The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-03-14 00:00:00

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. cur front. I hal the WI. IW qrdeh, ,
I course of the imp. I reseieed fm usi
King.. ..., .of which I enclose • copy, with • letter from
Mr. Dawson alao encldoed, and returned at once the en cloaed
reply.
"On the 405 I edvanoed again at deybreak. The enemy
had occupied • point'on of considerable strergth near the
Tillage of eirdabsu. This they held sendept no Woos about
,evea till • warier to t we,. when thef)leideA, and r n my
leaner- nerd, under Colonel McLeod, below pushed on
//Must t' eat, broke and fled ltall directions, leaving he-
alth& dewed a.o. g the road, the Liners nrubweLaa ....d
Chain, 14c.,..5ni Upload whip had Seen carting with the
[lb
4nny. -
"elar.the woutaa.of thMedayat nalfrOkel received from Mr.
swum two letters, of which I enclose c,plea. I orde red
that the troops should be pearled op at ,toe. NO opooslilon
waa t Herod to oar awry into the town. _ ._

the

"We coupled the town. Mr. Dawson v.,u met at full
liberty walking to the &West..
" I Immediately Domed eringent of cirri for the protection
Dl the inhabitants and the sal,:y of the town. Bat night fell
aim,st immediately alter our entry, foil to the darkness It
was impossible to prevent some of the numerous camp fol
lower; from pillaging. the Viotti° prisoners hod also been
relmsed, soil In all probability were largely gaged In the
same pursuit. The result wa, the outbreak of many hires
Csotala Baker, inapector-Generat of the Colima and invent
ontzers, were engaged nearly all night In the suppaessiou of the
pillaging and In tuition out the fires. Oile pohcereau taken
in the act was bong.
" I endesvonred immediately on my arrival to communi-
cate with the King through Mr. Damson, and through every
Cilabilei that appeared to arse mi opportunity. A Chief
having wine into Coomaaste who wait said to be sent by the
King, I maw him myself, and impressed upon him my wtalto
spare the town, and my desire to Impose on the King to
...ter conditions than those he had already acmmted.

" Moreover, I told tots man that, now that I bad shown
the power of England. I wa. ready, If the Ktng would make
peace at on., to accept a small Ind eronlty, and not to enact
the half I had prerlowily required to be paid be ready
money.
"Other messengers were ebtalned who undertook to reach
the Kin?. To these I 'alienated toe letter dated Coomaaate,
feth February, 1070.

" was:however, of no avail
" The men whom I endeavoured to employ se messengers,
and who csme •vowedly as envoys of the lilac were found
treacherously removing powder and gold-dad from the
houses.
-

"The whole scheme of Ashantea polities is so based apcn
treachery that the King dots rot tither understand thy
other form of negotiation, or belleye It possible that others
can hay. hone.% Intention.. _ . .

" Under theee circumstances, my Lord, it became clear
that • treaty would be as valueless to us as it was dlm.
cult to obtain.
"Nothing remained but to leave each • mirk of our power
to puntsh as sbunld thuer from future aggrerialun • nation
whom treaties do not bind.
"1 have done all I could to avoid the nedr tufty, but It was
forced up, n me. I gave olden Idr the destruction of tbe
palace and the burning of the city ; I had at one lime also
oontemplated the destruction of the Bantoms, where the
sacred ashes of former Kings Its entombed, but this would
have involved • delay of corns hones. Very heavy rale had
fallen. I feared that the streams Might have risen in my
rear anfliolently to serion.ly delay my much. I oonsldered
It better, therefore, not to risk further the to al th of the troop.,
the wet wtather havlog artery threatened seriously Cu
affect it. .

• 'rho demolition of the plane was completer. From all
that I can gather I relieve that the result will be auch •
diminution in the prestige and military power of the
Ashante• Monarch as may result In the break-up of the
kingdom altogether. This I have been angiona to avoid,
because It seem, impossible to foresee what Power can take
this nation'. place among the feeble race, of this coast. I
certainly believe that your Lordship may be well convinced
that no more utterly air cloris Government than that which
has thus, perhaps, fallen ever existed on the face ot the
earth Their capital wraa a charnel•house : their religion a
combination of cruelty and treachery ; their ',hey the
ncural outcome of their religion. I tanuot think that,
whatever may be the final fate of the people of this country,
the abin,lute annihilation of such a rule, should It occur,
would ben aubject for unmixed regret.

