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53 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
This had so prejudiced the Blacks that
many of them there proposed to work their passage to the West Indies after
their provisions should be expended which could not last more than five or
six weeks -
In the second letter he said that the conditions
of things was very little altered their number was diminished, the Whites were
still sickly, and the Blacks though healthier were still far from being reconciled
to the place, or attentive to the cultivation of their plots of land, that they
had sowed little or no seed, had built few comfortable houses for themselves
nor any house for Mr. Fraser, or for public Worship, and that they were very
little disposed to remain in the settlements- soon after this he came home in
a very ill state of health-
Major Skinner of this town, whom we accidentally
met with after our arrival appeared upon the whole disinclined to the present
undertaking, yet being himself appointed an agent to receive the names of such
families who were inclined to accept the Company's proposals and afterwards
to convey them to Halifax; he advised me in order to follow as much as possible
the intentions of government to send some person immediately over to Birch Town,
inhabited solely by the Blacks, in order to assemble the whole of them together,
the ensuing day to have the proposals properly explained to them and to save
the unnecessary trouble of repeating them to each individual, this advice was
readily adopted and the Black teacher
was dispatched for that purpose-
Dined with Major Skinner in company with Mr.
Miller, Lieut. in the Black Corps in the West Indies who was appointed to enlist
those whose inclinations led them to become Soldiers in preference of adventurers
to Sierra Leone.
October 26th At ten this morning waited upon
two of the Justices of the Peace in behalf of a boy whose master was going to
leave this Province to settle in the United States and who wishes to take him
with him.
At half past ten mounted my horse accompanied
by Major Skinner, Chaplain
and Mr. Brinley,
and arrived
at Birch Town about noon.
The Blacks had by this time collected in great
numbers and after wait- a short time were upon account of the rain desired to
assemble in their which they did, to the amount of about three or four hundred-
Considering that the future happiness, welfare
and perhaps life of the poor creatures depended in a great measure upon the
discourse I was to deliver, I was at a loss how to begin, but having ascended
the pulpit and seeing the eyes and attention of every person fixed upon me I
it best to state to them the intentions of Government from Mr.Dundas's letter
to Governor Parr and Carleton, and those of the Company from their printed declaration-
54 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
I began by telling them that in consequence
of the Memorial Thos. Peters in their behalf, His Majesty in consideration of
their services had made them three offers which each individual was at liberty
to accept or reject as he thought proper, wishing them to adopt that which they
imagined would be most conducive to their happiness
The first was that if it should upon enquiry appear
that the engagements made upon the part of Government with respect to their
grants land had not been fulfilled, His Majty had directed that the full proportion
promised them should be immediately given, and in a situation so advantageous
that it might make them some atonement for the delay. Secondly such as were
inclined had the liberty of enlisting as Soldiers to serve only in the West
Indies - They who adopted this proposal would be greatly protected and entitled
to the same privileges as the British Army. 'I third and last proposal was that
as a plan had lately been formed by number of gentlemen in England for establishing
a free Settlement up the river Sierra Leone on the Coast of Africa and measures
have be taken by them for obtaining a charter of Incorporation. It appeared
Thos. Peters on a consideration of the encouragement held out to him a his associates
from the Directors of the Sierra Leone Company, that ti proposed Settlement
would be likely to afford to him and persons of a similar description, an asylum
much better suited to their constitutions than Nova Scotia or New Brunswick
and that Thomas Peters had in consequence expressed a desire that himself, his
family, and such other Black people as were disposed to become Settlers at Sierra
Leone, might be n moved thither, although a compliance with this requisition
would be ~ tended with considerable expense to the public His Majesty was anxious
gratify those who should feel disposed to go and had given orders to Governors
of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to furnish them with shipping for that purpose
and to allow such a tonnage to each person as would enable them to take such
articles as would be useful to them in the n Settlement-
It was necessary however upon
this occasion to mention and to thoroughly understood by them that His Majesty
took no further part this business than to convey to Sierra Leone free of expense
all such appeared disatisfied with their present situation.
