doning our cause was founded in error, we hope soon to bail him again as a fellow laborer in what he very justly, though it may be, ironically, styles "a splendid scheme of benevolence." As his separation from his former associates in this work has left no unpleasant impression on their minds except that of regret at having lost, for a season at least, his valuable aid: so his reconversion would be to them the source of unmingled pleasure, and they would receive him with a sensibility to the importance of his services which his temporary alienation from them has served but to increase.

Any thing coming from Mr. T.'s pen, must of course fix public attention, especially when accompanied with an intimation from himself, as in the case of his letter in the Liberator, that he intended such a result. If, therefore, he should be of opinion that his charge against the Society was precipitate and unmerited, his candor will suggest to him the propriety of giving equal publicity to his retraction.

While on the subject of this society, we present our readers with the following historical and statistical account of the colony of Liberia, for the compilation of which we are indebted to the editors of the NewYork Observer :

Origin of the Society.

Dr. Fothergill and Granville Sharpe appear first to have considered the subject of African colonization in England. The latter of these, a most illustrious philanthropist, may be regarded as the founder of the colony of Sierra Leone. Indeed, the earliest thoughts the writer has seen on African colonization are from the pen of Granville Sharpe in 1783. The late Dr. Thornton, of Washington, was enthusiastically engaged in favor of colonizing free men of color, from the U. States, in Africa in 1787, but unfortunately his efforts failed. The venerable Dr. Hopkins of Rhode Island corresponded with G. Sharp on the subject in 1789, and Ferdinando Fairfax, of Virginia, published an able article on the subject in 1790. The subject was seriously considered in the Virginia legislature during the administration of Mr. Jefferson. The Rev. Dr. Finley, of New-Jersey, gave much thought to it in 1814-15, and assisted by the Hon. C. F. Mercer, F. S. Key, and E. B. Caldwell and others, who had also long reflected upon the matter, founded the society in December, 1816.

In the session of the legislature of Virginia, in 1816, the subject was brought forward, and the following resolution was adopted by a large majority:

Whereas the general assembly of Virginia have repeatedly sought to obtain an asylum beyond the limits of the United States for such persons of color as had been or might be emancipated under the laws of this commonwealth, but have hitherto found all their efforts frustrated, either by the disturbed state of other nations or domestic causes equally unpropitious to its success.

They now avail themselves of a period when peace has healed the wounds of humanity, and the principal nations of Europe have concurred with the government of the United States in abolishing the African slave trade, (a traffic which this commonwealth, both before VOL. IV.-July, 1833.

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and since the revolution, zealously sought to exterminate,) to renew this effort, and do therefore

• Resolve, That the executive be requested to correspond with the president of the United States, for the purpose of obtaining a territory on the coast of Africa, or at some other place not within any of the states or territorial governments of the United States, to serve as an asylum for such persons of color as are now free, and may desire the same, and for those who may hereafter be emancipated within this commonwealth; and that the senators and representatives of this state in the congress of the United States be requested to exert their best efforts to aid the president of the United States in the attainment of the above objects.

'Provided, That no contract or arrrangement respecting such territory shall be obligatory on this commonwealth until ratified by the legislature.'

Early Proceedings of the Society.

In 1818 Messrs. Mills and Burgess visited Africa by the way of England, and acquired much valuable information. The death of Mr. Mills on his return deprived the world of one of the best and most useful of men. The reports of these agents were of great importance. The first expedition, that of the Elizabeth, sailed in 1820, with the society's agent, the Rev. Samuel Bacon, and two agents of the government, Messrs. Crozer and Bankson, who, in an unfortunate attempt to establish the colony at an unfavorable season, on the unhealthy island of Sherbro, with several of the emigrants, fell victims to the African fever. In 1821 Messrs. Andruss and Wiltberger, on the part of the society, and Messrs. Winn and E. Bacon as U. States agents, with a number of emigrants, proceeded to Africa, and obtained permission of the government of Sierra Leone for the colonists to remain there until a territory could be purchased of the natives. Mr. and Mrs. Winn and Mr. Andruss died before any suitable tract for the colony was obtained.

Early History of the Colony.

