whatever may be the power of the law in such a case, it will be difficult to make it appear in the eye of justice, in any better light than the crime of being engaged in the slave-trade. A writ on a fictitious suit was taken out against the negroes, and they were thus released from thraldom and brought to the place of examination. When they arrived, their companions sprang with extacies to meet them, embraced them again and again, caught them in their arms, raised them from the ground, and continued for half an hour at intervals to embrace and shake them by the hand. Nothing could exceed their joy at being told that they were free, and would sail in a day or two for Africa.

"These ten persons thus providentially rescued from perpetual slavery, and made happy in the anticipations of again beholding their native land, and of carrying gladness to many a weeping disconsolate heart, owed their deliverance chiefly to the Colonization Society. They have gone home to prove to their countrymen and friends, that white men are not all barbarians, traffickers in human flesh, and artificers of human misery; but that the flame of benevolent feeling may sometimes kindle and burn even in the breasts of this portion of their race whom they had hitherto known only as catchers of their own species, and workers in crime.

"We know not the spring of other men's joys, but as for ourselves, call it weakness or enthusiasm, or what you will, we frankly confess, that the heartfelt delight of having been instrumental in restoring

these men to freedom and happiness, would have been to us a double compensation for all the enrbarrassments, rebuffs, and obstacles, numerous and severe as they have been, which the members of the Society have thus far experienced. Had they brought to pass from the beginning only this one deed, we would lift up our voice in praise of their noble achievement and say they had been blessed with a good reward. These rescued Africans, full of gratitude to their deliverers, sailed with Wilkinson in the Fidelity, for Montserado, in October last; Dr. Ayres had directions to send them home as soon as they arrived."

The Board rejoice to say, that the slave-trade seems to have been less extensively carried on during the last year, and to express their belief, that few American citizens now share in the gains of this atrocious traffick. The earnestness and decision evinced by the government of the United States in its efforts to abolish this cruel trade; the opprobrium and punishment attached by Congress to a violation of its enactments on this subject; particularly, its recent determination to consider such violation piracy, and to neglect no reasonable means of detecting transgressors, have almost, if not entirely, restrained this traffick under the American flag, and promise to exert a benign and powerful influence upon the laws of the whole civilized world.

The encouragement given to the publication proposed by the Board, is at present insufficient to

justify its appearance, though from the communications of their friends, the Managers are induced to hope, that they shall soon be enabled to commence it. The character of this work must depend in no inconsiderable degree upon information derived from the Colony, and to render it worthy of general patronage, a regular and frequent correspondence with the Agent there, will be indispensable. Inter- course with the Colony has already been greatly facilitated by the establishment of a trading company in Baltimore, and the Board are happy to state that the arrangements now making by government, to guard the African coast, by vessels to suceeed each other in cruizes of short duration, will probably afford the means of easy, frequent, and safe communication.

A large number of the free people of colour have the last year sought the patronage of the Board, and the disposition to emigrate to Africa seems coextensive with a knowledge of the motives to induce such emigration. It were easy to excite enthusiasm on this subject, but the Board do not desire it. The means will never equal the demand for transporta

tion.

The resolution adopted by the Board in the month of June, to increase, if possible, the strength of the Colony during the present season, has not been neglected. By incessant effort such means have been obtained, as, though not equal to the expense necessarily incurred, have induced the Board to charter a vessel; and they are happy to announce

the departure of the ship Cyrus, on the tenth of last month, with more than one hundred emigrants. These people were all from Petersburg, Richmond, and the lower country of Virginia. Most of them were, it is believed, inferiour in intelligence, industry, and morality, to none of their class in the country. Among these is the Rev. Colston M. Waring, a respectable coloured preacher, who, after having visited the Colony, now returns with his wife and children, and a considerable number of his pious and affectionate flock. May the benediction of heaven attend them; may the purity of their lives recommend christianity to barbarians; may religion console them amid all the discouragements of their work.

The Board state with pleasure that the expence of transportation to Africa is far less than has been supposed. One hundred emigrants have been taken out in the Cyrus, liberally supplied with provisions for twenty-six hundred dollars, making the cost of each individual twenty-six dollars. Even this sum will, the Board are convinced, suffer a very considerable reduction when the resources of the Colony shall be so augmented as to allow of the simultaneous arrival of larger reinforcements.

In conclusion, the Board venture to express the hope, that the time is not remote, when the hearts of all the people in this country shall be set as the heart of one man, to advance the cause of colonization; when the state governments and even Congress* shall bring its mighty power to the execution

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of a plan, which the Society most earnestly, but in weakness, endeavours to promote; a plan, fraught with the richest benefits for a suffering and degraded people, most intimately, essentially connected, with the wealth, strength, and glory of our country.

In our national constitution, young and vigorous as it is, there exists a disease, growing with our growth and strengthening with our strength, which, unless remedied, will ruin us, possibly by slow decay, probably by sudden violence. Loudly, then, as by an Angel's voice, are we called upon to awake, and before age has fixed our habits, and the poison become mingled in the fount of life, make those exertions, which may secure perpetual strength, purchase immortal glory, and save us from terrors, darkening as we advance, which invest the future with clouds of mysterious and tremendous calamity. Whatever may be the fate of their cause, trusting in God, the Board will persevere; for, in the prosecution of an enterprise, promising such benevolent such splendid results, they seek no higher praise than that of having exhibited the spirit ascribed by the poet to the stern and unconquerable Roman, Cuncta terrarum subacta

Præter atrocem animum Catonis.

Since the above Report was penned, Dr. Ayres has arrived in this country. His statements are such as to afford the strongest encouragement to the friends of our Society;* indeed, the question whether

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