rich soil now covered with dense forest, converted into well laid off plantations under proper civilized cultivation.

On the 27th ult., with about fifty inhabitants of this town, (volunteers,) I succeeded in cutting a back street, (upon which our farms are ranged,) from Benson's river, to within a couple of hundred yards of the reservation for our mission. The length of the street, from the river to where it terminates on the beach, is about one mile and a quarter. The direction S. 16° W. My farm is situated on the same street; the first commencing from the river. To the commercial men of our country, Liberia presents herself as a theatre of extensive and lucrative business operations. To substantiate this position, let us look at the number and value of articles embraced in the present trade of Western Africa, and which may be called the natural productions of that immense continent, in the strictest sense of the term, as nature supplies them ready for the market, almost without the aid of man.

Palm oil is produced by the nut of the palm tree, which grows in the greatest abundance throughout Western Africa. The demand for it, both in Europe and America, is daily increasing, and there is no doubt it will ere long, become the most important article of trade. The average import into Liverpool of palm oil, for some years past, has been at least 15,000 tons, valued at about £400,000 sterling.

Camwood, red wood, bar-wood, and other dye-woods, are found in great quantities in many parts of the country. About thirty miles east of Bassa Cove, is the commencement of a region of unknown extent, where scarcely any tree is seen except the camwood. This boundless forest of wealth, as yet untouched, is easily accessible to that settlement; roads can be opened to it with little expense, and the neighbouring kings will readily give their co-operation to a measure so vastly beneficial to themselves. It is impossible to ascertain the amount of exports of these commodities to Europe and the United States, but it is very great, and employs a large number of vessels. One Liverpool house imported 600 tons, in a single year, worth about 50,000 dollars.

Ivory is procurable at all points, and constitutes an important staple of commerce. It is supposed that from 150,000 to 200,000 dollars worth is annually exported.

The

Gums of different kinds, enter largely into commercial transactions. house referred to above, imported in three years, into Liverpool, of gum Senegal, nearly 600,000 dollars.

Dyes of all shades and hues are abundant, and they have been proved to resist both acids and light.

Gold, which is found at various points of the coast, from the Gambia to the Bight of Benin, and probably to a much greater extent, is obtained by the natives, by washing the sand, which is brought down from the mountains by the rivers. As the purest and richest veins lie much deeper than those which are worn away by the attrition of mountain streams, the mountains only need to be explored, and the veins worked by the aid of scientific skill, to open sources of unlimited wealth. Even now, the shipment of this article from Sierra Leone in a recent year, amounted in value to 300,000 dollars.

Besides these may be specified wax, hides, horns, pepper, ginger, arrowroot, ground-nuts, copper, mahogany, teak, and gambia wood. When we reflect that these are merely the materials spontaneously furnished by nature, which may be increased indefinitely by the application of industry and science, we cannot but wonder at the extent and variety of the resources of that rich and beautiful country.

The amazing fertility of the soil, affords facilities for supplying some of the most important commercial wants, among which may be enumerated the following

Cotton of a very beautiful staple, yielding two crops a year, is indigenous, and thrives for twelve or fourteen years in succession, without renewal of the plant.

Coffee of a quality superior to Java or Mocha, is raised in Liberia, and can be cultivated with great ease to any extent. It bears fruit from thirty to forty years, and yields ten pounds to the shrub yearly. A single tree in the garden of Col. Hicks, (colonist,) at Monrovia, is said to have yielded sixteen pounds at one gathering.

Sugar-cane grows in unrivalled luxuriance, and as there are no frosts to be dreaded, can be brought to much greater perfection than in our Southern States.

Indigo, caoutchouc, tamarinds, limes, cranges, lemons, and many other articles, which are brought from tropical countries to this, might be added to the list. Indeed, there is nothing in the fertile countries of the East or West Indies, which may not be produced in Western Africa.

Here are the elements of wealth, the materials of an extensive and tempting commerce. Enterprise and capital, with proper protection from our government, are alone necessary to develop and make thein available and profitable.

And what a market is thus opened for the exchange and sale of the innumerable products of the skill and manufactures of our people? Africa is estimated to contain one hundred and sixty millions of inhabitants. These are not only willing, but anxious to obtain the various articles of civilized nations, yea, it is to satisfy their thirst for these commodities, that impel them forward in procuring victims for the accursed slave trade.

The favourable geographical position of Liberia, the elevating influence of her free and christian institutions; the industry, integrity, and intelligence of her children, with constitutions adapted to that climate, and a similarity of colour with the natives, will enable the Liberian to penetrate the interior with safety, and prosecute his trade in the bays and rivers of the coast, without suffering from the diseases which are so fatal to white men.

Liberia is the door of Africa, and we believe is not only destined to develop the agricultural and commercial resources of that mighty continent, but the means of regenerating her benighted millions, and amply repaying to our own land the expense she has already incurred, or may incur, in building up and sustaining, directly or indirectly, the Republic of Liberia.

