Herald Of The Times

[From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.]

INTERESTING CASE.

In the ship Alabama, which arrived a few days since from New-Orleans, came passenger a native African, about seventy-five years of age, who was stolen from the land of his birth, about thirty-eight years ago, along with many other unhappy beings, and carried into Charleston, S. C., where he was sold to General Pinckney. His native name is La-min Kibby: his American name, Paul. After remaining six years in the service of Gen. Pinckney, he was sold to a Mr. Pratt, of Edgefield District, and by him to some one else, and so on, till at length he passed into the hands of Pressley Hasley, of Sumner county, Tennessee, and subsequently became the property of James Hoard, Esq. of Vicksburg, Miss. To this gentleman, he is indebted for his liberty, and not only for his liberty, but for his passage to this city, and ten dollars for the supply of his necessities on his arrival. His object is to return to Africa where he left a wife and two children. He was born and brought up in the district of Footagallo, (capital Timbo,) so far in the interior, that he says it would have taken him three weeks to walk to the Atlantic shore. When stolen, he was asleep at a place on the coast called Tamskoo, whither he had gone for purposes of trade. He was awaked from his slumbers, by the chains which was being fastened around him. He reads and writes his native language, the Arabic, with ease and fluency, and appears to have possessed an accomplished education.

After devoting seven years at home, to the pursuits of learning, he repaired to a College at Boonda, about 900 miles east of Footagallo, where he passed another seven years in completing his education. He then engaged in the business of teaching, in which employment he was occupied till near the period of his disastrous visit to the coast,--since which time he has never heard from his friends, nor they of course from him. At the time he left Africa, his father's brother was King of Footagallo, and he supposes the crown still rests upon the head of some one of his relatives. He represents himself to have embraced christianity, before he left his native country, though the mass of the people in Footagallo, were Mahomedans. He remembers to have seen a Bible there, and says a considerable part of the population, were able to read and write.

He will be provided with a passage to Liberia, by the first vessel, from which point he entertains no doubt, that he can soon make his way to Footagallo. Should he find his wife and children living, it will be indeed a joyous meeting. His constitution is still vigorous, notwithstanding his age and the hardships he has endured.