The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-23 00:00:00

POWhJ OF mrmonn

The fullowiag sketch of a learned Italian, illustrates the
extraordinary power of :Memory :
Signor Antonio Magliallechi, librarian to the Grand
Dukes of Tuscany, was born at Florence, October 29,
in the year 1633. Such was the poverty of his parents,
that they thought themselves happy is getting him into
the service of a-man who sold herbs and fruit. Here he
took every opportunity, though he could not tell one letter
from another, to pore on the leaves of seine old books that
served for waste paper, declaring that he loved it of all
things. A neighbouring bookseller, who observed this,
took him into his service. Young Maglialiedii soon learned
to read, and his inclination for reading became his ruling
pinion, and a prodigious memory his distinguished talent.
Ile read every book that came into his hands, and retained
not only the sense of what he read, but often all the words,
and the very manner of spelling. if singular. To make
trial of the force of his memory, a g,endeman lent him a
manuscript he was going to print. Some time after it was
returned, the gentleman came to hint with a melancholy
taco, and pretended it was lost. Magliabechl being re-
quested to recollect what he remembered of it, wrote the
whole, without missing a word, or varying • the spelling.
He was consulted by all the learned who proposed to write
on any subject. If a priest, for instance, wadi going
to compose a panmyric on a saint, Magliabeehi would tell
him every author, to the number of an hundred sometimes,
who had said any thing of that saint, naming the book
and the page, and the very words. Ile did this so often,
and so readily, that he came at last to be looked on as an
oracle; and eosin°. 111. Grand Duke of Florence, made
him his librarian, the most suitable office to Magliabeclu's
genius. In the latter part of his life, when a book came
into his hands, he would read the title page all over, dip
bet e.and there in the preface, dedication, and prefatory ad-
versirements, if there were any ; and then cast his eyes on
each• of the divisions, sections, or chapters. After tbis
he could tell at any time what the book contained.
Thour,t hlagliabechi must have lived a very sedentary
life, yet lie attained to the age of 81. He died July 14,
Hl4, In the midst of the public applause, after enjoying,
during all the latter part of his life, such an affluence as
very few persons have ever procured by their knowledge or
learning. By his will lie left a very fine library, collected
by himself, for the wee of the public, with a fund to
mnintain it; and the ovcrplus of the fund to the poor.
It had been usual for every author and printer to make
him a present of a-copy of every thing they published.
Though he was not an ecclesiastic, he would never
marry. lie was quite slovenly in his dress. Ile received
his friends, and those who came to consult him on any
point of literature, in a civil and obliging manner; though
in general he had -almost the air of 4 savage, and even
affected it ; together with a cynical or contemptuous'
smile. In his manner of living, he affected the character
of Diogenes ; three hard eggs, and a &tight or two of
water, were his usual repast. When any one went to see:
him, they most usually found him lollingin a sort of fist
-wooden cradle, in the middle of his study, with a multi-
tude of books, some thrown in heaps, and Others scattered
about the floor, all around him ; and this his cradle or bed,
was attached to the nearest piles of books by a number of
cobwebs. At their entrance he commonly used to call out
to them, " Not to hurt his spiders."

[ADVERTISE]MENT.]
ABSTRACT OF THE EQUITABLE LOAM lIANIC
RILL, IN ITS PRESENT AMENDED FORM.

