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Despatches from Liberia.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
Monrovia, June 18, 1845.

I have no doubt every effort will be made to have her condemned, and perhaps on the suspicion of having been engaged in the slave trade, if their jurisdiction can be made to extend so far. I am decidedly of opinion, however, though they are not disposed to avow it, that the vessel was seized in consequence of the seizure of Davidson's goods at Grand Bassa, for harbor dues, and not in consequence of any such suspicion.

persons, who had an opportunity of knowing what was on board the SIR: Since my last communica-vessel at the time of her capture. tion to you, by the barque "Madonna," I have received information that the schooner "John Seys," seized in the harbor of Grand Bassa, has been taken to Sierra Leone and entered in the courts for adjudication. Captain Buckle, of her Majesty's steamer "Growler," called in here a few days ago, and I learned from him that she was seized on suspicion of being engaged in the slave trade the captain having found on board a quantity of lumber, boards, and a number of water casks, which had not had oil in them, and such as are used on board slave ships." On this information, I immediately wrote to Mr. Benson to inquire respecting the quantity of lumber and casks said to be found on board his vessel, requesting him to explain and account for the use he intended to make of them. In reply, as you will perceive by the enclosed copy of this letter, Mr. Benson denies most positively that she had any lumber on board, and not more than four casks, which might not have had oil in them. This statement of Mr. B. is corroborated by the testimony of several respectable and intelligent

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But whatever character they give to her, to suit their purpose, Mr. Benson stands above suspicion for integrity and moral worth. No man in the colony stands higher, nor do I believe he could be induced to engage in any way, however remote, in the slave trade. For full particulars of the seizure, I beg to refer you to the statement of the mate of the vessel, published in the Liberia Herald and Africa's Luminary.

We are waiting with much anxiety to hear from you to learn what action the Board has taken in regard to the subject of our jurisdiction. British traders are continuing their annoyances, and are determined, if possible, to draw us into difficulty.

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I am happy to be able to inform you that we have succeeded in settling all difficulties with the chiefs in Grand Bassa, and happily without being compelled to resort to force. Bob Grey and Young Bob surrendered themselves, and have agreed to reimburse the colonists for a part of the losses, and to have restored the property stolen from the schoolhouse on Factory Island.

Since the adoption of the regulation, idea of the real object and intentions requiring colonists to abstain from of the British government in respect all intercourse with British traders, to these colonies. He, however, was at any of the ports in the colony, very guarded in his remarks,-in until such traders shall have com- fact told me he was not authorized plied with the regulations of the to enter upon any discussion of the port, we have had no difficulty on subject. He, however, gave me to the score of harbor dues, especially understand that his Government at the ports of Monrovia and Grand would not, so long as the colony reBassa; but at Sinou the colonists mained dependent or subject to the continue to be annoyed. British Colonization Society, relinquish one traders anchor in their harbor-re-foot of the ground assumed by Comfuse to pay anchorage-land their mander Jones. goods at the settlement, and supply the natives with any amount, encouraging them to acts of hostility against the colonists, should any attempt be made to restrict their intercourse. Tasko, of whom I spoke in my last, is again out, and doing all he can to prejudice the Fishmen, resident at Sinou, against the colonists. I received yesterday a communication signed by a number of the citizens of Greenville, complaining, in strong language, of the conduct of Tasko; of his violation of the regulations of the harbor; and his efforts to incite the natives, particularly the Fishmen, to acts of violence; and that the Fishmen, notwithstanding their agreement, entered into in March last, not to engage in trade with foreigners, or to land goods in the colony on which the duties had not been paid, have received a large supply from Tasko, at whose suggestion they refuse their duties, and are determined to resist any attempt to force payment. I shall avail myself of the first opportunity to visit Sinou, and remove those Fishmen from the territory of the colony-further indulgence is unsafe; for so long as they remain there, they will be made the tools of the enemies of the colony to annoy and trouble us.

In conversation with Capt. Buckle, I endeavored to draw from him some expression that would give me some

Softly John has withdrawn his demand for the slave that escaped and took refuge in the colony. Thus tranquillity is again restored, and peace and harmony prevail.

