of the report of it, is not long enough to give an opportunity for many new decisions in other courts relating to the points involved in the cases reported, and it can hardly be expected of a reporter to go through all the indexes, in each case, to pick up what may have been overlooked by the counsel, on each side, and by the court; and accordingly but very few additions of this sort can be looked for. In one instance, p. 283, the reporter cites an additional case of some importance from Barnewall and Alderson, and subjoins-what we think might have been better omitted-a few remarks upon the question, whether the case in Barnewall and Alderson, if it had been brought under the attention of the court, would have influenced their decision. The reader is prepared to follow the editor of a book of reports, that has for some time been before the public, through a range of speculations, and arguments, as well as authorities, but there are many reasons why a reporter, more especially an official one, should confine himself, in the original publication of decisions recently made, to a report and references. The case cited in this instance is certainly very close, in its circumstances, to that decided by the court, and is well worth citing, and the remarks are so short, and at the same time so pertinent, that we should not have thought of excepting to their insertion, but for the practice that has been adopted by other reporters in a few instances, of appending distinct independent treatises to their reports, and thus blending things, which have very little connexion with each other; and making it necessary for many members of the profession to purchase treatises which they may not want.

ART. VIII.—1. The Seventh Annual Report of the American Society for Colonising the Free People of Color of the United States; with an Appendix. 8vo. pp. 176. Washington. Davis & Force. 1824.

2. Correspondence relative to the Emigration of Free People of Color in the United States; together with the Instructions to the Agent sent out by President Boyer. 8vo. pp. 32. New York. 1824.

THE history, designs, and operation of the American Colonisation Society have so recently been made topics of ample

discussion in our journal, that we have no occasion to add more at present, than a few incidental remarks on the present condition and prospects of the Colony abroad and the Society at home. The subject of devising means for relieving the United States of the burden of its colored population, must be deemed by every patriot, and every friend of humanity, as one of deep interest to the nation. We know it is easy to be very extravagant and very chimerical on this subject; to be zealous without knowledge, and active without discretion; to invent theories that will never be put in practice, and dream dreams that will never come to pass. All this we admit, and yet we affirm, that it proves nothing against the practicability of such a scheme as is contemplated by the Colonisation Society, carried forward judiciously and perseveringly to its

natural results.

same.

As to the two projects, which have occupied a large share of public attention of late, namely, colonisation in Africa, and emigration to Hayti, there seems no good reason why success should not be wished to both of them, since the ultimate purpose of each, as far as the United States are concerned, is the But if a parallel must be drawn between the two, we confess our partiality for the former, inasmuch as it promises in our opinion equal, if not greater advantages to the emigrants themselves, the same benefit to this country, and an infinitely greater one to the cause of humanity. The slave trade, that dark and bloody page in the history of man, can never be suppressed except by efforts in Africa itself. The plant will never wither, nor cease to exhale its poison, till it is thoroughly rooted from the soil, which ministers to its nourishment and growth. Governments may pass laws and execute them, arm navies, and fill the African seas with ships of observation; and all to little effect. The love of gain is the last passion, which is appalled by threatened danger, or yields to physical force. The malady in Africa is a moral and intellectual one; it must be removed by moral and intellectual remedies. Such is the power of habit on the mind, that, after the practice of ages, neither principle, conscience, nor humanity, utters a single remonstrance in the African bosom against this most odious and disgraceful traffic. Civilisation, a knowledge of the arts, and religion, must be the precursors of a better state of society. When this state shall be attained, slavery will exist no longer;

the trade on the ocean will sink to nothing; and millions of human beings, who are now a burden on one quarter of the earth's surface, and defile it by their degradation and their crimes, will be raised to a rank among enlightened nations, form governments on principles of wisdom and equity, and enjoy the blessings of intelligence and virtue. Now we are not so visionary as to say, that a colony of free blacks from America would work such a change; but we do say, that the planting of such a colony is a first step, which may open a train of causes leading to these ends. And to set the thing in a stronger light, it may be added with perfect confidence, that without some such beginning, there seems not the remotest probability of the chains of servitude being broken by any human means, or of the cloud being removed, which buries a continent in its darkness.