Ist. Asa Joint Stock Company, it retains only the privilege o
suing and being sited in the name of its Secretary.
2d. The objact of this Institution iv the immer;a!,. amelioration
of the ystem of lending money to distressed persons on deposit.
Thus, on smell pledges below the value of half.a.crown, the Com-
pany will lend to the poor surfboat any charge of interest whatever.
:fd. On loans from half-a-crown to ten ponnds, the Company's
charge ti,r interest is only 10 per cent. ; whereas the Pawnbroker,
to the amount of 40s. chirges 21/ per cent., and 15 per cent. from
two pounds to ten.
4:h. The Company limits itself to a division of only 7. per cent.
dividend, appropriating all surplus profit above this dividend to a
fund for the ultimate sail farther rednetion of Me rate of interest
on its IJUNS. Ily this arrangement the Cornoeny calculate, that, in
leis than 50 years, they will be thus enabled to lend four millions
annually on pledge at 5 per cent. In addition to this they propose,
from time to tint°, to distribute certain sums to *chock and hos.
Rave
now in caisson*, or hereafter to be endowed ; and yet some
h3ve contended that the Equitable Loan Bank is not an Institution
for public and beneiolent objects.
sth. On all yeasts above the vale* of Ism pairado, the Rill limns
the rate of interest charged to 5 percent. with an allowance of.. per
cent for warehouse room, for insurance against fire, for risk of de-
teriovation of value, either by decay or In the market price—for
risk of restitution as stolen property, or of loam by lending more
than the real value; so that with all these rinks the Company will
lend to any amount on deposit at 7l per cent.; whereas the Pawn.
broker can, and does, under the present law, by dividing the pledge
and duplicates into sums beloW ten pounds, exact from the bor.
rower 15 per cent on loans to own comport—and It is in evidence
before the Committee, that transactions of this description, to the
extent offifly thousand "melds, have been earned on by one indi.
vidusl with a charge of IS per cent.--oertainly by as evasion of the
law, but by an evasion not tangible.
The Company, therefore, seek only to do that legaLly and openly
at 5 per cent with a fair commission, which the Pawnbroker can
now, by an erasion, do with impanity at 15 per cent. to way extent.
The benefit of this arrangement to the distressed of a higher
class, especially in a mercantile community like that of England,
• is self-evident; nor is it any infraction of the Usury lawn, to
take, in addition to legal interest, a fair end usual charge, in no
way more than adequate to the expenses and risk which it is
to cover.

6th, As to the safeguards of the Pledger.—. The Bill provides the
most summary and certain modes for the recovery of property
pledged, supposing it to be lost or destroyed by 'um accident : a
short form of information is inserted in the Bill, and the f'ompany,
on the Magistrate's warrant, must pay the value of the article,
with a fine of double that amount to the owner, recoverable by die.
WWI. Surely this is a more certain and satisfactory remedy to the
owner of the property than the commitment of the Pawnbroker, if
he could obtain it ; but it is in evhlenre, from the most respectable
Magistrates, that, for want of a form of information in the Pawn.
broken' Act, wine times out of tea the information is quashed, and
the poor man efts so remedy at all.
7th. As to the sa.frossards of Pablie Justier.--The servants of
the Company are themselves compelled to sign the duplicates they
issue, and they are thereby made personally liable, by a special
clause in the Bill, to crimiaal prosecatios foe receiving stolen goods

improperly.
By this Bill, therefore, the principal' arc held in heavy pietwol. 1
ary liabilities, and the servants are made personally liable:- two.
fold check. therefore, is thus established ; for if it could be sup-
posed that the principals would give dishonest instructions to the
servants, the savants being thus personally liable would not obey
them ; whereas there is no such check in the case of the Pawn.
broker--if he gives dishonest instructions, the servant, as is proved
in Me evidence, will not hesitate: for what is it to him that his mas-
ter is liable while he himself is held harmless 1
11 :Is farther safe nark fbr the good emtdoct of the Company,
the Bill provides, that all Sharehiaders shall be liable, not merely
to the amount of the shares, but to the full extent of their for-
tunes: and that all Shareholders, for the time being, may be
known, it is enacted, that all changes in the possessors shall be re-
gistered. In addition to this the t'ompany may be called upon by
Parliament for a yearly statement of their accounts.
It has been (thieved, that gentlemen could not be the Directors
of such an Establishment, because they could not understand the
practice? part of Pawnbroking. It might as well be said, that the
Directors of a Coal Company must be Colliers, or that those of a
Pearl Fishery should Ise DlOO7. The practicability of such an In-
stitution, conducted by proper servants duly resposisibk to their
principals, and to the public, is sufficiently proved by the real ex-
istence of the Most dr Pieles of the Continent. No servant will
be employed by the Equitable Loan Bank without limper *amity
to the Company, and they are all personally responsible to the
puitlic by a special enactment in the Bill.
If diacritic such a Bill is not to pass, fraught as it is with such
beneficent objects us the public, and with such security for its good
conduct in every respect, municipally and individually, there is an
end to all speculative institutions for the public good ! But, in
truth, if ever a doubt were thrown upon the utility and importance
of this Establishment, it has been by wilful misrepresentations,
and from the want of due comprehension of its real objects.
It is true, the plan has been brought forward in haste, from its
having originated late in the Session ; but the only object of the
promoters has been fairly and openly to meet the Legislature upon
It. They might. with the exception of the power of suing and
being sued, have proceeded equally well, and in some respects
store anliseitrdly, without a Bill. The Bill is, in fact, In all re,
speets, except this facility of transacting their business, a vo/un.
tare tut of restriction, by which they have surrendered more than
half the pros which they might have shared as Pawnbrokers
without a Bill. To the wisdom of Par!inment, however, they have
now submitted themselves, in the sincere desire of adopting all
those regulations which the Legislature might choose to initiate
upon them ; and having so done, they feel themselves rally en.
titled to the unbounded confidence of the public.
22d June, ITN.

