Star. — London, England, 1824-06-23 00:00:00

A letter, Haar _ this day received at Earl Bathurit's office, from Major Chisholm, addressed to R. Wilmet-Horton, Esq. dated Cape Coast Oink, 23d February, 18244 - . • • • - Sir—lt is with infinite sorrow I acquaint you, for the information of earl Bathurst, that *ince- I . had the honour of addressing you on the 3 d instant, on the sub ject of the engagement which took place near Assaf/Ur cow, in the Western Wassaw country, on the 21st ultimo, between a division of his Majesty s troops and native allies, under the immediate command of Sir Charles M'Carthy, and an army of Ashantees, I have ascer tained that his Excellency was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and immediately put to death by the barberobi enemy. I am concerned to state that, of eleven officers of the regulars and militia, who belonged to his Excel lency's division, two only have returned here. Mr. J. T. Williams, Secretary, and another Gentleman, are said to be prisoners, anti it is understood that the other seven were killed, either in the action or after they were taken prisoners. It was my intention to have reported in detail by the present conveyance, but the state of my health prevents my doing so. My medical attendant gives me reason to hope that I shall be sufficiently recovered in seven or eight days to write, and as I deem it of the utmost importance to put his Lordship in possession of :t perfect knowledge of the state of affairs in this quarter, I purpose sending the officer next in seniority to myself (Capt. Laing, of the Royal African Colonial Corps),with my official dispatches. The extensive knowledge of the African character possessed by this Gentleman, his 'minter? opted inter course with our principal Atom, siiice the commence ment of hostilities, together with his genet al experience, itialify him well to afford his Lordship any ido l : 1 1460D Which my letters may fail to convey. The Ashantees, said to be 15,090 s . rung, have coml• rued at Assamacow since the action of the 21st ; hut it is rumoured that they are making preparations for ad vancing on Monday next, the 1 A of March. All the force I have been able to collect does not ex-, teed 6,000 muskets, and as I do not consider it prudent to hazard a general engagement, I have determined on taking up positions on the bank of the river 11oosoni pra, to dispute the passage of the enemy, and I am san guine in my hopes that the measure will be attended with success. The natives of an extensive village in the vicinity of Succondee, having fired on the boats of one of his Ma jesty's ships ; disarmed several of our soldiers who were wounded in the late action, and were endeavouring to effect their escape from the Ashantees ; and having moreover destroyed Succondee, it was thought neces sary by the senior naval officer and myself to attack it, and a force of 1,200 men was accordingly embarked on board the squadron, and the place was taken posses sion of on the 17th instant without any opposition, and immediately set on fire.—l have, &c. (Signed) J. CHISHOLM, Admg. the Govt. and Major Comdg. the Troops. R. Wilmot-Horton, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Downing-street, June 17, 1824. Captain Laing, of the Royal African Colonial Corps, Urrived this morning at Earl Bathurst's Office, with a dispatch from Major Chisholm, addressed to R.Wilmot Horton, Esq. under date of Cape Coast Castle, the 16th bf March, 18'24, of which the Inllnwing is an extract: I have the honour to acquaint you, for the iirfornia tion of Earl Bathuist, since I addressed you on the 23d bikini°, that the Ashantee army in the Western Wassaw country has remained stationary at Assamacow. In transmitting a copy of a report of the particulars, bf the action of the 21st of January, made to toe by Captain Ricketts, of the 2d West India Regiment, and Brigade-Major to the Forces, and second iu command on that day, I deem it an act of justice to that Officer to state, that the late Sir Charles M , Carthy entertained a very high opinion of hii zeal and merits, and that he had it in contemplation to bring his yrvices to the fa vourable notice of his Lordship and also, that for the period of two yens Captain Ricketts served under me (at the time commanding the 2d We:t India Regiment) in the capacities of Adjutant and Captain, I have plea sure in stating that I had every reason to be satisfied with his ceoduct : my protracted illness having incapa citated me firm