and be troublesome to their neighbors. He cited the instance of Sierra Leone as a foundation for his fears, but on the whole was willing an experiment should be made.

Several other kings were visited on the way down to the Sherbro. The agents had the good fortune at Bendou to find not only Somano, the king of the place, but Safah, another king, whose dominions they would have been obliged to seek out. It was no sooner told to Somano, that two ambassadors from America desired an audience, than he summoned them to appear at the palaver house. When they approached, the king was seated in his place. 'Safah soon made his appearance, marching along between the mud walled cottages, dressed in a silver laced coat, a superb three cornered hat, a mantle around his neck hanging nearly to the ground, blue bafta trowsers, considerably the worse for the wear, and without stockings or shoes. Somano was dressed in a common gown and pantaloons, with hat and shoes.' After a formal introduction to the kings, and shaking hands with all the men and women collected around the palaver house, it was remembered that the presents were unluckily left on board the sloop, and the kings had no words to speak till these were produced. Kizell was despatched to bring them; but there was a greater difficulty yet to come. When the articles intended for the presents were spread before the kings, they discovered only one jar of rum. They refused to be moved by so small a temptation to open the palaver, insisting, that as there were two kings it was unworthy of their regal dignity to deliberate on affairs so important, without a bottle of rum for each. Kizell was again sent to the sloop, and all obstructions were removed by producing another bottle. The kings' ears were then unsealed, and they were ready to hear what their visitors had to propose. The notion of a colony did not strike them favorably; they had fears of encroachments; they referred to Sierra Leone, and spoke of a war growing out of that settlement, which deprived king Tom of his territory. No serious objections were raised, however, and the result was, that Somano and Safah would acquiesce in the decision of their superior, king Sherbro. It was only urged as indispensable, that should an arrangement be made, they should have, among other things, a silver headed cane, and especially a black horsetail, furnished

with an elegant handle.' This latter article is a badge of royalty, without which no prince can pretend to much rank, or hope for authority and respect.

We next find our party at Yonie, the residence of king Sherbro, chief man of the country. The king was absent, but Kong Couber, a man of consequence, gave an audience to Kizell and Martin, who were clothed with the office of avant-courières to the agents. Kong Couber received them affably, and listened with attention, but ventured no decided opinion. He said a council of the headmen must be called, in which the king would preside, and the subject would receive the consideration it deserved. Accordingly the next day notice was given, that the king would hold a palaver, and hear the words of the strangers. They waited on him at the appointed time, and found him prepared for business, dressed in a calico gown, with a cap and three cornered hat on his head. The council convened under a cola tree; the presents were displayed on a mat in the centre of the circle; the usual ceremonies were gone through; king Sherbro was seated in his regal chair, with a silver headed cane in one hand, and a horsetail, the visible token of his kingly power, in the other. The agents explained their instructions, told him they wanted lands for people in a far country, whose ancestors were natives of Africa, and who would come and settle quietly in the dominions of king Sherbro.

The object of their visit being thus made known in detail, Kong Couber, who acted as his majesty's prime minister, replied, that their words were very good, but told them with disapprobation, that they had stopped at the Bananas, and consulted Caulker and other chiefs before they came to Yonie. After this, how could they say, that they were commissioned to treat directly with king Sherbro? This unexpected question was answered rather awkardly by the agents, who could only apologize that they were unacquainted with the customs of the country, and but indifferently informed as to the gradation of rank among the kings. Kong Couber was not satisfied, but considered it a disrespect to Sherbro, that they should first go to the other kings, and especially was he displeased, that these kings did not send presents, or come themselves to consult the great king. It was concluded that nothing should be done, at least, till Somano and Safah were

present, and the council broke up with an order from the king to send a special messenger to require their attendance.

This point was not so easily effected. The remains of an old feud with Sherbro still lingered in the minds of these two chiefs, and they could not readily be prevailed on to engage in the palaver. After a week's delay, other messengers were sent; Somano and Safah arrived; the old differences between the parties were settled at a private council, and the day came when the kings declared themselves ready to hold the grand palaver.

'We went on shore,' says Mr Mills, and found all assembled under the cola tree. Sherbro was seated in his armed chair, with Somano on his right hand and Safah on his left, holding the insignia of his office, the silver headed cane and the horsetail. Kong Couber sat on a mat before Sherbro. Mr Burgess, Kizell, and myself, sat facing the kings. After shaking hands with the kings and princes, Mr Kizell said, "We are come." Kong Couber replied, "We see you; we are glad; we love you; we do not hate you; you are strangers among us; we love your country; we are friends; we love peace as you do; war is not good. But when you came from the headmen of your country to Sherbro, where is the letter you brought to Sherbro?" We answered, that we had instructions to visit Sherbro, and consult with the kings of the country; but as king Sherbro was not personally known in our country, no letter was addressed to him. He afterwards said, if we had come in our ship directly to Yonie, they could give us an answer, and asked Kizell, if his father, the governor of Sierra Leone, did not send him with us. Kizell said the governor did not, as he was absent at the Gambia; besides, the people of Sierra Leone were free to go where they pleased, without asking their father. I replied, that we came to Sierra Leone strangers to all the people, and finding our friends, Kizell, Martin, and Anderson, to be acquainted with the language and kings of the country, we invited them to come with us. Kizell said he had a letter from a friend in England to assist us; besides, if strangers to king Sherbro arrive at Sierra Leone, it was not fit to let them stand alone, but come and introduce them.

