LATE FROM LIBERIA.

We have received some very interesting letters from Ex-President J. J. ROBERTS, in one of which we have a particular and full account of the attack of the Spaniard upon the armed man-of-war QUAIL, in reference to which President BENSON transmits a brief statement. It will be seen that the various circumstances of this unreasonable act of hostility are not given very minutely by the President in view of the prospect of a thorough future investigation. Since then the slave trader taken in the Gallinas by the Liberians was subsequently seized and destroyed by an English man-of-war, so that the cause of offence to Spain is surely not less against Great Britain than Liberia. But, in fact, the slave trade is prohibited by Spanish law, and for this, as well as for the well-known enactments by Liberia against this traffic, there is no good ground of complaint. Both England and the United States should stand by Liberia, in her vindication of her rights and of the rights of human nature.

ter.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

Monrovia, Sept. 9, 1861. REV. AND DEAR SIR:-I have nothing of much interest to write since my last per U. S. Ship Mystic. Our eyes and ears are all turned towards the United States, to watch the latest news of the civil war there progressing. We feel much interest in the matBut surely it does not require extraordinary mental acumen to perceive that the prospect is gloomy, if not hopeless, of establishing a permanent African nationality on the western hemisphere. I do not believe the cupidity and prejudice of the Caucasian will allow it. Yet the government and people of Liberia wish Hayti every success in sustaining its nationality, and will not say an unkind word against that Republic.

Surely our friends in the United States (Colonizationists,) will permit no abatement of their wonted interest for Liberia. I cannot doubt that they will be on the alert to influence the United States Government in favor of Liberia. I need not mention that our claims are far superior to any Hayti can adduce, or any other colony or government in the eastern or western hemisphere.

I think and hope our friends will not meet with much difficulty now and in future, in bringing Liberia to the favorable notice of your Government. I will be happy to be advised of the first opening, or when your Board or Executive Committee think it a proper time for Liberia to make an effort for recognition by, and treaty with, the United States Government. I do not wish to act precipitately. Providence is now at work in the United States beyond the counteraction or frustration of human sagacity or power; and we should watch and embrace every opening which tends to a consummation of the object primarily had in view by your Society, and so earnestly desired by every philanthropist cognizant of your great and noble enterprise.

We are daily awaiting, with some anxiety, the supplies that were to have been sent by the Financial Secretary, as advised by your two last letters to us. I have the honor to be,

REV. R. R. GURLEY,

Very respectfully, yours, &c.

STEPHEN A. BENSON.

Cor. Sec. A. C. Soc., Washington.

P. S.-Sept. 16, 1861.-The U. S. S. San Jacinto, having arrived a few days ago, on her way home, I am afforded the opportunity of communicating to you the information of what occurred in our harbor on the 11th inst., which you will find detailed sufficiently in the accompanying copies of documents. I wrote some of the preliminaries to you by the U. S. S. Mystic, which left here about a fortnight ago.

I would write you in detail respecting the capture of that Spanish slaver by the Quail, at Gallinas last May, but it is not prudent that I should give publicity to the particulars as yet. Suffice it to say, that we will die to a man before we will allow the slave trade to be forced upon us in our jurisdiction, by any superior power. I know not, as yet, if the conduct of that vessel was authorized, or will be sanctioned by the Spanish government. I cannot, as yet, believe it. We have held ourselves in readiness, ever since the capture was made, to have our conduct fairly investigated, if questioned by any foreign power: and in case it be clearly shown that we have committed a wrong, we have stood ready to give any reasonable redress.

If that conduct was authorized, or will be sanctioned by the Spanish Government, and further violence is to be attempted upon us, I can only say that we are fully conscious of our inability to withstand Spain, or any other powerful nation. Yet, we cannot yield so sacred a matter of principle. After travelling 5000 miles in search of liberty, and suffering innumerable privations and difficulties, we had rather now die to a man, than pusillanimously submit to the slave-trade being forced upon us. We will resist it unto death, so long as there is a survivor.

I have not time to say more, as the ship is about to leave.
S. A. B.

(Copy.)

LIBERIAN SCHOONER "QUAIL,"

Off Monrovia, 14th September, 1861. SIR-I have the honor to report to your Excellency, that on Wednesday, the 11th inst., there came to an anchor off this place a steam vessel wearing the ensign of a Spanish man-of-war. I, immediately after her anchoring, called away my boat, and directed Mr. Carney, my second officer, to board her, inquire her name, that of her captain, her wherefrom, whereabout, and general news, as you will see from the report of Mr. Carney which I have the honor herewith to annex.

