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Back to Two
Voyages to Sierra Leone, part 3 LETTER V. My dear Friend, I HAVE many apologies to make for not giving you
earlier intelligence of our arrival; but my excuses are good ones, and no doubt will convince you my
silence cannot be attributed to the slightest shadow of negligence or forgetfulness. We arrived at Penzance, in
arm chair by two men, to the house of Mrs. Dennis
who friendly invited us to shelter under her hospitable roof, while we remained there. The hurry and fatigue of moving, with the restraint
one customarily feels, more or less of, upon going to a strange house, prevented me writing you the
first day; but the day subsequent I wrote as follows: My dearest Madam, I AM returned to this blessed land; join with me in
fervent prayer and thanksgiving to the Author of all good works, for his miraculous protection and
goodness during a circuitous passage of nigh three months, replete with hardships unprecedented, I
believe in any voyages heretofore related, the particulars of which I must take some other opportunity to
furnish you with." Here I made a full pause; and, after thinking and
re-thinking for near half an hour, whether I should subscribe my name and send it to the post, a thought struck
me,—"Why! I shall be in or ten days, when it will be in my power to send a
narration of what has happened since I last wrote Mrs.——; and if I write now, I shall only excite
curiosity, and keep her in unpleasant suspense for some time; so it is best to postpone writing till I can
do it fully." Now, in place of eight or ten days, it was almost
three weeks before we reached this metropolis; and since I arrived, my time has been wholly occupied in
receiving inquisitive visitors, and answering a few pertinent, and a number of ridiculous questions. I could make many other reasonable pleas, in behalf
of my silence, but trust what is already said will be amply satisfactory; shall therefore forbear making
any further apologies, and proceed with an account of myself since I last wrote to you. The 16th of June we went to Robana
to take leave of the Royal Family, and to receive the young Prince John Frederic on board; all this we accomplished,
and sailed the same day. Naimbana seemed unconcerned at parting with his son, but the
old Queen cried, and appeared much affected. The Prince was decorated in an old blue cloak, bound
with broad gold lace: which, with a black velvet coat, pair of white satin breeches, a couple of
shirts, and two or three pair of trowsers, from a compleat inventory of his stock of cloaths,
when he left The old man gave John all the cash he had, amounting
to the enormous sum of eight Spanish dollars (about thirty-five shillings); and just when we were
getting under way, saluted us with twelve guns, from some rusty pieces of cannon, laying on the beach
without carriages. The Lapwing was badly equip'd
for sea; the crew and passengers amounted to nine: four of the former were confined with fevers, consequently there were
only four, (and but one a sailor) to do the ship's duty. Mr. Rennieu gave me a goat
and half a dozen of fowls: King Naimbana put a
couple of goats, and a dozen of fowls on board for his son. Besides these, I purchased some poultry, and when we
sailed, considered ourselves possessed of a pretty good stock, consisting of three goats, four
dozen of fowls, a barrel of flour, half a barrel of pork, and a barrel of beef. We had not been at lea a week, when all our live
stock were washed or blown overboard, by repeated and impetuous tornadoes—so that we had not a thing
left but the flower and salt provisions; however, we were in hopes of getting in a few days to Saint Jago, one of the Cape De Verd
Islands, where the loss of our stock might be replaced. In this we were disappointed, for instead of a few
days, a continued interruption of calms and boisterous weather, made it six weeks before we
reached that was confined to my cabin, and mostly to my bed, for it
rained incessantly. After being about three weeks at sea, our sick got
clear of their fevers, but were so emaciated as to be unfit for any duty, except eating, and though
there was no food fit for convalescent persons on board., yet the coarse victuals we had stood no chance with
them, and made it necessary to put all hands to an allowance. Upon enquiring into the state of our provisions, we
found they had been lavishly dealt with; there was not more than one week's full allowance of meat, and
scarcely four days of flour remaining. These were alarming circumstances, for we had two
thirds further to go, than we had then come, toward Saint Jago. I did not selfishly care for the want of beef or
pork, as I had not tasted either since we sailed from All hands were restricted to a quarter of a pound of
beef or pork, and a small tea-cup full (rather better than a gill) of flour per day. What would have been more dreadful we should have
wanted water, was it not for the rains; the worms having imperceptibly penetrated our water casks, all
the water leaked out, except a small cask, which would not allow us more than a pint each, for three
weeks. My tea-cup of flour, mixed with a little rain water
and salt, boiled to a kind of pap, when the weather would admit a fire, otherwise raw, was, believe me,
all my nourishment for ten days, except once or twice, when some cruel unconscionable wretch robbed
