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The number of Africans from Georgia has been diminished by two deaths since the date of my letter per the Norfolk. The first was that of an adult, drowned, or, as there is reason to suppose, destroyed by an alligator, while bathing in the Mesurado river, on the 10th of October. The other case is of a child, three years old, carried off by a malignant fever of 30 hours' continuance. About forty of the whole company from Georgia have been slightly affected with intermittents. The worst case continued nearly two months, but, generally, the patient recovered in ten days.

These people have proved, far beyond expectation, orderly, peaceable, and industrious. Only a solitary offence deserving corporeal punishment has come to my knowledge, and this grew out of a sudden exasperation of passion. Five marriages have been solemnized; and the irregular connexions of the unmarried strictly prohibited, and, as far as is known, prevented entirely. Seven women, having one or more small children each, not obtaining situations in the families of the settlers, have been employed in the best manner I could place them in the public service. Three of them wash and cook for the public laborers, the rest have situations in the Colonial Infirmary and Orphan House, where they enjoy the strictest paternal superintendence of the manager of that establishment, and are fully employed, without any actual increase of the sum total of the public expense. It has proved a truly auspicious circumstance, when only the temporal lot of these people, and their restoration to Africa, are considered, that more than 40 of their number have brought with them that best of all personal endowments, a simple and imperfect, but serious and practical knowledge of Christianity The true religion operating on such minds, exists and displays itself only in its influence on the life and character. And this is only salutary. I trust their good conduct during their probationary year will secure them the good wishes and patronage of all in the colony whose friendship can hereafter be most useful to them. A part of them is destined at the end of the year to the newly projected settlement at Grand Bassa; another division I hope to provide for on the Stockton, midway between Caldwell and Monroe. The lands of both districts are good, and equally good. The third or remaining part of the company, consisting of single women and minors, will remain attached to the families of the settlers, and accede, in time, to the privileges of the American emigrants.

The expenditures on account of the Agency have been regulated strictly according to the estimate forwarded by the schooner Eclipse, under date of August 28th, 1827-no event having occurred, or appearing likely to happen, requiring me to exceed it. The injury sustained by the schooner boat has been repaired, and she is again in active service. We still keep her armed, but have considerably reduced the expense of her ordinary armament and crew this season, which may be increased at pleasure. It is quite necessary she should occasionally show a gun, but more so that she should fetch good freights of rice and oil for the comfort of the people; and in this service we hope hereafter chiefly to employ her.

The other unfinished boat is under shelter, and will be completed at leisure, in the best style which our materials and workmen will permit. The great multiplication of decked coasting craft in the colony the present season, both delays the completion of the public boats, by engaging the mechanics, and renders that delay the less prejudicial to the common welfare of the es tablishment.

The accounts of the Agency for the four months ending on the 31st inst. may be expected by the schooner "Susan," of and for Baltimore, to sail early in January. The actual state of the slave trade on this coast will, perhaps, be best learnt by the Department from the report of Capt. Nicholson, of the "Ontario," who remained several days at the centre of intelligence on this subject, Sierra Leone. On this part of the coast it is certainly reviving. The vessels engaged in it carry, a few, the French, but most the Spanish flag Most of the adventurers are also Spaniards, many are French, and not a lew natives of the United States. In one instance, the United States' flag has been used to protect a slaving schooner, whose name, place of outfit, and master, I have not been able satisfactorily to ascertain.

Respectfully, Sir,

The Hon. SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD,

I have the honor to remain,
Your obedient servant,

Secretary of the Navy,

Washington City.

J. ASHMUN.

SCHEDULE of United States' property attached to the Agency for recaptured Africans, Cape Mesurado, and not of a convertible nature.

Denomination and description.

