“’JOHN FORSYTH.

    “’W.S.  HOLABIRD, Esq.,

        “‘Attorney U.S. for District of Conn.’

“But after all the order did not avail.  The District Judge, contrary to all these anticipations of the Executive, decided that the thirty-six negroes taken by Lieut.  Gedney and brought before the Court on the certificate of the Governor-General of Cuba, were FREEMEN; that they had been kidnapped in Africa; that they did not own these Spanish names; that they were not ladinos; and were not correctly described in the passport, but were new negroes bought by Ruiz in the depot of Havana, and fully entitled to their liberty.”

At a public meeting held subsequent to their liberation, the teacher of the Africans made a statement as follows:—­Their ruling passion was a love for home; and their desire to return thither was constantly manifesting itself.  One day, a short time ago, Fohlee came to his teacher, with his cap in his hand, and said, “If Merican men offer me as much gold as fill this cap full up, and give me houses, land and every ting, so dat I stay in dis country, I say no!  Is dat like my father?  Is dat like my mother?  Is dat like my sister?  Is dat like my brother?  No!  I want to see my father, my mother, my brother and sister.”  This feeling manifested itself in many ways; and they expressed themselves willing to undergo any thing short of losing their lives, if by so doing they could be at liberty to return to the Mendi country.

I now introduce the lively narrative of my friend Lewis Tappan: 

    “EXCURSION WITH THE AMISTAD AFRICANS.

    “On board Steam Boat, L.I.  Sound, Nov. 15, 1841.

“BROTHER LEAVITT:—­As the committee had chartered a ship to take the Mendians to Sierra Leone about the middle of this month, and as the funds contributed by a benevolent public were about all expended, it appeared necessary, in addition to an appeal published in the newspapers, to take some prompt and efficient measures to procure funds sufficient to pay for their outfit and passages, and, if possible, something to sustain the contemplated mission in Mendi.  One of the committee being sick and another absent, it devolved upon me to perform the excursion.  I was assisted essentially by Mr. Samuel Deming, one of the committee at Farmington, and by Mr. William Raymond and Mr. Needham.  On arriving at Hartford, the third instant, I learned that Mr. Deming had proceeded to Boston, accompanied by ten of the Mendians, viz., Cinque, Banna, Si-si, Su-ma, Fu-li, Ya-bo-i, So-ko-ma, Kin-na, Ka-li and Mar-gru.  These were selected not on account of being the best scholars, but with reference to their being the best singers, although some of them are among the best scholars.  None of them, however, have had instruction in music.  Arriving in Boston, the city was, as I anticipated, full of excitement, on account of the approaching election,—­a