TENTH REPORT.

Much progress has been made, the last year, in the construction of public buildings and works of defence; though, with adequate supplies of lumber, more might doubtless have been accomplished. Two handsome churches, erected solely by the colonists, now adorn the village of Monrovia. Fort Stockton has been rebuilt in a style of strength and beauty. A receptacle, capable of accommodating 150 emigrants, is completed. The new agency-house, market-house, Lancasterian school, and town-house, in Monrovia, were, some months since, far advanced, and the finishing strokes. were about to be given to the government-house, on the St. Paul's. The wing of the old agency-house has been "handsomely fitted up for the colonial library, which now consists of 1,200 volumes, systematically arranged in glazed cases, with appropriate hangings. All the books are substantially covered and accurately labelled, and files of more than ten newspapers, more or less complete, are preserved. The library is fitted up so as to answer the purpose of a reading room; and it is intended to make it a museum of all the natural curiosities of Africa which can be procured."

ELEVENTH REPORT.

The Board rejoice to state that three new fortifications, and thirteen public buildings, exclusive of the churches, are either completed already, or so far advanced as to authorize the expectation that they will be finished in the course of the year. Forty workmen, says Mr. Ashmun, in a letter of March last, are employed in erecting them. In the expense of many of them, it is true, (being indispensable to the fulfilment of the benevolent objects of its agency) the Government has shared; yet several of great importance have been commenced, and depend for their completion upon the resources of the society and the colonists.

It is a fact highly creditable to the public spirit of the people, that a company has been incorporated for improving the navigation of Montserado river, and a subscription raised to the amount of about one thousand dollars, while, with laudable zeal, the stockholders have pledged themselves to increase the sum to four thousand, if necessary to effect their object. encourage this object, the colonial agent has been authorized by the Board of Managers to subscribe for stock, should he judge expedient, to the amount of one thousand dollars.

To

The sum of fourteen hundred dollars, annually, including three hundred dollars subscribed by the colonial agent in the name of the society, the colonists have voluntarily engaged to pay for the support of schools; and also expressed a disposition to aid liberally in securing the services of a physi

cian.

The system of government, adopted in 1824, has continued without any material changes during the year, and has fulfilled, in a very efficient and satisfactory manner, the great purposes for which government is instituted. At the last election, most of the officers of the preceding year were re appointed, and "we commence the year," says Mr. Ashmun, "with a better prospect of harmony in the different operations of our little civil machine, than ever before. The principles of social order, and of a good, equable, and energetic government, are deeply and plentifully implanted in the minds of the influential part, if not of a majority, of the colonists, and promise the certain arrival (I do not think it will be early, however) of that state of im

provement, when the Board can safely withdraw their agents, and leave the people to the government of themselves."

The managers have nothing to relate in reference to the moral and religious interests of the colony, that will add much to the expectations which the statements of their last report were calculated to excite. The motives by which the earliest emigrants were animated, and the severity of the trials to which they were subjected on their first arrival in Africa, were well suited to invigorate their faith, and to purify and exalt their religious character. Hence, no village, perhaps, in our own land, exhibits less which is offensive, and more that is gratifying, to the eye of the Christian, than the village of Monrovia. Crimes are almost unknown; and the universal respect manifested for the Sabbath, and the various institutions and duties of Christianity, have struck the natives with surprise, and excited the admiration of foreigners. In the settlements more recently established, there is, the managers regret to say, less attention to the peculiar duties of religion, and a sad deficiency in the number and qualifications of their ministers.

It were unreasonable to expect that a people so illiterate, so little accustomed to reflection, and whose moral habits want that firmness which a clear understanding of their reasonableness and importance alone can secure, should make any great advances in intelligence and piety, without the admonitions and instructions of well educated, faithful, and persevering religious teachers. The managers regard, therefore, the benevolent efforts of several societies to establish missions in Liberia, as promising incalculable benefits to the colony, as well as to the African tribes. The Missionary Society of Basle, Switzerland; the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; and the Society for Domestic and Foreign Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church; have all, during the last year, resolved to send missionaries to the colony. The managers perceive, by the public papers, that one individual has already left Germany, for the purpose of devoting himself to the cause of Christianity in Liberia,

The system of instruction, so happily organized under the Rev. Calvin Holton, on the Lancasterian plan, and which seemed well nigh suspended in its operations by his lamented decease, has been placed under the superintendence of the Rev. George McGill, (an experienced teacher from Baltimore) and though the schools are conducted by persons of color, who are deficient in the higher branches of knowledge, yet their progress is by no means inconsiderable; and every child in the colony, native and American, enjoys their advantages. We have already mentioned the liberal support which they receive from the colonists.

