The Looking-Glass (Peterson)/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI.
The Author visits several places in the vicinity of Monrovia. He speaks a number of times in the Churches. He sails for Sierra Leone. On the passage Mr. Caldwell is very sick, and the Steward tries to get possession of his property. The Author opposes this nefarious attempt. They arrive in Sierra Leone. The Author finishes his business and sails for Gambia. Arrival in Gambia. Mahometans; Idolators; treatment of criminals under the British rule. The Author prefers the United States Government. He sails in the Isla de Cuba for the United States. Storms at sea. The Author trusts in the Lord. Two men concealed on board. The Gulf Stream. Arrival at New-York.
On Thursday evening, Dec. 22, 1853, I preached in Monrovia, from the 133d Psalm, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell too-other in unity." The meeting was well attended. The President is a member of the Methodist Church: and all the distinguished men are members of some Church. I have, an appointment again on Sabbath evening, the Lord be pleased.
Liberia would never have been the home of the immigrants, had it not been for a woman. When the first settlers were preparing themselves resting-places, the natives came upon them with hostile intent. One woman only remained in her house, the other inhabitants having fled. She fired upon the natives until she had succeeded in killing quite a number of them. The survivors fled. The name of the woman was Mrs. Newport; and she secured a new port for the colored people. The natives never returned.
On Sabbath, Christmas-day, a man from Indiana spoke in the Church, from Isaiah, 53d chapter. I spoke in the afternoon to a very full house. All the first families were present, the President and his family, the Vice-President, Secretaries, Merchants, &c. I spoke from Matt., chap, ii., v. 10.
On Thursday, 29th, I spoke at Millsburg. I went from Monrovia with a number of men to examine the land. We went up St. Paul's river. We travelled through the woods, thickets, and brambles. We spent the most of the day in this great wood. We did not see so much as a frog or any other animal. In the evening, we returned to Caldwell, and spent a very agreeable evening with Mr. Richardson. We finished our business, and on Saturday came back to Monrovia. I stopped with Squire Moore, as Mrs. Teague was sick and her house shut up.
Rev. Mr. McKay spoke on Sabbath afternoon, and I spoke in the evening. Rev. Mr. Burns spoke in the morning.
On January 2d, 1854, President Roberts and Vice-President Benson were both installed in office. The utmost decorum was observed. The hall was crowded; all the first people of the place were present, officers of the Navy, ladies, &c.
On the 6th, Mr. Caldwell and myself took a walk to the Government Farm, a very thriving spot, and extremely pleasant.
I closed the meeting on Sabbath forenoon, and spent the clay very agreeably with brethren and sisters. But I do not say that everybody is good in Liberia, for there are some disorderly persons here as well as in other countries.
President Roberts and family attend meeting every Sabbath, and sit directly in front of the altar. Both himself and lady are very mild and pleasant people, hospitable and attentive to strangers.
On Friday, 10th January, we all dined with Judge Benson, now Vice-President. On the 13th, all the ministers went to Conference, down to Sino, and the
Senators all went home. On the 14th, we had a _-_figure_109.png)
View of the Natives and Scenery of West Africa.
severe thunderstorm, and another on the 16th of the month. On Sabbath, I spoke at the Baptist Church at 3 P.M. There was a full house, and we had a very good time. I closed meeting in the evening, at the Mission M.E. Church.
David Moore, Esq., at whose house I put up, is a judge, and stands high in the community. He is also quite wealthy. He owns much land, which is well cultivated, also flocks and herds, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs. They come every evening and lie down before his door in a grove of orange and coffee trees, which are breaking down under their burden of ripe fruit. This man was once a slave, but is now a government officer in this young and growing Republic. Mr. Moore is a tanner, a shoemaker, a soap-maker, a farmer, and a justice of the peace. He is quite dark in his complexion.
On the 18th of January, I went on board the English steamer Hope, from Plymouth, bound to Sierra Leone. She is a mail boat. The company have four boats on the line. One is called Faith, another Hope, and another Charity. When I first went on board, I did not know that the time of sailing would be delayed till nine o'clock at night. After enjoying a good supper, with the company and a number of passengers, all very respectable persons, we set sail for Sierra Leone. It is about 240 miles from Monrovia. From Sierra Leone to Gambia is about 412 miles.
