New VERMONT--By Rev. William Mitchell Danville--Seneca Ladd, $1, to Nov. '53. bury-P, W. Ladd, $1, to Oct. '54. Thetford-S. Y. Closson, $1, to April, '53., A. B. Hosford, $1, to Oct. 253. D. W. Closson, $2, to June '55. Wm. H. Latham, $2, for '54-55.Hartford-Nathan Gillet, $1, to Sept. '53. Windsor Allen Bur Wardner, $1, for '56. Shubael Wardner, $1, to July '54. H. Harlow, $1, to July, '56.-Burlington-Zadock Thompson, $1, for '54. Jericho Centre -E. Bartlett, Augustus Lee, each $1, to Sept. 253. lington--Job Lyman, $1, to Sept. '59. Royalton--Elisha Wild, $2, to Jan. '54. Dea. S. Joiner, $1, to July, '53...... MASSACHUSETTS.-Falmouth-E Gould, Esq., $3.66, to Jan, '55. Sutton-Wm. Perry, $1, for '54.... RHODE ISLAND.--Woonsocket Arnold Sperr, $1, for '54.... CONNECTICUT.---Stanford-—E. Morewood, Esq., $1, for '54. Windsor Locks--Dea. A. B. Woods, $2, for '53-54. North Haven--Solomon A. Orcutt, $1, for '53... NEW YORK. ·Groton--R. C. Reynolds, $20, to Jan. '63.— Hector-Horace Smith, $1. for '53.. NEW JERSEY. -Baskingridge-Rev. John C. Ranker, $2, for '53-54...... . PENNSYLVANIA.- PhiladelphiaJoshua L. Baily, $1, for '54.— Carlisle-James Hamilton Esq., $1, for '54.... VIRGINIA.-Franklin-John W. Semer, $1, to Nov. '54. Raccoon Ford-Miss Eliza Stringfellow, $1, for '53. Warrenton -Charles Kemper, $4, to Jan. '55. Foxville-John Fox, $1. for '54. Wheeling--Morgan Nelson, $3, to Jan. 52. Fredericksburgh-S. G. Scott, Aaron Lomax, Washington Whitly, each $1, for '54. Prince Edward C. H.-Rev. F. S. Sampson, D. D., $4, to July, '58.. NORTH CAROLINA. Marion Rev. Thomas N. Paxton, $3, for '52-53-54.. 19 00 GEORGIA-Albany-Rev. C. D. Mallory, for '53, $1. Augusta -Henry Paxton, $4, on ac count..... ALABAMA.-Montgomery Peter E. Mills, $1, for '54. Florence -John H. Rapier, $3, to Feb. '53. Tuskegee-By Rev. E. B. Cleghorn, :-Mrs. M. A. Marshall, Miss Kittie Campbell, Mrs. M. B. Fitzpatrick, Dr. C. Fowler, Dr. H.A. Howard, Maj. J. H, Smith, each $1, to Jan. '55. Prairie Bluff-Wm. H. Huff, $1, to Jan. '55.— Eufaula-Ed. B. Young, Dr. Wm. L. Cowan, each $2, to Jan. '56, S. S. Walkley, Esq., Rev. W. H. McIntosh, each $1, to Jan. '55. GlennvilleBenjamin Screws, Esq., $8, to Jan. '57. M. M. Glenn, Esq., $2, to Jan. '56. Rev. J. Jordan, John Rees, Esq, Dr. J. M.Mansford,ea. $1,to Jan. '55. -Henderson Isaac Sheffer, $1, to Oct. 54. Russellville-Constart A. Wilson, $2, to Jan. '56. Henry L. Gillam, $1, to Jan. '55. Owensborough--Dr. Wm. Duncan, $1, for '54.. TENNESSEE-Philadelphia-Solomon Boggart, $12, to Jan. '55. Samuel Griggsby, $1, for '54. Rev. Peter Burum, $1, for '53. Shop Spring-James Carruth, to April 54, $1. OHIO-Waterford-Dr. John J. Turner, $1, to Nov. '54. Enon-Mary Galaway, $1, to May, '54.. 5 66 KENTUCKY. 1 00 4 00 21 00 200 2.00 INDIANA.-Shawnee Prairie--Andrew Wilson, $2, for '53-'54; Hiram Kearn, $1, for '54.... ILLINOIS. Abingdon-Rev. John Crawford, $1, for '54; Rev. F. V. Bidley, $1, to June '54... MISSOURI.-Westport-Mrs. Lucy Price, $1, for '54..... MICHIGAN. Northville Rowland, & Wm. Yerks, each $1, for '54..... 5.00 25 00 4.00 16 00 2.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 - D. H. 2.00 THE AFRICAN REPOSITORY. VOL. XXX.] WASHINGTON, MARCH, 1854. Death of Elliott Cresson, Esq. WE are pained to record the death of Elliot Cresson, Esq., at his mother's resi dence, in this city early yesterday morning, after a brief illness. Mr. Cresson was born in Philadelphia, March 14, 1794, and was, consequently, in the sixtieth year of his age at the time of his death. The whole of his manhood has been a scene of activity, and devotion to public interests, and the general welfare of mankind. For a short time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, but left them, and dedicated himself to the civilization and christianization of Africa, by the agency of her own sons from this land. In the prosecution of this mission, he on several occasions visited, with great sucvarious portions of the United States, and in 1832 made a voyage to Great Britain, laboring there, as at home, without fee or reward. At the organiza tion of the Philadelphia School of Design, under an act of incorporation, he was elected its President; and it is worthy of remark that in addition to many successful efforts in its behalf, his last public act was to attend a meeting of its Board of Directors, on last Tuesday evening. cess, [No. 3. As a friend, he was true; as a citizen, spirited and devoted; as a philanthropist, disinterested and generous. In all the relations of life, zeal, ability and intelligence characterized his efforts and services. North American, February 21. We learn from the newspapers that the bequests of Mr. Cresson amount to $127,000; among which are $1,000 to the Pennsylvania Colonization Society, and $10,000 to Episcopal missions and schools at Port Cresson in Liberia. Mr. Cresson was a Vice President and Life Director of the American Colonization Society; and for many years, he was a zealous advocate of the claims of Africa, and an earnest defender of this Society against the attacks of its opponents. Other institutions of benevolence also re Mr. Cresson was never married. He leaves a widowed mother and two sisters and one brother. Possessed of a hand some competency, he was a liberal distributor of the means with which a bounti-ceived much of his time and attenWe tion; and several of them have shared liberally in the bequests made in his will. ful Providence had blessed him. have reason to believe, that by his will, drawn a few months since, his entire possessions are set apart in individual and associated charities of the city of his birth. Letter from R. E. Murray. (via England.) GREENVILLE, lines. I have every reason to beOct. 