1. Large Agency House.-Frame, yellow pine. Brought to Africa in 1823. Surrounded with a double piazza 12 feet deep; of which the upper story is now finishing with Venetian work of excellent workmanship and materials. Kitchen attached. The principal dimensions are 64 feet long, 40 wide -stories 11 and 9 feet. Will be finished about the first of January, 1828; and, when complete, valued at

2. Granary and Storehouse.This is a small building, of which the uses to which it has hitherto been applied are described by its name: designed to become a storehouse to the new Agency house, near which it stands. It is two storiesthe lower mason-work, roof hipped, panel doors, and the whole building painted. Value

3. Old Warehouse.-Consists of one ground story, and a capacious loft; has a slight frame, secured in every part by a filling in of logs; clap-boarded, and covered with country shingles. Dimensions, 40 feet by 16 feet. Built in 1826. Estimated value

Value

4. New Warehouse, Monrovia.-This is a completely finished
and secure warehouse and store, of two stories-the lower
is strengthened with a filling in of timbers; the upper con-
structed of a frame brought from the United States. One
side of the roof painted. Built in 1826 and 1827.
5. Magazine.-Stone work, plastered on the outside.
roof, inside, vaulted with mason work, and covered above
with a shingled roof. Its strength is what is technically
called bomb-proof. Estimated value

The

Estimated value,

Sept. 1, 1827.

7,500 00

500 00

500 00

1,800 00

200 00

6. Crown Hill Fortification.-Commenced only. The foundation is laid for a hexagonal tower of two pla forms, each to mount four guns. Its foundation walls are five feet thick; intended for the defence of the eastern extension of the settlement of Monrovia, where it stands. Value of foundation and materials collected

7. Central Fort, formerly Fort Stockton. This work, building, in part, of the materials of Fort Stockton, which was demolished, in 1826, for the purpose, is in the form of a triangular battery; of which the angles consist of three pentagonal two-story towers, in each of which are ten port-holes; and these towers joined together by walls 10 feet high, two thick, and each 60 feet in length, pierced with 15 port-holes. The work may mount any number of guns, from 6 to 18: 6 heavy and 6 light pieces are its medial complement. The towers of this work, erected in 1826, '7, are the only part yet accomplished. It defends nearly the whole present settlement of Monrovia, and the mouth of the river. Present value 8. Fort Norris Buttery.-Erected on the height of Thompson town for the protection of the outer roadstead. It stands near the summit of Cape Mesurado, on a shelf strengthened and levelled by means of an expensive and impenetrable bed and abutment of the heaviest stone-work. It has two faces, each of 40 feet, furnished with a platform of four inches thick sawed stuff; is housed and roofed, and provided with four long twelve pounders, iron. Built in 1827. Value, exclusive of the armament

9. Ordnance, 21 pieces.-Five long twelves, of which one
needs remounting; two eighteen pound gunnades, well mount-
ed; three nines, one long, one medium, and one carronade,
all mounted; six sixes, one carronade, the others mediums,
and two need remounting; five smaller medium guns and
swivel pieces: of these, one is a brass six pound field piece,
mounted on a travelling carriage, and furnished, also, with a
revolving carriage to suit either a tower or the deck of a small
vessel. Rammers, &c. nearly complete. Value
10. Central receptacle for recaptured Africans, Stockton
town. Of this building, the part approaching the river is
two stories, and finished with Venetian blinds, and in the best
style. Intended for the superintendent's residence.
whole consists of American lumber: the length 60 feet, and
consists of eight apartments for recaptured Africans, exclu-
sive of the front part described. Built in 1826 and 1827.
Value

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11. Range No. 1.-Situated near the central receptacle, has
the form of L, one and a half story, 14 feet wide, and 72 feet
long, built of the best American materials; and contains a
store room and five spacious apartments, each of which has a
loft for recaptured Africans, 1827

12. Range No. 2.-Situated opposite to Range No. 1, Stock-
ton town. Same dimensions, materials, and construction,
except the division of the apartments.
Value the same:
built 1827

$175 00

950 00

S00 00

2,000 00

850 00

1,000 00

1,000 00

13. Two log buildings at Thompson town-Each 36 feet long, and one and a half story in height; built in 1824-5, of African materials, 8 rooms

14. Two Schooners.-One finished, but damaged; the other on the stocks. Estimated value of both: one rigged

$750 00

2,200 00 $20,225 00

J. ASHMUN.

STATEMENT of the disposition made, and actual situation (September 14th) of the 142 recaptured Africans received at the Agency for recaptured Africans, Cape Mesurado, from Dr. G. P. Todson, United States' Agent, by the ship "Norfolk;" in conformity with instructions communicated to J. Ashmun from the United States' Navy Department.

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