The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-12 00:00:00

WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

The African mail steamer Calabar arrived in the
Mersey yesterday. Her dates are—Benin, Sept.
24 ; Fernando I'o, Sept. 29 ; Cameruons, Oct. 1 ;
Old Cillabar, Oct. 3 ; Brass River, Oct. 5 ;
Bonny, Oct. 7 ; Lagos, Oct. 10 ; Accra, Oct. 12 ;
Cape Coast Castle, Oct. 14 • Cape Palmas, Oct. Iti ;
Sierra Leone, Oct. 21 ; Bathurst, Oct. 2ti ; Tene-
ride, Oct. 30 ; Madeira, Nov. 2. The Calabar
brin4s 72 passengers and 2,900 ounces of gold dust.
The news by this arrival is rather stirring. Com-
modore Wilmot, in the Rattlesnake (man of war),
had visited Benin in the early part of September,
in order to enforce payment of the fine imposed by
Governor Freeman, at Lagos, iu the early part of
last year. The natives at Benin ref used to entertain
the wishes of the commodore or any of his ottik.vrs.
In consequence of this Commodore Wilmot at once
stopped the trade of the river, until the original
tine, together with the addition of a large quantity of
palm oil should be paid. The commodore was to
return again in December, and if the fine is not
then paid, he will resort to severe measures.
The natives are, however, determined, it is said, to
resist what they consider an unjust demand, and it
is thought nut improbable that another African war
will be placed upon the record of attempts at en-
forcing • Governors' fines" on the West Coast of
Africa.

A totval court bad been held at Benin by Commo-
dore Wilmot to inquire into the conduct of Cap-
tain Richardson, master of the ship Eagle's Wing.
The charges being proved, he was deprived of the
command of his vessel. Au extraordinary freak
by a shipmaster occurred on the 22nd of September.
The barque Irene, belonging to Messrs. Stuart and
Douglas, of Liverpool, and loading at Benin, sud-
denly and without any orders from the supercargo,
got under weigh, and up to Sept. 24 bad not been
heard of. The river was healthy.
Trade very dull at Fernando Po. The island
was healthy. Mr. J. W. Lynalager, formerly
British consul at Fernando Po, and for some
time Spanish governor at that port, died on the
13th September. He was well known for his
generous hospitality, and was most sincerely
esteemed both by the native and European popu-
lation.

Trade dull at the Cameroons, in consequence
of the disagreement among the natives. The river
was healthy. . . . .

. -
Bonny was healthy, and trade very brisk.
Trade entirely stopped at Brass, owing to a
war between the Itrammen and a neighbouring
tribe. The steamer Investigator bad arrived from
the Niger with Dr. Baikie, the celebrated African
traveller, who had been for several years exploring
the Niger and the adjacent countries.
At Accra business was very dull. Small-pox
was raging with fearful intensity when the mail
left, and many deaths had occurred. Great dis-
satisfaction was felt at the conduct of the Cape
Coast government iu consequence of the non-ap-
pointment of a surgeon to assist iu the present state
of the place.
The case of the ship Riccardo Schmidt, seized at
Sierra Leone on the supposition of being intended
for the slave trade, had been decided in favour of
the owners, who have demanded 3,001. from the
government fur damages caused by the detentioL
of the vessel. The residents had decided upon ap-
pealing to the British postal authorities iu conse-
qoence of the state of the postal regulations at
Sierra Leone.