Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-17
THE AFRICAN COLONY

THE AFRICAN COLONY
Dispatches have lately been receivl
ed, at the Office of the American Co.
lonization Society in this city, and al
so at the Navy Department, from the
Colony at Liberia, which'ar in the
highest degree satisfactory. The Co.
lonyis under good government, and is
rapidly improving, as may be Judged
from some of the facts hereafter stated.
The utmost respect has been paid to the
instructions of the Society, and the
system prepared Tor the government of
the Colony has been cheerfulIy acqui!
esced in--receiving consentaneous
support from the people, which is not
little promoted by the agency which
the Magistrates and Council have in
the deliberations Of the Agent, and in
the administration of justice. The laws
are very sparingly multiplied, but,
when formed, are exactly enforced
A small uniform military force is esta.
blished for the preservation of police,
sc. and the militia are periodically
called out in the number requisite for
sentries. Since the organization ofthe
guard, there has not been single in
stance of the public stores being pill.
LACED, as had frequently happened be-
fore. Upon the whole, the report
presents picture of an excellent pro-
vincial government in successful ope-
ration.
Besides the public buildings and i'm.
provements, which are extensive, one
store house, about dozen frame hou.
ses, and nearly 40 log buildings have
lately been built, or are building, all
covered with shingles obtained in the
settlement Nearly every proprietor
Of lands, single women not excepted,
has dwelling well advanced, and Sc
veral are nearly completed. houses
of worship are building, the one by
the Methodists, the other by the Bap-
lists. There is school for boys, ano.
Their for girls, a third, an evening
school, for adults.
The discovery of indigenous Coffee
on that coast, samples of which have
been forwarded to the United States,is
full of suspicious promise to the inter-
ests of the Colony. Indigo bears full
ten cuttings in the year, and its culture
is extending.
The population of the Colony is a.
bout $50, of whom about three-fourths
are grown persons. Three only have
died within the last six months, and
those from old age, Sc. Two MARI.
ages had taken place within the last 4
weeks.
These are few of the particulars
by the late arrival, which may be inter
esting to the friends of this undertak-
ing, and to the public generally.-i1.
Extract Of letter from Capt, Prieto, to the u
S. Agent residing in Alvarado, dated Castle
San Juan de Uloa, 9th JAM 1925.
/ consider it my duty to inform you
as agent of the U. States, Of the out
rage committed by the Government of
Vera Cruz upon tho American Flag;
on the afternoon of the 4th inst. hove
in sight of this Castle with the Ami
schr. Scott, under my command, and
the wind blowing fresh from the north
ward, came to anchor near the castle
but within reach of the city, which pe-
sition l was obliged to take by the hea-
Wy weather that prevailed. A short
time only however elapsed, when the
fort of Vera Cruz opened most des-
tructive fire upon my vessel, stove her
to pieces with their shot, wounded my
mate severely, and finally compelled me,
in order to save the lives Of my crew,
to run the vessel ashore at the mouth Of
the Southern Dich of the Castle, where
she Immediately filled. But the tragic
scene did not end here, the forts of
Vera Cruz continued to fire during the
whole of the night Of the 4th and part
Of yesterday, until they left the schnr.
a complete wreck, and Frustrated the
flag, which had kept fly
ing the whole time, with cannon ball,
which cut away both masts.
When l sailed from New Orleans,
knew not that this Castle was in state
of blockade, and was not boarded by
any Mexican cruizer to advise me OF the
existence thereof, if sny such does ex-
list: it is besides a notorious fact, un-
til the present period, American ves-
sells have had free communication with
the castle, and the trade has always
been considered legal, consequently /
cannot conceive why my vessel has
been treated by the Government of
Vera Cruz worse than any enemy.
The British Traveller states, athat
the question Of Catholic emancipation
will become perhaps, the most interest
ing subject Of discussion during the
present session. The recognition Of