I afterwards read to them the proposals made by
the Sierra Leone Company and explained as well as I could the meaning of each
paragraph and earnestly entreated they would take the three foregoing proposals
their most serious consideration and as they had sufficient time for purpose,
I begged them not to come to an immediate conclusion, but desired them to confer
and advise with each other before they determined in their choice-
I declared that I was perfectly disinterested
in this business and no view to answer but that of gratifying my feelings in
endeavoring - render their situation more comfortable and happy- I nevertheless
advised all such as had via great measures surmounted their difficulties
55 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
were getting up in the world and possessed of some little property to remain
In the province telling them it would be rather in my opinion running a risk
for persons of this description to resign a certainty for a prospect extremely
precarious.
With respect to the first proposal made to them
by Government in giving all those fresh grants of land in an advantageous situation
who were desirous of remaining in this country I could only say it would give
me pleasure to assist any of them in their wishes on that head-
As for the second I thought it best adapted to
such as were not in the habits of industry. I represented to them that the West
Indian climate was warm and congenial to their constitutions and that all persons
who were inclined to enlist by applying to Lieut. Miller would receive a bounty
of one guinea and a half and enter into immediate pay.
I desired them to think seriously on the third and last
proposal to weigh it well in their minds and not to suffer themselves to be
led away on the one hand by exaggerated accounts of the fertility of the soil,
and on the other by the representations of theadness of the climate-I cautioned
them not to be influenced by the novelty of the thing and particularized the
various difficulties which they might expect to experience in a newly established
Colony, pointing out that if they were not determined to work and be industrious
they would in all probability starve and therefore I hoped they would not blame
me should it not turn out according to their expectations. I explained to them
such expressions in the Company's proposals as they did not comprehend and informed
them that what was meant by the term, "holding their lands subject to certain
charges and obligations," was by no means to be considered as an annual rent
which idea had been industriously disseminated amongst them but as a kind of
tax for charitable purposes such as for the maintenance their poor, the care
of the sick, and the education of their children-
I told them that all such as were
determined to become Settlers in to the New Colony must not recede from this
engagement after they had art given in their names as it would put Government
to a great expense in providing shipping for them that as soon as they arrived
at Halifax the general rendezvous, they must look up to me as their friend and
protector, that I should at all times be happy to redress their grievances and
ready to defend them with my life, in return for which, I expected their good
behavior during the passage that they would give as little trouble as possible
and lend a willing hand whenever their assistance might be required, giving
them however to understand that this last request would be entirely voluntary
on their parts for they must consider themselves in every respect as passengers,
no compulsive measures would be adopted towards them, nor would a white sailor
upon any account be suffered with impunity to lift up his hand against them.
Upon their arrival in Africa I promised to make it
my business to see that their proper allotments of land were given them and
declared I
56 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
would never leave them till each individual assured me he was perfectly satisfied.
Upon the conclusion of my discourse which notwithstanding
remonstrance to the contrary had been frequently interrupted by the plaudits
which burst forth from these poor creatures, they assured me the were unanimous
in the desire for embarking for Africa, telling me the labour was lost upon
the land in this country and their utmost effort would barely keep them in existence,
that being now sunk to the lowest pitch of wretchedness, their condition could
not be otherwise than meliorated, and as they had already made up their minds
for quitting this country, they would not be diverted from their resolution
though disease a- even death were the consequence.
I now requested that all those who after serious
reflection we determined to embark for Sierra Leone would call upon me, at my
lodgings any time between the hours of nine in the morning and one in the afternoon
the three following days when Major Skinner and myself would enter their names.
About 3 O'clock we returned to Shelburne, dined with Mr. Humphries
-politics
the chief topic of conversation, passed an agreeable afternoon.
27th October - Major Skinner and myself employed
during t fore part of this day in taking down the names and history of each
family advising all of them to dispose of their property though they might not
get the full value for it, reserving however a sufficient proportion to maintain
them till the first week in December at which time Major Skinner would provide
vessels properly victualed to convey them safe to Halifax.
Dined with me this day at the Coffee House Major
Skinner, Humphries, Mr. Brinley, Mr. Miller and DrSullivan. I cannot avoid
mentioning part of the conversation after dinner Major Skinner having that he
had declared and would still continue to do so in all companies, that what I
had advanced was just and equitable, that through the whole business I had conducted
myself with the greatest candour, and that every white inhabitant he had conversed
with in the town agreed with him with these sentiments, and wholly acquitted
me of exerting any kind of influence induce the Black people to quit this country.
