#TI 
 
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 LIBRARY 
 
 tthcolotjical Jrminavy, 
 
 riuxcEToy, x. j 
 
 No. Case, 
 
 No. Shelf, / -- 
 
 No. Book, -S: 
 
 No. 
 
 From the Rev. W. B. SPRAGUE, D.D. Sept, 1839. 
 
 Bprg^ue CoUeetion, Vol, 
 
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 A’.’ 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2015 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica00ashnn_2 
 
■ 1 . 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 IN 
 
 UBERIA, 
 
 o 
 
 FROM DECEMBER 1821 TO 1823.. 
 
 BY J.*ASH1OTN. 
 
 Compiled from the Authentic Records of the Colony.^ 
 
 WASHINGTON CITY: 
 PRINTED BY WAY <& GIDEON^ 
 
 1626. 
 

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A MEMOIR 
 
 01 tV\fe "ETceTetions and Sufferings ot Oie 
 
 CONNECTED WITH THE OCCUPATION OP CAPE MONTSERADO: 
 EMBRACING THE PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE 
 COLONY OF LIBERIA FROM DECEMBER 
 1821 TO 1823. 
 
 Nothing among men is great or small, but relatively. Human 
 pride seldom indeed remembers this axiom in the estimate it forms 
 «)f the moral worth of virtuous actions. And experience proves 
 that the heart itself too easily obeys the absurd prejudice : with- 
 holding the tribute of its sensibilities from the loveliest examples 
 of unobtrusive, solitary merit, and lavishing it with a forced 
 prodigality on such instances as in some way connect with them- 
 selves the accidental, not to say doubtful, circumstance of a mere 
 physical magnificence. Separate the pursuits of mankind from 
 the considerations of morality, and their distinctions of great and 
 small, will be seen to be as arbitrary and capricious as the fancies 
 and habits of individuals. 
 
 I have seen the well -repressed smile of conscious derision cau- 
 tiously sporting itself on the composed features of a Senator of one 
 of the small republics of America, while amusing his leisure with 
 the little intrigues of a borough election. I saw something like a 
 reflection of the same playful sentiment radiating from the relaxed 
 brow of a minister of the national council, while attending to a grave 
 argument of the same Senator on a contested point of county 
 jurisdiction. The delegate who figures in an European Congress, 
 
 western world. And the most magnificent political manoeuvres 
 of modern times, what are they, if magnitude is made the scale of 
 greatness, in comparison with the profound and awful policy 
 of Rome — beginning in the darkness of a remote antiquity, and 
 holding its even and mighty course over the ruins of thirty gene^ 
 
4 
 
 rations, unchanged even by domestic revolutions, until its proud 
 consummation was, under the Cesars, triumphantly developed in the 
 reduction of the world ? 
 
 The truth is, that the intrinsic grandeur of all human actions 
 consists wholly in their moral character 5 and it is the share which 
 the virtuous heart takes in those actions, that after all, is the just 
 measure of their greatness. It is this principle of estimation alone, 
 which puts it in the power of the humblest part of mankind to 
 equal in real magnanimity of character, and absolute grandeur of 
 exploit, the achievements, and the moral elevation, of the proudest. ^ 
 
 It is this scale of distribution, by which the benevolent Father of 
 mankind, divides to all the race, the little stock of their joys and 
 sorrows. I will add, too, that the first secret of a virtuous mind 
 is folded up in its wisdom to discern, and disposition to applaud, 
 amidst those gilded heaps of splendid trifles which continually 
 solicit the admiration of the .world, the genuine traits of moral 
 greatness in their least imposing forms. 
 
 It is in the beautiful light of a theory so just, and at the same 
 time so gratifying to the benevolent heart, that many of the readers 
 of the following memoir will delight to contemplate the genuine 
 actings of heroic virtue ; of w'hich the theatre w as too remote from 
 tlie observation of the world, and the actors too little practised in 
 the arts of ostentation, to expose their motives to the suspicion of 
 vanity, or admit of the agency of the ordinary stimulants of great 
 achievements. 
 
 To arrive at the remote spot on which these humble scenes were 
 transacted, I must tax the reader’s imagination with a flight 
 across the Atlantic ocean, which, by limiting the circle of his or- 
 dinary avocations, may hitherto have bounded the range of his 
 liveliest sensibilities. I must send it far from the polished and 
 populous districts of European, and Asian refinement — beyond 
 the habitations of civilized man — to the least frequented recess 
 of a coast almost the least frequented on the globe. On this spot, 
 a handful of coloured emigrants from the United States, in w hose 
 bosoms the examples of history had never kindled the fire of emu- 
 lation — w^hose only philosophy had been acquired from a series of 
 dispiriting conflicts w ith every form of physical and moral adver- 
 sity — and whose prospects, at that moment, were as dark and ap- 
 palling, as the memory of the past was embittered — ejected from 
 the land of their birth, — hostility, famine and destruction mena^ ^ 
 
5 
 
 cing them in that of their adoption : such is the humble character 
 of the individuals, and equally humble is the scenery and the ac- 
 tion, which are to enliven the incidents of this narrative. 
 
 The facts are wholly drawn from the authentic records of Li- 
 beria ; and doubtless deserve the connected exposition which is 
 intended here to be presented, as forming the only minute history 
 yet published, of the first and most interesting period of that 
 promising Colony. The compiler having enjoyed the humble, 
 honour of directing the little phalanx of moral energies so advan- 
 tageously, and through the sustaining providence of Heaven, so tri- 
 umphantly displayed, in the trying scenes of 1822, hesitates net 
 to acknowledge that to the performance of this little task, he is 
 equally prompted by a sentiment of grateful pride, and the more 
 exacting obligations of a serious duty. The circumstances, some 
 of them not of the most pleasant nature, which give its principal 
 strength to this latter motive, it is entirelj' needless farther to ad- 
 vert to ; and to most of his readers, the writer owes an apology 
 even for this slight digression. 
 
 The map which accompanies this statement, is wholly construct- 
 ed from surveys of which the events detailed in it furnished the 
 compiler with the occasion ; and is believed to be quite sufficient to 
 elucidate all the local references. 
 
 The territory on which the first settlement of the colonists of 
 Liberia has been made, may be seen to present the form of a nar- 
 row tongue, of twelve leagues’ extent, detached from the main 
 land, except by a narrow Isthmus, formed by the approach of the 
 head waters of the Montserado and Junk rivers. The northwestern 
 termination of this linear tract of country is cape Montserado, 
 which, towards Its extremity, rises to a promontory sufficiently ma- 
 jestic to present a bold distinction from the uniform level of the 
 coast. Towards the south-east it is teiminated by the mouth of 
 the Junk river. Centrally, this peninsula is attached to the main 
 land by the Isthmus just designated ; so as to represent the gene- 
 ral form of a scale-beam, of which, the point of attachment answers 
 to the pivot, — and measured directly over from the banks of the 
 Junk, or Montserado river, to the ocean, its width in no part exceeds 
 one league ; and in many places is narrowed down to half that 
 distance. 
 
 The present town of Monrovia is situated on tlie inland side of 
 this peninsula, forms the W. bank of the river Montserado, about 
 
G 
 
 two miles within the extremity of the cape. Tiie original settle- 
 ment approached within 150 yards of the water; and occupied the 
 higliest part of the spinal ridge, which traverses a large part of the 
 peninsula, and rises at this place to about 75 feet. A dense and 
 lofty forest of timber-trees, entangled with vines and brush-wood, 
 so as to be nearly impracticable by any but the feet of savages, and 
 savage beasts, formed the majestic covering of a large proportion 
 of this tract, when the territory was bargained for by the agents of 
 the American Colonization Society, in December, 1821. 
 
 Opposite to the tow n and near the mouth of the Montserado liver, 
 are tw o small islands, containing together, less than three acres of 
 ground. The largest of these islands is nearly covered with houses 
 built in the native style, and occupied by a family of several hun- 
 dred domestic slaves, formerly the property of an English factor, 
 but now held, in a ‘state of qualified vassalage, very common in 
 Africa, by a black man to w hom the right of the original owner has 
 devolved since his return to Europe. Many of this family, includ- 
 ing the old patriarch at their head, are strangers on this part of the 
 coast, have no participation in the politics of their neighbours, 
 and are frequently the objects of their jealousy, — and till res- ^ 
 
 trained by the protection of the American Colony, — of their 
 oppression. 
 
 The tribes of the neighbourhood are, 1st, the Deys ; w ho inhabit 
 the coast from 25 miles to the northward of Montserado, to ,the 
 mouth of the Junk, about 36 miles to the southeastw^ard. Conti- 
 guous to this nation, and next interior, are, 2dly, the Queahs, a 
 small and quiet people, whose country lies to the E. of cape 
 Montserado; and, 3dly, the Gurrahs, a much more numerous and 
 toilsome race of men occupying the country to the northward of 
 the upper parts of the St. Paul river. Still further interior is the 
 formidable and w arlike nation of the Coxdoes, w hose name alone 
 is the terror of all their maritime neighbours. 
 
 It is proper, in this place, to advert to a small hamlet placed on 
 the beach one mile to the northward of the settlement, belonging 
 to a people entirely distinct in origin, language and characterj 
 from all their neighbours. These are the Kroomen, well known 
 by foreigners visiting the coast, as the watermen and pilots of the 
 country. They originate from a populous maritime tribe, whose 
 country is Settra-Kroo, near cape Palmas. The custom of their 
 tril)e obliges all, except the old, the princes of the blood, and a 
 few^ others, to disperse to difterent parts of the coast, and fonq them- 
 
7 
 
 selves in small towns near every road -stead and station irequented 
 by trading vessels; where they often remain, unless summoned 
 home to assist on some grand national occasion, from two to six, 
 and even ten years, according to their success in accumulating a 
 little inventory of valuables, with which their pride is satisfied to 
 return to their friends and country. These people are decidedly 
 the most active, enterprising, intelligent and laborious in this part 
 of Africa; and in the size, strength and fine muscular proportions of 
 their persons, have few superiors, as a nation, in the world. The 
 number of families belonging to their settlement near the mouth of 
 the Montserado, scarcely exceeds a dozen, and may comprehend 
 fifty individuals. 
 
 The purchase of the Montserado territory was effected in Decem- 
 ber of 1821; of which transaction, a particular account was pub- 
 lished by the Colonization Society, a few months afterwards. 
 The occupation of the country by as many of the dispersed 
 American emigrants as could be collected, early in the following 
 year, was also announced by Dr. Ayres, on his return to the 
 United States, the same season; and noticed in the report of the 
 Society, for 1823. 
 
