"There are five churches, all well attend- labor. But palm-oil is the great staple of ed. Indeed, I never saw a more thorough- Liberia at present. This article is exceedgoing church community, or heard a greater ingly high in price, and the consumption in rustling of silk, on the dispersion of a con- Great Britain and the United States is rapidly gregation, than here: all were, at least, sufficiently attired; and the dresses of the children were in better taste than those of their mothers. One of the most gratifying things I noticed was the great number of well-dressed and well-behaved children in

the schools and about the streets. The schools are also numerous and well attended."

In conclusion, he remarks:

"I must say that the town presented a far more prosperous appearance than I had been led to anticipate. From its fine situation, it must evidently be a salubrious one. The sea-breeze, at all seasons, blows directly over it; and in this respect it is far preferable to Sierra-Leone."

The soil of Liberia, like that of other countries, varies in appearance, quality, and productiveness. There is, however, no poor land in Liberia, and most of it is very rich, not surpassed, perhaps, by any other in the world.

increasing. Ground-nuts, for the manufac-
ture of oil, form also a very important
article of export for our allies, the French,
and one which is getting more into demand in
this country. In France, this oil is employed
as a salad oil, and also for lamps, and for
Camwood (a dye-
lubricating machinery.
wood), ivory, arrow-root, and some gold
dust, are the principal other articles of ex-
port from Liberia. But sugar can be made
to any amount, and good cotton grows indi-
genously: both these valuable products can
be supplied in unlimited quantities, by the
due application of capital and labor.

The climate of Liberia is, on the whole, healthful and pleasant, and well adapted to the constitution of the Negro. The extremes of the thermometer may be set down at 65° and 90°. The mean temperature for the year is about 80°. The only recognized division of the year into seasons is the wet or rainy, and the dry season. During the Among the numerous agricultural products half of the year commencing with May much of the Colony, we may specify, as exportable more rain falls than during the other half articles, rice, coffee, cotton, sugar, arrow-commencing with November. As a general root, ginger, pepper, all of which can be rule, however, it may be stated that some raised so as to rival the similar productions rain falls during every month in the year. of other countries, both in quantity and The Republic has a length of sea-coast exquality. Indian-corn, or maize, grows well cecding five hundred miles, with an average on some lands; not so well, however, as in depth of fifty miles. One or two smaller certain parts of the United States. Fruits Colonies upon this coast have already been in great variety grow luxuriantly and plenti-absorbed, by the voluntary act of their intifully: amongst them are the pine-apple, habitants, into this growing State. A movelime, orange, papaw, cocoa-nut, tamarind, ment is now taking place, however, of great the plantain, and the banana. Domestic importance; we refer to the attempt to inanimals can be raised, of every necessary duce the British Government to give up kind, and in any required number, with less trouble and expense than in the United States, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, turkeys, &c. In addition to these resources, numerous kinds of wild game, including deer of several varieties, are found; and, finally, fish are obtained in all the waters of the territory. To the industrious agriculturist, therefore, Liberia offers an inviting home, - a home in which all the nacessaries, and many of the luxuries, of life may be procured with less labor than in most lands.

Any amount of free-labor coffee can be grown in Liberia, with suitable capital and

Sierra Leone, and allow it to form a part of Liberia. Should this take place, the seacoast line will be extended to more than seven hundred miles. Very much may be said in favor of granting this concession, and we hope and believe the Government will give the subject its best attention. Both Colonies are the result of the same spirit of benevolence. A moral necessity gave birth, in each case, to the enterprise. The suffering and degraded condition of the colored people in various parts of the British Empire moved the hearts of Wilberforce, and others of kindred spirit, in 1787, to devise means for their relief and improve

"This is a Liberian settlement, intermediate between Cape Palmas and Bassa, and the apparent prosperity of which was far about ninety miles distant from either place, greater than I had anticipated, flattering as

ment, and the Colony of Sierra Leone was the result; an example which was influential upon the American Colonization Society, when, in 1816, Liberia, the germ of a future empire, sprang into life. The two Colonies had been the accounts of it. Greenville, are, therefore, the offspring of the same benevolent spirit; working by the same means to the same great ends. What more natural than that their union should be solemnly pronounced by the British Government? A possession which, in our hands, has no value but what arises from its answering its benevolent design, and even that value is greatly lessened by the unsuitableness of the climate to European constitutions, would thus become a source of greatly increased strength to its younger brother and successor. The splendid port and harbor of Sierra Leone would be a great gain to Liberia; and, indeed, its acquisition is the grand motive to the movement. Let us hand over our possessions on this coast to an independent African Government. With its orderly rule we are well acquainted, and our growing commercial relations will always give us influence in its counsels. Our moral support will serve at once as guide and defence in its future

career.

