found guilty, she had not been put to death; but after some time had been set at liberty. "There is no fear," observes the Governor, "but that the natives in this neighbourhood will have abundant employment. Hitherto they have been chiefly busied in the manufacture of Salt, which is in great demand. Their Rice Fields have certainly been prepared this year a fortnight or three weeks earlier than usual, from which I prognosticate well." "All the wars round us are suspended for the present. I do not say that they are suspended in consequence of the Abolition; but the Abolition is very likely to prevent their revival." "There can be no doubt that the communication between the Coast and the Interior is in a fair way of being more open.""In the breeding of Cattle, we are greatly improving their numbers increase, and they thrive well." And, in a subsequent letter, it is stated, that oxen are now used in the draught, much to the advantage of the Colony. He thus concludes one of his letters: "This has certainly been one of the quietest and most uninteresting years I have known in Africa. I have neither trials for witchcraft, nor wars, nor kidnappings, .to speak of in my D journal. Perhaps we have the Abolition to thank for it *." In a letter, of so late a date as November last, the Governor writes:-"I have no doubt, that, if things go on as they do, this will soon be the first place on the Coast of Africa." And he expresses his sincere belief, that "Commerce and Agriculture will overspread this almost depopulated part of Africa; and that, "if the Colony receives encouragement from the British Government, it will, in no very long time, repay the benefits received." The information from Goree is also very encouraging. A letter from that Island, dated in December last, represents Major Maxwell, the present Commandant of that Island, as indefatigable in his exertions to promote cultivation and civilization in that part of Africa. He has a plantation on the opposite shore, which he keeps in a high state of cultivation, chiefly with a view to stimulate the natives to follow his example. He has been supplied with some of the Cotton Seed transmitted to the Coast of Africa by the Directors; and has had a Cotton Gin constructed after the model of one of those lately sent out. A communication has also been received from * See Appendix, M. the Gold Coast respecting the political state, and the agricultural faculties, of that part of Africa; which tends to encourage the hope, that much may be done towards its improvement, if adequate means are employed to that end *. The only point to which the Directors have still to advert is, the state of the Funds of the Institution. The expenditure, as will be seen from the statement about to be submitted to the Subscribers, has been large; but the Directors trust, that, large as it is, it will not appear to be disproportioned to the good that has been effected. It amounts in all, from March 1807, to Jan. 1, 1809, to 1550l. 8s. 4d. The expense of printing and gratuitously distributing between five and six thousand of the Reports throughout the Kingdom, and of advertising the Institution in newspapers, and in almost all the different periodical publications, has of itself been considerable. Besides this, the expense of the maintenance, equipment, and passage to Africa, of the three youths intended for Schoolmasters; the charge of procuring and transporting Cotton Seed from America to England, and from England to Africa, as well as of the transmission of other plants and seeds; the cost, freight, &c. of the various implements * See Appendix, N. sent to Africa; as Cotton Gins, Castor-Oil Press, &c.; and, added to these, the necessary expense of Stationary, Assistance in Writing, and other incidental charges, have entrenched greatly on the Funds of the Institution. It ought to be stated, at the same time, that great economy has been observed in the management of its concerns. No expense has as yet been incurred for a house, or office; and the payments made to persons employed in writing, and in the packing and distributing of Reports, &c. and in the various other services which have been performed for the Institution, have been only occasional, and as low as the several occasions admitted: they amount only to sixty pounds: and the Directors cannot but express a confident hope, that, so long as their expenditure of the Funds of the Society is confined to objects of obvious importance to the great ends of its institution, it will meet with the approbation of the Subscribers in general, and the liberal support of the Public at large. |