Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-04-17
AMERICAN COLONY AT LIBERIA.
Copy Of a Letter from Capt. Nichoisen. of the
y. 8. Macy, 10 the Hon. III. Clay.
WASHINGTON, March II.

Liberia, on my return to the U. States,
from a cruise in the Mediterranean,
cbeerfully comply with your request,
BY presenting to you such views Of its
present condition and probable growth,
as occurred to me in the course of the
visit.
The soil in the possession of the Co.
lonists is rich, and will produce a su-
perabundance for the support OF the Co
lony, 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 1900, and is
healthy and thriving. The children born
in the country are fine looking, and |
presume can be raised as easily as those
of the natives All the Colonists with
whom had any communication, land
| with nearly the whole did communi-
cate in person, or by my officers) ex-
pressed their decided wish to remain in
their present situation, rather than to
return again to the U. States Icannot
give you better evidence of the prospe-
rity OF the Colony, than by mentioning
that eight of my crew, (colored mechan-
ics) after going on shore, two several
days, applied for, and received their
discharge, in order to remain as per-
maneAt 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 tho
roughly convinced that their happiness
and prosperity would be better promot-
ed by remaining among their free breth-
rem in Liberia, they would not have de
termined on so momentous a step as
quitting the United States, perhaps for
ever, where they all had left friends and
relatives,
The appearance Of all the Colonists,
those of Monrovia as well as those of
Caldwell, indicated more than content.
ment. Their manners were those Of
freemen who experienced the blessings
of liberty, and appreciated the boon.
Many of them had, by trade, accumu-
lated a competency, ifthe possession of
from three to FIVE thousand dollars may
be called So As proof of the grow
ing importance of the commerce of the
country, more than 100 hogsheads of
| tobacco had been used during the last
year, and the demand was increasing,
Ivory and comwood are now the promi-
nent articles received in exchange for
foreign imports; other dyewoods, and
many medicinal gums aud roots will be
hereafter brought in. as they are alrea.
dy known to exist in the interior.
take this occasion to suggest the
propriety of permitting any of the Colo
nists to purchase an additional number
of acres of land from the Agent By
permitting this, the more enterprising
will be enabled to turn their attention
TO the culture of the coffee tree, which
grows spontaneously in the vicinity of
Monrovia In fact, the soil will pro.
duce every thing which a tropical eli.
mate will allow to arrive at maturity.
From the good order and military dis
cipline which appear to prevail among
the Colonists, am induced TO believe
they could easily repel any attack, which
could be made upon them by any ma
tive force. They have arms, and hav-
ing associated themselves in volunteer
companies, have acquired the knowl-
edge ofusing them with effect, against
any probable force which might be
brought to bear upon them, by undis-
ciplined and scattered tribes in their vi
cinity. II is true, they have no harbors
for large vessels, as all their rivers are
obstructed by bars This is not of much
consequences to their coasting trade, as
they have many harbors and inlets, which
are accessible to small vessels. Large
vessels have also one advantage, that
most of the heavy winds are of the
coast, which gives them lee and
smooth sea- OFF Cape Mezurado. there
is good anchorage, and on the pitch OF
the Cape they have planted battery,
which will protect any vessel that may
| need it, from pratical depredatioDs.
would respectfully suggest. for
your consideration the propriety OF ma
king the principal Agent of the Colony
Commercial Agent" as cases have
occurred on the coast when such an ap
pointment might have proved the means
If rescuing American property from the