SETTLEMENT OF MONROVIA, 
87 
cuisine — their visits are indeed looked on as a perfect 
scourge. 
Friday, July 2. — In the afternoon, the ‘ Wilber- 
force/ with ‘ Soudan^ in tow, left Sierra Leone and 
proceeded along the coast. The ^Albert’ soon followed us. 
We met H.M. brig ‘ Ferret’ in a very sickly state, 
many of the men were suffering from fever, to which 
her medical officer had already fallen a sacrifice. A 
surgeon was sent on board to alleviate their most pressing 
wants. 
July 5. — Arrived off Cape Mesurado, having expe- 
rienced much of the squally and showery weather 
belonging to the rainy season. 
We anchored off the town of Monrovia, chief settle- 
ment of Liberia, the American colony of free and 
liberated coloured men. It contains about one thousand 
inhabitants, under the Presidency of Mr. Buchanan, the 
only white man resident here, who showed us every 
attention. 
This is a most interesting experiment, but how far it 
has succeeded, our short stay would hardly allow us to 
judge ; it is to be feared that it will be much preju- 
diced by the ill-judged and exaggerated statements of it 
that have been put forth. There are, however, many 
signs of advancement, which may produce good fruit, 
if not marred by a premature conception of tlie impor- 
tance of their future destiny. The houses are large and 
commodious. They have various places of public 
worship, which is unfortunately split into several sects. 