Large and important accessions have been made, during the year, to the territories of Liberia. The negotiations, which were stated in our last report to be in progress with the chiefs of Cape Mount, (the trade of which is estimated at $ 50,000 per annum) have been satisfactorily concluded; and the actual possession of the soil, which may ultimately be expected, could not, in the opinion of the colonial agent, at the present time, be more advantageous to the colony. The chiefs have stipulated to build a large and commodious factory for the colonial government; to guaranty the safety of all persons and property belonging to the factory; to exact no tribute from those who may resort to it; to encourage trade between it and the interior; and forever to exclude foreigners from similar privileges, and from any right of occupancy or possession in the country.

The whole left bank of Stockton Creek, from the Montserado to the St. Paul's, (9 miles) was secured to the society by purchase, in 1825; and, upon this tract, three prosperous settlements are already established. By recent treaty, that part of Bushrod Island, including the whole right bank, has been ceded to the society; and a number of families have taken up their residence upon it. It is intended to connect this tract with Caldwell, by a bridge 140 feet in length. The situation is represented as eligible, and the soil exceedingly fertile.

Perpetual and entire jurisdiction has been obtained of a territory, called the Junk, situated on the coast, forty miles to the Southeast of Monrovia, between two rivers of that name, and by which there will, it is believed, be opened an extensive inland water communication from Montserado nearly to Young Sesters, a distance of about ninety miles.

The managers stated, in their last report, that the right of use and occupancy had been granted to the colonial government, of a region of country on the South branch of St. John's river, North nine miles from Young Sesters; that the factory established there had already proved profitable to the colony; and that the superintendent of this factory had, by his integrity, so impressed the minds of the natives in favor of the colony, that the offer of the colonial agent to purchase Factory Island, in the mouth of the St: John's, had been accepted. The managers have now the pleasure to add, that an invaluable tract of land, of indefinite extent, contiguous to this island, on the North branch of the St. John's, belongs to the society. Factories have been erected on the island, and on both branches of the river, and "they form," says Mr. Ashmun, "new links of union between the tribes along the St. John's and your colony The interests of both, and all," he continues, are, I trust, at no great distance of time, to become perfectly identical, and one numerous and Christian nation, using our language, and enjoying our institutions, to cover the whole Western coast of Africa"

No less than EIGHT STATIONS, from Cape Mount to Trade Town, 140 miles, are now under the government of the colony; and four of these havę been acquired during the last year.

"We have already, (says the colonial agent,) to some extent, connected, with all our factories an agricultural appendage, a plan which has proved mutually advantageous, in different ways, both to the country people and the colony. A most desirable addition to be made to both, is a school for the instruction of the native youth and children of the respective tribes in which our establishments are situated. Whether we regard such schools as a cheap means of extending the power of the colony, as the most effectual instruments of civilizing the continent, as a noble exercise of rational philanthropy, or the best expression of Christian piety, (and the object, I think, is susceptible of each of these views,) I can think of no work, connected with the rearing of the colony, of which the accomplishment is more desirable. I think it nearly capable of moral demonstration, that the African tribes may be civilized without expulsion from their chosen settlements and villages, and without that fearful diminution of their population, which has, from causes that do not exist here as in regard to the Indians of America, accompanied the march of civilization in that hemisphere." Were it necessary to adduce other evidence of the extensive and powerful influence of the colonists over the natives of Africa, than that which is exhibited in the numerous successful negotiations for territory, we might

state, that, from Cape Mount to Trade Town, (140 miles) the chiefs have solemnly bound themselves to exclude others than the people of Liberia from their country; that the colony is at peace with all the native tribes; that the slave trade, formerly almost their only traffic, is nearly, if not quite, extinct; that, to secure education for their sons in the colony, is an object of earnest solicitude; that the colonial agent is not unfrequently addressed by them as head-man of the whole country; and that, in case of a recent robbery committed upon several individuals of Grand Bassa, in the service of the colony, more than 1,000 men were actually marched thence, under arms, to seek directions how to proceed from the government of Liberia.

It has been ascertained, that there exists in the interior, 150 miles from the colony, a comparatively populous and civilized people, partially acquainted with agriculture and the arts; "where (to borrow the language of Mr. Ashmun) the horse is a common domestic animal; where every article absolutely necessary to comfortable life is produced by the soil, or manufactured by the skill of the inhabitants; where the Arabic is used as a written language in the ordinary commerce of life; where regular and abundant markets and fairs are kept; where a degree of intelligence and practical refinement exists, little compatible with the personal qualities attached, in the current notions of the age, to the people of Guinea."

