the colonists. Unused to freedom, and ignorant of the principles of social order, it was to be expected that the uninformed would be deficient in public spirit and subordination. The annual elections resulted in the reappointment of most of the officers of the preceding year.

5. Nearly the whole expenses of the colonial government and of the United States' agency had this year been defrayed by the profits realized in the trade of the factories.

Four schooners were built and sent out under the flag of Liberia. The Colony was sustained in its growth almost wholly by its own industry. It was, however, a subject of regret that the life of this industry was rather in its trade and commerce than its agriculture.

6. Situated, as were the colonists, on the central point of an extensive coast, with a vast field of commercial enterprise opening before them, they were tempted to seek the immediate gains of trade, rather than the remote, though surer and more important advantages of agriculture. The premiums proposed by the Board to the most successful farmers were to some extent beneficial. At Caldwell an agricultural society was formed, at the weekly meetings of which the members reported their progress on their plantations, and discussed questions on husbandry.

7. The recaptured Africans had proved orderly and industrious. Familiar with the ordinary modes of African agriculture, and suffering nothing from the climate, they were busily and tastefully improving their settlements. A company was formed in the Colony for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Montserado River, one thousand dollars of stock subscribed, and pledges given to raise, if necessary, four thousand more.

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8. The military force was newly organized, and four volunteer companies formed, the description of which, as given at the time, was quite en militaire. The oldest of these companies is Captain Barbour's light infantry, composed of select young men, completely armed and equipped, highly disciplined (relatively), and consisting of about

forty men. Uniform, light-blue, faced with white. The next is Captain Davis' company. Uniform, white, with blue bars, well armed and accoutered. The third is a company of light artillery, composed of select young men, completely uniformed and equipped. This corps having been lately organized, consists only of about thirty men, but as it is exceedingly popular, will increase rapidly. Captain Devany is the present commander. Uniform, deep blue, with red facings. The fourth is a newly organized artillery company, commanded by Captain Prout."

9. Three enterprising citizens of the Colony, during this year, explored the interior to a considerable extent. One of them penetrated to the distance of a hundred and forty miles, where he discovered a country inhabited by a numerous people far advanced in civilization. The St. Paul's River was explored upward of two hundred miles.

10. The chiefs of Cape Mount (with whom negotiations had been commenced the preceding year) had stipulated to construct a large and commodious factory for the colonial government; to guarantee the safety of all persons and property belonging to the factory; to exact no tribute from those who might 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 their country.

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11. The right bank of Bushrod Island, extending the whole length of Stockton Creek, which unites Montserado and St. Paul's, had been ceded to the Society. This island contains twenty thousand acres of fertile, level land. invaluable tract of land, of indefinite extent, on the north side of the river St. Johns, contiguous to Factory Island, had also been added to the possessions of the Society. All the chiefs between Cape Mount and Trade Town had bound themselves to exclude all others, except the people of Liberia, from a settlement in their country. And at no less than eight stations on this line of coast had the colonial government obtained the right of founding settlements.

CHAPTER XXXI.

DOMESTIC CONDITION OF THE COLONY.

1. THE following is a general view given of the domestic condition of the Colony at this time. About half of the entire population were settled in comfortable dwellings on their own cultivated premises, and in independent circumstances. Most of these were engaged in the coasting and country trade; some were turning their attention to agriculture; several were carrying on mechanical trades, and employing from four to twelve journeymen and apprentices.

2. A second class, in their new, and in some instances unfinished houses, were engaged in clearing their lands, and making those improvements which were requisite to secure their title. Some of these, having large families to support, without any accumulated means, like the pioneers of all new settlements, were suffering hardships, embarrassments, and privations, which nothing but the cheering prospect of ultimate success could enable them to sustain.

3. A third consisted of those less than a year in Africa, mostly in the public receptacles or rented houses, imperfectly inured to the climate, partially dependent upon the Society, and beginning moderately to labor for the older settlers, or on their own premises. The remaining class included all the idle and improvident, who, although contributing to the labor of the Colony, were securing no permanent interests to themselves.

4. In the month of December the United States ship of war Ontario, Captain Nicolson, touched at the cape on her return from the Mediterranean. The commander granted the request of eight of his crew, free colored mechanics, to remain in the Colony, and left a valuable donation of seeds which he had taken special care to obtain in the Archipel

ago, Asia Minor, and Tunis. On his arrival in America, Captain Nicolson bore testimony to the general contentment and industry of the colonists, the rapid progress made by them in public and private improvements, and their salutary and growing influence over the native tribes.

5. To this may be added the testimony of the colonists themselves, given in a communication which they addressed to the colored people of the United States in the summer of this year. They declared that in removing to Africa they had sought for civil and religious liberty, and that their expectations and hopes in this respect had been realized.

6. The great mortality which had occurred in the earliest years of the Colony they attributed principally to the dangers, irregularities, privations, discouragements, and want of medical experience which are almost necessarily attendant on the plantations of new settlements in a distant, uncleared, and barbarous country. After a few months' residence in Africa, they enjoyed health as uniformly, and in as perfect a degree, as in their native country.

7. They believed that a more fertile soil than that of Liberia, and a more productive country, so far as it is culvated, did not exist on the face of the earth. The virtuous and industrious were nearly sure to attain there, in a few years, to a style of comfortable living which they might in vain hope for in the United States. "Truly," said they, "we have a goodly heritage; and if there is anything lacking in the character or condition of the people of this Colony, it can never be charged to the account of the country; it must be the fruit of our own mismanagement, or slothfulness, or vices.

8. "But from these evils we confide in Him to whom we are indebted for all our blessings, to preserve us. It is the topic of our weekly and daily thanksgiving to Almighty God, both in public and in private, and he knows

with what sincerity, that we were ever conducted by his providence to this shore. Men may theorize and speculate about their plans in America, but there can be no speculation here.

9. "The cheerful abodes of civilization and happiness which are scattered over this verdant mountain; the flourishing settlements which are spreading around it; the sound of the Christian instruction, and scenes of Christian worship, which are heard and seen in this land of brooding pagan darkness; a thousand contented freemen united in founding a new Christian empire, happy themselves, and the instrument of happiness to others; every object, every individual, is an argument, is demonstration, of the wisdom and the goodness of the plan of colonization."

CHAPTER XXXII.

DEATH OF THE COLONIAL AGENT.

1. On the 15th of January, 1828, the brig Doris arrived at Liberia, after a long passage from Baltimore, with 107 emigrants, principally from Maryland-sixty-two of them liberated slaves; and on the 17th, the schooner Randolph, from South Carolina, with twenty-six Africans manumitted by a single individual. On the same day Mr. Ashmun returned from a fatiguing visit of inspection to the factories south of Monrovia, and found these vessels with several others waiting his arrival; he had hardly dispatched them before the settlement was menanced by a strongly armed piratical vessel.

2. Immediately after her departure he received a proposition from the interior for opening a new trade path, on condition of forming a settlement and factory at the head of navigation on the St. Paul's River. This required him,