They are all in easy circumstances, readily obtaining mercantile credits from sixty pounds to two hundred pounds.  Persons of this and the grade next to be mentioned evince great anxiety to become possessed of houses and lots in old Freetown.  These lots are desirable because of their proximity to the market-place and the great thoroughfares, and also for the superior advantages which they allow for the establishment of their darling object,—­’a retail store.’  Property of this description has of late years become much enhanced in value, and its value is still increasing solely from the annually increasing numbers and prosperity of this and the next grade.  The town-lots originally granted to the Nova-Scotian settlers and the Maroons are, year after year, being offered for sale by public auction, and in every case liberated Africans are the purchasers.  A striking instance of their desire to possess property of this description, and of its increasing value, came under my immediate notice a few months ago.

“The gentlemen of the Church Missionary Society having been for some time looking about in quest of a lot on which to erect a new chapel, a lot suitable for the purpose was at length offered for sale by public auction, and at a meeting of the society’s local committee, it was resolved, in order to secure the purchase of the property in question, to offer as high as sixty pounds.  The clergyman delegated for this purpose, at my recommendation, resolved, on his own responsibility, to offer, if necessary, as high as seventy pounds; but to the surprise and mortification of us all, the lot was knocked down at upward of ninety pounds, and a liberated African was the purchaser.  He stated very kindly that if he had known the society were desirous of purchasing the lot he would not have opposed them; he nevertheless manifested no desire of transferring to them the purchase, and even refused an advance of ten pounds on his bargain.

“4.  Persons of the highest grade of liberated Africans occupy comfortable two story stone houses, enclosed all round with spacious piazzas.  These houses are their own property and are built from the proceeds of their own industry.  In several of them are to be seen mahogany chairs, tables, sofas, and four-post bedsteads, pier-glasses, floor-cloths, and other articles indicative of domestic comfort and accumulating wealth.

“Persons of this grade, like those last described, are almost wholly engaged in mercantile pursuits.  Their transactions, however, are of greater magnitude and value, and their business is carried on with an external appearance of respectability commensurate with then superior pecuniary means:  thus, instead of exposing their wares for sale in booths or stalls by the wayside, they are to be found in neatly fitted-up shops on the ground-floors of their stone dwelling houses.

“Many individual members of this