mag

The country greatly differs from the usual representations. The scenery is nowhere uninteresting, and it everywhere presents something pleasing to the eye. It is diversified by mountains, hills, and vales, all embellished by mighty trees, or elegant shrubs, clad in thick and luxuriant foliage of perpetual green. The banks of rivers and smaller streams are decorated with nificent festoons and natural grottoes, formed by creeping plants, hanging from the tops of the tallest trees to the water's edge. Large farms of rice, Indian corn, and yams, are often to be seen; and many vegetables belonging more properly to temperate climates grow well. Beans, peas, cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, and water-melons may be cultivated without difficulty. The cucumber attains the size of fourteen or fifteen inches; the yam is found three feet long, and weighing from twenty to thirty pounds.

A tolerable idea of the interior settlements may be gathered from the following extracts from a letter written by Bishop Payne, during a recent episcopal progress through his extensive diocese. Speaking of Sinou, he remarks:

the sea-port town, presents altogether the most pleasant and respectable appearance of any in Liberia. Not so large by half as Monrovia, nor having so large a number of good buildings, it is yet more compact, has more good houses together, and the style of building is better and more uniform. This arises from the fact, that the inhabitants came chiefly from the cities of Charleston and Savannah, and are many of them men of means and excellent mechanics. I believe all the trades are there represented, from the goldsmith to the blacksmith. A fine steam saw-mill has been erected, and is in operation, on the Sinou River, immediately in the rear of Greenville, and on the border of a heavily timbered forest. Besides the town of Greenville, there are four other villages or townships on the Sinou River, namely, Farmersville, Lexington, Louisiana, and Reedsville. They extend to the distance of seven miles from the sea-shore, and have an aggregate population of about 1,500. These settlements are receiving a yearly accession of population from the United States; and are, I think, destined to improve as fast, and increase as rapidly, as any other places in Liberia.

"The Bassa Cove station may now be regarded as fairly commenced. The settlement of Fishtown, in connection with which so much difficulty had occurred, and upon which incipient operations had in some measure depended, has been effected. More than two hundred people are on the ground; the city has been laid off, lots drawn, and buildings carried rapidly forward towards completion.

"Fishtown is three miles from the mouth of the St. John's River, and the present settlement of Bassa Cove. With the settlement and the intervening plain, it constitutes the city of Buchanan. The project of a railroad to connect the two settlements is in agitation."

The mercantile interest of the Republic seems to be in a healthful state: the merchants are extending their operations by opening up new sources of commerce; and not only are their efforts producing very satisfactory results in reference to products and trade, but the prosperity attending these branches of industry and enterprise has given an impulse to general improvement decidedly encouraging. The steam communication

lately established between England and Li- many of the native chiefs of the interior, by beria is causing to spring up between the which the latter have bound themselves, not two countries a considerable traffic. The only to discontinue dealing in slaves, but to rivalry of America is of course to be looked refer to arbitration those inter-tribal differfor, and there is a movement now going on ences which prove so frequent a cause of there to establish a line of steamers direct war, and which furnish the principal sources from the Chesapeake to Monrovia, at short whence the Slave Trade was fed. Let the intervals. Our American friends are not will- civilizing influences of commerce have but a ing to let the important trade which they fair field, and the Slave Trade, as well as foresee will soon rise with the West Coast domestic slavery, will disappear from the

of Africa, fall altogether into the hands of

the English. But rapid transit is the best

coast.

The close connection between African colonization and African Missions is apparent to compete with a mode of communication throughout the history of both, at least so

way to bid for trade. They will thus have

-

so quick that President Roberts lately landed far as regards the Western Coast of Africa.
at home on the twenty-second day after leav-The constant growth of the latter, under the
ing London. The more of this rivalry the fostering influence of the former; the glo-
better for Liberia. Let England and Amer- rious missionary agency already at work,
ica contend, in a friendly spirit, as to who both in Sierra Leone and Liberia; the rapid
shall buy the camwood, the ivory, the palm multiplication of Churches and Missionary
and nut oil, the sugar, cotton, and coffee of Stations along thousands of miles of the
Liberia, and sell her what she may want of African coast; the gradual extinction of the
cotton, woolen, and silk fabrics, salt, crockery, Slave Trade, and the preparation of Africa
and ironmongery; such competition will for the reception of the Gospel;
these are
but work out and develope that prosperous all encouraging proofs of the happy union
future for Liberia, which we conceive is des- and mutual influence of the two great move-
tined to be attended by such vast results.
ments. And if we take into the account
the facilities in the United States for prepar-
ing, and that rapidly, the descendants of
Africa to become teachers and guides of their
dark-colored brethren, we see laid down a
mighty circle of influence, which shall pour
a current of Scriptural truth through the
whole of that vast and populous continent.

