pathy and affection for my brethren hath caused my enlargement thus far, I ardently hope that your candour and generosity, will plead with you in my behalf, when I make known to you, that it was not originally my design; but that having taken up my pen in order to direct to you as a present, a copy of an almanac which I have calculated for the succeeding year, I was unexpectedly and unavoidably led thereto. Ellicott, yet finding myself under several engagements to printers of this State, to whom I had communicated my design on my return to my place of residence, I industriously applied myself thereto, which I hope I have accomplished with correctness and accuracy, a copy of which I have taken the liberty to direct to you, and which I humbly request you will favorably receive, and although you may have the opportunity of perusThis calculation, sir, is the pro-ing it after its publication, yet I chose duction of my arduous study in this to send it to you in manuscript premy advanced stage of life; for hav-vious thereto, that thereby you might ing long had unbounded desires to not only have an earlier inspection, become acquainted with the secrets but that you might also view it in of nature, I have had to gratify my my own hand-writing. curiosity herein through my own assiduous application to astronomical study, in which I need not to recount to you the many difficulties and disadvantages which I have had to en counter. And although I had almost declined to make my calculation for the ensuing year, in consequence of that time which I had allotted therefor being taken up at the Federal Territory, by the request of Mr. Andrew And now, sir, I shall conclude and subscribe myself, with the most profound respect, your most obedient, humble servant, B. BANNEKER. N. B. Any communication to me, [From the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.] Influence of Climate in Western Africa on the Mind. ` [THE writer of the following let- || for the interesting pamphlet which ter addressed to the Rev. Joseph you kindly sent me. Tracy, of Boston, Secretary of the Massachusetts Colonization Society, is Dr. Lugenbeel, whose name has been frequently brought before the medical public. It is from a source of such respectability, as to entitle it to the fullest consideration. Dr. Lugenbeel is Colonial Physician and a resident of Liberia.] DEAR SIR-Your letter bearing date December 6th is now before me, and I beg you to accept my grateful acknowledgments for the same, and Correct answers to the inquiries you make, relative to "the influence of the climate, or acclimating fever, of Western Africa, on the mind,” are not less difficult than important; for, as you are aware, much more extensive and protracted observations are necessary to enable one to form a correct opinion, relative to the effects of disease on the mental, than on the physical system. That a very great sympathy exists between the mind and the body, even in a state of degree of hope. I felt particularly interested in this case; for I was apprehensive that, if it terminated fatally, the result might have an injurious effect on the minds of some of the rest of the company. But, so well convinced were they that he might have recovered, had he exercised a little more patience, and not been so obstinate, that my fears were dissipated even before he died. On the other hand, I have had the charge of cases, in which I had much more cause to apprehend death, in consequence of the violence of the disease, than in the case to which I have alluded; and yet, by being able to induce the patients to banish all gloomy forebodings, and to bear their afflictions with patient resignation, I have had the satisfaction of seeing them recover, in a reasonable time. health, there can be no question. || possible to inspire him with the least And in all kinds of fever, in all climates, this sympathy is obvious, to a greater or less extent. That the health of the body depends, in a great measure, on the healthy condition of the mind, and vica versa, no one can doubt. And, in the treatment of physical diseases, the judicious physician takes advantage of this, and endeavors to enjoin quietude and cheerfulness of mind on his patients; which, in some cases, are sine qua nons to their restoration to health. This course is especially necessary in the treatment of the acclimating fever of this country; for it is obvious to all who have carefully observed the effects of fever on the mind, in this country and in the United States, that the physico-mental sympathy is more clearly exhibited in the former, than in the latter. Indeed, the greatest difficulty that I There are comparatively few cases have to contend with, in the treat- in which more or less mental desponment of the fever which usually at- dency does not exist. I have seen tacks, new comers, within a few several individuals who were all life weeks or months after their arrival and cheerfulness, before they were in this country, is to prevent that taken sick; but as soon as the fever mental depression or despondency had taken hold of them, the scene which is so frequently an attendant was changed, and they scarcely apon the disease. And I have invaria- peared like the same persons. This bly found, in cases in which the pa- depression of spirits generally subtients obstinately and pertinaciously sides gradually, after the subsidence yielded to despondency, and aban- of the fever. But as most persons doned all hope of getting well, that, are more or less subject to irregular sooner or later, their expectations intermittents, for some weeks or were realized, and death closed the months after the first attack