The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-04-27 00:00:00

II RETRACTS FROM COMMUNICATIONS RELEIVED AT
THE COLONIAL OFFICR FROM SIR CHARLES
MAC EARTHY, GOVERNOR OF SIERRA LEONE.

(Esclama')
No. 4.-1 n Goleta°, Mee earthy 's letter to Earl Bathurst
of the 27th May, Is2o.
Isstimetions for Ilse guidasee of Captain Chisholm, Brigade
Mrjor to the Forces, commanding the troops intended for
as ritpedition is tie Rio Poops.

Um a reference to the letter I bad the honour of addressing
to Captain Letke, a copy of which is euclosed, you will
understand the views under which lbe expedition is wade.
taken; and as eircianistioaces may, and will, pro►ably, occur,
which it is nut in my power to fu , I can only give you a
general outline fur your guidance,relyiug upon the exertions
of the officers and meta of the royal navy, your seal and ex.
periruce, and the discipline and bravery of the troops, fur •
successful ter ni oat iou of operations.
You are aware that nothing will tend more to ensure suc-
cess than a mutual good understanding with the officer, sod
no eu of the navy; and you will not fail to impress that
upiniou upon the minds of the trove under your rummati4.
The approach iu vessels and boats atilt of course depend
upon Captain Lake. I conea ive that covering the lauding
(Jibe troops by the firing of tuns or marinades will

a Sale laudiag..
As great inconvenience, delay, and, most probably, acei-
' deists, would arise from making use of miniquetry, obilst
the boats are rowing towards the landing-place, you will
issue the must positive orders that none shall are together,
ur at random. In the event of a party from the natives
firing( ruse behind bushes or open ground. it may be ad-
visable to employ a few good marksmen, to fire deliberately,
one after the other, as they may be called on to du by setae
or number.
On reaching the shore, in order to prevent the danger 4
ambuscade, • proportion of the troops are to lie directed to
extend to the fiord and on the desks ; and, under the pro-
tection of the skirmishers, the remainder will either advance
in line, or column, according to the nature of the ground, to
wise on the principal buildings, and such persons as may be
found. You will protect the people unarmed, the old men,
women, and children, from any attack. In the probable
event of the place being found deserted, you will issue di-
rections to secure the property from plunder, sad according
to the informatiuu you may obtain, you will immediately
proceed to the towns of the bead chief In the interest of
Curtis.
From such chiefs as may be assembled or taken, you will
demised the immediate surrender of Curtis and his associates,
together with all his property in merchandise. slaves, &e.
Should the giving up of Curtis be obstinately refused, and
ahoeld it appear also dist his head chief has participated in
the murder of the sailors of the Thistle, in that elms you
will seize upon the chief, and set are to his house.
In your general conduct towards the chiefs and inhabi-
tants you will act with diseriativation, treating all those
who may base h..haved friendly with kindness, and protect-
ing their property from all manner of insult. 'rod will im-
pre.. Spud their minds the necessity, for their own (attire
sic-Ware, of giving up Curtis and all his associate* is blood;
bolding out to them, that in the event of their refusing so
to do, their river will be blockaded, and they still Is debarred
from all intercourse is and nut.
Frum the advanced period of the year, it is oecesssary
that every possible dispatch be used to hrisig the expedition
to • close; amid you will cursider yourself as hereby autho-
rises' (provided the ieformatiun we at present possess should
be found correct) to take as prisoners the whole of the prie-
r-Ipol persons who participated in the attack of the boats, or
who afterwards mutilated the remains of the crew, together
with their property ; and on your retreat to set ars to their
habitations.
lu .the performance of these issksctioas, you will duly

