Africa miscellanea

The Bulama Association was formed in 1791 under the initiative of Philip Beaver (1766-1813), a retired navy lieutenant. Beaver proposed that the island of Bulama, off the west coast of Africa, should be used for settlement, with the African natives hired as free labourers. A constitution for the settlement was agreed in February 1792, and a legislative council was elected. However, the constitution was declared illegal by the Secretary of State, and had to be abandoned. Although three ships proceeded to Bulama, discipline was compromised without the constitution. The settlers found themselves unprepared for the practical details of colonisation and settlement, and relations with the natives were difficult. Most of the emigrants resolved to abandon the project at once. However, Beaver remained on Bulama with ninety-one volunteers. He was elected President of the Colony on 19th July 1792, and introduced a code of regulations. However, sickness and other problems steadily persuaded more settlers to leave, and Beaver abandoned his scheme at the end of November 1793.

Three memoranda and a letter relating to the settlement of Bulama. The papers are accompanied by 'Royal Commonwealth Society library notes', no. 46 (October 1960), including the article 'The Bulama venture' (pp. 1-3), which describes the collection and its background.

Presented by Colonel Duncan G. Pitcher.

The article 'The Bulama venture' is printed in the 'Journal of the Royal Commonwealth Society', vol. III, 1960, pp. 237-238.

Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 84. Indexed