it is the pride of our best citizens to elevate them to a seat in their social circles.

The Congoes brought into this Republic by the United States squadron, at first created some little excitement with some of our citizens, but the course adopted by the United States Agent, Rev. John Seys, in placing them in the families of the citizens, as far as it was practicable, has banished all their fears, and seems to work gloriously. Numbers of the children are attending Sabbath schools and public service every Sabbath, and are learning rapidly. To me this is another evidence of the workings of Divine Providence.

I was happy to have the honor of taking a part in the arduous labors, with my old friend Mr. Seys, in his disposition of the great number of these recaptives which were placed under his care. Mrs. Seys, wife of the Rev. John Seys, has distinguished herself in assisting her husband in taking care of the miserable thousands which were placed here. Her labors have been astonishing to all, and one could be led to believe that God had sent her here for the special crisis. The noble act of the United States Congress in their very liberal appropriation, has enabled this Government and its citizens to bestow upon these miserable sufferers that care which their condition demands:-all of which I hope will work to the glory of God and the up-building of our down-trodden race.

I cannot close this very short communication without some expression in relation to yourself and the great work in which you so long have been engaged; and it is my firm belief that there will be many to rise up in the Day to come and call you blessed. Your labors in this good work have been and are such as will win for you laurels which Angels might covet:--you having been among the first to advocate the great scheme of Colonization.

We have had another visit from our old and tried friend, Mr. Hall; we are always glad to see him. I have to close, and leave much unsaid that I wish to say; but I will save it for the next time.

With much respect, I remain your most humble servant in Christ, B. R. WILSON.

Mr. H. W. DENNIS, Agent of the Society, writes to the Financial Secretary, under date of Monrovia, February 28, 1861:

"Yours by the M. C. Stevens came duly to hand, and contents noted. A number of the emigrants went to Cape Palmas, and a family to Grand Bassa. One family stops at this place, and the remainder are located at Careysburg. The road is in progress, and may be completed before the return of the ship. The Government was pleased, after Dr. Hall's arrival here, to contract for it with Dr. Daniel Laing, and not at a public auction. I am very glad, however, that the road is going on, and the prospect is fair that we will be able to use our wagon and cart upon it before the year is out.

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"The two sugar mills have been disposed of, as well as the four cauldrons. * Quite a number of persons have requested me to order for them a small sugar mill and two boilers, just like the ones you sent this time, and to cost the same. Our people often call for the above articles, and some have requested me to order some for them. And now, since they have so many Congoes to help them work, their calls are more frequent and urgent."

Also, from Mr. J. H. DENNIS, dated Careysburg, February. 20, 1861:

"Many who were expected by the last arrival to come here, were persuaded to go with those who came out for Sinou and Cape Palmas, which lessened our number to twenty-four. Though few in number, they are a great addition to our settlement, and will become good citizens, having been very industrious since their arrival, in cleaning their lands and erecting their houses. Two families have moved into their houses this month, and three or four more expect to move within two weeks. There have been no deaths up to this date, and but little sickness. I hope they will suffer less than the previous company. The Cuthbert family are getting along as well as could be expected."

"We were once more greatly disappointed, on the arrival of the ship, by receiving no emigrants for our almost forsaken settlement. We hope, and look forward with blessed anticipation, that the day is not far distant when our little settlement shall flourish by the accession of emigrants, and the work of civilization be promoted; and not only that we but others around us may realize a glorious result. I respectfully solicit your attention to this momentous point, and hope that you will use your influence towards the promotion of our settlement, and let us have a few more people among us, and see what can be done towards opening settlements up the rivers that surround us. * The recaptives are now in the hands of this Government, which is to carry out the agreement of the Society and the U. S. Government, and of which you will shortly hear.

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"While the recaptives were under the auspices of the Society, they attended school under my supervision, and I am glad to say I could report progress. At the expiration of my last quarter, many of them could read in primary readers and spell in two, three and four letters. You will perceive by the roll containing their names and ages, that they are mostly young, which renders their minds

more susceptible of receiving instruction. The Echoites are doing well, and of the twenty-five that came to this place none have died. "In conclusion, I would recommend to you the necessity of having the Receptacle reshingled, as the rains will soon commence and the house is in a very leaky condition."

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From Nathaniel Brooks.

"MT. TUBMAN, CAPE PALMAS, January 1, 1861.

"REVEREND SIR:

"I received your letter on the 16th ult., which found me in good health: I hope that these few lines when they reach you may find you the same. I feel thankful for your continuation of correspondence. When I read your letter I was astonished to hear of the unbelief of my colored friends.

"Our crops are prosperous for the ensuing year, and great tranquility prevails at present. There is a great revival in the Methodist Church.

"I will send you twelve canes, in the care of Dr. Hall; please walk with one of them yourself, and please give one to Mr. and distribute the others to the rest of the Patriarchs of the Society.

"The Episcopal Mission has built a house up the Cavalla River, about eighty or ninety miles distant. It is a beautiful river, and I think it would make an excellent settlement for emigrants, as it is well timbered, mountainous and healthy. There is room enough here to accommodate thousands of my colored friends.