me of the homely morsel, I was forced to taste the beef. The week before we arrived at St. Jago, our Carpenter, who had been ill, and was on the
recovery, relapsed, and died in twenty-four hours; which
circumstance terrified me exceedingly, least our afflictions were to be increased with some
pestilential disease; however, no similar misfortunes attended us afterwards. We arrived at Porta Praya in St Jago, I think, the
25th of July, when Falconbridge immediately went on shore to obtain sufferance to remain there a few days,
while he re-victualled and watered. An officer met him as he landed, and conducted him
to the chief magistrate of the Port, who lives in a Fort on top of a hill which commands the harbour. Falconbridge was well received, his request granted,
and he and myself were invited to dine at the Fort next day— but he was informed, provisions were not
to be had for any price—a sleet of European ships had just sailed from thence, and drained the
country of almost every kind of eatable. After being six weeks confined in the narrow bounds
of the Lapwing's cabin, and most of the time in bed, fed us I was upon scanty wretched food,
notwithstanding the benignity of heaven had preserved me from disease of any kind, you will not question
my energy of mind and body being considerably enervated; indeed, so enfeebled did I feel myself,
that it was with much difficulty I accompanied Falconbridge to dinner at the Consul's, for so the
Chief Officer of Porto Praya is termed; but the distance I had to walk was short, and with the help
of a Portuguese officer on one side, and my husband on the other, I accomplished it tolerable well. The company consisted of the Portuguese and French
Consuls, five Portuguese and two French gentlemen, two Portuguese ladies, Falconbridge, and myself. None of the foreigners spoke English, so you will
readily guess we but poorly amused or entertained each other; through the medium of a linguist who
attended, any compliments, questions or answers, &c. &c. were conveyed to and fro. Our dinner was very good, and I had prudence enough
to be temperate, having often heard of fatal consequences from indulgences in similar cases. During dinner we had excellent claret and madeira, but no wine was drank after; directly as the
cloth was removed, tea was introduced in the most uncommon
way I ever saw or heard of before; it was brought in china mugs, containing three pints each,
and every person was presented with one of those huge goblets. I had not tasted tea for several weeks,
nevertheless, one third of this quantity was more than I chose to swallow—but with astonishment I beheld others make a rapid
finish of their allowance. Having thus inundated their stomachs, every one
arose, and our host desired the linguist to acquaint me they were going to repose themselves for a while,
and if I was inclined to follow their example, a sofa, or bed was at my service; being bed sickened, I
declined the offer, and chose, in preference, to stretch my feeble limbs with gentle walking in a pleasant
portico, fronting the sea; for I had gathered strength enough in the few hours I was on shore, to walk alone. The company having indulged about an hour in their
habitual slothfulness, re-assembled; we were invited to take a bed on shore, but Falconbridge
learnt, the generality of people were thievishly disposed, and for that reason did not chuse to sleep from the cutter; and you know it would
have been very uncomfortable for me to remain without him,
among a parcel of strangers, when we could not understand what one or other said; besides, I had
other prudential objections for not remaining without Falconbridge, which the horror of our loathsome bark
could not conquer. . .. :.. After this, we remained four days in The town is situated on the same height with the
fort. They have a Romish chapel,
(for the inhabitants are all Roman Catholics) market place and jail, built of stone, and covered with slate in the European
way—the other buildings are mostly of wood and thatch, after the African manner. The French Consul has his house within the fort, which
is a decent good looking building, as is the Portuguese Consul's; but this is of stone, and that
of wood. The people of most countries have their peculiar
modes of habiting themselves, but surely the custom of Porto Praya is more
odious than any other;—in meeting a hundred men, two are not to be seen dressed alike—perhaps one will have a coat thrown
over his shoulders without occupying the sleeves; another a woman's petticoat drawn round his neck,
with his arms through the pocket holes, and so on, except the higher ranks. The women dress rather more uniformly; they wear
very short petticoats, and tight jackets, of a coarse linen, like Osnaburg, but
no shifts; I mean the lower class, or natives, who are mostly black, or of mixed complexions; for the few European ladies
there, are genteely habited with fine and their hair neatly plaited, and put up in silk nets. A narrow, handsome kind of cotton cloth is
manufactured at St. Jago; I went to one of the manufactories, and purchased several pieces; they
are in great estimation, and sell for a high price—I paid five and six dollars a piece, (about two yards
and a half; for those I bought.—The loom they are wove in resembles our garter loom. I understood the inhabitants raise their own cotton,
