A QUAKER MISSION
The visit of Captain Cuffe to Africa was a spontaneous movement
on his part. He was anxious to contribute to the improvement of
his countrymen. His visit to England was a great incentive to the
Directors of the African Institution. Both the Duke of Gloucester and
William Allen were convinced that the colonists of Sierra Leone needed
only a stimulus to their industry and that the Institution could give
it without the slightest inconvenience. They regarded Paul Cuffe as a
medium for this service--a medium providentially afforded.
One is impressed with the methodical and thorough-going way Cuffe
conducted his affairs during the first part of his visit in Sierra
Leone. He was soon acquainted both with the land and the people. Just
as soon as he obtained information he began its dissemination. A
letter was dispatched to America in care of his brother, John Cuffe.
The Captain wrote "Hope it may find its way to its destination and
obtain its desired effect which will be a consolation to one who
wishes well to all mankind both here and hereafter world without
end." The following letter dated April 20, 1811, was "The Epistle of
the Society of Sierra Leone in Africa,"[30] formed for the further
promotion of the Christian religion:
SIERRA LEONE, April 20, 1811.
To the Saints and Faithful Brethren in Christ; grace be unto you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We desire to humble ourselves with that thankful acknowledgment to
the Father and Fountain of all our mercies, for the liberty and
freedom we enjoy. And our prayer to God is, that our Brethren,
who live in distant lands, and are held in bondage, and groan
under the galling chain of Slavery, that they may be liberated
and enjoy the liberty that God has granted unto all his faithful
Saints. Dearly beloved Brethren in the Lord, may the power and
peace of God rule in all your hearts, for we feel, from an awful
experience, the distresses that many of our African Brethren groan
under; therefore we feel our minds engaged to desire all the
Saints and Professors in Christ, to diligently consider our cause,
and to put cause to the Christian Query: whether it is agreeable
to the testimony of Jesus Christ, for one Professor to make
merchandise of another? We are desirous, that this may be made
manifest to all Professors of all Christian denominations, who
have not abolished the holding of slaves.
We salute thee, Beloved Brethren, in the Lord, with sincere desire
that the works of Regeneration may be more and more experienced.
It would be a consolation to us, to hear from the Saints, in
distant lands, and we could receive all who are disposed to come
unto us with open arms.
Our dearly beloved African Brethren, we also salute you in the
love of God, to be obedient unto your masters, with your prayers
lifted to God, whom we would recommend you to confide in, who
is just as able in these days, to deliver out of the Egyptian
bondage: finally brethern, may the power and peace of God rule in
all your hearts.
Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, Amen.
JOHN × GORDEN, preacher
WARWICK × FRANCIS
JAMES REED
JOSEPH BROWN
MOSES × WILKINSON
S. JONES
JOHN × ELLIS
ADAM × JONES
GEO. × CLARK
PETER FRANCIS
GEORGE CARREL
EDWIN × WILLOUGHBY
THOS. × RICHARDS, SEN.
ELI AIKEN
JNO. × STEVENSON
JAS. WISE
Two days after he had sent this epistle to his friends in America he
wrote a personal note to William Allen in London. He acknowledged the
receipt of the license to bring goods to England, called attention to
a petition which the inhabitants had presented to Governor Columbine
with a request that he lay it before Parliament, and set forth many
facts concerning the land and its people. He also announced his
intention to keep open a commercial intercourse between America and
Sierra Leone in the hope that through such a channel some families
might find their way to Africa.[31]
The outline of the petition referred to in his letter to William Allen
is inserted as follows:
1st. That encouragement may be given to all our brethern, who may
come from the British Colonies or from America, in order to become
farmers, or to assist us in the cultivation of our land.
2nd. That encouragement may be given to our foreign brethdren who
have vessels for the purpose, to establish commerce in Sierra
Leone.
3d. That those who may undertake to establish the whale fishery
in the colony may be encouraged to persevere in that useful and
laudable enterprise.
Cuffe states that several of the most respectable inhabitants signed
this petition. From its contents and its date one would conclude that
its origin can safely be traced to Cuffe himself. Attention is called
to a school for adults and the other schools which accommodate about
two hundred and thirty children. In his letter to Allen he gives
the names of seven teachers. Mention is made of a Society of Sierra
Leone and of the places for public worship. Four meetings are held on
Sunday and two on other days. In his letter to Allen the churches are
enumerated as follows: two Methodists, one Baptist, and one without
denominational designation but in charge of "an old woman, Mila Baxton
who keeps at her dwelling house."
A brief paragraph describes poor relief: "An institution," said he,
"was formed on the first of the twelfth month last for the relief of
the poor and disabled. It is now regularly held on the first second
day in every month, at which time proper persons are appointed to take
charge of those under the care of the institution. A general meeting
is held once every six months. Everyone can judge of the happy effect
of such institutions as these in improving the dispositions and
softening the manners of our native brethren."
