by them to the 31st March, 1761, in finishing said fort 15,024_l._
18_s._ 3_d._ so that rebuilding it has cost 34,590_l._ 12_s._ 5_d._
sterling, which fort is only useful for the defence of the Negroes
in the town under it, and to protect them from their enemies of
their own colour, who have no cannon or mortars, and to defend the
landing-place, that no ship of force can get near.
[4] His grace the d—e of N——le, s——y of st——e; the right honourable
H—y P—lh—m, first lord of the t——y, and c——r of the e——r.
[5] The African committee have also received to the end of the year
1756, 1620_l._ 8_s._ 8_d._ for some of the late company’s effects,
and for admissions into the new company.
[6] For several years before the war, the French received from
foreign nations above 1,000,000_l._ sterling for the article of sugar
only; besides a large sum for indigo, and other West India products;
the loss of which will induce them, without delay, to push on their
trade to Africa with the utmost vigour, which, we know, they are
making great preparations to do, that sufficiently points out the
necessity for some measures to be speedily taken to prevent their
succeeding.
[7] The officers commanding the out-forts, had absolute orders not to
trade with the French.
[8] For mercenary troops are to be hired in Africa, as well as in
Europe, and at a much cheaper rate.
[9] In case the French were not permitted to carry them away, as they
did before the roads were stopt.
[10] 50,000 ounces of gold dust at 3_l._ 17_s._ 6_d._ an ounce, is
193,750_l._
[11] 30 tons of ivory, on an average worth about 220_l._ a ton, is
6,600_l._
[12] Which was upwards of 26,666 guineas annually.
[13] We think it proper to observe, which we conjecture the merchants
will not attempt to deny, that they only put on board their ships
such cargoes as the masters judge will be sufficient to purchase the
number of Negroes each ship will carry, which when compleated, they
will sell any small remainder of their cargoes for gold or ivory,
if to be got: but they often find a difficulty in doing it, for the
reasons before advanced; and they have many times been obliged to
carry them from Africa for want of purchasers, entirely owing to
their giving such great prices for Negroes.
[14] If the French are allowed to trade on the Gold Coast, a cargo
to purchase 300 Negroes, will cost, if we may judge by former times,
above 6000_l._
[15] As would have appeared by the report of the committee of the
honourable house of commons, in the year 1758, had it been examined
into.
[16] There was issued to the African committee, by warrant from the
right honourable the lords commissioners of the treasury, in the year
1751, 7140_l._ 14_s._ 3_d._ out of the vote of credit for 800,000_l._
notwithstanding several objections were made before the committee of
the honourable house of commons that such sum was not due.
[17] Because it will employ a great number of French ships and
sailors, and be a market for their manufactures, which they sell,
and also their East India goods, cheaper considerably than we can
purchase ours, which must consequently be hurtful to our navigation,
lessening at the same time the consumption of our manufactures.
Besides, the competition between the traders of both nations would
give to the black dealers an opportunity of raising the price of
their Negroes, which advance the French can better afford than we,
as must appear from what is beforementioned, as well as from the
following fact; which is, they pay an anchor of brandy or two, and
at some places three or four, in the price of a slave, at the rate
of four pounds each anchor, containing about eight gallons, and
costs in France but from eight to ten shillings. Whereas there is
not any article can be bought in England so profitable and vendable
a commodity among the blacks for thirty shillings (as French brandy)
that will pay in the purchase of a slave at four pounds.
This observation is chiefly meant to point out how necessary it is
to hinder, as much as possible, the French from trading to Gambia,
Senegal, or between cape Appolonia and the river Volta, where the
British forts are situated, and where much the greatest numbers of
the most valuable Negroes are to be procured, which surely we have a
right to do, and may be effected, if proper measures are pursued for
so desirable a purpose.
[18] The original letters and certificates, with authentic copies of
the affidavits, are in the hands of the publisher.
[19] An ounce is a nominal value set upon goods, which cost about
40_s._ in Europe; but sold in trade on the coast of Africa at 4_l._
[20] He came to an anchor nearer to Elmina fort, with the ship and
sloop under his command, than any merchant ship ever had been,
and sent an officer on shore to demand the prisoners, which the
Dutch general immediately complied with, to the great joy of their
countrymen residing under the British forts, at their being restored
to their liberty.