and have several small sugar works, which makes a sufficiency of sugar for the consumption of those islands, but
no quantity fox exportation. The Governor resides at a town named St. Jago, a considerable distance from Porto Praya, and on the opposite side of the island, which put it out of our power
to visit it. The Consul at Porto Praya
is his Vicegerent, but has his authority from great want of government among the people,
notwithstanding a strong military force is kept there. We got a superabundance of fine fish while we
remained at St. Jago, which was a fortunate circumstance—for our intelligence respecting the scarcity of
provisions was perfectly true. With our utmost endeavours
we could not procure but two goats and two dozen of fowls to take with us to sea; and those I was obliged to purchase with
some of my wearing apparel, which was preferred to money; or, I should say, they were not to be had for
money. Bread and salt provisions were not to be had in the
smallest quantity, for any price; however, we purchased a number of cocoa nuts, which they have in plenty,
as a substitute for bread. With these trifling and ordinary sea-stores we
departed from Porto Praya, the 30th of July,
trusting by oeconomical management, to make them serve till we reached some
other port. I recovered my strength and spirits considerably
during the short time we were at that place, as did all our sick; indeed it was necessary and lucky, for it
enabled us to contend against misfortune, and conquer the hardships, and inconveniencies, which
afterwards attended us. We had fine moderate weather the first twenty-four
hours, and got the length of same islands, where, falling calm, we came to anchor. Some of the people went on shore, thinking to kill a
few birds; and supposing the island uninhabited, it being a small barren place, without a tree or shrub
of any sort, a kind of fern excepted, so that no houses could be there, and escape our notice. The boat's crew had scarcely landed, when we were
greatly astonished and alarmed to behold from the cutter (for we lay no distance off the shore) five naked
human beings, who had just started up from behind a hilloc, running
towards them—however, our fears were quickly abated, by seeing the boat returning. The master was one that went on shore, and he
understood a little Portuguese, in which language these victims to barbarity addressed, and told him, they
had, several months past, been banished from an adjacent island, called Mayo, and landed where they
then were in the deplorable condition he beheld them. The Lapwing was the first vessel that had anchored
there since their exilement, and they begged and prayed we would take them off—they did not care where! This we could not do with any kind of discreetness,
from the danger of starving them and ourselves. They consisted of three men and two women, and we
mustered two petticoats and three pair of trowsers for them. I was curious to know something more of the poor
wretches, and went with Falconbridge and the Master on shore. Before we landed, they had retired behind the hilloc, and we sent forward their cloathing,
that they might be dressed by the time we came up. We found them in the act of broiling fish over a fire
made of dry fern, which was the only fuel they could possibly have. Our Skipper asked, if they had any houses? but was
answered in the negative; and pointing to the heaven and the earth, signifying this was
their bed, and that their covering; he then enquired, how they subsisted? and for what they were
banished? To the first they replied,—When put on the fire, were given them, through which means they
supported themselves; there was plenty of fish, and a good spring of water; but said they, "we have not
tasted bread since we left Mayo.” To the second, no further answer could be obtained,
than their having offended the Governor of Mayo, who was a Black man. They were miserably emaciated, and a hapless
melancholy overhang'd their countenances.—When we first came up, joyful smiles beamed through the
cloud, which soon darkened when they learnt there was no prospect of being relieved. They followed us to the boat, and I really believe,
if they had been armed, would have taken her from us: as it was, our men were obliged to use violence,
and turn them out, for all hands had jumped in, and attempted to get off. We offered to take any one of them, but not one
would consent to separate or share any good fortune the whole could not partake of. When we got clear from the shore, they pursued us up
to their necks in water, crying and howling so hideously, that I would have given the world! (were it at my
disposal) if it was either in our power to bring them away, or that I had not seen them. Here we remained all night, and till three o’clock
the day following, when a light savourable breeze enabled us to sail; before our departure, we sent
the convicts an iron pot, for cooking, and a few fishing utensils, which was all we could possibly spare them. To the northward of Islands, which we had to pass
close by. The wind was very weak, but every one imagined there
was enough of it to take us clear off that before morning; whether that was not the case, or
whether things were badly managed, I shall not decidedly say, though I have a decided opinion on
the subject; for towards four o'clock in the morning, being uncommonly restless, I thought, as the vessel
