Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

able longer to pursue successfully their predatory course, they have dispersed them selves among these more numerous and powerful tribes, and taken to a more nomaidic kind of life. If so, they may yet become the means of opening a more direct and extensive communication between this rich country and the colony.

It is very certain that the communication between the coast and the interior is closed at the present time. We have made very careful inquires and have learned satisfactorily that at no point on this part of the coast, is ivory in any large quantities to be obtained. A large quantity of ivory has been exported from the colony within the space of a few months, but it has been obtained from other points along the coast, and from hunters almost immediately on the seaboard.

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.-The uncertainty of life was most alarmingly inculcated upon the inhabitants of Millsburgh, on Sabbath last, the 13th inst. A woman who had been engaged in preparing dinner for the family, had just finished, and was placing a dish on the table, when suddenly coughing she ruptured a blood vessel, and died before the neighbors, alarmed by the shrieks of the inmates, could reach the house.

DIED-On the 15th inst., in this place, Mr. James R. Oliver, Jr. In his death we have an affecting illustration of the uncertainty of life-a fact too often unheeded. His illness was short and severe. Only a week before his death, he appeared to enjoy uncommonly good health-so much so, as to attract the attention of those around him. He is now in his grave, from which he seems to iterate to the young and thoughtless, the solemn admonition of the Savior; Watch, for ye know not the day nor the hour

wherein the Son of man cometh.

IMPROVIDENCE-EXTRAVAGANCE. The ideas of the bulk of men on the above subjects, are as various as they are inadequate. Each one defines improvidence and extravagance by the degree to which he indulges in the articles, in which they are manifested. We have heard of men worth thousands, who, when ordered by a physician to take a few pennys worth of medicine to save their lives, declare they could not be guilty of such extravagance. But such instances are rare. Men (and especially we Liberians,) are more inclined to a criminal improvidence and extravagance, than to a sordid parsimony. We can fix our eye upon no one in the colony guilty of the sin of penuriousness. We appear to shun it as deadly poison-the bane not only of respectability but of happiness. Although we might easily enumerate somewhat above a half dozen courses of our improvidence, yet we shall content ourselves at present with mentioning only one. This is the article of

DRESS. Here we sin most egregiously. Too often the ardour of our people in pursuit of factitious ornaments for their persons, has led them into the most serious difficulties. Each one is anxious if not to outdress, at least to equal his neighbour, in the superiority of the cut and fabric of his covering. Each lady is anxious that her gown should have more colors than her neighbor's. Mrs. A. has a new gown, therefore Mrs. B. must have one, to show that she too can afford it. Mrs. C. has the latest fashion, therefore Mrs. D. who, although she has just completed a new one, with huge sleeves and reeted skirts, must have one also because that Proteus, fashion, has decreed an alteration in the make.

In following these senseless fashions, few stop to reflect whether they are consistent in so doing, whether they can really afford it. Too frequently the vilest and most dishonest means are resorted to, to indulge this vain desire for show and splendor in a dress, and not unfrequently some henpecked husbands have been forced to expend the last farthing for a party colored garment, which was as much suited to their condition as a mitre to that of a clown. It were well indeed if this was the worst of the case. Perhaps the dress was purchased when there was not a meal of provisions in the house, or the poor simpleton driven by one whom he should control, to contract for a superfluity, a debt which at the time his judgment told him he would not be able to liquidate.

a

There are three things we should commend to the attention of the devotees of fashion. The first is that an inordinate passion for this kind of display, is an unequivocal indication of a little mind. Great minds despise it. The second is consistency. To see a lady in a silk gown issue from a thatched hut on Sunday, and scrambling scramb for bunch of cassada on Monday, is horrible incongruity. The third is honesty. The man who will in either his own, or the case of others, for whom he has to provide, indulge in needless superfluity of dress, while there are just debts against him, he is unable to pay, is but a small remove in the scale of morals from him, who would rifle another's pocket. The passion for dress is gaining ground in our colony, and it will assuredly bring a host of evils in its train. In the eager race, Christians are in danger of forgetting their obligations to their churches, and parents theirs to provide for their children; and those unable by honest means to flutter in the gaudy throngs of fashion, will not stick at any thing to enable them to do so.