 I Two small schooners belonging to the Colony w'ere employed in 
 the transportation of the settlers in January, 1822; in which ser- 
 vice they continued to be occasionally occupied, until the latter 
 part of the following May. But in this period a variety of un- 
 pleasant indications of the hostile temper of the Dey people, fully 
 demonstrating the insincerity of their engagements in relation to 
 the lands, were but too distinctly afforded the settlers, 
 t On the arrival of the first division, consisting chiefly of the sin- 
 gle men, the natives positively, and with menaces of violence, for- 
 bade their landing. The smallest of the two islands at the mouth 
 of the Montserado, had been obtained by special purchase, of John 
 S. Mill,* at that time the occupant and proprietor; on which the 
 people and property were safely debarked, without any actual op- 
 position. But the endeavours of the agent, either by the decision 
 
 * VI r. Mill, an African by birth, and son of an English merchant who owned a 
 large trading concern on the coast, had enjoyed a superior English education; 
 was employed in a respectable capacity in the colony, in 1824, and died of a 
 rapid phthisis pulmonalis, July 20th, 1825. I'he interest he took in the foun- 
 dation of the Colony, entitles his memory to the grateful recollection of its 
 fiends.- 
 
b 
 
 of his toae, or by means of arguments drawn from the justice qf 
 his procedure, or prospective advantages to be expected from 
 the settlement, entirely failed to conciliate their friendship, or 
 alter their settled purpose to expel the colonists from their coun- 
 *-' 7 - 
 
 But in that spirit of duplicity which has marked the policy of 
 too many who claim to be their superiors, the Chiefs of the tribe 
 in a few days, held out an offer of accommodation with the most im- 
 posing appearances of sincerity and reason. The ferment seemed 
 in a great measure allaj^ed; and the agent was so far deluded by 
 the stratagem, as to render it in the first instance entirely successful. 
 Yielding to an invitation to meet the country authorities in a 
 -friendl}’’ conference, at king Peter’s town, he imprudently put 
 his person in their power, and found himself a prisoner. Having 
 been detained several days. Dr. Ayres consented, as the condition 
 of his freedom, to re-accept the remnant of the goods which liad 
 been advanced the month preceding, in part payment for the 
 lands j but contrived to evade their injunction for the immediate 
 removal of the people from the country, by alleging the want of 
 vessels for the purpose. 
 
 The individuals at this time on Perseverance Island did not 
 amount to twenty. The island itself being a mere artificial for- 
 mation, and always becalmed by the high land of the Cape which 
 towers above it in the direction of the ocean, soon proved itself to 
 be a most insalubrious situation. The only shelter it afforded to 
 the people and stores was to be found under the decayed thatch of 
 half a dozen diminutive huts, constructed after the native manner 
 of building; and the island was entirely destitute of fresh water 
 and firewood. All the settlers had left Sierra Leone in a good 
 state of health. But the badness of the air, the want of properly 
 ventilated houses, and sufticent shelter, with other circumstances 
 of their new situation, soon began to prey upon their strength, and 
 caused several cases of intermittent fever ; from a course of which 
 most of the company had been but a very few months recovered. 
 
 Happily, a secret, ex-parte arrangement was, at this critical 
 period, settled with king George, wtio resided on the Cape, and 
 claimed a sort of jurisdiction over the northern district of the pen- 
 insula of Montserado; in virtue of which the settlers were permitted 
 to pass across the river, and commence the laborious task of 
 clearing away the heavy forest which covered the site of tiieir in* 
 
9 
 
 tended town. — It may illustrate a trait of the African char- 
 acter, to observe tliattlie consideration which moved this Chief to 
 accord to the settlers a privilege which has manifestly led to their 
 permanent establishment at Montserado, and the translation of the 
 country to new' masters, was the compliment of half a dozen gal- 
 lons of rum and about an equal amount in African trade-cloth, 
 and tobacco. 
 
 Every motive which interest, increasing sufferings, and even the 
 > love of life, could .supply, at this moment, animated the exertions 
 of this little band. Their Agent had left them to the temporary 
 superintendence of one of their owm number,'*^ under whose coun- 
 sel and example the preparation of their new habitations advanced 
 so rapidly, as in a very few w-eeks, to present the rudiments of 22 
 <hvellings, ranged in an orderly manner, on the principal street of 
 their settlement. 
 
 But at this interesting period, when hope and success began to 
 re-assert in the brightened sphere of their fortunes a decided ascen- 
 dant, one of those unforeseen circums,tances which so often entirely 
 frustrate the best concerted schemes of human prudence, and w'arn 
 mankind of the supremacy of a divine Providence, suddenly ter- 
 minated the pleasing anticipations of the settlers in bitter disap- 
 pointment, and kindled around them the flame of w’ar. 
 
 • A small vessel, prize to an English cruiser, bound to Sierra 
 Leone wdth about 30 liberated Africans, put into the roads for a 
 supply of whaler, and had the misfortune to part her cable and come 
 ashore, within a short distance of Perseverance Island. In this 
 state she was in a few hours, beat to fragments by the action of a 
 heavy surf. — The natives pretend to a prescriptive right which in- 
 terest never fails to enforce in its utmost extent, to seize and ap- 
 propriate the w recks and cargoes of vessels stranded, under what- 
 ever circumstances, on their coast. The English schooner having 
 drifted upon the main land about one mile from the extremity of 
 the cape, and a small distance below George’s town, w'as imme- 
 diately claimed as his property. His people rushed to the beach 
 W'ith their arms, to sustain this claim; and attempting to board the 
 wTeck, were fired upon by the prize master and compelled to de- 
 sist. In the mean time the aid of the settlers was sent for; which, 
 from an opinion of the extreme danger of their English visitants, 
 
 ♦Frederick James, who now holds in the municipal government of th^ 
 Colony, a situation of the very first respectability. 
 
 2 
 
lu 
 
 they immediately afforded. A boat was instantly manned, and 
 despatched to their relief ; and a brass field piece stationed on tlie 
 island, brought to bear upon the assailants. The latter then 
 hastily retired to their town, which was, like most African ham- 
 lets, closely environed by an ancient growth of trees, with the loss 
 of two of their number killed and several disabled. The English 
 officer, his crew and the Africans, were brought oft’ in safety j but 
 suffered the total loss of their vessel, with most of the stores and 
 othet property on board of her. 
 
 But owing to some very culpable neglect on the part of the per- 
 sons who served the field piece on this occasion, the fire was com- 
 municated from the fusee, to the thatch roof of the store-house con- 
 taining the provisions, arms, ammunition, merchandise, and other 
 public property of the Colony. The powder, a few casks of pro- 
 visions, and a scanty supply of other stores, were providentially 
 rescued, through the timely exertions of the people. But proper- 
 ty amounting to near three thousand dollars, assorted for the settle- 
 ment, and all of the first necessity, was consumed ! 
 
 The country people disappointed of the valuable tempting booty, 
 which, in imagination they had appropriated by anticipation, 
 manifestly, in consequence of the presence and interference of the 
 settlers, became as will be readily supposed, exasperated against^ 
 them to the highest pitch of hostility. The sight of their dead and 
 wounded countrymen completed the measure of their irritation ; 
 and fiercely excited in their minds a savage thirst of vengeance. 
 Nothing but the dread of opposing the great guns of the Islanders 
 could, at this moment, have restrained them from opening upon 
 them volleys of musketry, from the opposite bank of the river 5 
 which, had it been continued for any length of time, could scarcely 
 have failed to prove in a high degree destructive. But seldom 
 venturing near enough to give the least precision to their fire, 
 they were always sure, on delivering it, to retire with the utmost 
 precipitation to the deepest part of the forest, before they could col- 
 lect sufficient assurance to reload their pieces: and a single dis- 
 charge of a four or six pounder before they had evaded the range of 
 its shot, seldom failed to put an end to their insolence for the re- 
 mainder of the day. 
 
 But in this mockery of ordinary warfare, it is to be observed, 
 that no combination of the tribes — not even an union of the forces 
 
 the smallest suigle tribe of the country, had taken place, 
 
11 
 
 King George’s warriors, scarcely numbering' 20 men, were the 
 only individuals who had presumed to go to the length of open 
 hostilities. And in this procedure they could justify themselves 
 to the country authorities only on the ground of self-defence. A 
 war, among the tribes of this country, to be legal, must have been 
 resolved upon in a general assembly of their chiefs ; unless delibe* 
 ration and delay are precluded, as in the present case, by an ap- 
 parent necessity of self protection. Such an assembly not having 
 been at this time convoked, the actual danger to which the settlers 
 were exposed, was wholly confined to the south, or king George’s 
 side of the Montserado river. But as the settlers were obliged to 
 derive their whole supply of fresh water from this bank — particu- 
 larly as the site of the town which they had eagerly designated 
 tor their future residence, and made some progress in preparing, 
 occupied the height overlooking their enemy’s town — ^they were 
 subjected to various inconveniences, and obliged entirely to dis- 
 continue their principal work The frames of their unfinished 
 dwellings were thrown down ; and several petty insults of a like 
 nature inflicted upon them, which they had no power to prevent. 
 But the wakeful activity of their savage enemy soon caused them to 
 deplore a more melancholy proof of his power to injure them. 
 
 A boat, strongly manned and armed, had proceeded to the dis- 
 tance of nearly three miles above the Island, on the morning of 
 the 27th of March, for a supply of water. It was discovered, 
 half an hour afterwards, that King George’s warriors had also passed 
 lip the river by land, evidently with the intention of attacking the 
 boat’s crew. A second boat was then despatched to overtake, and, 
 in case of necessity, support the first. Several of the English, sea- 
 men, conducted by their office?*, had, with their usual promptitude 
 on such occasions, volunteered their attendance. The bank of the 
 Montserado was at that time entirely covered, the whole distance 
 which the boats had to ascend it, with heavy trees j and in several 
 places, is nearly overhung with precipitous rocks of very broken 
 appearance, and enormous size. Tlie boats had proceeded without 
 any discovery of their enemy to the watering-place — filled their 
 casks and put off from the shore on their return, when the firing 
 commenced. The boats had just entered the upper end of the 
 narrow reach formed by the south line of Bank Island and the 
 main land. As nothing could have been affected by a show to 
 resistance against a concealed enemy, the boats could do little 
 
1 
 
 12 
 
 more than hold the opposite shore as closely as possible, and make 
 the best of their way down the river. The tire was renewed, at 
 all the different angles and projections of the bank which allowed 
 the foe to approach under cover of the rocks and trees, sufficiently 
 near the boat channel of the river. It is to be presumed they 
 suffered nothing in this unequal skirmish ; while on board of the 
 boats one colonist* and an English seaman, were mortally wound- 
 ed — and two other persons slightly injured. 
 
 These occurrences could not fail to diffuse a spirit of fervid ex- 
 citement throughout the Dey tribe. The fatal consequences likely 
 to follow the admission into their country of civilized strangers — 
 strangers whom they had learnt to be entirely adverse to the slave- 
 trade — formed the topic of violent and exaggerated declamation, 
 by nearly all whose interest, fears, or prejudices were concerned 
 in their expulsion. Old King Peter, the venerable patriarch of the 
 nation, was capitally impeached and brought to trial on a charge 
 of betraying the interests of his subjects by selling their country. 
 The accusation was substantiated 5 and it was for some time doubt- 
 ful whether the punishment annexed by the laws and usages of all 
 nations, to high treason, would not be carried into execution 
 against a king to whom they had been accustomed to render 
 obedience for more than thirty years. 
 
