| | 1 | Author: | Douglass, William | Add | | | Title: | Liberian Letters: William Douglass to Dr. James H. Minor 1857
February 5  | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | In haste I drop you these few lines to inform you of my health, and family,
we are all well and enjoying the blessings of kind heaven. We left
Norfolk on the 8th, of
Decr.
and we were 45 days on our tedious passage from Hamilton roads to
Roberts port
Grand Cape Mount, were we
stop to land some of our immigrants who were destined to the place,
and during the voyage, there was none sick of any disease only sea sickness
which of course we were not accustom to in no way, before our arrival
at the above named; all well and fater than they
was before in thier life, and all arrived at Monrovia in the beautiful Receptacle[1] which was brought out by the Rev. John Seys some months hence
in good spirits and sound; except myself, wife
Susan
, and Mary Douglass my daughter,
Thos. Scott
, David Scott,
Chas. Twin
,
Phil Twin
,
Geo. Walker
, Hugh Walker, Jr.,
Winzer Walker
,
Wilson Coleman
, Washington Coleman
Martin Coleman, Allen
Coleman, Young Barrett
Maria Barrett, Isabella
Johnson,
Chas. Barrett
,
Dick Barrett
,
John Mickey
, and
Washington Mickey
, all these I have mentioned[2] leave the ship
Mary Caroline Stevens, on the 28th day of January for this place,
which is about 46 miles which is only few hours travel, 15, of us arms our
mus kets and march in the roads from White Plains near
Millsberg to our destined home here we arrived safe
and sound; and we are all here provided
for by the Rev. John
Seys our excellent Agent who came out here for that purpose; and we
think could find no better man for
that experiment, no how in the world, who is acquainted with the natives fashion and cus
toms, and have already prepare us a loving and fine peo- ple; and everything is suitable to our taste in every respects and condition. We have meetings in the week on the
Sabbath and also Sabbath school; and in the week day school is for us,
which is taught by Mr. John A. Claode a native
of this country who have been reared up by the good missionary Society some
years back
who ever thought we would find such a one as this young
man is in the midst of civilized people O may God give him grace to teach those
who has arrived here late; this school is taught in our receptable as there was no school house has
been built for that purpose, but I hope by the assistance of God we shall
put up one for school and also will answer for worshipping. I cannot say
any thing now about the people until I hear
from them again but when I left them they were all well and good
in spirits; as for the country I am
very much
disap pointed
to see what beautiful country it is. I dont
think there could be any better country found for our colored race
any part of the globe, and when we come to behold the natural fruits
hanging on our beautiful shady trees, its makes my
heart to re- joiced within me; and I almost exclaim O God thou has
hidden many things from the eyes of
man, on this
this side of the shores and, now we
are able we are to see
it for ourselves which we have heard of for many years past and gone, but
you may assumed that we are long
way behind the people of this
country for thier
in genuity
they can make an excellent country cloths which of course I did not expect to see such
in the land. I have seen an excellent African cotton which is of the best
quality it can be raise
by any one if they only prepare a place for it. We find everything good
for eatable and also that to make man happy in this world, but most
every thing is dear for to buy. My dear Doctor
Minor as you fail in given us the list of
our tools it was difficult to get it
of from the ship, but we have done the best we could and have divided them according to our ability, for you assured we
found very a ble for our wants, and we are
very thankful to you that you did procure these things for our means,
that we are now have the pleasure
to say to you what we stand in need off, and we will
say that by the Mary Caroline Stevens, when she
returns in
March we all will remember you all in our pray ers to God, especially your family in preference
fromand all the rest, they all remember their love to
every body, and all are well and have not had any
sick ness since our arrival in this mount,
and if all meet up with good luck we will unite to all in that neigh borhood. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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