If a plantation be drawn, two acres must be cultivated within two years to get a fee simple deed. Every man may have a town lot, or five acres of farm land, together with two more for his wife, and one more for each child that may be with him, provided that no family shall have more than ten acres. Women, not having hnsbands, may each have a town lot, or two acres of farm land, on their own account, and one acre on account of each child. Unmarried men at the age of twenty-one, arriving from abroad, on taking the oath of allegiance, shall be entitled to draw a town lot or five acres of farm land the same as family men. There is a penalty of five dollars for cutting down palm trees, except by the fee simple proprietor. Each proprietor of farm lands must show his boundaries by erecting posts at the angles of the same.

The English is the mother tongue of the Liberians, and they are extending its use along the coast and into the interior. Nothing is more common than for the native chiefs and the head men and other important persons among the tribes within the jurisdiction of Liberia, and even far beyond, to place their sons at the early age for three, four or five years in the family of the Americo-Liberians expressly to learn English and to acquire civilised habits. Among the natives, to understand English is the greatest accomplishment and advantage; and with some of the coast tribes, a knowledge of English is beginning to be regarded as a necessary qualification for the ruling men of the chief towns. Our language has become the commercial medium of communication throughout not only the African coast, but other parts of the world where ships and steamers carry the civilising influence of commerce, and in time it will become universal.

There is no standing army, but all males between the ages of 16 and 50 are compelled to serve in the militia, except clergymen, judges, and a few other privileged persons. This force is well drilled, and has the 1,500 mukets kindly presented by the present Emperor of the French, and it has proved itself to be eminently qualified to defend the country, and to make the government respected among all the neighbouring tribes and nations of the Coast of Guinea.

The navy consists of one vessel, a schooner of five guns, kindly presented by her Majesty's Government, and of an advice boat, the Seth Grosvenor. These vessels are most usefully employed in suppressing slave trade, and in acting as "Guarda Costa."

The revenue of the republic for the year ending the 30th of September, 1861, was 149,550,11 dollars. The expenditure was for same time 142,831,11 dollars.

A portion of the receipts and expenditure arose from the recaptured Africans landed at Liberia, and supported by the Government until they can be placed out to take care of themselves.

The import and export duties are the great sources of income. The total product of import and export duties was 44,000 dollars.

The Liberians are under great obligations to the British Government and British people, for their kind regards and useful efforts to encourage and aid them in the great task of building up a negro nationality on the coast of Savage Guinea. The British Government* were the first to acknowledge the independence of Liberia, were the first to present them with a small vessel of war to act as "Guarda Costa" and to aid in suppressing the slave trade, and have for many years done all in their power to countenance and foster the growth of this youthful state. The British people also have manifested the most friendly and kindly feelings towards this young people. The late Duke of Sussex, Capt. Rosenburg of the Royal Navy, and Lord Bexley were early kind friends to Liberia, as well as the eminent Thomas Clarkson, and also Dr. Thomas Hodgkin of the same past age, but this last mentioned gentleman continues to the present day one of the warmest of Liberia's friends.

I must also mention, as particularly dear to Liberians, the name of Gurney. The late philanthropic and benevolent Samuel Gurney, and the present Samuel Gurney, and Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, are excellent examples of the practical and useful efforts made by members of the Society of Friends to extend social improvement over the world. Two most promising youths from Liberia are at present under the charge and at the sole expense of Mr. S. Gurney, who is giving them the best possible education to make them useful citizens on their return home. Never does a month go round that I do not receive useful books, periodicals, newspapers, and other food for the mind, from Mr. Gurney, Dr. Hodgkin, and other kind friends of the coloured race, to be sent to the libraries and reading rooms of Liberia. The good people of Edinburgh, also, are manifesting great kindness by educating two most promising young men as medical missionaries, who, on their return to Liberia, will spread the benign influences of civilization and Christianity over the aboriginal population of the republic. I must mention John A. Callender, Esq., and the Rev. Dr. Johnston, of Edinburgh, as the most forward in this labour of love towards these young Liberians, one of whom will, I hope, be rewarded by taking off the prizes awarded, in the Edinburgh University, for successful scholarship and devotion to study. Another benefactor of the republic must be mentioned; Martin Farquhar Tupper, the popular poet, and author of Proverbial Philosophy, who, many years ago, granted a large gold medal to be worn for one year by the most successful writer as essayist, historian, &c. The prize is awarded by a council of respectable citizens, the President, Secretary of State, and other public functionaries being ex-officio members of it. Great good has already been effected by this judicious stimulus to literary and scientific efforts,

*Liberia has since been acknowledged by France, Belgium, Prussia, Brazil, Hamburg, Italy, Bremen, Denmark, Lubeck, Portugal, and soon will be by the United States. With most of these States treaties of amity, commerce, and navigation, have been made, and treaties are being negotiated with other governments.

NO 10.-VOL. XXXI.

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which will be more and more efficacious as population, wealth, and refinement increase, and intellect is developed.

The principal materials for building purposes are wood, stone and brick. The forests abound in suitable timber for houses, as well as ships, but for the reason that wood houses are infested with a destructive little insect, locally known as " bugabug," stone or brick building materials are preferred by those who can afford the expense. Excellent blue and grey granite, and hard sandstone, as well as clay, suitable for bricks, abound, and innumerable oysters, clams, and snails furnish shells, out of which lime for cement is manufactured.

