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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0030 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0030 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
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30
MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL.
gical distinctions denied to liim at home, but bestowed
by the kinder or more discerning spirit of strangers I
For my own part, without intending to commit the
folly of depreciating a great nation, J am obliged to
•ay, thai the thing which surprised me most in Eng-
land was the universal ignorance which prevails in
regard to America ; w tide the thing which grieved
me most was the almost equally universal prejudice
against us.
You do not know us. You have little sympathy
with us. You do us wrong in all your thoughts. In
regard to all these points, 1 believe there is but one
mind among all Americans, not being abolitionists,
who have been in England. And if you have been
pleased to express thu hope that 1 would return to
America materially changed in many of my views
and principles, I have only to say m reply, that so
profound ia my sense of the false estimate you put on
every thing national, as between M and you, that my
visit to England has opened a new source of devo-
tion, in gratitude to God that he permitted your an-
cestors to persecute ours out nf it. So little impres-
sion of the kind you expect, has all that I have been
forced to hear in England against my country and my
brethren produced, that when I return to embrace
again those beloved men, 1 shall revere them more,
as 1 measure them by all I have known elsewhere ;
and when my weary feet touch that sacred land, 1
•hall rejoice in the very Must and stones thereof,' as
more precious than the pearls of all lands beside.
If t may not call myself your fellow christian with-
out offence, I can at least sign myself your fellow
•inner. R. J. Breckenridge.
Paris, August 20, 1836.
COLONIZATION JOURNAL.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1836.
The Maryland Colonization Journal, will
be published once in two months until the
subscription will warrant the committee to
publish it once a month, at fifty cents per
annum. All letters relating to the Journal,
or on business, should be directed to the Rev.
Ira A. Easter, Home Agent, Baltimore.
By the Luna, recently arrived at New York from
Liberia, the Board of Managers of the State Society,
have received numerous despatches, up to the 7th of
September last, all of a favourable and gratifying
character. The reputation that the location of the
Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas has obtained for
health, is fully confirmed by the intelligence now re-
ceived, there having been no case of sickness attribu-
table to the climate for four months previous to the
date of Mr. Holmes' letter. The emigrants by the
Financier, arrived out all ill good health, and found
ample preparations made for their reception. Below
we give extracts from Mr. Holmes' communications.
The intercourse with the natives was of the most
friendly character, all causes of discontent between
them and the colony mentioned in the last jour-
nal, having been wholly removed, and it is hoped
forever.
Extract nf a letter from Mr. Oliver Hoimes,
Jr. dated Cape I'almas, Sept. 7, 1836.
'This will inform you of the safe arrival of
the schooner Financier, with emigrants fbt
the colony. I had cut roads, and surveyed one
hundred and ninety acres of land for them.
Young Devanport was married to Miss Mary
Ann Pavne, who came out with them, on last
Saturday, that is, three days utter their arri-
val. There was also another wadding on
Sunday last, and another about three weeks
ago. So, you perceive our colonists are not
altogether negligent of restoring to Africa her
population.'
Mr. Holmes having to transact some busi-
ness at Monrovia, writes from that place on
the 30th September.
•I arrived here a few days ago, after a pas.
sage of nine days; the voyage has completely
restored my health. I shall endeavour in tins
communication to give you some idea how 1
left lb* colony. There was but one'imlivi-
dual sick, this being the first case of sickness
for nearly four mouths. This person is not
what I would strictly call sick; as lie is labour-
in" under a disease which he brought from
America, and though confined at time? to his
bed, yet he says he enjoys better health than
in America.
•1 have had free communication with Mr.
Russwurm, and do not think there is the h-nsl
shadow of a doubt, but he will be able to give
the Board satisfaction. It is true he b-lungs
to the cluss of oppressed Africans in our coun-
try, but the bondage of his countrymen in
America, has not fettered his mind, wliilo here,
he will command that respect, which is due
to a man of his worth. In fact, 1 do not know
a man in America, white or black, whom 1
could recommend as a substitute: tor I think
from all the information I eun obtain, connect-
ed with close observation during the time 1
have been here, he is in every respect quali-
fied to act as Governor of Maryland m Liberia.
'As Mr. Russwurm, will no doubt write by
the Luna, you will be informed what arrange-
ment* he will make, as to the time he will go
down to Cape Palmas. I intend returning to-
morrow, and shall remain until he comes and
gels well acquainted with the state of affair!
in the colony. I am trying to get Dr. Bkin-
ner, the agent here, to give up the long boosa
we sent there, as he intends selling it ; also,
two ploughs, if he will give them to me. We
intend trying to work two yokes of oxen when
I get back. There are several cows in our
colony giving milk, and the Rev. Mr. Wilson
has butler made in his own house. I am
astonished how far our arrangements at Cape
Palmas, surpass for the better, in every re-
aped, those of this place, particularly as re-
aped* the comfort of new emigrants.