 The settlers were particularly embarrassed by their uncertainty 
 as to the actual connexion subsisting between their neighbours of 
 the larger island, and their enemy. Ba Caia, who was at the 
 head of the former, had constantly held forth the most friendly 
 professions; and at this time, by secretly supplying them with fuel 
 and water, gave a more substantial proof than ever, of their sin- 
 cerity. But his plantations and numerous detached bodies of his 
 people, were entirely exposed to the power of the Deys, with 
 whom it was of the first necessity for him to maintain an amicable 
 correspondence. Hence he came unavoidably to incur the suspi- 
 cions of the colonists, who, from the proximity of this town, could 
 at any hour lay it in ashes. Ba Caia had, for many years, sus- 
 tained himself in his unprotected and delicate situation by means 
 of a fortunate alliance with king Boatswain,! one of the most fa- 
 
 ♦ Wiley Jones, from Petersburg, Va. who expired on the 18th of April. 
 
 ■f Boatswain is a native of Shebar. In his youth he had served in some 
 menial capacity on board of an English merchant vessel, where he acquired 
 the name which he still retains, His personal qualifications are of the most 
 
13 
 
 U10U3 and powerful chiefs of the Condoes. Boatswain's powclf 
 had been often felt by the maritime tribes, and the most convinc- 
 ing proofs of it were continually given in his bloody wars in tlie 
 interiour. He had thus been long acquiring a general influence, 
 which gave him, even in the affairs of his neighbours, an authority 
 little short of dictatorial. To this powerful ally, the old man now 
 had recourse ; who, with the promptitude which distinguishes all 
 his movements, immediately made his appearance on the Montsera- 
 do, not, as he said, to pronounce sentence^ between the coast peo- 
 ple and the strangers, but to do justice : and he had actually 
 brought along with him a force sufficient to carry his decisions into 
 immediate effect. But the Deys, how^ever stung by this insolence, 
 were not in a situation to resent it. 
 
 The Agents who had been absent from the Cape since the com- 
 mencement of these trying events, now' rejoined the settlers on 
 the island. Boatsw ain having by a direct exertion of authority, 
 convoked the head-chiefs of the neighbourhood, sent for the Agents 
 and principal settlers, to come and explain the nature of their 
 claims on the country, and to set forth their grievances. They 
 complained of the ‘ bad faith of the Deys in w ithholding the posses- 
 sion of lands which they had sold to the Colonists^ and of the in- 
 jurious acts of hostility committed by king George, apparently 
 with the consent of his superiors.’ A desultory and noisy discus- 
 sion followed, in which the savage umpire disdained to take any 
 part w'hatever. But having ascertained the prominent facts of 
 the case, he at length arose, and put an end to the assembly by 
 laconically remarking to the Deys, “ That having sold their 
 country, and accepted the payment in part, they must take the 
 
 commanding description ; and to them he appears wholly indebted for his 
 present notoriety. To a stature approaching seven feet in height, perfectly 
 erect, muscular, and finely proportioned — a countenance noble, intelligent, 
 and full of animation — he unites great comprehension and activity of mind, 
 and, what is still more imposing, a savage loftiness and even grandeur of sen- 
 timent — forming altogether, an assemblage of qualities, ob\nously dispropor- 
 tioned to the actual sphere of his ambition. He is prodigal of every thing 
 except the means of increasing the terror of his name. “ I give you a bul- 
 lock,” said he to an agent of the Society, “ not to be considered as Boat^ 
 swain’s present, but for your breakfast.” To his friend Ba Caia, he once sent, 
 “King B. is your friend: he therefore advises you to lose not a moment in 
 providing yourself plenty of pow der and ball — or, in three days (the least time 
 possible to make the journey) let me see my fugitive woman again.” 
 
14 
 
 consequences. Their refusal of the balance of the purchase mo- 
 nej, did not annul, or affect the bargain. Let the Americans 
 have their lands immediately. Whoever is not satisfied with my 
 decision, let him tell me so!” Then, turning to the Agents, “ 1 
 promise you protection. If these people give you further distur- 
 bance, send for me. And I swear, if they oblige me to come 
 again to quiet them, I will do it to purpose, by taking their heads 
 from their shoulders; as I did old king George’s, on my last visit 
 to the coast, to settle disputes.” 
 
 Whatever might be thought of the equity of this decision, there 
 was but one sentiment as to the necessity of acquiescing in it. 
 The usual inte^'change olf friendly presents between the parties, 
 then took place ; and the settlers immediately resumed their la- 
 bours on the Cape. , 
 
 That guardian Providence which has so graciously made the 
 protection of this infant settlement, in every stage, the object of 
 its tenderest care, has in few instances been more conspicuous,, 
 than in thus employing the ill-gotten power of an ambitious stran- 
 ger in theinteriour of Africa, to deliver the C olonists, at a moment 
 when hostilities v/ould have defeated their object, from the machi- 
 nations of their treacherous neighbours. To render this interpo- 
 sition the more remarkable, it had actually proceeded to the 
 length of removing the principal obstacles to the pacification of 
 the Deys, almost without an eftbrt on the part of the settlers, and 
 entirely without the knowledge, or the presence, of either of 
 the Agents. There w’ould be a degree of impiety in repressing in 
 the breast the sentiment of religious recognition, which a single 
 dispensation of so impressive a character is fitted to excite. But 
 it must be perceived, in the progress of this narrative, that every 
 instance of extraordinary providential deliverance and protection^ 
 borrows a more aftecting lustre from the reflected light of many 
 others. 
 
 On the 28tli of April, the ceremony of taking possession of the 
 Cape and country w^as performed, with probably the eftect of 
 adding a fresh excitement to the zeal of the people. But, shall 
 WQ. most deplore, or admire in human nature, that weakness which 
 can so easily mistake the present visions of hope, for the prophe- 
 cies of futurity? On the very spot which was gladdened with 
 the felicitations of this occasion, some who were the objects of 
 them, were soon, alas ! to pour out their lives through the wounds 
 
15 
 
 received in a doubtful contest for that very occupation wliich they 
 had so blindly anticipated ! 
 
 But shortly after tliis formality, a proof of a much more signifi- 
 cant and substantial nature, was afforded by the people, of the 
 entire sincerity of every former profession of attachment to the 
 country of their adoption. 
 
 Tlie houses were yet destitute of roofs, for which the material 
 was to be sought in the almost impracticable swamps of the coun- 
 try — the rainy-season-tornadoes had already commenced — the Isl- 
 and, if much longer occupied by all the Colonists, must prove the 
 grave of many — sickness was beginning to be prevalent; and both 
 the Agents w ere among the sufferers — the store of provisions w as 
 scanty, and all other stores nearly exhausted I The threatening 
 storm of native hostility had been, for a moment, averted — but 
 the very circumstances attending the dispersion of the cloud, 
 proved how suddenly and how easily it might re-collect its fuiyi 
 Under these circumstances, deliberately surveyed, it required a 
 very large share of operative confidence in the providence of the 
 Most High, not to have yielded to the discouragement they so 
 strongly tended to create: and it is not to be admired, that the 
 Agent should have come forwurd with a proposal to re-embark the 
 settlers and stores, and convey them back to Sierra Leone. But 
 from this proposal a large majority of the people entirely dissent- 
 ed; and it w^as urged no farther. And could w^e estimate events 
 according to their intrinsic importance, independently of their 
 disguising or concealing circumstances, that interesting moment 
 would doubtless form the era, wdience the real occupation of Africa 
 ought to date; and \vhich deserves its annual celebration, as long 
 as the Colony shall afford an asylum to the oppressed strangers of 
 Africa. For the little band w ho embraced, under prospects so re- 
 plete with the most appaling difficulties and dangers, the resolu- 
 tion of remaining on the Montserado, how^ever abandoned, gave in 
 the very act, the best pledge in their power to offer, — a pledge in 
 which their property, their health, their families, and their lives 
 wrere included, to find for themselves, and tlieir brethern, a home 
 in Africa. And it is a pledge, 1 add, w'hich an approving Provi- 
 dence has since enabled them, at the expense of some blood, and 
 many severe toils, triumphantly to redeem. 
 
 Mr. Wiltberger, the Society’s assistant Agent, consented to 
 await with the people, the return of the schooner from another 
 
16 
 
 trip to the windward. But the number of the settlers, small at 
 brst, was yet farther reduced by the departure along with Dr. 
 Ayres, of a small number who had embraced his proposal. Ex- 
 clusive of the women and children and four native Africans, the 
 little force remaining numbered 21 persons capable of bearing^ 
 arms. 
 
 The settled rains of the season now set in with uncommon vio- 
 lence: and the struggles and hardships encountered by this 
 houseless, but persevering band, ai-e not easily to be imagined. 
 But before the- last of May, several families had removed and 
 taken up their residence on tlie Peninsula,* a store-house sufficient 
 to contain their stores was built of good materials; and a small 
 frame house finished for the Agent. 
 
 In the second Aveek of July, the Island was finally evacuated, 
 and all were happily re-united, each in his own humble dwelling, 
 on the spot where they have since remained. The Agents had in 
 the interim both embarked on board of the only public schooner fit 
 for service, and sailed for the United States. The settlement was 
 left under the supervision of one of the emigrants,* who acquitted 
 himself of the charge w ith entire credit, and at the present time 
 enjoys in the municipal government one of the most respectable 
 situations in the gift of the people. 
 
 It wull be readily perceived that no part of the provisions neces- 
 sary for the consumption of the settlers in the present season, 
 could be draw'll from the produce of the soil. Vessels seldom 
 appear on the coasts betw een the months of May and November; 
 and as the event proved, nothing in that period could be pur- 
 chased from abroad. The most economical management of the 
 stores on hand, could not make them last more than half the sea- 
 son of the rains; and the natives treacherously waiting the depar- 
 ture of Boatsw'ain into the interiour, and the disappearance of the 
 little armed schooner, belonging to the colony, on her voyage for 
 the United States, replaced themselves in an attitude of incipient 
 hostility, and prohibited the conveyance of supplies to the Colony 
 out of the surrounding country. To add if possible to the dark 
 and desperate prospects of the settlers, the stores in their posses- 
 sion had been reported to the managers at home, as nearly equal to 
 a twelvemonth’s consumption. But the eye of God was upon 
 them. His providence w as again intei posed for then’ preserv'ation. 
 
 * Elijah Johnson, froin New-York, in 1820 
 
17 
 
 The Government of the United States having a number of 
 Africans in the custody of the marshal of Georgia, who had been 
 liberated a few months previously, from the hold of a slave-vessel, 
 by the operation of the benevolent law of 1819, determined at 
 this time on the transportation of them to their native country. A 
 vessel was chartered for this service in Baltimore; on boafd of 
 which 37 persons, under the patronage of the Colonization Society, 
 were also embarked, with a moderate supply of stores for the setr 
 tlement. 
 
