when the mighty importance of efforts to improve the present and future of the people of color was so transparent and pressing.

"MONROVIA, LIBERIA, Oct. 3, 1863. Dear Sir-Perhaps you would like to know what I have done. W el after being here nine years, I may simply state to you as a friend, without seeming to be egotistical or presumptuous.

After being here a year or more, I became convinced that the true interest of Liberia consisted in the development of her agricultural and mineral resources. Without any previous knowledge of farming, and surrounded by none that could instruct, I started into the forest, cut down the bush, planted a cane farm, and built the necessary houses. Then I had no capital, no mill, no cattle, no horses, nor means of turning my crops to profitable account, nor any friend here or elsewhere to help me. But I continued to plod along, acting as merchant at Monrovia, farmer on the St. Paul's, and artist at Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Senegal. By carrying on so many branches of industry, I have lost a great deal, and yet this mode of procedure has been my success. I think I am at least six thousand dollars better off than I ever was in the States, and I believe that if 1 had remained there till now, I should have been so poor I could not get away.

Eight years ago my farm was forest; now we have growing sugarcane, coffee, rice, cassada, potatoes, and in our garden cabbages, radishes, turnips, tomatoes, and many other vegetables. You can see here now our carts hauling bricks, rocks, wood, &c. Four yokes of the largest African cattle, milch cows and other cattle, two horses, six jacks, turkeys, chickens ducks, pigeons, &c. You will see also fifty persons here who are fed, clothed and supported now in the rainy season, and who, when the weather will perpermit, are engaged in various avocations. I reside at my farm nearly all the time, but I do not superintend in person any of the business on the farm. My own time is occupied with trade and domestic correspondence.

I have lately appointed an agent in New York, and if the war does not interrupt commerce, I shall export largely to that port, and order my American goods from that market instead of purchasing, as I have heretofore been doing, on the coast, at an advance of seventy-five per cent. on the invoice. My wife and two children brought from America, and one born here, are all well. We were expecting to come to the States last June, but you had such storming times in New York, that we were afraid to venture.

INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT WARNER.

Hon. Daniel B. Warner was inaugurated, on the 4th January, President of Liberia, with "great demonstrations and enthusiastic rejoicings." His address on the occasion is a carefully prepared and creditable production, in which he advocates retrenchment in the government expenditures, and the

fostering of internal improvements, agriculture, education, and a more active part in the civilization of the surrounding natives. Mr. Warner expresses himself hopefully of the future of the republic. He remarks: "I believe, fellow citizens, that our work on this coast will go on. Though some suppose that the liberal treatment which is now being accorded to colored men in the United States will stop emigration from that quarter, yet this will not interfere with our work. I believe that nothing will transpire to prevent the fulfilment of God's designs in Africa."

In regard to affairs generally, a prominent citizen wrote thus from Monrovia, January 7: "I am happy to say that in all material matters, prosperity and progress shine out everywhere around us. There can be no doubt of advancement when house building and boat building are becoming common throughout the land, and when coffee and sugar cane farms are being doubled in their extent."

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Much of the present number is occupied with portions of the proceedings of the Board of Directors of the American Colonization Society, at the ses sion held in this city January 19, 20 and 21, 1864. Harmony and Christian courtesy prevailed during the deliberations, and it was the feeling of those present that the prospects of the future were such as to stimulate and encourage the friends of the colored race. The purpose of the Society is to pursue steadily the path marked out by its founders. Emigration having been impeded of late by obvious causes, the work will be vigorously prosecuted of enriching Africa with the graces of civilization, education, and religion, and to diffuse information and afford every possible facility for the settlement of intelligent, enterprising people of color in that land of promise for the black man.

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THE IRON OF LIBERIA.

The natural resources of the continent of Africa will be found, we believe, to be equal in value to those of India. The growing republic of Liberia, planted and constantly strengthened with colored people from this country, is increasing in importance and is opening up that vast region of the West Coast to commerce, civilization, and the English language. Coffee, cotton, and sugar are among the productions of its citizens, and palm oil is seeking its settlements from the interior. An excellent iron, more pure than any previously known, was a few years since obtained at Bassa Cove. Before us lays a piece of good-looking iron, worked, it is said, direct from the ore. A letter which accompanied it, giving an account of the ore and the manner in which the iron was produced, will be found annexed. It is from the pen Mr. Charles Deputie, a reliable and worthy colored man, who worked for

of

some time at the iron works near Hollidaysburg, Pa., and who has resided at Carysburg for the last eight years. This experiment was made at his suggestion, and by the aid of an appropriation made for the purpose by the Legislature of Liberia :