We had a very pleasant passage. The sea was as smooth as the Hudson River. The fare on board was excellent. I never found a better table on board of any boat; all fared alike, without distinction. During the passage Mr. Caldwell was very sick, and Dr. Paterson placed him under the charge of the steward of the forward cabin. A spoonful of brandy was ordered to be given him every quarter of an hour, which was clone for twenty-four hours or more, so that the poor man was permitted to rest in quiet but a little while at a time; I spoke against such proceeding's, and they were very angry with me, and said that I had no business to interfere, as the doctor gave the patient up to the steward's charge. The steward's aim was to get the man's effects into his possession. He had a good watch and clothing; and therefore, the steward made the sick man believe that he was his best friend. He would not leave him for a moment; he hugged him and kissed him, and declared that although he was a white man and Mr. Caldwell was a colored man, yet he would never leave him or forsake him. lie drew up writings for Mr. Caldwell to sign in which all the effects of the patient were made over him. He urged Mr. Caldwell to sign these writings, while in his weak and dying state.
I opposed all this strongly, but I had no power, for it was a British vessel and British officers, bound to one of their own ports. As I was only one, and they were many, I left the whole matter in the hands of the blessed Lord. He pleaded my cause, and fought my battles, and overthrew all their wicked designs. He kept the man alive until we got into port.
While we were at sea, I told them that if they took any improper steps, I would report them to the American Consul. They did .not care much for that; but the blessed Lord is high over all, and blessed for evermore. Therefore, I recommend to all mankind that they serve Him in spirit and in truth.
After I had settled my affairs in Sierra Leone, I went on board the steamer Hope, bound to Gambia, on the coast of Africa. We had a pleasant passage, no distinction was made in the treatment of passengers.
When we arrived at Gambia, I visited the Churches, schools, markets, and public buildings, and took note of the manners and habits of the people. Many of the inhabitants are Mahometans. Others wore charms about their persons and are loaded with idols. They may be seen sitting or lying in the sand, in large gangs, worshipping their false gods. They wear long robes and sandals, but are half naked. There are more than a hundred tongues or languages among them, so that the one part do not understand the rest.
Criminals are put in prison, and formed into chain gangs. These are chained two together, and on the back of their jackets is the word CONVICT. They wear red caps. They are made to work in the streets, and every three months they are flogged on the back. Such is the rule under the English Government: but in Liberia there is no such barbarity practised.
Jan'y. 31st. The United States ship-of-war Constellation, Com. Mayo, arrived at this port and fired a salute, which was answered by the fort at Gambia.
The barque Isla de Cuba, now lying in this port, will sail in a few days for New-York, United States. Capt. Forsyth is going passenger in the Isla de Cuba, Capt. Miller.
I remained in the town of Gambia nine days, and spent three days on board the ship.
3d. All hands on board. Mr. Forsyth and lady came on board at 12 o'clock. On the evening of Thursday, Mr. Forsyth spent the time very agreeably with some of his friends over champaigne. They then bade adieu and parted. The pilot came on board at half past three on Friday morning. His name is Pompey Gay. He makes about £260 a year, and out of that he receives £60 for his own use. He is a colored man. The colored people do all the out-of-door work here, but the sixty pounds for himself! Such is the boast of English freedom. Give me the Government of the United States forever, in preference to such liberty. Take away slavery, and nothing like the U.S. Government was ever known. I have learned that by travelling abroad, and making use of my eyes and ears.
The author conceives that, at this rate, those who are called free in England give to their employers a much larger portion of the proceeds of their toil, than the American planter receives from those colored men in his service who are called slaves. And the gains of this colored pilot are in about the same ratio as those of other "free" colored men who are subjects of the Crown.
Feb. 4th. At sea. All well. We left the Capes on the forenoon of 3d inst. In a short time, we caught a favorable breeze, stiff and strong, and we made good headway.
5th. Sabbath. We have been at sea three days. Fine weather and fair wind. All well.
