66 may, sir, be a little out of your line of business to know how much labor and expense has been put in requisition to send the Bible into Arabia, all to little or no purpose. But you have seen, I suppose, that one of COLT's patent rifles, has brought an Arabian ship to our very doors to supplicate for help. "I have," says God, "created the smith that bloweth the coals and bringeth forth an instrument." This very instrument, sir, has been the means made use of to carry the Word of Life, liberty and peace, to the Imaum of Muscat, (which probably it would have cost a man his life to have offered ten years ago,) and through him to that long lost people, whose hand for ages has been against every man's, and every man's hand against him ;" and not only the Word of Life, but trade, commerce and the mechanic arts, all means of God's appointment to civilize and evange lize nations. Under such circumstances, let no one despair of Africa; but introduce through the Colonization Society our useful manufactured articles, and we shall soon see a polished and civilized nation. Neither agriculture, commerce, nor any business whatever in which man engages, can be carried on to any advantage, without great help from the mechanic arts. Experience has taught that lesson to this nation most fully, and we know in olden time, when one nation wished to oppress and destroy another, their first attempt was to remove the mechanic arts. Make it then your first business to supply the Colony with every necessary implement of husbandry, in exchange for the produce of their fields; keep a full supply in your warehouses. Their own fancy will furnish "ribbons, gloves and rings," without our aid. Nothing should be wanting to encourage industry and usefulness, with temperance in all things. But what you will find most important is, see that every man, woman and child, has the Bible put into their hands as soon as they can read it. There they will find the only law and the only precepts, which ever have, or ever can govern mankind. Take this away, and the sword will soon be in full requisition, no matter what is the color of the skin or climate they inhabit." The above I take from a great mass of manuscript left by my deceased friend, on the origin, history, present condition and future prospects of the African race; in which she has advocated the plan of Colonization which the American Colonization Society are now endeavoring to carry out. She has evidently written much which has been published, but where, even her bosom friend does not know. With ample means of support, and although surrounded by a large circle of highly valued friends, yet she spent years in her study, writing for the benefit of persons in every walk of life, and especially for the poor down trodden African. Among her writings, which are evidently the most of them the first drafts of what she sent abroad, is found essays on politics, political economy, history, religion, schools, advice to young ministers, school teachers, &c., &c. Yours, &c. ANOTHER SEIZURE.-Letters were received in this city on Friday, from the American Consul at St. Helena, which stated that the brig Cipher late of this port, had been seized by the British on the coast of Africa. The Cipher left Salem in command of Capt. DAYLEY. She was sold at Cabena, Africa, to the Portuguese, for the sum of $7,500, and on the 11th of July was taken possession of by the British brig Persiani on charges of being intended and fitted up for the slave trade. Suits were instituted and the brig was condemned to a Court of Admirality.-Salem Register. INTERESTING FROM LIBERIA. THE HON. SAML. BENEDICT, the author of the communication from which the following extracts are taken, a man of color, resided in the State of Georgia, and emigrated to Liberia in July, in 1835, with an expedition sent out from Savannah by the New York Colonization Society. Since that time he has occupied stations of the first responsibility and honor in Monrovia; was a member of the Legislature which formed their civil constitution, and was also appointed Judge of the Superior Court. About the month of June last, Mr BENEDICT returned to the United States, partly on commercial business, and also to visit his native country. As his attention during the summer has been much occupied with his personal concerns, and I had little opportunity of private conversation with him, I requested him to furnish me in writing an impartial account of Liberia, with the present condition of our Colonies, and their future prospects. In compliance with this request, Mr BENEDICT, a few days previous to his departure, left the subjoined communication, which I now submit to the consideration of an enlightened benevolent public. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT, COLONIZATION ROOMS, OCT. 12, 1841. REVEREND DOCTOR PROUDFIT : NEW YORK, SEPT. 14th, 1841. RESPECTED SIR,-In relation to the prospect of the Colony of Liberia, as we had not sufficient time to converse fully on this subject, I now embrace a few moments to write, but presuming that you will give publicity to my statements, I write more fully than I intended at first, hoping it may have a salutary effect. Sir, my candid opinion of this Colony is, that with proper management, it will become one of the first countries on the globe. I went there in 1835, under those impressions, and now after a lapse of more than six years, I feel more confirmed in my mind that Liberia with all the disadvantages which it must encounter, in common with other new settled countries, suits me best, and not only myself and family, but you would insult almost any Liberian in good standing in the community, if you only mention to them that they ought to return to live in the United States. No sir, the man of dignified feeling enjoying full liberty, with the concomitant advantages which we have in Liberia' would spurn at the idea of returning to live in America, even if we were permitted to occupy some of your most splended mansions, together with the luxuries of your finest cities. With these considerations, we are thankful to our benefactors for procuring a country for us where we are men, and as for Liberia, I