The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By HimselfEquiano, Olaudah
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The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself
Equiano, Olaudah
Enslaved persons -- Great Britain -- Biography; Enslaved persons -- United States -- Biography; Equiano, Olaudah, 1745-1797
That your memorialist is desirous of returning to Africa as
a missionary, if encouraged by your Lordship, in hopes of
being able to prevail upon his countrymen to become
Christians; and your memorialist is the more induced to
undertake the same, from the success that has attended the
like undertakings when encouraged by the Portuguese through
their different settlements on the coast of Africa, and also
by the Dutch: both governments encouraging the blacks, who,
by their education are qualified to undertake the same, and
are found more proper than European clergymen, unacquainted
with the language and customs of the country.
Your memorialist's only motive for soliciting the office of
a missionary is, that he may be a means, under God, of
reforming his countrymen and persuading them to embrace the
Christian religion. Therefore your memorialist humbly prays
your Lordship's encouragement and support in the
undertaking.
GUSTAVUS VASSA.
At Mr. Guthrie's, taylor,
No. 17, Hedge-lane.
My Lord,
I have resided near seven years on the coast of Africa, for
most part of the time as commanding officer. From the
knowledge I have of the country and its inhabitants, I am
inclined to think that the within plan will be attended with
great success, if countenanced by your Lordship. I beg leave
further to represent to your Lordship, that the like
attempts, when encouraged by other governments, have met
with uncommon success; and at this very time I know a very
respectable character a black priest at Cape Coast Castle. I
know the within named Gustavus Vassa, and believe him a
moral good man.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Humble and obedient servant,
MATT. MACNAMARA.
Grove, 11th March 1779.
This letter was also accompanied by the following from Doctor Wallace,
who had resided in Africa for many years, and whose sentiments on the
subject of an African mission were the same with Governor Macnamara's.
_March 13, 1779_.
My Lord,
I have resided near five years on Senegambia on the coast of
Africa, and have had the honour of filling very considerable
employments in that province. I do approve of the within
plan, and think the undertaking very laudable and proper,
and that it deserves your Lordship's protection and
encouragement, in which case it must be attended with the
intended success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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