The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-16 00:00:00

gite enirtisS.

DESTRUCTION OF LAGOS BY
THE BRITISH SQUADRON.
•

LOSS OF LIFE.
mow tbs Dry Nees.)
The Admiralty despatches brought to Sontlitusp-
ton yesterday, from the coast of Africa, by the Bra-
zilian mail packet Severe, relative to the affair ti
CapaLsgea, were considered so important, that Lim.
tenon Striven, the Admiralty agent of the Benno
men dogatched to Lain with them immediAllgo
is se* that no time miW be lost in placing then
in the pomemiem of the Mndralty.
It will be seen that Lora he. been destroyed, bet
fast without lose of life ea the pert of the English:
The following is the if a letter written as
lend we of the ships en the coast of
Alhise, amt widelo gives hi potholer, of the affair : '
• Dear he any to hear that poor
Min, of the anquese, is rat, and supposed to be
kit end* dr diming painful circumstance :—Wo
eartand • Mans in October last, and Elliot parted
with us, when we took the ground off
=Y
with 12 men, ono carpenter, and Mr. Wood,
midshipman, with one month's provisions, with or-
ders to follow us to Cape Lopez, and in the event of
the wind act being favourable to proceed to the
Moil of St. Thomas and then to Dialoging to meet
ti Since that time he was met, October Slat, by
Sr Penelope at St. Thomas, who ordered him on to
ledagang, about five days' sail, and neither he, his
ties, or boat bare since been heard of. Several
wens have been down there, ourselves twice, and
raira It is feared the heavy tornadoes in the
Ilind week of November most have taken them sud-
denly, and with her enormous sails capsized her,
cad she must have sunk to rise no more. Poor
Mow t Hectored is a rough sketch I send of the
sews we have.
"On the 16th December the Penelope arrived in
the Bights from Sierra Leone and the Sampson from
Anessmon, and arrived off Lagos on the 18th, and
found there only the Bloodhound and Philomel, to
the as small surprise of the commodore, who had
ordered every vessel in the Bights to be there het the
purpose of attacking Lagos on the 24th, but, by
some excellent management, they were all dispersed.
Ou the 23rd, the Tearer arriving. as also a party
consisting of some GOO of King Atakoi's people, who
had marched down from Badsgapg, it then became
necessary to protect these people, and the commo-
dore nut knowing when he would get his vessels, it
was judged expedient to attack Lagos with the pre-
sent force. Accordingly Capt. Jones, in the Bloodhound,
and the boats of the Sampson, left at 4 p.m., and
having safely crossed the bar, anchored off the en-
trance for the night. The Sampson had previously
been moored as close opposite the supposed position
of the enemy as wield be. On the morning of the
24th, two boats in command of Limit. Saumarez, Ist
of Sampson,proceeded up and sounded and were fired
into by musketry oft the right beach, and which was
taken little or no notice of, and having ascertained the
required information they returned to the anchorage
at 2 p.m. Several largo canoes being seen on the
right beach the Bloodhound weighed, and the boats,
under her cover, landed and brought off six large
canoes capable of bearing the whole of Atakoi's force ;
having given them to these people at 5 p.m., being
Good tide she proceeded up the river to try the depth
of water, the Sampson's boats ahead, and when off
the Ant batteries the enemy began to fire round
and insister with very good precision, which
Ins Marna by the boats and Bloodhound.
At dial* the Tearer, with the Penelope's boats
woe else to enter the river, and a signal was made
• author, and it being dusk, the Bloodhound
=and anchored alongude of her, out of the
liesemsenee die. Th. 25th being Christmas
dor, the ma vseeeined in their boats, and nothing
done with the exception of reviewing and feed-
ing Atakora troops, and placing round each
of their necks a white " rag," so that we might
know friends from foes. Thus we stood en the
evening of the 25th, certainly a misiralie Melina&
At 4.30 a.m. of the 26th the following Mask was
then made. The Bloodhound. with Clart. Ind
in; the, the pert division d boats, consisting two
pada. sod piano of desupeen ender esonond et
Limit Inansan, Mimed dm the Teems
with ChM. Lyrae' sod ties the starboard
maim mininsi et Cementer Salyer, of Penelege,
whisk eosins& ef her twegadidb4ma bats pionsee,
end the reit bests, sae hat sonnesiel by the
lintenants of Penelope, and the roast
ipelt
LionOmbett, gunnery lientenant. As the B