attending to the public duties, the charge in a great measure fell upon him as second in command, of which he acquitted himself entirely to my satisfaction. As his report is confined to the operations of that di vision of the force under the immediate command of the late Sir Charles M•Carthy, I deem it necessary to say a few words upon the movements of the others, and also to state, as far as came to my knowledge, the plans and intentions of his Excellency. The rapid approach of the enemy having been re ported to Sir Charles M'Carthy, by some of the Allied Chiefs, about Christmas, preparations were immediately made for concentrating the Regulars, the Cape Coast Militia, and the unorganized part of the inhabitants of the town, together with some few of the neighbouring Chiefs at Djuquah, distant from Cape Coast about eighteen miles. His Excellency proceeded there in person, leaving tate for a few days at the Castle, to make some necessary arrangements previous to my departure. A force of neatly two thousand men having been collected by the 4th of January, a movement to Am pensasoo (the Head-quarters of Annimelli, the King of ♦Vassaw), on the left bank of the river Boosom-pra, was determined upon, and I was accordingly ordered to join by that day. The impossibil►ty of procuring provisions and shelter for the men on the route, rendered it necessary to ad vance in small parties, which circumstance, and the im possibility of procuring carriers for the ammunition and provisions, retarded for some days the departure of his Excellency from the camp. On the Bth of January, accounts were received of the entrance of the enemy into Western Wassaw, and that the allied forces were precipitately retreating before them ; this information decided the immediate departure of Sir Charles for their camp, on the tight bank of the river, with such part of the force as had not already marched for Am pensasoo, and he directed me to proceed to assume the command of the latter place, signifying it to be his in tabion to send me instructions how to act on his ascer taining the state of affairs in Wassaw. I had daily communications from his Excellency, from the time of his leaving Djuquah (viz. on the 9th), until the 16th, but the contents were chiefly comments upon the advance of his division, and the feelings of our allies towards us in the country passed through. I received on the 22d two letters, one written at five -~ T_~ ;Ist, the other the 17th, the former arriv ... seven o'clock P. tit. that of the 17th about later ; the contents were most pressing orders form an immediate junction. of the 17th having been unfortunately en trusted tk. man unacquainted with the country, was delayed three days longer on the way than necessary; from which delay, and the urgent nature of his Excel lency's command to join, I was induced to fear that our consequent non-arrival, according to his reasonable expectations, would seriously derange his plans. I was determined, therefore, to proceed by a shorter, but un frequented and consequently bad path ; and having to cross the river Boosom-pra, at a distance of five miles horn Ampensasoo (on the 23d), in a single canoe, the whole day was consumed in passing my party, and I was therefore under the necessity of halting for the night at a village on the opposite bank. I here received the first intimation of an engagement having taken place, but could ascertain nothing of the result. After prosecuting (on the 24th) a march of twenty one miles, and having, at its termination, to cross the river again, without a single canoe, or any means for conveyance over, we were obliged to construct rafts for such of the party that could not swim, and to float over the ammunition, &c. in consequence of which, from the frail materials used in their construction, I am sorry to say a great deal of ammunition was lost and damaged. On crossing the r iver we heard that Brigade-Major Ricketts was lying wounded in the adjoining village. On seeing and ascertaining from him the disastrous issue of the action of the 21st, and also that the small party I commanded was totally unable to cope with the enemy, or afford any assistance to the party of the late Sir Charles M'Carthy, from their complete dispersion, and knowing the hostile feeling entei tamed by the inhabit ant; of Elmira towards us, and being also apprehensive that the Ash.mtees, flushed with their recent victory, would advance upon Cape Coast Castle by rapid marches, I determined upon :riling on