The first settlement and capital of the colony is Monrovia, situated in lat. 6. 21, N. and 10, 30, W. long., about a quarter of a mile above the mouth of the river Montserado, and about three quarters of a mile from the point of the cape, bearing the same name. The river St. Paul empties into the sea a short distance from the Montserado. For the first two years, the emigrants lived in small thatched houses, and about five years ago, the first dwelling constructed of timber and boards, was built on the site of the present town, in a forest of trees of towering height, and a thick underwood. Tigers entering this (then) little village, have been shot from the doors. The first settlers had many difficulties to encounter, as is usually the case in establishing a new settlement; but all those difficulties have been happily overcome, and the people are now enjoying the benefits of their persevering industry. Monrovia, at present, consists of about ninety dwelling houses, and stores, two houses for public worship, and a court house. Many of the dwellings are handsome and convenient, and all of them comfortable. The plot of the town is cleared more than a mile square, elevated about seventy feet above the level of the sea, and contains seven hundred inhabitants. The streets are generally one hundred feet wide, and, like those of our good city, intersect each other at right angles. The Colonization Society have an agent and physician there. The agent is the chief magistrate of the colony, and the physician his assistant. No white people are allowed to reside in the colony for the purpose of trade, or of pursuing any mechanical business, such being intended for the exclusive benefit of colored people. The colonial secretary, collector of customs, surveyor, and constables, are appointed by the agent ;-the vice-agent, sheriff, treasurer, and all other civil officers are elective, and all the offices except that of the agent and physician are filled by colored people. The court holds its sessions on the first Monday in every month ; juries are empannelled as with us, and its jurisdiction extends over the whole colony. The trials are, principally, for larceny, and the criminals generally natives, who commit thefts in the settlements. A few instances of kidnapping have occurred; these depredations were committed on the recaptured Africans. To the honor of the emigrants be it mentioned, that but five of their number have been committed for stealing or misdemeanor since 1827. Two native kings have put themselves and their subjects (supposed to amount to ten thousand,) under the protection of the colony, and are ready, should it be thought necessary or expedient by the settlers to put into their hands arms, to make common cause with them in case of hostilities by any of the natives; which, however, is not anticipated, as the most friendly disposition is manifested by all the natives of the country from whom any danger might have been apprehended. The township of Caldwell is about seven miles from Monrovia, on St. Paul's river, and contains a population of five hundred and sixty agriculturalists. The soil is exceedingly fertile, the situation pleasant, and the people satisfied and happy. The emigrants carried out by me, and from whom I received a pleasing and satisfactory account of that part of the country, are located there. Millsburg is situated twenty-five miles from Monrovia, on the St. Paul's, at the head of tide water, where there are never failing streams, sufficient for one hundred mills; and there is timber enough in the immediate neighborhood for their employment, if used for the purpose of sawing, for half a century. The town contains two hundred inhabitants. Bushrod's Island, which separates the Montserado from the St. Paul's river, is seven miles in length, three at its extreme breadth, about five miles from Monrovia, and is very fertile; on this island are settled thirty families from the Corolinas. All the above settlers, amounting to at least fifteen hundred, are emigrants from the United States. On the left bank of Stockton Creek, and near the settlement on Bushrod's Island, the recaptured Africans are located; two hundred and fifty of whom were sent out by the government of the United States, and one hundred and fifty taken by the colonists from the Spanish factories; the agents of which having bought some of our kidnapped Africans, and refusing to give them up, the colonists not only took their own people but the slaves they had collected. These four hundred, who are useful agriculturalists, are happily situated and very contented. The settlements of which I have spoken, contain, in the aggregate, nearly two thousand souls, and are in a flourishing condition. I have been frequently asked, since my return from Liberia, whether there is no danger of the natives breaking in upon the colonists and destroying them. The best answer I can give to this question, in addition to what I have already said, is a statement of the following facts. When the colonists could muster but thirty effective men for defence, and when the forest was in pistol shot of their houses, five thousand of the natives, armed with muskets and other weapons of war, made an attack upon them in three divisions. A part of this little band were surprised by the left division, who took possession of one of their two cannon, a nine pounder; but instead of making use of it, (if indeed they knew how,) for the piece was loaded with grape and round shot, and a lighted match placed near it, the possessors were seen embracing it, powwowing over it, and vociferating, "big gun, big gun," till the other, a four pounder, was brought to bear on them under the direction of Lot Cary, and plied with so much precision and activity, that they retreated. The gun was retaken and turned on the invaders, when they made their escape to the forest. There was some skirmishing from the bush until one of their Gree-gree* men was slain, carried off by our men, and thrown into the river. This event entirely disheartened them, they went off, and have from that time never appeared in hostile array against the colonists. Many of them have traded with the colony ever since, but they would not acknowledge that they were engaged in the war, till, from an intercourse of some time, they found it would not be remembered to their prejudice. They then related many singular and amusing anecdotes respecting * Gree-gree men are a kind of prophets or conjurors. it, and acknowledged the loss of seventy to eighty men killed. If I remember right, the colonists lost but two or three of their