '
I {hall now obferve, that the two firft articles are ob- tained at prefcnt from America ; the laft in part from the fame place, and in part from the Britifh colonies, and thofe of foreign nations.
This being premifcd, the advantages that would refult from having them from Africa, will eafily appear.
In the firft place it is clear by the obfervations made, that all the three articles are at prefcnt produced by the labour of flaves. In Africa they wruld be produced by free men, a circumftance, which would bring them into the hands of the merchant and manufa<5hirer, cheaper by one third.
There are alfo additional circumftances, peculiar to two of them, which would have the fame tendency.
In America rice generally grows in fwampy places, which are deftrudlive to the health of the cultivators, all which cultivators are to be fucccedcd, if they perifti, at a great expenfc. There are plantations, however, which are fituaic<] upon drier land ; but thefe are contiguous to the banks of rivers, and require to be occafionally over- flowed. For this purpofe flood-gates are conftru<Sied,
and.
ApRicAN SiAVE Trade. ff
tihd, below thefe, others of the fame kind, that the water may be taken off at difcretion : otherwife the crops would be inevitably deftroycd. The conftruction and repair of thefe muft add confiderably to the expenfe. The African rice, on the other hand, grows on the hilly parts, neither endangering the health of the cultivator, nor requiring any other moifture or overflowing than the ufual rain.
Indigo alfo is prejudicial to the health of thofe who manufadlure it; This is occafioned by the ofFenfivenefs of the effluvia, which arife from it at that time. No\^ as thefe manufacturers ^rejlaves, it is impoflible that thd proprietors of them can furnifh it at fo cheap a rate, as thofe who would employ yr^^ men, and who, in the cafe of the death of thfeir labourers^ could renew them with* tout expenfe.
Another circumftance, worthy of Gonfidefation^ is this^ that a confiderable portion of human life would be faved^ not only becaufe free men would have contrivances, which are not fo much as thought of for flaves^ but becaufe the Africans have a method of preparing this article for ufe with but little detriment to their health ; fo that whether it were to be manufactured by flaves^ or free men, it would tome with the higheft profpe<9: of gain from this quarter,
I muft not forget to add, that where we obtain indigo from the colonifts of foreign nations^ there is a double freightage, infurance, and commiflion^ all which would be faved. Were the article to be brought to us from the coaft.
With thefe advantages then in particular, and addi- . tionally with thofe of free labour which have been ftated, it is clear) that Africa would afford the cheapeft market to the merchant and manufacturer, from whince they could derive the three articles defcribed ; and that the good effects of thus changing the place of export would, in procefs of time, be fo confpicuous, as to give us rea- fon to hope, that the nation would foon be reimburfed for the treafures expended in the lofs of America.
If there is any other advantage to be apprehended from
the change, it mwft be this- — Our trade with America,
fince the late peace, has been rather a detriment than a
gain. In confequence of tl^ unprincipled conduCt of
B many
id On the Impolicy of the
many of the Americans, the merchant here has been ruined, the manufacturer has fhared his fate, and numbers have felt tlie iliock. Under thcfe difadvantages, we muft ftill continue to trade with them, becaufe we want their commouities. From Africa we might derive the fame articles, but in greater perfection, and with no rifk. The merchant would receive for his goods a cargo, more va- luable than that which he fent there, and would of courfe have no neceffity to give credit, or to be uneafy, as in the prefent pofturc of affairs, about remittances for his debts.
SECTION IV.
Though I have already mentioned many valuable pro- duftions of the coaft, others ftill remain to be fpokcn of. Upon tbefe, however, I fliall not expatiate, except upon cotton, an article of too much Importance to this country to be mentioned in general terms.
That the reader may form a notion of this importance, I fball inform him that twenty millions of pounds were brought into /jreat Britain for the ufe of our manufacturers in the year 1786. I fliall inform him alfo that two pounds of cotton, which coft the manufadlurer fix lliil lings, are worth, when manufactured into mullin, about five pounds in the grofs. What a prodigious advantage to this coun- try, tliat !u fmall a portion of this article mould give birth to fo much labour and profit as is equivalent to the Aim now fpccified !
Cotton is to be found in almoft every divifion of the coali of Africa. It is moltly in a wild and uncultivated ftdte.. The natives however colle£t it for their own ufe, and wofk it up into thofe beautiful cloths, which are in fuch eltimation few their foft and filky appearance. A few pounds of it have been occafionally brought into England m the ftate defcribed. Ncverthclefs, they have claimed the picf<*rcnce at our markets, and have fetched their price.
To (hew the value of this article from the coaft, I (hall itate the rank, which t^e cotton of different countries r.olds with the m:uiufa£turers of the prefent day, who have
fecn
African Slave Tradb^ 19
leen fpecimens of it from almoft every place, where it can be produced.
It is a curious circumftance, but it has been eftabliflied by the experience of many years, that continents produce the fineft cotton, and that the larger the iflands, and of courfe the nearer they approximate to continents, the finer is the cotton there. In the firft clafs is reciconed the Perfian and African* In the fecond that from the Brazils, Siam, and Surinam. In the third that from St. Domingo ; and in the fourth that from the Britifli Weft-India Iflands*
it'rom this account, the advantage of having cotton from Africa, from whence we derive little more than fpe- cimens at prefent, muft appear. It is of the utmoft im- portance to the manufacturers of mullin that their cotton fhould he fine. Their complaint is^ that the very fineft of that, which they get from the prefent markets, is not equal to their wifhes. Could the Perfian or African be obtained, they would efteem them an invaluable treafure.
But though the fine quality of the African cotton would render the importation of it fo defirable to our manufac- turers, yet the eafy rate at which it could be procured, would be an obje6l of great magnitude.
As the chief part of the cotton brought to us at prefent, comes from the colonies of other nations, I fhall name one of thefe to Ihew the difference of the expenfe at which It could be brought from thence and from the other quarter.
The cotton, which we have from the Brazils, is firft fhipped for Portugal, where it is unloaded, and kept for fale. A part of it is then refliipped, on demand, and brought here.
In. this cafe it is clear, tliat double freightage, double infurance, and commiflion, are to be charged upon it* ^
In the fecond place it pays on exportation from Portugal a duty of five per cent.
In the third it is cultivated by flaves.
Thefe circumftances are of fuch importance, thatj in making the eftimate, it appears that the Britifli merchant could obtain as much cotton from Africa for fifty-feven pound?, as he procures at prefent for an hundred from the colony now mentioned.
B 2 In
tto On the Impolicy of tfte
In making this eftimate, it i? clear, that I have not felefted a place that would be the mod favourable to my defign : for the cotton that comes to us by the way of France, is not only chargeable with the fame kind of expenfe?, but, inflead of jive^ pays twelve per cent, oa exportation.
I cannot clofe * my account of this article, without mentioning that cotton, crimfon in the pod, is to be found in Africa, It grows principally in the Eyeo country, and is to be feen in many of the Whidah cloths. A fmall Ipccimen of it was brought home in the year 1786.
The value of this cotton would be great both to the importer, and manufacturer of jnuflins. The former would immediately receive eight ftiillings for a pound of it, and the latter wouW gain confiderably more by his in- genuity and tafte. He might work it up into tiie white cotton in delicate