A glance at the map will show a sharp bend in this coast at Cape Palmas, from which it extends, on time one side, about 1,100 miles north-west and north, and on the other, about 1,200 or 1,300 almost directly east.  In this bend is the Maryland Colony of Cape Palmas, with a jurisdiction extending nearly 100 miles eastward.  This Colony is bounded on the north-west by the Republic of Liberia, which extends along the coast about 400 miles to Sherbro.  These two governments will ultimately be united in one Republic, and may be considered as one, for all the purposes of this inquiry.  The extent of their united sea-coast is about 520 miles.  The jurisdiction of the Republic over the four hundred miles or more which it claims, has been formally acknowledged by several of the leading powers of Europe, and is questioned by none.  To almost the whole of it, the native title has been extinguished; the natives, however, still occupying, as citizens, such portions of it as they need.

The civilized population of these governments, judging from the census of 1843, and other information, is some 7,000 or 8,000.  Of the heathen population, no census has ever been taken; but it probably exceeds 300,000.

The grade of Liberian civilization may be estimated from the fact, that the people have formed a republican government, and so administer it, as to secure the confidence of European governments in its stability.  The native tribes who have merged themselves in the Republic, have all bound themselves to receive and encourage teachers; and some of them have insisted on the insertion, in their treaties of annexation, of pledges that teachers and other means of civilization shall be furnished.

     Our accounts of churches, clergy and schools are defective, but
     show the following significant facts: 

The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia are nearly all Liberian citizens, serving as missionaries of the Methodist Missionary Society in the United States.  The last Report of that Society gives the names of fifteen missionaries, having in charge nine circuits, in which are 882 members in full communion, and 235 probationers; total, 1,117.  They have 20 Sabbath Schools, with 114 officers and teachers, 810 scholars, and 507 volumes in their libraries.  They have a Manual Labor School and Female Academy.  The number of Day Schools is not reported; but seven of the missionaries are reported as superintendents of schools, and the same number have under their charge several “native towns,” in some of which there are schools.  The late superintendent of the missions writes:—­

“It appears plain to my mind, that nothing can now retard the progress of our missions in this land, unless it be the want of a good high school, in which to rear up an abundant supply of well qualified teachers, to supply, as they shall rapidly increase in number, all