and never have our settlements been in so favorable a state to admit, I may add, to require, a very large addition of settlers as at the present moment.

12. "All this region of Africa opens its bosom for the reception of her returning children. I rejoice in the testimonials furnished of a growing and enlightened interest in the objects of your Board among the American people. It is one of those great and benevolent designs on which the merciful Father of all mankind loves to smile, which the American Colonization Society has undertaken. Its root is deep, and its growth, however gradual, I believe to be entirely sure. But the greatest difficulties-for difficulties the cause has always struggled with—I never supposed, to lie on this side the ocean. To obviate prejudices, and unite the exertions, and rouse the enterprise of the whole American people, this is the great labor, and to such as most successfully engage in, and prosecute it, will be chiefly due the acknowledgments of posterity."

CHAPTER XXIX.

ARRIVAL OF ARMS AND EMIGRANTS.

1. THE repeated acts of piracy in the vicinity of the Colony, and the necessities of the United States agency within its limits, induced the Secretary of the Navy to dispatch to the coast the United States schooner Shark, under command of Lieutenant Norris, with a supply of arms and ammunition for the Colony. This vessel arrived at Monrovia on the 12th of January, 1827. The commander acting in concert with the colonial agent, did much to suppress the slave trade along that coast, and to strengthen sentiments of good-will toward the settlement among the neighboring tribes.

2. Early in the year, a treaty of peace was concluded between the colonial agent and the principal chief of Trade Town, by which the two parties were bound, mutually, to maintain and encourage between them friendly intercourse and an equitable trade, and to regard as sacred and inviolable the persons and property of each other. Soon after, the colonial factory at Young Sesters was suspended, in consequence of depredations committed upon it by the surrounding people, and especially on account of a fierce war beginning to ragė between the chiefs of that country and Trade Town.

3. Mr. Ashmun visited both of these places, and for three days was engaged in unavailing efforts to reconcile the contending parties. Both agreed to respect the colonial property, and both offered to give to the colonial agent the whole country of their enemy, provided he would assist them to subdue it. Freeman (the chief of the Young Sesters country) and his allies engaged to enroll themselves, with all their people and country, as vassals and fiefs of the Colony, on condition that they were assisted by the agent and his forces against their foe of Trade Town. "But from the first," said Mr. Ashmun, "all were given to understand that our whole force was sacred to the purpose of self-defense alone, against the injustice and violence of the unprincipled; that while we were ready to benefit all our neighbors, we could injure none; and that if we could not prevent or settle the wars of the country, we should never take part in them."

4. This war terminated for the advantage of the Sesters, at an earlier period than was expected; the colonial property confided to King Freeman had been scrupulously preserved amid all the disorder and alarm of hostilities, and the factory was re-established. The chief would, he said, relinquish one half of all his territories rather than see the colonial settlement, in the midst of his people, abandoned.

5. In March, Mr. Ashmun, expecting soon to leave the

Colony, wrote to the Board that preparations were made for the reception of at least 100 emigrants and 200 recaptured Africans, and added, "At this point, formed by the junction of the St. Paul's and Stockton, where I reside, I have now a most commodious house completely furnished, and kitchen and out-houses separate. There is also a public store-house, an extensive fortification, a block-house, jail, and, now erecting, a receptacle for emigrants, 100 feet in length, overlooking both rivers.

6. “At the cape, I have just completed a new and extensive warehouse, of which the second story is fitted up for a printing-office. Besides this building, the three settlements contain no less than six public stores and warehouses, altogether sufficient to store commodiously more .public property than will soon find its way into the Col⚫ony. I have been enabled to collect an ample supply of rice, and hope to leave a sufficient supply of provisions and other necessaries for all the dependent of the agency, should other sources by accident be closed against them during my absence."

7. On the 11th of April, the brig Doris, Capt. Mathews, with twenty-three emigrants, most of them from North Carolina, arrived at the Colony, after a passage of fortyfive days. These people suffered but slightly from the effects of the climate, and at an early day took up their residence at Caldwell. Two young children only died. The most protracted case of illness, in the whole number, did not last longer than five days.

8. Soon after the arrival of the Doris, Mr. Ashmun wrote the Board: "I am at length reluctantly compelled by a sense of duty to the Colony to relinquish my intention, so long indulged, and so fondly cherished, of visiting the United States the present season. The arrival of so large a company at so late a period of the dry season—the absence of my colleague-the multiplicity of delicate and arduous duties devolving on an agent in consequence of the recent extension of our settlements-the very expen

sive improvements commenced, and nearly, but not quite completed, are motives for remaining, to which I dare not oppose private inclination, or any probable good which might grow out of my return to the United States."

9. In May, the schooner Catharine, in attempting to cross the bar of the river, was thrown on the shore and seriously injured. This interrupted, for a while, the convey→ ance of produce from the factories, and made it necessary to buy provisions from trading vessels. The exposure of the agent in endeavoring to save the Catharine brought on a distressing rheumatic fever which confined him several weeks, and obliged him to be some time absent from the Colony on an excursion to Sierra Leone and the Rio Pongos for the benefit of the sea air.

10. The ship Norfolk sailed from Savannah on the 10th of July with 142 recaptured Africans, and arrived at Liberia on the 27th of August. In seven days after their arrival Mr. Ashmun wrote: "Not more than twenty remain, even at this early date, a charge to the United States. Two thirds of the whole number have situations in the families of the older settlers for terms of from one to three years. The remainder are at service, on wages, to be paid them at the year's end, when it is my intention to assign them their lands, and treat them in all respects as emigrants from the United States, unless the Board shall, in the interim, direct otherwise."

11. In August an infirmary was established, the want of which had long been felt. This establishment was not designed for emigrants during their acclimation, but to secure the comfort of the infirm and diseased, to furnish them with regular medical attention, to compel them to a proper regimen, to enable even the invalids to contribute to their own support, to provide an asylum for the poor and otherwise helpless, and to give instruction, particularly in the arts of domestic life, to many of the ignorant and slothful.

CHAPTER XXX.

SCHOOLS-COMMERCE-NEW TERRITORY.

1. THE whole system of schools which had been suspended by the death of Mr. Holton, was reorganized and in efficient operation this year, under the superintendence of Rev. G. McGill, an experienced colored teacher, though its influence was limited by the want of proper books and well-qualified teachers. The schools were all taught by colored people, and supported partly from the colonial treasury, and partly by subscriptions from the colonists.

2. They were sufficiently numerous to embrace all the children, including those of the natives; all were obliged to attend. The number of children in the six schools was 227, of whom forty-five were natives. Most of these were the sons of the principal men of the country, and more than half could, at the close of the year, read the New Testament intelligibly, and understand the English language nearly as well as the settlers of the same age. Had means been supplied, the number of these native pupils could have been greatly increased.

3. A school was opened in the Vey nation, thirty five miles interior from Cape Mount, and sixty or seventy from Montserado, by the Baptist missionaries of the Colony. It commenced with thirty-five scholars, and was patronized by the Prince and head men of the nation, who were desirous to have their children clothed and trained to the habits of civilized life. Rev. Mr. Cary's school, for native children, was supported in part by the Baptist Missionary Society of Richmond.

4. The system of government adopted in 1824 had continued without any material alteration, and received the cordial support of the enlightened and influential part of