11, 1853.lieve that it will allay your anxiety MY DEAR SIR:-I embrace this respecting the emigrants by the Adopportunity of writing you a few eline. When we received intelli gence of the death of Dr. Brown, I felt forcibly the trying situation in which the event placed me; but the resolution was soon formed of doing all in my power for the emigrants. The first thing was to procure good nurses, who would report sickness as soon as possible; the next was to consult Dr. Brown's directions and Dr. Lugenbeel's Sketches; the last to consult my own experience, and to hold myself in readiness to go at every call. This being done, the Divine blessing was invoked in my behalf. When the fever made its appearance, the greatest activity was required. This, in connection with other duties, kept me quite busy. You may judge with what success, when I assure you that only two have died, one female and a child. The others are all doing well. I feel well assured that this company will do well if they continue to be governed by my advice, and do not expose themselves unnecessarily. The company by the Zebra will soon end their six months. We have lost but six of them. Amidst all my difficulties, it is truly pleasing to say that I have the confidence and kind feelings of the company. You may depend on my doing all in my power for the emigrants. As it is, much will depend on their prudence. The mill is at work again, and I hope the business will prosper. Yours truly, R. E. MURRAY. Rev. W. McLain. [From the Christian Advocate and Journal.] Africa and the Africans. BY REV. W. G. STONEX. THE land of Africa has long been, and still continues to be, for the most part, unknown. The eye of the bold adventurer has often been turned toward it, and his desires have gone thither, anxiously ruminating upon its dangers and its beauties, as far as these have been made known to him. Many a sigh has he heaved when the thought has arisen of the immense barriers which Providence has reared around it, seemingly to hide it from the inquisitive eyes of other people than her own. The popular impression in regard to Africa is, that it is a land of deformities and desolations-a land where naught else is seen but boundless dreary wastes nor need we wonder in the least that such is the impression. Who can read of broad and trackless deserts, beset with perils; of pestilential vapors which, like the Upas, breathe death to all with whom they come in contact; of formidable animals which incessantly prowl around the hamlet of the native, and the pathway of the traveler, seeking with their blood, to satisfy their horrid apetites; of the insect tribes which, in their migrations, darken the very air, and which, descending on the herbage and ripening grain, destroy in a short time the prospects of life; or which, descending upon man beast, goad them, by their venomous sting to madness? Who can read of this without, in their minds, associating with Africa images of darkness and death? And we are not at all surprised to find those who believe it to be a doomed land, so marred by its many evils as to possess no attraction, or awaken no interest whatever. or But as in the order of Providence light is found in proximity with darkness, and physical good with external evil, so are beauties and blessings found in connexion with the gloom and desolateness of Africa. Skirting the very deserts over which sweeps the terrific simoon, are found the verdant oases-spots so brilliant in appearance, and so laxuriant, and rendered so fascinating by the gushing of the refreshing springs, and the melodious songs of a thousand feathered warblers, as to strangely impress the eye, the ear, and the heart. The untutored inhabitant, as he looks and listens, believes that here linger the gods and goddesses, and here dwell the spirits of the dead, and that here they will dwell forever.The association seems to be nothing more thap natural. ly extended regions of the most exuberant and astonishing fertility-an exuberance affording so rich and spontaneous a profusion of produc tions that the ungoverned natives have not the necessary excitement to exertion." It is strange that no more is known of Africa than is, It has always been extensively veiled in obscurity. Egypt, with her people, her pyramids, her arts and sciences; and Arabia with her religion, her warriors, and her literature, have always been familiar to the learned world; yet the many centuries which have passed