Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-07
From the National bafsNgenesr
THE MEXICAN COLONY IN AFRICA
OFFICE OF THE CoLoSIzArIoS SoclSrf,
Washington, Sept. LIST, 1927.

ria uD TO the 18Th OF June, exhibit uetaieu
and most animating account OF the progress Vi
the COLONY, and such evidences vi It's promlse
and utility, as even its warnest irlends wouiu
not have yentured 10 predict History aHorus
no instance, we believe, OF Colony, enjoying
a, so early period Of its existence, greater pros
nerity. From the numerous documents trans
mi,ed by Mr.. Ashmun, we Can, at present, only
give few extracts, having reference to the ge-
neral interests Of the Colony, emitting what
ever is Of subordinate Importance
The passengers by the Doris, ninety-lhree IN
number. were landed. after pleasant but some
what protrac,ed passage of fortyhve days Ar
were soon after their arrival, slightly affected
BY the climate, which proved fatal only to two
small children.
"The people from Baltimore (says Mr. Ash
mun> were the first, and generally the. greatest
I might almost say the only sufferers. he Vir-
y;nians followed next in the order OF time, as
vel as in the severity of their symptoms: and
IN regard TO the natives Of North Carolina, all
the chance they have under gone, seems 10 be
less disease Than saluiary effort Of nature to
accommodate the physical system OF It's SUP
;ects. by safe and gentle process OF ailenua-
t;on 10 the new Influences Of tropical Climate
THE most pro,rac,ed case Of illness in the whole
number has moi lasted longer than i've days
Three days is, perhaps, The average term OF 'he
in doors confinement OF such as are pronounced
sick, and about one-Ihird part have not been
confined at ALL
OF the attentions experienced by the eni'
grants from the officers, paruc ulariy from w.
p Matthews, ESQ. superosrgo, Mr.. Ashinun
speaks in the highest terms; representing them
as being Of the most minute and ludic kinu'
s.aad indeed as all which the most amiabie hu-
manitysa and benevolence could prompt.
The Factory of Young Sesters, which was
- susr.nd d for a short season, in consequence of
a war between tw., ofthe native Chiefs, has re-
summed It's operations. III the public and pri-
yate -"property which had been conhded to
Freer,ar's rejection, during The absence OF
the factors, was scrupnlously respected and
"p.sssrved amid all the alarms and oisorae'
of the war '''hrre of the coionists are now
permanently sxec e. this Factory, engaged in
trade and maS.us laprovemen's
The St. Johns establishment continues pros
porous. a large plantation has been connec-
ted with The Factory Of the Island, land he
way is "perfecty prepared for the Introduction
of alitt.e colony of 20 to so FAM les to this
fertile spot at once, and an indefinite number
cat short intervals, ever afterwards"
1t is particularly gratifying TO learn that an
Agent has been, for the first time, introduces -
Little Bassa, Is miles 10 the Northwest OF ST
Johns. Among the Chiefs Of his region there
seems long TO have existed secret and silent
dislike and dread oe the Colony, and they have
persisted in the slave trade until the present year.
"Unless, however. (says Mr. Ashmun) |
greatly deceive myself, every cause OF enmi,y
and jealousy has, for some months past, been
fast melting away, and We are, by the most un-
exceptionable means, introducing among them
an influence which is, with Gods blessing, 10
ameliorate and exalI their own condition, and
to lead on to the establishment oil civilized
population in that quarter, at no great distance
Of time. We have already, 10 some extent,
connected with all our factories an agrio uiiui al
appeDdage, a plan which has proved adSan,a-
geous, in different ways. both TO the country
people and colony. A most de slrable addition
still TO be made TO both, is a School f"r the IN
struction Of the native youth and children OF
the respective settlements in which our esta
blishmrnt is situated
Mr.. Ashmun here urges the importance Of
inviting the charitable Institutions 10 lend their
aid to this object and adds, ii think 1t nearly
"capable of demonstration, that the .3frIcGn
STRIDES may be ciUiii=ed ,cithdut expulsion
60 from their chosen settlements md oitiag-
sc es, and ,0ithout that .jear/ui diminution
",Vhich has, from causes Uhich do mt &c
Sc iSt here, as an regard 10 me lnGSdaS Of
sc .4meriea, accom- aniea the march Of CT
" ,ikzation IN that hemisphere.
The following will, we are persuaded, be pc,
rused with no ordinary interest:
San excursion of one of our people into the
interior, to the distance Of about 40 miles, has
led 10 discovery of The populousness and COM
narrative civilization of this Distric, Of, Africa,
never, ill within few months, even conjectur-
ed by myself. The same individual is now alb
sen, on second journey. The particulars OF
both hope TO be able to present 10 the Board
bv the next conveyance. In the mean time, II
NAV not be without interest TO observe, that we
are situated within 5dkagues Of a couatry, in
which highly improved agriculture prevails:
where The horse is acommon domestic animal;
where extensive tracts of lands are cleared and