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ing Africa, hereafter characterize American christians. The Maine Colonization Society has requested a special remembrance in the prayers and benevolence of clergymen and people of this state near this period of the year. Donations may be sent to Freeman Clark, Esq. of Bath, Treasurer of Maine Col. Sec.-Christian Mirror, July 8.

AFRICAN CRUELTIES.

Mr. Hinderer is a missionary of the English Church Missionary Society in Western Africa. Some time since he went to the town of Ilesa in the Yoruba country, and he gives a sad account of the cruelties of the kings and people there. The wall of the town, he says, is "at least fifteen feet high, and no less than six feet thick, and hundreds of human skulls are tempered into this wall. At the north gate I counted upwards of a hundred, all those of war captives. It is awful to think that the walls were originally built with the sacrifice of two human beings, who were walled up alive. These were none other than the first-born son and daughter of the then reigning king!

"The most dreadful thing is the wholesale slaughter of men, women and children, on the occasion of the death of a king. My host, his first servant (or slave) with several of his household, will have to die with the present king, if they live till his death. I saw also twelve little boys with brass rings on their ankles, who, together with the same number of girls, will have to die with him too, and many others. If the girls come of age before the death of the king, they may be given in marriage; and then twelve other little ones are chosen in their stead. These poor victims have to be buried with the king, in the same grave, some under, some at each side of him, and some at his head and feet. But by far the most dreadful fate is that of two individuals, who have to be buried alive with him, one sitting over his head, and the other at his feet, with burning lamps in their hands. And in order that the lampholders may not escape by a bargain with the undertaker their legs are to be broken before they take their seat near the king's body. This calamity may soon befall those poor people and children, for the king is by no means a young man. But if a missionary were there, he would no doubt prevail on the king to give up such practices, provided the under chiefs would submit to it.

A black Boy and the white Missionary.

Mr. Hinderer also says: "One of my constant visitors was the king's own son, a little boy of about four or five years old. On the first day of his visiting me, as he was sitting on the ground, looking intently on me and all I did, for hours, he was called to his dinner, when he answered boldly, 'I shall not come : I don't want to eat here I shall sit and look at the white man till my eye is satisfied.' And on my leaving Ilesa, his grandmother had to tie him on her back, for he would try and run after me, saying he must go with me."

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CHRISTIAN TROPHIES IN AFRICA.

The attention of the Christian world has only been directed to Western Africa for about thirty years. Within that time about seventy missionary stations have been established, where are laboring missionaries from the Wesleyan, the Baptist, and the Church Missionary Societies of England, the Basle and Bremen Missionary Societies, and the Presbyterian and Southern Baptist Boards, the American Board and American Missionary Association of this country. From the Senegal river to the Gaboon, over one hundred Christian churches have been organized, with more than 15,000 hopeful Christian converts. Nearly two hundred schools have been opened, in which 16,000 native youths are receiving a Christian education. More than twenty dialects have been studied out and reduced to writing, in which the Bible and other Christian books have been translated, printed, and circulated, and some knowledge of Christianity has been brought within the reach of at least five millions of Africans who never before heard of the gospel.— Messenger.

A CARD FROM DR. PLUMER.

We have been requested to publish the following card from Rev Dr. WM. S. PLUMER :

"By God's good providence I was born under the Government of the United States. Under the flag which floats over its capital I have always lived. Of my own free choice I expect to live and die under its noble Constitution. I have never thought of a better, nor desired a different form of fundamental law.

"I religiously believe, and I have uniformly held and taught, that civil government is the ordinance of God. I believe the Government of the United States is the ordinance of God to me and to my children, as it was to my parents before me. When any man is chosen our Chief Magistrate I accept him as the minister of God to me in civil affairs. I regard it as my solemn duty and my high privilege to sustain this Government; and against any and every attempt to destroy it, I intend to sustain it in word and deed-by precept and example—with my prayers; with the little worldly goods I possess; and, if called thereto, with my life. I would not live under it if I could not heartily do these things. I have often spoken of and written for it, but never against it. For better and for worse, I own no other Government than that under which I now enjoy all my temporal blessings. I have long ago written, and I still maintain, that there is no provision in our form of government for Secession, and that Secession is revolution.

"Of these things I have so long and familiarly spoken, both publicly and privately, and they have for many years entered so fully into the very elements of my principles, that I was surprised when I was told that any one thought it would be proper that I

should avow them any more publicly than I had already done, in order to prevent a misunderstanding of my true position."-Pittsburg Despatch, 3d inst.

PRESIDENT BENSON ON THE CONTINENT.

Information has been received by the American Colonization Society of this city, that the President of Liberia has been welcomed and treated on the Continent with the same liberal spirit and generous hospitality extended to him in Great Britain. Leaving London on the 5th ultimo, he has already visited several of the prominent cities. At Berlin he was entertained by Count Bernstoff, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Prussia, President Benson sitting on the right hand and the Chief of the Japanese on the left of the Countess of Bernstoff. Gerard Ralston, Esq., wrote from London as follows:

"President Benson receives everywhere the most courteous and honorable treatment. He is expected at Amsterdam on the 14th instant, and, after visiting Holland, Belgium, &c., may come back to Great Britain; but whether he will visit our country (United States of America) or not, I do not know. I hardly think he has yet determined whither to go after leaving England. I give an extract from a note just received from Mr. Johnson, the Private Secretary of the President of Liberia :

"BADEN BADEN, August 8, 1852.

