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OFFICERS.

Hon. BUSHROD WASHINGTON, President,

Honorary Vice-Presidents.

Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia,

Hon. Henry Clay, Washington City,

Hon. Wm. Phillips, of Massachusetts,

Hon. Henry Rutgers, of New-York,

Hon. J. E. Howard, of Maryland,

Hon. J. C. Herbert, of Maryland,

Hon. Daniel Webster, of Boston,

Hon. Isaac McKim, of Maryland,

Gen. Lafayette,

Hon. John Marshall, of Virginia,
Gen. John Hartwell Cocke, of Virginia,
Gen. Charles F. Mercer, of Virginia,
Robert Ralston, Esq. of Pennsylvania,
Right Rev. Bishop White, of Pennsylvania,
Jeremiah Day, D. D. Yale College,

General John Mason, District of Columbia,
Samuel Bayard, Esq. New Jersey,
Wm. H. Fitzhugh, Esq. Virginia,
Hon. Richard Rush, Washington City.

Managers.

Francis S. Key, Esq.
Walter Jones, Esq.
Rev. Dr. James Laurie,
Rev. Wm. Hawley,

Rev. Dr. S. B. Balch,
Rev. O. B. Brown,

Rev. Dr. W. H. Wilmer,
Rev. John N. Campbell,
Joseph Gales, Jun. Esq.
Wm. Thornton, Esq.
Col. Henry Ashton,
Dr. Thomas Henderson.

John Underwood, Recorder,

Richard Smith, Esq. Treasurer,
Ralph R. Gurley, Resident Agent.

REPORT.

At this annual return of the season, when it becomes the duty of the Managers of the American Colonization Society, to present to their friends a concise record of their proceedings during the year, and of the results of them, they pause with no ordinary emotion, and, like the traveller, that ascending towards the summit of a mountain, stops to survey the obstacles overcome, and to compare them with those to be surmounted, find gratitude for the past, ministering hope and confidence for further exertion:-In the clearer and more comprehensive views of such an hour, they anticipate with peculiar delight a period, when, having ceased from difficult and toilsome efforts, they may see spread before them, as was once before the eyes of Hannibal on the Alps, the field of reward for all their labours.

The new system of government organized in the Colony, immediately after the return of the present agent, Mr. Ashmun, from the Cape de Verds, in September, 1824, has resulted in the most beneficial effects. It was deemed important to render, as far as practicable, all the political arrangements of the Colony, so many preparatory measures to its independence; and to this end, is the government which has been established believed to be particularly adapted. The whole system went into operation with the full sanction of the people; the spirit of restlessness and insubordination ceased from the first day of its operation; indolence, despondency and distrust, were succeeded by industry, enterprize and confidence; and the experience of more than a year, has confirmed the hope, that it will, at least for a considerable time, fulfil all the purposes of its institution.

It is with peculiar pleasure that the Board are able to state, that the progress of improvement in the Colony, has equalled every reasonable expectation, and furnished decisive evidence, that its members are neither unmindful of their obligations to their benefactors, nor indisposed to assume that character of energy and worth, which will best secure the approbation of their own consciences, and the respect of mankind.

All the settlers, except those which arrived in the last expedition, are in well constructed houses, built principally at their own expense; each family has a productive garden; a plot of forest-ground exceeding five hundred acres has been cleared, and twenty-seven plantations put under cultivation; several most useful public works and buildings have been completed, while others equally indispensable remain unfinished, only because requiring

materials which Africa cannot furnish, and which the Board have as yet been unable to supply.

Through the recent liberal aid of their friends, however, the Managers have been permitted to purchase the necessary articles, which are already on board the vessel that is to convey them to the Colony. A quantity of lumber, earnestly solicited by the Colonists, will be sent to them immediately, for half of which they have promised to make payment, by the return of the vessel, in the produce of the country. Should, as is expected, a valuable profit be realized by the sale of this produce, the whole amount will be expended in the purchase of additional supplies, to be exchanged as before, for articles of African growth, the proceeds of which, when sold, may again be invested in stores for the Colony, and thus be commenced a system of trade to be regulated solely by the demands of the settlement, and which must necessarily measure its own increase by its contributions to the Colonial prosperity.

Every thing possible has been done to advance education in the Colony. To this great object the attention of the Colonial Agent has been sedulously directed, and three daily and two Sunday schools have been established. Imperfect as is the character of these schools, they are doubtless of essential utility; and when improved by a supply of books, and by the increased ability which experience must confer upon the teachers, their benefits will be greatly augmented. Another school, on the Lancasterian plan, is immediately to go into operation under the direction of a clergyman just embarked for Liberia, as a missionary, which the Board venture to hope, will afford still higher advantages, and rising with the growth of the Colony, finally attain to literary and lasting importance. A valuable library has been obtained for this school through the generous aid of a gentleman in Vermont, (whose efficient services have heretofore been gratefully mentioned by the Board,) and should the progress of any of the scholars justify instruction in the higher branches of knowledge, a department for this object may be attached to the Institution. Of the library just mentioned, two hundred volumes were received as a donation from the students of Yale College.*

But the event to be recorded by the Managers, which will excite in the minds of their christian friends, the most joyful and devout emotions, is that of a striking improvement in the religious character of the Colony. It is well known that this little community is made up of selected individuals, and that the Board have ever required of those seeking their patronage, satisfactory evidence, that their morals were pure, and their habits industrious. Hence this settlement has, from its origin, exhibited great decency, sobriety, respect for the sabbath, and the other peculiar duties and ordinances of our religion. It has thus shed a benign and sacred light upon the heathen; and the feelings of the pro

* Appendix A.

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