In consequence of the almost unparalleled quantity of rain that has fallen within the last few weeks, we have made but little progress in the way of erecting buildings. As soon as the weather becomes a little open we hope to commence with renewed vigor, and push forward the work as rapidly as our means will allow.

I am, sir, respectfully,

Your obedient servant,
J. J. ROBERTS.

To Rev. WM. MCLAIN,
Sec. Am. Col. Society,
Washington City, D. C.

BASSA COVE,

May 26, 1845. DEAR SIR-I received your letter of the 19th inst. on the 21st. I am

thankful for the information therein ple to resort to downright lying and

afforded.

I have not as yet written to Sierra Leone. My object has been to hear from there ere I took any steps; and since the reception of your letter I have partly concluded to go up there with Mr. Machada, who expects to leave this place in about twelve or fifteen days, for the windward. I am much averse to leaving home this season of the year; but I suppose it is expedient I should go in order to correct the false statements of the captors, as well as to bring matters to a focus, so that I may see the issue of their adjudication, and know what in future to depend on.

Their statement about the plank found on board of her is altogether false, and it can be proved to be false by the gentleman who accompanied me down to Young Sess a week previous to her capture, as well as by Dr. James Stevens, who came up from Sinou in her, and was to have sailed in her for the same place the day after she was captured. There was only one plank on board to our knowledge, which the men used to roll oil casks over the hatch, in order to empty the oil in the palm oil tub. As to their water leaguers, this is all false. There was some shooks sent out by Mr. Fisk to Mr. Hening, which I bought of him, and had put up, and sent on board. I don't remember whether or not they had had train oil in them, and if any of them had not had palm oil in them, the number must have been very small, say three or four. But suppose there were fifty casks on board that had never had oil in them, and some thousand feet of plank, surely they had no business with it, unless they had found her out of her own port, destitute of a manifest or clearance from the collector, specifying these things.

intrigue to defraud me out of my property, and to extricate themselves from the predicament in which their ambition has led them. They first resort to one thing and then another in order to effect her condemnation.

Should you think it best to write instead of going up, I will do so; and should I receive a letter to that effect from you, ere Machada comes and leaves, I will decline going, but prepare my papers, and forward up by him.

I conclude by subscribing myself your excellency's obedient servant,

STEPHEN A. BENSON. His Excellency, J. J. ROBERTS.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA,
June 20, 1845.

REV. AND DEAR SIR:-An opportunity being afforded of sending letters to the United States, I embrace it to let you know at least that I am still among the living.

I arrived at this place from Bexley about the last of April, after an absence of nearly four months. I left one of my students at Bexley in charge of the emigrants from Kentucky, with whom I went to that place. He will remain with them until the expiration of six months from the time of their arrival. ceived a letter from him a few weeks ago, in which he stated that they were all doing well, except the man to whom I think I alluded in my last letter as having an incurable affection of the lungs, and who died on the day after I left.

I re

During the first three months of the year an epidemic disease (the measels) prevailed very extensively throughout the colony. It attacked old and young alike; and, although some persons were very sick with it, It is really too bad for those peo-yet, fortunately, it did not prove fatal

in any instances, except in a few young children. Since my return to the metropolis, the people in this part of the colony have had more sickness than usual; and in consequence of having to be a good deal exposed, and having to endure a good deal of fatigue in visiting the sick, my own health has not been as good as usual during the last few weeks. The "sear and yellow" countenance might afford a strong presumptive proof to a stranger, that I have resided for some time in a tropical climate; and the irregular attacks of intermittent fever are demonstrative evidences, to myself at least, that my physical system has not yet become altogether adapted to this "sunny region." But I do not feel discouraged nor homesick. My mission to Liberia has not yet been completed. I wish to remain in the colony, if possible, until my students shall be able to fill the station which I now occupy.

I have been up the river several times since my return; and although quite a number of the settlers at Millsburg, Caldwell, and New Georgia have been sick, yet at present they are in a better condition in regard to health. But some of them are rather bad off in regard to good, wholesome, substantial diet, which, in some cases, is the principal cause of their sickness; and which, in a great measure, is their own fault, for I am satisfied that, with industry, economy, and prudence, and a tolerable degree of health, it is not a hard matter to live, and to live comfortably, in Liberia.