it. I regret ex ceedingly to state, that Captain John L'Estrange, of the Royal African Colonial Corps, died on the march, from excessive fatigue, and that all the Officers of the party, and ',early the whole of the men, were laid up on their at rival at Cape C.).ist, from the effects of the fati g ue and privations undergone by them; and I am sorry to say of the former, all, except two, continue still invalids, and, of the latter, numbers have died. The most numerous body of our force was encamped at a place called Yancoomassie, in the Fantee country. It consisted of the men of that nation, of a few regulars, of the Amiainaboe Militia, and of some unorganised natives of that town, the whole under the command of Captain A. G. Laing, of the Royal African Corps. His Excellency having issued orders to Capt. Laing to advance and menace the Assin country, with a view of bringing them over to our cause, he had accord ingly proceeded about thirty miles, when reports reached him from the Offi er in temporary command at Cape Coast, Of the result of the engagement of the 21st of January, and also of the unfavourable disposition of the Elminas ; in consequence of which lie made the best of his way to Cape Coast Castle, where I found him on my arrival, with a considerable portion of his force. A fourth division, under the command of Capt. Blenkarne, of the Royal African Colonial Corps, was on its way to Akine, a country bordering on Ashantee, for the purpose of inducing the enemy to withdraw a part of their force from Western Wassaw ; but an unfavour able disposition being shewn by the Chief of the Aqua pim country, the native Chiefs, under Captain Bien kartie's command, expiessed their wishes for his return Under these circumstances he did nor consider it prudent to endeavour to prowcute his Excellency's wishes, and fell back upon Accra. Being fully sensible that this communication fails very short of what might be expected from the import ance of the subjects it embraces, 1 must, in excuse of its defects, beg leave to say, that it has been dictated from a sick bed, and in consequence entertain an eat nest hope that its imperfections may be overlooked. As intimated i 9 my letter of the '23d ult. I entrust Capt. Laing with the conveyance of it, and I entertain the most confident hopes that the extensive information he will be able to afford of the present state of his Ma jesty's possessions here, will be considered a sufficient justification for my sending an Officer of his zeal, expe rience, and abilities from this station at so critical a period. Wheit dispositions on the part of the Ashantees were made in August last year for attacking our settle ments at va:ious points, I deemed it necessary to dis patch Captain Laiug into the Fantee country, and re quiring at the time (there being no Military Officer ca pable), another Officer to take charge of the camp at Djuquah, I wns induced to accept the proffered services of Lieutenant King, of his Majesty's sloop Driver, who, I understood, had frequently served ashore, and I have the satisfaction to state, that from the active and deter mined movements of these two Officers, the enemy were deterred from prosecuting their original intentions, and retired to Ashantee, since which period Captain Laing has been frequently in the command of large bodies of our allies, and discharged his duties always to the satis faction of his Excellency the late Commander of the Forces and myself, and to the advantage of his Majesty's service. I have great satisfaction in acquainting you that our relations with Elrnina, aNd the other Dutch settle ments, have of late undergone a most favourable change, which is solely to be attributed to the arrival from the Netherlands of a new Governor, his Excellency Major Last. I owe it to this Gentleman to say, that he has evinced a most anxious desire totally to eradicate a hostile feeling which was generated amongst the Dutch subjects on the coast towards all the inhabitants of our settlements, by the influence of . the Ashantees, and the imbecile conduct of his predecessors. To remove all doubts from the minds of the natives, respecting the part he is determined to act, he paid me a formal com plimentary visit on the 14th instant, and has also zea lously entered into a negotiation with the enemy for the liberation of Mr. Williams • and other prisoners in their hands. His Excellency Major de Richelieu, Governor-in- Chief of his Danish Majesty's Settlements on the Coast, has shewn