A few days ago, at the Theatre of Itourdeaux, a piece,:
called Ps,ifelie, was to have been represented, but the per-
former who should have acted the part of 7.ci6irus, having
the misfortune to displease the autlieoce, he was distressed
at the violent hissing from the pit, that he refused to con-
tinue his part ; the in rage increased, the actor remained
obstinate, when a gendarme seized the unfortunate Zephir
and led him off to prison ; his wings being deposited with,
he goalcr. he was shut up iu a c.:11 to sigh at his case.—
DiaLie

FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF 'POLITICAL
ECONOMISTS.
TO TUE EDITOR 01-111 T; BRITISH PRESS.

Cott—My father has frequently stated his conviction, that the
world had attained a point in civilisation. where en important
change in the institutions of society was equally desirable and Li-
mitable. A principal reason for this belief he has, in general
terms, stated to be deduccable from the progress of scientific im-
provements. and, as it appear' to me, with much reason. If the
following contiderations on this important subject, which my
father's numerous engagements prevent him from explaining to the
public as fully as he wishes, should place the matter in a novel or
striking point of vLir before any of your readers, I shall have at-
tained the object which induced Me to commit them to paper.
Let us suppose a country, the Inhabitants of which existed, in
tolerable comfort, by the prodieetsftheit own unassisted labour, to
have discovered a nation of 'dare*, who existed in Tull health and
vigour withiat toting or thinking, or likening, the end and aim of
whose being with labour; who avoid work for any length of time,
even at the most monotonous and disagreeable occuotitions, with-
out becoming either impatient or fatigued ; who always performed
the allotted task with nntrearied punctuality and undeviating,
steady uniformity and °memos, day by day, and week by week,
81111 year by yettr, vet without promise of hire or expectation of re-
ward, whose united efforts produced atigantie and overwhelming
power, vet one which was never exert el but in their master's ser-
vice and at his command, and which never injured him in any way
but by the effect of accident only; amongki whom no combinations
against their master could be formed. no opposition to his wishes
be ever shewn, /rot his right of uncontrintled direction and absolute
government be ever &Misted Of questioned ; with whom a touch
was sufficient to es press his wislies, and to insure their fulfilment;
for whom no treatthent Was crud, nor any demand* On their exer.
lions unjust or ettorltitant ; 'befit iocitlental infirmities could he
easily and certainly cured, and whose, bodies, when afloat man
nut by age and incessant labour thete powers began to fail, mikht
be taken for any purpose to atbkh the materials which mortised
them were applicable i yet. withal, a race susceptible of inlinfte
and increasing improvement, without prejudices, and capable of
being moulded to any character which their masters required them

