Letters are received at this office by the English mail, bearing dates to the 10th of April, also a copy of the Liberia Herald, dated the 20th of March. The following extracts from the communication of President BENSON will be read with interest:

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Monrovia, April 10, 1861. "By the M. C. Stevens, which left this port the 1st ult., I hurriedly penned you a few lines* from Po River Camp, in Maryland County, expressing the high gratification of the Government and people of Liberia with the very prompt and magnanimous action of the Board of Directors in response to my communication of the 25th of August, respecting recaptured Africans."

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"We are doing the best we can, under the circumstances, for the welfare of the recaptives. I feel very anxious that the system of training alluded to be successfully prosecuted. I believe much in the future depends upon it. The eyes of Christendom are upon us respecting the recaptives."

In allusion to some troubles that had arisen among a fierce and intractable class of those Africans which were landed at Sinou, and some acts of insubordination that prevailed for a time among them, President BENSON observes:

"This state of things continued, with increasing danger, for a month after their transfer to us, when it became necessary to take prompt measures to put them in their place. In doing this, two of

Not received.

them were wounded, (flesh wounds,) but they have perfectly healed. I was at Sinou in February and March, and had all the recaptives assembled, (all but one,) and lectured them kindly but decisively; and I was satisfied before I left that they would attempt no more violence, and in fact give very little trouble, unless instigated thereto by a few mischievous persons, (as is said to have been the case, but with how much truth I do not know,) since their transfer to the Government. They, without a dissenting voice, promised to be subject to the authorities of that county. Since I left I have been officially informed that all of them (except about forty, who will be bound out this month) have been either apprenticed, or located in contiguity to the Sinou Falls, to be trained according to the system contemplated, so soon as we can draw the means.

"After conversing with Dr. Hall, I concluded to have the bridges on the Careysburg road finished. The Government contracted, late in December, to have the work done, and it is progressing finely. Dr. Hall assured me that the Society would make the proper refundment to this Government for expenditures on said bridges and road. I shall expect the Society, as promised, to defray one-half of the expense of road and bridges.

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"I read with much pleasure the resolutions of the Directors, and your remarks respecting the New Jersey Settlement."

President BENSON mentions the Act of the Legislature of Liberia at its late session, and adds:

"You will have received the Act in a number of the Herald when this reaches you. A commencement was made at the site about six weeks ago, and they are now cutting the line as a basis of the road to lead from the settlement to the head of navigation on the St. John's River. Timber getters are also working out there, and the Superintendent has been directed to prosecute the work as energetically and economically as possible. When your Agent, Mr. DeRandamie, arrives, I hope he and the Superintendent will be able to co-operate in driving forward the enterprize."

Of the Act, touching the establishment of Interior Settlements, to which President BENSON refers, it may be proper to say, that the Executive Committee adhere to the opinions expressed in the resolutions adopted by them on this subject, on the 1st of May, 1857, and are well convinced of the importance of such settlements and disposed to co-operate by any reasonable means and to any reasonable extent, for their establishment. They will be happy should the authorities of Liberia adopt a policy in conformity with the wellconsidered views they have heretofore expressed.

A letter from the Rev. JOHN SEYS, United States Agent for Recaptured Africans, to the Financial Secretary, expresses deep concern for the present disturbed state of the country.

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Every where," says Mr. SEYS, "in this far-off land, our hearts bleed to think of the dangers to which our fair and beautiful structure, -that model of all human improvement, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, is exposed. I send up my feeble prayers, in public and at home, by night and day, that a kind Providence may avert the impending ruin."

From the Liberia Herald of March 20, 1861.

This number contains a long vindication of President BENSON, in his military movement against the Poes, and other tribes in Maryland County. Although President BENSON, more than a year ago, met the Poes, Padaes and Garroways, at Harper, and spent a whole day in hearing their statements, examining witnesses and colonial records, and ascertaining from the unanimous opinion of the leading men of the several principal tribes present, that the Poes were the aggressors and deserved punishment, and that the Padaes had suffered injustice since, and in consequence of their deed of session of lands to the Colony of Maryland, by which it was agreed that they should have peaceable occupation of the territory until it should be required for actual settlement by the colonists. The Poes, who had got possession, obstinately refused to move, and threatened the safety of the first civilized person that should attempt to land from the Lark, whether on a mission of peace or otherwise. Under an act of the Liberian Legislature of January 9, 1861, President BENSON, who had learned that these three tribes had been fighting, killing and kidnapping scores of each other annually, proceeded with a military expedition to bring these cruelties, contentions and commotions to a close, by establishing each tribe "on such an assignment of the public domain as was necessary for their comfort and happiness, and best accordant with justice, and by imposing such fine on the aggressor as was necessary to make the proper impression upon their minds," he soon restored peace.