MILLSBURG. This settlement is progressing. We paid it a visit a few days ago, and were pleased to note the evident favorable improvement in the manner and means of living. Allowing for the extra effort which had been most probably made to meet the occasion (it being quarterly meeting) there was certainly greater profusion of the necessaries and comforts of life, than we ever witnessed before on a similar occasion. The people are better contented and more elated with hopes of the future, than in any past time. As far as their means will allow, they have gone into the sugar business and from the success of their inexperienced efforts the past year, they seem confident of hereafter doing the thing handsomely. Rev. Mr. Wilson at the manual labor farm of the M. E. Mission at White Plains will make 4000 pounds, and Mr. Willis has made 1000 pounds. All this has been done with an inefficient temporary affair of a mi'l which they borrowed from Mr. Moore. Other persons have made enough for their own use during the coming year, and they have all reserved enough cane for the next planting. The sugar is of good quality, well granulated and heavy body. This much will be saved to the colony.

A CARAVAN. A caravan of Kondahs and Mandingoes has lately paid us a visit. It brought a fair quantity of wood, ivory and cloths. The Kondahs, especially, complain loudly of the impediment, thrown in the way of the slave trade at Cape Mount and Gallinas. They say a koffle of some 20 or 30 slaves sent from Boporah has been waiting at Cape Mount more than a month, but has been unable to find a market. They assign that as the reason why they have come in with wood and ivory to look a little tobacco for smoke, and powder for kill meat.

MARCH 17th.

ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. -On Monday, the 28th, ultimo, His Excellency, Gov. J. J. Roberts, arrived in the colonial schooner Regulus, from his tour of inspection of the leeward settlements. His departure from the Regulus was announced by a salute from the vessel, and at 9 o'clock the succeeding morning, he was congratulated on his appointment by a salute of 21 guns from Central Fort.

DINNER TO GOVERNOR ROBERTS. When the Commission reached this place, His Excellency was at the leeward. As soon as the news of its arrival transpired, proposals were made by some of his political and private friends to invite him to a dinner on his return. Preparations were accordingly made. A subscription was opened and tickets issued at four dollars each. Each subscriber was allowed to take two ladies to a party to be given on the evening of the day of the dinner. On Friday, the fourth instant, the gentlemen sat down to a substantial and elegant dinner. The table was laid in the government garden, under a canopy formed for the occasion. In vain did Sol assay to dart his askant rays beneath the cool retreat. The managers all provident of comfort, had provided against every annoyance. For a defence against the burning phase of the sun, a screen composed of American and Colonial flags was suspended carelessly from the canopy, which while it effectually protected from heat, waved gracefully to the passing breeze and formed a tasteful drapery to the whole.

Here, protected alike from gazing eyes and longing throats, with ample room, the gentlemen appeared to rise to the very acme of enjoyment in the "feast of reason and flow of soul."

Colonel John N. Lewis presided, supported by Major Yates on his right. There were some toasts drank, one of which is so good, we will venture to record it. It was by Mr. Ciplee.

Pointing to the American and Colonial flags at his back, he said: "The stars and the cross. The stars announced the birth of Christ, and the cross the redemption of mankind." It will be recollected that the Liberian flag bears the cross. The gentlemen arose at 6 o'clock P. M. and at 7 reassembled with the ladies at government house. The party was large but highly agreeable. The inspiration of the presence of ladies, kept, as usual, the ball of innocent mirth and gayety constantly moving, and it was eleven o'clock before the party commenced to retire.

AFRICAN COFFEE. -It is stated, we believe, by our friend Doctor Johnson of Bassa Cove, in a letter to Honorable S. Wilkeson, that the average production of the African tree is five pounds. This may be the average production of one species of the African tree. There is another and the best kind, which yields triple quantity. Our friend Mars has a tree standing near his house, from which he gathered in one season, two and a half bushels in the husk, which weighed, when cleansed and dried, seventeen pounds and two ounces. Can any one inform us what is the average produce of a tree in the West Indies?