to assume.
Suppose, too, that millions of these dates could be bordered ao.
noafly by the nation which haytethered them.
Then, let me a
k,Oat woe the 'nee of such in hnporta-
dot ? Would the discovery, itself,'be a fortuhate or an unfor-
tunate one ?
I reply, it would be a most fortunate and valuable discovery in
itself; yet capable, withost o eurrespotoling cheve in Me institu-
tions of the Ratio., of penduclug infinite misery and mischief.
In this way.—The present institutions of all rivilized nations
render each member of the working classes dependent for subsist.
encc on the demand in the market for tht irticles, in the produce of
which he may happen to be mid-yeti. Whatever, therefore.
diminishes the tuattet demand, creates misery in the same pro-'
portion.
Now the infltr.s.nce which the importation of Such Slaves would
produce is two-fold. Those who employ the working classes, and.
by their labour, supply the market, would find themselves called
upon to choose between them and the newly-imported workmen.
Can we doubt what the derision must be ? Is not 'the answer,
which they, ro men of business, must make to any of their former
servants, who might remonstrate against a decision in favour of the
slaves, evident and conclusive : "Can you exist without eating, or
drinking, or sleeping ? Wilt you work without wages, and never
exhibit a sign of impatience err fatigue, however long we may Wish
to employ you ? Will you never complain of cruelty or injustice,
in whatever manner you may he treated ? Even then you are in-
ferior, as work-people, to this new 'rate. How can we be assured
that you will form no combination; against us to our injury, that
you will never (moose our wishes, never dispute our authority.
or question our right of government ? flow can we be assured. m
fine, that you wili give up your wishes, your feelings, your min-
dices, and your interests, and become our willing slaves s's this in-
valuable nation is ? If these things are so, how can you expect to
be preferred. as workmen, to them ? As superintendents, we are
willing and desirous to employ some of yott, but in any other cape-
chy your labour is now useless to us."
Thus, then, would the newly-imported slaves become the weak.
people of the nation who imported them ; and the twofold influ-
ewe of their importation would constat, Ist, In a vast inerenee of
market produce ; and idly, In a diminished necessity for the
labour in the working classes.
Now, certainly, in thernsehrs, these effect are not calculated to
peoduce much misery. To hare too mach of retry thing that is
deArste, end too tittle to di, is ahtaisinß it, if it be a miefortune,
is ans. at heat. of which the working classesseldom complain, sod
'toe which bas tot seem necessarily allied to penury and starves
liwiredly, in countries where the market demand regu-
lates the employment, and consequently the food which the labourer
can obtain, superfluity of the objects of desire, and inctoued
facility in producing them, do prove positive and lamentable evils.
In • nation, therefore, whose commercial smingements were
similar to ours, the importation of a multitude of slaves, possenabd
of the qualities I have enumerated, would be calculated, by afford-
ing extreme facility of production and increasing its wealth pro-
portionably, to glut its markets, and to deprive its labourers of
employment and of food, because they were producing too much of
every thing.
Now, believe that a stale of things, fit whirls an lacrosse
width creates poverty, and in which the facility of pr
means of sabssetence exposes to starvation, cannot ion= Is
any sauna.
Arai thieslebelleve to be thelwesent* state Ortbinis *hi Otlii
Britain and Ireland.
• /reit Britain has discovered an innianerabk nation of meelumicel
and classical slaves ; and they are beginning to produce almost
every thing she requires. Her working classes have become super-
intendones of mechanism, and her real wealth is inert:ming to an
enormous extent.