deemed up a terns fire was opened on her
die battens and thousands of musketry whin
was retort:pi by her with shot and a/sell. She got up
to her deelbebm (with little damage), and then gat
mrsind at musket shot from the platform battery.
Ikea hissed trzert division of boats under a ase-
phis sopa . try, grape, round, and ambler,
whhh was sehmed in good style from the bean
who
g godripez gallantly, and took up their
a two-cs battery, and whisk
the Teener listbsallii=daishisiter pa in trying he
beep smirk Wig lon gometekser to cover the
pert dits d beets, indmairitty look these rowad
and mei set get oft She wee thins =poufs) the
'bed= gum Captain Lynes ,findingall
finding
olhangle fo godlier off d nedesii,lstit *sumead
at die *bowl division stiles% sad nap he the
has rat =s of orts
.the gun Alter
in, sad Ahead a
Mreg, sal tisk ittezil elawnp,. spade( its
pos. The amp in ellabk. and a
was anowney. enemy get pesisnioa
Fpitie-box boat, away Xreassi 'av-
owals:sr& A eerie we then made to
honored I°to tit" belt111:11 wehr.
barked, not, however withnit She ganan's nate,
who
sat left is the boat, hazg rennin two woo,
niti the
hen he wee age in Calliwirtssar'd'
In this ands pg.
next Ws sonless then
72 were killed and vromisi The bats of dating and
bravery on the pert of Assn wed sm, with the
easeptaon at the remedy Ireasea, hi impend Mist
Captain Lyster received two wank Wesel Hidyer
ens, Lieut. Carbon ( kliewLeeney Lien.
Williams (in nifty three, Mr. Menhir (mid.)
killed, Mr. (lineinss t=s
anhinat) mortally
weendtd end doe dend. Dealt§ several other Acme
dighely. This Ist the Team quiet, as ales the
pow du took of the • heeds et the two rase
whit we have dale im the
brae. None this tine Se Mal
Ilisedhomod W
Anal the hnOnden• ill"a811 "noill°ll4
asi the beds gesseeinf roiled its
time
sad Abased an is two men batteries by the time
iti wee 111,41114 whoa they were all roasted and
wad le dam, ensoyed oesmireallis=
desiaby lops* At Oa Twee
but killed ens caromed. sod was Agonised to den
when the die Weal NM
Soianwan nail get et At two
,woad mi WO et the with' a
nem id oil at eas. flanneremarni
IVArAme, with di lie Me ty'sell lsry, were
*rlnised to hod end iplhe the ism
bilgeinaw the batteries
eeve et Se Ihentena's Ustils of kir.
Oen). Wins ing ist *the goes
Tint Brava n's FM! PAZUAINLINTAZT DOOM Tab, ,11111111"._ the bats y~j
was gins sa Satertay to es Ilikorig gown :—Lad ram sm. ono
Rama% lad isyroar, Eft. Or Gems Orel, a 101111111111119 IMAM the aspentere with ax..
0.c.n.. Kea. Aiwied C Eau Wllliaw7. the ma with Innehawice, whew the amor, who
Ceweers_lllo- Omen Ai... keithilka r" IMO, were hying in sole* opened ludas iis % sad
mils wee. Ilifiebribii
sin Wee% Ilia fib Far* than ha minhage they add not
3Vanes Owl& ROI Sm. Or WI-
N.. lc skis m. on and bee this eneinielankbunstisir return
Mani
tot: xes. x. so:Wimmia to din Illenikend. bnvingjeat.
madEl
Leepi._._...aatUnemir,labe Perim, Law matft,"." *si drie albard.(
Nis.
tea rapers" CIL ' /gr.' hut. lard At 4.14 fin 7442 set 5 and 11=161 111 dews
wee yeevensi. hawks ressiveti.nr, Melsstr's essmssis.
fa. wake, Inded her dual, wed seat her Ansdiddet
111.1.81.19.64CrilawritirenDes—verremald Ism >sely the river: Ikss amid the tads itrZt aa the
wbY
Ylllllll' Tilthe laglollll or Pearsissers.—* "di
the Stores
and and
telly was iamb enellweint wevallei la the Awe* ef awiraind gaga Illsatormot. bath, bed bee'
the sew Mee of memos seeeewweee eilbe is .sin sea nos, N.
esibenit el a Ire k 711 e. • Oemeetwooleen. Ile ball& ____,Pamr,_a_llllll'
hewed by seem abet use, sad in Ile ores "NW .1•000` • •'" _ Ma"
pm yips h pissed en Ms tap et the ee• senses en toe MOMS
=II'MA the men to esemed. Os tbe mbar sea- ' and best conomeneed as also the Velum%
~ via rest t, dieseleavva of th.„2 and Waterwitch% bests, had then ended.
"'"'" "Na male r
oamer "." The roast boat easesedial he setting Sr. to llogel,
• as 111.17 ill•C•6••••••• 1.•••• the emend ales her" toll ion** Wall in • brim-
=psi plas•, sag t ins fa-
striaftairaar is Mem Aa des Ceemenrier Coots then lea ise boat, with the
estinse woe mind by the semmenealliirmille roiliest hest still is eannead et Unit Marshal nes
br news a Whop "i1g=716101104 Piegispe) aid Missing bitinhe Vai
se Whop
seam bens
wean =IOW wasps boom mi. gm akb sidowdelds&
osaleslieettewirmiremennosabils toweassibett the pm bens a,
scat ant. sk,„,,„syvibitmagif.ththe st,,itiromaliwbmwtry
flame la the plps, lel bees, so 61416
the se Ida eblitis was la leak den push* bd 8 and were obliged to all night