see not what is to hinder us from living there, for in that country which we can with propriety call our own, we enjoy all the blessing of life. The soil is generally good, producing almost everything that grows in tropical countries; rice is raised in abundance, and having latterly paid more attention to that object, we will in a few years be amply supplied; our woods abound with deer and another game, our sea and rivers also abound with excellent fish; we often stand in our streets or dwellings and see the whales spouting in the sea: mackerel are often caught in our harbor fully two feet in length; we have also abundant growth of the palm tree, the oil of which has contributed a fruitful part of the revenue of Great Britain and your own country; the lands are well timbered, some of which are as durable as any in the world, particularly so for ship building; we have abundance of rock and stone for building, and although we have not yet discovered stone for making lime, we have an abundance of oyster shells from which we make our lime. Our forest produces the richest and highest priced dye-wood of any known part of the world, and as agriculture, that surest source of wealth and plenty, which I am sorry to say has heretofore been too much neglected among us, has been lately better attended, to we therefore feel more encouraged to go forward. Our Government is intended to be a republic, and although there is too much power in the hands of the Governor, still the remedy is in our own hands, and we feel sanguine that before long we will be rid of every arbitrary feature; we will then enjoy a purer form of government than any now to be found, even that of the United States. The natives around us, who are our principal laborers, work freely for those who pay them fairly, and treat them with kindness; they are learning gradually the arts of civilized life. But above all, what can be more cheering to the heart of the Christian, and philanthropist, than to witness these long benighted aboriginees of Africa, forsaking their idols and embracing the blessed Gospel of JESUS; many of whom I have heard preaching and exhorting their friends and neighbors to unite with them in the participation of the blessings of our holy religion as set forth in the Bible. Since witnessing the above, I feel more satisfied than ever with the choice I have made in going over to assist in settling this new country, which, if properly managed, will not only prove a blessing to the natives and ourselves, but will raise the names of its friends on the highest temple of fame. Liberia is greatly indebted to those excellent missionaries of the cross, who have forsaken their native land with all its elegances, some of whom had lived at ease, surrounded by friends and relatives at home, who had entreated them with tears not to embark in this dangerous enterprize, but at the call of their dear Lord, they took their lives in their hands, and entered fearlessly this vast field of love and duty. Many of whom had no sooner entered the field than they were cut off by death, yet their places have ever been filled up by others, and I firmly believe that the cause is approbated by the Lord, and will therefore go on in spite of all opposition. Our churches in Liberia are very flourishing, numbering at least two-thirds of the adult population; the vices of large cities have not as yet got much among us, and we hope never will. As to the health of Liberia, I think it will fully compete with the most of the southern States of America. On first going out to any country, persons must expect more or less to be sick during their acclimation; this is the case in Liberia; and although we are often constrained to mourn over departed friends, yet we are not discouraged, knowing that death is the lot of mortals and visits every clime. However, we feel satisfied that when we have the low lands around our settlements properly cleared and drained, that it will add at least twenty-five per cent. to our health, as in most every other part of the world; for example, read the history of the first settlements in the now United States; and even if it never be healthier, the settlement of colonies will go on, knowing it at present to be the only feasible plan that human wisdom can devise, for civilizing and christianizing Africa, and ameliorating the condition of the unfortunate man of color. Since my visit to the United States, I have been astonished and amused to see men, who, in every other respect seem intelligent, yet so very ignorant, or pretend to be, about Liberia; many of whom seem to be under the impression that at almost every step we take, we are in danger of treading on serpents, and that we are almost eaten up by musquetoes and flies. Now sir, as for snakes, I have seen more in one week in Georgia and South Carolina, than I have seen in six years in Liberia. As for wood flies we have far less than in the southern parts of the U. States, and as for the house flies we have none, and fewer musquetoes than in America. Many again imagine that we are nearly scorched to death by the rays of the sun, and will hardly believe when we tell them otherwise, and that our thermometer varies only from 65 to 88 in the extreme, that is, in the shade. Some suppose that because our year is divided into the dry and rainy seasons, that during the rain we never have fair weather, and that during the dry we never have a shower; how mistaken or preposterous are such notions! Again, I have been told that the laws of Liberia prevented citizens from leaving the Colony, but on condition of returning. This is not true, for no citizen is ever prevented, if he but procure a passport, unless he is in debt and his creditor stops him until he gives security to the amount. I have written much more than I expected when I first took up my pen, but thought proper that these facts should be made known, for I dislike to hear such gross misrepresentation; we would desire our beloved brethren to go over and share with us the blessing of genuine freedom; we are not anxious to see any embark for Liberia but volunteers; such as have fully made up their minds for better or for worse to cast in