ing finely; and, had it not been for this event, and they could have had a small part of their labour to bestow on their lots, they would have been amply prepared to have maintained themselves; but, when the enemy came upon them, they were obliged to take up their garden fences to make a palisade of defence. Their gardens were all destroyed, and not so much as a hill of beans is growing in the colony. The rainy season has now fully commenced, and very little labour can be done until the next dry season, which will be in November.

This will make it necessary to continue the labourers at the public expense longer than I had contemplated in my former report, as I had expected a much more favourable state of affairs here.

One of the captured Africans was killed in the battle, and there is much jealousy of the natives against them, for fear of retaliation for their being sold.—I would therefore respectfully recommend to Government, not to send out any more captured Africans, until the requisite buildings can be erected, and a regular establishment made for them. Should it please God to restore my health and preserve my life, this will be accomplished in the dry season, and a regular system of management entered upon, when any number likely to be in the possession of Government could be managed. But, should I be called away by death, it would be highly dangerous, from the spirit which these have manifested, to multiply their number, without more efficient government being held over them than has been.

If it should please God to spare my life, I will endeavour to have the building erected early in the next season.

A fatality has attended every proceeding on this affair; but, if I live, and am supported so I can stay here, I hope soon to alter matters, and set them on a better footing; but, should any of the common casualties happen the trading company formed in Baltimore, that they should fail to comply with their contract, and I find myself neglected by both Government and Society, out of provisions, clothing, &c. I shall leave the place, and the cause, in despair.

The U. S. schooner Augusta has undergone a partial repair, but so slightly that she was thought to be hardly seawor thy; But Mr. Dashiell, who was left in command of her, has ventured in her to Sierra Leone, to get some further repairs, to enable him to ride out the rains. He was in a very bad state of health. This system of repairing, out here, is very expensive, and is partially done, and poorly commanded and manned, as to be of no service to the colony. I beg leave to press, with the utmost urgency, as a security to the captured Africans, and the success of this cause, that Government keep here a vessel prudently commanded and well manned.

There is but one man who came out with me, but what is down with the fever. I was taken a week ago, and have not* been able to see them since; but they are all doing well. We have five deaths, most of them from foolish obstinacy. 1 hope the worst is over with me. I have got so I can sit up a few minutes at a time, in which way this letter is written. I have the honour to be, your most obedient, E. AYRES.

The Hon. SMITH THOMPSON,

Secretary Navy U. S.

Extract of a letter from Captain Robert T. Spence to the Secre tary of the Navy, dated

United States' Ship Cyane,

Quarantine Ground, New-York, June 27, 1823.

"After an absence of twelve months from the United States, in the West Indies and on the coast of Africa, I have the honour to announce my arrival at this anchorage; last from a cruise among the Windward Islands.

Up to the 24th March, on which day my latest communications were addressed to you from Sierra Leone, you have been made acquainted with my official proceedings. Under that date, I informed you of the precarious situation of the colony at Cape Montserado, and of my intention to take prompt and effectual steps for its rescue and preservation. The schooner Augusta having been speedily equipped and made ready for sea by the activity of my officers, and such supply of necessary articles as would relieve the immediate wants of the colonists taken on board, together with about forty Kroo men, (whose labour had been secured, free of any expense to the United States,) I proceeded without a moments delay to the settlement, examining with due care the intermediate coast.

On my anchoring, after a short passage, at Cape Montserado, I received from Mr. Ashmun, the resident agent, a letter (see p. 52.) which with other communications, hereto appended, disclose the indigent and distressed condition of the colony, and forcibly show that my arrival was not only most opportune, and my anticipation of their wants provident, but, in every respect, essential to their future safety and preservation. The presence of the ship at this critical juncture, appeared indeed providential: for, without the succour it was my good fortune to afford, every thing might have been ap prehended. A renewal of war was in agitation among the

*The word not is left out in the original, and inserted here, as it is apparent it should have been in the original.

H

hostile princes; and, from all we could learn, and observe, the conclusion was unavoidable, that the entire extermination of the colonists must have been the consequence. The head men were in the highest degree exasperated, appearing in no manner inclined to be appeased; declaring that they had never entertained a design of selling the Cape; that they had been overreached; that they never possessed a full understanding of the agreement, (or "book,") and, finally, that they never had sold, and never would consent to give up, Cape Montserado, the abode of one of their ideal beings, of superstitious veneration!

Having made such provision for the maintenance of the "agency," during the approaching inclement season of the "rains," (nearly at hand,) and by a friendly intercourse and other means mollified, as far as practicable, the excited temper of the neighbouring chiefs; having afforded all the aid to the establishment, which, under other circumstances, might have been deemed sufficient; my own health much impaired, my purser's wholly gone, and that of my officers by no means vigorous; having also placed a suitable vessel in the immediate vicinity of the colony, a cautionary measure, which should not be relinquished; I should have felt justified, considering the sickly season was about to set in, (particularly as the stores and supplies of the ship, from extraordinary calls, had become inadequate for a full expenditure for any length of time,) in leaving the coast for the United States but, sir, I could not persuade myself to adopt this course, while much remained to be done for the security of a settlement, the object of which appears to be fraught with such benefits to our common country; especially as your instructions enjoined on me to do every thing for the agent and colonists which they might require; and it being the object of an officer to acquire the Government's, rather than his own, approbation; to which end, I was ready to encounter any hardship, and to make any sacrifice.