CALIFORNIA.-By the last accounts disease still prevailed amongst the overland emigrants to a fearful extent, produced, it appears, not so much for the want of food, as by the unwholesome nature of it, and the bad quality of the water they were obliged to use. The mortality would appear to have been very great, one man alone counted 1,500 graves by the road side while he was coming over the plains. Murders and robberies were as numerous as ever. The site of the future Capital of the State of California was being discussed with great eagerness, many places having offered for the honor and holding out large inducements. One spirited capitalist, a Mexican general, offers 152 acres of good land and to expend 370,000 dollars on public buildings, if his site is chosen.

THE SAILORS' STRIKE.

THE strike amongst the seamen, which broke out in the north, now happily at an end, at one time threatened to be of more serious consequence, and of greater hindrance to the trade and commerce of the district, than was at

first anticipated. One of the grievances of which the seamen complained was the interference by the Board of Trade with what the sailors call "their domestic arrangements on board ship," this was considered obnoxious to the seafaring population, and although the adoption of the regulations of which they complained were wholly optional, and not to be used unless agreed upon by both master and crew, they could not be made to understand them in that light, and vigorously objected to them. The following are the regulations alluded to as having been sanctioned by the Board of Trade :—

Regulations sanctioned by the Board of Trade, 1850,

1. Not being on board at the time fixed by the agreement-to forfeit two days' pay.

2. Not returning on board at the expiration of leave-one day's pay. 3. Insolence or contemptuous language or behaviour towards the master or any mate-one day's pay.

4. Striking or assaulting any person on board or belonging to the ship-two days' pay.

5. Quarrelling or provoking to quarrel-one day's pay.

6. Swearing or using improper language-one day's pay.

7. Bringing or having on board spirituous liquors-three days' pay.

8. Carrying a sheath knife-one day's pay.

9. Drunkenness (first offence)-two days' half allowance of provisions. Drunkenness (second offence)-two days' pay.

10. Neglect on the part of the officer in charge of the watch to place the look out properly--two days' pay.

11. Sleeping or gross negligence while on the look out-two days' pay. 12. Not extinguishing lights at the times ordered-one day's pay.

13. Smoking below-one day's pay.

14. Neglecting to bring up, open out, and air bedding, when ordered-half a day's pay.

15. (For the cook.)-Not having any meal of the crew ready at the appointed time-one day's pay.

16. Not attending Divine Service on Sunday, unless prevented by sickness or duty of the ship-one day's pay

17. Interrupting Divine Service by indecorous conduct-one day's pay. 18. Not being cleaned, shaved, and washed, on Sundays-one day's pay. 19. Washing clothes on a Sunday--one day's pay.

20. Secreting contraband goods on board with intent to smuggle-one month's pay.

21. Destroying or defacing the copy of the agreement, which is made accessible to the crew-one day's pay.

22. If any officer is guilty of any act or default which is made subject to a fine, he shall be liable to a fine of twice the number of days pay which would be exacted for a like act or default from a seaman, and such fine shall be paid and applied in the same manner as other fines.

[We find the foregoing string of complaints in the United Service Gazette, and the following extracts from the Daily News and Shipping Gazette appears to place the subject in its real light. We have purposely omitted some passages from the Daily News, which being very incorrect and calculated to do no good, we regret to find circulated in that well informed journal.—ED.]

It was on the Tyne that this movement began. On the banks of that river strikes are by no means uncommon. Only, however, at long and distant intervals amongst its seamen. Far more frequently amongst its pitmen. On the present occasion it commenced with a dispute between

masters and men about wages. The fine winter has seriously depressed the coal, and necessarily the carrying trade; the consumption of fuel by this metropolis alone having, it is calculated, fallen during the last two months quite 10,000 tons a week beneath the ordinary consumption of this season of the year. This decreased consumption, of course, diminished the demand for shipping and freights; lessened the employment and lowered the wages of seamen. They resisted the operation of the law of supply and demand. As usual with work-people, ineffectually. But one complaint, even though averted, leads to another; and the seamen of the Tyne, foiled in their attempt to keep up wages, took to expressing their dislike of the new legislation of the Board of Trade; and with, as we shall see, some reason.

At first the movement was confined to the two Shieldses and their satellite ports. But grievances, real or fictitious, are infectious. The Board of Trade, notwithstanding its duty of "general superintendence," instead of at once interposing, looked curiously on. The Wear thereupon next sympathised with the Tyne; the sailors of Sunderland and its adjacent ports responded to their class further north. The Humber became uneasy; and Hull joined the movement.

The Board of Trade then sent Capt. Beechey, down to North Shields. Liverpool seems to have caught the infection; and from distant Peterhead, in the north of Aberdeenshire, the whalers are to be heard clamouring against the statute in that case made and provided.

