The Rev. Dr. Finley, of New Jersey, matured a plan for the purpose, and proceeded to Washington, where, after consultation with a few friends, a meeting was called on the 25th of December, 1816. Henry Clay presided; Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, Dr. Finley, and others, were elected vice-presidents. The American Colonization Society was formed with the resolution to be free, and Christian, and national. There was peace in the world. Society was awakening to a remorseful consideration of the iniquities which had been practised on the African race in their own land, and of the condition of its population in this. The gradual emancipation of slaves, as favored by Jefferson and others in the early days of the republic, was discussed. But the objects sought in the formation of the Colonization Society, were the removal and benefit of the free colored population, together with such slaves as might have freedom extended to them with the view of settlement in Africa. And thus the work of forming an African nation in Africa, with republican feelings, impressions and privileges, and with Christian truth and Christian civilization, was commenced. CHAPTER XI. FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN COLONY--EARLY AGENTS--MILLS, BURGESS, BACON, AND OTHERS--U. S. SLOOP-OF-WAR “CYANE”--ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND OF SHERBORO--DISPOSAL OF RECAPTURED SLAVES BY THE U. S. GOVERNMENT--FEVER--SLAVES CAPTURED--U. S. SCHOONER “SHARK”--SHERBORO PARTIALLY ABANDONED--U. S. SCHOONER “ALLIGATOR”--SELECTION AND SETTLEMENT OF CAPE MESURADO--CAPTAIN STOCKTON--DR. AYRES--KING PETER--ARGUMENTS WITH THE NATIVES--CONFLICTS--DR. AYRES MADE PRISONER--KING BOATSWAIN--COMPLETION OF THE PURCHASE. In November, 1819, the Colonization Society appointed the Rev. Messrs. Samuel J. Mills and Ebenezer Burgess as its agents; with directions to proceed, by the way of England, to the west coast of Africa, for the purpose of making inquiries and explorations as to a suitable location for a settlement. They arrived in Sierra Leone in the month of March following, and visited all the ports from thence to the island of Sherboro. At Sherboro, about sixty miles S.S.E. from Sierra Leone, the agents found a small colony of colored people, settled by John Kizel, a South Carolina slave, who had joined the English in the Revolutionary War, and at its close was taken to Nova Scotia, from whence he sailed, with a number of his countrymen, to the coast of Africa. Here he became prosperous in trade, built a church, and was preaching to his countrymen. By Kizel and his people the agents were kindly received. He expressed the opinion, that the greater part of the people of color in the United States would ultimately return to Africa. “Africa,” said Kizel, “is the land of black men, and to Africa they must and will come.”