TO CORILIMPON DINTS. •
a 'NNW Wins 4" To Tiperem," ortedolaet do moo ovesirre
oseeete," pubttelmet every Teallay ead Pride/ .1810, be nose
be pi&
aer•oneee.eoiebteendell foe "Ts Itzproes." Gabs Fool's pipe,
owe M e. tbe • 'Are. 19, Booyeebreireet, b Two els* as Uwe
yet pollard's.

WOK WATIR AT LONDON =IDOL
lAno tOs.........kibumess. M. 1..
la. Ike Aimless**. 121. 401 s.

LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

Cnsrrea 2 of the New Reform Bill relates to
Ireland. If less extensive and complex in details
than that respecting England and Wales, the neees-
eity of the case is if possible more palpable, and the
duty of attempting without further delay to apply
some remedy to the state of things existing there ts,
V possible, still more plain.
In the principal cities of the kingdom, Dublin,
Cork, Limerick, Belfast, Waterford, and Galway,
there are altogether leas than 20,000 electors, while in
twenty-thiee boroughs there are in all but t 4,000
electors, or upon an average 340 each. The bill
which was passed two years ago has practically
left the cities and towns of Ireland just
where they were before. It substituted an
81. rating fur a Int rent, which amounted simply
to the favour of giving as it were a golden sovereign
in exchange for silkier crowns. In some instances it
appears that the result of the alteration was even
worse than witless, inasmuch as it actually lessened
the previously existing number of electors. Ministers
were warned at the time that this would be the case,
as Mr. M•Cett ion and Sir JOHN YOUNU reminded
them the other evening in the course of the discus-
sion culled forth by Sir W. SotteavaLt.'s confes-
sion of failure with regard to the measure of
114.50. Nothing in the way of legislation for Ireland
seer seems to be done at the right time by those who
undertake to govern her destinies. The act
referred to had the merit of em'ioilying for
the first time the salutary principle whereby
rateability is substituted .for rent as the
basis of the suffrage; and as applied to counties
(though the amount of IV. dictated by the House
of Lords was certainly too high), the value of the
concession is indieputable. But in defiance of all
reason and expostuletion a pecuniary limit in cities
and boroughs was obstinately adhered to on that
occasion, which has rendered the change, as we have
said, merely nominal. Lord Joitx was pressed by
every sincere reformer, both Irish and English, to
adopt a 5/. rating in Isso for the town constituencies
of Ireland; and it nas believed at the time that in-
dividually the Prime Minister was not indisposed to
embrace the opportunity that then offered of con-
ferring a great boon on the civic, as well a 4 the agri-
cultural population of that country. But as frequently
has hap' end in similar matters, evil counsellors with-
held Lonl Jon s from ae tingon his ow n better judgment.
The jealous and grudging spirit of clan ascendancy
which then ruled unfortunately supreme in the Irish
department of tho government, refused to yield.
Deceptive estimates were laid before parliament of
the probable results of an Si. rating franchise. Two
years have not elapsed, and the docile Cam SECRE-
TART in obliged to admit, without an attempt at ex-
*nation or apology, that all his former calculations
lave turned out to be false. " Instead of an increase
in the borough electors," said Sir WILLIAM SOMER-
VILLE on Friday night, "there has been a great
diminution."

