1837 Letter from Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the future President of Liberia, rejoicing that he had arrived in Liberia, "the land of the free and the home of the Oppressed."

Joseph Jenkins Roberts

Edité par Monrovia, Liberia, 1837

This four-page stampless folded letter measures 16" x 10" unfolded. It is from Joseph Jenkins Roberts, datelined "Monrovia November 7th 1837," and addressed to Mr. Benjamin Coats of Philadelphia. It bears a Norfolk, Virginia receiving postmark dated January 16, a straight-line "SHIP" handstamp, and a manuscript "20" rate mark. Very legible. There is a small tear on the second page where the letter s red wax seal had been attached. In nice shape. A transcript will be included. Several of Roberts s letters have survived, and all their handwriting bears both similarities and differences with each other. None have been positively identified as having been personally penned by Roberts, so it is possible that any of them, including this example, may have been dictated by him to a clerical assistant. This letter was written shortly after Roberts returned to Liberia from Washington, D.C. where he had been engaged in colony business which apparently included transporting number of new missionaries to Monrovia. It reads in part. "From the caption of this you will perceive that I am again . . . "In the land of the free and the home of the Oppressed." Rejoice with me! For I assure you Sir I was hartily sick of America and rejoiced to hear it said embark and be off. My treatment in Am. Sometimes bore hard, particularly when traveling. . . "We had a fine passage of thirty eight days out from Norfolk. Peace and concord existed among all; the Missionaries were very agreeable, all enjoyed good [health], except Mr. Teage who took Cold after a few days which brought on the plurisey . . . "My business at Washington was not arranged entirely to my satisfaction, probably they done a well as could be expected under the embarrassed state of the society. . . "I find things at home better than could be expected; The Colony decidedly advancing, much however remains yet to be done, much more would have been done but for the rainy season and the bad health of the Gov. "Gov. Buchanan s health is now good. And allow me to assure you he is an efficient man. . . I hesitate not to say that within twelve months the Colony will be advanced by fifty p.Ct. . . If the friends in America will sustain him it will be verified. Much has to be done that will require money. I know that the Society . . . has complained about the disbursements in Africa, and in some instances justly too. But Governor Buchanan] has not been excelled by any Agent for the Society. . . "I read a Number of the Pennsylvania Freeman and rather pleased with the spirit & tone of several Paragraphs, more so than I expected to be with any paper supported by the New School Abolitionists. . . It is a valuable production. The author in my opinion has produced many uncontrovertible facts in support of Colonization. . . "I cannot close this without expressing my gratitude by acknowledging your very polite attention to me during my stay in Phila. . ." . Mr. Teage was likely Hilary Teague, a born-free black Baptist minister who emigrated to Liberia with his family in 1821 and became champion for Liberian independence. H was the editor of the Liberia Herald, a Colonial Secretary and leader at the Constitutional Convention of 1847. He wrote the Liberian Declaration of Independence, served as its first secretary of state as well as its attorney general. The Pennsylvania Freeman was an anti-slavery newspaper published in Philadelphia that was for a time edited by the famous anti-slavery Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. Thomas Buchanan, a white man, was an early envoy to Africa as a member of the American Colonization Society and later served as the first governor of Liberia from 1839 to 1841. Benjamin Coates, to whom this letter was addressed, was a Quaker dry goods and wool merchant who was actively involved in abolition, black education, and colonization. As a member of the American Colonization Society, he worked closely with Roberts to encourage Liberian emigration as the best strategy to end American. N° de réf. du vendeur 010463

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : 1837 Letter from Joseph Jenkins Roberts, ...
Éditeur : Monrovia, Liberia
Date d'édition : 1837
Reliure : Envelope or Cover
Etat : Very good