abilities, without remuneration, for the benefit of our young Rèpublic. The Government and people of Liberia are fully sensible of the value of Mr. Ralston's services as their Consul General, and have for some time been trying to find a suitable and practical mode of evincing their satisfaction. With this view, the Legislature, at its last session, passed a resolation complimenting Mr. Ralston for the able and satisfactory manner in which he has conducted our foreign affairs as our Consul General; and as a further evidence of their high appreciation, the President of Liberia is authorized to present to Mr. Ralston a suitable testimonial of the regard of the Republic of Liberia for his valuable services as Liberian Consul General. The people on the St. Paul's river are hard at work. During the dry season they have made any number of thousands of bricks for building purposes, some of them equal to the best imported. Upwards of 200,000 have found a ready market in this city. It is not to be supposed that their agricultural interests are suffering in consequence of brick making. The contrary is the fact. From the sale of brick they are enabled to extend their farming operations, and we are assured that the planting of cane and coffee will exceed that of any previous year, at least fifty per cent. In almost every direction on the St. Paul's brick houses are taking the place of wooden ones. Appearances indicate that ere long a very lucrative trade will be carried on between Liberia and Sierra Leone. We have abundant signs to warrant us in saying this. Already our sugar and coffee find quite a fair market there. On Sunday the 22d of February, Trinity Church, (Protestant Episcopal,) was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The services were performed by the Rt. Rev. John Payne, Bishop of the P. E. Church, in Liberia, assisted by the Revs. Alex. Crummell, A. F. Russell, C. C. Hoffman, Thomas J. Thompson, J. K. Wilcox, C. F. Jones, E. W. Stokes, Thomas Toomy, and G. W. Gibson, the pastor of the church. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. Alex. Crummell from the latter clause of the 17th verse of 28th chapter of Genesis. This splendid church is a gift from the Sunday School of Rev. Dr. Tyng's Church, New York, and is capable of seating about 360 persons. On this occasion the church was full, but not crowded. The Liberia College was opened on the first Monday in February, under Professors Crummell and Blyden. The following are the names of the students for the first term: First class; J. H. Evans, A. D. Williams. James M. Payne. Second class: James N. Lewis, H. D. Brown, E. C. Howard, N. R. Richardson, J. P. Henry. [Correspondence of the New York Observer.] MONROVIA, Jan. 27, 1863. We have now been here about four weeks, during which time we have almost constantly been about seeing all that is to be seen, and forming our conclusions. Accordingly, and from all that we have seen, we are firmly convinced that come weal or woe, Liberia is to be our future home; and rather than repent the election we have made, we tell the friends we have left behind that we know they cannot do better than to follow our example. We had a very pleasant voyage to our home. Two clergymen, Rev. Messrs. Seys and Amos, accompanied us. Every evening we had prayer meetings on board, and regular church service and Sabbath school every Sunday; so that while you were engaged in the worship of God at home, our voices were ascending to the same throne from the bosom of the Atlantic. Since we have been here we have nearly all been down with the acclimating fever. We are all getting along nicely. This fever is not so bad as it is represented, nothing more than the fever and ague; and if persons are careful to abstain from the luscious fruits with which the country abounds, and to keep out of the sun and night air, they may come to this country, and need fear no fever. Monrovia is quite a nice little place. The We arrived here just when the Legislature was in session. agricultural fair and the courts were in operation. Mr. Murray and myself visited everything. I can scarcely describe our feelings. Yow know we have been used to seeing colored people occupying menial positions, and if one happens to exhibit intelligence above the common, he was held up as a prodigy; but here we see gentlemen of education and refinement, employed in national affairs, ratifying treaties, and making commercial arrangements with the other nations of the earth. It made my heart rejoice, and I could not help but thank God that he had brought me here, and enabled me to taste of liberty in its truest sense. The site of Monrovia is rather pretty and romantic. The first view of it from the sea is bold and commanding a high promontory, upon which is situated the light-house and fort. The harbor is poor, but Government is about to remedy this defect by building a breakwater. The town itself is well laid out. The streets are straight and wide. Some of the houses are very fine, but on account of the rains the peaked roof is universal. Fruit trees, orange, lime, and others, are everywhere abundant, and not only afford a pleasant shade, but exhale a delightful perfume. We called upon His Excellency President Benson, and was by him welcomed to Liberia. The people have, so far, extended to us every hospitality. The houses of the best people of the place have, ever since we have been here, open to receive us. We do not intend to stay here. The only persons who can succeed in Monrovia are those who practice the professions, as, doctors, lawyers, ministers, school teachers, merchants, civil engineers, mechanics, and politicians. These all do well. Some of the merchants of Liberia are wealthy, while a good mechanic is sure to succeed. There is no work here for a person who wants to hire as a laborer. The natives are so plenty and willing, that it would be foolish to attempt to compete with them. The country is the place for us, and for all who are willing to labor. A few weeks ago, Mr. Murray and I, in company with two country citizens, went up the St. Paul's river. We were delighted with all we saw. Fine brick farm-houses, large coffee and sugar farms, steam sugar-mills, saw-mills, brick-yard, &c. In some places we found 50, 60, and 100 acres of cane, and some coffee farms of from 1,000 to 5,000 trees. Each farm has about five acres in reserve, on which they plant their rice, sweet-potatoes, ginger plants, &c. This is the place for a poor man. Nearly every one of these farmers came here poor, a few years ago, and have risen by their own industry. The land is so productive that almost everything grows spontaneously. Sugarcane has only to be planted every seven years, while sweet-potatoes and rice grow like weeds. Here we will locate. The place we have chosen