But that is not the case of the planters in the sugar islands; which sufficiently proves how disadvantageous it must be to have such imported there, in preference to those that would be so immediately useful and serviceable, or to let the French purchase the better sort. Yet such has been the case, it being for the interest of the African merchants to supply the _British_ planters with the inferior sort, as each Negro costs much less on the coast of _Angola_, &c. than those from the _Gold Coast_, &c. which saves a great deal in the outset of the cargoes sent to _Africa_, and consequently greatly encreases the net profit on the voyages, as the tender and worst sort of Negroes will sell in the sugar islands for near as great a price each as the best, provided there is none of the latter at market; and a greater number of the former being subject to die, must encrease the demand. This we thought proper to take notice of, to shew how necessary it will be for the interest of this country, that the French should not for the future be allowed to trade in _Africa_, at cape _Appollonia_, or between it and the river _Volta_, where, and at _Popo_ and _Whidah_, to the eastward of that river, the valuable Negroes beforementioned, adapted by their natural constitution for cultivating the sugar plantations, are to be purchased; otherwise in times of peace, they will be constantly making encroachments as heretofore; so that when the late company’s governor at _Cape Coast Castle_ saw a _French_ vessel upon the Gold Coast, he used to order an officer to go on board with a message to the following purport. “You are ordered on board the _French_ vessel, to tell the master, the governor and council do not make trade with the subjects of _France_,[7] nor do they suffer the natives to trade with them. But as there subsists a good friendship and alliance between the king of Great Britain and the French king, if the master should be distressed for water, or such like necessaries, he might have it upon application, by admitting an officer on board, to prevent his having intercourse with the natives, or others, till he should have received such supplies; but that he should not be allowed to trade to the westward of the river _Volta_, which if he attempted, proper measures would be taken to prevent and obstruct his commerce. Therefore, should he neglect those orders, and receive any damage thereby, it would be his own fault; as the governor and council held the trade of the _Gold Coast_, the indubitable right and property of THE ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY OF ENGLAND.”