28th October. Employed as yesterday. Upon inquiry
I found the greatest part of the people who had given in their names had not
it with the idea of improving their own condition, but for the sake of the children
whom they wish to see established (as they expressed it) upon a better foundation-
A most affecting scene occurred this afternoon
occasioned by a Black slave who came to me in order to resign his wife
and family who were free
With tears streaming down his cheeks he said,
that though this separation would be as death to himself, yet he had come to
a resolution resigning them up for ever, convinced as he was, that such a measure.
57 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
would ultimately tend to render their situation more comfortable and happy-He
said he was regardless of himself or of the cruelties he might hereafter experience
for though sunk to the most aject state of wretchedness he could at all times
cheer himself with the pleasing reflection that his wife and children were happy-
Much more he said, which is impossible to convey
in language adequate to our feelings on this occasion.
The room as usual was crowded
during this pathetic address and every individual, both Black or White were
struck with the noble and elevated sentiments of this poor slave joining
in paying a willing tribute of tears to such an unparalleled instance of heroism.
I was much affected with this scene that admiring
the man, and 'commiserating his condition told him I would purchase his freedom
if I could do it and wrote to his master immediately about the business-Dined
this day with Dr. Sullivan, Messrs. Humphries, Ogden,
- Brinley and
Bruce
October 29th, Received an answer
to my letter respecting the poor John Cottress, and was much affected to find
that the intrusion of law as applied to this man's case prevented the master
from selling him. Major Skinner who appeared anxious to procure his freedom
gave no hope of succeeding from the short time I could stay in the Province
I was therefore obliged though reluctantly to give him up.
A plan being now in agitation
to obtain an act of Parliament for making the Town of Shelburne a free Port
and reports having been industrious spread among the Blacks that if such a circumstance
took place for their former masters, would come and claim them, I thought proper
to draw up the following advertisement which was printed and distributed the
neighborhood and in all the chapels of the Free Blacks-
ADVERTISEMENT
Whereas several of the Free Blacks
have given in their names to go to Sierra Leone, and since that time it has
been reported by many people of that Caller that their sole motive for accepting
the Company's Proposal, was not from an idea of bettering their condition, but
in consequence of their believing that if they remained here, and this place
should be made a Free Port their former Masters will come and claim them, this
method is therefore taken to assure them that all Free Blacks who choose to
remain here will meet with the same protection as any other of His Majesty's
subjects; and should anyf them be inclined after this assurance to alter their
intentions the Agent of the Sierra Leone Company during his continuance in this
town will be ready to erase their names, especially of all such as have surmounted
their diffi-
58 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
culties, and are men of decent property~And it is understood likewise,
that many others are desirous of embarking for the new Settlement, and it is
recommended to all those, who have not already given in their names, not to
dispose of their effects, till they are assured that a sufficient quantity of
shipping will be ready to receive them, Major Skinner who has been appointed
as Agent for this district will, as soon as an opportunity offers, go to Halifax,
and upon his return notify to the Free Blacks in general, the proper mode they
are to pursue in future.
John Clarkson~Agent
for the Sierra Leone Company,
Shelburne, October 29, 1791
The numbers who had given in their names for the last three
being made greater than I had previously expected and fearing that vessels could
not be obtained to receive them, I thought it prudent to insert I above advertisement
to prevent them from disposing of their proper the manner they were doing and
to convince them that I did not wish them to go with me, if they did not think
they could be benefited change, Colonel Bluck a Black man and one of their principal
leaders with me today.
October 30th,-Dined and passed the day at Major Skinner's an
agreeable party of ladies.
