Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-08-19

beds of granite rock, and with the Their
mometer generally standing at So in
the heat of the day, very seldom rising
as high as So. Under these circum-
stances, who cannot see that the deaths
at Sherbre have no more bearing upon
the question of the saIubrity Of the set
Element of Liberia, than the unhealthl-
ness Of Charleston would have upon the
practicabilty of forming a colony on
the highlands of Nevesink'
have shown in q former commuRica-
ton that the mortality which occurred
in the expedition of the brig 0swego.
am cunting 10 one half the deaths at
Liberia since it has been in the hands OF
the American colony, was also owing
to causes, which might have been avoid
ed, by little timely exel:lon, and win b
will never, without the most criminal
neglect, be Suffered to occur again
With these facts mind let us take a
review of the deaths which have occur
red in the various expeditions. From
the Elizabeth, twenty-five died, and
from the Oswego twelve died; making
in the whole thirty-four. These two
vessels arrived on the coast near the
commencement of the rains, and under
the other unfayorable circumstances to
which we have alluded. The ship Nau-
illus lost three by fever. The brig
Strong lost three by fever The Cyrus
lost two children by fever. and one
from modification. The Fidelity lost
none. These four vessels arrived on
the coast at more proper seasons, and
lost in all only nine coiofed persons by
fever, SC. The whiie agents who have
in. Africa. have none of them had the
benefit OF medical advice. 1t was al
most the last words of one of them,
whose loss is ever to be deplored, that
he had destoyed himself with calomel.
The English physician who was called
in at his last moments, and to whom he
made this declaration assured me that it
was literally a fact. These agents all
died before we got possession OF our
present eligible situation.
Several whste sailors have died at
Liberia, but the writer of this can asset
that no prudent and temperate white
man mas yet died at Liberia; he takes
thiseopportunity of entering his protest
against this shameful and needless
waste of human life on that coast, here
after he may take an opportunity OF
showing fine causes which have produ-
ced that mortality. There has. how
ever, been no greater mortality among
the sailors at the colonies than is COM
mon, in the prosecution OF our com
mereial parts of the world. Look at
New Orleans look at Charleston, at
havana, at Batavia. or even at HaytI.
Do not white men frequently fall VIC
tins to their inclement skies' Yet1no
one is deferred by this from prosecuting
a trade with these countries, although
that trade is inconsiderable when com
pared with what is promised from the
vast continent of Africa.
1t hasbeen said in address lately cir
cuiated in this city that, "it appears
from the experience of English mis-
sionaries and American agents, that
white men cannot live in that part of
Africa which is to be occupied by the
American colony" We are persuaded
that this ives dictated under entire igno-
rance of the state of the case, as no
white agent has ever yet, died at that
settlement, although they have been
destitute of houses to keep them dry, and
of food and medicine, suited to the oc-
casion. THE danger will be much less,
when the lands shall have been cleared,
and suitable buildings erected for their
accommodation.
/ wIllnow ask, ifany one, after re-
view of these circumstances, can see
cause for dependence in this great
work of returning the free people OF
color to the land of their ancestors, and
thereby introducing civilization and
to country containing
$50, 0O6,0ee millions of souls. The CO.
lonization Society have been thus tar
successful. They have procured "a
country, they have planted colony;
they have proved that their plan is prac-
ticabIe. They have now resolved to lay
a memorial before the next Congress,
praying That body to take someeffectual
means of improving thepresent fsvora-
BILE crisis, for relieving our country from
the burden of our coiored populations; a
burden which was imposed upon us, not
from our choice, but which, if no efforts
are made to preventit, threatens ere long
to bur, underits weight the happy insti-