 This expedition was committed tr» the direction of Mr. J. Ash- 
 mun, who, in the expectation of aiding a good work to which 
 much of his time and labour had been already devoted in th«5 
 United States, had consented to accept from the Society a com- 
 mission for the voyage. Under an arrangement for returning in 
 the same vessel, he had yielded to the alfectionate solicitude of his 
 lady to accompany him. This vessel, the brig ‘‘ Strong,” of Bal- 
 timore, sailed from Hamp+on Roads on the 26th of May; but prov- 
 ing a most indifferent sailor, did not arrive in the offing of Fayal, 
 one of the western islands, before the 26th of June. Having at 
 this island repaired the injury sustained in a very severe and pro- 
 tracted gale, and refreshed the already exhausted passengers, she 
 sailed again on tlie 3d of July, and anchored under Cape Montsera- 
 do on the 8th of August. Of 55 passengers not an individual had 
 suffered from indisposition on the last half of this tedious voyage. 
 
 The following day, on communicating with the shore, Mr. Ash- 
 mun found, equally to his astonishment and regret, that both the 
 Agents had taken their departure from the country — that the public 
 property, as already related, had been chiefly consumed by fire — 
 and that the immediate prospects of the settlers, precarious before 
 on account of their numerical weakness in the midst of barbarous 
 nations, was but little improved by an accession of numbers, with- 
 out a proportional increase of the means of subsisting them. It 
 was now the height of the rainy season; but not even a thatch 
 roof was to be found not in the occupancy of the settlers — some of 
 whom were still very insufficiently sheltered themselves. Houses 
 were therefore to be built for the reception of the emigrants before 
 they could be safely landed ; and a secure store-house completed 
 before it was possible to discharge the transport. 
 
 Mr. Ashmun found himself constrained, by the pledge he had 
 given the Board of Managers, to render the Colony whatever aid 
 3 
 
18 
 
 might be in his power, and by every motive which humanity could 
 supply, to take charge of the Colony, and convert its slender re- 
 sources, whether for the protection or subsistence of the people, to 
 the best account. A large store-house was accordingly laid 
 off, and the only practicable preparations made, during the 9th, 
 for landing the passengers. But in the morning of the same day, 
 the brig having unfortunately parted a cable, was obliged to throw 
 out the only remaining anchor on board ; by which she was lying 
 when the Agent returned on board in the evening. 
 
 But, at day light on the 10th, the watch gave the alarming inteK 
 ligence that the cable had again parted, and the best bower anchor 
 gone ! The vessel was lying two cables’ length from the beach, 
 and a strong breeze blew directly on shore. But the current 
 from the river favouring at the moment, the vessel was, by the 
 prompt exertions of an active crew, got under sail in time to save 
 her from immediate destruction ; and by being brought close to 
 the wind was enabled to make good a course parallel with that 
 part of the coast. The passengers, to the number of 51, were 
 still on board. The brig’s boats could not land ten persons at a 
 trip ; and after struggling for 48 hours to get to windward, the 
 vessel was found to be land-locked completely, within the project- 
 ing promontories of Capes Montserado and Mount. The reader in 
 the least acquainted with nautical affairs may conjecture the 
 probable fate both of the vessel and passengers. But Providence 
 again interposed for the preservation of both. A small anchor 
 was recovered by the assistance of the boats, by Mdiich the brig 
 was again moored in the road-stead ; but at the distance of 5 miles 
 from the settlement. The people were safely landed on the 13th 
 and 14th; but owing to the prevalence of boisterous weather, the 
 loss of the principal boat employed in the service, and the sicken- 
 ing of The boatmen, it became a work of the most severe and diffi- 
 cult nature, to bring her cargo to land. In the Colonial Journal 
 of this period, several instances are met with in which the only 
 boat that could be employed in this business, was carried twenty 
 miles out to sea by the force of the currents, and returned at the 
 end of 24 hours, without having been able to approach within a 
 league of the brig ! But after four weeks of incessant exertion, 
 the Agent enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing the passengers and 
 property all safe ashore $ the latter secured in an extensive store*- 
 
19 
 
 house ; and most of the former in a good measure protected from 
 the incessant rains of that inclement season. 
 
 In the mean time the Agent had lost not a moment in ascertain- 
 ing the external relations of the settlement, and the temper of its 
 neighbours. He immediately proceeded to visit the most consid- 
 erable of the kings 5 whom he thought it safe to bind to a pacific 
 policy, by encouraging them to open a trade with the Colony — by 
 forming with them new amicable alliances — and receiving the sons 
 and subjects of as many as possible to instruct in the language 
 and arts of civilization. But it could not escape observation tha ' 
 under these smooth and friendly appearances, lurked a spirit of 
 determined malignity, which only waited for an opportunity to 
 exert itself for the ruin of the infant Colony. So early as the 
 18th of August, the present Martello tower was therefore planned^ 
 a company of labourers employed by the Agent, in clearing the 
 ground on which it stands; and a particular survey taken of the 
 military strength and means of the settlers. Of the native 
 Americans, 27, when not sick, were able to bear arms ; but they 
 were wholly untrained to their use; and capable in their present un- 
 disciplined state of making but a very feeble defence indeed. There 
 were 40 muskets in store, which, with repairing, were capable of 
 being rendered serviceable. Of 1 brass, and 5 iron guns attach- 
 ed to the settlement, the last only was fit for service, and four of 
 the former required carriages. Several of these were nearly bu- 
 lled in the mud, on the opposite side of the river. Not a yard of 
 abattis, or other fence-work, had been constructed. There was no 
 fixed ammunition, nor, without great difficulty and delay, was it 
 possible to load th? only gun w hich was provided with a sufficient 
 carriage. 
 
 It was soon perceived that the means as well as an organized 
 system of defence were to be originated, without either the ma- 
 terials or the artificers usually considered necessary for such pur- 
 poses. In the organization of the men, thirteen African youths 
 attached to the United States’ Agency, most of wffiom had never 
 loaded a musket, were enrolled in the lieutenant’s corps, and daily 
 exercised in the use of arms. The guns were, one after another, 
 with infinite labour, transported over the river, conveyed to the 
 height of the peninsula, and mounted on rough truck carriages, 
 which in the event proved to answer a very good purpose. A 
 master of ordnance was appointed, who, with his assistants, re- 
 
20 
 
 paired the small arms — made up a quantity of fixed ammunitloiif 
 and otherwise aided in arranging the details of the service. 
 
 The little town was closely environed, except on the side of 
 the river, with the heavy forest in the bosom of which it was situ- 
 ated — thus giving to a savage enemy an important advantage of 
 which it became absolutely necessary to deprive him, by enlarging- 
 to the utmost, the cleared space about the buildings. This labour 
 was immediately undertaken, and carried on Avithout any other 
 intermission, than that caused by sickness of the people, and the 
 interruption of other duties equally connected with the safety of 
 the place. But the rains were immoderate and nearly constant. 
 
 In addition to these fatiguing labours, was that of maintaining 
 the nightly watch; — which, from the number of sentinels neces- 
 sary for the common safety, shortly became more exhausting than 
 all the other burdens of the people. No less than 20 individuals 
 were every night detailed for this duty, after the 31st of August. 
 
 At the commencement of the third week after his arrival, the 
 Agent was attacked Avith fever — and three days afterwards expe- 
 rienced the greater calamity of perceiving the health of his wife 
 assailed ith symptoms of a still more alarming character. 
 
 The sickness from this period made a rapid progress among the 
 last dh ision of emigrants. On the 1st of September 12 were 
 wholly disabled. The burdens thus thrown upon their brethren 
 accelerated the work of the climate so rapidly, that on the 10th 
 of this month, of the whole expedition, only two remained fit for 
 any kind of service. The Agent was enabled, by a merciful dis- 
 pensation of Divine Providence, to maintain a difficult struggle 
 with his disorder for four weeks; in which period, after a night of 
 delirium and suffering, it Avas not an unusual circumstance for 
 him to be able to spend an entire morning in laying off' and di- 
 recting the execution of the public works. 
 
 King George abandoned his town on the Cape, about the 1st of 
 September; and conveyed all his people and moveables tOAvards 
 the head waters of the Junk river, at about 6 leagues distance. 
 The intercourse between the other people of the tribe and the set- 
 tlement had nearly terminated; and the native youths, Avhose resi- 
 dence on the Cape had been regarded as the best security of the 
 good conduct of the tribe, were daily deserting, in consequence, as 
 it was ascertained, of secret intelligence conveyed them by their 
 friends. 
 
21 
 
 Tiie plan of defence adopted was to station five heavy guns ^ 
 the different angles of a triangle which should circumscribe thn 
 whole settlement — each of the angles resting on a point of ground, 
 sufficiently commanding to enfilade two sides of the triangle, and 
 sweep a considerable extent of ground beyond the lines. The 
 guns at these stations were to be covered by musket proof triangu-* 
 lar stockades, of which any two should be sufficient to contain all 
 the settlers in their wings. The brass piece and two swivels mount- 
 ed on travelling carriages, were stationed in the centre, ready to 
 support the post which might be exposed to the heaviest attack. 
 After completing these detached works, it was in the intention of 
 the Agent, had the enemy allowed the time, to join all together by a 
 paling to be carried quite around the settlement ; — and in the event 
 of a yet longer respite, to carry on, as rapidly as possible, under 
 the protection of the nearest fortified point, the construction of 
 the Martello tower; which, as soon as completed, would nearly 
 supersede all the other works; and by presenting an impregnable' 
 barrier to the success of any native force, probably become the in- 
 strument of a general and permanent pacification. Connected 
 with these measures ot safety, was the extension to the utmost, of 
 the cleared space about the settlement, still leaving the trees 
 and brushwood, after being separated from their trunks, to spread 
 the ground with a tangled hedge, through which nothing should 
 be able to make its way, except the shot from the batteries. 
 
 .This plan was fully communicated to the most intelligent of the 
 people ; which, in the event of the disability or death of the 
 Agent, they might, it was hoped, so far carry into effect as to en- 
 sure the preservation of the settlement. 
 
 It was an occasion of grateful acknowledgment to that Divine 
 Power under whose heavy hand the Agent was now obliged to 
 bow, that he had been spared to settle these arrangements, and 
 see them in a train of accomplishment, previous to his being laid 
 entirely aside. It was also a source of melancholy satisfaction 
 that he was permitted to watch the fatal progress of disease in an 
 affectionate wife until the last ra^ of intellectual light was extin- 
 guished by its force, two days before her death. Her life had 
 been one of uncommon devotion and self denial, inspired by a vig- 
 orous and practical faith in the Divine Saviour of the world; and 
 her end, according to his promise, was ineftable peace. She ex- 
 pired on Sunday the 15th of September. 
 
Two cf the emigrants belonging to the last expedition followed 
 in the same week; at which time there remained but a single in- 
 dividual of the company not on the sick list. 
 