If pewee and wealth constitnte proiperity, her scientific disco-
veries have made her prosperous indeed. But if the effect of pros-
perity be to produce comfort and happiness, then has Great
Britain's commercial system of arrangements (fbrmed in a period of
comparative adversity, when an increase of production was the
greatest blessing, and a famine the greatest evil that could befall),
not only deprived her of all the benefits of Fosperity, but mined a
blessing to a curse, and proved Itself totally unadapted to the pee.
sent state of knowledge and of scientific power. As long to the
supply a our Mania shall be made to depend on the artificial and
fluctuating demand of the market, so long is prosperity a positive
evil If our storehouses were empty, and our markets ill supplied,
then trade would flourish, employment would be procured, the
workmen would receive high wages, and the very expenditure of
these wages would serve to increase the general demand, and with
it the means of future employment for their labour—until, alas !
prosperity again approached us, until our storehouses became
tilled, and our markets overflowed—and then our ferment would
begin to starve, and our manufacturers to become bankrupt. Some
new vent is, doubtless, omasionally found, either at bone or
abroad, producing a temporary relief from the cvilseof abundance,
but part of the immense amount of spare capital which at present
inundates this country, is instantly employed to supply each in-
creasing demand, sad the subsequent revulsion in the market is
only the more quickly anal painfully felt.
If some malevolent being were to afford us the means of increas-
ing our production, instantaneouly, tenfold, on condition that the
present commercial relation of demand and supply should remain
unaltered, we should probably all die of want before the end of the
year; for the glut on the market would he insupportable, nothing
would sell for half its prime cost, and the nation would become
bankrup..
Surely we cannot long remain blind to the fact, that increasing
prosperity is but increasing misery, so long as our commercial
system retains its present form I Sanely it need not rontinne to be
a condition of enjoyment, that the means of enjoyment shall not
superahomid !
]"et this condition, useless as it Is at all times, and ruinous, as it
has proved itself, in proportion as we approach to abundance and
prosperity, is virtually imposed on the enjoyment of the world, so
long as men continue to buy and sell in the market against each
other; in other words, so lung as the existing system of individual
commercial competition exists. Could a malignant spirit have im-
a restriction more ingeniously fraught with destructive in-
fluence ce to society? The more rapidly we accumulate all the good
things of this world around us, the more certainly do they elude
our grasp ! Was Tantalus more severely punished then this ?
And not to want and poverty alone are the effects of this in-
dividual competition confined. I, as a merchant, wish to buy
cheap, and to sell dear t but all other merchints wish me to buy
dear, and to sell cheap. Is not one man's hand against every man,
and every man's hand against him la It not a proof of the ex-
cellence of human nature that honest men should be found in
society with institutions such as this?
If wealth, and honesty, and benevolence, and union, are desire.-
able to be attained, do we art wise]. in surrounding ourselves by
circumstances so pregnant with poverly, and disnonesty, and male-
volence, and dissension? Is it not possible to combine other cit..
CUMSIMICSS, under which abundance shall be indeed a blessing,
and where it shall become our apparent. a. well as our real, inte-
rest, to practise honesty and benevolence towards our fellow-crea-
tures ?
lily father proposes to combine these rircumatances in a commu-
nity of persons, who shall unite their intereqs, like one large fa-
mily, and produce, in the first place, fin. their own con,Nstption.
They are thus entirely independent of any market, until their own
wants are supplied, and scarcely any Inconvenience can arise from
you-tier production, except that which results from want of store-
houses. In such establishments, the detailed managements of
which shall be shortly submitted to the public, the evident effect of
each new importation of mechanical power is to diminish the neces-
sity for labour on the part of the members, and thus to afford them
a real and certain advantage. Iderbanical inventions have hitherto
been brought into competition with the working classes ; may they
not now be brought to their assistance ? We have learnt how to
create almost any amount of produce ; can we not form arrange-
ments to distrilnde and to enjoy it
True it is, that the leisure time which the employment of mrcha-
nical power would thus gradually afford to all cht.ties, might pro-
duce Injurious consequences to those whose nildit.s were unculn-
rated ; but this apparent disadtantage becomes the greatest of
blessings, where education is made, as It will be in all the new
establishments, the first and most important object of the society.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT DALE OWEN.
Pall-mall, June 24, 11121

Mon. a Captain of the French navy, who had
retired with a fortune of 20,000 f. a year, at Toulouse, and
a man highly respected, as a brave officer and amiable citi-
zen, the other day, after arrining the disposition of his
property, with the greatest sang-froid and regularity, com-
muted suicide in his own apartment, without any appa-
rent cause fur so desperate an act.—Gazelle de Frauc,.

FROM LAST NIGHTS GAZETTE.

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SIR C. M'CARTIIY.

nolonior.-rlorf, Jane 16, 1621.
A I:tter. of which the tAlowing is a copy, hot; been this day m-
eeived at Earl ilathurses office, from Major Chisholm, addressed
to R. 11'itiiiit !button, Esq. dated Cape Coast Castle, 23d Fe-
bruary,

Sir.Llt is with infinite Morrow I acquaint you, for the informs.
tern of Earl Witham, that since I had the honour of addressing
you on the &I instant, on the subject of the engagement which took
place near Awarnacow, in the Western Wassaw country, on the
21 vt ultimo, between a division of his Majesty's troops and native
allies, under the immediate command of Sir Chavies Al'erhy,

and an army of Asha.niees, I have ascertained that his Excellency
was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and immediately put to
death by the harbamus enemy.
I am concerned to mate that, of eleven officers of the regulars and
militia, who belonged to his Excellency's divinon, two only have
re.urned here. Mr. J. 'l'. Secretary, and another gen-
tleman, are said to be prisoners, and it is understood that the other
seven were killed, either in the action or after they were taken pri-
soners.