Thus, in despair of any longer bolstering up the
old rotten system in tho towns, government are
oompelled at length to propose a 51. rating
test. They likewise propose to reinforce the
emisting constituencies by federalising with each
borough two or three of the adjacent towns
palming sufficient property and population. Ire-
land will, therefore, be dealt with in both these main
=colors in the some manner as England and Soot-
So far so well. It will naturally occur, how-
ever, to the most casual observer of the constitution
of society on the opposite aides of the Channel, that
if there is danger even with ourselves, that by sub-
tracting all the best country towns from the counties
la order to strengthen the boroughs, many county
ememitueneies may be seriously debilitated, and ren-
dered more amenable than they even now are to the
lalluesce of great proprietors, bow mach more hazard
most there be among our neighbours, whose county
dodoes are still on an average little above 4,000.
Aad if the first glance at the English schedules has
created in the minds of all reflecting men grave
misgivings as to the motives and intentions with
w the outlines of this new political map have
bum traesd,--how carefully will at behove our kins-
Met the green lie to scrutinise every detail of the
aiside by whisk it is proposed to re-distribute
their portion et the passel reyeematstiao. These,
browner, see smaideratiens de a ham day. Moan-
ed& IM as leek at the mason kr based as a
whose, ad judge of it tether by what it prediess to
whim r
dre dam by the acmes, or adequacy of its pro-
videw ppose.
In de mein it willurteed to aid Os middle ssse
of dist unhappy to ear midgets themesime
bone the blighting yoke of luadedima whisk hes
blames bees rain. At proud nine-tenthe
of loth seedy sad beret* amalms! for based
are Luanda Oat of Id ves these see
not halt-maw who de ad to the dembest
elem. VIM wads that me Ingress has yet been
made in legfriallag remellallyea the most important
et all Irish gineetime—the of land? "As
well might mie expect," mid r. BILIOIft on a recent
deadom "an emembly of cats to legislate betel-
elegy demise.' We have often marvelled at what
seemed to as the let etuation of a community so cir-
amilmesed exillanhe be mud as delegates to
great
of =mak fits :ave recialLw" to mind
ibe weetehmlly beedelent state of the eleo-
tarearem es constituted in 1833, and imperfectly
is 1880: amid we have forborne to utter
a repot whisk night be mistaken for an Mem-
Mier* reprena. at it la cleat that so long am nine
entitles repeemaistimalkaa the sister kingdom are
doom from the pregekties el the moll, nethimc that
is worth asking for will weer be obtained by the
teeent-emcees or element's cheese. Receptions
like Mr. Claymont and itr. Rocas serve only to
illustrate the rule. Irish landlords se a elms have
never made, and never will make. laws for the I.
trial
-
isseematgotation of :used*se I Pet as W
regaled de
corn laws bad they`
not bees Napes' be
*equines in that long_ resisted est eta=
by a phalanx ia the Hoene danames
and kept together by, thoegh net emiedealy elm-
posed et, mameant the cosemeteiel mod piellohod
clams With her new redorte,—it rawly Awed
la cammittse and properly worked Mink it bermes.
kw.--Ireland may. at last find base/ psmswd of
the meow et selecting freely her 108 Nponsisika
We do not my that without the bast she will Ind
it holiday work to exercise her new privilege.; lest
the ballot aloe is inevitable, and with its puffin
the people of both eounttisa will be ambled te deem-
mine what laws patliamet shed make, by doter.
Wades who shall make they