appeared very quiet, and the moon shone beautifully bright, I would get up and set upon deck for a
while. Perhaps merciful probability we must have been driven against the
rude rocks of St. Anthony, and God only knows what would have been the consequence, as I was the only person
awake. The first thing I saw, upon lifting my head out of
the cabin, was those lofty perpendicular rocks pending almost directly over us, and not a man upon
deck but King Naimbana's son, and him fast asleep. "Good God!" cried I, "
Falconbridge, we are on shore!" He instantly sprung up, and called all hands, who
got the boat out, and with the utmost exertion towed us off a small distance. When day light came on, our danger appeared more
forcibly, for, notwithstanding the oars had been diligently employed an hour and an half, we were not two
hundred yards from the Some said it was a current; others, it was the land
which influenced or attracted us: but what the real reasons were I know not; this only I can tell
you,—after trying every possible means to no purpose, till four o'clock in the afternoon, when the men
complaining their strength was exhausted, and they could do no more, it was agreed to abandon the Lapwing,
and look out for a place where we might land before night, and thereby secure safety for our lives, if
the vessel could not be preserved. Accordingly every one was desired to get into the
boat, but we found me was too small to carry us all at once; and two of the sailors consented to stay till
she could make a second trip. Falconbridge and myself got in, taking with us a few
shiftings of cloaths and
our bedding; we then rowed to the land, and after pulling to and fro for
near two hours, could not discover a single spot where there was a possibility of landing; during
which time, we observed the Cutter drifting fast toward the shore, and expected every moment to see
her strike, Despondency was visibly pictured in every face!— "What shall we do, or what is best to be done?” was the universal cry. Conscious of a woman's insignificance in such
matters, I was silent till then; when finding a general vacancy of opinion among the men, I ventured to say—
"Let us return to the Lapwing, and put our trust in him who is all sufficient, and whose dispensations
are always unquestionably just." To this forlorn proposition every one assented; but
said it was only deferring the evil moment a few hours, for we should certainly have to trust to our
boat very shortly again, unless a breeze came off the land. After getting on board it was settled— one person
should watch while the rest refreshed themselves with sleep, that they might be somewhat able to
encounter the looked-for fatigues of the night. For my part, I did not in the least incline to
sleep, but with watchful eyes and aching heart, awaited the expected moment when eight of us were to commit
ourselves, in a small open boat, to the mercy of the ungovernable ocean. Many reflections pressed upon me, but one more
powerful than any—"that our dilemma was probably a mark of divine vengeance, for not relieving the
distressed people at I often asked the watch, if we neared the rocks; sometimes
he answered in the affirmative, and sometimes doubtfully— but said we seemed to drift
coast ways withall; and he believed there was a strong current setting to the southward. About twelve o'clock Falconbridge came on deck, when
I mentioned this information to him: he then took notice himself, and found it really so. All hands were immediately turned out, and the boat
again manned to tow our bark with the current, for though it had not been observed, we were doubtless working
against it all the preceding day. This proved a propitious speculation; in about four
hours we could see the south-west end of the and at the same time had got near a mile off the land. What a change of countenance was now on board: I
felt my bosom fill with gratitude at hearing the glad tidings! General tokens of joy and congratulations passed
from one ship-mate to another; and when daylight appeared, instead of gloom and sorrow, every cheek blush'd cheerfulness. We then found ourselves clear of the African coast; nevertheless our troubles did not end
here. After running to the Westward eight and forty hours,
a tremendous storm came on, and continued to increase in violence for five days. This had scarcely abated, when it was succeeded by
another, nearly as bad— which however ran us as far as Fayal, one of the
Azores, or I do not mean to take up your time with a
description of those storms, or a detail of our sufferings, since we left St. Anthony, till our arrival at Every horror the most fertile ideas can picture a
sea storm with, aggravated the former; and, consequently augmenting the miseries of the latter,
rendered them almost unbearable and past representation. God knows they would have been bad enough without;
for the day we reached of salt beef and half a dozen cocoa nuts, were all the
provisions we had left. We remained there a week, and were hospitably
entertained by Mr. Graham, the English Consul, who had the goodness to insist on our taking a bed at
his house, directly as our arrival was announced to him. Being much bruised and indisposed by our boisterous
rough passage, and eating food I had not been accustomed to, prevented me from walking abroad for
two or three days; while thus confined, I was highly delighted and amused with admiring Mr.
