found, the postmaster shall cause a list of the names to whom the letters, &c., are addressed to be advertised at the post offices in the different counties, and the postmasters in the different counties, shall advertise the same in each town and village within the county, and all letters, papers, &c., thus advertised, shall pay a two fold postage if applied for; should such letters, papers, &c., so advertised, not be applied for in ninety days after advertisement, all such letters shall be considered dead letters, and shall be forwarded to the Postmaster General, Post Office Department, Monrovia, and all such letters, papers, packages, &c., shall be opened by him, and should the Postmaster General find in any letter or package any amount of money or other valuables, it shall be his duty to issue notice of the same in each county and township, setting forth the name of the writer and every particular, and to whom directed, and should a claimant establish his claim before any justice of the peace, then said letter or package and its contents shall be delivered over to the claimant, by paying ten per cent. on the value of the same, with the several postages accruing, and in case no claimant comes forward, then the letters or packages and contents shall be the property of the government.

Sec. 7th. The postmaster shall keep exact accounts of all letters, papers, packages, &c., coming under his notice, by recording the same in a book kept for that purpose, and of all letters mailed and distributed, and of all monies received for postage or otherwise according to this act, of all monies paid out, and shall pay over quarterly to the Postmaster General. The postmasters, except the Postmaster General, shall receive as compensation_twenty five per cent. on all monies received. The Postmaster General shall keep an exact account of business coming under his notice, in a book kept for that purpose, and pay into the treasury quarterly all monies received by him under this act, and shall report quarterly to the secretary of the treasury, on the reports from the several departments, in reference to monies paid into the treasury; also on all monies paid in by himself, and make a general report annually to the Legislature.

Sec. 8th. It is further enacted, that it shall be unlawful for letters, papers, or packages, to be deposited to be forwarded to any ports excepting to go by inland routes, other than at the Post Office Department; any person or persons receiving or delivering letters, papers, or

packages, in violation of this act, and found guilty of the same before any justice of the peace of the Republic; for the first offence shall be fined in a sum not exceeding one dollar and a half, and for each and every other offence shall be fined the sum of not less than two nor more than six dollars.

Sec. 9th. Should any Postmaster be found guilty of betraying his trust by breaking the seal, or making way with any letter, paper or package addressed to another person, he shall be considered as guilty of felony, and shall be subject to the law as in such cases made and provided.

Sec. 10th. All letters from the following officers of the government, or. public business, shall be forwarded free of postage: The President and Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, Postmaster General, Postmasters, Collectors of Customs, Superintendents, Registers, Brigade General, Brigade Major, Colonels of the Regiments, and, during the sessions of the Legislature, the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives

Sec. 11th. It is further enacted, that the President be, and he is hereby requested and authorized to establish, forth with, Post Offices, &c., as herein authorized; and he is hereby authorized to draw on the Treasury of this Republic for carrying out the same, any amount not exceeding five hundred dollars-all acts conflicting with this article be, and the same are hereby repealed.

Sec. 12th. The pay of the Postmaster General shall be an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars per annum.

Officers appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

General Officers.

JOHN N. LEWIS, Secretary of State.
JOHN H. CHAVERS, Secretary of Treasury
FRANCIS PAYNE, Attorney General.
DAVID MOORE, Treasurer.

For Montserrado County-Chairman of the Monthly Court, John W. Roberts; Marshal, William Draper; High Sheriff, J. L. Benedict; Collector of Customs, Jas. C. Minor; Clerk of Courts, J. W. Hilton; Notary Public, H. J. Roberts; Land Commissioner, H. W. Erskine; Surveyor, John D. Moore; Register, J. L. Benedict; Coroner, A. B. Henderson; Clerk of Supreme Court, H. J. Roberts.

Justices of the Peace.-David Moore, H. B. Matthews, H. W. Dennis, George R.

Extracts from the

THE "LIBERIA HERALD" AGAIN. In our last number, in August, 1853, we gave notice to our generous readers, that we were compelled to discontinue the publication of the Liberia Herald for want of paper. We received a few days ago by the "Linda Stewart" a fine lot, which will enable us to resume our responsibilities in the re-publication of the Herald. How far we may have heretofore performed our duty, we leave to our numerous readers to determine; but in whatever matter we may have been remiss, we trust for the future to execute the functions of our office with increased interest. For many years it was our pleasing duty to guard unvaryingly the interests of the people-from the ramparts of our tower of liberty, our voice was heard at all times; but in the order of things we had to cease our mission-live awhile obscure from the world; and in this, our recussitation, we trust new beauties will be seen in us. Religious, scientific, political and miscellaneous subjects will find at all times a place in our columns, and we trust our numerous correspondents will send us their contributions.

Our paper being the only vehicle of intelligence in Liberia, its suspension was undoubtedly much felt; and we make no question that much valuable information in reference to matters on this part of the coast, has been lost to our friends abroad. But we shall endeavor so far as it can be done, to make up in future for lost time.Our labors and responsibilities in connection with the Herald, though they may have that appearance to some, are not altogether trifling; but amidst our toils we are cheered by the thought that our efforts, feeble though they be, are the means of doing good to and for Liberia. In this fight "Labor ipse voluptas," labor itself is pleasure.