his•respect and friendship for our Govern ment by actively taking a part in the war. He has sent all the force he could collect to our aid, and is now engaged collecting a strong force to proceed through Akira towards Ashantee, with a view of di v erting the enemy. The command of this body he will take in person. I cannot say too much in favour of the disinterested zeal and active exertions of Captain Bowen, command ing his Majesty's sloop Driver. In the month of May, la•.t year, this Officer, while under cruising orders in the Bight of Benin, with considerable prospects of making prizes, received intimation that his Majesty's ship 84110, • MM. —Colonial Office, 17th June.—lt bas been ascertained, that the liberation of Mr. Williams has been effected ANII ilirillilli".111.111111.1111111.11111.1". IjC jigharrffirje l A. M. on the 21 "S E. ing first, at se 2:044, App two hours late 911'SIII C. WCARTHY. . ..- xx.;spre . lntstreet, June 16, 1824. for me to fora W A letter, of which the following. s a copy, has bee,n The letter _ _• r-- ,, trusted to a m • ordered here by the late §;r Robert Mends, to co-ope rate with the land service, had suffered so Much from sickness that she was unable to render any effectual as sistance, he instantly repaired to Cape Coast, and stated it to be his intention to remain until things wore a more pleasing aspect. While at anchor here, observing the sickly state of the Officers of the garrison, he volunta rily landed a party of his men, put the whole of the guns in the best possible order, and personally super intended the exercise of the soldiers at the use of so me ship-guns worked with tackles. I also beg leave t o brin g under the notice of his Lordship the conduct of actin g Captain Woolcombe, late of the Owen Glendower, and now of the Bann, whose activity and cordial co-opera tion I am induced to think prevented the inhabitants of Elinina taking a part in the war against us. His zeal, and that of his Officers and men, cannot be too highly raised, from the cheerfulness with which they under went the attendant fatigues of intercepting supplies by day and night, forwarded by water to the enemy, in which labours Lieutenant Scott, of his Majesty's brig Swinger, shared. Cape Coast, February 26, 1824. Sett—ln compliance with your direction, that I should detail, as nearly as I possibly can, all the particulars that may have occurred in the division of the army which marched from Djuquah, utast the immediate command of his Excellency Sir Charles 51' Canby. as well as such circumstances as may have fallen under my observa tion, rela:ive to the action which took place on the 21 st ultimo , in the Wassaw country, between the said division and an army of Ashantees; I have the honour to state that I marched from Dju gush at seven o'clock on the morning of the 9th, with one com pany of the Royal African Colonial Corps, eighty strong ; one com pany of volunteers, sixty-right strong ; three companies of Militia, one hundred and seventy strong, making a force of three hundred and eighteen ; besides two hundred Commendas,etwo hundred of Appia's people. and a company of natives of Cape Coast, about forty strong, making a total of four hundred and forty, which were or dered to follow us; this, with the troops which marched under my command, made a fore of seven hundred and fifty-eight strong. 13ansoo. a village distant about seventeen miles from Our camp at Djuquali, was the place at which we were ditected to halt. His Excellency having massed on by himself, we overtook hint about half way. The road, or rather track, was excessively bad ;in con sequence of which, we did nut arrive till a late hour in the evening at I;ansou, much fatigued. We remained at Hanson the whole of the next day, the 10th, waiting for the native force to join, which they did not do until late in tile day. The hem morning, the 11th, his Excellency marched off with the combined force of regulars and militia, and desired would remain till everything was sent forward. This I found the greatest difficulty in accomplishing, as I could not get carriers, the people who had brought the things from Djuquah having run away. I was, therefore, obliged to send a party of the rear-guard to press every person they could find, women as well as men, and after a considerable delay, we succeeded in getting a sufficient number of carriers, and proceeded ; but a number of thent,*as they found op portunities, Rang their loads iota the woods and ran off. We ar rived