The settlers at Grand Bassa are ahead of those in this part of the colony in agricultural improvements, especially in raising coffee. Several persons at Edina, Bassa Cove, and Bexley, have turned their attention to the cultivation of coffee trees, and many small coffee plantations may

be seen with the trees bearing luxuriantly. I have been endeavoring to urge the people in all the settlements to give more attention to the cultivation of this useful and profitable article, and they all seem to be satisfied of its importance and necessity; but many of them are lamentably deficient in patience, energy, and perseverance. In conversation with one of the colonists, a man of considerable influence, a short time ago, I was trying to represent to him the pecuniary advantages he might derive, in a few years, by the cultivation of coffee; and he answered me by saying, that he would not give himself any trouble in raising coffee, because he did not expect to live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labor. This, I fear, is the feeling of many others, and this feeling must yield to others of a more noble character, before there will be much permanent improvement in agriculture or anything else. The people must not live for the good of themselves alone, but for the good of the whole community, and for the prosperity and happiness of the rising generation.

You will doubtless have received information, before this letter shall have arrived, relative to the unjustifiable seizure of Major Benson's schooner, by the commander of one of H. B. Majesty's cruisers on this coast. A full account of the particulars may be found in the communication of Mr. Benson, which was published in both of our papers. You may rely in the truth of the statements therein contained. Mr. Benson is one of the best and most enterprising men in the colony, and the loss of his schooner (for we have no doubt that she will be condemned as a slaver, by foul means and false representations) will be a heavy blow to him. His loss will not be much short of $5,000. I need not make

any comments on this piratical exhi- considerable assistance to me. I bebition of sympathy and philanthro-lieve that Mr. Roberts attended to as py, alias tyranny and oppression. I much practice, and was as successmay state, however, that I was at ful, as any other practitioner in the Bassa at the time the schooner was colony (myself included) during my taken, and that I boarded the "Lily" absence from Monrovia; and Mr. with a view of ascertaining the cir-Smith has exhibited uncommon skill cumstances, and of giving the commander a statement of facts, relative to the schooner as the property of Mr. Benson. But I found that the officers of the cruiser were all green-hands, just out from England, and that they were determined to try to get a little prize money by taking the vessel to Sierra Leone, and have her condemned as a slaver. We have not yet heard from Sierra Leone, consequently we do not know what has been the fate of the vessel. It seems to me that there is a mystery hanging over that foul act which time will reveal.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a vessel from the United States. We have not received any news since the arrival of the Jamestown, early in February.

My anxiety respecting my two students induces me to call your attention again to the subject of their visiting the United States to attend lectures in some medical institution, preparatory to their taking charge of the medical department of the colony. Will you write me definitely on this subject, and let me know whether arrangements can be made by which they may be able to get admission into some medical school or college?

They are both making rapid progress in their studies; and, as I have endeavored to instruct them practically, as well as theoretically-at the bedside of the sick, as well as in the office-they are both already pretty good practitioners, and they are of

and judgment in several very bad cases of which he had the charge, at different times, when I was prevented by sickness from seeing the patients. They have both mastered the most difficult parts of the study, and they have altogether exceeded my most sanguine expectations. I would not recommend their staying in the United States longer than a sufficient length of time to attend one course of medical lectures; and I hope that some kind of arrangements will be made by which they may enjoy this privilege. If they can visit the United States next year, so as to attend a course of lectures in the summer of '46, or in the winter of '46–7, I will endeavor to remain until their return to the colony.

I think it would be a good thing if two or three young men could pursue the study of law in order to practice in the colony; for we are worse off for lawyers than for doctors-indeed, two of the regular lawyers are practicing physicians. There are young men in the colony who might become very respectable lawyers if they had one or more good teachers to direct and instruct them in their studies. There is talent enough in the colony; but it requires proper training and direction.

The rain is now coming down in

torrents.

Yours truly,
J. W. LUGENBEEL.
NBEEI

Rev. Wм. MCLAIN,
Secretary and Treasurer
of the Am. Col. Society.

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