The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-18

tho new announcements and rewards extended 10
industry, connection with the vast extent of the
camwood forests, and the great number and pre-
ductiveness Of the palm trees-give reason to anti
cipate rapid increase in the amount Of soma Of
the most valuable articles of African commerce.
OF the present amount Of imports and exports, dit
ferent opinions are expressed by intelligent citizens
OF the republic The committee at Sinou estimate
the imports annually at about four hundred thov-
sand dollars. and the exports at seven hundred
thousand. The committee Of Monrovia represent
that Of palm oil are annually exported from the
republic five hundred thousand gallons. The edi-
tor Of the Liberia Herald. in article on the palm
oil trade, of June 7rh, 1917, says :-"Every man in
the colony knows that the palm trees abound
throughout all our borders; that no space OF hive
miles can be penetrated where they may not Be
counted by scores; that, where they do not grow,
they have only to be planted; that the soil Is
everywhere adapted to them; and, also, that they
become more prolific the more regularly the fruit
is gathered from them. About the year 1915. Capt.
Spence, merchant trader from London, purchased
from the natives about the river Sesters, two bar
res of cal, and encouraged them to 60 on in pro-
curing il. by engaging 10 take all they could mako
in the ensuing season. We may safely put down
the amount exported in 1876, from the region ex-
tending from Cape Montserado down to Cape Pal
mas, al tive millions of gallons"
The following letter, from the Secretary of the
Treasury Of the Liberian republic, merits place
"MoNRovrA, November %, lS4S.
"DEAR SIR TN reference to the conversation
we had few days ago as to the probable amount
States, have, after consulting with a gentleman
of considerable experience in mercantile affa irs,
arrived at the conclusion that it may be safely ad
mtled that one.ffth Of the entire trade with Libe-
ria is with the United States.
"The committee whose duty 1t was to furnish
you with report have, tank, considerably uh-
denated the annual exports from Liberia. II may
be fairly stated at five hundred thousand dollars In
African commodities, (one-fifth of which is one
hundred thousand doars,) and our imports from
the United States may be estimated at one hundrod
and fifty thousand dollars.
:" Ii is worthy of remark, that, at present, it is
only from the United States that our merchants
import goods; and further, that the kind of goods
most suitable for the African trade come from
Europe.
"The commerce of Liberia is in its infancy; but
it advances rapidly. The two principal articles Of
trade are tobacco and powders and no country can
compete with the United States in these items.
Provisions, also, will soon find an extensive marke.
in Liberia; already the natives have commenced
purchasing them, particularly beef. pork, and salt
fish.
81 am not exaggerating when | say, that tho
trade ad sances at least fifty per cent annually
The American cotton goods are in quality gu.
penor to those brought from Europe. but there is
a material difference in the price. The Europesa
is the cheapest; and hence he inability Of the
American to compete with the European. In Ii
IBERIA we attribute the difference in price to th4
low price Of labor in Europe.
"Yours, very respectfully,
"Rev. r. r, GuRLEY."
MISSIONS.
Defeating herself with extraordinary liberality
and vigor of purpose to the cause of Christianity ia
Liberia, the Methodist Episcopal church of the
United States has sent to Liberia the treasures q
divine truth and the messages OF divine mercr
and In fourteen day schools and eighteen Sunday
echoos, they afford instruction TO not less than sir
hundred and ninety pupils.
Animated by Kindred spirit, the Southern Bap-
schools in the republic three hundred and thirty
children, ninety-two of whom are children OF ma
tive Africans; and their missionaries preach the
divine word 10 ten thousand of the native populA-
ton.
The Northern Baptist Board have missionary
schools at Bexley, in Bassa county, and at Little
Bassa at the former twent, -four native pupils and
at the latter sixteen-both schools being cond lcted
by educated native teachers of exemplary piety. A
Baptist church is organized in connection with this
mission at Bexley, sixteen native Africans having
been admitted TO its communion.
Several missionary stations are occupied by tbs
board OF the Presbyterian church, (old schooi)
and schools and church-s sustained by them At
Monrovia, Sinou, and on the banks of the ST P1uts
river. A plan is already adopted for the establish
ment and endowment OF high school at Monr,-
via, 10 bear the honored name of Alexander 20 be
sustained by the donations OF members Of this con,
munon. The Rev, Mr.. Ellis, who will be COZ
nected with this semin ary, has acquired knowledge
under most depressing circumstances, and proved
how strong and virluous mind may enCounte-
and subdue the evils of fortune
OF Mr. Jsmes's school at Monrovia, which de-
York city, ! concur in the opinion of Mr.. Hirns,
"that IL would be an honor and an orn ament L.
any New England village" 81 visited" he coz
tlnues, this school, and am compelled to confess,
thai, IN reading, writing, grammar, geography, aad
all the branches Of a common school education,
never witnessed greater proficiency OF scholars OF
the same age IN any part OF my native New
ENGLAND. This school was founded by the LADIES'
OF New York; and my impression is, that they con-
tinue 10 contribute with great hberahiy TO its
maintenance
The mission OF the Protestant Episcopal church,
al Cape Paimas, (the seat Of the Maryland COO
ny,) he's three native male schools, containing
about seventy pupils, and two female boarding
schools, containing forty holars. In the Sunday
and night schools of the mission are about two
hundred and twenty to two hundred and forty pu-
pills, Of both sexes. la addition TO these schools
for natives, are two dav and two Sunday schools
for the children OF the coloniss. The male school
has fiften pupils now preparing for a contemplated
high school, and the female day school has about
fifty scholars while the two Sunday schools en-
brace from eighty to one hundred children
Of naive and colonial children, the number
undt the care and patronage OF this mission ex-
ceeds three hundred OF native communicates
there are about fouy.fve, and in connection with
the colonial church twenty-five, making in all se-
veniy mbers.
The intelligent Governor OF the Maryland colo
ny IN reply 10 uqaiues the subject Of education,
saws -" We have FIX day schools, numbering one
hundred and seventy four pupils, and three Sunday
schools OF one hundred and twenty. eight. We are
IN great need Of high school, in which the higher
branches Of education may be taught"
Livery civilized stranger, instructed in the truths
and sensible Of the Christian religion, who visits
the republic of Liberia, must experience an mex
pressible delight, not only in the visible evidences
OF the institutions Of free and wel-organUed
STATE, but IN the quiet, ever-active, aud benehcsnt
operations of missionary teachers, penetrating, and
making glad by their presence, the gloom OF The
African forest, and, under the protection OF iis 70
verbment, inviting not only ITS sons and To- daugh-
tiers into their schools but importing, with a zeal,
"A nns n
discouraged and not TO be defeated, know
ledge Of letters, of some branches Of science
end above all, Of Divine revelation, TO the sd
lersiiiious and barearous population Of Afhca.
To lind Christian teachers and ministers with IL
hraries--small, but OF choice hooks-in Their
matched dwelling, bene attn the shade of the palm
Tree, N tpots where but few openings have been
maoe Wy me sense forest 10 see groups Of naive
African children gathered for instruction 10 yt~n
70 roises Of Christian worshigptrs, end hear the
songs OF Christian PRAISE amid the habiiations vi