do by the colonists who had been residing at Fourah Bay. But in the mean time the African Sovereigns had repented of the bargain by which they had introduced into their vicinity a government favourable to the rights of man, and the progress of human improvement; and like their whiter and more civilized brethren of another quarter of the Eastern Continent, they were alarmed and looked with jealousy on an innovation which they with their little perspicacity could see-threatened in its progress to impose a new aspect on the face of the society, and to do away all the ancient and venerable abuses by which their wealth and power are supported. Accordingly when Dr. Ayres arrived with the colonists, he was notified by their majesties that the contract must be annulled, and that he could not be permitted to settle. He however ventured to land, so that while the colonists were building their houses he might negociate with the kings at his leisure. The same course of conduct which Lieut. Stockton had taught him to pursue on the former occasion, proved successful here. The kings were intimidated by his decision and by the zeal of the settlers, and the treaty was ratified. But in a few weeks the difficulties were renewed.

"A British prize slave vessel had solicited and obtained permission to take water from the Cape. This vessel parted her cable and was thrown on shore. The spirit of hostility, excited by a dispute between the captain and one of the Kings added to the powerful motive presented by the presence of a French vessel waiting her compliment of slaves, induced the natives to attack her, with purposes of plunder. Several of our people engaged in her defence. In the contest which ensued, and which they in vain endeavoured to prevent, two of the natives were killed and on the succeeding day, a British soldier and one of our colonists. Through the criminal inadvertency of an English sailor, who discharg ed a cannon in the immediate vicinity of the store house, this building took fire; and with it most of the clothing, provisions, and utensils of the colony were destroyed.-6th Rep.-p. 10."

All was now in confusion. The natives had received demonstration of the bearing which the colony was to have on the slave trade. A grand palaver was assembled, consisting of seventeen kings, and thirty-four half kings. One or two of the most powerful of these were the decided friends of the colony, and had armed their subjects for war, in case peace could not be procured. Dr. Ayres appeared before this congress, and gave them to understand that he had purchased the territory in question and paid for it, that therefore he intended to retain it, and that if they thought they were able to ex

pel him they might make the attempt, and he would show them what fighting was :-be would bring ships, and batter down all the towns of those who opposed him from Cape Mount to the Line. "While making this speech," says he, "I narrowly watched the countenances of Kings Brister and Boson. [King Boson is the most powerful friend of the colony.] Brister showed evident signs of concern, but Boson shook his sides very heartily with laughter. By this I found I had. touched the right chord, and did not spare invectives. The other kings appeared uneasy and said one to another, Oh, look white man getting mad, white man getting mad! Boson, to second the impression I had made, sent one of his people round to circulate a report that there were four large ships a little way to the southward, making into the harbour." "This threw all into confusion, and it was with difficulty we could keep the kings together until the business was settled.

The difficulties having been adjusted, Dr. Ayres felt himself under the necessity of returning to the United States, for the sake of obtaining supplies. He accordingly took passage for this country on the fourth of June, 1821. On the 8th of August the settlement was reinforced by the arrival of the brig Strong from Baltimore with Mr. and Mrs. Ashmun, and thirty-five colonists, besides fifteen recaptured Africans. Mr. Ashmun had received a commission from the Colonization Society to act in their name in case he should find no agent at the colony. He accordingly assumed the direction of the establishment, laid out the plan of a town, and began to erect such fortifications as might secure it against any attack from the natives.

It was soon ascertained that the labour bestowed on these fortifications was not in vain. Many of the kings, as we have seen, were from the beginning exceedingly afraid that the influence of the colony would be to break up all trade-by which they mean the slave trade-and it is reasonable to suppose that their feelings of suspicion and hostility would not be allayed by the friendly suggestions and admonitions of the traders. Accordingly Mr. Ashmun and his fellow labourers seem to have been continually disturbed by reports of the hostile designs of their neighbours, and to have built the walls of their little town somewhat as Nehemiah and his countrymen builded the walls of Jerusalem; "every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapOn the morning of November 11th they were attacked by a body of 800 natives, who coming upon them by surprise, gained possession of the settlement, till after one or two discharges of the eighteen pounder, they betook themselves to flight. On the second of December they returned with a

on.

still greater force amounting to about 1500, and attacked simultaneously in two opposite quarters, but after receiving a few shots from the terrific "great guns," they made a hasty departure. They might perhaps have been entirely cut off by these repeated assaults, had it not been for the interference of a British schooner which providentially made its appearance in this season of distress. A cessation of hostilities was effected by the mediation of Capt. Laing, the distinguished African traveller who was on board, and twenty mariners were landed to guaranty the observance of the truce till the difficulties should be finally adjusted. When it is remembered that in this contest the whole effective force of the colony was twenty-eight men and boys, and that the whole loss was only three killed and four wounded, we may regard the result as proving at once the bravery of the settlers and the cowardice of the natives. In the trepidation of the assault, doubtless neither Mr. Ashmun nor the colonists would be able to form a very cool and deliberate estimate of the number of assailants; but after making every allowance for their seeing things double on such an occasion, it must be considered as proved, that one hundred well armed freemen, fighting for their liberty, and their children, and their homes, may defend the colony against all the hordes that can ever be mustered by the holy alliance of Africa. And here we cannot but remark that this affair illustrates very strikingly the dif ference between the wild men of that continent, and the wild men of America. If that establishment had been attacked, by 800, ar 500, or 200 Indians,-we should have known its fate only by conjecture.

