equal wonder for the black man, whenever and wherever he is fully brought under its spell.

A nationality of free, self-governing Christian men, has never yet been attempted for the negro race, except in Liberia. The world is full of the fame of what British philanthropy has done for the blacks, but English wisdom and English benevolence have never yet given the negro an opportunity to govern himself, nor a chance to gain a name and a place among the nations of men.

Holding this judgment and this augury concerning the present and the future of Liberia, I look away, not without satisfaction, from the present difficulties of our enterprise at home, to what is now doing and what may be done upon that favored part of the African coast, and earnestly hope that nothing which may check our usual efforts here, will dampen the ardor of our best wishes for that interesting community. They have not yet wrought out all the problem to which they are set, though they are hard at work about it, and we can afford to help them, because they are doing so nobly in helping themselves.

For one, I should be quite willing that American benefactions in this cause, for some time to come, should be directly and extensively applied to the strengthening of all good institutions, and the aiding of all good endeavors in Liberia; satisfied, that by every degree, by which we make Liberia a safe and happy home for the black man, by so much shall we hasten the day when vast multitudes of the children of Africa shall press into her expanding borders, and the land once “forsaken and hated” shall become "joy of many generations.” I am, very truly, your friend in a good cause,

Rev. JOHN O. FISKE.

P. BARNES.

Freeman Clark, Esq., then made a statement of his attendance as delegate from this auxiliary to the Parent Society at Washington in January last. Expressing his pleasure in attendance upon that meeting, and his gratification with the favorable condition and prospects of the Society.

The Corresponding Secretary, Rev. John O. Fisk, of Bath, presented the Annual Report of the Society, in his very able and instructive manner, which was ordered to be published under the direction of the Executive Committee.

Rev. Alexander Crummell, a colored missionary of the American Protestant Episcopal Church at Cape Palmas, Liberia, was then introduced to the audience. He addressed the people on the condition and prospects of Liberia, as an instrument of good to Africa, for more than an hour, in a manner that held their close and unwearied attention. He earnestly maintained that Liberia, by her civilizing and evangelizing influences, is a prominent instrumentality of Africa's redemption, and that she is eminently worthy of the sympathy and aid of all who would benefit the black man.

She has now, with an emigrant population of scarcely 15,000, a government and laws, sufficient for her protection, a commerce not to be despised. She has schools of the highest order, and the building for a College is now erected, and a board of teachers will soon be there to commence instruction. Churches and Missions of all denominations are founded, and native tribes are gradually coming under the influence of the Republic. Coffee, sugar, cotton, and various other tropical productions abound there, and the people are emulous of progress.

The introduction of recaptives is a benefit to her, garded as a favorable providence for her growth. assimilated and they soon become good citizens. .

be re

and may They are easily

Mr. Crummell says Liberia can receive twenty thousand recaptives without detriment, provided the necessary aid is afforded from this country for their instruction in agriculture, letters and religion.

The slave trade is broken up all along the coast and within the limits of Liberia, and the peaceful arts of civilized and Christian life are pushing into the interior of long neglected Africa.

At the conclusion of the address, the Treasurer made his report, and the officers of the Society for the ensuing year were elected, of which we noted the following: Hon. Phineas Barnes, of Portland, President; Rev. John O. Fiske, of Bath, Corresponding Secretary; Freeman Clark, Esq., of Bath, Treasurer.

The thanks of the Society were presented to Mr. Crummell for his very interesting and instructive address.

The following Resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the present condition and prospects of Liberia afford convincing evidence that the enterprise of Colonization is conferring great benefits upon Africa and the colored man, and that passing events in this country are admonishing us that the vigorous prosecution of this work is imperatively demanded as well by true patriotism as by pure philanthropy and religion.

This anniversary will long be remembered with peculiar interest, as occurring at a most eventful time in the history of our country, in one of the most noble cities of our land, and among a people whose interest in the objects of the Society are worthy of all praise. Yours very truly,

B.

REV. MR. CRUMMELL ON THE CONGO RECAPTIVES.