"I have been in this country so long, that I expect the people of Georgetown and Washington think that I am dead; but tell them that I am well, and doing well, and invite all to come. me a journal occasionally."

Please send

EXTRACTS FROM MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT BENSON.

The Liberia Herald of December 5, 1860, says:

We publish in this number the Message of the President, delivered to-day to the Legislature, which convened on the 3d instant. The Message was listened to attentively by a full house; and it seemed that there was general satisfaction with the views and policy contained in it. We hope the Legislature will give to each subject contained in the Message that consideration which its importance demands.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

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Your last and highly commendable short session afforded me the necessary time to have prosecuted, before the termination of the dry season, the purpose which I signified to you in my last annual message, "of effecting, during the last dry season, a demolition of the barricades of some of our aborigines, especially at Cape Mount and New Cess; and of establishing peace among them, as far as could be, on a permanent basis." I am pleased to say, that my expectations were more than met, without the least hostile demonstration; and the fruits have been eminently manifested in the unusual and profitable increase of our commerce during the past year.

There are one or two chiefs living in the interior, some distance north of Cape Mount, whose misunderstandings remain yet to be adjusted, which, for want of time, could not be attended to last dries. But as they are anxious for government interposition, and have sent several solicitations, I apprehend no difficulty in having them all arranged early in the dries, provided the Superintendent at Robertsport shall not have previously succeeded. In fact, though there are some minor misunderstandings among several clans along the coast, yet the only case that seems to have particularly assumed such an aspect as now to require prompt action on the part of this government, is the misunderstanding and hostile relations subsisting between the Po River and Padae people, living thirty or forty miles to the northwest of Cape Palmas, to which, and especially the obligations of the government to the latter, growing out of treaty stipulations, I have more than once invited your attention. The efforts of which I made mention in my last annual message, that were being employed by the Superintendent of Maryland County, and the bright prospect he then had of success in adjusting the difficulties between those tribes, (the former having promised to remove to their own domain,) have all proved abortive; and I am informed that the impression of the leading men of that County is that nothing short of the employment of force will effect the object, which they regard as indispensable. I have therefore to request, that if what you may learn in addition on this subject, from the representatives from that County now present, be such as to justify it, you will authorize the coercive removal of the aggressors, and that you make appropriation sufficient for employing the requisite military force.

Should you deem it necessary to employ a force for the purpose aforesaid, it will no doubt be the means also of quieting two or three factious tribes in that vicinity, and of putting an effectual stop to the cruel, heathenish practice of administering the poison of saucy wood, which still obtains among some of the aborigines living in the vicinity of our settlements in that County. Several cases of a most revolting nature occurred this year, for which the perpetrators should be punished. The time has come when such homicidal practices by natives living (at least) within the vicinity of our settlements, should be promptly checked. If this government has the right and power to stop it, (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.

I am gratified to be able to state, that this new Representative Hall, commenced the latter part of last year, is now completed, at a cost of $4,389, and is acknowledged to be the best public building in the Republic. The second story has been laid off into commodious public offices, which saves the expense of the rent of two buildings for that purpose, to which government was previously subjected.

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The spirit of agricultural industry has increased most encouragingly. Several of the leading articles of domestic provisions have never in the history of Liberia been more abundant and cheap, than they were the last, and have been the present year. And the production of exportable articles by our civilized communities this year, will be more than two hundred per cent. in advance of the preceding year. It affords me pleasure to say that the National Fair, instituted a few years ago by your patriotism and wisdom, has, as was but reasonable to suppose, largely contributed to the industrial interest of the Republic. It is an institution which every intelligent patriot will ever duly appreciate; an institution in which the great masses-particularly the laboring classes of our citizens-take the liveliest interest, because they regard it particularly as their own; one at which they can (though occupying an humble position in life) honorably demonstrate their manliness and patriotism, by an exhibition of samples of what they are doing, not only for the comfort of themselves and families, but also for the substantial prosperity of Liberia. And I cordially endorse the very judicious and patriotic sentiment of the respected chairman of the intelligent Adjudicating Committee of the last Fair," That every cent expended on the National Fair yields to Liberia a thousand fold." Much is due to several warm friends of Liberia in the United States, for contributing so liberally in facilitating the development of the productive industry of this Republic, by the timely supply of machinery, &c., &c., on very accommodating

I have already intimated that there has been a manifest increase during the year in our commerce, at an advance of nearly fifty per cent. over the preceding year. This has arisen from the increased production by our aborigines, as well as civilized communities. While the former have unusually devoted themselves to the production of palm oil, dye-woods, cotton cloths, &c., the latter have been equally diligent in the production of sugar, syrup, molasses and coffee. And though the quantity may as yet be regarded as comparatively small, yet the annual increase is very encouraging. And if government should continue to be so fortunate in its efforts for the preservation of peace and the suppression of the slave trade among the aborigines, there is no doubt that their devotion to legitimate industrial pursuits will most gratifyingly increase with each succeeding year.

By reference to statistics in the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, it will be seen that more than fifty per cent. of the commerce of this Republic is carried on with the United States of America. Considering that Liberia is the offspring of American