'Owing to the trade I hnd made with Capt.
Keeler, it was out of my power to give the
Capt. of the Financier, any cam-wood or
palm oil, on account of hi* charter party, and
he would not take rice. He missed it how-
ever, for rice ia selling at this place for one
dollar a i-roo, and 1 otfered it to him for fifty
cents; however, before I could get a load here
now the new rice will be in, and nothing to be
made by il. i'alm oil the same. I could sell
it at Cape Puhnas, and make a handsome pro-
lit, at forty-five cents per gallon, here it is now
selling at one dollar; if 1 have a short DMMgt
down, and can get on opportunity, I shall send
all the palm oil, and rice I can rake up here.
The census of the colony and all other matters
of information 1 shall endeavour to bring home
with me, also,tlie long talked of map. As I
have before said, nil has depended upon me,
and therefore, I have not done half what 1
could have wished, and this I hope is a good
exeme, knowing that the books nnd other
documents could and would be settled to the
satisfaction of the Hoard, sometime or other.
And no*, being able to do all. my chief atten-
tion lias been directed to place the colony in a
healthy state, by doing for the colonists all
that could be done to make them industrious
and contented, and to have enough hind sur-
veyed Cor the new emigrants; this latter thing,
I consider of the first importance.
'You requested me to let you hear from
John, son of King Uaphro. All I can tell you
about him is, he is more of a native now, than
when he first came to America; ho can scare ly
speak any English, or comprehend any when
spoken to; his father has bejen at me for some
tune to tuke him as a servant in my kitchen,
but lie is so remarkably stupid I have declined
over and over .''gain, the hoy also has impor-
tuned me often to do so. King lioleo, the
reputed father of Charles who died in Ame-
rica, is now an exile from his dominions,
(Grnhway,) he is living in Cape I'almas, native
town. The cause of this was eating anOurang
Outang. He was of a cluss of kings peculiar
to this part of the coa.-t, knuwn as Fetish, or
Grce Gree kings. I shall have to be brief in
my explanation of this word. First, this is
the term, making no dillerence winch of the
two words, you use for medicines, conjura-
tions, and rites in the worship of the devil,
when it is applied to kings, however, the first
word is used as his title, and the second, to
denote the power of his olliee. Thus, King
Boleo, was a Fetish king so long as he made
good Cree Uree for his country. He got the
olliee in this way. When Dr. Hall went to
Capt I'ahnas for the purpose of purchasing
this country, the lawful king, a small child, not
being qualified to conduct n palaver, was
pushed aside, and llie devil-men assembled and
made Boleo, king. By a tradition, if one of
these kind eats Oorang Outiiug, he makes bad
Uree (iree, or witch, for hi* country, nnd the
rest of his reign, the crops of all kinds will
fail, and the people get sick. They do not how-
ever, wait to see the result, but leg bail, or
death by saucy wood, is the only alternative.
The large towns have generally a civil and a
Fetish, or Devil king. The latter possesses
the most power until some palaver catches him.
'I have this moment returned Irom the
agency house. The Governor has consented
to let me have one of the long houses sent out
here by us, and also two ploughs. The
frame of this house will be of great service
to us, and also most of llie plank. I am now
contracting lor some cloth, crockery, nads
bar iron, hoop iron, for which I am to pay
rice. The contract is with the Governor, and
he his offered me drafts at six months, but
the articles I am to receive are better by fifty
percent. Ho will dispatch • vessel after tne
riee, and tako mo and all of my freight to
Cape Palmas.
Thu day appointed for the sailing of tho Niobc
was one of cloudless beauty; and a largo concourse
of the citizens of Baltimore assembled to partake in
the exercises of the occasion. The vessel lay in the
stream with her anchor apeak, when the emigrants
and the missionaries were collected upon the wharf
A hymn was given out by the Kev. Ira Easter, the
State Society's home agent, and sung in the open air,
with a pathos and etfect that we have rarely witness-
ed . and as ttic swelling tones spread around we could
not help fancying that they bore a holy blessing to fill
the loosened sails of the neighbouring vessel. After
the hymn an appropriate and eloquent prayer was
offered by the Itev. Mr. Bishop, when the Kev. Mr.
S. G. Itoszel, delivered an address to the emigrants
assembled before liim sfld the attendant missionaries.
It was well limed ; well expressed ; and united all
hearts in the cause of colonization that it illustrated.
When Mr. K |