away, making us familiar with the land of the Pharaohs, and of the children of the East, have failed to dissipate the darkness which has enveloped the interior of Africa. It is a noble purpose which stimulates the explorer to traverse oceans and continents to bring to From explorations latterly made we learn that, in the interior of the continent, there are found vast riv-light the hitherto undiscovered.ers which flow, for many miles, High and noble aspirations burn through immense regions of extra- within him. The popular impresordinary fertility and magnificence, sion that his love of adventure, and abounding with vast impenetrable desire to gratify the eye have influforests, whose timber is, for available enced and suspended the judgment, purposes, invaluable. The enthusias- is as ungenerous as it is untrue.tic adventurer-Mungo Park, said, of Great purposes and plans are mawhat he saw: "It was not possible tured and laid by him, and he is for me to behold the wonderful fer- moved in his undertakings by deep tility of the soil, the vast herds of and abiding convictions. The ercattle proper both for labor and rand on which he goes is extensivefood, and a variety of other circum-ly an errand of mercy. He goes to stances favorable to colonization make known to the world that and agriculture, and reflect, withal, which exists within it-to make the world familiar with itself. He goes as the representative of enlightened humanity, bearing with himself a high and noble civilization. on the means which presented It is affirmed that "all tourists and journalists who have explored the continent of Africa, while they find barren spots, picture also wide The names of Ledyard, Bruce, Park, Denham, and others, will ever be regarded as worthy of remembrance for what they made known concerning Africa. And those who are yet to complete the labour com. menced by them will confer a favour upon the world which will never be forgotten; and Africa herself will eventually learn how much she is their debtor, and will regard their memories, and pronounce their names, with the most cherished af fection. The ancients, in the exuberance of their imaginations, and in their ignorance, were accustomed to regard the unknown portion of that land as either being uninhabited, or peopled with monsters of hideous appearance. There, they surmised, roamed the satyr, with cloven foot and horned head; and there were found diminutive human beings who fought fierce battles with cranes; and there roamed, to and fro, beings of terror in human form; but without heads; and there existed the horrid beast half man and half horse. It would have been singular intelligence, indeed, to the citizens of Rome and Carthage to have assured them that that region was neither devoid of inhabitants nor peopled with these monsters, but with human beings who in complexion only differed from themselves. And though at this day the error of the ancients is not the error of the multitude, yet the inhabitants of that land are extensively identified with all that is ignorant, all that is superstitious, and all that is base.Not a few have been accustomed to regard them as a species of the brute, thus depriving them of the character of human beings; an opinion which speaks neither for the wisdom nor humanity of those who entertain it. Degraded and vile as they may be, they are not thus to be esteemed. Under that dark surface there beats a human heart, and there exists human sen sibilities, with a human soul. They are not at all strangers to those feelings of affection, of sympathy, of joy, and of sorrow, which stir within our own breasts; wherever there are found those who possess them not, they are exceptions to the general character. There is much truth in the statement that Africa is not at this day the abode of barbarism; at least it is not exclusively such. While it is true that certain tribes are both mentally and physically degraded, it is fully ascertained that there are others where civilization prevails in no ordinary degree. The Kaffirs, the Bushmen, the Hottentots, together with others, have sunk almost as low as human beings may be presumed capable of sinking; but, on the other hand, there are found tribes and nations who are possessed of written language and learned men. The science of agriculture is understood by them; and not only villages, but also cities have been discovered, containing from thirty thousand to a million of inhabitants; nor should we be in the least surprised to learn, eventually, that if the magnificence of Roman or Grecian architecture is not equalled, that yet noble and stately edifices and mansions exist, and with them the refinements of society. When the light of discovery shall have chased away the existing obscurity which rests upon that continent, many unexpected and astonishing disclosures will undoubtedly be made; nor should we wonder if the day is near at hand when the same interest will be awakened in its behalf that has been in behalf of the buried cities of Europe, and now is in behalf of the opening wonders of Assyria. Who can tell |