ourselves. By them as by us, slavery is felt to be an evil, a hindrance to our prosperity, and a blot upon our character. But it was in being when they were born and has been forced upon them by a previous generation."

His remarks go to show that the people of this country are rapidly marshalling into two great parties,-or rather assimilating into one, by which the system will at present be tolerated, for the very purpose of removing it hereafter, in a safe, sure and effectual manner. He thus ends his lucid, powerful and very

eloquent address.

"But the solemn question here arises-in what condition will this momentous change place us? The freed men of other countries have long since disappeared, having been amalgamated in the general mass. Here there can be no amalgamation. Our manumitted bondmen have remained already to the third and fourth, as they will to the thousandth, generation -a distinct, a degraded, and a wretched race. When therefore the fetters, whether gradually or suddenly, shall be stricken off, and stricken off they will be, from those accumulating millions yet to be born in bondage, it is evident that this land, unless some outlet be provided, will be flooded with a population as useless as it will be wretched; a population which, with every increase, will detract from our strength, and only add to our numbers, our pauperism and our crimes. Whether bond or free, their presence will be for ever a calamity. Why then, in the name of God, should we hesitate to encourage their departure? It is as wise, as merciful to send back to Africa, as citizens, those sons of hers, whom, as slaves and in chains, we have to our injury borne from thence.

"The existence of this race among us; a race that can neither share our blessings nor incorporate in our society, is already felt to be a curse; and though the only curse entailed on us, if left to take its course, it will become the greatest that could befall the nation.

"Shall we then cling to it, and by refusing the timely expedient now offered for deliverance, retain and foster the alien enemies till they have multiplied into such greater numbers, and risen into such mightier consequence as will for ever bar the possibility of their departure, and by barring it, bar also the possibility of fulfilling our own high destiny? As yet it requires only to provide an asylum, and the means of reaching it, to mitigate, if not entirely to remove, this alarming evil. The self-interest and the benevolence of masters will do the rest. Many will eventually be colonized, and all manumitted.

"Encouraged by the prospect which the measures of this society have opened, the process of giving freedom to their bondmen has already commenced among the planters of the south. If the way be kept open it will progress; and progress as fast as prudence and humanity would dictate.

And thus the time may yet arrive when a second and a finished independence shall be achieved, nor print of vassal footstep defile our soul, nor chain be worn beneath our sun of freedom!"

Latest from Liberia.

We now offer to the public the intelligence received by the Brig "Liberia" from the African Colony. The feeble health of the Colonial Agent, Dr. Mechlin, compelled him to leave untouched many subjects upon which we may in future hope to receive his opinions. We omit only such parts of his communications as are of less general interest and importance. We trust his health will soon be restored, and that he will have strength to fulfil as energetically and successfully as he may desire, the arduous, but most interesting duties of his station. We find nothing in these despatches which should diminish our confidence in the practicableness and utility of the enterprise which commands our humble efforts. The unusually large number of deaths among the emigrants by the Harriet is indeed to be regretted, but he must utterly discredit history, who professes to discern in this mortality, more than one of those calamities occasionally to be expected in the prosecution of every scheme of colonization. That difficulties are to be encountered and sufferings endured, by the early emigrants to a barbarous shore, is to be expected; and thus far we have found individuals whose. spirits feared not these, but deemed them nothingness, compared with the surpassing object of Africa's redemption.. We cannot look around us, without feeling that for Americans to question the wisdom of our scheme, is as if the merchant should condemn the measures which brought him his wealth, or the illustrious look contemptuously upon the plans and efforts which covered him with glory.

LIBERIA, AUGUST 31, 1829.

Gentlemen:—In my communication of the 6th May, a copy of which I had the honour to transmit to you by the Brig Hope, I mentioned that a native war was then raging in our immediate vicinity, and that, in consequence of being threatened with an attack, we had made every preparation to receive the enemy. A few days after the sailing of the vessel that con

veyed my letter, they retired to their own country, carrying with them about 250 slaves; all of which King Boatswain has doubtless ere this disposed of to the traders at the Gallenas, which is now the principal slave-market on the Western coast of Africa.

The consequences of this incursion will, I fear, shortly be manifested in this Colony, in the difficulty of procuring rice and cassada from the natives in our neighbourhood, who have been prevented from getting their crops in the ground by the enemy remaining so long in their country; and this, as I formerly remarked, is the source whence a great portion of the colonists draw their provisions during the rainy season; could the extensive slave factories at the Gallenas once be broken up, all inducements to make these predatory excursions would be done away with; but this cannot be effected without keeping a squadron of light armed vessels constantly on the coast, to prevent any slaves from being carried off in the slave vessels, which are always on the look out for an opportunity to take in a cargo, and make their escape to Brazil or Cuba.

The Factory at Grand Bassa, which, in one of my former communications, I noticed as being about to be discontinued, I have determined to go on with, as I find it is the means of our exercising a considerable influence over a large tract of country; and moreover, the chiefs have petitioned me not to remove the trade from them; promising, if I would continue the factory, to pay their debts, and have nothing to do with the slave trade, nor permit any slaves to be sold in their territory. Influenced by these considerations, I have determined to keep it in operation, and have accordingly removed the former factor, whose misconduct occasioned much embarrassment, and in his place have appointed Mr. Benson, who originally established it under Mr. Ashmun, and in whose integrity and abilities the utmost reliance can be placed. Mr. Benson had previously the charge of the Junk Factory; his place is supplied by Mr. J. Shaw, a very enterprising and trust-worthy man, and in every respect entitled to the confidence of the agency. As soon as the rains have ceased, I intend visiting Grand Bassa, to convene the chiefs, and make such arrangements with them, as will establish matters upon a more sure foundation, and prevent in future, any infraction of the existing treaty.