In any muse, my Lord, I believe that the mnln °Wet of
my expedition has been perfectly *enured. The territor es
of the Gold GAM will not again be troutded by the warlike
ambition of this restless Power. I may add that the fl ,g of
England from this moment will be received throughout
Western Africa with respectful awe, a treatment which has
been of late years by no means As invarlaole fate among the
usage tribes of tile region.

The troops are now on their march homewards, and will
embark for lingland immediately on rtachtng Cape Coast.

A. the mission Intrusted to me has now, I may FM, been
brought to an end, I avail myself of this opportunity for
bringing to your Lordship's most favourable notlse the valu-
able services rendered to me throughout the war by Lieu-
tenant Maurice, RA, my private secretary. I would also
take the liberty of mentidning the name of Captain Lanyon,
End West India Regiment, who for some time perforru,d the
dulls. of Colonial Secrerary, and whose knowledge of
Colonial duties and regulattd s were of great service to me
since my arrival it this country.
The pollee duties In connexion with the recent military
operations have been most sr/entirely performed by Captain
Baser, Inspector-General of Police. lie has rendered the
force untirr my command most valuable service, and his real
and energy mark him out as peculiarly suited for the post he
occupies.
" My AlJede-zsmp, Lieutenant the Don. H. L. Wood, 10th
Hussars, who Is the bearer of this despatch, I have the
honour to recommend to none lor.isalp'e favourable notice.
—I have, drc., CI J. VioLski.Lr, Maya General and Ad-
ministrator, Gold Coast."

(Ineloans, 1 In No. 1.)
COOMASSIE, Feb. 4, 1874.
" It, good Friend.—l beg to write this to sequalnt pm.
Fseelleney that 1 am willing to meet your Ex.:enemy's de-
mands but only your Etoelleney's very rapid movement puts
me Into coutnsiou. Regarding the boatages and tho money,
It your Escedenoy would allow me, I beg that you will let no
du It in the issme as late Duval nor klarsleau did. Because
my old mother and brother are my b.th couusellon and
helpers In every way. 1 acknowledge the wring dhne by
Ammenk sate s. and he will .urely be punished ny making to
pay the sum your Escellency demands. Athmt thu prlsolen :
Itartug that *owe mop be etrlt.d and hurt blinssir, I have
pot them all In Iron, and as so m as your Excellency stsy to
give the time I will send them all.
I. W. Dawson, your messenger, begs to add few words
of him

" Your Excellency will to listed your humble servaurs
entreaty now to stay few days where your Excellency has
reeoheu with the forces as our hut are now in danger. I
was taken from Iron to wr:te thts later, au.l Instead of being
together we are placed in different places. I beg to say that
they feel now the strong battle they have hat and the King
now say he will withdraw his forces if your Eteellency would
promise to remain where you are to have the matters pro-
perly arranged. No doubt we will all he killed if your
Excellency do not stay. I send now my cane-hearer Instead
of my servant.
rho King la anxious to meet your demands, bet he Ends
the money too heavy, lie desires to hint your Excellency
with his best respect —We nee, &a. (For his Majesty End
Kilkftlee). YAW BUSI:MMURCTINGES, iii. mark, KUEKA
ErstlentslehrOWlßA, hls x mart, King's rrivate Coon.
sailors.

Ells Eutellency Majca-General Sle 0. Wolseley,
H.C.11.0., &o."

(Incloeure 2, In No. 1.)
" Coomes,tx, Feb. 3, IS7I.
" sir, —After the first letter dictated by the K'ng, hie
Chiefs have ale° begged me to beg of your Excellency to stop
your forces where you have reached, and that they will see
that every demand attended to amicably. The prixoners
will be sort directly this messenger return with your Ex-
c-Ilency's promise to stay them I humbly beg your
Excellency on my knees to let the forces stop, and ever y-
tidos will be settled. 150, now that they have bend to do
*bat is right, and trust that your Excellency wIU not light
them again, so they intend to withdraw the forc-c—i amiss
haste, yours, , "JS. DairStii.
" Ille Excellency Major-Oentral Sir U. IN olseley,
KC M .tc.

" PA—The Chief. dears me to ask yonr Excellency to
stop the Court, I your Excellency agree to stay and send my
cam -bearer to take the prisoners directly. I prey your Ex-
cellency to stop tne lorcee !rum lighting, II his troops do not
bring It to your Excellency. lhe King ssys non that he swill
do your relabels—Your Onedlent servant, Coil IlpAgi, his x
mark, Linguist.