Graham's beautiful garden adjoining his house, where are almost all the fruits of the torrid, frigid, and
temperate zones, in the greatest perfection; peaches, apples, pears, oranges, pine apples, limes, lemons,
citron, grapes, &c. &c. the finest I ever, saw. Mrs. Graham treated me with motherly kindness; by
her attention, and the wholesomeness of the climate, I gained so much fresh strength and
spirits, that before I came away, I was able frequently to walk about the town, and once took an excursion into
the country,: with her and a party of her friends, to the seat of a Mr. Perkins, art English gentleman. We all rode on asses, for carriages (if they have
any) could not pass the way we went. I was pleased with the reception this gentleman gave
us, as well as his polite and generous behaviour. In our way thither we passed a number of vineyards;
and, as fir as I could judge, the country seemed fruitful. Besides this excursion, Mr. and Mrs. Perkins
persuaded me to take one with them, to the about eight miles from should .see the most wonderful natural curiosity, in
the eighteen feet of each other—one nearly as cold as ice, the
other boiling with heat. When we arrived there, several washerwomen were
employed in their vocation; they told me the water was soft, and well adapted for washing; that they
made it of what temperature they pleased, by mixing, a proportion of each, and declared they had
frequently boiled fish in the hot well: I had a mind to try the heat by putting my finger in, but found the
steam powerful enough to convince me I should be scalded. There arc public Baths at those Wells, well attended
by the inhabitants of Islands; they lay somewhat t the. eastward,
at the foot of the mountain, which gives its name to this. Island. This is the highest mountain I ever saw, very
thickly wended towards its base, but picturesque, with many gentlemens' seats, and on
the whole vastly gratifying to the eye. It produces a particular and favorite, kind of wood,
called Teixa, or Teixo,
which, from its valuable qualities, no one is allowed to sell for private
use, it being reserved by the Queen of Portugal, after the custom of her predecessors, solely for the service of the
Portuguese government. I was but a few hours at Pico, and this, was all the
information I collected. There are two nunneries,
and a magnificent Romish, church at The former were crowded with nuns, and many of them
beautiful women. I saw two who spoke English, with whom I conversed
for some time, and purchased several artificial flowers, and a few sweatmeats
from them. One of them had all the traces of beauty yet
unblemished, but to a certainty somewhat tinged by ruinous time; for by her own account she must be far
advanced in years. Upon asking. her opinion of a monastic life, she
said, “Madam, I have been within the walls of this convent forty-three years, and had I to travel over
my life anew, 1 would prefer the same path to all others.” But a charming buxom young girl thought
otherwise.—She said, "Can you suppose an animated creature, like me, full of youthful fire, was
designed by nature to spend her days within these dismal walls? No! nor can I figure to myself, that any one (in
spite of what many may tell you,) can find pleasure in burying herself alive, and thwarting the
purposes of her creation, for such is certainly the case with all nuns,” and continued she: "My parents
placed me here at a time when I was not enable of judging for myself; nor do I scruple to say that my
ideas and fancies are fluttering among the amusements and gaieties of the world, and had I my will, my
person would be there also." I attended the church at mass time; after service
was ended, I observed several men bringing in a large sail of a ship, which had a curious appearance to a
stranger, as I was; but a gentleman present said, "Those people have been in the same storm with
yourselves, and they are giving that sail to the church as a thanks offering for their deliverance;" he
then shewed me part of the boat which Captain
Inglefield had been saved in, and which was kept here as a record
of divine favour to that gentleman. This circumstance refreshed my memory with the
notorious sufferings and wonderful escape of Captain Inglefield and his boat's crew; and after
mentally weighing our misfortunes with his, I summ'd them both up as follows.. “Captain Inglefield experienced all the miseries of
hunger, fatigue, and oppression of spirits, which sixteen days in an open boat, exposed to the furious