It was my intention to have reported in detail by the prevent
conveyan.T, but the state of toy health prevents .ray doing id. ,
l'tly medical tetendant gives toe reason to hoi:e that I
sufficiently recovered in seven or eight days to write, and as I deem
it of the utmost imporritnce to put his I,ordship In possession of
a perfect knowledge of the state of affairs in this quarter, I
purpose sending the Officer next in seniority to myself (Captain
Laing, of the /loyal African Colonial Corps) with my official
despatches.
The extensive knowledge of the African character possessed by
this gentleman, his uninterru(nal intercourse with our principal
allies, since the 'Commencement of hostilities, together with his

general experience, qualify him well to afford his Lordship any in-
formation which my letters may fail to convey. • .
The Ashautess, said to be fifteen thousand strong, hare con-
tinued at A saamacow sinee the action of the 21st; but it is ru-
moured that thel ate making preparations foe advancing on Mon-
day next, 'the Ist of March.
All the force I have been able to coked does not exceed six thou.
wand muslteet, and as I do not consider it prudent to haxard a ge-
neral engagentent, I hale determined on taxing Up positions on the
bank of the river lioctiorn-pra„ to dispute the passage of the enemy,
and I am sanguine In my hopes that the measure will be attended
with success.

The natives of an extensive village in the vicinity of Surrondce,
having fired on the boats of one of his Majesty); ships, disarmed
several of our soldiers who we wounded in the late action, and
were endeavouring to effect their eve, pe from the Ashantees ; and
having moreover destroyed Succondee, it was thought necessary by
the senior naval ofliccr and myself to attack it, and a force of one
thousand two hendred men was accordingly embarked on board
the squadron, and the place was taken possession of on thr 17th
instant wittout any opposition, and immediately set on tire.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. CHISHOLNI, Atimg. the Govt.
and Major Coindg. the Troops.
R. Wilmot Horton, Esq. &e. Ike. Ste.
•
nosier-strect. Jane 17 11124.
Captain Laing, of the Royal African Colonial Corps, arrived this
morning at Earl Bathurst 's ottice, with a despatch from Major
Chisholm, addressed to R. Wilmot Horton, Esq. under date of

Cape Coast Castle, the 16th of March, 1824, 'of which the follow-
ing is an extract :
I have the nitwit' to acquaint you, foe the information of Earl
Bathurst, since I addressed you on the _Yid ultimo, that the
Ashantee army in the Western.Wassair country has remained stz-
tionary at Amainakew.
In transmitting a Copy of a report of the particulars of the action
of the 21st of January, made to me by Captain Ricketts, of the
2d West India regiment, and Brigade-Major to the Fortes, and
second in command on that day, I deem it an act of justice to that
officer to state, that the late Sir diaries M'Carthy entertained a
very high opinion of his sea and merits, and that he had it in ran,
templation to bring his services to the Tavonrable notice of his
Lordship i and also, that foe the period of two years Captain
Itieketts served under me (at the time commanding the 2d West
India regiment) in the capacities of Adjutant and Caplaim, I have
pleasure in *stems that I had ',rely reason to be satisfini with his
conduct: my protracted illness having Incapacitated me from at.
tending to the public duties, the charge in a great measure tell
upon him as second In command, of which he acquitted himself
entirely to my satisfaction.
As his report is confined to the operation% of that division of the
force under the immediate commaml of the late Sir Charles
111*Carthy, I deem it necemary to my a few yowls upon the move
manta of tbs others, and also to state, as far as came to my know-
ledge, the plans and intentions of his Eiceellency.
The rapid approach of the enemy having been reported to Sir
Charles M`Carthy, tome of the Allied Chiefs, about Christ-
mas, preparations were immediately made for concentrating the
Regulars, the Cape Coast Militia, and the unorganized pan of the
Inhabitants of the town, together with vane few of the neigh.
booting Chiefs at Djuquan, distant from Cape Coast about eighteen
miles.