unseats for proceelliot direct to the tows where the morel
was reported to have been made on the boat of the Thi•ol.
We revived inforniation that Curtis had obtained coos.:
Armtek aid its men and arms from neielibourine chiefs, and
qui he was 'prepared to offer obstinate opposition to toff.
tandiog. Captain Leek., in consequence of this
getter, brought the brigs as near his town as morsihie, aiot
armed most of the boats with carronades to cover the 'amt_
log of the troops. He also directed the nearittes the
squadron to act ender my orders; and,. placed parties of
seamen in the boats under their respective ()Infers. It oft
originally his inteution to base cooducted in person the
Movements of the Mute to the landing-places; belt on di..
covering a body of Cartis's men preparing to fire at 11s.-
farthest advanced brig from • moil fortification moonlit.%
several gnus, sad advaiolgeously situated On a commandio%
height, he intimated to ewe that he would continue on hoard
of her to superlative,' her driest, with tbkiief stir oeher
seeing' the fort, observing that he hoped by doing so nos
engage the attention of a crsiderable number of then, sad
thereby facilitate our landing.
Supjorsiog that the appearance of so considerable • forte
as now apprdached Curtis town; would induce the natives to
enter into a negoeistion for the release of lbe seasote iu
their custody, and the surrender of the person of Curtir,
the burls advaeseid under a flag of truce, and precautiona
were takeis to pieveut firing, or utherUcta by which the Ha-
ilers could be alarmed; lid from their haerieg (on ou.•
/beeistiag the trace) exhibited • white flag at their fort, we
laid reason to believe that Obey comprehended its significa-
tion. The shout and oar furbe • were however totally
-diareganled, for immediately on the arrival of the bolos at
_the Leading piece, • beery fire commenced from Ile furs.
'sod from partieo-ol'illema posted in very thick saaagratris
•, close to flee wharf; this was iostantly relented on our
and Ibe whole A.( the men being landed, the en. my wets
compelled to retire to a palisade erected in front of the town.
From behind this covering they cootineed to oppose our all.
vase', but were soon dislodged, and being cis nelj pureueJ,
retreated through the tube to a wood in its rear.
Having taken possession of the town sad fort, and waited
some lime in dapectetlon that some of she natives would al.
tempt to save their property from destruction by 'Eakin%
advisee@ toward. an accommodation, Captain Leek, (who
leaded immediately oa the fort being sileeced), and rery.el
detehoined on destroying the (limeades and paths Ica sur-
rounding the lowa, borate( the bosses, razing the fort, and
removing the from it to the reseals of war ; u d use
this being done, it was agreed that the troops should pro-
ceed to the attack of the adjoining towas iu alliance with
Curtis. Daring the execution ref this service I stole Le-
mint attempts to invite the Natives toe conference, but my
endeavours proving fruitless, their towns ores learnt, agi e.
able to the •rraneemclits made in conjunction with Cap alit
Lake, and the troops returned to the ships.
The Geutlemaa (Mr. Wilson) to whose cue we intru.te.l
the letter addressee' td the chiefs and trailers, on the loth
come on hoard of this vessel soon after one re.emharketti ~,,
and it appearing by his statement that ?sloop Brains, a
chief of considerable power, residing about four miles frogs
Coatis town, was the principal encourager of the MOM k ou
the Thistle's boat, and the person at abuse commaud the
wounded milliners were su inhumanly treated at their foie.
resider, Captain Leeke and myself tholight it probable that
the few surviving seamen might be still in his town, and it
was therefore determined that the treOps should visit it
early in the merging, with the view of demanding their s.
lease; and in the event of the people ailing hostilely
wards us, it one decided that they should be rodeidered as
confederates of Otitis, and their persons and property be
dealt with accordingly.
The tweet is situated in the midst:. of an extensive wood,
and as we were a xposed during our march to • 'wry heavy
fall of rain, and being without guides, we found moth MIS •
cults in discovering it. We saw but few of the inhabitant.;
but from their being armed, and havieg attempted iesilte
snee, I have great reason to believe that they expected mot
rally depended on the co-operatioa of • eosisidenble body.of
mew, much more numerous and powerful Mao thionstlvra ;
they suffered considerably from our fire, and wilco we (reco-
pied: he town, they withdrew into the woods. As it nes
nut possible to get any iutelligessee of the men we were in
quest of, I directed the houses, &c. to he set os gre, sal •
large quaothy of swerchaadise (principally the property of
Curtis) was destroyed:
Is the coarse of the aperatioos of this day, and those of
yesterday, a corporal of marines died of excessive fatty. 4
and one privste of marines, and two privates of the 2d West
India regiment, were woneded.
Shortly after our return to the ships we had the 'retie/soh.,
of obtaining the release of two of the seamen of the Those. ,
through King Yanda Corey, who, becoming merino, her ir
safety of his town, insisted on their liberation. The f.....•
remaining seamen were secured from the power of Cost.',
through the good offiCes of Mr. Wilma, and the pro,' rums of
▪ 111 r. John Orotund, one (gibe principal traders in a distant
part of the river. A boat was dispatched fur them by Cap..
Leeke, and we had the pleasure of receiving diem un boast
at as early hour this morning. The principal otijict of the
expedition being accomplished by the restoration of the- •
men to the service of their towhee,. and the Imisi4Newesst sit
the savages who SO be. betuusly put (heir comrades to dese,
after their surrender, the squadron is to return to Sots..
Leone without delay.
I Teel great piessure in reporting to you that the hebevieser
of the troops has been highly satisfactory to me. the cuo•
quest of a large district of woody country, defilade.' by OA
armed body of men, 'blotch the to ighbouriag inhabitants say
exceeded 3,500, and the ilestructiou of several towns, erne
an ineusseiderable lost on our side, is to be ascribed to el, e
resolute conduct of the conjuiued forces iu she attack no
Curtis won.
I cannot close this report without expressing -my seine of
the advantages which flee expedition derived from the seat
said experience of Captain Leeke. His areangesswat for the
lawdiag of the troops, and the ea operation of the itoo;o*
▪ are highly creditable to kiwi and the Arm' fie. tide