at a village on the banks of the floosom.pra, called Ihimin, Isle in the evening of that day, having marched eighteen miles, where we remained till six o'clock the next morning, the llth, when we marched for another village, about seventeen miles lower down on the banks of the Boosom-pra, named Darabooassie, which, from the extremely bad state of the path, being frequently obliged to pass swamps which took us much higher than above our knees, we did nut arrive at till very late in the day, every person exces sively fatigued. The native force at this time kept a considerable distance in our rear. About seven o'clock in the morning of the 13th we commenced crossing the river Boosom.pra, about 900 yards wide, in small canoes (eight its number), which could only carry two men at a time, besides the person who paddled ; as soon as the company of regulars, under the command of Ensign Erskine, crossed the river, ibis Ex cellancy, who was one of the first that had passed over, proceeded with them on the march, towards Assaniacow, in the Wassaw country, distant about twenty miles front the river. 'l'o give a description of this road is beyond my ability, suffice it to say, that in my opinion I think i: impossible that there can he anything worse in the shape of a path ; we had to cross numerous small rivers, some of which, Irons :heir extreme depth, as well as the mantel 011iswampy places we had to pass aver, considerably delayed us, and we were only enabled to reach a small village, called Goal', that night, where we slept. The next nioniing, the 14th, his Excellency proceeded in advance with the company of the Royal African Colonial Corps, and desired I would bring up the tear ; we did not find this path so bad as was expected, and we arrived at Assamacow at about half past two hi the afternoon, where we halted and remained live days, waiting for the native torce to conic up ; we found Mr. Brandon, the Acting Ordnance Storekeeper (Cape Coast) at this place, where he had arrived several days before with ammunition, &c. having coma in the Colonial schooner, from Succondee, um hours march, to Assamacow, which was truly welcome now to us, as our men (the regulars and Militia) had only 20 rounds each man, a great deal of which, from the badness of the paths, the crusting of rivers, and the rain which fell on our march, was damaged, and which was imme diately replaced ; at this place we found provisions very scarce. During our stay at Assamacow, we were informed that the Was saws and Dinkeras were retreating before the Ashantees, and were in distress for provisions; Sir Charles, therefore, immediately on the arrival of part of our native force dispatched Mr. T. Williams, the Colonial Secretary and Adjutant-General of Militia, with twelve volunteers, to assure the Wassaws and Dinkeras that he would, in a day or two, march forward with the force under his command to join them, and that he expected the division of the army, under Major Chisholm, and numerous parties of natives, would soon form a junction with us, and then we should have sufficient force to meet the Ashanter: ; but Mr. Williams found them retreating, and it was with the g reatest di ffi culty he persuaded them (they having crossed the smailriver Adoonsanson) to halt on its bank, and make some preparations for defence till Sir Charles should join with his force; this was on the 20th, on the morning of which I arrived with the company of the Royal aVrican Colonial Corps; the company of Volunteers, and the three companies of Militia, already alluded to, having, by direction of his Excellency, marched from Assansaeosie on the 19th. Oil my way to the Wassaws and Dinkeras, Ime a very great number of women and children, and, sorry am I to say, men ; I asked the men where they were going ? they told me they were going to look for provisions, and would soon return ; on my arrival en the borders of the aforesaid river Adoomansoo, on the morning of the 90th, leaving been, from the extreme had state of the paths, the mud in some places reachia c ,- to the middle of our bodies, obliged to sleep one night in the bush; from Assamacesw to this river, I should suppose, is distant about twenty-four miles. Shortly after my arrival with the troops, Mr. Williams,Adjutant- General of Militia, informed me that he could not get any of the people to cut the bush for the camp. I accordingly went to t h e Chiefs of the Wassaws and Dinkeras, and told them the necessity there was for the bush about the