Liberia <•- 



They fought and legislated for the Human race — even the 

 people of England are freer and happier for their labours. 



" 6. The Monrovian Independent Volunteers : armed for 

 the defence of rights which it is the trade of war to destroy. 

 May they never forget their character ! 



" 7. General Lafayette in America. We honour him not 

 because we are Americans, but because we are men. 



" 8. (In politeness to our guest, Captain Ferbin) His 

 Britannic Majesty, the Constitutional King of England. 

 " 9. Success to Agriculture. 



" 10. (by Captain Ferbin) Health of the President of the 

 United States, and Prosperity to the Colony of Liberia." 



During 1825 and the succeeding years vigorous action was 

 taken against the slave trade, which by 1820 had acquired a 

 very firm hold over the Lower St. Paul's River. Even as late 

 as the year 1825, two hundred slaves were shipped from the 

 mouth of the St. Paul's River to America by an American ship. 

 Dr. Randall explored the St. Paul's River with some success, 

 and in 1827 a Liberian settlement was made at the limit of 

 tidal navigation called Millsburg, after John Mill, the Mulatto- 

 trader. This, together with later measures taken along the banks 

 of the river, practically abolished the slave trade in these regions. 

 At the same time, Ashmun took still more vigorous measures 

 against this traffic in other parts of the Grain Coast. So that 

 he might proceed with a show of right, he was careful to con- 

 clude arrangements or treaties with the various native chiefs 

 in the coast regions, by which he purchased or acquired rights 

 over definite pieces of land, so that he might from the mere 

 trespass plea object to the presence thereon of slave traders or 

 their agents. On October 27th, 1825, he made such a contract 

 with the chief Freeman for a piece of ground to the south of 

 Grand Basa Point, round and about a little stream called New 



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