TWELFTH REPORT.

The general health of the colony has through the year been uninterrupted; and additional experience confirms the managers in the belief that there is nothing in the African climate to prevent the successful establishment of colonies of colored persons from the United States, but that its influences are well adapted to the constitutions of the colored race. A slight indisposition, soon after their arrival in Liberia, may be expected, but subsequently they enjoy more vigor and exemption from disease than in countries without the tropics.

The general aspect of affairs cannot be better described than in the language of Mr. Ashmun:

"The established state of the colony, a treasure of past experience, the confirmed health of the settlers, our better knowledge of materials for every useful work, and a path trodden smooth by use, begin now, as the fruit of perseverance in the unfavorable circumstances of former years, to requite, in a fuller measure, the labor and expense bestowed on the improvements of the colony. Every month adds to it some new acquisitions, discloses some new resources, or produces some new valuable improvements."

A very valuable addition has, the past year, been made to the territory of the colony. Just before the illness of Mr. Ashmun, a company was chartered, with certain exclusive privileges for two years, to commence an agricultural settlement, in connexion with a public factory, distant 20 miles from Monrovia, at the head of navigation on the St Paul's, the Dey or St. Paul's chiefs having previously, for a small compensation, been induced to give their consent. The company proceeded to occupy the spot selected for the settlement on the 12th of February. A large tract of country, (including this settlement) the finest, in the opinion of Mr. Ashmun, which he had seen in Africa, easily to be cleared, abounding in streams of fresh water, (the St. Paul's itself being sweet, at the falls) which had long been vacated, and left as a sort of barrier between the coast tribes and the interior, was, on the

14th of April, ceded to the society. From the acquisition of this may be expected advantages of the most valuable, extensive, and permanent character. Boatswain, a powerful chief, has already engaged to open a trade road from his own residence, about 100 miles distant, but from the nearest part of the old route not more than fifty. Beyond the residence of Boatswain the roads are open, and, for aught that is known, a free communication to the great cities of Central Africa.

It was stated in the last report, that the whole right or western bank of Stockton Creek had been ceded to the society, and a settlement upon it already commenced. In transmitting the deed, Mr. Ashmun remarks: "We have thus occupied Bushrod Island, which, containing a tract of 20,000 acres of fine level land, is destined, at some future period, to become the orchard and granary of the Montserado district of Liberia. A country, called Tabocanee, situated between Grand Bassa and Young Sesters, has been offered to the society; but, though abounding in coffee, and connecting two important stations, the sterility of the soil, near the sea, and the want of any commodious harbors, have rendered doubtful the propriety of its immediate acquisition. The question in regard to it is still undecided. The native authorities at the head of Junk river have expressed an earnest desire that a settlement should be established in their country, which is represented as promising well for the interests both of agriculture and trade.

It is in contemplation among the colonists to form an agricultural establishment near the head of the Montserado River; and as the soil is good, and the attention of the people directed, with more than usual interest, to the culture of the earth, they will, doubtless, prosecute their plan with a commendable spirit. The managers cannot but regard these facts, taken in connexion with the detailed statements concerning territory, in their last report, as affording evidence the most conclusive, that a rich and almost unlimited country is opening to the enterprise of our colonists, and that the difficulty is not to find lands the most inviting, but men and means to plant and improve them.

The two great interests of the colony, its agriculture and trade, have advanced through the year, with a sure and regular, if not a rapid progress. Though to foster and extend the first of these, has been a primary object of the managers and their colonial agent, yet truth demands the avowal, that to the latter is the colony principally indebted for its unexampled prosperity. Nor can we reasonably expect that this order of things will be speedily reversed.

It is a remark of the late lamented agent, "That the sources of trade and commerce naturally belonging to the colony, placed, as it is, on the central part of a coast of vast extent, and bordering on populous and industrious nations in the interior of the continent, are not a tenth part explored. And until they shall be (he adds) both explored and occupied, and so long as this vast field of commercial enterprise holds out new inducements to the settlers to enter upon and cultivate it, is agriculture destined to follow in the train of trade, and not to lead it." Admitting the correctness of this remark, yet the managers find reason, from a careful observation of the affairs of the colony, during the year just past, to conclude, that, if trade is to lead, agriculture is to follow not far behind with a firm and assured step. A large proportion of the emigrants are by habit entirely unprepared for any but agricultural pursuits; the knowledge which experience in trade has given to the early settlers, diminishes the chance of success to those who would now