Monrovia, March 1, 1833.
I write a few lines by Roanoke, to urge you to come out to Liberia. The country exceeds what I anticipated while in America. It is rich, and abounds in tropical fruits—it yields a large return to the laborer. The climate is delightful, and the heat not near so oppressive as in our summers and harvesting. The sea-breeze blows here every day, and at night I find a blanket adds to my comfort. A man can get a living and make money here in various ways as in the United States, by trade or farming, &c. I am intending to try farming. If you come at all come soon; the earliest settlers, we think, will have the best chance. My family is all well, and send their respects to you. Remember me to all inquiring friends.
Yours, &c.
WILLIAM REYNOLDS.
We shall fortify our discussion of the subject matter of the preceding pages, by the addition of a few authentic documents, which will throw light on some points of importance. From the Monthly Colonizationist, we take the following description of the present state of the Colony:—
The Colony.
The cause of African colonization never was more prosperous or more promising than at the present moment. In all its departments this is the case; it is so abroad, and it is so at home.
In regard to the Colony,—which, after all, is at once the best evidence of the progress of the Parent Institution, and the surest test of its principles,—the authentic and indisputable accounts which reach us from every quarter, must be admitted as sufficient to satisfy all reasonable and candid minds, not only of the actual prosperity of the present settlements, but of the practicableness of the colonial scheme on the larger and nobler scale always anticipated, more or less, by the advocates of the cause. Instances of mismanagement, as well as misfortune, doubtless have occurred; it would be indeed a new thing in the history of colonization, as well as in the conduct of all other systems whose progress depends on the labor of men, if there had not been such instances. But, not to mention that these misfortunes were mostly in their nature such as cannot be repeated, and such as, in all events, only past experience has been necessary to prevent for the future,—and not to insist on the credit fairly due to the Society, for frankly acknowledging the mistakes we allude to, and for always manifesting a readiness to submit to instruction, and to act vigorously and promptly in the correction of errors,—who, among the foes of the Institution, will at the worst, undertake to deny that a degree of success has, on the whole, attended its efforts on the African coast, to which, in the language of Mr. Cresson, “the annals of Colonization may be triumphantly challenged for a parallel?” Since the date of this declaration of our able friend in England, the population of the Colony has been increased by more than one half, nearly eight hundred emigrants having been carried out during the year immediately preceding the first of January last. Other accessions to its establishments, during the same period, are among the most important which have taken place. Very satisfactory arrangements have been effected by the Colonial Agent for the settlement of Grand Bassa, a tract of country which, in regard to its climate, soil, situation, and productions of all kinds, is proved to be inferior to no other district on the whole coast: a valuable territory on the western banks of the St. John’s river, with four large islands within the river, additional to the immense tract purchased by Mr. Ashmun, have not only been peaceably obtained of the natives, but the latter have pledged themselves,—such seems to be their anxiety to trade and associate with the Liberians,—to erect suitable buildings, at their own expense, for the accommodation of the first emigrants. At the time we are writing, this promising settlement is doubtless already commenced.
It farther appears that possession has also been obtained of a large tract of land at Grand Cape Mount, a point on the coast about as far north from the main settlement, at Monrovia, as Grand Bassa is south. The exports of the natives have heretofore been from $60,000 to $70,000 per annum. The fine territory now ceded, is situated at a short distance from the sea, on the shore of a lake, about twenty miles in length, navigable for small vessels, and into which flow several rivers, affording important facilities for commerce with the interior. The chiefs of the country, who are thought to be more advanced in civilization than any others south of Sierra Leone, have granted an unquestionable title to this land, on the sole condition that settlers shall be placed upon it and that schools shall be established for the benefit of native children.
Some of these chiefs, having obtained the rudiments of an English education in Liberia, expressed earnest desires that the benefits of instruction should be afforded to their countrymen; and the young men declared their purpose of submitting to the laws of the Colony, and their willingness to make further grants of land, to any extent desired, whenever the terms of the present negotiations shall have been fulfilled. The spot selected for a settlement is said to be healthy, and the soil capable of producing almost every thing of value that grows within the tropics.[1]