place, intended for a camp, to be cleared, and which ought to be done immediately ; they promised to send people over to the opposite bank of the river, where we ex pected the Ashantees to attack us, and to have all the wood cleared immediately ; shortly after this, the Wassaws mustered their force, and were moving off with everything they had. I enquired where they were going? They said, they were going to clear the wood on the other side of the river. I stopped where they had to cross over, for a considerable time, to see if they really intended to go over; but at last I could plainly see their intention was to re treat; I therefore put a strong guard of militia to prevent their doing so, till Sir Charles should arrive. I then sent for the Chiefs or Headmen, and asked them what they intended to do, whether they intended to fight or not? They said they intended to fight. At this moment an alarm was given that the Ashantees were ad vancing, and every one went to his station, where we remained for about five hours, exposed to a most tremendous shower of rain ; it being by this time nearly dark, and as it is a rule with the Ashan tees never to fight at night, we called in the troops, leaving sentries where necessary; immediately on the alarm being given, I dis patched a messenger to his Excellency, to request he would send all the assistance he could; at this time it was supposed his Excel lency was at a croons with two huts, about four or five miles from us. Both Officers and men slept this night without any covering, as there was not time to erect huts, and the men were much fatigued; next morning, the 21st, his Excellency arrived with about 200 of Appia's people, and 40 of the natives of Cape Coast; the Conunendas having halted on the way, I acquainted hint with the manner the Wassaws had behaved. After he had taken a little rest, he sent for the Chiefs of the Wassaws and Dinkeras, but before he had got half through the palaver, the alarm was given, and every person repaired to his station. His Excellency then went round with the to see how the men were posted. About two o'clock the Ashantees, ten thousand in number, marched up to the opposite bank of the river, when the action commenced. with determined vigour on both sides, and lasted till nearly half-past four o'clock ; it was reported before four o'clock that the regulars, volunteers, and militia, had no ammunition left, only twenty rounds per man having been previously issued to them, on which I immediately went to the Ordnance Storekeeper, Mr. Brandon, who badileeeived his Excellency to have 40 rounds fóir each man, packed uy always to accompany him ; but he acquit. with him one Mall keg of ball and one immediately issued to the men, but which, not last very long. The enemy perceiving slacker, attempted to cross the river, and 'gently attempted the same thing before, great slaughter • they at the same time force round our kanks to cut off our retreat, [succeeded in doing, from their superior • became a scene of confusion, the mem, In my retreat, I observed his Exec before me, soon after which some gut tion in which he was going, and there the people who were following him, but of his Excellency. The people took dive ber of the wounded men followed me woods, through which, with the assist undertook for a reward to guide us, v whole night and half the next day, ff distance through a stream of water, . track. When we gut into the wood leading proceeded about five miles, a party r - be before us ; we therefore retreated . ing to the same place, but we had nut when we had again to retreat, as a part, us. Just about sunset I fortunately fell who were in search of their wives aro' tees had taken ; they said they were , and that they would conduct me over woods, and about three o'clock in the march. We observed a number of infants fur breath, the Ashantees having talc -- plunder, and obliged them to throw ever, recovered a number of the women, of the enemy. I unfortunately lust 22d, and had to travel the whole of tarter of about thirty miles. I shall underwent, as you could be able tv you found me on the 24th. Before I close this, 1 conceive it my duty to state, that the co t _ duet of the Company of the Royal African Colonial Corps, the Volunteers, and Militia, was highly creditable; in short, they b e . hayed bravely. It was reported, that Quashie Yaccoons's People (the Wassaws) left the field early in the action. Annexed is a return of our loss in killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy's loss must have been very great, as out of our bath, from their crowded state, must have killed and wounded two ,n• three at a time. The force we had engaged (including the Dinkeras and Wassaws) did not amount to two thouiand. Commendas was not in the action.