 From this date until the first week in November, the Agent con- 
 tinued in an extremely low and dangerous state; so entirely de- 
 bilitated in body and mind, as to be nearly incapable of motion,' 
 and insensible to every thing except the consciousness of suffering. 
 Two of the posts had been put in complete order in this time, he 
 afterwards learnt by the persevering exertions of only a part of 
 the settlers. For as is the misfortune of all communities, so it 
 was discovered in this, that there were individuals on whose sel- 
 fish feelings, the promptings of benevolence, the demands of equi- 
 ty, considerations of the most pressing necessity, and the more 
 imperative and awful dictates of conscience, could make no effect- 
 ual impression — and to whom, the moment which delivered them 
 from that coercion of authority, was the signal for their desertion of 
 every public and private duty! It is but an act of justice to the 
 deserving colonists, to make this discrimination; and to assure 
 the others, wherever they happen to exist in vagrant wretchedness, 
 that posterity will owe them no thanks that the first settlement on 
 Cape Montserado was not reduced to a heap of carnage and ruins! 
 
 The Agent, as soon as the force of his disease had so far subsid- 
 ed as to enable him to look abroad, discovered with great satis-, 
 faction, that the people had plied their labours with so much dili- 
 gence, as to produce a wide opening on the whole of the southern 
 quarter of the settlement. The branching tops of the fallen trees 
 formed so perfect an obstruction to the passage of human beings, 
 as nearly to assure the safety of the settlement against an attack 
 from that side. But the want of system in carrying on the diver- 
 sified services devolving on the people, of whom several were 
 nearly overpowered by an incessant routine of nightly watching 
 and daily labour, had still left the other preparation too little ad- 
 vanced to authorize an opinion of the safety of the place, for an 
 hour. The carpenters, who alone were able to direct or assist in 
 the construction of the gun-carriages, had, for the encouragement 
 and direction of the labourers, given up too much of their time 
 to the common fatigues of the field. The western station, which 
 in the present state of the defence, was obviously the most expos- 
 ed, not only remained entirely uncovered, but the long revolving 
 
23 
 
 nine pounder, which was to constitute its chief strength, was still 
 unmounted. 
 
 But the Agent could not walk at this date without support; and 
 with a mind shattered by the strokes of a malady believed to be 
 mortal, could neither decide upon nor enforce any arrangement 
 which should much accelerate their most essential preparations. 
 But, from this period, his febrile paroxysms were daily less sub- 
 duing and protracted — and by a recurrence to the Journal, it ap- 
 pears, that he was able on the 7th of November, to recommence 
 the daily entries, and thereafter take a daily increasing share in 
 the operations of the people. 
 
 It is here proper to return to a period already considerably 
 passed in the foregoing narrative, in order to take a connected 
 ' view of the movements of the natives; who, without formally de- 
 nouncing war, had been constantly busied in hostile machinations; 
 which at this date were so far matured as to want nothing but a 
 proper opportunity of being carried into effect. 
 
 It has been seen that out of the dread of provoking Boatswain- s 
 resentment, they had reluctantly assumed a show of friendship. 
 But this disguise of the true state of their intentions, was too 
 slight to conceal them from the most superficial observer. Unhap- 
 pily, the chiefs had attributed the abrupt departure of the Agents 
 to a want of spirit, and a dread of their power: and w^re natural- 
 ly stimulated by the absence of so important and fonnidable a 
 means of defence as was afforded by the two schooners, to make 
 the most of the circumstance, and directly attack the settlement ; 
 hoping, if successful, to be able either to bribe, or resist the indig- 
 nation of king Boatswain. 
 
 The arrival of the “Strong,” in August, delayed for a while 
 tlie execution of their purpose. But no sooner had that vessel 
 sailed, about the first of October, than secret meetings for discuss- 
 ing the question of renewing hostilites were again holden. The 
 Agent had arranged a plan for obtaining intelligence, which left 
 him ignorant of none of their movements — and by the singular 
 fidelity and diligence of an individual who has never yet been pro- 
 perly compensated, and whose name it is necessary to conceal, 
 was perfectly informed of the temper and stand of every influen- 
 tial head-man in the country, and often furnished with the very 
 arguments used by them in their debates. 
 
 \t this time a diversity of view^s were entertained by the diffei- 
 
24 
 
 ent members of their war-council. It was contended by kings Pe- 
 ter and Bristol, that “ The increased numbers of the Colonists, 
 gave them a superiority which w^ould insure their success — that 
 they were not a settlement of foreigners and enemies, but of their 
 countrymen and friends, as was proved by the identity of their 
 colour, and therefore had a right to reside in their country, and 
 might be expected to turn all the civilization w^hich they had learnt 
 abroad, to the improvement of their common country.” 
 
 Kings George, Governor, and all the other head-men of the 
 Iribe, contended that “The Americans were strangers who had 
 forgot their attachment to the land of their fathers ; for if not, why 
 had they not renounced their connexion with w hite men altogether, 
 and placed themselves under the protection of the kings of the 
 country? King George had already been under the necessity of 
 removing from his town, and leaving the Cape in their hands. 
 This was but the first step of their encroachments. If left alone, 
 they must, in a very few years, master the whole country. And 
 as all other places were full, their own tribe must be without a 
 home, and cease any longer to remain a nation. The armed 
 schooners were gone; — the tw^o first Agents had fled also; — the. 
 new people could from sickness very little assist the old in the de- 
 fence of the place; and had brought w ith them a valuable cargo of 
 stores, wiiicli would enrich the conquerors. The White Man was 
 sick ; no doubt would die; and the rest were not much superior to 
 an equal number of themselves, and could be easily overcome, 
 either by sudden surprise, or by wasting and harrassing block- 
 ade.” 
 
 King Peter presuming still to dissent from the general voice of 
 his chiefs, w^as principally thro’ the influence of George, obliged 
 to shut his mouth, during all the follow ing deliberations of the as- 
 sembly. King Bristol returned home. 
 
 Messengers were then despatched in every direction, to solicit 
 the aid of the neighbour tribes. The king of Junk refused to 
 take any active part in person, and sent to assure the Colony of 
 his neutrality; but did not prohibit his people from following, in- 
 dividually, their owm inclinations. A number came to the w ar. 
 
 King Tom of little Bassa, entirely declined. King Ben of 
 Half C. Mount, and his people, came into the conspiracy. BristoJ 
 was himself inactive, but many of his people joined the hostile 
 party. 
 
25 
 
 Bd Caili, whose island is overlooked by the settlement, was too 
 much agitated by his fears, to resolve on any decided course. He 
 tarried at. home, of course; but many of his people gave them- 
 selves to the war. 
 
 Bromley, Todo, Governor, Konko, Jimmy, Gray, Long Peter, 
 George aiid Willy with their entire force, and all king Peter’s 
 warriors, and the auxiliaries already named, were, in the last week 
 of October, perfectly combined, and assembled under arms on 
 Bushrud Island, about four miles from the settlement, and on the 
 St. Paul. 
 
 Througliout their consultation, they had refused to receive any 
 proposals of a pacific nature from the Colony. At length the 
 Agent contrived, tlirough the mediation of Ba Caia, to say to them, 
 that “’He was perfectly apprised of their hostile deliberations, 
 notwithstanding their pains to conceal them; and that, if they pro- 
 • ceeded to bring war upon the Americans, without even asking to 
 settle their diderences in a friendly manner, they would dearly 
 learn what it was to light white men.”* To this message no reply 
 was made. 
 
 The activity and masculine eloquence of the indefatigable 
 George, were successfully exerled in generally engaging the fight-: 
 ing people near the theatre of the war. Every day produced a» 
 sensible augmentation of their numbers on Bushrod Island. 
 
 On the 7th of November, intelligence was received at the Cape 
 that the last measures had been taken preparatory to an assault 
 on the settlement, which was ordered v/ithin four days. The plan 
 of attack being left to the head warriors, whose trade it is to con- 
 cert and conduct it, was not to be learnt. 
 
 The Agent was able, with assistance, to inspect the works, and 
 review the little force the same evening. He stated to the people 
 the purport of the intelligence just received; that ‘war was now 
 inevitable; and tlie preservation of their property, their settle- 
 ment, their families, and their lives, depended under God, wholly 
 upon their own firmness and good conduct; that a most important 
 point in the defence of the place, was to secure a perfect unifor- 
 mity of action, which should assure to every post and individual 
 the firm support of every other. To this end, they must as punc- 
 tiliously obey their officers as if their whole duty w ere centered, 
 
 * A phi*ase by which civilized people of all colours and nations- are distin- 
 guished in the dialect of the coast. 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 as it probably was, in that one point; and every man as fai^liiuily 
 exert himself, as if the whole defence depended on Ids single 
 efforts. A coward, it was hoped, did not disgrace their ranks: 
 and as the cause was emphatically that of God and their country, 
 they might confidently expect his blessing and success to attend 
 the faithful discharge of their duty.’ — Every thing was then dis- 
 posed in order of action, and the men marched to their posts. 
 Tliey lay on their arms, with matches lighted, through the night. 
 
 On the 8th, the Agent, by an effort which entirely exhausted 
 his strength, proceeded to examine the obstruction thrown in the 
 way of the avenues to the settlement; and perceived to his ex- 
 treme mortification, that the west quarter was still capable of be- 
 ing approached by a narrow path-way, without difficulty; and that 
 the utmost exertions of the workmen had accomplished only the 
 mounting of the revolving nine pounder at the post; by which 
 the path was enfiladed; but that the platform was still left entirely 
 exposed. The eastern quarter was about equally open to the ap- 
 proach of the enemy, but the station was protected by a stockade,, 
 and a steep ledge of rocks made the access difficult. 
 
 Picket guards of four men each were detailed, to be posted 100 
 yards in advance of each of the stations, through the night. No 
 inan was allowed to sleep before the following day, at sun-rise; 
 and patrols of native Africans were dispersed thro’ the woods in 
 every direction. An order was given to families occupying the 
 most exposed houses, to sleep in such as were more centrally situ- 
 ated.* 
 
 Throughout the 9th, the order established on the preceding day 
 continued; and some progress made in the labour of falling trees, 
 and otherwise obstructing every practicable access to the settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Sunday, November 10th. The morning w^as devoted, as usual, 
 to the refreshment of the settlers, none of whom had slept for the 
 24 hours preceding. At 1 P. M. all were remanded to their fa- 
 tigue and other duties, till sun-set; when the order appointed for 
 the preceding night was resumed. The women and children at- 
 tended divine service. 
 
 * In the multitude of cares devolving- on the Agent, who dictated most of 
 his instructions from his bed, the measures necessary to secure the proper ob- 
 servancc of this order were unhuppily omitted; and the rashness of the mis- 
 gpAidcd inaivKluak who disobeyed it, met with a signal punishment. 
 
