ST. JOHNS FACTORY.

Monrovia, Feb. 6th, 1827.

The history of this establishment, from its origin in 1825, to March, 1826, has been transmitted to the Board.

Connected with the Factory, is the lease and use of as much territory as the Colony chooses to possess, along the Southern bank of the South branch of the St. Johns river, on which that establishment is situated. This imperfect grant of territory may, hereafter, with very little difficulty, in my opinion, be converted into a purchase.

James Benson, a colonist, was employed in Dec. 1825, to reside and manage the trade of the Colony at this station-and has, up to the end of Dec. 1826, executed with great fidelity and success, the trust reposed in him. The Bassa chiefs, I am particularly happy to state, have acquitted themselves, with honour and punctuality, of all their engagements; affording protection to the factor and property-and punishing with exemplary severity, every one of the few depredators on the public property, who, in the beginning of the year, were detected in thievish acts.

Mr. Benson has received a compensation of thirty dollars per month-but no perquisites. The profits of the establishment have fully authorized this ample salary. It still remains, under the management of Andrew Harris, the principal source whence the Colony derives its yearly stock of rice and is beginning to produce us considerable quantities of wood, oil, and ivory.— The mouth of the St. Johns river, as has been formerly stated, affords at all seasons of the year, a free entrance for all the coasting craft of the Colony. This establishment, it is of course intended to keep up during my absence to America. Mr. Harris will probably remain, to conduct it. The Grand Bassa people have almost universally discontinued the slave trade, and show no anxiety for its revival. They live under an energetic government, and have chiefs far more enlightened and worthy of confidence, than most of the tribes of this part of the coast enjoy. It is found a matter of expediency to conciliate and retain the friendship and active patronage of the chiefs by an annual present of about ten bars each, to the five of them-amount about $22 50.

BOB GRAY'S FACTORY.

Bob Gray is one of the three Bassa chiefs, of whom I have been so fortunate as to purchase an indefinite and truly invaluable tract of lands lying for several miles along the Northern bank of the North branch of the St. Johns river. (The deed is enclosed, under cover of these papers.) The price stipulated to be paid for these lands, is 300 bars-one-half of which, being in assorted merchandise, is already paid; the other half, in tobacco, we have not had enough of that article to discharge the debt.

Gray engaged to build the Colony a factory at any place on the North bank of the St. Johns river, which I should designate for the purpose-to make of the purchase money of his lands, a stock in trade, with a view ultimately to turn over to the Colony all the produce he should be able to bring down from the interior of the country. This project I encouraged. The factory has been already built, and is now going into operation-and will form a new link of union between the tribes along the St. Johns and your Colony. The interests of both and all, I trust, are, at no great distance of time, to become perfectly identical—and one numerous and Christian nation, using our language, and enjoying our institutions, to cover the whole Western coast of Africa.

ST. JOHNS (OR FACTORY) ISLAND FACTORY,

Has been so lately formed as on the 28th of January, 1827. The purchase of this island has been already the subject of a part of more than one communication to the Board of Managers.The island forms one of the most beautiful and advantageous sites for a settlement, which can well be desired or conceived. Embosomed in a majestic and navigable river-and approaching within two miles of its mouth-this river, of easy and safe entrance for vessels of 90 to 100 tons-abounding with fish, and having its course through a fertile and delicious, and, I am obliged to add, salubrious country-rising a few feet only over a narrow sandy beach, which skirts its margin on every side— possessing a rich and mellow soil-fanned sixteen hours in every twenty-four, even in the dry season, by a sea-breeze, tempered and sweetened in its passage up the river by the verdure which crowns its banks-nothing in the original, simple dress

of nature, I repeat it, can be imagined more delightful-and no residence in this country more eligible. The Colony, it will be recollected, now possesses this island, and the main land contiguous to it, on the North bank of the river, in fee simple.

Few objects relating to the advancement of your Colony, are, at the present time, nearer my heart than the formation of a settlement, consisting of worthy people, on this island. It is estimated to contain building lots, differing in size from a fourth to an half acre of ground, for 200 families. They will be furnished with plantation lands from the new purchase opposite the island. I have established a factory on Factory Island-and commenced the settlement of it, by fixing there, with ample privileges, a single private family from Monrovia.

February 10, 1827.

