These operations were successfully accomplished by 11 A.M., when we returned to the Mission House, posted pickets and rested the men, the heat (90 in the shade), combined with that from the burning town, being very oppressive. At 11-20 a detachment was sent three-quarters of a mile down the coast to the southward to burn King Long-Long's town; this consisted of the same description of houses as King Jack's town, and was also successfully destroyed. After the work of destruction was complete the embarkation was commenced at about 1:30 P.M., the last boat leaving the beach at 3:30. The surf having risen during the forenoon, the party were reembarked in detachments, in a surf-boat lent from the European factories, and taken to the boats outside the line of breakers. The enemy never showed during the day, but towards the close of the embarkation they assembled in the thick bush, and commenced a dropping fire upon the covering company, but they were quickly dislodged, and did not return. I regret to have to report the death of William Likeman, private R.M.L.I., shot through the heart with slugs, and of James Allen, ordinary seaman, shot in the abdomen with slugs, who received his wound when covering the embarkation; happily there are no other casualties. I inclose the Surgeon's Return. Lieutenant Wynyard gave me the greatest assistance in all the details of the expedition. Acting Lieutenant Scott and Sub-Lieutenant Valentine, in command of the companies, were most zealous in keeping their men together. Lieutenant Robyns, R.M.L.I., with his marines covered the embarkation of the remainder of the force most successfully. Surgeon Pollard, ably assisted by Surgeon Vasey, performed their duties with great coolness. Mr. Hewett, Midshipman, in charge of the Gatling, conducted it through the narrow bush-paths with great skill. Messrs. Colville and Boldero, Midshipmen, in the steam-pinnace, one directing the gun, the other managing the boat, were most useful in judiciously shelling the bush on our flanks. I have the honour to bring the conduct of all these officers to your most favourable notice. I cannot bring my Report to a close without mentioning with warm praise the cheerfulness and good spirit that prevailed amongst all the seamen and marines landed, whose arduous day's work, commencing at 4 A.M., did not terminate till after dark. I have, &c., Commodore Richards. F. ROMILLY. No. 5.-Acting Consul Easton to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received May 10.); (Extract.) Fernando Po, March 25, 1880. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that I left Victoria in Her Majesty's ship Firebrand, accompanied by Commodore Richards, in Her Majesty's ship Forester, on the 15th, and arrived in Cameroons on the 16th instant. On the afternoon of that day I held a meeting on the Firebrand, and inquired into the case of the Englishman (Govier) who was captured and detained a prisoner for three months by the natives of Batanga in May of last year, as reported to your Lordship in the late Consul Hopkins' despatch dated the 18th July, 1879. The statements made therein were confirmed by Govier himself, and by Captain Dayas, his employer. I placed the matter in the hands of Commodore Richards, and requested him to repair, along with myself, to Batanga; and my procedure there will form the subject of my next despatch. The Marquis of Salisbury. S. F. EASTON. No. 6.-Acting Consul Easton to the Marquis of Salisbury.-Received MY LORD. May 10.) Fernando Po, March 25, 1880. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that on the 18th instant I left Cameroons in Her Majesty's ship Firebrand, and anchored off Batanga on the evening of that day. I went there for the purpose of demanding satisfaction for the imprisonment of Mr. Govier by the natives of that place in May last. I held a meeting of the European traders the following morning. Their names and the firms they represent are: * W. Krasemann, for Jansen and Thornählen, of Hamburgh; Richard Mahuke, for Woermann and Co., of Hamburgh; William Woolliscroft, for Hatton and Cookson, of Liverpool; Captain Parnell, for Captain Dayas, of Bristol. From these gentlemen I received a corroboration of the statements made by Mr. Govier. I then wrote to King Jack, of Kribby's Town, and requested him to meet me and give me an explanation. I received no reply to this, but a verbal message was conveyed to me telling me that he would not come, and was quite prepared to resist the entry of any white man into his town. The Commodore arriving during the afternoon, I put the matter into his hands. He also wrote and See No. 1. Page 300, urged King Jack to come and talk the "palaver," but, as with myself, received no reply. The Commodore then prepared to attack the town, having received from each European an assurance that they did not dread any retaliation on the departure of the men-of-war. Things remained in this state till the morning of the 22nd instant, when Commodore Richards moved opposite the town, shelled, and burned it, unfortunately with a loss of two men, and himself wounded. This operation will not affect the trade of Batanga, as all the ivory is brought to market by the natives some distance in the interior. On the 23rd instant I met Kings William and John, who possess small villages at the back of the factories, and drew up an Agreement with them for the better protection of European life and property. Copy of this Agreement (original) is inclosed. The Marquis of Salisbury. I have, &c., S. F. EASTON. (Inclosure.)