of fever, scene. A striking instance of this they are also liable to irregular exkind occurred a few weeks ago, in one hibitions of mental despondency; of the last company of immigrants. and I generally find that the condiThe individual, a man about 30 years tion of the mind, as regards cheerof age, was the first of the company fulness or depression, is strikingly who was taken sick; and, although characteristic of the condition of the his attack was not very violent, and physical system. It is not unusual although the urgent symptoms yield- for me to visit patients on one day, ed readily to appropriate medical and find them cheerful and contenttreatment, yet from the onset until ed; and on the following day, find his death, a period of about two them melancholy and dejected, and weeks, he seemed to be determined disposed to exaggerated their suffernot to get well; and I found it im-ings; and, perhaps, in answer to my inquiries relative to their feelings, || once almost as familiar to my mind they will tell me that they cannot get well. And here I would remark, that I have observed with pleasure, and have experienced in my own case, the salutary influences of religion on the diseases of this country, to a greater extent than I have observed, during a practice of two years in the United States. Whenever I have been called to a patient, whose heart and mind were sufficiently influenced by divine grace, to enable him to trust implicitly in God, and to submit patiently to any and to every dispensation of Providence, I have been enabled to enter on the performance of the responsible duties of my profession, with far more encouragement of success, than in cases of an opposite character. And, in regard to my own case, especially, I confidently believe that the comforts and consolations of religion have had more influence in the preservation of my health, than any thing else. When the sting of death is thus removed, the prospects of life in Africa are vastly augmented. But, as I apprehend your inquiries refer particularly to the permanent effects of the climate and fever on the mind, I will endeavor to state the substance of my observations on this point. And first, permit me briefly to state my own case; for, although I congratulate myself in not yet having become insane, yet I cannot say that, during a residence of fifteen months in Africa, my mind has not become in some measure affected by the peculiarities of this climate, or by the frequent slight attacks of fever which I have experienced. principal effect that I have observed in my own case, is an impairment of the memory. I find that I cannot retain any thing that I read or hear, with as much facility as I formerly could: and many things which were The as my own name, have " gone glimmering, like the dream of things that were." I also find that I cannot apply my mind to any particular object or objects, either in reading, writing, or meditation, for any considerable length of time, without becoming more or less confused, and experiencing an almost irresistible tendency to wander into the trackless regions of unbridled imagination, or into the visionary fields of unprofitable musings. I believe that I could acquire more knowledge, by study, in three months in the United States, than I could in a year in Africa. Another effect which I think I have observed in my own case, is a greater degree of irritability of tem per. Notwithstanding I believe I enjoy more religion in this country live nearer to a throne of gracethan I did in the United States; yet I find more difficulty in preserving an equanimity of mind, amidst the cares of life-an evenness of temper, amidst the changing scenes of time. My mind is more apt to become ruffled by things of comparatively minor importance; and I think I observe a greater tendency to loquacity, and unprofitable disputations; especially when I am feverish, which is frequently the case, even when I am able to go about and attend to the duties of my vocation. The little difficulties of life are also, in imagination, increased in magnitude-the mole-hill sometimes seems like a mountain; and, instead of stepping over the one, I am more inclined to prepare for a flight across the other. These effects are perhaps more or less observable in the large majority, if not in all cases, of individuals who emigrate from the United States to this country. I have frequently heard persons say that their memory is not as good as it was in America; and, in regard to irritability of tem per, I have no doubt that all intelli-ver region, I cannot give any thing gent and candid persons will acknow- very satisfactory, in consequence of ledge that they experience a greater the circumscribed extent of my obliability to err in this respect, in Af-servations. From frequent converrica, than they did in America. In regard to the influence of the climate and fever on different classes of persons, with reference to color, age, habits and intellectual culture; I think my observations justify me in saying, that persons of dark complexion are less liable to be injuriously affected, both physically and mentally, than those of lighter colorthe ratio being, ceteris paribus, in proportion to the depth of color of the skin. The young are less liable to be affected than the old. And persons of industrious habits and enterprising spirits are, of course, less liable than those of an opposite character. In regard to persons of cultivated intellects, contrasted with the uneducated, I think the former are more liable to mental injury, than the latter, simply from the fact that the fever has more to operate on. I cannot say, however, that any