June.] COLONY OF LIBERIA. 329 



thropy, and penal statutes, and vigilance have been found but feeble 

 barriers, when opposed to the cupidity of unprincipled traders." 



The British cruisers have been very active and successful in cap- 

 turing many of the slave-ships which still swarm upon the African 

 coast, as appears by the great number of liberated slaves which are 

 every year added to the colony. The landing of these cargoes, ac- 

 cording to the writer just quoted, is often a very affecting scene. The 

 poor creatures delivered from the hold of a slave-ship, faint and ema- 

 ciated by harsh treatment and disease, when received with kindness and 

 sympathy by the inhabitants, among whom perhaps they recognise a 

 brother, a sister, or countryman, whom they had supposed long since 

 dead, but whom they are astonished to see clothed and clean, are over- 

 whelmed with feelings which they find it difficult to express. On their 

 arrival, those of a proper age are married, and sent to the adjacent vil- 

 lages. A house and lot is appointed to each family ; they are supported 

 one year by government, at the expiration of which they are obliged to 

 provide for themselves. The captured children are also sent to vil- 

 lages, where they are kept at school till married, which is always at an 

 early age. At the head of each village is a missionary, who acts in 

 the double capacity of minister and schoolmaster. The exertions of 

 the African Institution, aided by the missionaries of the Church of 

 England, have effected a remarkable improvement in the morals of the 

 inhabitants, who are generally contented and industrious. They have 

 opened several avenues of profitable trade with the natives of the in- 

 terior, and their external commerce is rapidly increasing. But I regret 

 to add, that the climate of Sierra Leone is extremely deleterious to the 

 health of Europeans. No less than seven governors have died since 

 1824, and only three soldiers survive out of a whole regiment. 



The United States' colony of Liberia, which, being of a more recent 

 date, is yet in its infancy, is situated about two hundred and fifty miles 

 south-east of Sierra Leone, at Cape Montserado, or Mesurado. Its 

 history is briefly as follows : — 



" In December, 1821, the American Colonization Society effected 

 the purchase of a tract of territory at Cape Mesurado, on which a set- 

 tlement was made soon afterward. The colony at first was disturbed 

 by the native blacks, who, in November, 1822, made two attacks upon 

 it in large bodies, but were repulsed with great loss. Since that period 

 the colony has received continual accessions from the United States, 

 and rapidly improving. Additional purchases have been made in 

 the vicinity, particularly on St. Paul's River, north of the Mesurado, 

 and Stockton Creek, which opens an inland communication between 

 the two rivers. 



" The first and principal settlement is at Monrovia (so named m 

 honour of President Monroe), on Cape Mesurado, which is fortified, 

 with a government-house and stores, churches and schools. Farming 

 settlements are formed at Caldwell, on St. Paul's River, and on Stock- 

 ton Creek. Several trading factories are established along the coast, 

 over which the society have a qualified jurisdiction for one hundred 

 and fifty miles from Cape Mount to Trade-town. This jurisdiction 

 secures to them the trade of the country, and precludes all Europeans 