The cause alleged, on the part of the chiefs, for making war on the peaceable settlers at Montserado, is merged in the statement previously given: namely, their never having had any intention to sell the Cape, the spot consecrated to one of their deities, or beings of superstitious idolatry; that collusion had been practised in the purchase; that it was not a fair and fully explained contract, as they were ignorant of the paper they had signed; with others equally absurd and fallacious, founded neither in reason or truth. Such, however, were the causes set forth by them, in the various interviews had with the officers of this ship, during our stay, for their inexcusable and unprovoked enmity. But other latent induce

ments existed, far more operative, which doubtless formed the true, and only cause of hostilities, committed by them on an unoffending people. The most prominent of these may be discovered in the embarrassments thrown in the way of the slave traffick, by a contiguous active check, restraining, by its presence, a trade they never can willingly forego; as, also, in the hope they entertained of being able to obtain, without risk or loss, the spoil and plunder of a successful war: for they had been led to believe, by emissaries sent among them by slave factors, that there would be much booty of stores, goods, &c. In these alluring hopes and prospects, at all times cogent with beings of their propensities and uncivilized habits, may be seen the leading motives for attacking the establishment at Cape Montserado.

Seeing these to have been their incitements; apprehending their present inaction was merely a truce for more vigorous preparation; finding that the chieftains were far from being inclined to abandon either their claims, or intentions, but waited only for a season better suited to further both; convinced, also, that the defenceless condition of the colony invited aggression; I determined, in despite of the plausible objections my own mind furnished to a longer continuance on the coast, to exert myself, during the short period I was permitted to remain, with a view of placing the settlement in the best possible state of defence. This wish became strengthened by information received from Dr. Dix, (whose friendly and social interviews with the Princes, enabled him to obtain much useful matter,) that another attempt on the colony was positively meditated, when the season inimical to the health of its defenders should set in; that they were sanguine in the hopes of then accomplishing their object, by the combined. operation of war, sickness, and famine. My determination, on this point, received also additional strength. from a perspective of the fatal consequences which would inevitably result from renewed incursions on the part of these barbarians; while the means of security were inadequate to inspire confidence on the side of the assailed, or apprehension on the part of the assailants, expulsion was certain. The entire extermination of a remnant of colonists, who, confiding in promises made them previously to embarking, had consented to leave the happiest country in the world, to sojourn in the land of their forefathers, was not only possible, but too probable; added to which, the loss of a footing, happily acquired, in a situation second to none on the whole line of coast, after leaving Sierra Leone, and the consequent extinction of all future prospect of ever being again able to effect an establishment at a place so eligible, on terms so advantageous to the Society,

and creditable to those who negotiated the purchase. A Martella Tower I conceived well suited to effect the object in view; a fortress of this character was desirable on many accounts, nay, appeared indispensable, not only to the end of affording protection, and giving security in the hour of invasion, but as being also the best calculated to produce a change of policy on the part of the natives, and well suited to make such an impression, as would deter them from a renewal of aggression, and thereby prevent the calamitous consequences justly to be apprehended; at all events, the consequences of harassing and vexatious depredations. Again, I considered it expedient to make also a proper impression on the minds of foreigners, jealous of an establishment, whose continuance and prosperity threatens an annihilation of the Slave trade, in that particular section of country lying adjacent to the river Montserado this, with me, was a consideration not without its influence. The foundation of the fortress being commenced, with the assistance of the Kroo-men, its progress was rapid; alacrity gave animation and activity, and promised a speedy completion of a competent defence. In fifteen days, a circular massive work of stone, measuring one hundred and twelve feet in circumference, eight feet in thickness, and ten feet in elevation, was seen to tower above the surrounding heights, commanding the site for the town, and a wide range of the circumjacent country, capable of intercepting, by its position, any movement, made either within or without the bar of Montserado river. In my expectations I was not disappointed. During the time this work was progressing, I had frequent opportunities of discovering its effect in neutralizing, in no small degree, the menacing designs of the natives. Every day brought me additional proof of a change in their intentions, wrought by an amicable and conciliatory conduct, conjoined with preparations for defence-formidable to any eye, but with them, to all appearance impracticable. I was happy in perceiving this revolution in their sentiments, this change in their designs as a friendly understanding with the powerful chiefs of the neighbouring villages, is the true policy to be ob served on the part of the emigrants at Montserado. While this fortress was advancing, other operations, calculated in an eminent manner to improve the settlement, were also undertaken and carried through: indeed, nothing was left undone which I had the power to do; conceiving that both the spirit and letter of your instructions required the performance of every thing which a limited means rendered practicable, tending in any way to ensure the success of an establishment instituted for colonizing the free men of colour of the United States, and for the reception of captured emancipated slaves: objects