Considerations on the present peace, as far as it is relative to the colonies, and the African trade

by Robert Vaughan; Thomas Carney

Certificate from Capt. Thomas Derbyshire, of Liverpool, relating to the use granted him of Tantumquery fort.

“This is to certify whom it may concern, that during my making a voyage to the Gold Coast of Africa, and my lying at Annamaboa, I settled a factory at Lagoe; where from a disturbance there seemed likely to be in the country, I did not think my goods safe in the factory-house I had taken: and on my being at cape Coast Castle in the year 1750, and intimating the same to the then governor, he offered me the use of Tantumquery fort to carry on trade therein, which I accepted; and ordered my gunner to take my goods from the factory at Lagoe, and lodge them in Tantumquery fort, which he did, and continued in the same for upwards of three months to carry on his trade. And Mr. John Clifton, chief of said fort, had orders to render him every service and good office in his power, without fee or reward; neither did the said governor receive any benefit, profit or advantage in any shape or manner, in consideration for my having the use of the fort aforesaid. To certify which, I set my hand this 16 Aug. 1751, &c.”

Extract of a certificate, dated 28 Dec. 1753, from seven masters of ships, that in the late company’s time traded to the coast of Africa.

“That the late company’s governor, during the continuance of his authority and command on the coast of Africa, did every thing in his power to promote the British interest and trade there: and from time to time assisted in doing us such service as our occasions required. In witness whereof we set our hands, &c. &c.”

We think it unnecessary to trouble the public with any further proofs relative to the conduct of the late royal African company and their officers, to shew that they did every thing in their power to promote the trade of the British subjects in Africa, as we shall reserve them for a work that is in hand; therefore will only state some facts regarding the African committee, their governors, and officers by them appointed to have the command and management on the Gold Coast and Whydah in Africa, for the public to form their judgment from.

That by an act of parliament, passed in the 23d year of the reign of his late majesty, the trade to Africa was intended to be made free and open to all his majesty’s subjects, without distinction or preference. But contrary to the intentions of the said act, that trade has been engrossed and monopolized by the officers of the committee on the Gold Coast and Whydah, by their entering into a confederacy or joint stock, and intermixing the government supplies with their own merchandize, and by that means assorted themselves so as to command said traffic.

Those officers have many other great advantages over free merchants and traders, such as having a considerable part of their private merchandize sent to them freight free, their extraordinary influence over the natives, by the command of the several castles to deposit their effects in, salaries, maintenance, European servants, artificers, doctors, castle-slaves, canoe-men, canoes, medicines, stores and necessaries of all sorts, being under their management and direction. Besides, the presents to princes, caboceers, and great men of the countries, being defrayed by the public, together with the said benefits arising from the government supplies; and many other advantages which they have taken, whereby they acquired such a superiority over the free traders, as obliged the merchants of Bristol and Liverpool to apply by memorial in the year 1753, stating therein the foregoing facts to the lords commissioners of trade and plantation for redress, which will appear by said memorial, supported by the following affidavits.

“Affidavit of William Brown, master of the Bristol, sworn 16 June, 1753, saith, that when he was last in Africa carrying on trade, was informed by Brew, chief of Tantumquery, and Withers, chief of Winnebah, that they were engaged in partnership in the slave trade with Melvil, Young, and the other officers at cape Coast Castle.”

“That Melvil and others told deponent, they expected a ship from Holland with a Dutch cargo, which ship they had some time before sent to Jamaica with slaves.”

“That he was in company with Dacres, chief of Accra, who informed him Young was coming to turn him out of the fort, by reason he would not enter into partnership with Melvil and Young; that Dacres declared he should have been glad to have continued his employ, but rather than be uneasy he would quit it, and soon after did so. That deponent could not purchase from the chiefs of forts, slaves under an ounce and half, or two ounces a head more than he gave for those of equal goodness to the Negro traders, occasioned by the trade being carried on by the chiefs of the forts.”