The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-18
Republic OF Liberia.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT ROBERTS.
From The London Iirnes of dueIsi 81

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT ROBERTS.
From the London Times Of 4August27.
Late accounts from the African republic of Lii
IBERIA give favorable description of the state of the
country. Settlements were being formed in the
anterior, and the natives at the newly acquired
territory of the Gallinas had furnished proof of
their readiness to abandon the slave trade by Civ
ing notice to President Roberts and Commodore
Fanshaw of Spanish brig lowering on the coast
for slaves. new town is to be formed at CALI
mas, and is to receive the name of Quincy, after
Mr. Samuel Quincy, of London. The subioined
extracts of letter addressed by President Roberts
to friend give the latest information the gen.
eral condition Of the republic:
"GovKRNMENT House, MoNRovIA,
June 20, 1851.
crossing smoothly. Now for some time we have
had no misunderstanding with British merchants
trading to Liberia. This is exceedingly crafty
ing to me, and sincerely trost that the good un-
Outstanding will continue, and that in future our
intercourse will be of the most friendly character
The presence of British consul in Liberia has had
most happy effect. Misrepresentation are not
as easily made, and all matters of dispute arising
between the authorities and the ngsh traders are
amicably adjusted on the spot.
cat no time i'll the history of our little common
wealth has the progress of general improvement
been more encouraging than at the present time.
Commerce s decidedly increasing, and never
before has agriculture in Liberia received greater
attention. Among the neighboring native tribes
there are fewer wars and connexions, and they
arc more rapidly, too, adopting civilized and in :
dustrious habits. This is in great measure attri-
butabe TO the abolition of the slave trade upon
this part of the African coast, and think / may
safely say that the traffic cannot again be revived
within the jurisdiction of Liberia-certainly not
between Sierra Leone and Cape Palmas.
:" Now that the slave trade is at end upon our
coast, and we have secured nearly all the nterme-
dlae points of territory between the extremes of our
jurisdiction, We giving more attention to cx-
tending our influence into the interior. Measures
are being taken to form settlement in the noun
tain region in the interior of Grand Bassa. The
country has been explored, and is represented as
being healthy and fertile, while the aboriginal in
habltants are friendly, and decidedly more indus
trious and intelligent than the natives near the
coast am more and mere confirmed in the opin-
ION that 1t is more healthy in the interior of this
country, beyond the influence of the miasma arising
from the mangrove swamps bordering the whole
coast, than in any location at present occupy,
and shaa not fail to give my beat influence and
encouragement to the measures now on foot for
forming interior settlements.
"lregret very much that Liberia could not be
represented at the Great Industrial Exhibition in
London. l exerted myself TO convince the mem
bers OF the Legislature, their last session. of the
Importance of the measure, and of the good that
might possibly result to Africa, and to Liberia in
particular. But they were afraid, in view of the
embarrassed state OF our finances to incur the ne
cessary expenses. am vexed to think that, to my
knowledge, there will not be Liberian present"
a discovery was made In the carly part of Friday
(thc 29th ultimo) by one of the attendants in the
Andia department of the Exhibition, while employ
ed in cleaning some of the Indian weapons which
somewhat terrified the operator. The weapon in
question was dagger with gold hit and handle,
and richly ornamented case; and, while pressing
on one part of the handle somewhat heavily, he
astonished to see what appeared TO be the sim
gle blade gradually expand and open out into four
double edged pointed blades, leaving a spear like
weapon IN the centre of them, with four sharp
edges. This five baded weapon with its twelve
sharp edges, is without exception one of the most
murderous looking specimens ever seem In the
collection OF this class of weapons there are several
other instruments of a similarly murdcrous char
acter, among which may be mentioned three
bladed knife, manufactured in the States of Ulwar
the construction of which has aorely puzzled many
oil the most experienced cLtlcrs. The blades are
not arranged in the Ordinary manner, but two of
them together, with their handles are concealed
IN the blade and handie of the outer or larger one
They are all OF the Finest Damascus steel, with ex
ceedingy keen ed yea. There is a dagger with two
construction end of exceedingly beautiful work
manship. rs fine specimens Of ornamentation
may also be. mentioned, three daggers manufac-
tured IN t,ae States of the Rajah of Joudpore one
from N'jpaul Of dark steel inlaid with gold
from me States of Rejpootana, two Burmese, and
sf'.ietto or Malacca dagger. There also some
eapons of a similar character, one with beauti-
materials, from the Rajpootana States. The large
knife of the Burmese is also most formidable
looking eapon.-London Observer.
BRITrsH AND AMERICAN SAILs.-Captain Matsou,
X. NJ, writes to the London Times that the supe-
rior sailing of the America is in great measure
due TO the excellence of her calls. He says:
"The America is quite as much indebted for her