These  people  have  resisted  successfully  the  encroachments  of  the  King
of  Dahomey,  have  a  rich  country,  and  in  thrift  the  Aku  is  the  Israelite
of  Africa,  and  is  rapidly  displaying  Christian  civilization  through  the
zealous  labors  of  their  learned  countryman,  Bishop  Crowther,  and  his
efficient  corps  of  educated  ministers  and  teachers ;  and  have  recently
declared  themselves  a  nation  and  adopted  an  ensign.
Sierra  Leone  was  settled  largely  by  recaptured  Akus  and  Eboes,  and
the  sons  of  these  Sierra  Leonians  who  have  been  educated  at  Freetown
and  in  England  have  gone  in  large  numbers  to  the  land  of  their  parents,
and  have  thus  contributed  to  the  advancement  of  this  portion  of  Africa.
We  are  without  a  repi  esentative  at  Lagos.
Bonny,  a  country  governed  by  a  Christian  king,  George  Pepple,
whose  father  abolished  the  slave  trade  in  his  kingdom,  is  the  most  im-
portant oil  port  on  the  coast.
From  personal  acquaintance  with  His  Majesty,  I  can,  with  confidence,
assure  the  Department,  from  various  conversations  had  with  him  while
in  London,  that  an  American  consular  office  and  American  commerce  in
his  couutry  would  be  mutually  profitable.
I  would  respectfully  suggest  that  some  supervision  be  had  over  these
ports  in  the  interests  of  Americans.
