I went to Whitehaven, where I was a bound apprentice to Joseph Harriman, Esq. merchant. I was almost

destitute of clothing, and indeed of every necessary, when I quitted my father's roof, and all I was to

receive for my servitude of four years was £14, with which I had to find myself in clothing and washing

during my apprenticeship. My employer, however, to his honour, paid for my education, when I happened to be in port, and by a strict observance of economy, and the kind assistance of my parents, I managed to pass my novitiate with a considerable decree of comfort.

I had now completed my apprenticeship, and my two old masters, Captain Newton and Captain Burns, who had vessels of their own, were each anxious to engage my services. I gave the preference to Captain Burns, who commanded a fine new brig called the Grove, then bound to Jamaica by way of Waterford. As I was considered expert as a carpenter, it was stipulated that I should be liberally paid for acting in that capacity, and I was moreover promised the earliest possible promotion.

We came to anchor at Annamaboe in December, 1790, after a passage of seven weeks. We lay there about three weeks without transacting any trade, the king of that part of the coast having died some time before, in consequence of which all business was suspended. According to a barbarous custom of the country on occasion of the decease of a prince twenty-three of his wives were put to death while we remained; and many no doubt had met with a similar fate before our arrival. Yet to become the wives of these great men was considered, by the parents of the females, a high and honourable distinction. It was stated to me that the late king of Dahomy, a great kingdom in the interior, had seven hundred wives, all of whom were sacrificed soon after his decease; and Captain Ferrer, a gentleman of talent and observation, who happened to be at Dahomy during the perpetration of this horrid butchery, afterwards testified the fact in the British House of Commons. His evidence was, however, of little avail, for Mr. Wilberforce and his party threw discredit upon the whole statement.

After some delay at Annamaboe (where I first became acquainted with my excellent friend Captain

Luke Mann), we proceeded to a place called Lagos, with negroes, and thence to Benin. We traded between both places for several months, so that I acquired a considerable knowledge, as a pilot, of that

part of the coast. I was much pleased with the gentle manners of the natives of Benin, who are truly a fine tractable race of people. When they meet an European they fall down on the right knee, clap their hands three times, and exclaim "Doe ba, doe ba;" that is " We reverence you!" They then shake hands, in their way, by giving three fillips with the finger.

The agents who were employed on different parts of the coast by our owner, Mr. Dawson, having all fallen victims to the climate in a few months after their arrival, in order that we might convey to him the melancholy news as soon as possible, we took in a quantity of ivory and other articles and sailed

from Benin. We arrived at Liverpool in August, 1791 - where after my recovery from an attack of jaundice I engaged to go as mate in a fine ship called The Bell, Captain Rigby, belonging to William Harper, Esq. and bound to Cape Mount, on the windward coast of Africa.

The legalization of the African trade, of which every person acquainted with the business heartily approved. One of these enacted that only five blacks should be carried for every three tons burthen; and as Mr. Wilberforce was one of the promoters of these very proper regulations, I take this opportunity

of complimenting him for the first and last time. His proposition, however, that badges should be worn

by African captains, who toiled at the risk of their lives for the accommodation of our colonies, and that he and others might enjoy their ease at home, was impertinent as well as ungracious; and his regulation that captains should land their cargoes without losing a certain number of black slaves, was absolutely ridiculous. Not a word was said about the white slaves, the poor sailors; these might die without regret.... Many a laugh I and others have had at Mr. Wilberforce and his party, v/hen we received our hundred pounds bounty. And with respect to the insinuation thrown out, in this country, that African captains sometimes threw their slaves overboard, it is unworthy of notice, for it goes to impute an absolute disregard of self interest, as well as of all humanity. In the African trade, as in all others, there were individuals bad as well as good, and it is but justice to discriminate, and not condemn the whole for the delinquencies of a few.