'Kong Couber said, "The country belongs to all the kings and people; we cannot sell land unless we see them all." We, in reply, urged the necessity of a definite answer, that we might carry their good words to our people, or go to other kings, who would give us a good answer. We inquired whether the headmen and people could not be assembled before we went away. Kong Cou ber answered, it was the busy season of the year, the rains were coming on, the people were clearing their plantations, and sowing

their rice; the kings were poor, and must work as well as the people; the people could not be called together unless there was something to set before them. If we had goods to buy lands, and people to sit down, they would call the headmen together. After much palaver, and a forcible recapitulation of the objects of our visit, we inquired, "What answer shall we carry to our people of color? Will king Sherbro receive his children ?" "Yes, we cannot hate them, we will receive them."'

Thus ended the council of the kings, and at the request of Kong Couber, the words of Sherbro were written in two books, one to be retained by him, and the other by the agents. The parting was amicable, and it was understood, that when the people arrived with goods to pay for land, the kings and headmen would supply them according to their wishes.

The agents visited other places among the islands, and on the opposite coast, especially the Bagroo river, which empties into a bay opposite to the island of Sherbro. The country on the banks of the Bagroo is fertile, and soon rises into high lands and mountains in the interior. Everywhere the people were friendly, and several of the chiefs offered land, and protection to settlers as far as their authority extended. After an absence of five weeks the agents returned to Sierra Leone, and in a few days sailed for England. Mr Burgess arrived in the United States on the 22d of October following; but his worthy companion, Mr Mills, whose energy and zeal had contributed much to the success of the mission, was not destined to return; he died on his passage from the coast of Africa.

The information collected by the agents was encouraging to the friends of colonization, and induced the managers of the Society to concentrate their exertions to the single purpose of establishing a settlement in the Sherbro, or at some post in the vicinity. They made preparations for sending out a vessel with such free persons of color, as might voluntarily embark, and appointed Mr Crozer as agent to superintend the affairs of the colonists, negotiate for lands, and form such temporary regulations, as might be necessary in the incipient stages of the colony. The expenses, which had been incurred by the managers, had more than absorbed the funds arising from subscriptions; but an appeal to the citizens of Baltimore, by some of the zealous friends of the

Society, was followed by liberal donations from several munificent, public spirited individuals of that city, and with this timely assistance the managers were enabled to prosecute the work they had begun, till the formation of auxiliary societies in different parts of the country, had brought a larger amount of means to their disposal.*

In the progress of these events, the benevolence of the Society was also turned to another quarter. By an extraordinary oversight in the laws of Congress respecting the slave trade, thirty four natives of Africa, who had been recaptured, and carried into a port of Georgia, were left unprotected after their release, and advertised to be sold according to the laws of the state. Mr Meade, the Society's agent, immediately repaired to Georgia by the direction of the managers, and arrived in time to prevent the sale, and provide for the restoration of these unfortunate Africans to their native country. After discharging this office of humanity in May, 1819, Mr Meade travelled as agent in various parts of the United States, and was the means of establishing several auxiliary societies.†

*The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr Mercer and Mr Key, to Elias B. Caldwell, Esq. Secretary of the Colonization Society, dated August 1st, 1818. In conformity with the wishes of the board of Managers, we proceeded as far as Baltimore, on our way to the north, intending, if necessary, to prolong our tour to Boston. The liberality of Baltimore, of which the annexed list of subscribers affords an interesting testimony, rendered it unnecessary, that we should proceed further, in order to obtain the funds immediately required by the mission to Africa.' Second Annual Report, Appendix, p. 121.

The abolition act of 1807 threatens against offenders imprisonment and fines, as well as the condemnation of any vessel engaged in violating the law. The purchaser or seller of any person of color, who should be imported into the United States, is subject to a forfeiture of eight hundred dollars for every person thus sold or bought. The following remarkable proviso, however, is attached to this part of the act; that the aforesaid forfeiture shall not extend to any seller or purchaser of any negro, mulatto, or person of color, who may be sold or disposed of in virtue of any regulation, which may hereafter be made by any of the legislatures of the several states, in that respect, in pursuance of this act, and the constitution of the United States.' This clause refers to another preceding it in the act, by which it is declared, that no one shall hold any right or title to any person or persons of color brought into the United States in violation of the law, but that these persons shall remain subject to any regulations, not contravening the provisions of this act, which the legislatures of the several states or territories, at any time hereafter, may make for disposing of any such negro, mulatto, or person of color.'

On this part of the act the state of Georgia put a most extraordinary construction. In devising means to provide for persons of color, who might be illegally introduced into the state, the legislature passed a law, empowering New Series, No. 17.

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