NOT QUITE. In an American paper of late date, we find "Mr. Teage died at Sierra Leone, on the 13th of August last." "We admit that we are sometimes fond of notoriety; but we are not dead yet, although much exhausted from depletion. It rests with our subscribers to revive us by timely application of their arrearages.

From the Friend of Africa.

PARTIAL RENEWAL OF THE NIGER EXPEDITION. --By letters from Ascension, dated February 7th, we learn the Albert had rejoined her consort, the Wilberforce, at that island, on the 28th of January. Although several of her officers and crew were suffering from the effects of African fever, no further cases of mortality had occurred on board, and we may venture to hope, that the pure breezes of the Atlantic have long since restored the invalids to their wonted health.

In consequence of reports which had reached Ascension, relative to the model-farm, (but which are too vague and uncertain for us to notice at present,) Captain William Allen, at the head of the expedition in the absence of Captain Trotter, had determined to take the Wilberforce to Fernando Po, with a view to prepare either her or the Soudan, or, if deemed expedient, both vessels to re-ascend the Niger. It was Captain Allen's intention to sail from Ascension on the 1st of March, in order to be ready for the river about the beginning of April.

Thus, whilst we in England have been debating the question of the propriety or impropriety of renewing the expedition, the brave men who are most nearly concerned in its solution have settled it already in the affirmative. Whatever be the final results of their perseverance, we imagine there can be but one opinion about the spirit which actuates them.

The following letter from Mr. Muller, the chaplain, to a friend in England, has already appeared in the Record newspaper. It is in every respect worthy of a Christian minister. May God protect the writer and his noble-minded companions:

"ASCENSION, FEBRUARY 7, 1842.

"I sit down to write a few lines to you, before we leave this place for the coast of Africa, in order to have an interest in your prayers; not that I wish to pray by proxy, but because we are taught in the Bible to pray for each other. Please to tell my friends at Islington, that they do the same, for I can assure you, if I had not the confidence that our God and Saviour hears and answers prayers, and that He who has delivered me from sickness and death on our first attempt to go up the Niger, will and can deliver us the second time also; if I had not this confidence, I would withdraw from the expedition and go home. But for all this, I will be inquired of,' saith the Lord. Therefore, let all who call upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and who love Him, and the coming of His kingdom, let them all remember us in their prayers, that the Lord may deal bountifully with His servants, and deliver us out of all trouble.-In hurry,

"Yours very truly,

"T. MULLER"

EMIGRATION FROM SIERRA LEONE TO BADAGRY.-In the Friend of Africa, (No.12) some notice was taken of a negro named James Fergusson, who, with a number of his countrymen, had returned to their native place, Badagry, and had induced the heathen governor to join him in a request for a missionary. This was early in 1841. Since that time these extraordinary men have continued to emigrate, and in a letter from the Rev. Thomas Dove, dated November 24th, 1841, we find the following account of this interesting movement:

"The liberated Africans have no desire to leave their native soil. Hundreds have already left our colony for Badagry, (once a noted place for the slave trade,) and hundreds more are on the tip-toe. They are begging us to send a a missionary mis with them to agry. The Akus have purchased two prize vessels, (captured slavers,) and they are

Bad

just about to purchase a third. They have taken down elementary school books, slates, bibles, and testaments, for the purpose of making a beginning in that heathen land. The liberated Africans have commenced a subscription among themselves, to enable the Committee (of the Wesleyan Missionary Society,) to send missionaries to their own, their native land. One has given seven guineas, another five, some two, and others one. I find they have raised already nearly the sum of seventy-five pounds; but this is only the beginning. Our income from this source will, I hope, this year exceed one hundred pounds. Thank the Lord, Sierra Leone has not yet proved to be a failure!" On this statement a comment is needless.-Friend of Africa.

