The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-13 00:00:00

WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

The African !Royal Mail steam-ship Armenian
arrived at Liverpool yesterday with the mails from
the West African coast, Teneriffe, and Madeira.
Rer dates are :—Benin, Nov. 24 ; Fernando Po,
29 ; Cameroon, 30 ; Old Calabar, Dec. 2 ; Brass
River, 4 ; New Calabar, 7 ; Bonny, 7 ; Lagos, 11 ;
♦ccra, 12 ; Cape Coast Castle, 14 ; Cape Palmas,
17 ; Sierra Leone, 24 ; Bathurst, 27 ; Teneriffe,
Jan. 2 ; and Madeira, 4. She brings 1,023 ounces
of gold dust, 2,551 sovereigns, and 1,3')7 Spani.h
dollars, together with 23 passengers. _ _

The Armenian left Benin on the 24th November,
Though trade was then dull, the river was quite
healthy.
The health of Fernando Po was very good, and
trade had somewhat relapsed into a rather dull
state.

Her Majesty's ship Torch, while on a passage
from the south coast to the Island of Ascension,
sprung a leak, and was compelled to put into Fer-
nando Po. The Torch was discharging when the
Armenian left, preparatory to being beacbed, so
that Ler injuries might be examined and repaired.
At Cameroons little or no trade was being trans-
acted, and the native tribes were giving much an-
soyance and trouble to the European residents.
They attempted to burn down one of the mission
houses. Fortunately the fire was discovered in time
to pre vent any serious damage being dune.
The trade at Old Calabar continued to be stop-
ped, and was still likely to be so fur some time to
come. King Eyo H. had made peace with the
Blooduien, and would immediately return to Creek-
town. A good oil season was anticipated.
At Brass trade was dull, and the place rather
unhealthy, as several cases of sickness were reported
in the river.

Trade was improving at Bonny, and the river
continued healthy.
The country around Lagos remained in a very
unsettled state, and the roads to the interior by
which communication and trade are carried on
with the interior were closed, andennisqueutly all
binds of commercial business were entirely stopped.
Governor Freeman resumed his governorship on
the 22nd November, and Commander Glover had
announced his intention of returning to England
by the neat mail. Her Majesty's cn...,,u1, Captain
Burton, bad arrived iu H.M.S. Antelope, on his
way to Dahomey, where he intended remaining
three months the guest of the King.
Acou, DEL 12—Trade much improved during
the month.

CAPE Coast.—Preparations were being made for
the troops to start for the bush to meet the
Ashantee... There was a great scarcity of water
when the Armenian left. Trade although dull had
improved Minx last mail. Commodore Wilmot, on
board Ii.M.S. Rattlesnake, was to leave Cape
Coast fe,r Bathurst on thelBth. The Armenian, of
Cape Palmas, passed the R.M.S. Athenian.
From Sierra Leone there is no news of importance,
and trade was dull. The Elizabeth had arrived at
Bathurst, from London, and had exl.,rienced very
heavy weather. The R. M. S. Macgregor
Laird had arrived at Teneriffe, and would
sail the same day for the coast. The English
war steamers Defence, Warrior, Black Prince, and
Edgar had arrived at Teneritfe, and would remain
four or !i ve days. At Madeira, on January 4, it
was wits. great difficulty that the mails could be
got off, in consequence of the heavy sea running, and
the Armenian was detained six hours in con-
sequence.