untameable wind and sea, without provision, in momentary expectation of being hurried to eternity,
could inflict, besides the additional horrors produced by ruminating on the hapless condition of
such numbers of his sellow creatures, in the same situation with himself." “We have been fifty-eight days in a deck'd boat, not twice the size of Captain
Inglefield's—continued rains almost all the while—three weeks a quarter of
a pound of beef, and about half the quantity of flour our allowance—eighteen days more baffled by
calms and contrary winds, or beat about by merciless storms, fed upon mean disagreeable food,
and scarcely enough of that to keep soul and body together; and, what was worse than all, the
apprehension of being left morseless of any kind of nourishment; which certainly must have been the case, had we
not arrived at Having done this, I compared them with
one-another—and though it is unfair to give my decision, we being too often apt to magnify our own misfortunes,
and always supposing them greater than those of others; yet I shall hazard making you acquainted
with the conclusion I drew, which, however, was very laconic. I said to myself, “Captain Inglesield's
sufferings are matchless, and were it not for the duration, and repetition of mine, they could have but little semblance to
one-another." The small pox was committing prodigious ravages
among all ranks of people, when we left I suppose, continues still so to do. A child of the French Consul's lay dangerously ill
with that disease, and he requested Falconbridge would visit it; he did so, and found the infant
confined in a small close room, where every means were taken to shut out the least breath of air. Falconbridge directly recommended the child to be
brought into a large open hall, which was done against the absurd remonstrances
of the Portuguese Physician, who pronounced immediate death to it; however, before our departure we had the pleasure of
seeing this innocent babe (who would in all probability, have otherwise fallen a victim to those
ridiculous notions of treating the small pox) quite out of danger; and I trust the precedent will be
generally attended to, and may prove equally efficacious. Many of our countrymen reside there, who are Roman
Catholics, and married to Portuguese ladies, with few exceptions. I saw two or three English women— perhaps all on the
island; they seem to have preserved their native manners and customs in high perfection, which the
Portuguese ladies emulously try to copy, more especially in the article of dress, than any thing
else; but in this they are much hinder'd by the
jealousy and narrow ideas of their husbands, who never suffer
their wives to go abroad, or appear in company with other men, whether single or married, without a
deep black or white sattin veil that hides not only the face but the body. In a conversation with one of those ladies, she said
to me "the women of your country must surely be very happy: they have so much more liberty than we
have, or I believe, than the women of any other country, I wish I was an English woman!" I thanked her
in behalf of my country women, for her good opinion, but assured her they had their share of thorns and
thistles, as well as those of other countries. How deeply do I regret our short stay at Saint Jago and historical and intelligent account of those islands;
but I was long enough at each place to form this summary opinion: The latter is, without exception
the most desirable spot I ever saw; and the former, as far opposite as it is possible for you to conceive. Having repaired such damage as our vessel had
received coming from St. Anthony, and supplied ourselves with abundance of stores to bring us to
this country, we set sail from month, and arrived at the time and place before
mentioned. Our passage was short and unattended with such boisterous
weather as we had experienced, yet it was so stormy that I was obliged to keep my bed the
whole time: which circumstance and a cold I caught, threw me into an indisposition that I have not yet
recovered from. The day after landing at received his answer,, a copy of which 1 herewith inclose. "Leadenhall-street,
7th Sept. 1791. "Dear Sir, "THE agreeable account of the safe arrival of
the Lapwing at gives me very particular satisfaction. "I have communicated your letter to Henry
Thornton, Esq. Chairman of the Court of Directors of the an act of the last Session of Parliament) and to
some of the Directors, and they desire you to come by land as expeditiously as you can, bringing with you