[21] “That such Portugueze ships as shall come to anchor in any of
the English roads belonging to any of the English forts or factories,
shall not be molested by any Dutch ship or ships belonging to the
said company, nor be blocked up by them in the said English roads,
nor attacked and seized at their going out of the said roads; neither
shall they offer to seize any ship or ships, that have first put
themselves under the protection of any British fort, or being in
possession of any English vessel, they having one of the said royal
African company’s servants on board certifying the same.”
“That on the other side, none of the English forts, or company’s
ships, shall attack, or seize, any Portugueze which were first in
possession of any Dutch West India company’s ships; neither shall
the English general, or chief director for the time being, grant
passports to any Portugueze ships, going to or from Brazil, or any of
the Portugueze islands.”
[22] What was paid to the natives for ground-rent, or water-custom,
or to the company’s slaves, which appeared by their lists, or to
canoe-men, or other free Negroes, each article was particularized in
the late company’s officers accounts in such manner, as that no fraud
could be committed.
[23] By such mode of accounting, the committee may obtain a discharge
for the money granted by parliament, before the ship or ships that
have the merchandize, stores, _&c._ on board said money purchased,
sails out of the _river Thames_. Therefore, if said _merchandize_ or
_stores_ are never landed in _Africa_ for the use of the _forts_, we
presume the _committee_ are no farther _accountable_ for _them_.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Footnote [15] is referenced twice from page 29.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added,
when a predominant preference was found in the original book.
Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Pg iii: ‘above allegagations’ replaced by ‘above allegations’.
Pg 1: ‘meer alienation’ replaced by ‘mere alienation’.
Pg 3: ‘many falshoods’ replaced by ‘many falsehoods’.
Pg 4: ‘make the ballance’ replaced by ‘make the balance’.
Pg 6: ‘to undersel them’ replaced by ‘to undersell them’.
Pg 11: ‘For I believe it’ replaced by ‘For we believe it’.
Pg 12: ‘for so I must’ replaced by ‘for so we must’.
Pg 14: ‘a ballance of trade’ replaced by ‘a balance of trade’.
Pg 15: ‘sorry I am to say’ replaced by ‘sorry we are to say’.
Pg 19: ‘houshold servants’ replaced by ‘household servants’.
Pg 23: ‘inteterest themselves’ replaced by ‘interest themselves’.
Pg 24: ‘villify and render’ replaced by ‘vilify and render’.
Pg 25: ‘intercouse and trade’ replaced by ‘intercourse and trade’.
Pg 26 Footnote [11]: ‘on an average, is worth about’ replaced by
‘on an average worth about’.
Pg 31: ‘such an equiry’ replaced by ‘such an enquiry’.
Pg 34: ‘I presume it’ replaced by ‘we presume it’.
Pg 34: ‘the smuggling wool’ replaced by ‘the smuggling of wool’.
Pg 35: ‘them frm Africa’ replaced by ‘them from Africa’.
Pg 37: ‘crimes in despight’ replaced by ‘crimes in despite’.
Pg 47: ‘The committe, by’ replaced by ‘The committee, by’.
Pg 48: ‘the mananagers, that’ replaced by ‘the managers, that’.
Pg 54: ‘were ncecessitate to’ replaced by ‘were necessitated to’.
Pg 55: ‘indenizend European’ replaced by ‘indenizened European’.
Pg 56: ‘become to serious’ replaced by ‘become too serious’.
Pg 60: ‘two orignals signed’ replaced by ‘two originals signed’.
Pg 61: ‘stated and ballanced’ replaced by ‘stated and balanced’.
Pg 62: ‘the committe are to’ replaced by ‘the committee are to’.
Pg 64: ‘from the ballance of’ replaced by ‘from the balance of’.
Pg 66: ‘improvemeut of such’ replaced by ‘improvement of such’.
Pg 66: ‘committe’s officers’ replaced by ‘committee’s officers’.