peculiar traits of character are produced by the influence of the climate, or the acclimating fever of Western Africa; or that permanent mental alienation, or insanity, is more common in Liberia than in the United States. Insanity is by no means common among the natives; and I know of only two really insane persons in the colony. On the whole, I cannot perceive that the climate, or the acclimating fever, of this coast, has any very marked permanent effect on the human mind, other than the effects to which I have alluded; and even those may be only temporary-dependent, in a great measure, if not altogether, on the frequent febrile exacerbations, to which such persons are subject, in whom those effects are most clearly exhibited. In answer to your inquiry respecting the interior limits of the fe sations, however, with persons who have travelled to the distance of from one hundred to two hundred miles inland, I am satisfied that the country, even within fifty miles of the coast, is comparatively healthy. The land is mountainous, the water pure, and the temperature of the atmosphere congenial to the feelings. There can be no doubt that beyond the influence of the low, swampy ground, along the coast, the liability to disease is much less, and the chance of a long life much greater. It is very evident, however, that the physical system of every individual who removes from a temperate climate to a tropical one, must undergo some change must experience some process of acclimation; which may or may not be attended with much fever, according to circumstances-to the constitutional peculiarities of the individual, the nature of the surrounding country, mode of living, &c. This change, no doubt, must be experienced, whether the individual locates in an elevated region in the interior, or in the immediate neighborhood of the pestiferous swamps along the coast. But, of course, the liability to active or violent disease would be much less in the former than in the latter location; and the individual would, perhaps, be entirely exempt from those frequent irregular attacks of intermittent and remittent fevers, of which all are exposed while residing in the vicinity of low, marshy land. I think it is very probable that I could enjoy as good health in the mountainous regions of Africa, within less than one hundred miles from the coast, as I could in many parts of the United States. Yours truly, J. W. LUGENBEEL. Letter from a Colonist. THE following letter is from a co- || doubtless they will, if aided,) then lonist who went from Charleston, our settlement will enjoy great prosperity. S. C., in 1843. He has been employed, part of the time since, in surveying the lands for the emigrants at Sinou, and looking after their welfare during their acclimation as the agent of the Society. We would commend it particularly to his friends in Charleston, many of whom read our paper-and would ask them if they do not think he made a wise choice, the day he made up his mind to go to Liberia ? GREENVILLE, SINOE, Dec. 11th, 1844. It is pleasing to hear that there are some in my native city desirous of tasting the sweets of liberty. Let me tell you what one of Mrs. Read's men said to me, shortly after my arrival here: "When I first went up the river to clear my farm," says he, "some days I could work but a few hours, on account of fever and chills; when I could do a day's work, I remained out all day, went home at night with nothing but palm-nuts for supper-now my farm is pretty well stocked, and as long as palm oil and cassada can be had, no man can pay me to return to America." Among the immigrants contentment prevails, and they are doing every thing in their power to improve their condition. You will do me a great favor by sending me a few newspa of knowing what is going on in the great world. We are all pretty well just now, thank God. In a few days my house will be finished, when I move in it; my garden will claim much of my time in improving it—I want to make it a model. REV. AND DEAR SIR:-Yours of the 9th August was received this morning; it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of three letters from you, since my arrival in the co-pers occasionally, as I am desirous lony. Believing that the prosperity of the colony depends, principally, on agriculture, I am always endeavoring to impress on the colonists, the necessity of pursuing it with the greatest diligence. The object I have in view is, to get their minds turned a little from cassadas, potatoes, and such small things, to rice, coffee, sugar-cane, and cotton; it is true, the first mentioned articles must be attended to, but not to the exclusion of everything else. There is one difficulty to be removed, and if I am successful in that, it will cause this settlement to prosper greatly. They are generally afraid to plant for the benefit of posterity; any thing that will yield a present supply, will do for them. My endeavor is to get them to look a little farther, and commence the cultivation of such things as will readily meet a sale in foreign markets. If they will do this, (which We have a native boy with us, who promises to reward our labor. He was taken in our family at the Cape, September, 1843; we commenced teaching him the alphabet and Lord's prayer. On leaving the Cape, we had to part with him. It was not too long, before he attempted to follow us. Unfortunately for him, the vessel was detained so long by head winds, that he was discovered by his people and carried back; he was then placed with a friend of mine, who treated him very kindly, but to no purpose, he could not be satisfied. Atlast Capt. Young's vessel being at the Cape and getting |