Supplement to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica/African Institution

AFRICAN INSTITUTION. This Institution was formed in 1807, for purposes which, to use the words of a celebrated Literary Journal, “certainly render it one of the most interesting, and most creditable to the feelings and character of our country, that ever found support within its bounds.” (Edinb. Review, Vol. XV. p. 485.) Its general objects, and the views which influenced its formation, are clearly stated in the following resolutions adopted, at the constituent meeting, held on the 14th of April 1807.

“1. That this meeting is deeply impressed with a sense of the enormous wrongs which the natives of Africa have suffered in their intercourse with Europe; and, from a desire to repair those wrongs, as well as from general feelings of benevolence, is anxious to adopt such measures as are best calculated to promote their civilization and happiness.

“2. That the approaching cessation of the slave trade, hitherto carried on by Great Britain, America, and Denmark, will, in a considerable degree, remove the barrier which has so long obstructed the natural course of social improvement in Africa; and that the way will be thereby opened for introducing the comforts and arts of a more civilized state of society.

“3. That the happiest effects may he reasonably anticipated from diffusing useful knowledge, and exciting industry among the inhabitants of Africa, and from obtaining and circulating throughout this country more ample and authentic information concerning the agricultural and commercial faculties of that vast continent; and that through the judicious prosecution of these benevolent endeavours, we may ultimately look forward to the establishment, in the room of that traffic by which Africa has been so long degraded, of a legitimate and far more extended commerce, beneficial alike to the natives of Africa and to the manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland.” (First Report, p. 2.)

The particular means which this society proposes to employ for promoting civilization and improvement in Africa, are of the following kind:

“1. To collect and diffuse, throughout this country, accurate information respecting the natural productions of Africa, and, in general, respecting the agricultural and commercial capacities of the African Continent, and the intellectual, moral, and political condition of its inhabitants.

“2. To promote the instruction of the Africans in letters and in useful knowledge, and to cultivate a friendly connection with the natives of that continent.

“3. To endeavour to enlighten the minds of the Africans with respect to their true interests; and to diffuse information amongst them respecting the means whereby they may improve the present opportunity of substituting a beneficial commerce in place of the slave trade.

“4. To introduce amongst them such of the improvements and useful arts of Europe as are suited to their condition.

“5. To promote the cultivation of the African soil, not only by exciting and directing the industry of the natives, but by furnishing, where it may appear advantageous to do so, useful seeds and plants, and implements of husbandry.

“6. To introduce amongst the inhabitants beneficial medical discoveries.

“7. To obtain a knowledge of the principal languages of Africa, and, as has already been found to be practicable, to reduce them to writing, with a view to facilitate the diffusion of information among the natives of that country.

“8. To employ suitable agents, and to establish correspondences as shall appear advisable, and to encourage and reward individual enterprize and exertion in promoting any of the purposes of the institution.” (First Report, p. 4.)

The management of the affairs of this institution is vested in a patron and president, twenty vice-presidents, a treasurer, and a board of thirty-six directors. These officers are chosen annually from among that class of the subscribers who are called governors of the institution. Those who subscribe sixty guineas at one time become hereditary governors; but thirty guineas subscribed at one time, make the subscriber a governor for life; or three guineas annually, a governor during the continuance of this annual subscription. Every subscriber of one guinea becomes an ordinary member, and continues so during the continuance of his subscription.

It is much to be regretted, that the funds of this noble institution are far too limited to enable it to pursue with vigour those great objects which it was intended to promote. Its annual income does not exceed L. 400; and, including donations, its whole receipts, of every kind, from its first formation to the commencement of the present year (1815), have amounted to only L. 9850. With such scanty means, it is impossible to do much in a direct way towards the advancement of civilization. A single fact will suffice to shew this. To a male and female teacher lately sent to Sierra Leone, the society allows a salary of L. 300 a-year, and this sum, moderate as it is, exhausts three-fourths of its annual income. But though the Institution has not hitherto been enabled to commence any extended plans of civilization in Africa, it has happily been able to aid materially in paving the way for such plans, by exerting its influence to effect a thorough abolition of the slave trade. This is the first great and indispensable step towards the improvement of Africa; and the vigilant attention of the society to this primary object has been of the greatest importance, both by enforcing a rigorous execution of the abolition laws enacted in this country, and by animating and directing the public call upon other nations to follow our example.

The proceedings of the society are fully detailed in its annual Reports, which are regularly published. These Reports are written with great ability, and contain much valuable and interesting information in regard to Africa, and the means of civilizing it. It may be proper to add, that the conduct of the directors has been severely attacked, and their Reports criticised, in a pamphlet lately published by Dr Thorpe, who, for sometime, held the office of Chief Judge in the colony of Sierra Leone. The directors have replied to his accusations with great temper, and, in so far as we can judge, with complete success, in a Special Report, read at a general meeting in April last (1815), and since published.