Nevertheless the British seaman, with professional qualities and capabilities unrivalled, is an ignorant, insubordinate, aud suspicious fellow. Down to the last session of parliament he was not subject when afloat to any proper discipline, and in the coasting trade to little competent or morally responsible command. He had been petted and protected and made much of by legislation, until his insubordination and general bad conduct was jeopardizing the maritime reputation and profits of England. With minds and old associations unsettled, and generally indisposed to confidence, the Navigation Laws were repealed; that repeal Jack, in his deplorable ignorance, believed, as his owners assured him, was meant to take the bread out of his and put it into the foreigner's mouth. And before he had recovered from this fright, the act of last session came upon him.

The act was well meant; it aimed at raising the character of the mercantile marine by insuring a higher class of masters and mates, by protecting seamen against crimping and other frauds, and by enforcing discipline at sea; all admirable objects. But it proposed to do this in a meddlesome, fussy, costly and indiscriminate way: trying to force sailors at once into habits of order; not gradually weaning them from habits of disorder. And it was unaccompanied by several other measures absolutely necessary to render it popular with either owners, skippers, or sailors.

The statute contained many provisions for which sailors ought to be most thankful; it gave to Advance Notes for wages a legal character, which ensures their being cashed without the usurious assistance of crimps; it provided for the better accommodation of seamen on the long voyage, for their proper food and for due medical attendance; and these are provisions which it is very ungrateful in seamen to overlook or to depreciate. On the other hand, it laid down very stringent regulations for enforcing discipline and heavy penalties for its breach; and these it is that are so obnoxious to sailors; but their dislike of them is a proof, if it were wanted, how much they were needed. The act also provides for such a system of registration as on its face will show from the reports of masters the general character of the men: so increasing the value of good, and placing at their real worth bad men. This, of course, is not popular with the latter.

The Board of Trade's original bill required all agreements to be made at

the Shipping-offices; its bill No. 2, now the law, however, limited this requirement to foreign-going vessels. It left the coasting trade to make its agreements as before; provided they were in writing and contained certain particulars set forth in the act.

Their tickets will, we are persuaded, prove of infinite use to them; and to describe themselves, because of their issue, as "ticketed negro slaves," is a piece of very foolish exaggeration, which can only damage them when they have real evils to be redressed.

We are apprehensive that the present conduct of the seamen is calculated to inflict very serious and permanent injury upon themselves, and, perhaps, to damage irreparably the Shipping Interest of the country. Let us remind them that they are now, by our recent legislation, placed in very precarious circumstances. The Foreign Trade of England is thrown'open to the whole world, and, under the same enactment, her Majesty in Council-that is, in fact, the Ministers of the day-can regulate as they think proper, the pro portion of British seamen required to be borne on board an English vessel. As yet the Coasting Trade is exclusively reserved for our own ships and our own seamen; but, when the act for repealing the Navigation Laws was first framed, the Coasting Trade was also included in it, and it was with some difficulty, on the part of those who supported the Shipping Interest, that free-trade in Navigation was confined to the Foreign and Colonial Trade of the kingdom. The seamen, therefore, who are now "turning out" may rely upon it, that the same party who forced the Act of 1849 upon the Government would very cheerfully support them in adding the Coasting Trade of the kingdom to the former measure.

They should further know that a very considerable proportion of the Shipowners of the United Kingdom complain of the hardship of being compelled to man their ships with British seamen, when they are required to compete with foreigners, who receive much less pay, and who are fed in a very different manner from what our seamen are accustomed to. This is one of the grievances of the Shipping Interest complained of by Mr. Anderson, the member for the Orkneys. We have always admitted that it is an extreme hardship upon our Shipowners; but consideration for our seamen, has at the same time compelled us to say, that it is one which there is no alternative for them but to submit to. What are we now to say, when we find them insisting upon wages which we know Owners of vessels cannot pay at the present rate of freights? They may rest assured that, if they continue their present conduct, they need not trouble themselves about the Mercantile Marine Act, to which they make such clamorous and unfounded objections; for, in a very short time, the country would be without any Merchant Navy, and the Shipping Trade of the country would be monopolized by foreigners. In fact, the present conduct of the seamen will be referred to by the enemies of the Shipping Interest, to show the wisdom and propriety of allowing foreigners to engage in our carrying trade.

With regard to the Mercantile Marine Act, it is our firm belief that so much misrule and disorder, such frequent instances of insubordination, mutiny, and desertion, had sprung up in our Merchant Navy, that under a freetrade in shipping, foreign vessels would, in a very short time, have been generally preferred by Merchants who had cargoes to embark. The object of Mr. Labouchere's Bill is to remedy these abuses, by making the Merchant Navy of the Kingdom, in every respect, more orderly and trustworthy, from the efficiency of the Commanders and Officers, and the better conduct of the seamen; and, in effecting this object, care has been taken to make the new regulations the medium of insuring comfort and justice to the seamen themselves.

If these men suppose they are to make laws for themselves, or that they