-Agreement with Kings William and John of Batanga for the Protection of the Lives and Property of European Traders. -March 23, 1880. It is hereby agreed upon between S. F. Easton, Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul for the Bights of Benin and Biafra, and the Island of Fernando Po, and Kings John and William, of Batanga, that 1. None of the European traders shall be in any way molested; that their communication with other factories shall not be interfered with; nor shall any obstacle be placed in the way of their securing supplies of food and water. 2. The said Kings William and John hereby guarantee that, in consideration of the comey paid them, they will use every effort to protect the lives and property of the European traders upon every occasion. In witness whercof we have this day aflixed our signs-manual, on board Her Majesty's ship Boadicea, the 23rd day of March, 1880. KING WILLIAM, his × mark. Witnesses: THOS. Z. DAYAS. KING JOHN, his × mark. S. F. EASTON, Her Majesty's Acting Consul. WILLIAM WOOLLISCROFT. M. KRASEMANN. RICH. MAHUKE. No. 7.-Mr. Lister to Acting Consul Easton. SIR, Foreign Office, June 7, 1880. EARL GRANVILLE has had under his consideration your despatches dated the 25th March last, reporting your visit to Batanga, and the circumstances which led to the bombardment of that town by Commodore Richards. I am now directed by his Lordship to inform you that, having regard to the outrage committed by the natives of Batanga in the case of Mr. Govier, the mate of the Cyprus, and the persistently hostile attitude of their King when called upon for reparation, Lord Granville believes that you were justified in placing the matter in Commodore Richards' hands. I am now, however, to observe that Her Majesty's Government would deeply deplore the recurrence of warlike operations against native tribes whose progress in civilization it is their desire to assist; and I am to impress upon you the importance of exercising the greatest caution against the adoption of hostile measures, on your own responsibility, whenever it may be possible for you to refer home in the first instance for instructions. S. F. Easton, Esq. I am, &c., T. V. LISTER. No. 8.-The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Lister.--(Received (Extract.) July 14.) Admiralty, July 13, 1880. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit copy of a letter which will be addressed to Commodore Richards, defining the procedure which is to be adopted between Naval and Consular officers in future cases requiring coercive measures, drawn up after consultation between Earl Granville and the First Lord of the Admiralty. My Lords desire me to request that, in laying this letter before Lord Granville, you will move his Lordship to cause similar instructions to be issued to the Consular officers on the West Coast of Africa. T. V. Lister, Esq. SIR, G. S. LEFEVRE. (Inclosure.)-The Secretary to the Admiralty to Commodore Richards. Admiralty, July 13, 1880. WITH reference to my letter of this day's date, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that the condition of the West Coast of Africa being somewhat peculiar, their Lordships have been in communication with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in regard to the procedure which should be followed in future, if any case should arise which appears to require coercive measures. 2. The Consular officer will be instructed in such circumstances to confer with the Senior Naval Officer present, and if they concur in their conclusions they will record their joint opinion. Should the opinion be that coercive measures are absolutely necessary, without previous reference to Her Majesty's Government, the Consular officer will address a formal requisition to the Senior Naval Officer, which will constitute his authority to act in such time and manner as he may consider to be expedient. 3. If there should be a difference of opinion between the Consular officer and the Senior Naval Officer, the matter should be referred for the directions of Her Majesty's Government. 4. Instructions in this sense will be given to Her Majesty's Consuls, and you are to act on the same, and give the necessary directions to the Commanding Officers of the ships under your orders employed on the West Coast of Africa. Commodore Richards. SIR, I am, &c., G. S. LEFEVRE. No. 9.-Sir J. Pauncefote to the Secretary to the Admiralty. Foreign Office, July 26, 1880. I HAVE laid before Earl Granville your letter of the 13th instant, inclosing a copy of the instructions which the Board of Admiralty are about to address to Commodore Richards, defining (with reference to the recent hostilities at Batanga) the procedure to be adopted between Naval and Consular officers in future cases requiring coercive measures, and I am now directed by his Lordship, in reply, to acquaint you that he has caused a copy of those instructions to be forwarded to Her Majesty's Consul at Fernando Po, for his information and guidance. I am, &c., The Secretary to the Admiralty. JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. DECRET de la République Française, qui proroye le Délai pour l'Exécution du Chemin de Fer Sous-Marin entre la France et l'Angleterre.-Paris, le 27 Juillet, 1880.* LE Président de la République Française, * Promulgué au "Journal Officiel" du 5 Août, 1880. |