The Philadelphia Ledger of September 12th contains the following letter from the Rev. Alexander Crummell, of whom our readers have derived information from our previous numbers. Mr. Crummell is familiar with Liberia, and very competent to express a judicious opinion of the probable effect of the introduction of these victims of the slave trade into Liberia. Messrs. Crummell and Blyden are now professors elect in the College of Liberia.

217 Sullivan Street, New York City, 5th September, 1861.

DEAR SIR-I find in your letter a question which has already, even before leaving the coast, come to me from other correspondents in the United States-it is this, "If you take further shipments (of Congoes,) will they not seriously affect the interests of the Republic, and may they not jeopardize the very existence of the people and the government?" To this I must reply to you:-First, that the providence of God in the recaptures is one of the greatest blessings which could have been bestowed upon the Liberians, for the Liberians themselves. For it gives them, first of all, a laboring population, which is their greatest need in the cultivation of their great staple, sugar.

The neighboring nations do not supply this need, chiefly because they are more especially engaged in trade, and so well acquainted with our colonists and their habits, that they know well how to inconvenience our planters by a demand for high wages, and by irregularity in labor. The Congoes are apprenticed to our citizens; are remarkably pliant and industrious, and peculiarly proud and ambitious of being called "Americans.' The result of their arrival in our borders is that already hundreds of acres are being cleared for sugar farms; and those citizens who for years have been satisfied to live in the midst of weeds, have been prompted by this auxiliary to plant extensively, and are as ambitious of wealth as any of our citizens. Second, its influence upon surrounding tribes is equally manifest. They dislike the Congoes, and as a consequence the Congoes are thrown upon us. This leads them to the adoption of American habits, and prompts us Americans to adopt measures for the thorough assimilation of these people to our habits. They go to our schools; they crowd our churches; they adopt our dress; they speak English; they are trained with our militia. I have no hesitation in saying that all our native wars are now at an end. The Congo additions to our force already staggers and confuses the natives at all our settlements. Third. So plastic is the Congo's character, that they are easily moulded into Americo-Liberians, and into their habits. In Palmas we have not seen a single relic of their heathenism. They are regular attendants at church, industrious, polite, contented. In Sinou some have already intermarried with our colonist women, and in two cases are thrifty men and members of the church. Two years ago they were naked heathens, in a slave ship. On the St. Paul's masses of them are industrious peasants.

I need not speak of the benefit to them in thus being placed in juxtaposition with civilization, under an orderly government and Christian influence.

So far, then, as we are concerned, I am satisfied that President Benson does not exaggerate in the declaration that we can receive 20,000 without any detriment to our own civilization. There are one or two provisos to be connected with this, namely, that our Christian societies may not be harassed by the cry from missionary societies in America, "Go preach to the heathen in the interior," when our work is in our own settlements, in our own families, among our own servants and laborers; and when our indirect influence upon the interior tribes will be a deal more powerful than a few feeble attempts at missionary work in the interior; and next, that the friends of Liberia sustain our efforts to increase our schools and educate the humblest of our citizens, namely, native servants and Congo recaptives. This cannot be pressed too strongly. There is a deficiency of females among the recaptures; there is an excess of females among the colonists; and just as fast as these new men are civilized they will intermarry among us. This has already, to a small extent, taken place; and the whole process shows the absolute need of an immediate effort for a wide diffusion of education in the Republic. ALEXANDER CRUMMELL.

LATEST FROM LIBERIA.

President BENSON writes to the Corresponding Secretary under

date of

REV. AND DEAR SIR:

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

Monrovia, July 29, 1861.

By the bark Cordelia, Captain Roberts, which left here for the United States on the 5th inst., I wrote to you in acknowledgment of your favor of the 17th of April via England, with the accompanying account current between the American Colonization Society and this Government, on account of recaptured Africans. There has not much of interest occurred since. The Recaptives by the Nightingale have suffered from mortality to a considerable extent: not more, however, than was to be reasonably expected from the very unusually bad condition in which they arriaed here, as Lieut. Guthrie, the prize officer, and the U. S. Agent here for Recaptured Africans, will abundantly testify.