is called Harrisburg. We can draw ten acres from the Government, and get as much more as we choose, at fifty cents per acre, and have time to pay it. At Harrisburg there is a Presbyterian Church, a Sabbath school, a day school, and the Alexandria high school is about to be transferred from Monrovia here. If you desire, as I know you do, to do a work for our people and Liberia, try and induce every respectable, intelligent, and industrious colored man to emigrate to this country. This is their country in every sense of the word. With high hopes for the future, J. MURRAY WELLS. From a late Emigrant from Annapolis, Maryland. MONROVIA, Feb. 9, 1863. MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER: I seat myself for the purpose of letting you know how we are getting along in Monrovia, and how we are pleased with the Republic of Liberia. We landed on the 26th of December, and found everything ready for us at the Receptacle, much better than we expected. We found the people very friendly, every one giving advice about the fever. I was the first to have it. I was sick for three days with my first attack, and since then, out of forty-two, there is but one left to have it. Some have had it very severe, and we have lost two females, both married. At present the rest are doing very well. I must say we are much pleased with the country. I know it is the home for a colored man; you think you are living at home, but if you could take a look, and see how some families live here, you would be surprised. We have not been on the St. Paul's as yet, but our friends that came with us have, and they have selected our land for us. It is land that has been cleared off by the natives, some time since. So all we will have to do is to cut the brush and burn it. Our land is located near Harrisburg, about a half mile from the river, and there is a small stream running through it, which is suitable for a mill-race, if we choose at any time to put a mill on it. We have sugar-mills near us, so we will plant our sugar crop the first thing, and afterwards we will plant a large coffee field. They have a plenty of cattle here, and the farmers all use them, that is why we want a plow; and you will oblige us by sending us a watch or a clock, as we cannot get one in Monrovia. Please do not forget to get that book from Brice Brewer. We have not sold anything but segars yet, and not all of them. Our fish and pork we will want for our own use, when we go up the river, to feed our hands with. We are ready to go up the river now, as the fever is nearly over with us. Eliza is quite sick to-day; Johnny has fever to-day, but the children do not suffer much with fever; Willie has had the fever, but he is quite well; all of Horace's children have had the fever, but they are better. We enjoy ourselves very much; we visit a great many families. We were invited up the river with a wedding party, but Horace was sick, and I did not like to go. Mr. Crummell arrived two weeks ago, and sends his love. Mrs. Russell (Georgiana Williams that was) is in Monrovia, and she was so much pleased to see us. She heard I died in California. Her husband is a farmer on the St. Paul's; she has given me an invitation to make her house my home. I think our prospects are much better than we first anticipated. Labor costs nothing here to speak of; we can employ natives for two dollars per month, and sometimes you get them for their feed. Willie has been going to school, but since he had the fever, he has not gone; but I will send him in a few days. Mr. Amos will have his school adjoining our farm, so we will have no trouble in sending our children to school. Mrs. Fuller and husband are here; they are well. He is a member of the House of Delegates. Mary Blackson that was, sends her love to all, and says her brother Richard must come out, and bring his butchering tools, and he can make all the money he wants, and if he has any tools of any kind, to bring them. I dined with Dr. McGill some days ago. I send you a list of the company. I also dined with him on Sunday. You must excuse this letter, but I was sick with fever yesterday, so I did not feel like writing to-day. My love to all. Let me know how is getting along. From your sons, H. AND N. BISHOP. 000 [From the Christian Mirror] ODD HOURS ON THE HILLS-THE HIGHER LAW" CONWAY, MASS., April 14, 1863. "Be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods," was the speech of Shadrach and his followers, on the plain of Dura. "I have audaciously done that which was holy," boasted the Greek maiden Antigone in the Play, because she could not judge that the proclamation of men might "transgress the unwritten and immovable laws of the gods." "Give unto God the things that are Gods," said Harry Vane, "Give also unto Cæsar the things that are his. If he unlawfully require more, do you lawfully refuse to obey him.' The reason of man is echoing the voice through all the ages, denying its subjection to powers that are no more than human, and declaring its allegiance to the Power above. Among those that believe in God, there has never been a dissenting word. If ever there appears to be, it comes of some ambiguous form of statement or of some misapprehension of the meaning intended. That full service and submission are due to God only, is the first principle of religion. And in all the discussions that go on among Christians as to the authority of laws and institutions that men have framed, this is really admitted. For whenever any one contends that a law or a constitution of government should be always respected, the very point in his mind is, that duty so requires, and that obedience ought in that case to be rendered; that is, he acknowledges, in fact, the very principle against which it might be supposed that he was arguing. For "duty" and ought' are terms that have significance in relation to the higher law," and nowhere else. It is not possible that any one should cast off that law in its complete supremacy, unless he will become an atheist. Nothing like this is, of course, intended by those among ourselves who are inclined to give the most weight to human enactments. The thing itself which they so stoutly and honestly assert is, that they are acting rightly; that is, in obedience to God in so doing. 66 66 The point of difference in reality is, not whether God shall be always obeyed, but whether, under certain conditions, the appointments of men may not be taken as decisive indications of the divine will, so that to refuse obedience to these, will certainly, in every instance, involve offence to him.* * Burke, in Lis Reflections on the Revolution in France." has discussed these questions at length; and in the manner of his own broad and capacious mind. There is a passage that deserves to be quoted: "Society," says he, |