The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-01 00:00:00

Government situations were looked upon as turneoets,• and aweleist
from the 'Maw Mat bad been entered into before the arrival of
Sir Charles 1111Vnidiy. Such an alliance, fanned between people
who had been fa veers at variance with one another, could not long
exist, howe,ver one* they might, for a tune, font) mmilarlty of so-
tufilon, feel UMW; mod it was subverted Jsy the late Mr. Swans'',
who, getting two of his sons well provided for, became the friend
or Sir Charles, From this sitattleman, at length, Sir Charles gained
a httle of that information respecting the political features of the
country which fie had • rlght to have expected frdm Governor
Smith, who either knew, enAt to have known, more of these
matters than j liee M deeleas. He merely gave
up the forts to Sb' and this =hid his lips to further inter.
course (8).
The nations on the Gold Cart arrow of rather a more intelligent
mat than any other tribes hoidering upon our possessions in Arnett
and they soon comprehended the nature of our policy, as explained
by Sir Charles 31`Carthr, who was looked upon by them, in a very
short time, as their deliverer, both from internal and foreign oppress
Binh. They beheld with satisfaction the privileges which were con-
ferred upon them by the change (9). Intl they had full confidence
in the promises he made to them of British protection. The name
of M`Cnrthy run along the coast front Cate A ppolfdnla to the mouth
of the Vohs, and the great influence Which he gained over these
people (the hitherto acknowieked subjects of the King of Ashan-
tee) was viewed with silent and gltenny indignation by that 310.
narch, whose pride was not only stung at the sudden revolt of his
subjects, acknnerledged as such by British treaty, but at the neglect
of his authority suit dignity on the pan of the British, in not send•
ing to hint a complimentary Embassy. At this time he entertained
a great opinion of Sir Charles :111 larthy's consequence and ability :
he hail heard he was a powerful fighting man, and had Itrge pos-
sessions, independent of the Geld Coast. If, therefore, this com-
pliment had been paid to him, it is an assumption by no means
chimerical that he would hate been satisfied to tesign his sove-
reignty over the people of the Coast; and they might have enjoyed
that state of peaceful security, which an appeal to arms has perhaps
deprived them of for ever. Pity it was that the late inn.h.lainented
Governnr of these Colonies had not been advised to take this step,
instead of endeavouring to turn into contempt the authority enacted
by that sable and implacable chief.
The Ashantees are by no niears a hasty people In their resolu-
tions, and never engage in anything rashly. They have been known
to take three years in making preparations fur a war, previous to
the declaration of hostilities, such is their caution and elleulatlon
against defeat. From this unnmimon prudence of theirs, Sir C.
M`Carthy Was allowed to make arrangements, and to quit the Cuero
fur a time, perfectly satisfied with the appearance of prosperity ex-
hibited by the happinem and contentment of the natives with whom
he held intercourse, .and utterly unconecions of the hostile 'men.
how' of the Monarch of Ashantee, as Ashes:tees, though not men
of tiny note. visited the settlements as traders.
Daring his absence, tlte impendieg storm burst, by the seizure,
on the part of the King, In the inontit of August, 11122, of a British
sergeant, tinder some trivial pretence. This man was carried off to
a "%race town, named 1/onquah, about 111 miles inland from An-
namaboe, and was der fined there a prisoner, with an intention of
finding out (as was afterwards learned) what part we should act in
the endeavour to levitver him; whether we should have recourse to
force, as In the Monree affair, or whether we would demand his re-
lease, agreeably to the rah article of the treaty (10. 'Fite alleged
offence was an insith offered to the King of Ashuntre by the ser-
geant, who was enforcing silence in the area square of A nnamaboe
' fort among some Ashantem, Some of whom were tiding with the
late Mr. Smutty, who was permitted for some time after the trans-
fer to remain in the fort, till his house in town was ready for weep.
lion ; but as the detail of this matter would extend beyond the in-
tended limits of this outline, suffice it to say that the Ilritish sat-
geant did his duty, and thin the 'WI& might even then have been
checked in the bud, but fur the mercantile pliancy of 31r. Swaney,
who, fearing to lose his trade by offending the .Ishantees, was less
decisive than a person less interested might have bead. At this
time the trade of Annamaboe Reneged San ounces of gold, fifteen
tons of ivory, and as much palm oil as the merchants were willing
to purchase monthly ; tWo-thirds of this saluable trade idling to
the share of Mr. S. _

The unwelcome news gf the serg.nnt's seizure reached Sir Chas.
311•Canhy at Sierra Lcone on the 3d of Nov. 1322., at ti moment
when on the point of embarking in the sloop of war !hirer, to make
a visit of inspection to (he Gambia; his intentions were of course
immediately altered, and he resolved upon returning to the Gold
Coast, to inquire personally into the fusty of the aff:iir t end, in or-
der to make a little chew of power, he took with him 32 rank and
file of the 24 West India Regiment, under the command of Capt.
Stepney. in the Colonial service : he was followed by a small party
of eeen,ita for the Royal African ('tops, under the command ef
Capt. I.aing, who had ,returood a new days before from a mission
into the interior countries of Africa. _

The MUT of the Governor-General to the Gold Coast, which
took place on the jth December. was hailed by the natives with
every demonstration of joy ; undisguised happiness pervaded the
countenances of every one, and afforded to those of his followers
who were real friends of African liberation, a sight far more impos-
ing than the triumph of the greatest corquerors ! flow distressing
to view the present altered state of the picture. Their protector no
I more! British influence overturned!! Themselves exposed in
defence of their liberties—their wives and their children left to the
unpitying knife of their old and blond-thirsty oppressors!! I For
so they must be called. despite of all the boasted humanity of the
blond-sucking despot of Ashantee.
Sir l'harlos 314'artIty was quite undecided what line to pursue in
this dilemma, he was unwilling to proceed to hostilities without
knowing the real intentions oftho Ashantoss, and nry,:ociation was
impracticable, unless attended with considerable risk, for all inter-
course between the Ashantees and the settlements bad teased since
the seizure of the sergeant. Dissatisfaction and jealousy still pre-
vailed among the officers of the late Company, and rather than as-
sist. a chosen few endeavoured to ridicule the unpleasant situation
of the Governor-General. They called out loudly that the seizure
of the sergeant should be peremptorily punished, and insinuated
that wore decisive mearares would have been ailnpted by the late
Government. Capt. Laing, Royal African Light Infantry, made
a tender of his services to proceed to Cooinassie. and endeavour to
bring about an understanding with the King; but that most woe.
thy man,the late much wotthy Governor, objected to the enterprise
as being ton perilous.
An offer to attempt the settlement of the differen.in by proceding
to Donquah, was also refused. and the time passed on inactively
' and in idle speculations 'till the lit of February, Ill1"1. when the
sergeant was beheaded at Donqinh, and any further doubts ns to
the hostile intentions of the perpetrators were entirely removed ;
preparations were therefore made for the prosecution of the war,
which, from thin statement of facts, may appear to owe its origin
more to accident than design—more to the offended, dignity, pride,
and avarice of a powerful and despotic King. than to the intliscre•
tions of Mr. Smith, the disputes with 31r. Dupuis, or the biassed
opinions of the late Sir C. Ml:artily.
(To be concluded in our next.)