—l have, &c. (Signed) H. 3. RICKETS, Captain and Major of Brigade Major James Chisholm, R.A. Col. Corps, Comt. Cape Coast Castle. Itssoats of the Kitt.xn, WM/NOM, and Musixo, of the Regular and Militia Force, in the Action with the Ashantees, on the '4lst of January,lB24, in the West Wassaw Country. xILL D. Ovrtotos--Captain Heddle, Royal Cape Coast Militia. Men—Number not ascertained (see Return of Missing). WOUNDED. OFFICERS—Captain Ricketts, 2d West India Regiment, 13 , 1;ade Major to the Forces, slightly; Ensign Erskine, Royal Colo nial Corps, slightly. Man.-2d West India Regiment, orderly Serjeant to Commander of the Forces, 1; Royal African Colonial Corps, 17; Royal Cqe COMA Militia, 58 ; Royal Volunteer Company, 14—Total, 90. MISSING, SUPPOSED TO NAVE BUN LILLED. OFPICERC—His Excellency Brigadier-General Sir C. M'Carthy, Commander of the Forces; Fxsign Wetberill, 2d West India R-- giment ; Dr. Beresford Tedlie, Surgeon 2d West India Itcgiment ; T. S. Buckle, Esq. Colonial Engineer and Colonial :tide-de-Camp to his Excellency; Captain Jones, Royal Cape Coast Militia; Cp. rain Raydon, Royal Cape Coast Militia; Captain Robertson, Royal Volunteer Company; Mr. Brandon, Acting Ordnance Storekeeper. Man—Second West India Regiment, Orderly to the Brigade Major, 1 ; Royal African Colonial Corps, 41 ; Royal Cape Coast Militia, 81 ; Royal Volunteer Company, 54.—Total 177. (Supposed to have been killed sr lost in the woods.) PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. --deo— HOUSE OR 1.01109, JUNE 22. Prayers were read at ten o'clock by the Bishop of (31.oucess e. Their Lordships then proceeded to Appeals, when the Lotto CHANCELLOa moved the judgment of the House iu the Ca..: " Fowler v. Doe;' from the Court of King's Bench, in England, is which the decision of the latter was reversed by the House. " Blake v. Blake" was also reversed; but in the cast of " F.iliott v. Cathcart," the judgment of the Coutt below was affirmed by the house. " Sutton v. the Earl of Darlington," was ordered to be argued again next Session. In the case of " Meredith v. Ileneage," judgment was affirmed by the House. At half-past three, the Earl of LONGFORD was introduced as Baron SIM:ESTER, of Selcester, near Southampton, in the County of Hants; upon which occasion he was supported by Lords (7Alr THORPE and Seesaw, when the Noble Baron took the prescribed oaths, and afterwards his seat.—Adjourned during pleasure, and ;:t half-past four the House resumed. Lord GEORGE CAVENDISH and others brought up the Bill for ena bling the Hereditary Earl Marshal of England to execute that office, whether by himself or Deputy, on taking no other oaths than 'bat of allegiance, and another oath for the due execution of the duties of the office, as agreed to by the other House. The Karl of S A FTESBURY moved the third reading of the Irish Mining Company's Bill, to sue and be sued ; which was accord ingly read a third time, passed, and sent to the other House. None of the Equitable Loan Bills were forwarded this day. Upon the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, their Lordships went into Committees on the East India Company Possessions Bill, and the Ireland Town Lands Regulation Bill; both of wbicit were reported without any amendment.—At half after five o'clock this House adjourned till to-morrow at ten. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. R. MARTIN presented a Petition from Rotherham, in the County of York, in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Bilk—Ot dered to lie on the table. Mr. Secretary CANNING moved that the House at rising ad journ till Thursday next—Agreed to. On the motion of Sir J. Mum tr, a new Writ was ordered fur the Borough of Steyning, in the room of Lord H. Hoteard, deceased. Mr. GOULBUIIN laid on the table the Twelfth Report of the Commissioners for inquiring into the amount of the Salaries in the Irish Courts of Justice. On the motion of Lord G. CAVENDISH, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Earl Marshal's Bill. The House resumed, and the Bill was read a third time and passed: The Lords Amendments on the Slave Trade Consolidation Bill were taken into consideration and agreed to. Mr. C. HUTCHINSON wished