their lots with us; no other will be contented, but will be always desiring to get back again into Egypt. I heartily desire to leave these words as a legacy to my family and relations, never, never, to think of returning to live in the United States. I have the honor to be, Rev. Sir, Your grateful servant, S. BENEDICT. COLONIZATION. THE problem which remained doubtful for some time whether a Colony could be established, whose capacity would enable it to receive any large portion of the black population of this country, is solved. Such a Colony is established; and in its commerce, general prosperity, order and good government, challanges the history of all preceding ages for a parallel, In the providence of God, all great undertakings, materially affecting the condition of nations, have been beset with difficulties and embarrassmentthe timid and irresolute have been alarmed; and they have hankered "after the flesh pots of Egypt," and those possessed of the most ardent faith have at times doubted, whether they should pass over Jordan. It is beyond our comprehension, that MILLS, ASHMUN, and others, who have fallen martyrs to the cause of Colonization, should have been removed from their spheres of usefulness, when so much apparently depended upon them: but who shall instruct God in wisdon, or dictate to him in accomplishing his designs or set bounds to his power! An attentive pursual of the bondage and liberation of the children of Israel, would edify, and greatly instruct any one, inclined to oppose the restoration of the blacks to their country. We have all marvelled again and again, that this chosen people should have been doomed to waste forty years of their lives, in traversing a wilderness before they were permitted to enter into the land of promise; and we have heaved a sigh of regret, that neither AARON nor MOSES, was permitted, after so much labor, toil and hardship, after having borne with patience the murmuring of their brethren-to enter the confines of the inheritance of their nations. In the great work of restoring the descendants of HAM to the land of their fathers, and in civilizing and christianizine one entire quarter of the globe, the United States have been selected as the meet instrument. GRANVILLE SHARP, took an active part in colonizing Africa as early as 1783; and he "may be regarded as the founder of Sierra Leone." Although this settlement has been under the fostering care of the British African Institution, it has accomplished but little in civilizing the natives. The American Colonization Society, has accomplished more in the period of ten years, to remove the gloom of night from Africa, than has been achieved by all the European powers. I am addressing a christian audience, who believe the words of inspiration will be fulfilled. You entertain no doubt the time will arrive, (and you have thought you have seen the twilight of the glorious day,) when the heathen nations shall be converted and take a stand, among the civilized, and polished, and intelligent nations of the earth. How is the blackness of darkness to be dispelled from Africa?— "which is still to us, what it was to the ancients thousands of years ago— the land of mystery." Although" its coasts lie in sight of the most civilized countries in Europe, yet we know nothing more than its outlines; and into the interior, the foot of an European has lately for the first time penetrated." In the period of Egypt's greatest prosperity, deep night seems to have enveloped the surrounding countries. Subsequently, the Greeks and Romans, became better acquainted with the Mediterranean coast of Africa, and penetrated into the interior, perhaps as far as the river Joliba or the Niger; but their knowledge never reached beyond the confines of Numidia, and they were totally ignorant of the southern part of Africa. Its outlines were not determined until the 15th century."-MUNGO PARK, a recent traveller, supposes the Joliba, or the Niger of Herodotus, to run from west to east; but where its waters were discharged into the sea, if they were discharged at all, remained a profound mystery, until it was ascertained by the LANDERS in 1830, that they emptied into the Gulf of Guina, at the cape of Formoso. Do any of you entertain the vain expectation, that the word of life will be disseminated through that vast continent, by Missionaries from Europe or America? How long have the heralds of salvation proclaimed the risen Saviour to the savages of our own country, and to the heathen nations of Asia? and how many trophies have they won? Suppose the Gospel had been conveyed by their own kindred, how different do you suppose would have been the result?-Where will you find European or American Missionaries, in sufficient number to instruct 150,000,000 of barbarians; scattered over 12,256,000 square miles, stretching from 15 degrees of west, to the 51st of east longitude, and from the 34th degree of south to the 37th 30 minutes of north latitude, in a region, a part of which, at least, they must encounter" the lifeless atmosphere of the tropics, where the heat of the sun is so terrible that eggs are roasted in the sand, and the naked feet of the negroes are blistered. Or do you suppose the whole economy of God is to be changed, and this great work is to be accomplished without the use of instruments? that he will say as he did at the creation, when "darkness was upon the face of the deep-let there be light?" What part of divine inspiration has taught you, that without the use of means, "the spirit of God will move" over Africa, as it " moved upon the face of the waters ?" It is true we read, "nations shall be borne in a day," but we are informed also" the fallow ground" is to be prepared for the reception of the seed. It is computed that there are in Africa 150 languages spoken, of which 70 only are known to the civilized world. If you send civilization by Africans, not only as missionaries, but by the formation of colonies, you disarm jealously and discord, and you inspire that confidence which will alone insure success. The influence of the Colony has already had the most happy effect upon some of the neighboring tribes, whose kings have sent |