His Excellency proceeded there in person, leaving me for a few
days at the Castle, to make some necessary arrangements preti-
oudy to my departure.
A rotten( nearly two thousand men having been collected by
'the 4dt of Tibitiary, a movement to Ampenesatoo (the Ilced.quar-
' tees Annimelli, the King of Wassaw), on the left bank of the
river -pea, was dettemlned upon, and I was accordingly
ordered to join by that day.
The impossibility of prOcuring provisions and shelter fer the
men on the route, rendered it neer-try to advance in small parties,
which circumstance, and the impossibility of procuring carriers for
lbe ammunition and provisions, retarded for some days the dew,'
tare of his Kxcellency from the camp. On the Bth of January,
accounts were received of the entrance of the enemy into Western
Wassaw, and that the Allied forces were precipitate)., retreating
before them ; this information decided the immediate departure of
dir Charles for their camp, on the right bank of the river, with
souk part of the forte as had not already marched for Ampensasoo,
ail be directed me to proceed Co assume tile command of the latter
Sate, signifying it to-tie his intention to send me instructions how
to act on his ascertaining the state of links in Wassaw.
I had daily communication from his Excellency from the time
of his leaving Djuquah (viz. on the 11th), until the Bich, but the
contents were chiefly comments upon the advance of his division,
and the feelings of our allies towards us in the canonry passed
through.
I received on the TM two letters, one written at fire a.n. on the
21st, the other the 17th, the former arriving floc, at seven o'clock
P.M., that of the 17th, about two haunt later; the contents were
most pressing orders for ma to form an immediate junction.
The letter of the 17th having been unfortunately entrusted to a
man unacquainted with the country, was delayed three days longer
on the way than necessary, from which delay, and the urgent na-
ture of his Excellency's command to join, I was induced to fear
that our consequent non-arrival, according to his reasonable ex-
pectations, would seriously derange his plans. I was determined,
therefore, to proceed by a shorter, but unfrequented and -owe-
quently bad path; and having to cross the river Itonaom.pra, at a
distance of five miles from Ampensasoo (on the 23d), in a single
canoe. the whole day was consumed in passing my party, and I
was, therefore, under the necessity of halting for the night at a
village on the opposite bank. I here received the first intimation
of an engagement having taken place, but could ascertain nothing
of the result.
After prosecuting (on the Roth) a march of twenty-one miles,
and having, at its termination, to cross the river again, without a
single canoe, or any means fur conveyance over, we were obliged to
construct rafts for such of the party that could not swim, and to
float over the ammunition, &c., in consequence of which, from the
trail materials used in their construction, I am sorry to any a great
deal of ammunition was lost and damaged.
On crossing the river we heard that Brigrle-Major Rickets was
laying wounded in the adjoining village. On seeing and ascertain-
ing from him the disastrous issue of the action of Coe 21st, and also
that the small party I commanded was totally unable to cope with
the enemy, or abed any assistance to the party of the late Sir
Charles ;11:Carthy, from their complete dispersal, and knowing the I
hostile feeling entertained by the inhabitants of Elmina towards
us, and being also apprehensive that the Ashantes-a, flushed with
their recent victory, would advance upon Cape Coast Castle by ra-
pid marches, I determined upon retiring on it. I regret exceeding-
ly to stare, that Captain John L'Estrange, of the Royal African
Colonial Corps, died on the march, from excessive fatigue, and that
all the officers of the party and nearly the whole of the men, were
laid up on their arrival at Cape Coast, from the efiects of the fatigue
and privations undergone by them ; and I ant sorry to say of the
former, all, except two, continue still invalids, and, of the latter,
numbers have died.
The most numerous body of our force was encamped at a place
called Vancoomassie, in the Fiume country. It consisted of the
men of that nation, of a few regulars, of the Annaniaboe militia,
and of some unorganised natives of that town, the whole under the
command of Captain Alexander Gordon Laing, of the Royal Af.
dean Corps.
Hit Excellency having famed orders to Captain Laing to ad-
vance and menace the Asian country, with a view of bringing them
over to our cause, he had accordingly proceeded about thirty miles,
when reports reached him from the officer in temporary command
at Cape Coast, of the result of the engagement of the 21st January,
and also of the unfavourable disposition of the Elminas ; in con-
sequence of which he made the best of his way to Cape Coast
Castle, where I found him on my arrival, with a considerable por-
tion of his force.
A fonnh division, under the command of Captain Blenkarne, of
the Royal African Colonial Corps, was on its way to Akine, a coun-
try bordering on Aithantee, for the purpose of inducing the enemy
to withdraw a part of their force from 11'estern Wassaw ; but an
unfavourable disposition being shewn by the Chief of the Aqua-
pim country, the native Chiefs, under Captain Iller.karne'a corn.
inand, expressed their wishes for his return. Under these circum-
stances lie did not consider it prudent to endeavour to prosecute his
Excellency's wishes, and fell back upon Accra.
Being fully sensible that this communication falls very short of
what might be expected from the importance of the subjects it
embraces, I must, in excuse of its detects, beg leave to say, that
it has been dictated from a sick bed. and in consequence entertain
an earnest hope that its imperfections may be overlooked.
As intimated in my letter of the 2:ld ultimo, 1 entrust Captain
Laing with the conveyance of it, and I entertain the most confident
hopes that the extensive information he will be able to afford of the
present state of his Majesty's possessions here, will be considered a!
sufficient justification for my sending an officer of his zeal, cape.'
rience, and abilities front this steoon at so critical a period.
When dispositions on the part of the Ashantees were made
in August last year, for attacking our settlements at various noints,
I deemed it necessary to dispatch Captain Laing into the Vented