6th. Thank the Lord we are well. The wind is fair, with occasional calm.
7th. Thank the Lord we are tolerable. Good weather; light wind, but fair.
8th. Fine weather and fair wind. Thank the Lord, we are all tolerably well.
9th. Fine weather and fair wind. All well.
10th. All well. Fine weather and fair wind.
11th. Fair wind and weather. All well at this time.
12th. Ten days out. This day is the Sabbath. Fine weather. Thank the Lord, we are all well.
13th. Fine weather; all well. We saw a ship to-day, to leeward. The seamen are all busily engaged in cleaning and painting the ship. Capt. Miller is a very particular man.
14th. All well. A little breeze.
15th. All well. Light breeze. In the afternoon a good breeze sprung up and we gut on finely.
l6th. All well. We had a fine rain shower this morning. In the afternoon we had quite a gale; but we are in the hands of the Lord. He is our only help in the time of trouble. When we left Gambia, Africa, there were two Frenchmen stowed away in the hold of the ship, and after we got to sea, they came up and showed themselves to the captain. When the captain heard their story, he put them in charge of the mate, to work their passage to the United States.
17th. All well. A fair breeze. We are getting on very well, thank the Lord.
18th. Fine weather and a good breeze. The mate found a live scorpion on board. They killed it. We saw several whales; they were quite large ones.
19th. Sabbath. It is a little stormy, but we are getting on very well.
20th. Light, fair breeze; getting on very well.
21st. Fair wind, but light; getting on very well. We are thankful that we are all well.
22d. Fair wind, but light. All well.
23d. Fair, but light breeze.
24th. We have a fair wind from the East, with rain. In the afternoon it blew a perfect gale, and rained very hard. All hands were called, cook and steward. At about 4 P.M. the storm ceased. The clouds broke away, and the sun shone again, thanks be to the Lord. Before the gale came on, we were in that part of the sea where the winds are variable. between the coast of Africa and the West Indies. There was a calm for some days; the wind shifting all around the compass in a few hours. The gale carried us swiftly over that part of the ocean; until we caught the American breeze, which is sweet and cool. There is a great deal of grass afloat in the sea for thousands of miles. It looks pretty, and is called the gulf weed. It grows in or near the Gulf Stream. We see many birds flying on this coast, of different kinds.
25th. A severe gale from the East for more than 24 hours. We are thankful that the wind is favorable. We have seen three ships since we left Gambia.
26th. Sabbath. We are 24 days out. The wind is high and the sea rough. We are near the Bahama Islands, getting on very well.
27th. We have a good fair wind, and are getting on very well. We are near the Gulf Stream.
28th. The wind is high and not fair. The sea is rough, and the weather getting cold. We saw one schooner to-day, the fourth vessel we have seen since we left Gambia, Africa.
March 1st. We are in the Gulf Stream. It is quiet and calm. We saw two ships to-day going out. This evening, we saw the new moon.
2d. We are getting on slowly. Quite calm. Saw this morning a fore-top-sail schooner, supposed to be bound to New-York. She kept company with us all day. We came to the Gulf in the night. It was very rough indeed.
3d. The sea is very rough. Wind high: we are thankful it is favorable. We have shipped several very heavy seas this morning. It is said that we are about 400 miles from New-York. The blessed Lord has ever been, and still is, our only defence and help in the time of need; therefore, we will do the best we can, and trust Him in all cases. I thank the Lord, we have got through the Gulf. This afternoon it is four weeks since we left Africa. We are now on the coast of America.
4th. It is said that the Gulf Stream is 70 miles in width. It is very boisterous and rough indeed. We had to take in and reef sails. We crossed near Norfolk, Va., and are now steering up the coasts of Maryland, Delaware and Jersey. The wind is not fair. A steamer going South, passed us last evening.
6th. Sabbath. Very windy, stormy and cold. We saw the Jersey shore. All well.
6th. We came inside the Hook, and entered the waters of New-York with the wind ahead. Arrived at the Quarantine ground during the night.
7th. This morning, we were visited by the Quarantine officers, and after that, we all came up to the city of New-York. Thus ends our passage.