The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-24
Letter From the Sea-.
Ed. CoURIER.-

You ara probably not ex
pecting to receive lester written this Stl
day of November, 1859, on board the goot
ship NJ. G. Stephens, bound from Baltmor
to the west coast of Africa, and ut preser
lying at anchor in the Hampton roads wait
ing for a fair wind to put out to sea but a.
it is not absolutely niece ssary for letter t.
be expected in ORDER to be welcome, will
venture to send this, and, if it is deemed
worthy of place in your columns, you may
erpect more before | return to Iowa; but
whether you will receioe them or mot will de
pend upon the treatment receive from ole
Neptune-the more sea-sickness | have the
less letters will be written. If you do no
consider this worth printing, please mark il
respectfully declined" and file it carefully
away in the stove.
This is large ship, of 800 tons, 5urthen
owned by the Colonization Society. 1t was
| believe, a present to them from Mr.. Ste.
vens, of Maryland, and named after some
member of his family. She makes two trips
YER, leaving Baltimore May LIST, and No,
vember 18th, carrying emigrants, passengers,
aud freight to and from Liberia. There is
on board this trip, 1913 colored ermgrants, OF
whom 81 are from Tennessee, 10 from Vir.
GINA, 5 from South Carolina, from Ken
lucky, from Maryland. 2 from Louisiana,
and the balance from the free States. Pass.
age had been engaged for 40 more, but they
were not on hand in time. The ship has
comfortable accommodations for at least $50.
There are six on board who are citizens OF
Liberia, and have been to America on a Wis
it, and are now returning to their homes.
The emigrants. sent out, are supported by
the Society for six months after their arri-
val; this gives them time to become accli-
mated and to get in way to make living
for themselves. In case of emancipated
slaves, provision is usually made by the
owner for paying the ex lDerse of emigration;
but when no provision is made, and in case
of free negroes who are not able to pay, but
who wish to go out to remain, the Society
gives them free passage and takes care of
them on arrival-same as the others. I know
but little of the actual workings of this plan
of colonization, but shall! be able to give you
during this visit, reliable information in re-
gard to it, and the condition of Liberia, which
may be interesting to your readers.
There is in this lot, general assortment
of negroes, men, women and children, all
ages and all shades of color. They all ap-
pear to be well pleased with their prospect
before thern-better, think, now than they
will be after they are thrown upon their own
resources for living
We are having slow time getting to sea-;
eight days out from Baltimore, now and no
knowing how much longer this east wind
will hold. The sailors say the wind will
change when the moon does; if that be the
case, we can get away in two days more
l should be very glad of it, for left Iowa to
avoid the cold weather and sudden changes
which was using up my lungs rather faster
than was agreeable; but asyet have found
no improvement in the weather. One days
run from here, with fair wind, will put us
out of the reach of cold until our return,
which will be in about five months. | do
not expect to be able to send you another
letter until after our arrival in Africa, when
you shall hear from me again, if nothing hap
pens to prevent X.