A great variety of excellent fish are found in all the Liberian rivers, of which the mullet, angel fish, and white boys are preferred. From the sea are taken the barracouta, mackarel, cavella, and a great number of other fish for frying.

Iron ore abounds all over Liberia, but as yet no copper, tin, zinc, lead, silver, or other useful minerals have been discovered in Liberia. Some gold and some indications of coal have been found, and I hope, when the four young men now in Edinburgh and London receiving education, return home, they will discover copper, lead, coal, and other useful minerals, and also be able to construct the canal or railway between the Junk and Mesurado Rivers and the breakwater of Monrovia, and other engineering works of prime necessity and utility.

Many persons say that Liberia is a failure-that she has not advanced as she ought to have done, and that the results are far less than were expected. But if we consider the small expenditure upon Liberia-millions of pounds have been spent upon Sierra Leone, thousands of dollars only upon Liberia-and that only 16,000 AngloSaxon negroes have left the United States and settled on the coast, and that they have been far more numerous and prosperous, and progressive, in the forty years since they have made their homes in this savage country than were the English settlers in Virginia in sixty years after they landed, and have since become a mighty nation of 32,000,000 souls, what may we not expect from Liberia if the four and a half millions of American negroes living most unhappily in their native land should migrate in the next thirty years to the "Land of the Free" on the West Coast of Africa? There can be no doubt that Liberia is far better adapted for the American negroes than Hayti, which has the Catholic religion, and foreign language, manners, and customs-the French; whilst the Liberians have the same Protestant religion, the same language, and the same manners and customs which they left behind them in America. The negroes in the United States should desire to create a flourishing Anglo-Saxon-Negro nationality on the coast of their fatherland, which has been so well commenced by the pioneers who for forty years have been preparing the way for their comfortable residence in Liberia.

The American Liberians, in their declaration of Independence, used the following language to describe their fortunate change of circumstances by migrating from the United States to this new and improv ing country. They say:-"Liberia is already the happy home of

thousands who were once doomed victims of oppression, and thus far our highest hopes have been realized. Our courts of justice are open equally to the stranger and the citizen for the redress of grievances and for the punishment of crime. Our numerous and well-attended schools attest our efforts and our desire for the improvement of our children. Our churches for the worship of our Creator, everywhere to be seen, bear testimony to our piety and to our acknowledgment of his providence. The native African, bowing down with us before the altar of the living God, declares that from us, feeble as we are, the light of Christianity has gone forth; while upon that curse of curses, the slave trade, a deadly blight has fallen as far as our influence extends. Therefore in the name of humanity, virtue, and religion-in the name of the Great God, our common Creator and our common Judge, we appeal to the nations of Christendom, and earnestly and respectfully ask of them that they will regard us with the sympathy and friendly consideration to which our condition entitles us, and will extend to us that comity which marks the friendly intercourse of civilized and independent communities."

Then follows the constitution, one section of which declares, "That there shall be no slavery within the Republic, nor shall any citizen or any person resident therein deal in slaves, either within or without its bounds, either directly or indirectly."*

REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA,-From the New Merchant Shipping Act.

Preliminary.-Art. 1. In the following rules every steam ship which is under sail and not under steam is to be considered a sailing ship; and every steam ship which is under steam, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a ship under steam.

Rules concerning Lights.-Art. 2. The lights mentioned in the following articles, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers between sunset and sunrise.

* Captain Robert Stockton, of the American war ship Alligator, and Eli Ayres, M.D., made the treaty for Cape Mesurado, 15th day of December, 1821, with King Peter, King George, King Zoda, King Long Peter, their Princes, and head men (the English and French had been trying for Cape Merurado for 100 years, and had not been able to procure it), who paid down six muskets, one box of beads, two hogsheads of tobacco, one cask of gunpowder, six bars of iron, ten iron pots, one dozen knives and forks, one dozen spoons, six pieces of blue baft (cotton cloth), four hats, three coats, three pairs of shoes, one box of pipes, one keg of nails, three looking glasses, three pieces of kerchiefs, three pieces of calico, three canes, four umbrellas, one box of soap, one barrel of rum; and to be paid hereafter, six bars of iron, one box of beads, fifty knives, twenty looking glasses, ten iron pots, twelve guns, three barrels of gunpowder.

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Art. 3. Seagoing steam ships when under way shall carry:

(a.) At the foremast head, a bright white light so fixed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light 10 points on each side of the ship, viz., from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least five miles.

(b.) On the starboard side, a green light so constructed as to throw an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least two miles.

(c.) On the port side, a red light, so constructed as to show an uniform unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least two miles.

(d.) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens projecting at least three feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

Art. 4. Steam ships when towing other ships shall carry two bright white mast-head lights vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam ships. Each of these mast-head lights shall be of the same construction and character as the mast-head lights which other steam ships are required to carry.

Art. 5. Sailing ships under way or being towed shall carry the same lights as steam ships under way, with the exception of the white mast-head lights, which they shall never carry.

Art. 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept on deck on their respective sides of the vessel ready for instant exhibition, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side.

To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the colour of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens.

Art. 7. Ships, whether steam ships or sailing ships, when at anchor in roadsteads or fairways, shall between sunset and sunrise exhibit, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light in a globular lantern of eight inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear uniform and unbroken light visible all round the horizon, and at a distance of at least one mile.

Art. 8. Sailing pilot vessels shall not carry the lights required for