CARYSBURG, LIBERIA, September 10th, 1863. DEAR SIR: Your favor of May 1st was received, and I thank you for the papers sent from time to time. Your inquiry as to how the iron is made, I will answer. The process is called blooming-making the iron direct from the ore-not making the metal or pig iron. By putting into operation a bloomery, iron can be made profitably. The pig iron would pay well for such purposes as railing, pots, door-sills, and many other purposes. I was always under the impression that iron could be made direct from the ore. The sample sent you was made in that way. As to the state of the ore in Carysburg, it covers a space of 3,000 feet in length by 1,200 in width. The surface, in places, is all iron. In the Colonization block, it is a solid rock on a part of it, yet the block has an abundance of ore. The ore here, in its native state, is a better quality than the ore used in Pennsylvania. After cleaning the ore at Gen. Green's, the cost of getting it to the works was about $5 per ton. The ore of Carysburg looks much like the Pennsylvania ore—so much so that you could not tell the difference. Blooming is the old way of making iron direct from the ore with charcoal. If you could get some arrangement to have some ore sent over to try, I think it would pay to ship it as ballast. We have not the means to go into operation, and the Government is not able. The ore is in the town proper of Carysburg. The surface is covered from the largest rock to the smallest size. The depth I cannot tell.

As regards myself, I am farming, but on a small scale; I am planting coffee. I have no means now to go into farming more than to support my family. The crops are good this year, but our harvest is late. There has not been so much rain this year as formerly. The health of Carysburg is good. Some of the families have gone to the St. Paul's river; they were mostly day laborers; they were not much benefit to the settlement, as they did but little at farming. Carysburg has her own breadstuffs this year; farming is on the increase, also the raising of coffee and sugar cane.

I send you a copy of my report in regard to my iron operations, and will try to get and send you some minerals by return of the "Stevens." With respect, I remain yours truly,

Mr. Deputie's official report is as follows:

CHAS. DEPUTIE.

In accordance with an appropriation of the Legislature of Liberia, approved February, 1862, I have proceeded to try an experiment in the manufacturing of iron at Carysburg, and find that it has proved sufficient, and the iron can be manufactured here. The facilities here are better at present than at any portion of the Republic. There is an abundance of the best iron ore,

not only in the settlement, but in the neighborhood of Carysburg. Iron can be made either in pig or malleable state. The Government would realize a profit by an investment of $6,000 to put up an establishment for the purpose of manufacturing iron, and making tools, such as hoes, axes, &c. The time for burning coal would be from November to the first of January, as the "rain" would somewhat operate against the burning of coal unless burnt in a kiln. The "dries" would be the proper time for cutting and coaling. I would recommend the Government to reserve the vacant lots in Carysburg, as there is an abundance of ore on many of them; and also timber lands and sites for water power. I also give you an estimate of the expenditures of buildings and necessary works to be done.

Hoping that this may prove satisfactory,

I have the honor to be yours, respectfully,

The (English) Church Missionary Intelligencer for January contains, among its items of recent intelligence, statements of some interest respecting the prospect of peace at Abbeokuta, West Africa, and the Niger Mission.

We are happy to find that efforts are being very energetically put forth from Lagos, by natives located there, to terminate by persuasion, the war so long raging between Abbeokuta and Ibadan. The following passage from the "Iwe Irohin" will show with what prospect of success:

"We are very thankful to be able to state, that the gentlemen who went to Ibadan on a mission of peace, sent by the Association in Lagos, returned to Abbeokuta on November 5th. The account given of their reception is most pleasing and hopeful. All Ibadan seems to have been moved with glad anticipations of peace. They

were most hospitably entertained, and sacrifices were made by the people to their gods, that the chiefs in the camp might be inclined to receive them with peaceful desires. They went to the camp, and were equally well received there. Presents were made them according to the usual custom when well received. Their message in short- Can anything be done towards making peace?'. was well received. The chief spoke of the wrongs they thought they had received, how the war commenced, and various tribes who were consulted consented to their intended war, but afterwads assisted their enemy against them. That they desired to be on friendly terms with the Egbas, for they had in times passed, before the war broke out, received many tokens of friendship and good feeling from them, until this present difference arose. Their reply to the message was: 'We will gladly meet a deputation from the opposite party, on neutral grounds, to talk over our matters, in order to come to some arrangements. More than that could not be expected. The gentlemen of the deputation have done a good thing, and we sincerely hope that God will bless their efforts with complete success.

From the Niger mission interesting intelligence has been received. The Rev. S. Crowther, with other laborers, had been waiting at the Nun for the means of transit to the upper stations, when, on Sept. 7th, the "Investigator" made her appearance on the way to communicate with Dr. Baikie. On September 13th, Onitsha was reached. The Rev. J. C. Taylor and other members of the mission were all well. Mr. Crowther says "It will cheer the hearts of the Parent Committee to hear that fifty-three baptisms of adults and children have been performed at Onitsha since last November, and that there are about forty-two names at present on the list of candidates for baptism, who receive weekly instruction preparatory to being admitted to that holy rite.'

On September 16th, Gbebe was reached. On Sunday, October 4th, Mr. Crowther had the privilege of baptizing eight persons, two men and six women, in the presence of about 200 persons, at the morning service. The mission work here may now be regarded as having taken root; and various evidences are afforded of the influence which have been acquired over the surrounding heathen, and of the good will with which the agents of the mission are regarded.

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RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY,

From the 20th of January, to the 20th of February, 1864.