I believe Lieut. Guthrie paid every possible attention to them during the passage up from Kabenda, and yet the average deaths daily, during the passage, was about fourteen. Doctors Moore, Laing and an assistant, have been in constant attendance on them, which still continues, and I spare no pains to save as many as possible.

In case the Financial Secretary of the American Colonization Society shall not have sent out any medicines to the order of, or on account of this Government, before this reaches you, I will be pleased you will make the request of him to do so, as we are getting short of medicines, and know not when another ship-load of these miserable beings may be brought in.

if

I am pleased to say that notwithstanding the large accession to our population, by the importation of these Recaptives, and the fact that the usual number of American vessels bringing supplies has greatly diminished this year, (probably owing to the civil commotion in the United States,) yet we have had, and continue to have, an abundant supply of domestic provisions, (excepting meal, of which there is a deficiency;) and though, if foreign provisions were brought into this market they would sell well, yet our people can make out to live without them, should there be a cessation of their importation. We are daily expecting the arrival of the order sent by the Secretary to the Financial Secretary of the American Colonization Society for execution, for and on account of this Government, particularly in view of the arrival of the prize Nightingale. This Government has already expended nearly twelve thousand dollars for their support, (Nightingale recaptives,) besides claims still due and being pressed upon us

on their account.

Every thing seems to be moving on harmoniously in the Republic, with but few exceptions. The Careysburg bridges are being pushed towards completion. The Recaptive Receptacle on that road will be

commenced so soon as we can learn that the Financial Secretary of the American Colonization Society has sufficient funds in hand on account of this Government to justify its commencement.

The one at Bassa is nearly completed. Your Agent at Bassa had commenced procuring materials for it before the transfer was made to this Government.

We have all felt, and continue to feel much interest in the civil commotions which have so seriously agitated your country during the present year. It is the land that gave birth to many of us, and we can but wish to see increasing prosperity attend that land and nation.

Under date of Monrovia, August 21, 1861, President BENSON writes to the same

Every thing with us in Liberia is moving on smoothly. Our anxiety respecting the present state and what will be the finale of things in the United States, is most intense. A newspaper from there, as often as possible, is a great relief to us.

Our friend, Captain Armstrong, of the Sumpter, came in last evening, and leaves at noon to-day for the United States. I regret he cannot protract his stay here a couple of days, so Liberians could have an opportunity to demonstrate to him how they appreciate his efficient efforts, as well as also those of the entire squadron under the command of the noble and gallant Commodore Inman, for the suppression of the slave trade. They all leave and carry home with them the respect and gratitude of Liberians.

From the Liberia Herald.

Death of Capt. W. B. Monger.-On the 2d inst., Captain W. B. Monger, of the Government schooner Quail, was drowned in Gallinas bar, while attempting to effect a landing. Captain Monger was born in Savannah, Georgia, U. S. A., in 1832, and emigrated to Liberia in the year 1848; he entered the service of the Republic as a midshipman on board the schooner Lark; when that vessel was sent to England for repairs, in June, 1858, she was under his command, he having attained the rank of lieutenant; and on the resignation of Captain Reed Cooper last year, the command of the Quail devolved upon Mr. Monger-who, we are proud to say, has proved himself a gallant and dutiful officer.-June 19th.

Sugar.-In addition to the laudable efforts of our citizens in manufacturing sugar, &c., we have seen several barrels made on the farm of Messrs. Cooper and Sons, out of African material. This will save them great expense, and is another step in the way of our advancement, we having had to depend on barrels, or material for barrels, brought from abroad.-July 3d.

We are informed that quite a favorable beginning in planting sugar cane has been made in the farming districts of Careysburg.

The citizens of most of the settlements on the St. Paul's, and of Careysburg, are preparing to celebrate the coming 26th, and with greater zest than is witnessed in our Monrovians.-July 3d.