to be formed into a distinct church or religious society; and to have a black appointed to be their pastor (and there is one at least, who is thought to be qualified for that office) and then to go, with all the blacks that shall be willing to move with them, to Africa, and settle on lands, which they think may be obtained of some of the nations there, from whom some of them were taken, and whose language they retain; and there maintain the profession and practice of Christianity, (6) and spread the knowledge of it, among the Africans, as far as they shall have opportunity; at the same time cultivating their lands, and introducing into that hitherto uncivilized country, the arts of husbandry, building mills and houses, and other mechanic arts, and raising tobacco, cotton, coffee, indigo, &c, for exportation as well as for their own use."
Samuel Hopkins then proceeds to mention the reports which he had heard respecting Sierra Leone— proposes several questions, and thus concludes: "Finally, whether the blacks in New England, who have been educated and habituated to industry and labor, either on lands or as mechanics, and are thereby prepared to bring forward such a settlement better, I believe, than any other blacks that can be found—whether these blacks can have any part of those lands to settle themselves upon, and on what terms, and what encouragement and assistance might they probably have?"
G. Sharp in a letter dated Leadenhall-street, 25th July, 1789, states the difficulties and disasters which the colony had experienced, and its then revived condition. He offers no lure to Hopkins' project, but assures him of a kind reception of the objects of his care, should they come as British subjects, and " all at one time." He mentions being informed that the laws were very good; the neighboring natives very civil; and King Naimbana a cordial friend; and he dwells in conclusion, upon the difficulty and importance of providing the settlement with a " live stock of cattle," as they had none.
The glaring discordances between these views and the American Colonization system may thus be briefly noticed.