In December, 1821, Dr. Eli Ayres, with Capt. Stockton, of the U. States navy, purchased from the natives the whole of a territory called Mesurado or Montserado, on the southwest coast of Africa, in the name of the society. The first settlers arrived at the colony in June, 1822; and in that year Mr. Ashmun took charge of it, as agent or governor, in the place of Dr. Ayres, whose health had obliged him to The efforts of Dr. Ayres were of great importance,

return.

Attempt of the Natives to destroy the infant Colony.

This was in November, 1822, soon after the arrival of Mr. Ashmun, and while he was dangerously ill. The defences of the colony were incomplete, and the whole effective force consisted of thirty-five men. They fought for existence, and in the bravest manner.

The enemy consisted of a body of eight hundred men, and made a most furious attack on the 8th of November, 1822. Unfortunately one pass was neglected to be properly defended, and there the enemy forced an entrance, and captured one of the guns, which happily they

knew not how to manage. The colony was saved by their want of discipline. Had they pushed forward, their success was certain; the colonists could not have resisted; but the assailants betook themselves to plunder in great confusion; this afforded the colonists time to rally; they recaptured the gun, and turned it on the enemy, who were wedged in a solid mass. Great destruction took place, and they fled in utter confusion; it was supposed they had sixty or eighty killed. The loss on the other side was considerable, three men and one woman killed, two men and two women severely wounded, and seven children captured.

The colonists, as soon as the enemy had disappeared, immediately began to complete their defences, and prepare for another attack, which they understood from their spies was to be made with a greater force at the close of the month. The attack accordingly commenced on the 30th, with one thousand five hundred assailants. The fortifications were in a far better state than before, but the number of effective men less, not quite thirty. The besiegers were, after a long and arduous struggle, finally defeated with severe loss. The garrison had one man killed, and two badly wounded. Mr. Ashmun's services were invaluable, and were the means of saving the place.

Establishment and Form of Government.

The existing form of government was established in August, 1824, during the visit of the present secretary of the society. Great difficulties had arisen in the administration of affairs, and the whole state of things was dark and unsettled. The form of government then drawn up was submitted to the assembled colonists, and by them unanimously adopted. The board of managers of the society appoint the colonial agent, who is a white man: all the other officers are men of color, the most important of whom are elected annually by the colonists. The government is in great measure republican, and designed expressly to prepare the colonists ably and successfully to govern themselves. In their address to their brethren of the United States, in 1827, they say, Our laws are altogether our own; they grew out of our circumstances, are formed for our exclusive benefit, and administered either by officers of our own appointment, or such as possess our entire confidence. We have a judiciary, chosen from among ourselves; we serve as jurors in the trial of others, and are liable to be tried by juries of our fellow citizens ourselves. We have all that is meant by liberty of conscience; the time and mode of worshipping God as prescribed to us in his word, and dictated by our conscience, we are not only free to follow, but are protected in following.' Shortly after the establishment of the government Mr. Ashmun was appointed colonial agent, and with distinguished ability and usefulness continued to discharge his duties until in 1828 an illness which soon proved fatal compelled him to leave his station. Dr. Richard Randall succeeded him in the agency, but the colony was soon called to mourn his decease. Dr. Mechlin is the present colonial agent, and long may his valuable life be preserved to the cause. Among those who have fallen as martyrs to this work of humanity and religion should be recorded the names of Sessions, and Anderson, and Holton, and Skinner, and Peaco, and Seton,

all of whom labored to promote it as physicians, agents, missionaries, or in some way gave to it their services. Nor will such men of color as Cary and Erskine be forgotten while philanthropy and piety are respected among men.

Geography of the Colony.

Extent. The colony of Liberia, in its widest sense, extends from Gallinas river to the territory of Kroo Settra, a distance of about two hundred and eighty miles along the coast.

The territory at present under the actual jurisdiction of the colony extends from Grand Cape Mount to the Trade Town, near the river Sesters, a distance of more than one hundred and fifty miles, and inland from twenty-five to fifty miles,

Native tribes.-There are three distinct native tribes on the coast of the territory belonging to the colony. That to the extreme north is inhabited by the Feys or Veys. The people of this tribe occupy the country from the Gallinas river to Little Cape Mount, a distance of about fifty miles along the coast, and from twenty-five to thirty miles inland. They are a proud, active, and warlike people, and number from 12,000 to 15,000 inhabitants.

