Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-04-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the New-York Statesman.
AMERICAN COLONY IN AFRICA,

AMERICAN COLONY IN AFRICA.
The mouth Of the Measurable is in six
degrees of north latitude, and about two
hundred miles south of the English CO.
iony at Sierra Leone. At its entrance
the river is about two hundred yards
wide, with bar which has formed some
cbstructions to navigation, but which has
lately been swept away by some shifting
IN the current or tides, SO as to render
the harbor easy of access. The river is
said TO be navisable for some distance ;
but little is known of il, as its banks and
Its sources have not been explored. 1t
is supposed to rise near the Niger, which
runs transversely to its head waters. Dr..
Ayres anticipates much information as
TO the geography Of the country, from an
intelligent man ofcolor, who will accom-
pany him in the next trip, for the purpose
Of travelling in the interior.
The climate is said to be by no means
inealubrious, the mercury never rising
at the hottest seasons SO high as 90, and
at evening ranging from 70 to 80. My
informant states that the weather was
warmer at New York, both when he left
and when he returned, than he found it
at any time during his absence. He me-
yer slept without blankets upon his bed
which he uniformly found grateful to-
wards morning. At MONDAY the sun is
seldom visible, being obscured by vapor.
DR.. Ayres considers residence there
in all respects as safe and healthy as at
Washington. Of the sincerity of his
opinions he gives the strongest evidence,
by going out again with an intention Of
remaining some years.
Nothing can exceed the fertility Of the
soil. Trees, plants, and vegetables have
an astonishingly rapid and luxuriant
growth. 1t was related as fact, that in
the garden of an English gentleman at
Sierra Leone, grape vine in nine days
after il was planted, contained cluster
OF grapes distinctly formed Corn and
grain are lound to thrive we'll, and cot
ton and coffee grow spontaneously, the
former in such abundance as to be con-
sidered nuisance. 1t is the opinion
Of the agent, that colony might not only
sustain itself, but become rich by proper
management.
The native population is still dense,
although it has been thinned off by an an
nual decrease of tzvo hundred thousand
slaves, who are hunted like wild beasts,
dragged into servitude, torn from their
homes, their friends and their country,
and exported to foreign markets! What
fact is this for all age of light and liberty,
philosophy and Christian philanthropy
All along the shore are the establish.
ments of factors, who derive their sup
port and have even grown rich from a
traffic in flesh and blood of their own
kindred. They are connected in these
diabolical pursuits with class of beings
in the interior, called 6ush-men, whose
business it is to catch the natives and
rivet upon their hitherto free and unfet-
tered limbs the first chains of slavery.
From the interior they are driven about
. days journey to the sea.shore, where
they are delivered over to the factors,
who in turn sell them to the commanders
oil slave ships, belonging to the most
civilized and polished nations on the
globe. Thus is there regular system
Of trade, as well organized and establish.
ed as the whale-6shesy or fur-trade in
the Pacific.
Tho town at Measurable is but few
yards from IiIU river, elevated auuu. zUU
feet above the water. From the SUNNI,
of the eminence upon which it stands,
the prospect is extremely picturesque
and grand, extending round the whole
horizon, az far az the eye can reach, and
presenting variegated view Of hun.
dred fields clothed in verdure and beau
", rich in natural resources, and sus-
ccptible Of bcing rendered the abodcs Of
peace, eousentment and happiness. A,
present however, il is little else than =
field Of stratngefn, spluoder, and cruelty,
where man Il hunted by bis fellow man