We regret that from circumstances beyond our control, we have not been able, for the last nine months, to give our readers a semi-monthly record of events in Liberia, as it had been our pleasure to do.But we can confidently say, that though

this privilege was denied us, Liberia still retains her standing as a rapidly growing Republic. She has within her, all the requisites to enable her, with proper energies, and reasonable outlay of means, to raise her to a proud eminence. There has been no abatement in the march of improvement-either in agricultural or mercantile operations. Nothing has occurred to dishearten the fickle-minded citizen, but much to encourage and stimulate the energetic and enterprising. Every part of our Republic shows that the present age is one of progression. New sources to wealth have been entered upon, and agriculture, the main pillar, in our opinion, of every country, is prosecuted with a vigor hitherto unknown in Liberia. Indeed we can see no cause why the people of Liberia should not consider themselves the most favored of the world. It is true wealth does not abound in Liberia like it does in old settled countries, nor are the people here surrounded with all the luxuries which feast the appetites of the luxurious and effeminate, but they live in comparitive peace and can enjoy a portion of the good things of this life. While all Europe is now in a fearful state of suspense as to the probable issue of the threatened war, which it is probable will leave beautiful cities in ruin, destroy commerce and entail on society a heavy curse, to say nothing of the vast destruction of life, and its concommitant miseries, the people of Liberia are measurably free from all disagreeable fears and are boldly marching forward, in raising their country to its proper position in the civilized world, and gaining for themselves a name which historians, at a future day, will hand down to generations yet unborn, as the founders of the first Republic on this vast continent. If, at times, the restlessness of some of the native chieftains within our borders makes it necessary for the government to use severe measures to allay the inclination they have for predatory wars, (though such measures would joyfully be dispensed with if circumstances did not imperatively demand

a recourse to such steps,) still, it must be remembered that such matters are purely domestic, and can by no parity of reasoning be placed in juxtaposition to the vast military preparations now going on in Europe. Nor do the people of Liberia ever find it necessary to resort to warlike measures to add a mile to their legally acquired territory. The natives by whom they are surrounded are always willing for a proper consideration to sell them any land that may be required. In a word, the people of Liberia, if they properly appreciate their position, are the most happy of any in the world. They have no fears, their country is at peace with the civilized world, their trade is courted by all nations, and increases at the ratio of a hundred per cent. per annum.-May 3.

GOLD MEDAL.

WE are requested to inform the Literati of Liberia that the gold medal proposed to be given for the encouragement of literature and science in Liberia, by Martin F. Tupper, Esq., a distinguished English poet, and friend of Liberia, is now ready to be awarded to the author of the best literary production, in verse or prose. It has been suggested that Mr. Tupper shall, himself, make the first award. Only two or three manuscripts as yet have been forwarded to Mr. Tupper. Another parcel, the last, will be sent by the mail of June

next.

We hope that many competitors for the prize will enter the field, and that a large package of Liberian poetry, national lyrics Mr. Tupper prefers, will be made up, on the merits whereof Mr. Tupper will decide and communicate the result in due

course.

We would suggest a few subjects in which we think genius would find great scope for producing something that would be a good sample of Liberian national literature, viz: songs expressive of joy in Liberia's freedom-of gratitude to God and man for this open door of hope and good to the children of Africa. The flag, motto and history of the Republic, with allusion to its founders and its martyrs, with local reference to any sites of interest, and also anticipations of the future of Liberia.

We some time since adverted to Mr. Tupper's kind and liberal proposition; and were present at a meeting of a literary association of this town, when the following letter was read, which we take great pleasure in laying before our readers even at this late date. It clearly manifests the deep interest Mr. Tupper feels in the liter

[ary advancement of the people of this Republic, and his desire to speed them on to literary fame by the spurs of honor and emulation.

In a letter to President Roberts of a subsequent date Mr. Tupper remarks, "I can imagine nothing better calculated than a wholesome competition in national literature, to elevate the people of Liberia, and to bind up in one patriotism the mixed multitude whereof they must consist."

ALBURY SURREY,

August 11th.

MY DEAR SIR-In the course of our pleasant talk yesterday, we agreed how good and wise it would be to encourage a national literature among the people of Liberia, and a good thought has just occured to me in reference thereto, which I take leave thus simply to lay before you. If then it may please your Excellency, lend a willing ear to my proposal-I offer, on certain proper conditions, to give a gold medal for the encouragement of literature and science in Liberia. I mean a medal, one medal, appropriately inscribed, to go, year by year, from one to another, to the best poet or prose writer of his year in your Republic-to be worn upon all literary occasions, and to be held honorable.

The matters of detail are easy to be arranged, as that

1st. The medal should only be conferred for some national literary effort; some work whether long or short, in verse or prose, written by a Liberian on any subject connected with the past, present or future of the colored race.

2d. That its honorable tenure should continue one year, inducing thereby a certain amount of literary competition of a strictly national character every year.

3d. That the same person may hold it year after year if he should be judged within the year to distance all other competitors.

4th. That the President appoint judges of merit, unless he himself happen to have been an author within the year, in which case the Vice President or some other officer could name them.

5th. If given in succession to proper persons, for proper works, it is manifest that this idea might be productive of very considerable advantage to your people. 1 would propose therefore that, if within the year, no such national poem or essay hap pened to appear, the medal be held in abeyance until gained by some deserving champion. Other details would follow.