The country of the Deys extends from Little Cape Mount to Mesurado river, about thirty miles in length, and from twelve to sixteen miles inland. They are represented as an indolent and inoffensive people, with a population of 6,000 or 8,000.

Contiguous to this tribe, and next interior, are the Queahs, a small and quiet people, an individual of whom was recently present at a meeting of the friends of the Colonization Society at the Masonic Hall in this city.

The Gurrahs occupy a portion of country back of the Deys, and north of St. Paul's river. They are said to be a numerous and toilsome race; and still farther in the interior is the formidable and warlike tribe of the Condoes, whose name carried terror to all their more peaceable maritime neighbors.

The country of the Bassas extends from Mesurado river on the north to Kroo Settra, near Cape Palmas on the south. Their population is supposed to be about 125,000; and in character they are generally domestic, industrious, and averse to war.

At a distance of from thirty to fifty miles inland, and along the whole of this coast, a belt of dense and lofty forest trees, entangled with vines and brushwood, so as to be nearly impassable by any but the feet of savages and savage beasts, nearly prevents all intercourse between the maritime and interior tribes, and is one of the principal causes why the inland parts of this section of Africa are so little known to the civilized world.

Between this belt and the coast, and between the Gallinas on the north and Kroo Settra on the south, are vast numbers of villages of greater or less population. It is the custom of the Kroo Settra tribe to disperse their active and able-bodied members to different parts of the coast, where they form themselves into small towns near every roadstead and station frequented by trading vessels. There they act as the watermen and pilots of the country; and there they remain from two to six and even ten years, until they collect a little inventory of

valuables sufficient to enable them to "retire from business."

They

are decidedly the most active, enterprising, intelligent, and laborious people in this part of Africa. One of their little settlements is on the north side of Stockton creek, about a mile from Monrovia.

Opposite the town of Monrovia are two islands, of small extent, the largest of which, called Bally Island, is nearly covered with houses, built in the rude native style, and occupied by a family of several hundred domestic slaves, who formerly belonged to an English factor, but afterward became the property of an African, who, like those he held in qualified vassalage, was a stranger on that part of the coast, and came under the protection of the colony and subject to its laws.

In the country of the Bassas are included the Mesurado territory, Junk river district, Junk territory, Little Bassa, Grand Bassa, Tabocannee territory, Young Sesters territory, and other small territories stretching off to the southeast. Numerous rivers flow into the sea along this coast, and though they are not navigable for large craft, greatly facilitate the intercourse between the tribes and the colony. It is generally upon the margin of these rivers that the villages and small settlements are to be found, and are spread at greater or less distances from each other over the whole territory included within the jurisdiction of the colony.

The number of natives residing on the territory under the actual jurisdiction of the colony is probably between 50,000 and 100,000, of whom 10,000 have sought the protection and placed themselves under the laws of the colony. All these natives, as well as those in the vicinity of the colonial territory, desire that schools may be established for their children. Many of them have a partial knowledge of the English language, and numerous chiefs have been disposed to sell their lands for a very small compensation, provided only that whenever these lands should be occupied by the colonists, schools should be founded for the benefit of their children. Providence has opened, through the colony, a wide and effectual door to these heathen tribes, and it remains for American Christians to decide whether means and teachers shall be supplied to impart to them the light of civilization and the words of eternal life. There is believed to exist no where a more promising field for philanthropic and missionary effort..

Fertility and Agriculture.-A more fertile soil, and a more productive country, so far as it is cultivated, there is not, we believe, on the face of the earth. Dr. Randall says, 'that the land on both sides of Stockton creek is equal, in every respect, to the best on the southern rivers of the United States.'

Mr. Ashmun thus enumerates the animals and products of the country:-Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, ducks, geese, chickens, and Guinea fowls, in abundance; fish in the greatest plenty; plantains, bananas, vines, lemons, oranges, tamarinds, mangoes, cashew, prunes, guava, pine apple, grape, cherry, and a species of peach; sweet potatoe, cassada, yams, cocoa, ground nuts, arrow root, egg plant, okra, every variety of beans and peas, cucumbers and melons, pumpkins, &c; rice, Indian corn, Guinea corn, millet, pepper, excellent coffee, sugar, cotton, and indigo. Indeed, sugar, cotton, coffee, and indigo grow wild.