ANNIVERSARY HYMN.

For the Anniversary of the New York Colonization Society.

BY MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY.

They who would found a realm
On Afric's torrid plain,

Should nerve their spirits for the weight

Of toil, and care, and pain.

Sustain each adverse shock,

With strength that ne'er can fail,
And like the sires of Plymouth Rock,
Look heavenward, and prevail.

They, who the cross would rear,
Where Niger's waters flow,
And see it chase the torturing tear,
Of ignorance and woe;

And mark its radiance light
Sahara's darkest sky,

And heal that burning serpent's bite
By which the heathen die;

Must make the Saviour's prayer,
Their talisman of fame,
His armour on their spirits wear,
And conquer in His name.

METHODIST MISSION IN LIBERIA.

It has been for some time our purpose, to present a brief view of the history and present condition of the several Christian missions in Liberia. Thus far we have been unable to obtain the necessary materials. We are indebted, however, to a distinguished member of the Methodist church, for the following brief sketch of its missionary operations in the Colony, and will merely add by way of introduction, that the lamented Rev. George Cookman, some years before the first movement of the General Conference on the subject of African missions, addressed a letter to the editor of this work, avowing his wish to engage personally in the missionary enterprise in Africa, and making sundry inquiries as to the means by which he might accomplish his object. The letter was remarkably interesting and eloquent, and when published attracted much attention. There is reason to believe, that it awakened the Methodist church to a sense of the importance of missions in Africa, and that although its excellent author (for reasons sufficient) never executed his purpose, the sentiment and motives which animated him, passed from his own to many other hearts. We learn that a concise view of African missions (including those of Liberia) has recently appeared in the London Missionary Re-. gister, which we hope at an early day, to transfer to our columns.

Contributions towards the history of the Liberia Mission on the Western coast of Africa, under the care of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As early as the year 1828, the general conference of the M. E. church recommended the establishment of a mission at Liberia, regarding the Colony as opening a door for the evangelization of Africa, and they formally requested the bishops to take action in the premises. By the episcopal letter addressed to the conference of 1832, it appears that circumstances beyond their control had delayed the commencement of the work, but a renewed recommendation of the object being unanimously made by that body, measures were taken for an immediate appointment of a missionary. This step was urged upon the immediate attention of the bishops. at the general conference of 1832, by a committee of the Young Men's Missionary Society of New York, Dr. Reese, President of the society, and Benjamin F. Howe, one of the managers, having been delegated by the society to be the bearers of a memorial to that body, praying for the appointment of a missionary to Africa, and pledging their exertions and funds exclusively for its support.

This Young Men's Missionary Society had been re-organized in the year 1830, with the express view to bring about a mission to Liberia in accordance with the expressed wishes of the general conference of 1828. And having brought the subject prominently before the whole church, they were successful in awakening a general interest in its behalf. In these efforts the society were greatly aided by the Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., President of the Wesleyan University, who, after eloquently urging the claims of Africa on the church, laid himself upon the altar, and offered to be the pioneer in the work by becoming himself the missionary, if the authorities of the church would appoint him. His appointment would have been urged upon the bishops to whom the memorial of the society was presented, had not the committee found on their arrival, that a protest had preceded them from the officers and friends of the University, expressing strong disapproval of the removal of Dr. Fisk from his post of usefulness, and urging the selection of some other missionary for Africa. Accordingly, the bishops after mature deliberation appointed the Rev. Melville B. Cox, missionary to Liberia on the 15th of May, 1832, this gentleman having solicited the appointment, and being deemed every way qualified for the office.

It was not until the 6th of October following that Mr. Cox was enabled to embark for the Colony, and the voyage being unusually protracted, he did not arrive at Monrovia until the 8th of March 1833, when he immediately entered upon his work. The day after his arrival, he attended the first camp meeting ever held on the continent of Africa, which had been appointed at Caldwell. He projected a number of mission stations in the different settlements adjacent to the Colony, and on the 6th of April,

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »