The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-04-09
AMERICAN COLONY ATT LIBERIA.
E1tr@ct from Letter from Capt McoIson, Of
the Y. S. Nary. TO Hon H. Clan.
WAsHINGroN. March n. 1826

"'f"'s I'm i-ettef from capt. .Nac0tS0n, OF
He Y. >. Nary to Hon. III. Clay.
WAsHlNeToN, March IL, 1928.
The soil IN possession of the Colonists is
rich, and will produce a superabundance
for the support of the Colony, as well as for
external commerce. Sugar, cotton, coffee,
rice, and various trees and plants, yielding
valuable dyes, and medicinal gums, can be
cultivated with success. The population is
now 200, and is healthy and thriving. The
children born in the country are fine look
ing, and presume can be raised as easily
as those of the natives. All the CoIonists
with whom had any communication in per-
son, or by officers, expressed their decided
wish to remain IN their present situation,
rather than to return again to the IT, States.
L cannot give you better evidence of the
prosperity of the Colony, than by mention
ing that eight of my crew, (colored me-
chancs) after going on shore, two several
days, applied for and received their dis
charge, in order to remain as permanent
settlers. These men had been absent from
their country upwards of three years, and
had, among them, nearly two thousand
dollars in clothes and money. Had they
not been thoroughly convinced that their
happiness and prosperity would be better
promoted by remaining among their free
brethren in Liberia, they would not have
determined on so momentuous a step as
quitting the United States, perhaps forever,
where they all had left friends and re-
latlves The appearance of all the Col
onIsts, those of Monrovia as we'll as those
OF Caldwell, indicated more thar content
ment. Their manners were those of free
men, who experienced the blessings of lib
erty, and appreciated tha boon. Many of
them had, by trade, accumulated compe-
tency, II the possession of from three to five
thousand dollars may be called So As
proof of the growing importance of the
country, more than 100 hhds. of tobacco
had been raised during the last year, and
the demand was increasing. Ivory and
camwood are now the prominent articles
received IN exchange for foreign imports:
other dyewoods, and many medicinal gums
and roots will be hereafter brought in, as
they are already known to exist in the in
terror.
RIOT. A few days since a threatening
riot was produced by an idle rumor at
Greenwich, near New York. II appears
from statement published in the n. York
papers, that catholic had died under such
circumstances as led the physician, DR.. C.
A. Lee, to examine the body, for which he
obtained permission of the friends of the
deceased. During this examination an To-
norant old woman industriously circulated
report, which many ignorant people gave
ear to, that there was conspiracy among
the Protestants against the Catholics, and
according to their usual custom, some of
the former were cutting up and mangling
then deceased acquaintance. The incens-
ed multitude assaulted the house and by
menaces induced the physician and his as
Slstant to retreat leaving the body open.
presenting spectacle, certainly far from
agreeable. The woman who was the au-
thor of the mischief not content with having
brought matters to this pitch, actually cut
of part of the breast of the corpse, put it
into pail and carried it to one of the
Catholic churches, where, by the violence
OF her harrangue and gesticuation, she pro-
duced considerable excitement. At pigkt
the house of the physician was beset by
number of persons, who threatened his life,
and compelled him to make his escape, and
go into the country.