Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-06-28
LEBERI.I-.Ss 10 u.

settlement IN Liberia vas established
on Cape Mesurado. In the yearIS2I III,
American Colonization Society pur
chased part Of the I,land OF Sherbo
TO, distant about l20 miles from Cap,
Mesurado. and during that year anC
the following, vigorous. bu, inefiec
tual effort MAS made TO plant a colon,
there. The ,reacbery of the natives
the insalubrIty OF the climate, and 9
series OF melancholy disasters, finally
compelled its abandonment. and the
society directed its attention to the
more eligible sci,e mentioned above;
where, ia le22, after protIac,ed ne.
go'ia,'on, a purchase was made, md a
feeble band Of enigran,s took posses
sion.
Liberia (s;retching along 300 miles
Of the coast. aud extending from 10 ,o
10 miles inland) now numbers four
separate colonies, viz:
Monrovis, established by the Amer.
lean Colonization Society. including
the towns Of Monrovia. Caldwell Mills.
burgh, and Marshall-
Bassa Cove, established by the Uni
ted Colonization Societies OF New York
and Pennsylvania. This colony in
cludc, Bassa Cove and Edna The
latter village was founded by The Amer
can Colonization Society, aud late.
" coded to the United Societies
Greenyille. established oy the Mis-
sissIppi and Louisiana Colonization So
cieties, al Sinou-
! Maryland, established by the Mary
iand Colonization Society. at Cape Pal
mas.
( In the nine villages enumerated a.
bove there is a population OF abou,
5O00--all Of course colored persons-of
which three thousand five hundred are
cmIgrants from this country, and the
remainder natives OF Africs, mostly
youth. who have come into the colo
nies 10 leurn "Alerica fash" aud make
themselves white men," by conform
ing to the habits Of civilization AID be-
coming subject TO our laws.
The commerce Of the colonies, tho
in its infancy, is already exten.
sive. From $4,000 to Sl25 900 is
exported annually. in camwood, ivory
palm oil. and hides, and an equal or
greater amount Of the manufactures
and productions of Europe and Ameli-
ca are brought into the colonies ia re-
turn. Monrovia, which is the largest,
town and principal seaport, carries on a
coasting trade. by means Of small yes
sells built and owned by her own citi-
zens. Not less than IL or ID Of these
averaging from I'D 10 30 tons burden.
manned and nayiga,ed by the coloni.is,
are constantly engaged in profitable
trade along seven hundred miles oil The
coast.
The harbour OF Monrovia is seldom
clear Of foreign vessels. more than Sc
venty Of which from the United States,
England, France, Sweden, Portugal,
and Denmark, touch there annually.
Dassa Cove and Cape Pslmas have
both good harbours. and possess great
advantages for commerce.
Sinou, too, possesses on excellent
harbour, and is the natural quite. Of a
vast tract Of rich and productive coun
try. Under the strong hands OF its en-.
terprising founders 1t must soon become
an important link in the great maritime
chain Of America African establish
ments.
The state OF morals in the colonies
IS empba'Ically OF high order. Sab
bath breaking, drunkenness. profanity,
and quarreling. are wees almost un.
known IN Liberia. A temperance So
cie,y, formed in 1884, numbered IN a
few weeks sitter its organization 500
members, at that ;ime more than one
eth OF the whole population.
AT Bassa Cove and Cape PAlmas.
the sale and use OF ardent spirits are
forbidden by law. In the other colo
MES the ban of public opinion so ef
iectuslly prohibits dram drinking, that
no respectable person would dare in j..
dulge an appetite 50 disfepuiable.
There are eighteen churches in IL.
IBERIA. viz at Monroyil &. New Geor.
ga ,. Bassa Cove 3. Marshall I. Cape
Palmas > At other settlements q. or
these, < arc Bapiis,s. q Ncthodis,s. 3
PresbyteHan. and Episcopalian.
As there are forty clergy men IN The
colonies, sil The churches are not only
regularly supplied With preaching but
religious meetings are weekly held IN
m any 81 the native villages
Seven hundred q The colonisis. or
one.fiih of the whole population. are
protested Christians N good standing
with the several churches with ~ hish
they are connected A. might be- ex.
pected. where so large a proportion Of
The people - pious The general tone Of
socie,y - religious. No Where - the
Sabbath more strictly observed. or the
places a worship bciieraiiended sun.
DAY schools and B,ble classes ere e..
isbllshed generally ia the churches,
into which. N many cases, the native
children are gathered With those ofthe
colonisis
There srcien week dsy schools 10
ali the settlements. supported generally
~ education sod uIssionarv societies
"a tbs country. The teachers IN most
cases are oolored persons. y laudablc
iausi for knowledge pcfssdes the com.
u,cnity. and q great desire Is expressed
Tor an academic institution. TOW ards