t is by the extreme simplicity
and abstemiousness of their mode of living, which contrast
so favorably for them with the expensive and almost
necessary luxuries of European life. Many of this grade
possess huge canoes, with which they trade in the upper part
of the river, along shore, and in the neighbouring rivers,
bringing down rice, palm-oil, cam-wood, ivory, hides, etc.,
etc., in exchange for British manufactures. 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
ma