in a postchaise, Mrs. Falconbridge and the Black Prince, and also any such specimens o£ the country
as will not be liable to injury by land carriage. I inclose (from the
Directors) a note from Mr. Thornton's house, for thirty pounds, for which you
may easily procure cash for your journey, and is more
should be wanting for use of the people of the Lapwing, I have no doubt but Mrs. Dennis (to whose
care I send this Letter) will have the goodness to advance it, as she will be reimbursed by return of the
Post, when I receive advice of your draft. "The Lapwing may be left to the care of any
proper person whom you may think capable of taking due care of her, until the Directors give farther orders
respecting her. "I remain with great esteem, "Dear Sir, "Your affectionate Friend, "And humble Servant, "Granville Sharp." Mr. Alexander Falconbridge. In the interim Falconbridge went to There he met the Rev. Thomas Clarkson, that
unwearied stickler for human liberty, with whom, (or at whose instimulation) the
abolition of the Slave Trade originated, and at whose instance Falconbridge quitted his comfortable situation at Ludway, to enlist in the present (though I fear
chimerical) cause of freedom and humanity. Mr. Clarkson is also a Director of the Sierra Leone
Company, under which title, you find by Mr. Sharp's letter, the late St. George's Bay Company is
now called. He informed Falconbridge that his brother,
Lieutenant Clarkson of the navy, was gone to authorised by government to collect several hundred free
Blacks and take them to they are (under the care and patronage of the Directors
of our new Company) to form a Colony. It was surely a premature, hair-brained, and ill
digested scheme, to think of sending such a number of people all at once, to a rude, barbarous and unhealthy
country, before they were certain of possessing an acre of land; and I very much fear will terminate
in disappointment, if not disgrace to the authors; though at the same time, I am persuaded the motives sprung
from minds unsullied with evil meaning. We set out from towards As soon as our arrival was known, Mr. Thornton (the
Chairman), Mr. Sharp, and several others of the Directors came to see us, and after many compliments
expressive with condolence for our misfortunes, and congratulations for our deliverance and safe
arrival, a number of enquiries, &c. &c. Mr. Thornton requested Falconbridge and the Prince would dine
with him, at the same time gave the latter to understand he was to consider his (Mr. Thornton's) house as
his home. I could not help secretly smiling to see the servile
courtesy which those gentlemen paid this young man, merely from his being the son of a nominal King. It has slip'd my notice
till now to describe him to you:—His person is rather below the ordinary, inclining to grossness, his skin nearly jet black,
eyes keenly intelligent, nose flat, teeth unconnected, and filed sharp after the custom of his country, his
legs a little bandied, and his deportment easy, manly, and confident withal. In his disposition he is surly,
but has cunning enough to smother it where he thinks his interest is concerned; he is pettish and
implacable, but I think grateful and attached to those he considers his friends; nature has been bountiful
in giving him sound intellects, very capable of improvement, and he also possesses a great thirst for
knowledge. While with me, although it was seldom in my power,
now and then I amused myself with teaching him the alphabet, which he quickly learned, and before
we parted, could read any common print surprisingly well. He is not wanting in discernment, and has already
discovered the weak side of his patrons, which he strives to turn to good account, and I dare say, by
his natural subtilty, will in time advantage
himself considerably by it.7 The Directors seem much pleased with Falconbridge's
exertions, have appointed him Commercial Agent to the Company, and he is shortly to return to
accompany him, but my late misfortunes are yet too fresh in
remembrance to consent hastily. Indeed, you may suppose, I cannot but painfully remember
them while the bruises and chafes produced by the voyage on different parts of my body, continue unsealed.
However, it is probable, whether with or against my will, I must tacitly assent to hazard a
repetition of what I have already undergone. When matters are wholly fixed you will hear from me,
and perhaps I may shortly have the happiness of assuring you in person how I am, Your’s &c. 7 This young man returned to |
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