The colonists contented and prosperous. what a pleasing reversion the feelings undergo when for the first time we witness the reality; then the arid scene, with its odious accompaniments, is exchanged for the broad river of blue waters, the stately forest, and the ever verdant landscape, and all nature charms with her ever-varying, yet everbeautiful and living riches. When our "We have very little sickness among us. land is cleared up and cultivated, I have no doubt that people may come here from any part of the Union and suffer little or nothing in the process of acclimating. The site chosen by Dr. Skinner, and upon which the town is now laid out, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque that could be found in any country. A commanding and remarkable eminence at the north end of the town I cut off and appropriated for the agency house and officers. This eminence is washed on three sides by the ocean and two rivers, and commands an unlimited prospect seaward, overlooking completely all parts of Bassa Cove, Edina, and an extensive tract of the St. John's and Benson rivers, and may, with a very little labor, be rendered impregnable against any native force. I am at present mounting a long nine-pounder on a pivot, on one corner of the hill, which will range our principal street, the harbor and river. "Our settlement has grown very rapidly, and quite astonishes every visitor by its appearance of age, and the industry of its inhabitants. No description that I could give would convey an adequate idea of the change in their deportment, and it would savor too much, perhaps, of selfpraise, to dwell on this subject; suffice it to say, that general industry, contentment, and good order prevail. Every man is now in his own house, with a lot cleared, well fenced, and planted. Many have small rice plantations, besides their village lots, and, by the blessing of Providence, they will be nearly all independent of foreign produce another year. The colony must succeed. "The people are unanimous in their expressions of gratitude to the societies for their continued patronage, and appear to be well satisfied with the laws and their administration. All have sworn to support the constitution, after having it read at three different times, and carefully explained. With proper care at home, and judicious management here, the experiment must succeed. Your location is goodperhaps the very best on the whole western coast of Africa. A magnificent interior country can be added to your territory, as occasion may require, while the whole line of sea coast down to Cape Palmas, can ultimately be occupied by your villages and cities. A climate of great comparative salubrity, and a soil rich in the various productions of the tropics, are among the advantages you calculate upon with ever-increasing certainty. Industrious men alone are wanting to render your labors triumphant in converting this African wilderness into a paradise of loveliness; and creating here a home of peace and serenity, where thousands may come and rest from all their wrongs." It is a very pleasing circumstance,' added Mr. L., that young men come "to the rescue," and associate together, as in these instances in our two great cities, to help carry forward so great and blessed an enterprise. When the Young Men's Society of Pennsylvania was formed, the pecuniary concerns of the Parent Society, through a variety of causes, had begun to assume a very discouraging aspect. But the formation of this Society, together with renewed and vigorous efforts on the part of its friends elsewhere, soon revived the hopes of the friends of Africa. Subsequent success has banished many doubts in regard to the final and complete success of the enterprise. We have now reason to hope that the time is very near when many colonies shall be planted on the shores of Africa. Maryland, I have before intimated, has already moved in Colonies should line the coast. this good work. Mississippi has also opened a door for herself, having purchased a suitable territory for that purpose. The settlement is already made, and the Colonization Society of the State appropriates to the colony $20,000 per annum. Virginia, it seems, will not be backward in the work. Louisiana has resolved to establish a colony, and has made its selection and purchase of territory. And, what is there to hinder all the States from coming up to this work, and planting a chain of ten, or twenty or more States in Africa, which shall form a republic in close affinity with our own, extending far and wide the blessings of peace, liberty, light, and joy? 66 Light of the world, arise! arise! With weeping eye, and drooping head. Light of the world, arise! arise! Millions in tears await the day; Shine cloudless forth, O cheer our eyes, And banish sin and grief away."' Right of search. CONVERSATION XXVI. "Lo! once in triumph on his boundless plain, Faint, bleeding, bound, he weeps the night away, Starts, with a bursting heart, for ever more To curse the sun that lights the guilty shore."-Campbell. THERE is one subject,' said Mr. L., that I meant to have noticed before, and that is the importance of some better understanding between our own government and others, in respect to the right of search. By treaties between some of the powers, the mutual right of search is conceded to the government vessels of each nation, of such merchant vessels of the other as may be reasonably suspected of being engaged in the slave-trade, or which have been fitted out with that intent, or that, during the voyage in which they are met with by said cruisers, have been employed in the slave-trade; and the said cruisers are authorized to detain them, and send or conduct them to one of the places appointed by the convention of treaty for trial; this mutual right of search not to be exercised in any part of the Mediterranean sea, nor in the seas of Europe which lie north of latitude 37, Convention of foreign powers. and east of longitude 20 W. from Greenwich. To prevent difficulties and injuries which might otherwise arise, it has been provided, that when vessels of either nation shall be arbitrarily and illegally detained by the cruisers of the other, the government whose cruisers have caused the detention, shall indemnify the owners, &c. of the vessels for all damage resulting therefrom, which is to be determined agreeably to provisions made for that purpose. Such a treaty between the United States and other friendly powers, would greatly facilitate the absolute abolition of the slave-trade. I say absolute abolition of it, for it is a painful and notorious fact, that notwithstanding all the precautions that are now used, vessels are fitted out from some of our own ports by unprincipled men, whose vile purpose is obvious, but who escape with impunity, because the proper officers cannot arrest vessels without proof of their having violated the law, by the commission of overt acts. A law giving to our local authorities and naval officers, powers over American vessels, touching this matter, similar to those which Great Britain exercises over her commerce; and especially, if practicable, an understanding with foreign powers which shall concede a limited and mutual power similar to that to which I have already adverted; and the presence of a few American cruisers on the African coast, to co-operate with those of other nations authorized to destroy the slave-factories and barracoons wherever they may be found on the coast, would greatly hasten the final and total extinction of the trade.' But I am surprised, Pa,' said Caroline, to hear that there are any yet remaining in our own country who would clandestinely engage in the African slave-trade, and that it is possible for vessels to sail from our shores to be so employed.' • It is lamentably true, as it is surprising. By recent in |