It was not to be expected that an arrangement like the one above mentioned would place the settlers immediately in a state of entire security and comfort. Accordingly, when the Cyane arrived on the coast, where she had been sent to execute the laws against the slave trade, she found them in a suffering condition. The noble and disinterested exertions of Captain Spence and his crew, in erecting a house for the agent, and a tower of strong mason work for the defence of the town, are gratefully acknowledged by the Managers in their address to the public inserted in the last number of the Spectator. This tower which is expected to bid defiance to the barbarians, has been called Stockton Castle. Africa will hereafter honour the men who are labouring for her deliverance. Her mountains and rivers, her provinces and cities, while they testify her gratitude, will be the monuments of their benevolence. And though friends and the public may weep at the loss of those who perish beneath the stroke of the sun by day, or of the moon by night, while labouring in

behalf of suffering humanity; yet there is a consolation in the thought, that they have perished in a cause, for which they need not be ashamed to be martyrs. If we honour the memory of those who die on the bloody deck in extending the fame of American valour; surely we ought to honour with a double reverence the memory of those who sacrifice their lives to extend the triumphs of American philanthrophy. It makes us feel proud of our country, to see the zeal, and efficiency, which have uniformly been displayed by the officers and seamen of the national vessels that have been appointed from time to time to the African station. "Most of my associates," said Lieutenant Stockton, were ready (and I sincerely believe it) to sacrifice on the altar of humanity, convenience, comfort, interest and health."

In April last, Dr. Ayres sailed from Baltimore in the brig Oswego with sixty new settlers,-if their voyage was favourable they must have arrived there more than two months ago.

A trading company has been formed in Baltimore, which if the plan succeeds will hereafter afford the means of a constant and regular communication with the colony. This com pany consisting of a few respectable merchants was formed with the approbation of the Board, and will we trust have an important connection with the regeneration of Africa. Its design is, we believe, after having made a fair experiment to run two or more vessels as regular traders between Baltimore and Cape Montserado. These will of course afford the means of conveyance to such as are desirous of emigrating. The first vessel sailed at the beginning of June and carried a few passengers.

The present condition of the the colony may be briefly described. It consists of 140* settlers under the direction of two agents, ardently devoted to the cause, accustomed to their business, seasoned to the climate, and well acquainted with the African character. These men occupy a soil of whose productiveness it is difficult for an inhabitant of our climate to form any adequate conception. By the latest accounts the controversy with the natives seems to have terminated entirely to their satisfaction, so that the former intercourse with them for the purposes of trade has been resumed, and the settlers can clear and cultivate their lands without danger.

Such is the history of the American Colonization Society. Its design is general-the benefit of the whole African race. Its plan of operation is specific, the establishment on the coast of Africa of a colony of free people of colour from America. It is not a Missionary Society, nor a society for the suppres sion of the slave trade, nor a society for the improvement of At this time, March, 1824, the number is about 240.

the blacks, nor a society for the abolition of slavery. It is simply a society for establishing a colony on the coast of Africa, and so far as any of these other objects are attained by its efforts, they must be attained either as the means, or as the But limited as are consequences of establishing that colony.

the operations of this institution, it appears to us to be the only institution which promises any thing great or effectual for the benefit of the black population of our country. A single glance at the condition of these beings, and at the obstacles which lie in the way of their improvement, is enough to convince us of this.

There is at present within the limits of the United States, a coloured population of ONE MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE THOUSAND. The character, and circumstances of this class of the community fall, to some extent, under the personal observation of every man. Who is there, that does not know something of the condition of the blacks in the northern and middle states? They may be seen in our cities and larger towns, wandering like foreigners and outcasts, in the land which gave them birth. They may be seen in our penitentiaries, and jails, and poor houses. They may be found inhabiting the abodes of poverty, and the haunts of vice. But if we look for them in the society of the honest and respectable-if we visit the schools in which it is our boast that the meanest citizen can enjoy the benefits of instruction-we might also add, if we visit the sanctuaries which are open for all to worship, and to hear the word of God; we shall not find them there. The Soodra is not farther separated from the Brahmin in regard to all his privileges, civil, intellectual, and moral; than the negro is from the white man by the prejudices which result from the difference made between them by the God of nature. A barrier more difficult to be surmounted, than the institution of the Caste, cuts off, and while the present state of society continues must always cut off, the negro from all that is valuable in citizenship. In his infancy, he finds himself, he knows not why, the scorn of his playmates, from the first moment that their little fingers can be pointed at him in derision. In youth, he has no incentive to prepare for an active and honourable manhood. No visions of usefulness, or respectability, animate his prospects. In maturer years, he has little motive to industry, or to any honourable exertion. He is always degraded in the estimation of the community, and the deep sense of that degradation enters into his soul, and makes him degraded indeed. We know that there are individuals, who in spite of all these obstacles to moral and social improvement, have acquired a character of respectability, and piety. But instances like