October 31st- Several people came to me this morning
to have names taken down which by great perseverance and the most earnest entreaties
they effected, notwithstanding all my resolutions to the contrary -They were,
however, requested not to sell their property till they informed that vessels
could be procured for them- One of them in language, which is impossible for me
to convey, in the simple, unaffected and forcible style in which it was delivered
most sensibly remarked that they were all impressed with the liveliest sense of
gratitude to His II for the offers he had made to them, yet it would be unwise,
in his 0 for many of them to think of remaining in the Province even if they certain
of having their full proportion of land granted them, in the most advantageous
situations, for said he
had we received our allotments of land upon our arrival in
this Province from the States of America, when we were allowed provisions for
three years with implements of husbandry, as well as arms a {and} ammunition we
might have cultivated our lots to advantage, and by the time our provisions were
stopped the lands of industrious men would have been in such a state of improvement
as to have seemed to them a comfortable support; on the contrary, instead of receiving
our promised and proper allotments upon our arrival in the province, the greatest
part of us have received small al-
59 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
-lotments in a soil so over run with rocks and swamps that vegetation, with
our utmost care, is barely sufficient to keep us in existence; nay some of us
have actually perished from hunger and the severity of the climate-
It is therefore too late for the greatest part of us to
reap any benefit in this country from the kind offers of His Majesty, for myself
and many of my companions have been obliged to give up our small lots, finding
that we could not live upon them and necessity obliged us to cultivate the lands
of a white man for half the produce, which occupies the whole of our time and
we should certainly perish, even if the best land were given us now before we
could clear it and receive the benefit of a crop-
He coluded by saying that some few of his companions had
received their full allotment of land and had nothing to complain of but the
improductive quality of the soil-
In the afternoon one of the Free Blacks called upon me to say that
he had stolen his son from his master, who was going to carry him with him to
America, and that he had secured him in the woods till the vessel sailed which
has to take his master away - The boy was the occasion of my waiting upon two
Justices of the Peace on the 26th inst.
The circumstance is as follows: the master was a butcher
of the most vile and abandoned character who had resided at Shelburne for some
time; the boy had been bound as apprentice to him till he arrived at the age
of 21 years; his master was going to quit the Province and become a subject
of the States of America, meaning to reside at Boston and he had according to
the Laws of the Province notified his intention in a public manner previous
to his departure, he claimed the right to take his servant him and the two Justices
partly acquiesced with him, but finding there was no time to lose, as the vessel
was upon the point of sailing, I told parents to steal the child if they could
and I would bring it to a trial them afterwards as I was convinced the master
meant, upon his arrival in Boston to sell the boy for a slave-Having obtained
the best legal opinion on the business I secured the boy and came forward openly
to justify the measure, but no one appearing against him, he continued with
his family, and was enrolled for embarkation.
1st November-Entered the name of a few families on condition
they should not sell any of their property till they were assured sufficient
shipping could be procured to convey them to Africa. Erased the ~ a few others
who being men of decent property had altered their Lions.
Dined at the Coffee House with Major Skinner, Messrs. Humphries,
Bruce, Mr. Keller, Miller and two officers of the 4th Regt. Messrs. Davies and
Winkley
- Sent by a small schooner to Port L'Herbert the
60 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
medicines which we promised, and which Mr. Taylor thought necessary for
John McLean and the wife of Shepherd the Black.
2nd November. Took down the names of a man conditionally
before he came from the Coast of Africa originally and spoke English differently.
The following dialogue passed between us "Well my friend I suppose you are thoroughly
acquainted with the nature of the proposals~ offered to
you by His Majesty? Mr Massa, me no hear, nor no mind, me
works like slave, cannot do worse Massa, in any part of the world, therefore
am determined to go with you Massa if you please
You must consider that this is a new Settlement and should
you keep your Health must expect to meet with many difficulties, if you engage
in it. Me well know that Massa, me can work much and care not for climate; if
me die, me die, had rather die in me own country than this cold place Dined
and spent the evening with Major Skinner.
3rd November - All this morning employed writing letters
for land. Dined at home and in the evening went to a ball at Major Skinner returned
at 11 to finish my letters.
4th November - The weather very cold, and the ground c( with
snow - This morning employed making preparations for my to Halifax, dined at
the Barracks on the opposite side of the river Mr. Davies of the 4th Regiment.
David George a preacher among Blacks called upon us. He appeared to stand in
fear of the principal, people of this town, who had thrown out several menaces
against him a view to prevent his taking an active part in this business;
He nevertheless was resolutely bent leaving this country, and had sold off
a property for the purpose. Two of the most inveterate against the - the one
a Magistrate, and the other a gentleman of this place, could scarcely refrain
from insulting me in the room. I made public for enrolling names of the Blacks.
