The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-17 00:00:00

NAVAL

PORTSMOUTH, MAT 16.—The Philomel, R, Coal,
standar Forbes, arrived at Spitballs' last night from the
coast of Africa. She left Sierra Leone on the Bth of April, .
only three days after the Wolverine, which arrived at Spit-
head 14 days ago. Having come almost direct from the
Bight of Benin, she, however, has brought important Ad-
ana/shy despatches, announcing the intention of the King
of Abonsey to attack Badagry. Commander Forbes, of the
Philomel, and Kr. Twesdie, purser, had bad an interview
with him Oar the purpose of inducing him to sign the tree- .
ties for the sappression of the slave trade, but this be re-
fused to do, ' a very haughty and imperious air.
Should he attack B gay, and there is not the slightest
doubt bat that be will, he cannot be prevented taking
It, and the consequence will then be, it is anticipatei4
that en attempt will be made to depose King
eiequltoi at Lagos. The latter ie reported to be highly un-
popular with some of his chiefs, hang addisted to drunken-
sass, and of a feeble and infirm IsierL The Meg af Aherne"
informed Captain Forbes that he would 'se Mimi of his
intention of attacking Badagry before so, is order
to give any British inhabitants an oppo
so rt of quitting,
give
but that should they refuse to do they will ve to suffer
death; at the same time he is very desirous that no
British blood should be shed. The Harlequin, 12 guns.
steam sloop, was off the bar of Lagos, for the protection of
British interests, and to sustain King Acquits:A on his throne,
but should the threatened attack be made on Badsgry she
would afford but little assistance, as that puce can only be
got np to.in boats. It is now much feared that the efforts
recently made at Lagos by the British squadron and the
lives that were then lost will have been entirely thrown
away, or that operations will have to be commenced
afresh. The vessels of the squadron were disposed,
when the Philomel left Sierra Leone, as already re-
by the Wolverine; the Commodore, in the
rer:ellope being still there, with the Dolphin and
&dark ; also the French commodore. The report wee
that the Penelope would go down the mast to the Highly
and then to Ascension, to get on board her main-deck gun%
which had been taken out, and replace her hammock net-
ting. The Philomel has brought home Commander Mar-
shall, late int lieutenant of the Penelope, on promotion ;
Lieut. Hugh Hathorn, from the same slue, also on promo-
tion ; and Dr. Sloss, of the Alecto, who has with bins •
stoker, who hu come home to be tried for the death of •
seaman who had died from a blow received in a fight be
tween the two. The witnesses in this ease have also em-
bus* in this vessel. The Philomel is to be inspected at
Spithead to-morrow by the cemmander-ig-ehief.

MALTA, MAT 11.—The Spiteful left on Friday last,
with letters for the admirel and fleet, which was ,by advice'
received through a merchant vessel. lying at Tunis. On
board the Spiteful his lordship the Bishop of Gibraltar had
taken passage, intending to visit parts of his diocese, then
to proceed to Gibraltar, when he would, as is his custom,
parthe beats of the summer. The French fleet hos passed
off the island, bound, it is said, to ports on the coast of
Africa, and under orders to reach Alen early in June, but
not before. It comprise*, as is said, three line-of-battle
ships 3-deckers, three line-of-battle ships 2-deckers' and •
beautiful screw corvette steam-ship, brig rigged. Colonel
Hisey's yacht, on going out on Saturday last, bound for
England, got on the rocks, and has been very much injured.
It will cost upwards of 40/., it is said, to repair her.

MILITARY.
COLONELCY OF THE SCOTS GREIS.—It wprobablo
that either General Sir H. Cumming, the colonel of the
12th Lancers, or Lieat.-Oeseral the Hon. H. Murray, the
colonel of the 7th Dragoon Chards, will be removed to the
colonelcy of the Boots Greys ; and -
Taylor, the Lient.-Governor of P
aumeed to one of the first named

rml Money, C. 8., is also repoiled
to the vaoassoy.

15TH AND 59TH REORIENTS.-
in.Al.lA.—it ix just decided that Ott
Kong, is to be removed to Austral4,1
that the loth Regiment, at Ceylon,'
Chinn.

-

end that -M[jor-©moral
Sandhurst College, will
regiments. Major-Ciene-
ported as likely to e
re.—Tßoor s:lrsht Ats-
the 69th Retratnone-
la, as a reinfo 04
a, is to replairthiii4:..,, :•:
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e-TI)4"