that, if it were not for very important
despatches received last week from the county of Maryland, which
make it absolutely necessary that I should delay no time in
reaching there, I would defer my departure a couple of days for the
express purpose of consultation with you in person.

I have the honor to be most respectfully,
Your very obedient servant,

To M. R. Delany, Esq., &c. STEPHEN A. BENSON

* * * * *

Monrovia, July 13, 1859 Martin R. Delany, Esq.:

DEAR SIR--The undersigned, citizens of the city of Monrovia, having
long heard of you and your efforts in the United States to elevate
our down-trodden race, though those efforts were not infrequently
directed against Liberia, are glad to welcome you, in behalf of the
community to these shores; recognizing, as they do in you, an
ardent and devoted lover of the African race, and an industrious
agent in promoting their interests. And they take this opportunity
of expressing to you their most cordial sympathy with the
enterprise which has brought you to these shores, sincerely
praying that your endeavors may be crowned with complete success.

The undersigned, further, in the name and behalf of the members of
this community, respectfully request that you would favor the
citizens with a lecture to-morrow evening, or on any other evening
you may choose to appoint, at half-past seven o'clock, on any
subject you may be pleased to select.

On receiving your reply notices will be issued accordingly.

B. P. YATES H. W. DENNIS
D. B. WARNER URIAS A. MCGILL
SAML. F. MCGILL H. A. JOHNSON
B. V. R. JAMES EDW. W. BLYDEN
SAML. MATTHEWS

Residence of the United States Consular Agent, Monrovia, July
13th, 1859

GENTLEMEN--Your note of to-day has been received, for the honor of
which I thank you, and beg to say that numerous engagements prevent
me from complying with your request on to-morrow evening.

You are mistaken, gentlemen, in supposing that I have ever spoken
directly 'against Liberia,' as wherever I have been I have always
acknowledged a unity of interests in our race wherever located; and
any seeming opposition to Liberia could only be constructively
such, for which I am not responsible.

Should it b