and far more extended commerce, beneficial alike to the natives of Africa and to the manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland. 4. That the present period is eminently fitted for prosecuting these benevolent designs; since the suspension, during the war, of that large share of the Slave Trade, which has commonly been carried on by France, Spain, and Holland, will, when combined with the effect of the Abolition Laws of Great Britain, America, and Denmark, produce nearly the entire cessation of that traffic along a line of coast extending between two and three thousand miles in length, and thereby afford a peculiarly fayourable opportunity for giving a new direction to the industry and commerce of Africa. 5. That for these purposes a Society be immediately formed, to be called THE AFRICAN INSTITUTION. CHAPTER II, Means of effecing the objects of the Institution. TO prevent misconception concerning the views and measures of the African Institution, it may be proper in the very first instance to declare, that it is the Society's fixed determination not to undertake any religious missions, and not to engage in commercial speculations. The Society is aware that there already exist several most respectable Institutions formed for the diffusion of Christianity, and means not to encroach on their province. It may also be proper to premise, that it will naturally become the duty and care of this Society, to watch over the execution of the laws, recently enacted in this and other countries, for abolishing the African Slave Trade; to endeavour to prevent the infraction of those laws; and from time to time to suggest any means by which they may be rendered more effectual to their objects; and likewise to endeavour, by communicating information, and by other appropriate methods, to promote the Abolition of the African Slave Trade by Foreign powers. The means which it is proposed to em ploy for the purpose of 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 |