"The rumor that we heard some days ago, that five of the recaptives at Sinou had been shot, on account of insurrection, is incorrect. The recaptives did defy the authorities of that place, and it was necessary to call out a part of the militia to suppress the mob. None were killed. Two were slightly wounded, but these have since been healed. The recaptives are now obedient to law and authority. On the arrival of the President at Sinou, on his way to Palmas last month, they were definitely informed of the course that would be pursued with them, and they all expressed entire satisfaction."

"The President left this city in the Quail, on the evening of the 18th inst., for Bassa, where the remains of Mrs. Benson were reinterred on the 20th, they having been conveyed thither in the Quail."

"Military.-The President has been pleased to appoint Lieutenant Colonel S. J. Crayton, Colonel of the Third Regiment, in place of Beverly A. Payne."

Hurricane at Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount.

On Saturday night, March 17th. A correspondent of the Herald writes the next day, "that the lightning was well-nigh incessant and the thunder terrible. The elements were in a fearful commotion for a quarter of an hour." The house in which the writer slept was blown down just as he was leaving it. He states:

"In the house with me were old Mrs. Carroll and several children, none of whom were injured at all. But on repairing to the spot next morning, I found that the hammock in which I slept was completely covered with the wreck of the house, and had I remained in it I am almost sure I would have been killed. As it was I had a narrow escape, and it was only through the mercy of God that I was not killed, for which mercy and all others I desire to be truly thankful. In this sad catastrophe two lives were lost: Betsey Watson and Lucy Morris's child, and thirty-one houses injured and destroyed. I have never witnessed such a scene in my life, and hope I shall never see such a one again. It seems almost miraculous that so few lives were lost, when so many houses were blown down. I have never heard such wind, nor heard such thunder, nor seen such lightning. It was most awfully grand, and displayed the power of God, in some small degree. I send you a list of those who suffered:

E. Carroll, A. Barker, R. E. Jones, E. Gass, and T. Hunter,Houses down and ruined. Betsey Watson, killed, house down. P. McKay, M. Hunt, D. Sheridan, R. Jackson, P. Crawford, and Barr, -House down and ruined. J. A. Deputie, new house fell off the foundation. Custom House, down. Wier's Church, roof blown off. Old M. E. Church, down. John McKay, W. N. Miles, Jack Paul, John Hough, John Stake, Willis Houston, Joshua Watson,-Houses down and ruined. Wier's dwelling, gable end off. 5 kitchens fell, 3 persons wounded and 2 killed.

These are all poor people, and are now completely out of doors; you can therefore form some idea of their feelings. It shook almost every house in the place tremendously."

We find in this number of the Herald a card from President BENSON, expressing with much sensibility his thanks to those who ministered to his wife during her last illness, in his absence, and attended her remains to her grave, and commending his benefactors to the great Benefactor. It will be seen that the remains of Mrs. Benson have been conveyed to their final resting place at Bassa.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

NEW YORK STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

The Twenty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the New York State Colonization Society was held at Irving Hall, in the City of New York, Thursday evening, May 9th, 1861.

In the absence of the President, on motion, Francis Hall, Esq., took the chair. Prayer was offered by Rev. John Orcutt, a Secretary of the American Colonization Society.

The abstracts of the Annual Report and the Treasurer's Report, were read by the Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. B. Pinney.

We present extracts from this very interesting Report, which is commenced by the following sentences from the Report of 1860:

"The Board, in anticipation of the receipt of some legacies, determined to build a small steamer, to unite in more speedy and frequent intercouse the various settlements along the Liberia coast.

"The original design was to limit its cost to $10,000; and as this sum was expected from the estate of Seth Grosvenor, Esq., formerly of this city, the steamer was to bear his name.

"In the progress of completing the vessel, and sending her across the ocean, the sum originally contemplated was doubled, and as the legacy was paid, to a large extent, in bonds and mortgages, there has been a necessity of going in debt to some extent, and to obtain money on loan. This, we confidently expect, will be met from sources of income entirely reliable, eventually; yet, for the present, the Society is encumbered with debt. It is a great satisfaction to the Board that this attempt has so far progressed, that the little steamer is now on her voyage to Liberia. Let us heartily beseech Him who controls the winds and the waves, to so order in His providence that she may safely cross the Atlantic, and do her beneficent work for the welfare of Africa."

"At our last anniversary, this steamer had just left the harbor of New York on her voyage to Liberia. She made a safe and successful passage.

"Under the command of Capt. Frederick Reimer, who had previously had experience in taking small steamers to Cuba and the West Indies, the Seth Grosvenor reached Bermuda in six days; thence, after re-coaling, to the Cape Verd Islands she had a passage of twentyfour days; and thence, again re-coaling, to Monrovia, Liberia, in nine days.

"The steamer has since then been running as a passenger and freight boat on the coast of Liberia, and though small, has steadily grown in public favor. A contract for carrying the mails, and aiding in enforcing the revenue laws, was made with the Liberian Government for the year 1861, at $3,000 per annum; and the extra services