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.
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