Alexandria Gazette

From the African Repository for May.

Munificent Bequest. - The Rev. Mr. Butler, of Port Gibson, Mississippi, in a letter to the New Orleans Observer, gives the following notice of the liberality of Isaac Ross, of Mississippi, who died last January. Mr. Ross was an officer in the war of the Revolution, and one of the most esteemed citizens of that State. Mr. Butler says:

"The deceased was the owner of more than 170 slaves, a splendid plantation, probably better stocked than any other in the state, and now an immense territory lying around 'Prospect Hill.' By his will, his plantation will be managed as before, during the life-time of his daughter, Mrs. Reed, the relict of the late Theo. B. Reed, Esq., who died soon after his election to a seat in the Senate of the United States from Mississippi. After the event, the servants who are over 21 years, are to decide, by a vote of the majority, whether they will go to Liberia or remain in servitude. If the election should terminate in favor of emigrating to Liberia, then all the property is to be sold, and the proceeds, together with the money realized from the sale of the crops since his death, (with the exception of 12 or 15,000 dollars subtracted for a grandchild,) are to be expended in the transportation and comfortable settlement of the emancipated in the colony of Liberia, and the establishment of an institution of learning in some place of the colony. But if a majority of his servants over 21 years, should elect the continuance of their servitude, then it is required that the entire estate, servants and every thing else, except the mansion and some land around it, should be exposed to public sale, and the whole proceeds, with the exception before named, are to be vested in certain trustees, for the endowment of the said institution of learning.

"I would not attempt to make an estimate of the amount of the entire property of which our benevolent fellow citizen has made such a noble disposition; but I am fully persuaded it will stand among the most munificent deeds in the history of our country."