Granville Sharp's letter to his brother John about the voyage to the Sierra Leone colony

October 1787
"I have had hitherto but melancholy accounts of the unfortunate colony to Sierra Leone. But I have however discovered that most of the evils have arisen from the allowance of rum distributed on board the ships; and the landing just in the rainy season on an un-cleared woody country when they were so enervated and infatuated by the rum that there was no prevailing on them to clear the underwood as I had recommended...They have purchased 20 miles square of the finest and most beautiful country...that was ever seen. The hills are no steeper than Shooters Hill and fine streams of fresh water run down the hill on each side of the new township and in the front is a noble bay where the river is about 3 leagues wide, the woods and gorges are beautiful beyond description and the soil very fine. So that a little good management and a prohibition of rum and spirits will produce a thriving settlement."

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• [D3549
• 13/1/S8]