27 
 
 Intelligence had reached the Agent early in the day, that the hosc 
 tile forces had made a movement, and were crossing the Montse- 
 rado river a few miles above the settlement j but the patrols made 
 no discovery through the day. — At sun-set, however, the enemy 
 again put themselves in motion, and at an early hour of the night, 
 had assembled, as was afterwards learnt, to the number of six to 
 nine hundred men, on the peninsula, where, at the distance of less 
 than half a mile to the westward of the settlement, they encamp- 
 ed till near morning. Their camp, afterwards examined, extend- 
 ed half a mile in length, and induces a strong probability that the 
 number of warriors assembled on this occasion, has been alto- 
 gether underrated."*^ 
 
 The most wakeful vigilance on the part of the settlers, was kept 
 up through the night. — But, with a fatality tvhich was quite of a 
 piece with all the hindrances that had impeded the progress of 
 the defences on the western quarter, the picket-guard in advance 
 of that post, ventured on a violation of their orders, by leaving , 
 their station, at the first dawn of day; at which it was their duty 
 to remain till sun-rise. The native force w'as already in motion, • 
 and followed directly in the rear of the picket-guard. The latter 
 had just rejoined their gun, about which ten men were now as- 
 sembled; wdien the enemy suddenly presenting a front of ten 
 yards in width, at sixty distant, delivered their fire, and rush- 
 ed forward with their spears to seize the post. Several men 
 were killed and disabled by the first fire, and the remainder driven 
 from their gun without discharging it. Then, retiring upon the 
 centre, (see the arrangement of the guns, p. 21) threw the reserve 
 there stationed, into momentary confusion ; and had the enemy at 
 this instant, pressed their advantage, it is hardly conceivable that 
 they should have failed of entire success. Their avidity for plun- 
 der was their defeat. Four houses in that outskirt of the settle- 
 ment, had fallen into their hands. Every man on whose sav- 
 age rapacity so resistless a temptation happened to operate, 
 rushed impetuously upon the pillage thus thrown in his way. The 
 movement of the main body was disordered and impeded; and an 
 
 ^ The number given above, is deduced from the discordant accounts given 
 by the kings of the country, after the termination of hostilities ; some of 
 whom rated it much higher; b\it all were ignorant of the true number, and 
 5tll were interested to state it as low as would oouin credit. 
 
Cpportuiiity aft'orded the Agent, assisted principally by the Rew 
 Lot Cary, to rally the broken force of the settlers. The two cen- 
 tral guns, with a part of their own men, and several A\ ho had been 
 driven from the western station, were, with a little e:iertion, 
 brought back into action, and formed in the line of two slight 
 buildings, thirty yards in advance of the enemy. 
 
 The second discharge of a brass field-piece, double-shotted with 
 ball and grape, brought the whole body of the enemy to a stand. 
 That gun was well served, and appeared to do great execution. 
 The havoc would have been greater, had not the fire, from mo- 
 tives of humanity, been so directed as to clear the dwellings about 
 which the enemy’s force was gathered in heavy niasses. I'hese 
 houses were known at that moment to contain more than twelve 
 helpless women and children. 
 
 The eastern and southern posts, were, from their situation, pre- 
 cluded from rendering any active assistance on the occasion^ but 
 the officers and men attached to them, deserve the highest praise, 
 of doing their duty by maintaining their stations, and thus pro- 
 tecting the flank and rear of the few whose lot it was to be brought 
 to action. 
 
 A few musketeers with E. Johnson at their head, by passing 
 round upon the enemy’s flank, served to increase the consterna- 
 tion which was beginning to penade their unwieldy body. In 
 about twenty minutes after the settlers had taken their stand, the 
 front of the enemy began to recoil. But from the numerous ob- 
 structions in their rear, the entire absence of discipline, and the 
 extreme difficulty of giving a reversed motion to so large a body, 
 a small part only of which was directly exposed to danger, and 
 the delay occasioned by the practice of carrying off all their dead 
 and wounded, rendered a retreat for some minutes longer, impos- 
 sible. The very violence employed by those in the front, in their 
 impatience to hasten it, by increasing the confusion, produced an 
 eftect opposite to that intended. The Americans perceiving their 
 advantage, now regained possession of the western post, and in- 
 stantly brought the long nine to rake the whole line of the enemy. 
 Imagination can scarcely figure to itself a throng of human beings 
 in a more capital state of exposure to the destructive power of the 
 machinery of modern warfare! Eight hundred men were here 
 pressed shoulder to shoulder, in so compact a form that a child 
 
29 
 
 might easily walk upon their heads from one end of the mass to 
 the other, presenting in their rear a breadth of rank equal to tw en- 
 ty or thirty men, and all exposed to a gun of great power, raised 
 on a platform, at only thirty to sixty yards distance ! Every shot 
 literally spent its force in a solid mass of living human flesh! 
 Their fire suddenly terminated. ' A savage yell was raised, which 
 filled the dismal forest with a momentary horror. It graduall}'^ 
 died away; and the w^hole host disappeared. At 8 o’clock the 
 w^ell known signal of their dispersion and return to their homes, 
 was sounded, and many small parties seen at a distance, directly 
 afterwards, moving oft* in different directions. One large canoe 
 employed in reconveying a party across the mouth of the Montse- 
 rado, venturing within the range of the long gun, w^as struck by a 
 shot, and several men killed. 
 
 On the part of the settlers, it w as soon discovered that conside- 
 rable injury had been sustained. 
 
 One w'oman* who had imprudently passed the night in the house 
 first beset by the enemy, had received 13 wounds, and been 
 thrown aside as dead. Another,! flying from her house with her 
 two infant children, received a wound in the head, from a cutlass, 
 and w^as robbed of bodi her babes; but providentially escaped. 
 A young married woman,! w'ith the mother of five small children, 
 finding the house in w!iich they slept surrounded by savage ene- 
 mies, barricadoed the door, in the vain hope of safety. It was 
 forced. Each of the women then seizing an axe, held the irreso- 
 lute barbarians in check for several minutes longer. Having dis- 
 charged their guns, tliey seemed desirous of gaining the shelter of 
 the house previous to reloading. At length, with the aid of their 
 spears, and by means of a general rush, they overcame their he- 
 roine adversaries, and instantly stabbed the youngest to the heart. 
 The mother, instinctively springing for her suckling babe, which 
 recoiled through fright, and was left behind, rushed thro’ a small 
 window on the opposite side of the house, and providentially es- 
 caped to the lines, unhurt, betw een tw o heavy fires. 
 
 * Mrs. Ann Hawkins ; w ho after long and incredible suffering-s recover- 
 ed, and is yet living. 
 
 f Mrs. Minty Draper. 
 
 ' Mary Tines. 
 
30 
 
 The Agent had caused a returnll to be made at 9 o’clock, whicTi 
 certainly exhibited a melancholy statement of the loss sustained 
 bj the little company. But it was animating to perceive that 
 none — not even the wounded in their severest sufferings, were dis- 
 pirited, or insensible of the signal Providence to which they owed 
 tiie successful issue of their struggle. 
 
 It never has been possible to ascertain the number of the enemy 
 killed or disabled on this occasion. The only entry made on the 
 subject in the Colonial Journal, is dated November 15th; and 
 states, “ The following circumstances prove the carnage to have 
 been, for the number engaged, great. A large canoe, from which 
 the dead and wounded could be seen to be taken, on its arriving at 
 the opposite side of the Montserado, and which might easily carry 
 twelve men, was employed upwards of two hours in ferrying them 
 over. In this time, not less than ten to twelve trips must have 
 been made. It is also known, that many of the wounded were 
 conveyed away along the south beach, on mats: and that the dead 
 left of necessity in the woods, where many fell, are carried off by 
 their friends every night. But two days ago, twenty -seven bodies 
 were discovered by a party of friendly Condoes employed by the 
 Agent for the purpose. On entering the wood, the offensive efflu- 
 vium from putrid bodies, is at this time intolerable.” 
 
 The numerical force of the settlers amounted to 35 persons, in- 
 cluding 6 native youths not 16 years of age. Of this number, 
 about one half were engaged. 
 
 At 9 o’clock, the Agent, after advising with the most sensible 
 mechanics, and others of the settlers, issued an order for contract- 
 ing the lines, by excluding about one-fourth part of the houses, and 
 
 II The following is an abstract of this return : — 
 
 Joseph Benson, shot dead in the beginning of the action ; 
 
 Mary Tines, stabbed to death in her house ; 
 
 Thomas Spinn, mortally injured by 5 wounds ; 
 
 Billy, a native African, mortally wounded ; 
 
 Ann Hawkins, desperately injured by 13 wounds ; . 
 
 Daniel Hawkins, severely ' do, through the thigh ; 
 
 James Benson, very severely do. through the shoulder; 
 
 "Minty Draper, slightly do. in the face and ear ; 
 
 2 small children of Minty Draper, missing ; 
 
 5 do. do. (oldest 13 years) of James Benson, do. 
 
 15 Whole number of sufferers. 
 
 All the moveable effects of five families had fallen into the enemy’s hands. 
 
31 
 
 surrounding the remainder, including the stores, with a musket- 
 proof stockade; at the angles of which, all the guns were to be 
 posted. The fence palings and building materials of individuals, 
 were taken for this palisade, of which, before night, more than 80 
 yards were completed. 
 
 This w^ork was resumed early the next day, and far advanced 
 towards a completion, before it was judged safe to devote an hour 
 even to the melarxholy duty of burying the dead; w hich was per- 
 formed on the evening of the 12th. — By contracting the lines, the 
 number of men necessary to guard them, was considerably redu- 
 ced; and thus a relief for the people obtained, which their sickly 
 and feeble state absolutely called for. As early as the 14 th, one- 
 half of their number were released from camp duty, after 8 o’clock 
 in the morning; but every man remanded to his post through the 
 night. An additional gun was mounted and posted on the same 
 day: on the 17th, the artillerists were newly organized; and every 
 day witnessed either some improvements in the discipline of the 
 men, or in the means of defence and annoyance. 
 
 It could not fail, in the state of utter abandonment and solitude 
 10 which this little company was reduced, to be felt as an encour- 
 aging cii cumstance, tiiat Tom Bassa, a prince of some distinction, 
 should, at this moment, have sent a message to assure the Colony 
 of his friendship; and in testimony of his sincerity, to have for- 
 warded a small present of the productions of the country. 
 
 Tlie inclosiire y as completed on Sunday morning, the 17th; 
 when about one-half of the people had the privilege of celebrating 
 Divine Service — a privilege which many of them very highly ap- 
 preciated. 
 
 It is not to be either concealed, or made the object of a too severe 
 censure, that several of the people should have yielded, as soon 
 as leisure was alforded for redection, to the discouraging circum- 
 stances of their situation, ddiei e were not at this time, exclusive 
 of rice, 15 days’ provisions in store. Every individual was sub- 
 jected to an allowance which could not sustain animal strengtli^ 
 under the burden of so many severe and extraordinary labours.. 
 Isothing could be obtained from the country. Seven infant chil- 
 dren were in the hands of an enemy infuriated by his recent loss- 
 es. ’the native forces were certainly not dispersed; but it was 
 no iongei in the Agent’s povver eiti.er to learn the intentions of 
 the chiefs, or conv ey any message thro’ to them. Add to these 
 
32 
 
 N 
 
 unpleasant ingredients of their lot, the more cruel circumstance, 
 perhaps of all, that the ammunition of tlie Colony was insufficient 
 for a single hour’s defence of the place if hotly attacked, and an 
 apology may surely be found for the very alarming despondency 
 which was invading the minds of several of the settlers. — It was 
 a happy providence that, at this critical moment, the Agent's 
 health was so far mended as to put it in his power often to attend 
 the men, at their posts and labours, by night and day — tb animate 
 them by every method which his invention could suggest — and 
 v.hen these failed, to’ draw from their despair itself, an argument 
 for a faithful discharge of their dut\*. In this difficult labour, he 
 was ably and successfully supported by several of the most sensi- 
 ble and influential of the Colonists. 
 
