received the charter, which they were given to expect. Mr. Falconbridge was sent out with the requisite powers and supplies, in September, 1790. Immediately after his arrival, he collected as many as he could of the dispersed people, and settled them about two miles further than before from King Tom, where they found some deserted huts, and where they immediately began to clear and plant land. The new settlement was called Granvilletown, and the number of people gathered together in it were altogether sixty-four.
Soon after this, the Charter of Incorporation was obtained, and a considerable capital raised for carrying on the commerce of the settlement. The utmost watchfulness continued to be exhibited by all the authorities against the slave trade. The face of things became cheerful.
An opportunity about this time occurred of greatly increasing the settlement.
During the American revolutionary war, a considerable number of refugee slaves, had found their way to the British camps and vessels, and had been enlisted into the King's service. At the end of the war they were carried to Nova Scotia and promised land—but this promise was not faithfully kept, and the bleak climate disagreed with them. They were now willing to remove to Sierra Leone, and the requisite measures were promptly taken.
But preparations from England were necessary for their accomodation, and three vessels were accordingly expedited early in 1792, with upwards of one hundred Europeans. Soon after these reached Sierra Leone, the Nova Scotian fleet arrived, consisting of sixteen vessels, with eleven hundred and thirty-one settlers, after having lost sixty-five on the passage.
The original site of the town was now resumed. The former purchase was now secured by a new Palaver, and by new presents, and the appropriate name of Freetown, which it still retains, was given it.
Another ship meanwhile, of great burthen, (850 tons) was chartered, for the purpose of hastening to the settlers every accommodation which could be secured to them,