little band. The means the colony have for defence, at present consist of twenty pieces of ordinance, and muskets, &c; for 1000 men, which may be increased from private stores if wanted. In Monrovia there are, Capt. Steward's company of Infantry, Weaver's company of Artillery, and Drapers' company of Rifle Rangers. In Caldwell, Davis' company of Infantry, and Brown's of Artillery. In Millsburg, White's company of Rifle Rangers. All these are volunteers and in uniform ; besides which, a respectable number of militia, not in uniform, and as many of the natives under the protection of the colonial government as it may think proper to arm. These facts will, I think, satisfy any man as to the safety of the colonists from attacks by the natives. There is a respectable fort on Cape Montserado, which commands the roadstead, and has protected an English vessel chased in by a pirate. The military are commanded by Major Barbour-the commander in Chief, is the society's agent. There is much hospitality to be found in Monrovia, and among the inhabitants a greater proportion of moral and religious characters than in this city. I never saw a man intoxicated, nor heard any profane swearing during the three weeks I was among them. The two houses for religious worship already noticed, are Baptist and Methodist the Baptists have three and Methodists five preachers, all intelligent colored men, merchants and traders, residing among them; so that the people have nothing to pay for the support of ministers. Five German Missionaries, some ministers and teachers reside there, a portion of whom preach at the Methodist church occasionally. A trading company has been formed at Monrovia, with a capital of $4,000, and an agreement entered into that no dividend shall be made until the profits increase the capital to $20,000. The stock has risen from 50 to 75 dollars per share, in one year. -- It has been objected that the climate is very unhealthy, this is true as respects the whites, but erroneous as respects the colored people. Those from the middle and northern states have to undergo what is called a seasoning, that is, they generally take the fever the first month of their residence, but it has rarely proved fatal, since accomdations have been prepared for their reception, those from Georgia, the Carolinas, and the southern parts of Virginia, either escape the fever altogether, or have it very slightly. Deaths occur there, indeed, as in other places, but Doctor Mechlin, the agent, assured me that the bills of mortality would show a less proportion of deaths, than those of Baltimore, Philadelphia or New York. I have given you a statement of facts as nearly as I could ascertain them. If there be any errors, they are, I am persuaded, unimportant, for my information has been derived from respectable sources in that couutry, and my own observation induces me to believe that what I have written is substantially correct. I will add my opinion, though I fear you may think it presumptuous. I have no hesitation in saying that I believe Liberia will, in time, become a great nation, and be the means, eventually, of civilizing a great part of Africa, and I should hope the whole of that benighted country. There are already in Monrovia, at least 60 children of native parents, and there would be, if wanted, many more. Do you ask what kind of government the Liberians would establish, if a great nation and left to themselves; I answer, a republican, unquestionably. The intelligent emigrants having been brought up in this country, and the first laws in operation among them being republican, they would be as well prepared for happiness under such a government, as any people in the world. The adult male inhabitants consider themselves men, and know how to enjoy the blessings of a free institution, and will never surrender their liberties, but with their lives. They are now as patriotic Americans as our fore-fathers were loyal subjects of the kings of England. Should they receive no further aid from this country, they will nevertheless, in my opinion, attain to greatness eventually, but if that aid which I think they so justly deserve, should be continued, their progress to this end will be greatly accelerated. What Some are of opinion that Hayti is preferable to Liberia for colored people to emigrate to; a little reflection will, I think, show the error of this opinion. Hayti is and ever has been in the hands of military despots; the Haytians have never known what rational liberty was nor ever can. Experience has shown this to be the case. would people of color from this country gain by going to Hayti?they would be kept as laborers, "hewers of wood and drawers of water," to the haughty Haytian. They would have no share in the government, and could never rise to any degree of eminence. If they must have masters, they prefer white to those of their own color; this I have found to be universally their sentiment. The manners and customs of the Haytians are different from those of our people as is their language. The religious and even moral colored people, cannot be happy where the sabbath is a day of revelry and dissipation, and they considered as heretics, and where the morals of the people are little better than those of the native African. Many of our citizens seem to think that the object and only object of the Colonization Society, is to get clear of a surplus colored population; I have very little personal acquaintance with any of the members, but I never can attribute a motive so selfish to that society; nor do I believe there can be found one among them who does not know that the increase by births in this country, is greater than the number they can transport to Libera in any given year. Their objects then can only be the laudable ones of bettering the condition of an injured people, diminishing slavery in our country, and the civilization of Africa, all which appears to me attainable. You may say I have given you much extraneous matter, which has but little bearing on the main question-true, but I am writing to a friend, whose goodness I know will pardon this digression, and who can expect no better from an old seaman. Yours, truly, W. E. SHERMAN. PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MASSACHUSETTS COLONIZATION SOCIETY, THE HELD IN PARK STREET CHURCH, FEB. 7, 1833. TOGETHER WITH SPEECHES DELIVERED ON THAT OCCASION HON. MESSRS. EVERETT, LADD, AND CUSHING, AND ALSO THE LETTERS OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR LINCOLN, AND THE HON. SAMUEL LATHROP, COMMUNICATED TO THE MEETING. BOSTON: No 9, Cornhill. 1833. BY |