AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY

The American Colonization Society was founded in the early 1800s as an effort to return free blacks to the African continent. To that end, the Society established the colony (and later, nation) of Liberia on the west coast of Africa.

The following is a letter from William McLain, a financial agent for the Society, to Lewis Thompson, a plantation owner in Bertie County. It expresses gratitude for Thompson's donation to the Society and mentions an upcoming expedition to transport freemen from North Carolina to Liberia.

Colonization Rooms
Washington City 18 Sept. 1841
Lewis Thompson Esq.
Woodville, Birtie Co. N.C.

Dear Sir
Yours of 14 inst. is rcd.
inclosing thirty dollars for the Am. Col.
Soc. We sincerely thank you for this liberal
donation. It entitles you to a certificate
of Life Membership which I herewith for-
ward you, & also to receive the Repository
gratis for three years, which we will
send to you.

We hope to start an expedition
for Liberia on or near the 10th of
Oct. proximo from Norfolk. A few
emigrants from your state will go in
it.

I have the honor to be
yours with much respect,

W. McLain
for the Ex. Com. A.C.S.

The voyage referred to did occur:

This is documented at http://ccharity.com/liberia/shipsaluda121841.htm