344 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY may already be very plainly traced in the different character which trade with West Africa has assumed within the last twenty or five-and- twenty years. In the earlier part of the century, when the British Government assumed the duty of watching over the suppression of the slave trade, other trade fell to an almost nominal figure. A return presented to the House of Commons in 1865 shows the total value of exports from the West African settlements to amount to ;65o,ooo, while the total value of imports into the settlements amounted to 533,000. The cost of the very elementary government which was maintained in the four settlements for the purpose of promoting this trade and suppressing the slave trade, inclusive of the squadron maintained in West African waters, amounted to a charge on the Treasury of about 3 20,000.

The later history of these colonies is sufficiently well known to render it unnecessary for me to deal with it here. I must only guard myself from seeming to attach to modern traders with West Africa the slur which undoubtedly did attach to their predecessors of an earlier period. The trade of the coast of late years has been placed upon a much wider, and I think it may be said without fear of contradiction by events, an everwidening basis. It is associated with some of the most respectable names in commerce, and under enlightened and beneficent direction may not improbably become one of the most valuable fields of British industrial development. Since the period of which I write, a body of educated coast natives has also been developed which would have a just right to be profoundly wounded were they to be confused with the cannibal savage who lives not far from them in the interior. In this connection, the names of Bishop Crowther and Dr. Blyden will occur to every mind, and if among the coloured officials and professional men of the coast colonies all have not attained to the same reputation, there are no doubt many who merit the same distinction. But these are to be met with only within the limits of the European settle-