 It was the Agent’s M’ish, if possible, to engage the kings in trea- 
 ty, for a peace. The actual state of the settlement required if; 
 and the common principles of humanity must be sacrificed by any 
 d'^gree of indifterence in the matter, as long as so large a number 
 of children belonging to the settlement, were in the hands of .an 
 enemy, who in his treatment of them was known to be* liable to tlie 
 extremes of caprice and cruelty'. To avert, if possible, from these 
 little sufferers, the effects of their savage indignation, and at the 
 same time, open a door for friendly negotiation, a message w^as on 
 the 22cl, wdth some difficulty, got through to the council of native 
 chiefs, who were engaged in debating the question of renewing 
 hostilities, at king Peter’s Town. The purport of this commu- 
 nication was, that “ The Americans came wuth friendly intentions 
 — have evinced those friendly attentions in all tlieir intercourse 
 with the people of this country. — Why have you then brouglit war 
 on us, without any complaint of injury ? We are willing to settle 
 a peace. But w e are also prepared to carry on tlie war; and can 
 render it immensely more bloody and destructive than you felt it 
 before.” The message left the settlement at 6 o’clock, P. M. and 
 ' at daylight the next morning, an answmr was recei\ ed, tliat, “ hav- 
 ing bought the low land of Euslirod Island, the Americans had 
 seized upon the Cape, without right — that tlie country people visit- 
 ing the settlement, had been cheated and roiiglily used by the 
 store-keeper — that the Agents had not fulfilled their promise of 
 instructing the people. But they would gladly make peace, if sa- 
 tisfaction w^ere offered for these injuries.” 
 
3S 
 
 'From this time to the 28th, messages were daily exchanged | 
 but as all the professions of the diiefs declaratory of their pacific 
 wishes, were accompanied with a demand for presents, and ex- 
 plained in their true sense by their incessant eftbrts to engage 
 more warriors from every part of the coast and interior, within 
 their influence and knowledge, the preparations against a second 
 attack went forward at the Cape, without intermission. 
 
 The 23d was devoted to humiliation, thanksgiving, and prayer, 
 both on account of the recent success and losses, and the actual 
 perilous state of the settlement.” Two days afterwards, the most 
 pressing wants of the people were relieved by a small purchase 
 from a transient trader toucliing at the Cape. But no ammuni- 
 tion suitable for the large guns could be obtained. 
 
 It is due to the disinterestedness of a worthy foreigner, Capt. 
 H. Brassey of Liverpool, who also touched on the 29th, to state, 
 that unasked, and witliout the prospect of remuneration, he near- 
 ly exhausted his own stores to provide the sick and wounded with 
 necessaries j and exerted an extensive influence acquired by a 
 long acquaintance with the countiy chiefs, to disarm their hostili- 
 ty. But to no purpose. They had hired a strong reinforcement 
 from the Gurrahs and Condoesj and re-united the warriors of the 
 coast by means of new encouragements and new promises^ most 
 of which it appeared afterwards, depended on their obtaining pos- 
 session of the property on the Cape. Of these particulars, secret 
 intelligence was communicated to the Agent on the evening of the 
 29th of November ; with the farther information, that the attack 
 was to be renewed with double the number of w^arriors employed 
 on the 11th, at day-light on the following morning. 
 
 The whole native force, accordingly, in the course of the nighty 
 removed to the peninsula, in tw^o bodies; of which one took up its 
 encampment at a small distance to the south-east of the settle- 
 ment — the other division, occupied the camp in which the assail- 
 ants of the 1 1 til had passed the night preceding the first attack. 
 But finding on the return of day-light that Capt. Brassey’s ketch 
 had not left her anchorage, they deferred the bloody business un- 
 til the next day. 
 
 The Agent for the first time spent the wfliole night at the difter- 
 ent ]X)sts; and had the satisfaction to perceive every man at- 
 tentive to his duty, and every thing connected with the defence- 
 5 
 
M 
 
 in a state of the most perfect preparation. The wood had been 
 cleared for a considerable space about the town. The enemy in 
 order to approach within musket shot of the works, was obliged 
 to place himself unsheltered, in the open field; and could advance 
 upon no point which was not exposed to the cross-fire of two or 
 more of the posts. The stockade for a distance on each side of all 
 the several stations was rendered impenetrable to musket shot; 
 and in every part alforded a shelter, behind which the defenders 
 might indulge the confidence of being nearly secure — a point of 
 the very first importance to be secured to the unpractised soldier.* 
 
 November 30th was spent by the people in the order of action^ . 
 as it was known that the enemy in the neighbourhood were in the 
 actual observation of all that passed within the lines. No pickets 
 could be safely trusted during the ensuing night without the en- 
 closure; but the men attached to the difterent stations were rang- 
 ed along the stockade at five yards distance from each other, with 
 orders to repair to their guns on the moment the alarm was given. 
 The Agent, spent with the fatigue of waking two successive nights, 
 had reclined at thirty minutes past four upon the light arms 
 which he carried, when the onset was made. The works were at- 
 tacked at the same moment on nearly opposite sides. The ene- 
 my’s western division had made their way along the muddy mar- 
 gin of the river, under the protection of the bank, to the north- 
 western angle of the palisade; when, on rising the bank so as to 
 
 * In the National Intelligencer of September 23d, 1823, was published a 
 letter purporting to have been written from Montserado, in which the writer 
 undertakes to pronounce on the measures taken for the defence of the settle- 
 ment, with an air of affected dogmatism, which, in an entire stranger to the 
 whole business, appears sufficiently ridiculous — But vapouring is the nature 
 of some people, and, like other instances of bad taste, is not to be reasoned 
 out of them. It is the mis-statements (they deserve a much harsher name) 
 contained in this letter, which I am concerned to expose. They are as nu- 
 merous as the assertions of the writer on the chief subject of the letter — and 
 too gross and artificial, I fear, for charity itself to impute to ignorance or mis- 
 information. If the writer of the letter has any apology to offer to the world 
 for having been the instrument of propagating so miserable and injurious 
 a tksue of fictions, it ought not to be withheld. And none will with sincercr 
 pleasure than myself admit an explanation which shall reconcile with the hou- 
 curable motives of the writer, the assertions of his unfortunate letter. 
 
 .1 A. 
 
35 
 
 become visible from the western post, they had opened upon it a 
 sudden and brisk fire; which was promptly and very steadily return- 
 ed by the iron gun, supported by the reserve field piece from the cen- 
 tre. The assailants were repulsed with considerable loss. Ten 
 minutes afterwards they renewed the onset, and forcing their way 
 higher up the bank than before, contended with greater obstinacy, 
 and suffered still more severely. A third attempt was made to 
 carry this post; but with the same ill success. 
 
 On the opposite quarter the assault had commenced at the same 
 moment, with still greater vigour. A large body had concealed 
 themselves under a precipitous ledge of rocks forty yards distant; 
 whence they crept nearly concealed from view, within the same 
 number of feet of the station; w'hen they suddenly rose, delivered 
 their fire, and rushed forward with the utmost fury. At this mo- 
 ment the 2 gun battery was unmasked, and opened upon them 
 with immediate effect. After a very few" discharges, the body of 
 the enemy having thrown themselves fiat upon the earth, disap- 
 peared behind the rocks. Their marksmen had taken their sta- 
 tions behind projecting rocks, fallen trees, and large ant-hills, and 
 still kept up a constant and well directed fire; under the cover of 
 wdiich the main body rallied and returned to the attack not less 
 than four times; and w"ere as often repulsed by the well directed 
 fire of the large guns; wdiich w'as purposely reserved for those oc- 
 casions. 
 
 The Agent at this moment perceiving the enemy in motion to- 
 wards the right, under cover of a small eminence which favoured 
 their design, proceeded to the southern post, which had not yet 
 been engaged, and ordered it to open upon them the moment their 
 movement brought them within the range of its guns. The order 
 was punctually obeyed; which exposed a large number of the as- 
 sailants to a galling cannonade both in front and fiank, in a situa- 
 tion where their own arms could prove of no effectual service to 
 them. The assault on the opposite side of the town had been al- 
 ready repulsed; and the signal for a general retreat immediately 
 followed. This order was obeyed with such promptitude that the 
 most entire silence succeeded, and every warrior disappeared al- 
 most instantaneously. 
 
 Not the most veteran troops could have behaved with more 
 coolness, or shewm greatei’ firmness than tlie settlers, on this oc-^. 
 
36 
 
 casion. Such had been their hardships, and distressing suspense 
 for the last twenty days, that the first volley of the enemy’s fire 
 brought sensible relief to every breast; for it gave assurance that 
 the time had arrived which was to put a period to their anxieties. 
 
 The final repulse of the assailants on the western quarter took 
 place in seventy minutes from the commencement of the contest; 
 the attack upon the eastern post, was prolonged ninety minutes; 
 and of the two, was much the most obstinate and bloody. Three 
 of the men serving at the guns of that station, Gardiner, Crook, ^ 
 
 and Tines, were very badly, the last mortally, wounded. The 
 Agent received three bullets through his clothes, but providential- 
 ly escaped unhurt. As the natives in close action load their mus- 
 kets (which are of the largest calibre) with copper and iron slugs, 
 often to the enormous measure of twelve inches, their fire is com- 
 monly very destructive. In this conflict of scarcely an hour and 
 a half, the quantity of shot lodged in the paling, and actually 
 thrown within the lines, is altogether incredible; and that it took 
 effect in so few cases can only be regarded as the effect of the 
 special guardianship of Divine Providence. 
 
 The number of assailants has been variously estimated; but can 
 never be correctly ascertained. It is known to be much greater ^ 
 than of those engaged on the 11th. Their loss, although from the 
 quantities of blood with which the field was found drenched, cer- 
 tainly considerable, w^as much less than in the former attack. 
 
 The Agent has often said that their plan of assault was the 
 very best that they could have devised. It w^as certainly sustain- 
 ed and renewed with a resolution that would not disgrace the best 
 disciplined troops. But they were not fully apprised of the pow- 
 er of well served artillery. None of the kings of this part of the 
 coast are without cannon. But to load a great gun, is with them 
 the business of half an hour : and they w ere seriously disposed to ^ 
 
 attribute to sorcery the art of charging and firing these destruc- 
 tive machines from 4 to 6 times in the minute. 
 
 On their final repulse it was evident that a general panic had 
 seized upon the minds of the whole multitude. An hour after- 
 W'ards several round shot were fired through the tops of the trees, 
 in different directions parallel wdth different lines of the coast and 
 banks of the river. In an instant, were seen liundreds of the 
 fugitive wretches running trom their hiding-places and throwing 
 
37 
 
 themselves into the water. On discovering the flash of a gua 
 from the batteries, they would instantly disappear under water^ 
 till the danger from it was past. 
 
