In March, 1821, a body of twenty-eight new emigrants under charge of J.B.  Winn and Ephraim Bacon, reached Freetown in the brig Nautilus.  Winn collected as many as he could of the first company, also the stores sent out with them, and settled the people in temporary quarters at Fourah Bay, while Bacon set out to explore the coast anew and secure suitable territory.  An elevated fertile and desirable tract was at length discovered between 250 and 300 miles S.E. of Sierra Leone.  This was the region of Cape Montserado.  It seemed exactly suited to the purposes of the colonists, but the natives refused to sell their land for fear of breaking up the traffic in slaves; and the agent returned discouraged.  Winn soon died, and Bacon returned to the United States.  In November, Dr. Eli Ayres was sent over as agent, and the U.S. schooner Alligator, commanded by Lieutenant Stockton, was ordered to the coast to assist in obtaining a foothold for the colony.  Cape Montserado was again visited; and the address and firmness of Lieutenant Stockton accomplished the purchase of a valuable tract of land.

The cape upon which the settlers proposed to build their first habitations consists of a narrow peninsula or tongue of land formed by the Montserado River, which separates it from the mainland.  Just within the mouth of the river lie two small islands, containing together less than three acres.  To these, the Plymouth of Liberia, the colonists and their goods were soon transported.  But again the fickle natives repented the bargain, and the settlers were long confined to “Perseverance Island,” as the spot was aptly named.  Space forbids entering on the interesting details of the difficulties they successfully encountered.  After a number of thrilling experiences the emigrants, on April 25, 1822, formally took possession of the cape, where they had erected rude houses for themselves; and from this moment we may date the existence of the colony.  Their supplies were by this time sadly reduced; the natives were hostile and treacherous; fever had played havoc with the colonists in acclimating; and the incessant downpour of the rainy season had set in.  Dr. Ayres became thoroughly discouraged, and proposed to lead them back to Sierra Leone.  Then it was that Elijah Johnson, an emigrant from New York, made himself forever famous in Liberian history by declaring that he would never desert the home he had found after two years’ weary quest!  His firmness decided the wavering colonists; the agents with a few faint-hearted ones sailed off to America; but the majority remained with their heroic Negro leader.  The little band, deserted by their appointed protectors, were soon reduced to the most dire distress, and must have perished miserably but for the arrival of unexpected relief.  The United States Government had at last gotten hold of some ten liberated Africans, and had a chance to make use of the agency established for them at so great an expense.  They were accordingly