already greater than that of New York for the first half century of its existence.

From recent official tables, it appears that of sixty countries with which the United States have established commercial relations, Liberia stands number eighteen in the scale of importance, the value of our annual trade with her being-exports $2,062,723, imports $1,755,916.

10. The facilities of Liberia for expansion into the interior are abundant. Explorations have been made eastward from Monrovia to the distance of some three hundred miles, which bring to light the most tempting inducements to the formation of new settlements and the introduction of the arts of civilized life. The native tribes are favorably disposed toward the Republic—and in their physical, mental, moral, and social condition they promise much more of good than many of the coast tribes. Vast resources of wealth, agricultural, mineral, and industrial, have been found in these "regions beyond," and their capabilities are such that all the colored population of the globe could not exhaust them for ages. A wide and most inviting field is here open for all the people of color in this country, and for the most enterprising commercial, philanthropic, and Christian labors. It is fit that the Republic which has opened the door to this interior region should be recognized by our Government. We rejoice that this act of justice and policy is at last done. All honor to the noble men, dead and living, of every part of our country, who have labored for this auspicious result.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

NEW GEORGIA.

1. REV. ALEXANDER M. COWAN writes thus in regard to New Georgia: "New Georgia has two principal streets, on which most of the inhabitants reside. Some few cross-streets have dwellings on them. One hundred and fifty-nine town lots, of one fourth of an acre, have been drawn, but not more than twenty-one of them are now occupied by the original settlers, because they are too far off from their farm lands. The soil is a white sand with very little loam in it. The streets are remarkably clean. The houses are mostly of one story, and are framed buildings; some, however, are built of poles, daubed with clay. All the houses are raised from two to three feet from the ground, and are placed on pillars of wood or brick, to give a free circulation of air, especially in the wet season. This practice prevails in Liberia.

2. "They have no stone in this settlement. The improved lots are planted with cassada, sweet potatoes, eddoes, yams, beans, melons, cucumbers, etc., with a suitable proportion of the pawpaw, pine-apple, tamarind, cocoa-nut, orange, lime, guava, plantain, and banana.

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3. "The orange is, in size and branches, like an appletree, and bears twice a year, having the oranges scattered in its branches. They can be found on some of the trees every month in the year, though the principal ripening of them is in May and June, and in November and December. There can be seen at the same time on the trees, the bud, the blossom, the full formed fruit, and the ripe fruit. They have two kinds, the sweet and the sour. The sweet are better than the Havana and the New Orleans oranges.

4. "The lime is much like the orange-tree in its growth and yield, but differs in size, the lime being the smallest in growth. The guava-tree abounds here. It is like our

peach-tree. The guava is not fit to eat from the tree, but makes a very rich preserve. Its size is that of a common peach.

"The Georgians spoke the English language with a foreign accent. Their children had not that accent in their speech. They were ready to give me information in regard to their means of support, their productions, their schools, and their religious privileges.

5. "They raised cotton, spun it, and, in some measure, wove it into cloth. Their dress, the cultivation of their land, their social intercourse, and their religious improvement bespoke much for their comfort, their industry, and morals. Order seemed to prevail throughout their town. In their yards, and at their doors, I could see the female members of the households in their every-day dress, brought out of their houses from curiosity to see me, a white person, walking up and down their streets, gazing at what I saw in their town. I was very much gratified at the cleanliness and good manners I witnessed among them as a body-for there was a difference in the comforts and style of the people. In every place there will be, and must be, for good order, males and females who have proper ideas of what constitutes a good, orderly, and moral society, and who will give a particular personal exhibition of its several parts in their daily life. They have two churches, Methodist and Baptist, two day-schools, and two Sabbath-schools. Many of the children read and spelt for me, showing that they had an 'aptness to learn.'

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6. Great contentment prevailed among them. I need not say they were citizens of the Republic, and that the officers of their town were elected out of their own class of persons. I did not see a mulatto among them. I went into a house and stated I would be glad to have dinner, but with no special preparation for it, as I wished to see what could be furnished me, on such a call, to eat. I was soon seated at a table, having before me cold mutton, cas

sada, rice, and sweet potatoes. The mutton was not as fat as Kentucky mutton, but it was sweet, tender, and juicy. I was pleased with my dinner. They gave me to drink the juice of the granadilla. It grows on a vine.

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7. "I bade this people farewell, with the full conviction that the Gospel of Christ, with its attendant means, as education, civilization, and a proper sense of duty that man owes to his fellow-man, in a social and civil state of life, can, and will, elevate all religion, in knowledge, and manners of life. Here has been this evidence before my eyes. And their children coming on the stage of life, with these advantages (which their fathers possessed not in their youth), will act with higher views from their citizenship, and with more enlarged ideas arising from the spiritual, social, and political benefits furnished them by living in Liberia, than they could possibly have had if they had been born, and lived, and died in the United States."

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8. Also, W. S. Hall, speaking of this people, says: They were located on Stockton Creek, and their town, called New Georgia, now boasts two Christian churches, in which Sabbath-schools are regularly held, in addition to two day-schools. A few of those sent from here have learned to read, and very many of them are respectable members of a church. They long since took the oath of allegiance to the Republic of Liberia, and most of them possess the requisite property qualification entitling them to a vote. One of their number has been a member of the State Legislature. A few have married colonist females.

"They are not traders, but simple cultivators of the soil, and market gardeners for the town of Monrovia, four miles distant.

9. "They are an honest and industrious people, and highly respected as such by the Americo-Liberians, with whom they associate on the most brotherly terms of equality. The adults will speak in broken English, and can not be considered wholly civilized men; but their children have

had the benefit of a common-school education, and would not be recognized as differing in any respect from those whose parents were born in this country."

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CHAPTER LXXIV.

FOREIGN RELATIONS IN 1862.

1. THE Foreign Relations of Liberia have been extended and multiplied during the year, and with one or two exceptions, have remained undisturbed. The purpose of demolishing the barricades among the chiefs near Cape Mount has been accomplished without any hostile demonstration, and the effect to commerce and order proved beneficial. Some of the interior chiefs appear dissatisfied, and difficulties among tribes of Fishmen near Cape Palmas, which were thought to be settled, have sprung up again. Several cruel acts of the superstitious trial by poison having been perpetrated, President Benson proceeded against them with one hundred men, in the Seth Grosvenor, joined by others, and compelled them to keep the peace and pay the cost of the war. It is justly remarked by President Benson, touching the murderous practices to some extent prevailing among tribes under the protection of the Republic:

2. "The time has come when such homicidal practices by natives living at least within the vicinity of our settlements should be promptly checked. If the Government has the right and power to stop them (which I presume no one will deny), then it becomes a moral duty, and the neglect of such a duty involves moral delinquency and national guilt."

3. The honorable vindication of the character of Liberia by her government in the affair of the French vessel, the Regina Cœli, induces the expectation that she will be able