I am happy to have it in my power to state that the settlement at Millsburg is in the most flourishing condition; all the survivors of the original company have complied with the terms of their charter, and are now entitled to their deeds, which shall be granted them forthwith. They complain that their present portion of land is entirely too limited for farming purposes, merely answering as market gardens; and have petitioned for a further grant of land to enable them to carry on their agricultural operations more extensively: they ask for 150 acres more, each, so that they might raise large crops of Indian corn and rice, as well as make some experiments in the cultivation of sugar and indigo; they think they could, if encouraged, place the Colony above want in future, and have sufficient left,

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not only to supply the vessels that resort to our harbour, but also export a considerable quantity to Sierra Leone, where provisions are often very scarce in the rainy season. I did not think myself authorized to grant their petition without first consulting the Board, and shall wait for advice before I act in this affair.

The emigrants who arrived here in the Ship Harriet have all had their lands assigned them, and some have commenced clearing and building on their town lots; notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, the lands of such as were located at Caldwell, were surveyed and apportioned, and many have fine crops of cassada, rice, &c. now growing, so that I have great hopes they will, ere long, cease to need any assistance from the Society.

I have now the unpleasant task of announcing to the Board the death of Prince Abduhl Rahhahman; he landed here from the Ship Harriet, in good health, but shortly after his arrival was attacked with the coast fever; he however soon recovered, and, until the latter part of June, continued to enjoy excellent health; he was then attacked with a diarrhoea, for which he neglected to apply for aid until it had proceeded too far to be under the control of medicine. He died on the 6th of July. In the death of this individual, the Colony has sustained a great loss; for it was his intention to visit his native country, and remain there until he could raise funds to liberate his children; he was then to return and reside in the Colony, after having made arrangements for opening a direct communication from his own country to this place, so as to divert at least a portion of the trade from Sierra Leone into this channel. All persons who have any acquaintance with the Foolahs, represent their country to be extremely rich; that it abounds in gold, is demonstrated by the immense quantities of that metal brought down by the caravans to Sierra Leone, and the factories on the rivers Pongas and Nunez. Had Prince succeeded in effecting so desirable an object, this place would have been one of the most important, in a commercial point of view, on the whole Western Coast of this continent; but I am still in hopes, though deprived of his valuable assistance, to open a direct communication with Footah Jallou.

Mr. Hollinger, an enterprising citizen of this place, together with the son of Mr. F. Lewis, late of Washington, returned on the 29th of June, from a trading excursion to Bo Poro, the capital of King Boatswain's dominions.They represent him as being a warm friend to the Colony, and desirous of maintaining the amicable relations at present subsisting between us. Mr. H. is the bearer of a proposal from Boatswain respecting the establishment of a Factory at his town. As regards the degree of confidence to be reposed in him, they say he is more to be trusted than any of the African Chiefs we have had any communication with, and that they consider him as entitled to our confidence. He has offered to send down people to assist in transporting the goods, should I conclude to erect a factory.

There is one important advantage the Society will gain by accepting his

offer; and that is, if the trade to Bo Poro is once permanently established, we will open to ourselves a communication with the country immediately beyond, which abounds in gold, and whence great quantities are carried to Sierra Leone. This country is the only one, from the best information I can obtain, that intervenes between Boatswain and Footah Jallou, which has been represented to me as distant from this colony, about 12 or 16 days journey. Such being the case, I have no doubt but that in one or two years, we would open a trade with that country, the advantages of which the Board are doubtless fully able to appreciate.

The distance from this place to Bo Poro, is about 140 or 150 miles, in a N. E. direction, and is usually travelled in four or five days, but for the transportation of goods, it would be much better to have them conveyed up the St. Paul's River in boats as far as the falls, a short distance above Millsburg, where there would be a short portage, after which they could be re-embarked, and conveyed up the river to a point more in the vicinity of Bo Poro, whence Boatswain's people could easily transport them to the factory.

The fortifications which I mentioned in one of my late communications as being nearly completed, I have been compelled to abandon until after the rains; the walls have been covered in, to prevent their being injured by the heavy showers, and the workmen paid off and discharged-but as soon as the season admits of it, the work will be resumed unless I receive instructions to the contrary.

The health of the Colony never was better than it is at present; we have but four or five cases of sickness, and those among the old settlers; all the survivers of those who came out in the Harriet are now able to resume their occupations. Every one of them without exception, had the fever, though generally very slightly, when compared with the sufferings of the former emigrants; this, I think, was in a great measure owing to their being well sheltered, and having timely medical aid, as well as many of those comforts which the others could not obtain.

I have the honour to be,

Gentlemen, your obedient Servant,

J. MECHLIN, Jr.

To the Secretary of the Society, Dr. Mechlin writesSince I addressed you by the Harriet, mentioning the loss of our friend Dr. Randall, I have been down with a second and third attack of the fever, and have had repeated attacks of simple quotidian intermittent; my health at this moment is very much impaired; the debilitated state in which the fever left me, in a great measure continuing.

I have transmitted to the Board of Managers by this opportunity, a list of deaths, that have occurred at this place since September 1st, 1828, and have designated those (twenty-six in number) belonging to the late expedition. Many of those who arrived in the Harriet owe their death to im