From the last Report of the Society, and the intelligence brought home by the agent, who has recently returned from Africa, it appears that the colony at Liberia has enjoyed, up to the present time, a degree of prosperity quite equal to the anticipations of its ardent patrons. In fact, experience has already confuted the most formidable objections at first urged against colonisation. It was insisted, that colonists could not be induced to embark, whereas the voluntary applications have greatly exceeded the number for which the society could provide. Next it was urged, that the expense of transportation would be so heavy, that it could never be met except in a very limited extent; but this item has been proved to be much less than was apprehended, and when the colony shall be so far advanced as to afford profitable return cargoes, it will be reduced to a comparatively insignificant amount. Again, the climate was set forth as destructive of life and health. This is no doubt true to a certain degree, when considered in relation to the climate of northern latitudes, but, except in one or two instances of a very peculiar nature, it does not appear that the colonists have suffered more from sickness, than is common in tropical regions under similar circumstances. Then we are told of the savage and hostile character of the natives, and of their cruel and exterminating wars. The event of a slight conflict has shown this fear to have been groundless, and has inspired the colonists with confidence, by demonstrating the comparative weakness of their neighbors. Lastly, it was VOL. XX. NO. 46.

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said, that the British settlements would regard with no favorable eye a colony, subject to a foreign power, rising up near them; but so far from any such jealousy, the government at Sierre Leone, and the British cruisers on the coast, have on several occasions rendered essential aids to the American emigrants. Thus have been confuted, in the progress of events, all the main objections originally advanced against the plan and purposes of the society.

At the close of a full examination of this subject, in our Forty Second Number, we suggested the expediency of establishing a school, or schools, in this country, under the auspices of the Colonisation Society, for the purpose of instructing the children of free people of color, and giving them an education suited to their future condition as colonists in Africa. We are happy to find, that a scheme of this sort is now in contemplation, and to have it in our power here to insert a letter, recently written by General Harper to the Rev. Dr. Woods, of Andover, in which the designs of the society in regard to the school are fully developed. The document is published with the approbation of both these gentlemen, and is the more valuable, as exhibiting from the highest authority the present state of the colony.

'I had an interview with Dr Ayres soon after his visit to the eastern states and New York,' says General Harper to Dr Woods, in which he informed me of various conversations which he had there, on the subject of a plan for the education of young people of color, as a preparation for their emigration to some other country, where they may enjoy the real advantages of freedom and civilisation. He mentioned you as one of the persons, who have thought much on this subject, and were engaged or disposed to engage actively in prosecuting so benevolent and patriotic an enterprise. As both he and I long had it much at heart, and are now employed in devising means for its accomplishment, he was of opinion that some good might be derived from a full communication of our views to you, which he strongly urged me to make; assuring me that it would be well received, and might lay the foundation for a concert of measures and union of means, from which the most beneficial results might be anticipated. In this hope I have taken the liberty to address you.

"When the African colonisation scheme was first set on foot in this part of the United States, it immediately occured to all who engaged in it, that nothing more could be effected by individual exertion, than to open and pave the way; to shew what might be accomplished, and in what course success was to be sought. The rest, they were sensible, must be done by the general or state governments, or by both united, under the influence and with the sanction of an enlightened public opinion.

To this object all their efforts have been directed. It embraces two operations. The first is to prove by actual experiment, that a colony of civilised blacks may be established, on the southern coast of Africa; that a suitable and healthy situation may be found, and procured by purchase from the natives; that the good will and good neighborhood of the latter may be secured, and the colony thus placed in safety; that by proper precautions all danger to the colonists from the climate may be avoided; that colonists in abundance, and of a proper character and description, may be found; that they may be transported to the colony at a moderate expense, which will be greatly diminished, when a regular and extensive commerce between this country and that shall be established; that the materials of such a commerce already exist, to a very considerable extent, as well as a favorable disposition for it in the minds of the natives; that both must increase with the increase of the colony, and the consequent discouragement and decrease of the slave trade in that quarter; and that the colony may very soon be placed in a condition to govern and protect itself, and not only to provide abundantly for its own wants by the products of its agricultural industry, but to have a large surplus for commerce with this country and Europe, which will furnish the means of a very gainful trade with the natives.

All this we consider as satisfactorily proved, by the experiment thus far made. The colony indeed is small but it is healthy, composed of good materials and firmly established. The attacks made on it by the natives, in greater force and with more extensive combinations than are ever again to be apprehended, were repelled when it was much weaker and less provided for defence than at present. The conduct of the natives has ever since been friendly and kind. They