Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-06-15
AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
The report Of the fifth annual meetin s
OF this society, held at Washington on
the 7th of March last, gives some inte-
resting information concerning the set
Elements on the coast of Africa and the
prospects of the project. In conse.
quence ofthe sickness of the Bagroo ter
ritory, its proximity to Sierra Leone, the
difficulty of reconciling the chiefs of the
Sherbro' territory to cession of land,
and to the abandonment of the slave
trade, the agents OF the society were in
duced during the last year to relinquish
the plan of settling there, and look out
for other situations. With the aid Of
lieutenant Stockton of the Alligator, the
coast was dexamined, and finally Cape
Measurable was fixed upon, and on the
18th of December contract was made
for the territory. The land purchased
includes the whole of Cape Measurable,
with the mouth and a considerable ex-
tent of the river, The river is about
500 miles long, being the largest Ari-
can river between the Rio Grande to the
north and the Congo to the south 1t is
about 100 leagues south OF Sierra Leone,
and between the fifth and sixth degrees
OF north latitude. The station is we'll
calculated for refreshments for our
cruizers and East India merchantmen.
Alter passing the cape, the low and
marshy seaboard exhibited to the north
ward in great measure disappears the
torres; trees are more elevated, and the
water generally of good quality. 1t is
near the commencement of the grain
coast, which is considered equal in
healthiness to that of any other portion
of Africa. A removal of the colony
from Foura Bay at Sierra Leone, where
it remained last year, to Measurable, was
contemplated in December, alter the ter
mmation Of the rainy season. The re-
port states that experience warrants the
assertion, that the climate ofthe country
generally is not materially unfavorabie
TO the health of coloure9 heohle, far less
so than to the whites. Among nearly
one hundred black and colored people
composing the settlement on the coast,
natives of America, some of whom were
there during two rainy seasons, only four
deaths occurred during the last year, and
OF those but one was attrbuled to the eli
mate; morality not exceeding many
paris OF this country. And yet till the
arrival of DR.. Ayres last year they bad
not the regular attendance of a physician.
The board indulge themselves in the
nj tho r,r,l thnt ID
from the success of the settlement in
abolishng the slave trade and extending
the blessings of civilization and religion
over the neighboring countries. in imita-
ton of the establishment at Sierra Leone.
They state that the chief objections made
to the plan have been refuted by facts,
and rely on the aid of the community in
giving the means at this critical iuncture
OF their affairs to complete their views.
They state that 100 black persons in
Philadelphia, 70 in Albany, and con-
siderable number from Richmond, Pc
tersburg, Norfolk and the eastern shore
of Maryland, have expressed their desire
mended to the patronage of the society.
They mention with much regret the
deaths of the Rev. Joseph B. Andrus,
agent of the society, and of Jonathan B.
Winn, United States agent during the
last year. Franklin Go-.
Atiica.-The schooner Dolphin, SUIT
cliff prizemaster, arrived at Charleston
on Monday the 22d ult. in rs days from
Sierra Leone. " Our black colony.
(says the Charleston Gazet,e) has re-
moved bag and baggage, from its former
situation, and has settled quietly a. Mes
surado. They are. represented as in
Furnishing condition. The soil Of the
spot they have chosen is fertile, the air
salubrous, and prospects good. A gene
raj and cordial invitation is extended to
all their free black brethren to come and
share the bounties they enjoy.
This picture Of the colony was given
to Capt. Pearson, who commanded the
Dolphin, by one of the preachers. The
slave trade is still carried on to a great
extent on the African coast, principally
under the French flag.