We find satisfactory evidence that their educational institutions are in a prosperous state, and are fully appreciated by the people; and preparations are making to introduce a higher order of establishments, those of the collegiate kind.

We may

We cannot too much commend the principle on which the colonization movement is One grand result which the success of based. Mankind have ordinarily been led to Liberia has already produced, is the solution the colonization and settlement of new coun- of the problem, Is the colored man capable of tries by motives of commercial advantage. self-government? We lately noticed some Such was the case in ancient Greece, and elaborate attempts, upon the part of certain such was the origin of the greater portion American ethnologists, to prove the natural of the American Colonies, mingled, it is true, inferiority of the Negro race. in, some instances, with a desire to escape almost decline to bandy arguments with such from religious persecution. But the cause men, when we can point to an example like of African civilization was based upon no Liberia. Men who can, year after year, go such ground. Its object and aim was to on exercising the highest functions of the benefit a race entirely distinct from that to Christian citizen, may well pass over such which the founders and friends of the Socie-attacks with just scorn. The successful fies belong. They were established upon black merchant, the prosperous black agriprinciples of the purest benevolence, and are culturist, may be pardoned if he treats with thus worthy of the sympathy and support merited contempt the ravings of these white of Christian philanthropists of every country. sciolists, whose claim of superiority is founded Liberia has already accomplished much for neither upon personal nor family merit, but African freedom, and proved a powerful in- upon the somewhat diluted merit of race. strument in the suppression of the Slave The problem above referred to is now being Inde. She has concluded treaties with practically and beautifully solved by the

was the language of one of these, who had
experienced the benefits of a home amongst
his countrymen, when expressing anxiety to
return from a visit to the States, "Sir, I feel
anxious to return as speedily as possible to
my own country; for there I feel myself to
be a man.”

ability and fidelity of the colored man him- | scale, to him the opportunity of reaching a
self, aided, it is true, by Christian philan- land which offers every promise to his hopes
thropy. He is carving out for himself, his is afforded by the Colonization Societies. It
children, and his race, a NATIONALITY, com-
manding the confidence and respect of the
civilized world. Wherever the colored man
lives, and however deeply he may be called
to suffer in legal slavery or social serfdom,
while he can point to that prosperous Repub-
lic, and say,
"There is the country and
home of my brother; he constructed its The achievements of colonization on the
stable Government, preserves its integrity, West Coast of Africa can hardly be exagger-
and promotes its prosperity and power, by ated. There we find a national policy, mu-
his own hand, his own virtue, his own enter-nicipal institutions, Christian churches, and
prise; "whether personally he be bond or Christian ministers; schools, and a sound
free, whether in the United States, Canada, system of education; a public press, rising
the West Indies, or Brazil, that man can towns and villages, a productive agriculture,
never hereafter be held to belong to an in- and a growing commerce. Under its rule
ferior race. The ban and the darkness of about two hundred and fifty thousand human
ages are removed; the true light shines; beings are found living together in harmony,
Ham is not cursed of God, as men would enjoying all the advantages of social and po-
have him cursed; the theory fades before the litical life, and submitting to all the restraints
brightness of the fact.
which government and religious principle
demand. Means are found to harmonize the
habits and interests of the colonists, their
descendants, the native-born Liberians, and
the aborigines of the coast. As the creation
and achievement of less than forty years, we
insist that this is without parallel in the his-
tory of the world.

--

But if it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of the past history of the movement on this coast, is it possible to over-estimate the vast importance of its future?

Look, again, at the door of escape which Liberia affords to the free colored population of the United States. It is difficult to realize the sensations of the free black in the States, who may possess wealth and education. An eternal barrier, as it seems, shuts him out from all that wealth and education procure for their possessor in other circumstances and other lands. Everything conspires to wound his pride, to lessen his influence for good, to check his natural ambition. If the worst portion of his nature prevail, he sinks into a The benefits it is conferring already upon careless sensualist, or a mere sycophant. America are considerable. The best men in But if his education and his religious princi- the States are encouraging the establishment ples have matured his native powers, and led of Colonization Societies, having experience of him to desire that position of influence from their usefulness in removing from their soil a which he is debarred by nothing but his color, difficulty of the most pressing kind. The what is he to do? It is in such circumstances blacks themselves are applying for passages that Liberia offers him a sphere for his use- to Liberia in greater numbers than the Socifulness, a field for his honest ambition. And eties can possibly overtake; and the letters if we find, as we do, that many of the wealth- of those who have had the good fortune to ier free blacks still hold aloof from Liberia, escape to Liberia are filled with invitations and are waiting till more material comforts to their former friends to come over, and are gathered into, its houses, we may safely enjoy the good land. That the Slave Trade conclude that time will show them their error, will be extinguished, under the influences and will point out the true sphere for their growing up along the coast, taken in connectalents, their wealth, and their influence. tion with the Anglo-American Squadron, is But to the poor free black, who has no means in the utmost degree probable. The commerto enjoy the luxuries of the large cities of the cial treaties with the native Kings, in which States, and whose desire is to provide for his a clause is generally introduced, we believe family in ordinary comfort, and raise himself we may say, invariably, -binding them to and them to a higher grade in the social discontinue the traffic in their subjects; the

increasing number of merchant vessels in those waters, which the growing commerce of the coast will necessitate; and the experience of the greater profit attending the pursuits of legitimate trade, — all will combine to hasten the fall of this cruel and nefarious traffic.