Having no suspicion of any intention on the part of the Spanish war vessel to enter into hostilities with us, I was busy with my men in fishing an anchor from which we had parted our cable, a few days

previous. We were all busily engaged in doing so, when my notice was called by one of my men to his getting under way. This I thought nothing of as he had "come to" very near our vessel, but merely thought that he intended only to move a little further off, as the swinging of the vessels might bring them in contact with each other. He stood out about three or four miles and directed his vessel again for the harbor, ran in, rounded the stern of the American bark Edward," under charter from the United States by Messrs. Johnson, Turpin & Dunbar, merchants of this place, stood up between the "Edward" and myself, and when opposite me, so that his guns would bear, opened fire upon me, throwing first grape and next grape and round shot. He happily, however, injured no one on board; several of the grape struck the schooner, but did no serious damage to her. Our bow-sprit was struck by the round shot, which carried away our fore-topmast and flying jib-stays and bow-sprit stays. As soon after his first fire as I could, I piped all hands to quarters, and succeeded in repulsing the aggressor, and drove him off, with impressions in his stern and quarters which will indelibly mark upon his mind the remembrance of the Liberian Schooner "Quail." I have the honor to be, sir,

(Signed,)

His Excellency,

Your Excellency's most humble, ob't servant,
JAMES LIBERIA BENEDICT,
Lieut. Commanding.

STEPHEN A. BENSON, Esq.,

President Liberia, Government House, Monrovia.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Monrovia, September 16, 1861.

I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of the original on file in this Department. J. N. LEWIS, Secretary of State. LIBERIAN SCHOONER "QUAIL,"

(Copy.)

Off Monrovia, 11th September, 1861. SIR-I have the honor to report, that in accordance with your orders, I boarded the Spanish steam vessel-of-war, requested her name and that of her captain, to which they replied, "she was a Spanish man-of-war, that she was just from Sierra Leone, came to see the President, and would likely remain here two or three days," and inquired the best place of landing, &c. The commander made the impression upon my mind that his visit was a friendly one. I am, sir, yours respecfully,

(Signed)

J. S. BENEDICT,

MINGO CARNEY, Acting Lieut.

Commanding Lib. Schr. " Quail."

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Monrovia, September 16, 1861.

I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of

the original on file in this Department. J. N. LEWIS,

Secretary of State.

From President Benson.

SIR-If I can get the depositions of the captain and mate of the American barque "Edward" copied timely to enclose in another envelope, to go by the San Jacinto to you, I will do so; otherwise I will send them by the barque "Edward," to sail this week for New York. STEPHEN A. BENSON.

Rev. R. R. GURLEY.

Ex-President ROBERTS says, under date of Monrovia, September 3, 1861, to the Corresponding Secretary:

"I desired to write to you, but I have not been able to do so, until now, for several months, in consequence of being obliged, since January last, to devote the whole of my attention to the erection of the College buildings. This became necessary, owing to the advanced state of the building season, when we obtained permission to proceed with the work. No time was then to be lost in getting up the walls, and the roof on, to escape, if possible, the heavy rains of the approaching season. However, I am glad to be able to inform you that the buildings are now far advanced to completion, and will be ready for inauguration, we hope, in the course of a couple of months. The main building is a fine structure, very commodious, we hope, in all its arrangements, and I do hope will prove a great blessing to Liberia."

MONROVIA, Sept. 13, 1861.

Α

DEAR SIR: The accompanying letter was written to go by the United States Ship "San Jacinto," then hourly expected from the leeward coast, bound to the United States. She arrived this morning, to sail again in a few hours. I have, therefore, only time to add a line or two to say, that day before yesterday an incident occurred here which, for the time being, created no little excitement. small Spanish war steamer entered the harbor about 9 o'clock, A.M., and anchored pretty near the Quail. She was boarded by an officer from the cutter, who was received very politely. The Spanish commander, in answer to questions put by said officer, stated that he was last from Sierra Leone. That he had called to see the President, and that he had expected to remain two or three days. He then inquired of the officer how and where he could best land? Being answered, and a tender of service made to pilot him in to the landing, which was declined as unnecessary, he remarked, directing attention to the Quail, "You seem to be all ready for war." man-of-war fashion," replied the officer.

Yes,

The officer returned to the Quail, expecting soon to see a boat from the Spaniard approaching the shore. But instead, the steamer, almost immediately, weighed anchor and stood out to sea. This movement surprised all, nor could it be satisfactorily accounted for; the general impression seemed to be that she was off again. He made a circuit of some three or four miles, standing well into the bay; passed within hailing distance of the American barque “Edward,”