5th November. Mr. Miller dined with me today - closed my
for England, received several visits to take leave but the wind suddenly changing,
obliged us to give up all thoughts of sailing today- Drank with Major Skinner's
family and received a present of an American Book from Miss Parker
The following are the extracts of my letter sent to Mr. Thornton
Shelburne, N. Scotia Novbr 6th 1791
Dear Sir,
I reached this place on Tuesday the 25th October and on my landing was met upon
the wharf by a black Minister
61 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
who was just going to embark to Halifax in hopes of getting the Company's
proposal explained-
I immediately waited upon Major Skinner Who has been
appointed Agent for conducting the business in this district, and we agreed
to send the above mentioned clergyman to inform the Free Blacks that if they
would be ready by 12 o'clock the following day, we would attend to answer any
questions they might wish to put to us-We accordingly mounted our horses in
company with many gentlemen and arrived at Birch Town of Wednesday a little
before noon - The people amounting to 300 or 400 were assembled were assembled
[sic] in their Church anxious to hear the intentions of Government and
the Company-
I have not time to enter into any particulars. I can only
say that during the whole of my explanation I kept an eye to the expenses likely
to be thrown upon Government, the honor and prosperity of the Company, and the
general happiness of these oppressed people
Major Skinner and myself appointed the three
following days to take down the names of such as were willing to go but on the
third day finding that so many were determined to embark and that the spirit
of emigration appeared to be general, we were obliged to leave off, till we
could be certain that vessels would be in readiness to receive them, for the
people are so infatuated with the ideas of leaving this place that many of them
have actually sold all they had, and some to such disadvantage, as distresses
are beyond measure when I think of it-
I am and have been since my arrival
in this place, extremely unhappy, not from any part of my own conduct, the conscious
rectitude of which is the only support I have in my present trying situation
but I cannot help feeling an indignant warmth when I reflect upon the various
modes and delusive arguments made use of by interested people to deceive these
unhappy men; some on the one hand actuated by the vilest motives persuade them
to go that they may purchase their property on the most shameful terms, while
others are making use of every artful device to retain them in this country-
I must give you an instance to exemplify what I have advanced - Potatoes before
my arrival at Shelburne sold for one shilling to one & three pence per bushel,
and at this time people are buying in their winter stock at 2½ per bushel.
The Instance I now adduce may be trifling of its kind but there are others of
much greater magnitude-
Another circumstance which affects me is this that the
62 CLARKSON'S MISSION TO AMERICA 1791-1792
number who have already entered their names (and there are yet no accounts
from the other parts of the Province) have been so much greater than I had any
previous reason to sup pose, that I am apehensive there cannot be a sufficient
tonnage procured to convey them to Sierra Leone unless the same steps are pursued
in the different parts of the Province, as have been taken in the neighborhood
of Shelburne and I have my doubts on this head, if I may judge from the slovenly
and ignorant manner in which the business has as yet been conducted, and from
the influence Peters must necessarily have over all those with whom he may converse-What
then will become of these poor creatures should they be obliged to remain here
during the winter after having disposed of their property! this idea strikes
me with horror, and on the other hand the enormous expenses which must of consequences
accrue to Government will I am certain greatly surprise & alarm them-
After seriously reflecting on the various
circumstances mentioned above, & having my feelings hourly tortured by scenes
of accumulating misery and distress, and being at the same time informed by
several Black people, that many of their comrades had given in their names to
go with me, not from an idea of bettering their condition, but from a report
which had been circulated among them by men who were desirous of purchasing
their property, that if they remained here, and this place should be a Free
Port, their former masters would have legal authority to claim them, and knowing
that the whole of them looked up to me as their friend and protector, and that
anything from me would have greater weight, than from any inhabitant of this
town, I was induced to draw up the enclosed advertisement (see page 88) which
I caused to be printed and distributed through Shelburne and its environs; for
though I was convinced that the most guarded expressions with my name annexed
to them would be perverted and expounded in a sense contrary to their real in
tent, yet upon mature consideration I thought the advantage resulting from the
publication would be more than equivalent to any evil arising therefrom though
I must say it was with the greatest reluctance I adopted such measure, for I
was in hopes to have steered clear of having my name adjoined to any part of
the business, except after having received the volunteers when it would become
my duty to see them properly conducted and the engagements of the Company performed.
I wish I could speak to a certainty respecting the number likely to become Settlers,
as you might then act accordingly for you must not suffer us to starve after
our arrival, but I think I may venture to say that 1200 Tons of shipping will
be
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