3,1 n N. I.)
" Oa the March, Feb. 3, 1b74.
" King,—You have deceived me so before that I cannot
halt until the hostage. are In my pusses/Iton ,a. time preset,.
I aid consent to accept for to-day your mother and Prince
Menge'. Eh lb obeli be well treated by me.

Von oan trmt my word. If you ;end 'them to me this
evel.ing I will hall my army Ws aide or the Inver ordah.
lem you send thorn at once, my army will march upon
Coornmale.

I am, King, rem true friend and well-whher, G. .1.
1.851,&7, MajDr-General and Administrator, Gold Coast.
. . . _

nTo hLe Melody CTfee Klcutly, King of Atha kit
Coomasela."

(Inclolure 4, In No, I.)

" ennusasle, Feb. 1,
Sle,—l find thing' have come to a crisis conces, ing the
lives of us all here, Vat I am bonbd to run to your Honour
to beg of you to plead with the Major•Geuesal for us all oou•
corned.

" Finding that my cane-bearer foolishly denied of the
men, I mean the prisoners here, being put in Irons, ever
.Ince last Monday, and remaining In them to this dry. I
beg to be believed that I would rot dare to write 001,1101.110
to the Major-General or my master. Both he, the cane.
man, ami t were taken out yesterday morning about three
o'clock to write the I, Here which he Drought, and I have
been since left at liberty, but every oue else, except my
cook, whom I have got released this morning and two
Other servants, Is in Iron, end as soon as the Arbantees are
drives very close to Coomaasie we all shall be kilted. My boy
Robert comm now, and your Honour will see the marks of
the beating be has had. Ills true the King was not at Coo-
n:mule ; he had gone to see lime great fetish of his, and
his chief Procurator and Privy I'3unsellor thought some
bad fellows would hurt tu, or some of as might, through
the excitement In the c.,untry, C ,mmit suicide; hut tide
ought to be without beating. As this chief coati not nnd
room for all ha his house, he "bared us to some of his cap-
tains under him ; and It is only those who were kept in
Ns house escaped the being beaten. May I beg to Ads your
Honour to peed with tue Malor.Cleueral to defer his
personal coming, which frightens the people so much,
and appokt an offher of rank, If he could not spare
your llononr, and then the 11,.jor.Helieral might demand two
or throe of 1,01 MIN'S) principal caprains ; in Instance,
Klemm/eh luirwsuta, 131.ummereng wire, and Prince and
Captain Berrempa, Instead of girths the mother and brother,
Royal linese, which I. against their rupersiltions to give
ior hostages? Then let Urn withdraw all his forces, and
leave the path between entirely free for the time being in
the hands of the Al sjor.Cienersl, so that his forces are al-
o wed no chance of °Wog any mischief,

"Matters might be very well settled in this manner, and
m..y be saved. stone the deatruotbie of the wh,Ae blessed
kingdom after we ase kit ad would ot I,rlng us back.
" I know now the Ashantees will yield to all the tern,s of
Sits :114or.Cieberal for peace, except the sending their Royal
lineage out of the kingdom, which Ls agallst their super-
sth to. notions, so much so that they would rather die or
perish toolidily than doing It ; I would not care a button it
they could do It without us
" The Malor.Osneral might, alter things being put straight
In this, come for a day or two to see the King and then
march to the coast.

The question about the money can Le very soon arranged
It the Governor, with 'enmity, allow them to pay It inttal-
mently. On my knees I pray your homui to do all you can
for us in thin nip petition.

A. it ferrartin Aahantee power now being broken Li Very
eVidetir they now bag me. whiQh they have never done
beture, to do ail I moo to Nave them. 7he King him.elf cent
his atep.tatikr to tell me that he mw acknowledges the cope.
rlority of the white men, and cc.,,. pardon that he rimy be
allowed to treat for peace.

. ---
I pray your honour, therefore, to to all you Cala to pantry
the 31,i0r-General to halt at the elver, that the prlson.rs
may be earlt at once and have everything settled, U the
distance la only snout three hours within Cdoniamee. /day
the Lord aid you In your endeavonringe, la the prayer of
your tionour's humble and obedient servant !
Jot. DAWSON.

. Captain Butler, ere."

(Enclosure 6 In No I)
Cot:quail', Feb 4, 1576.
Sl,,—For 'leaven's sake I pray your Excellency to halt
the tore a for to-dat and to-mcreow. All tee Anhantee torcea
are coming back tome, and I think I will succeed In getting
when I have written Captain Bathe. If 7011 Excellency do