 But the general exhilaration produced by the prosperous issue 
 of this effort on the part of the settlers, was greatly moderated 
 by the alarming circumstance, that on an equal distribution of the 
 residue of the shot, among all the guns, after the action, not three 
 rounds remained to each ! — Three more of the most effective and 
 useful men in the settlement had been lost from the ranks of its 
 defenders. But a strong confidence in the superintending provi- 
 dence of the Most High was a sentiment which animated the bosoms 
 of a majority of the survivors^ and in tlieir situation was the only 
 rational source of hope that could be resorted to. 
 
 There was at this time little surgical knowledge, less skill, and 
 absolutely no instruments — not a lancet or a probe in the settle- 
 ment! Its little dispensary had no lack of James’s powders, 
 and stores of febrifuges — but for medicating broken bones, and ex- 
 tracting fragments of pot-metal and copper ship-bolts from the 
 shattered limbs of the Colonists, there had been no provision what- 
 ever. A dull penknife and common razor were substituted in the 
 place of the first, and a priming wire made to answer the purpose 
 of the last. But the sufferings of the wounded, several of whom 
 retained in their limbs the poisonous and corroding metal which 
 had caused their wounds, for months, w'as indescribable; and 
 such as could not fail to impress upon a daily witness of them, a 
 conviction of the rashness and cruelty of placing a company of 
 men, subject to the casualties of war, beyond the reach of surgical 
 . aid. 
 
 A movement discovered near his station, on the following night, 
 had induced the officer of the western post to open a brisk fire of 
 musketry, accompanied with several discharges of the large guns. 
 A circumstance apparently so accidental brought relief to the set- 
 tlement. 
 
 The English colonial schooner, “ Prince Regent,” laden with 
 military stores, and having as passengers, capt. Laing of the 
 Royal African Light Infantry, and a prize crew commanded by 
 midshipman Gordon, belonging to H. B. M. sloop of war Driver, 
 six days from Sierra Leone, bound for Cape Coast, was at this 
 moment in the offing, and a little past the Cape. So unusual a 
 
38 
 
 circumstance as a midnight cannonading on them, could not fail 
 to attract notice; and the vessel lay bj ’till morning. A Krooinan 
 by whom she was then boarded, gave intelligence of the situation 
 of the settlement; who was immediately despatched ashore, with 
 the generous offer of any assistance in the power of the schooner 
 to afford. 
 
 On the following morning the officers came ashore — and in 
 their characters as neutrals, kindly undertook, at the iirstance of 
 the Agent, to explore and ascertain the future intentions of the ^ 
 enemy. An interview was procured with the chiefs without much 
 difficulty — as their w'arriors had principally dispersed, their re- 
 sources were entirely exhausted, and themselves overwhelmed 
 with vexation and shame. They were easily induced, but n ith 
 affected reluctance, to sign an instrument binding themselves to 
 observe an unlimited truce with the colony; and make all their dif- 
 ferences the subject of a future reference to the arbitration of the 
 governor of Sierra Leone. It is unnecessary to observe that 
 having no complaints to allege, they never afterwards recollected 
 this provision for a reference. And it is equally superfluous to 
 state, that from this time, the colony has been considered as 
 entirely invincible to any native force that may be brought against A’ 
 
 it. Providence wisely designed to render the early struggle of 
 the Colonists, the means of securing a perpetual and profound 
 tranquillity to their colony. 
 
 The death of the amiable and lamented Gordon, and of 8 out 
 of 11 generous seamen, who, with him, volunteered their services 
 to guarantee the truce settled by captain Laing, has been already- 
 communicated to the public in the 7th annual report of the Colo- 
 nization Society. All these individuals fell victims to the 
 climate within four weeks from the sailing of the ‘Trince Regent,’’ 
 on the 4th of December. ^ 
 
 On the 8th of December came to an anchor a large privateer schoo- 
 ner under Colombian colours; to the commander of which capt. 
 
 Welsey, and several of the officers, natives of the United States, 
 the Agent in behalf of the colony, was laid under further, and very 
 important obligations. By the aid of the proper mechanics ob- 
 tained from this vessel, the settlement was put in a superior state 
 nf defence; and the sufferings of the wounded alleviated by the 
 kind and assiduous attentions of a skilful surgeon. These friend- 
 ly offices were continued at intervals, for four weeks. 
 
The Agent’s health gradually improving to this period had been 
 injured by excessive exertion^ and on the l6th of December 
 entirely sunk under its weight. Medicines were productive of rfa 
 beneficial eftect — a fever slow in its approaches, in a few days 
 became constant, and reduced him to a state of hopeless debility. 
 
 By one of those accidents which in their results are obviously 
 seen to be the express appointments of an overruling Providence, 
 a remedy of the most singular nature was administered, when 
 probably no other means could have preserved his life. A self* 
 taught French charlatan, arriving at the cape at this moment in a 
 transient vessel, oftered his medical services; which from despair 
 on one hand, and a sense of duty on the other, the Agent accept- 
 ed. A potion was exhibited of which one of the ingredients w as 
 a large spoonful of calomel!* The Frenchman then proceeded 
 on his voyage; and left the Agent to digest his medicine in the 
 best way he could. Such w^as the weakness of his system as to 
 be able neither bo throw it off, nor to take it into the circulation, for 
 five days. The crude poison was then avoided; and a distress- 
 ing salivation ensueid; before which all other morbid symptoms dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 It W'as the middle of February before he again became active 
 in the aftairs of the colony. Two of the captive children had within 
 this period been given up in consideration of a small gratuity. 
 Five were still in the hands of the natives; for whose release a 
 very extravagant ransom was demanded, which it w as steadily 
 resolved not to pay. 
 
 If any redeeming trait had at this period appeared to soften and 
 atone for the moral deformity of the native character, it certainly 
 was perceived in tlieir treatment of these helpless and tender cap- 
 tives. It was the first object of the captors to place them under 
 the maternal care of several aged women; who in Africa, as in 
 most countries, are proverbially tender and indulgent. These pro- 
 tectresses had them clad in their usual habits; and at an early period 
 of the truce, sent to the colony to incpiire the proper kinds of 
 food, and modes of preparing it, to which the youngest had been 
 accustomed. The affections of their little charge were so per- 
 
 * The writer states a fact, which he leaves it to liis medical readers tocom- 
 uicut upon, and explain as they can. 
 
40 
 
 .lectlj won in the four months of their captivit}', as to oblige theif 
 own parents, at the end of that time, literally to tear away from 
 their keepers several of the youngest, amidst the most affecting 
 demonstrations of mutual attachment. This event did not occur 
 until the 12th of March ; when their gratuitous restoration was 
 Voted almost unanimously, in a large council of native chiefs. 
 
 The Agent, after partially recovering from this last and severest 
 trial of a nearly ruined constitution, found the utmost exertion of 
 the Colonists necessary to ensure the preservation of their property, ^ 
 
 health, and lives, through the approaching rainst Except the 
 store-house, there was but one shingled roof, and frame house, 
 in the settlement. Some of the cabins were without floors; and 
 through the thatch of nearly all, the rain might easily find its 
 way and descend in streams. Such is the description of the hovel 
 occupied by himself at this time. The industrious and provident 
 habits of a majority of the settlers, had been as an effect, in 
 course, of the deranged and long neglected state of their private 
 affairs, wholly subverted: and it required the application of a keen- 
 er stimulus than could be found in the ordinary calls of duty and 
 the prospect of remote advantages, to engage them in a course of 
 diligent exertions. The store of provisions which had been long 
 expected to be replenished by a shipment from the United States 
 was now consumed; and the want of any effective financial 
 arrangements made by the principals of the establishment at home 
 rendered it a matter of extreme difficulty with the Agent to make 
 any purchases from occasional vessels. He had already assumed, 
 from the necessity of the case, a larger pecuniary responsibility, 
 than, as an individual, he could, under any other circumstances, , 
 justify to himself or others. 
 
 The productions of the country had been resorted to ; and the 
 few disposable goods remaining on hand were already exhausted 
 in their purchase; when on the 12th of March the welcome intelli- 
 gence of the arrival on the coast of the U. S. ship Cyane, R. T. 
 
 Spence, Esq. was announced by a Krooman from Sierra Leone. 
 
 Capt. Spence arrived off Montserado on the Slst. By the most 
 judicious and indefatigable exertions, that gentleman had caused 
 the hulk of the long before condemned and dismantled schooner 
 Augusta to be floated, and metamorphosed into a sea-worthy and 
 t\«ieful vessel ; on board of which he had placed a crew and a quan^ 
 
41 
 
 tity of stores for the settlement, under the command of Lieui 
 Richard Dashiell. Not satisfied with this important service, on 
 his arrival at the Cape, he caused the foundations of the Martello 
 tower to be immediately laid, which, seconded by the disinterested 
 zeal of his officers, he saw nearly completed; and the Agent’s 
 house rendered habitable, chiefly by the labour of his own crew, 
 before the 20th of April. 
 
 These benevolent exertions have already been suitably acknow- 
 ledged in the United States f and it can never be sufficiently re- 
 gretted, that the sickness which had begun a fearful inroad upon 
 the crew of that ship during her stay at the Cape, should have 
 issued in the death of no less than 40 persons soon after her arrival 
 in America, t 
 
 Dr. Dix, the surgeon of the Cyane, became the earliest victim of 
 a too generous zeal for the advancement of the Colony. The 
 tears of a grateful people fell into his grave, which they closed 
 with their own hands over his ashes. 
 
 The ^amiable Seton deserves a more extended memorial. The 
 bloom of youth had just ripened into the graces of manhood, and 
 gave to a person naturally prepossessing, the higher ornament of 
 a benevolent and highly accomplished understanding. He per- 
 ceived his services were needed by a Colony which had interested 
 his heart; and he gave them. Becoming the voluntary companion 
 and assistant of the solitary Agent, he saw the Cyane sail from 
 the coast with composure, on the 21st of April. His conciliat- 
 ing manners, aided by a judicious procedure, deepened in the 
 hearts of the Colonists, the impression first made by his disinterest- 
 edness. Seldom has the longest friendship power to cement a more 
 cordial union, than had begun to rivet to this generous stranger 
 the heart of the writer; when in the first w^eek of May, he saw 
 him assailed by the alarming symptoms of fever. The fatal issue 
 of his attack has been already anticipated by the reader. He 
 had long maintained the doubtful struggle — when on the of 
 June, five days after embarking on board of the Oswego, for the 
 United States, he resigned his spirit to the God who gave it 
 
 The arrival of the vessel just named, on the 24th of May of 
 
 * See the Annual Report of the Colonization Society. 
 
 ’ This was in part owing to a previous long cruise in the West Indies 
 6 
 
42 
 
 this year, witli 66 additional emigrants from the middle states of 
 America, with ample stores and a physician, by placing the colony 
 at once in very altered and improved circumstances, naturally 
 terminates the chain of events which it has been the compiler’s 
 object to connect in this narrative. For the subsequent progress 
 of the Colony, there are now extant very ample details in an official 
 form ^-details which, if they have in them less to interest the 
 feelings, are of a character in a much higher degree to gratify the 
 xvishes and confirm the hopes of its friends.