Five courts are described and attention is called to the supremacy of
British law. A short discussion of the native Africans appears, and
the letter includes in the "Brief Account" an address "to my scattered
brethren and fellow countrymen at Sierra Leone." It closes with these
words:
Grace be unto you and peace be multiplied from God the Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten a lively hope
in remembrance of you; and for which I desire ever to be humbled,
world without end, amen.
Dearly beloved friends and fellowcountrymen,
I earnestly recommend to you the propriety of assembling
yourselves together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord your
God. God is a spirit and they who worship him acceptably must
worship him in spirit and in truth; in so doing you will find a
living hope which will be as an anchor to the soul and a support
under afflictions. In this hope may Ethiopia stretch out her hand
unto God. Come my African brethren and fellowcountrymen, let us
walk together in the light of the Lord. That pure light which
bringeth salvation into the world, hath appeared unto all men to
profit withall. I would recommend unto all the saints, and elders
and sober people of the colony, that you adopt the mode of meeting
together once every month in order to consult with each other for
your mutual good. But above all things let your meetings be owed
of the Lord, for he hath told us that "Where two or three are
gathered together in his name, there will he be in the midst of
them." And I recommend that you keep a record of your proceedings
at those meetings in order that they be left for the benefit of
the young and rising generation. In these meetings let it be your
care to promote all good and laudable institutions, and by so
doing you will increase both your temporal and spiritual welfare.
That the Prince of Peace may be your preserver, is the sincere
desire of one who wishes well to all mankind.
The following advice, though detached from the foregoing address,
appears to be intended to accompany it:
First. That sobriety and steadfastness, with all faithfulness,
be recommended, that so professors may be good examples in all
things; doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly.
Secondly. That early care be extended towards the youth whilst
their minds are young and tender, that so they may be redeemed
from the corruptions of the world--such as nature is prone to--not
swearing, following bad company and drinking of spiritous liquors.
That they may be kept out of idleness, and encouraged to be
industrious, for this is good to cultivate the mind, and may you
be good examples therein yourselves.
Thirdly. May servants be encouraged to discharge their duties
with faithfulness; may they be brought up to industry; may their
minds be cultivated for the reception of the good seed, which is
promised to all that will seek after it. I want that we should be
faithful in all things, that so we may become a people, giving
satisfaction to those, who have borne the heat and burden of the
day, in liberating us from a state of slavery. I must leave you in
the hands of Him who is able to preserve you through all time, and
to crown you with that blessing that is prepared for all those who
are faithful unto death.
In closing he cites, with approbation, the advice contained in an
address to free people of color given in 1796 at Philadelphia before
the general convention of abolition societies. They are advised to
attend to religion, to get an elementary education, teach their
children useful trades, use no spiritous liquors, avoid frolicking and
idleness, have marriage legally performed, lay up their earnings, and
to be honest and to behave themselves.
An object always dear to Cuffe was the abolition of the slave trade.
He thought a commercial intercourse would be conducive to its
suppression. For trade in human beings he would offer trade in the
legitimate articles of commerce. If such an intercourse could be kept
open with cargoes coming and going between Sierra Leone and England
and Sierra Leone and America, then "some good sober steady characters
may find their way to that country." This would be a laudable method
for civilizing Africa, he thought, because the establishment of
colonists who would engage in productive enterprises would soon
leaven the lump of African idleness and ignorance, and Christians
engaged in legitimate business pursuits would inoculate a large area
of the African continent.
In order to foster this plan, Cuffe formed while in Sierra Leone in
1812, "The Friendly Society." John Kizell was elected president and
monthly meetings were held. It began a business correspondence with
the African Institution in London. William Allen ever responsive to
Cuffe's "earnest breathings" sent a consignment of goods worth 70
pounds with permission to return the amount in rice, Indian corn, etc.
He offered to be their agent in London, and he engaged the services of
W. and R. Rathbone of Liverpool in their behalf.
Since the African Institution was not to "engage in commercial
speculation" some measure had further to be devised in England to help
the Friendly Society dispose of its produce advantageously and promote
industry among its members. Therefore, "A Society for the Purpose of
Encouraging the Black Settlers at Sierra Leone, and the Natives of
Africa generally, in the cultivation of their Soil, by the sale of
their Produce" was formed. Some progress was noted for, after four
years Cuffe wrote that the Friendly Society was worth 1200 pounds.[33]
Similar movements were going on in America. William Roth of New
Bedford on October 10, 1812, wrote William Allen: "Paul Cuffe
still continues his concern for his African plan, and has recently
petitioned Congress for liberty to send his vessel to Sierra Leone,
provided liberty can be obtained from your side. His character stands
conspicuously approved as far as it is known, his kind concern for the
civilization of Africa, and his devotion of time and money to that
object, have greatly strengthened the impression of his real worth and
merit; and from some intentions from the President I am led to believe
his application will succeed."[34]