"We are well. We arrived here yesterday, the 7th instant, having passed through and visited Hamburg, Berlin, Leipsic, Dresden, Frankfort, &c., &c. Our treatment by these continental people has been of the kindest sort. The President has had interviews and audiences with the King of Prussia and the King of Saxony. By the latter he was entertained at dinner at the Royal Palace at Pilnitz, on the 4th instant. Both these kings seem to be very "clever" men, indeed, and they expressed much interest in the welfare of Africa. The people in Germany know more about Liberia than the people in England. Even in the manufactories, we have been surprised to hear the operatives say they have read of Liberia, and tell us what articles we have sent to the International Exhibition. Our movements are announced regularly in the newspapers, and at every place we go it is known at once that that is the President of Liberia.' Philadelphia North American.

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FROM THE AFRICAN COAST.

Advices from the West coast speak of the slave trade as having almost entirely ceased, notwithstanding the withdrawal of the American squadron. A sea-captain, just returned, says he cruised along the entire coast from Monrovia to Lagos, in the Bight of Benin, some

eight hundred miles, without seeing a single slaver. Meanwhile he was examined several times by British steamers, which seemed to be very active. The disappearance of the slavers is attributed partly to the operation of the British treaty with the United States, which permits the detention and search of suspected vessels, but more to the falling off in the demand for negroes on the Cuban sugar estates, consequent upon the American war.

These facts are consistent with what is known of the slave trade in

American ports. For some time past, as we hear it stated, the fitting out of traders here has almost entirely ceased.

Legitimate trade on the African coast is in a healthful condition, though we cannot reasonably expect large importations of palm oil while it is admitted into England free, and a customs duty of ten per cent. exacted in the United States. Already some of our manufacturers lately engaged in working up this substance have discontinued operations, it being impossible to compete with manufacturers abroad under this tariff. Of course the discouragement to the African trade is serious, palm oil being the principal staple. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to observe the effect upon trade of the recognition of Liberia by this Government, though the exemption of vessels belonging to the African Republic from tonnage dues cannot operate otherwise than favorable.-New York Journal of Commerce.

STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Connecticut State Colonization Society was held in Hartford on Tuesday evening, July 29th. In the absence of the President, Hon. Seth Terry was called to the chair. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Orcutt, of the National Society. The Secretary's and Treasurer's reports were read.

Judge Terry, after offering some pertinent remarks in regard to the origin of the State Society and the progress and importance of the cause, introduced President Roberts, of Liberia, whose words of instruction and encouragement in an eloquent address of half an hour or more on the social, moral, and religious condition of the Republic, commanded the earnest attention of the audience. Having resided there over thirty-three years-six of which he was Governor of the Colony, and eight the President of the Republic, Mr. Roberts knew whereof he spake, and his hearers did not doubt what he said. They were much interested in his account of the Liberia College, of which he is now President, and the educational prospects of the nationalso in facts stated showing improvements in agriculture.

C. P. Clark, Esq., of Boston, being present, consented to add his testimony-which gave much interest to the meeting-especially as

he has repeatedly visited Liberia for mercantile purposes, and could speak from personal knowledge.

The following officers of the Society were elected:
President-Benjamin Silliman, LL.D.

Vice Presidents-Right Rev. T. C. Brownell, D.D. LL.D., Hon. Thomas W. Williams, Hon. Ralph I. Ingersoll, Hon. Ebenezer Jackson, Hon. Thomas Butler, Hon. O. S. Seymour, Hon. John S. Brockway, and James Brewster, Esq.

Secretary-Hezekiah Huntington.
Treasurer-Charles Seymour.

Board of Managers-Rev. John Kennaday, D.D., Rev. W. W. Turner, James B. Hosmer, Seth Terry, Austin Dunham, Frederick' Croswell, William S. Charnley, Charles Seymour, Ebenezer Flower, Calvin Day, H. H. Barbour, Daniel P. Crosby, and Timothy Bishop.

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This distinguished man has recently visited Washington as well as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. We are gratified to learn that the interview of President Roberts with the President of the United States and with several members of the Cabinet, showed that Liberia is an object of interest to our Government, and we trust will prove advantageous to the young African Republic, over which Mr. Roberts so long and so ably presided, and which he so well represents. It is to be regretted that the public mind has been distracted with several views and projects touching our coloured population, rather than united and concentrated upon the one tried, practicable, wise, and grand scheme of African colonization. The interests of the Liberia College, of which he is President, are now occupying his attention, and the institution is expected to go into operation on his return home He and his good lady expect to embark for England in the Great Eastern, on the 9th of this month.

THE REV. JOHN SEYS.

We have had the pleasure of renewing our intercourse with this devoted friend to Africa (who is expecting soon to return as agent for recaptured Africans to that country) in restored health and a prospect of continued

honor and usefulness.

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