J. ASHMUN.

Letter from C. C. Harper, Esq.

BALTIMORE, JULY 15, 1827.

MY DEAR SIR: A plan has occurred to me, which, I think, may have the effect, if it can be carried into execution, of raising for the Society a large fund annually, and keeping public attention alive to our objects. Although it will require time and patience for its accomplishment, it appears to me to be not impracticable, nor even difficult. The idea is founded upon that, which you once suggested, of reviving the State Societies. It supposes them to be reorganized, wherever they formerly existed, and wherever not, established; and to have, as before, their Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, and Boards of Managers. These officers should be selected, as heretofore, from among gentlemen of advanced age, conspicuous abilities, and high standing in the community. In addition to them, there ought to be a body of half a dozen, or a dozen, or more young men, known to be enthusiastic and active supporters of the cause of African Colonization, who might be called the State-Societies' Committees. Their duty would be to receive subscriptions, collect monies, correspond with each other,

superintend emigration, and give proper impulses to the public mind, in any other way they should deem expedient and the Board of Managers of the Society to which they are attached, might not disapprove of. By the Committees being composed of young men, and the higher offices filled by men more advanced in life, and distinguished for past or present services to their country or the cause, we shall obtain the authority of great and venerable names, as well as all the activity natural to persons striving to be useful: and while the caution of the old will thus be animated by the enthusiasm and spirit of the young, the inexperience and rashness of youth will be tempered by the prudence of age.

As many Auxiliaries as possible to each State Society, should be established in every town, village, and district of the state, and have a similar organization.

Having taken these preliminary steps, which are only the scaffolding of the edifice, the principal feature of the plan might readily be introduced. The Committees should enter immediately upon their duties, as soon as the State or Auxiliary State Society, to which they belong, might be formed; and induce all the friends of colonization, in their town, village, or district, to become members. The condition of membership should be the subscription of one dollar annually, to be paid on or about the Fourth of July, or any other period that the Parent Society at Washington might prefer. The subscription should not be five dollars for ten years, or twenty-five for life, or any other sum in advance; but one dollar each year, and no more.

There are thousands who will cheerfully give one dollar every year, but who would not, on any account or by any persuasion, give twenty-five dollars, or even five, at one time. Those few who can afford to give such sums, would probably persuade themselves (as we have seen in too many instances), that they had now done their proportion of the work, and dismiss the subject from their thoughts, and with it, all the zeal they might have felt in its behalf. But no man would refuse to give one dollar, even though he might never have reflected on the scheme for which it is solicited, or, having reflected, remain indifferent to its success: and certainly no member of a committee, with a proper sense of the goodness and usefulness of the design, would

hesitate to ask each of his friends, or acquaintance, for one dollar for its support. A very large sum might, I believe, be raised each year in every State, by these subscriptions alone; without taking into consideration what we should still continue to receive, in increasing abundance, from private contributions, the charity of religious societies and masonic orders, and legislative appropriation. This would not be an occasional gush, or fluctuating source of fortune, soon exhausted, or alluring us into expenses we might afterwards be unable to defray; but a steady copious stream, that must ever augment with population and benevolence, and with the gradual and certain progress of opinion in our favour.

In proportion as the State Societies shall be revived or established, and their numerous little Auxiliaries called into existence and due subordination and dependance, the Parent Society itself might receive a more effectual structure. There might be held, each year, in Washington, at some period during the session of the National Congress, a Congress of representatives from the State Societies and their various branches; each sending such numbers as the Parent Society might think advisable. Their compensation would be the greatest of rewards-the pleasure and merit of a benevolent act. As the matters to be submitted to their deliberation and decision, would not be of a nature to be easily or wilfully abused, nor of such vital importance to their employers, that they might (like political affairs) be dishonestly conducted, for dangerous or improper purposes, many of the Auxiliary Societies would often not care to be represented; confiding in the wisdom and virtue of those who should be sent by others: and as this meeting would be during the session of Congress and the Supreme Court, and at a season when multitudes from every part of the United States have occasion to visit the seat of government, there could be no difficulty, to those who might desire it, in procuring zealous and able representatives. Liberia would be under the special and peculiar care of the Congress or Convention; which would have the power of appropriating all funds collected for the Colonization cause, and of appointing its own officers and those of the Parent Society; that is, its President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries, Managers, and Agents.