River, by Hon. D. B. Warner; should it be successful, there will be a large yield, which will doubtless induce others to make similar experiments.

The corner-stone of Liberia College was laid January 25th, with the assistance of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Liberia, and its subordinates. I have not seen a plan of the building, but judging from the extent of the foundation, and such casual description as I could obtain from the builders, the edifice will be the most imposing in Liberia. There was great delay in selecting a suitable site, caused chiefly by local interest and prejudice, but the final decision has located it in Monrovia, the policy of which has been doubted by many. The chief objection is, that such an institution should not be situated near a large town.

3. The Legislature adjourned January 23d, after a session of six weeks. One of the most important bills passed during the session, related to the French plan of procuring emigrants from this coast. I am unable to give you a synopsis of the bill, as it has not been printed as yet; but the restrictions which it imposes will have the tendency to abolish the system from that part of the coast over which this government maintains jurisdiction. The course we have pursued in regard to this system has so affected the French Government toward us, that she has retracted the gift of a sloop-of-war made some time since, although we had sent an agent to France to receive it, according to agreement. But it is preferable to lose the vessel, though it is much needed, than to be remiss in frowning down a system which has proved to possess but a very few more of the attributes of humanity than the slave trade.

4. The Methodist denomination of Liberia, heretofore under the jurisdiction of the American Bishop, has increased in prosperity and importance to such an extent, that it was deemed expedient to have a bishop especially for this country, one who was a citizen of the Republic and identified with the interests of the people. Accord ingly, the Conference which has just adjourned, elected to

that position the Rev. Francis Burns. It is a judicious election, as Mr. Burns has been Superintendent of the Methodist Mission in Liberia for a long time, and no one is better acquainted than he with the condition and wants of this people. He expects to visit the United States during the ensuing summer for the purpose of being ordained. President Benson writes, under date of Monrovia, January 30, 1858:

5. Your very fine ship, the M. C. Stevens, is in port, homeward bound, and I embrace the opportunity of reacknowledging your interesting favors by her, all of which have been perused and their contents duly noted. I perceive by yours, as well as other journals, that Liberia and the great Colonization cause, have been malignantly, and somewhat ingeniously, attacked, by that unreasonable portion of the press of your country which invariably expects a demonstration of greater perfection in intelligence, morality, and industry, in Liberia, by Liberians, than they ever expect to witness in countries (including their own and themselves) which have had twenty times the advantages of Liberia. A single delinquency of emphatic occurrence in Liberia, creates more pretended surprise and disrespectful animadversion among and by a class in the United States, than do the tens of thousands of similar daily occurrences among themselves, with all the advantages under which they have been raised.

6. I am happy to say that our public affairs are moving on as usual; some particulars in regard to them you will have no doubt gathered from my Message to the Legislature, of the 10th ult. (copies of which I sent you via England, per December mail). The report of the Adju dicating Committee of the National Fair, held in this city on the 14th to the 21st ult., is now in course of printing. It has produced an almost magical effect upon the indus trial skill and energy of our citizens, so that the Legislature have made a standing arrangement to hold them successively in the different counties every year.

7. I consider that we are now approximating nearer to substantial prosperity than ever. It is true, times are hard for money, and we sensibly feel the falling off of the oil trade during the last year; yet, after all, the people raise enough to eat, and the failure of the oil season, together with other things, have caused them not only to see the propriety of raising something for exportation, but actually to prepare and commence doing so; and if no untoward circumstance arises, I think you and other friends of this Republic will become increasingly gratified and encouraged by authentic annual reports of manly progress in all those industrial pursuits that are so essential to individual and national prosperity.

8. And if nothing but a temporary failure in the oil trade will induce some of our principal men to see the folly of basing our commerce upon what should be regarded as an auxiliary, instead of principal, commodity; if nothing else can bring them to see that the Americo-Liberians must be their own producers, and are not to depend upon the native Africans otherwise than as auxiliaries, then I hope that a blight may rest upon the palm-tree, until they begin to practically demonstrate that this lesson is effectually learned. The more intelligent citizens are particu larly encouraged; and notwithstanding the tightness of the monetary market, and the great responsibility resting upon me (attended with a proportionate degree of cares and perplexity), yet never was I more encouraged in my life than during the last eight months; for during the most gloomy times last year, I plainly recognized the hand of Providence; I knew it would all be for our good, individually and nationally.

CHAPTER LXVII.

NEW SETTLEMENT.

(FROM REV. G. L. SEYMOUR.)

BUCHANAN, February 1, 1858.

1. I RECEIVED your kind letter of December 16th, 1857, which found me in this place, preparing to return to my station in Pessay, after an absence of a few weeks, for the purpose of obtaining aid from the Government and individuals to assist in defraying the expenses of an exploration interior of Liberia.

2. And I have to say that I have been blessed in my exertions to the amount of about three hundred dollars; and as I received aid from Government (of course in service of the same) in the important enterprise, about which all appear interested, I feel compensated for the letter I sent in answer, if but one good idea is advanced in behalf of Africa, and do trust that it will awaken the sympathy of our colored brethren in the United States for their fatherland; for be assured, sir, that it is Africa's own children who are to do the work, under God.

3. I do not know that it would be well to undertake the purchase of any part of the camwood country alone, with a view to secure the wealth thereof; for the natives think it common property; and, of course, many would disregard the contract and impose upon the owners,

4. The three head men referred to, are constant in their solicitations for Americans to reside with them; each of them will be pleased to hear from you on the important subject of interior settlements at or near their dominions ; and I believe they will perform all they promise. I shall deem it a pleasure to inform them that I have an answer to the communication in their behalf; if it is but a few lines in my letter, it will please them, for they have an

idea that the Society can accomplish much toward settling Americans in their midst. I am compelled to regard this as one of the indications of the harvest, ripening fast.

5. The extension of settlements interiorward is not so dangerous an experiment as may be supposed, if the right kind of persons can be employed; and the Government will have but little to do in affording protection, if a friendly intercourse is maintained by those that go, in the first instance. Our Government is at this time cramped for want of means. Therefore they can do but little toward defraying the expenses of a wagon-road now, but will take hold of the thing in due time if the necessary means can be secured.

6. I need not remind you, that the means to perpetuate the work on a broad plan is at the disposal of any and all, who take hold of it in a masterly way; and the Govern ment will no doubt undertake it in a few months. You are correct in the supposition, that the wood country and our station are beyond the jurisdiction of the Republic— they are about seventy-five or eighty miles beyond.

7. There would be difficulty in transporting a company of emigrants with luggage to our place, yet it can be done for about twenty-five or thirty dollars apiece, and perhaps less on an average. I have thought it best to begin a settlement with old citizens, and heartily adopt your sentiments as to their moral and religious character.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA.

1. THE friends of African colonization have every reason for substantial encouragement in the great work in which they are engaged. Erroneous impressions of the capabilities of the African race are entertained by many in this