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184 LOTT CAREY. LOTT CAREY. 185 14. "The Rev. Lott Carey has, in my opinion, some claims on the justice of the society, or the government of the United States, or both, which merit consideration. These claims arise out of a long and faithful course of medical services rendered to this colony. More than one half of his time has been given up to the care of the sick, from the day I landed in Africa to the very moment of stating the fact. He has personally aided, in every way that fidelity and benevolence could dictate, in all the attentions which our sick have in so long a period received. 15. "Several times have these disinterested labors reduced him to the very verge of the grave. He has hitherto received no compensation, either from the society or the government, for these services. I need not add, that it has not been in his power to support himself and family, by any use he could make of the remnants of the time left him, after discharging the amount of duties devolving upon him. In addition, he has the care of the liberated Africans." 16. Until near the time of the Indian Chief's departure, he cherished the hope of embarking in her for America. But as there was no other physician in the colony, it was finally thought best for him to postpone his departure until another opportunity. By the return of that vessel, he addressed the following letter to the secretary of the society:-- "Monrovia, April 24th, 1826. "REV. AND DEAR SIR,-- I received your letter sent me by order of the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society, and expected, until a few days ago, that the return of the Indian Chief would have enabled me, in all respects, to have realized all their wishes. But on a more minute examination of the subject, Mr. Ashmun and myself both were apprehensive that my leaving the colony at present, would endanger the lives of a number of the inhabitants. 18. "Mr. Ashmun has, however, made a full statement to the board, which I have no doubt will be satisfactory to them. I think that, through the blessing of the Almighty, I shall be able to get the last expedition through the fever with very little loss: we have lost only three, the Rev. Mr. Trueman, from Baltimore, and two children belonging to the Paxton family. But the emigrants who came out in the Vine (from Boston) have suffered very much; we lost twelve of them. 19. "The action of the disease was more powerful with them than is common; they unfortunately arrived here in the most sickly month in the year, February. I am strongly of the opinion, sir, that if the people of New England leave there in the winter, that the transition is so great, that they may counter upon a loss of half at least. They may, in my estimation, with safety, leave in the months from April to November, and arrive here 16*