But these are Christian communities, and embrace, amongst their machinery, the institutions of the Gospel. They carry, not only the social seeds of the civil redemption of Africa, but the elements of mighty power, by which that long desolated continent, and

those oppressed races, can be regenerated and elevated into civilized and Christian nations. The light from this centre is irradiating the interior of the continent, and breaking up the superstition and idolatry of the native tribes. The accursed Slave Trade, the most afflictive scourge of Africa, shall first be destroyed; and every obstacle shall fall, which would impede the progress of the Gospel among the varied and countless populations of that continent.

While we have no Italian composers that can present a dramatic design with equal force, we must be content with Verdi's O'Connellism. As soon as Italy shall reproduce a Donizetti or a Bellini, to say nothing of a Rossini, Verdi will be hustled aside; the exaggerated declamation which is his sole redeeming point will be at a discount; and singers will cease to sing as if they were addressing monster meetings.

LIND ON SINGING.If the letter of Jenny Lind, published in an American paper called Dwight's Journal of Music, is not of the genuine Swedish growth, but a manufacture of the United States, the imitation is at least well conceived. We have exactly such a criticism of the present Italian style of singing as might have been expected from an artist who is as clear, temperate, and, if we may say so, Teutonically moral in her art, as she is popular. She is re- Jenny Lind's advice to Miss M- is, that she plying to some one who has asked advice for a should combine Italian song and German music, "Miss M," a student in singing; and "try to avoid false pathos," and try to find out Jenny Lind advises the young lady not to seek the beauty of truth." But what is truth?"" instruction in Italy, but in Paris and London.as Bacon says after "jesting Pilate." If Miss There she will find masters who understand the M could find it out, she would test pathos beauties of real Italian singing better than vocal- as well as everything else. Truth is fact, in art ists who at present do the journeyman's work as well as in real life. The dramatist proposes for Verdi; and then, the student should go to to himself to represent the passions common to Germany to learn music. The reason for not mankind, under circumstances that present them seeking Italy is, that "only a few singers of our with the greatest vividness, and in the persons day can preserve their voice under the habit of of those who have the least of what the painter forcing more sound out of their lungs than calls " ""accident to derogate from the simple Nature intended they should,". -a necessity and intelligible character of the common type. pressed upon them by the performance of Verdi's It is because they were so truthful, that is, so operas. "Verdi's music," says Jenny Lind, matter-of-fact, that Italian vocal artists have "is most dangerous for all singing artists, and usually taken the first rank. They presented the will continue to be so until the artists themselves commonest passions-grief, joy, anger, love-in shall better understand their own interests." the simplest form, coupled with a music which And will continue to be so, we should say, until is peculiarly allied to the natural intonation even some composer shall arise who can beat Verdi of spoken passion in their native land. They on that stage where the Italian musician must have been risking their lead by sacrificing many always take his great trial, the dramatic stage. truths to one, and that nothing deeper than the It is true that Verdi is a bad artist, because he truth of rhetoric. But, as Alfieri would say, sacrifices the whole to the part, and has no re- the artist in Italy is not only trained, he grows. spect for his workmen or his material. He re- The school reproduces itself. It is interesting to sembles one of the school of painters who, hav-see the fair Swede giving a new instance of the ing a knack at a handling of chrome yellow or truth, admirably stated by Pasta in her letters some other coarse pigment, can never produce a to Parodi - that even the passing artist, who design that is not furious with chrome yellow. leaves no tangible works behind, has a permaIt is of no use to decry him and to say he is no nent influence on the progress of his art; as Pasartist; which is false. He has one power supeta, as Paganini had, as Pachierotti must have or to all young composers of the day a ca- had, and even as the parent has upon the child, pacity of elocution. There is no composer who and upon the race. And it is a great boon for can set forth a speech with more breadth and mankind that it is so; for, after all, dynasties emphasis: but he can do little else. He is the and institutions pass away, and art in this wayO'Connell of Parnassus, who can only employ ward world shares with science the government the voice in monster speeches to mass meetings; of the race. The Spectator. 1 Dec. and his vocalists must have lungs according.