ht thousand
dollars' worth of goods each trip.[168] Doctor Alexander[169] relates
that between the first of January and the fifteenth of July, 1826,
fifteen vessels stopped at Monrovia.

Nevertheless, there were some anti-slavery leaders in America who
seriously questioned the permanent utility and moral influence of the
colony of Liberia. One of these anti-slavery groups, composed of free
Negroes of Philadelphia, was led by Richard Allen, the founder of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.[170] In a letter to a gentleman
in Richmond, Lott Cary makes mention, September 24, 1827, of the
agitation carried on by these Negroes of Philadelphia. "Before I left
America," he said,[171] "and ever since then, the coloured people in
about Philadelphia, have been making efforts in opposition to the
scheme of colonizing the free people in Africa; and as some of their
very recent publications have reached this place, I felt that in
justice to the cause, and my own feelings, I ought to undertake to
point out to them their situation."

Unfortunately the letter closes shortly after this but singularly
enough our sources supply an "Address, _By the Citizens of Monrovia_,
to the free coloured people of the United States,"[172] which no doubt
is referred to in the letter. The name of Lott Cary is not attached to
this address, which boosts "the doings of the Colonization Society"
and which points out the political, social, economic, educational and
religious advantages enjoyed by the colonists. Nevertheless, the
document could not fully express the sentiments of the colonists
unless the feelings of the leaders were given. It is not too much to
presume that the address was gotten up by Lott Cary, the outstanding
leader of the colonists, but it is very doubtful whether he wrote it
in its present form. The correspondence of Cary reveals that he did
not express himself so clearly nor did he use so good English.[173]
The antithetical style reminds one of the writing of Ashmun.[174]

Through all of the many affairs which Cary performed, he continued
pastor of the church at Monrovia. A missionary society was formed in
connection with the church in the spring of 1826. Cary was elected
president.[175] At the first anniversary[176] on Easter Monday, in
consequence of the failure of the Rev. Colin Teague to come from
Sierra Leone, Lott Cary preached the introductory sermon.[177] This
society contributed $50 for mission work during the year 1827.