to know from the Right Ho nourable Gentleman opposite, whether the remaining parts of the Commissioners' Report on the Irish Insurrection Act were to be printed ? Mr. GOULBURN said, that as the Commission was not ex hausted, and as the Hon. Member himself was a Member of it, he did not think it necessary to print the Minutes at present. On the motion of Mr. Hour, the Report of the Committee on the Private Business of the House was taken into consideration. Mr. Secretary CANNING suggested that it could be more con veniently discussed in a Committee, and accordingly moved that it should be referred to a Committee of the whole House. The motion was agreed to, and the House forthwith reiolved into a Committee, in which Mr. HUME moved, that the period for giving notice of an inten tion to apply to Parliament for leave to bring in Private Bills, now limited to the months of August and September, should be extended to the months of October and November. This proposition, and one respecting the publication in which such notices should be given, underwent considerable discussion, in which the Sesames ' Mr. HUME, Mr. S. Rica , Mr. Garment, Sir J. GILAHAM, Sir J. Nevreoar, and other Honourable Members Par ticipated. It was finally adopted, but qualified by a provision that no second reading should take place till two calendar months shall have passed since the publication of the last notke.--Sorne other alterations were agreed to, and the House resumed, when dal resolutions of the Committee were reported and agreed to by the House, and ordered to lie taken into further consideration as Thursday next. A message from the Lords here announced their Lordship' assent to several Bills. Mr. C. HUTCHINSON, for his friend the Member for West' minster, postponed until Thursday, his Motion reepectinS she affairs of Ireland ; on that day his Honourable Friend intended to move an Address to the Throne. Mr. HUME presented a Petition from Glasgow in favour of free religious diectusiyil.—To lie en the table..-Adioureal• former, to thirt English Colonial J sionary. mission of "bus ti •acillating n t arty. I that the han of severer ac would have kind in any for those wi loan was w this: A Tra and called u treasonable Banally a calkd upon any of his The w yernor p' would ha The / after vine claims fo and for t MOM= The C , of thank: approbat —to the engaged A col filled mil of the 91 relative KING'S bound of The ( account had arri 'The G Royal on `patches ft for the V The 1 imports curer Ii Mexico, of our c EstvEßl to give portion of this sidered in fa been It betty suspi at T port out stitu pica than firm ITu - FRI by we s . - Excellency's positive orders always '. packed up in kegs, and whi c h was —^ he acquainted me that be only h a d T 11 and one of powder, which w.. 1 so „„ m ossmosse but which. it may be supposed, did perceiving that our fire bad become .ter, and succeeded; they had fre- ing before, but were repulsed with NV me time sent a very considerable tot retreat, which they completely asperior numbers; the whole no w S enemy having internbiaedTeith 116. Coup* Mel Excellency a considerable distacce a in d at th 4 ne guns were fired in the dit t y. viss 1 there was a general rush b.ck ~r two , old little him, but after which I saw no alur,,, ook different directions, and a num. Tb e cblef b ed me into the thickest part at the IC assistance of a Wassawman, who lififfilho ) 001 e us, we passed. We travelled th e CMS. id lay, frequently going a consid er ,i.. ! ,, 16i, did Sill rater, for the purpose of hiding tPli r 001 j scrip iod leading to Assainacow, and h.td os eias !Sit party of the enemy was reported 1t ) P R rated and gut into another path 1e..,1. tad not proceeded above three 'r. 1 : . .", 3 per etil l a party of the enemy was just by i..‘r e s per Cei ely fell in with a party of W.V.SION + per Cm ves and children, whom the A•ha: - 4 per Cei were going towards the Booeum•pra, over to it. We, however,slept in the India Bo in the morning we commenced ~,,r Each. Ili :r of infants lying iu the bush gaviag, Do. of 1: rig taken their mothers to carry their DO. SIM hrow their children away ; we, how- se women, and killed about twenty Do. Con y last my shoes in the mud on the ole of the '23d without shuts, a dis- This fon shall say nothing of the hardships I LO the Bth able to judge from the state in which former, in re it my duty to state, that the cot_ to Chilli' t( Royal African Colonial Corps, the highly creditable ;in short, they b e . English E