The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-28

LIBERIA The following letter, addressed to the
Wiiamsburgh Times, is written by an intelligent
| colored man who emigrated from Williamson Oh,
New York, to Liberia few months ago. 1t will
be that he is delighted with the change in his
| condition and prospects:
MoNRovIA, January %, 1853.
I promised to let you hear from me when in
Liberia, Africa but although have been here two
months, cannot a, this time give YOU much acO
count of the place. This little republic is SO far
ahead of what expected to find it, that your good
| people of the States would scarcely think we're
narrating truth were to describe all that have
seen. Liberia is fine fertile country. Things of
| every kind grow here. The people are more com.
Portable, in every respect. and enjoy themselves
| much better than 1 have ever known them to do
elsewhere The houses are very large, and are built
mostly OF brick and stone they two stories and
two stories and half high from 80 to so feet front
| and from 25 to 40 feet deep. The steps to these
houses are composed of iron ore-a substance on
which the city is built Iron ore is plentiful in
Monrovia as common stone is in Wiamsburgh
| Most of those who farm are located on the banks
| of the st Paul river, about five miles from the
city, and some are doing well. Allen Hooper, of
| New York, has been here a little over two years.
| He had but small means to commence with, but
now has one of the best coffee plantations on the
| river. He has seven thousand trees growing-two
| thousand of which are loaded with coffee-and he
is of opinion that next year all will bear. Next /
| will mention A. Blacklege, who is making about
twelve thousand pounds of sugar year, and some
| hundreds of gallons of molasses and syrup-al of
which will favorably compare with the best i'm
| ported articles of the kind.
Sweet potatoes, Lima beans, Indian corn, casa
| da, plantains, and other table vegetables are
raised up this river, which is 25 or 30 miles long
fine town is situated at the source of this stream;
it is called Millsburg, and contains a population of
| 800 or 1000 persons-the most of whom employ
| themselves in making brick and hewing timber Of
all kinds for maj ket
have not ability to describe the advantages to
be reaped in this country, nor have the time.
My business is much better than it ever was be-
| fore, that am constantly occupied in attending
to it.
One word as to the fever. My children have all
had it; SO have all the emigrants who came out
with US, except my wife, myself, and two others.
None of them kept their beds for more than two or
three days. The fever is not bad as it is gener
ally represented to be. have seen pereons who
have lived here for from two to twenty years, and
who never had it all.
This is great country for men and women who
love liberty and who love themselves, for money
can be made here.
Please to give my thanks to the gentlemen in
your city whose philanthropy was the cause of my
| success. trust that you will publish this letter
for the information of those who may wish to know
something of this country. My next letter shall
ton respecting this colony of Liberia-a day-star
of hope for the colored race.
JOHN D. JOHNSON.