minter and requiring at the time (there being no mintsry offi-
ere capable) another officer to take charge of the alumnae Dju-
q_ush, I was induced to accept the preferred services of Lieutenant
King, of his Majesty's sloop Driver, who, I understood, had free
quentiv *erred ashore, and I have the saifiction so state, that
aim theactive and determined movements of these two officer+,
the enemy were deterred front promenting theivevqrinel intention*,
and retired to Ashantee, since which period Captain Laing has
been frequently in the command of large bodies of oar allies. and
discharged his duties always to the reinfection of his Excellimeg
the late Commander of the Nieces rd myself, and to the advantage
of his Majesty's service.
1 have great satisfaction in acquainting you that our relations
with }amine, end the other Dutch settkmente, have of late under-
gone a most favourable change, which Is solely to be attributed to
the arrival from the Netherlands of anew Governor, his Excellency
Major last.
I owe it to this gentleman to my, that he has evinced a mast
anxious desire totally to eradicate a boodle feeling which was gene-
rated amongst the Dutch subjects on the coast towards all the ir.
habitants of our settlement'', by the influence of the Ashantem,
and the imbecile conduct of his predeccesors.
To remove all doubts from the minds of the naives, respecting
' the part he is determined to act, he paid me • formal complimen-
tary visit on the 14th instant, and has also zealously entered into a
negotiation with the enemy for the liberation of Mr. H'illiams.
and other prison.rs in their hands.
Ms Excellency Major de Richelieu. Governer-in-Chief of hie
Danish Majesty's Settlements on the Coast, has %hewn his respect
and friendship for our Corwrnment by actively taking a pert
in the ear. Ile has sent all the force he could collect to our aid,
and is now engaged collecting a strung forte to proceed through
Akira towards Ashantee, with a view of diverting the enemy.
The command of this body he will take In person.
I cannot say too much in favour of the disinterested real end
active ceertions of Captain Bowen, commanding his Majesty's
sloop Driver. In the month of May last year this Officer, while
under cruising orders 'in the Bight of Benin, with considerable
prospects of making prises, received intimation that his Majesty's
ship Bann, ordered here by the late Sir Robert Mends to coope-
rate with the land service, had suffered KO much from sickness that
she was unable to render any effectual insistence. Ile instantly re-
paired to Cape Coast, and stated it to be his intention to remain
until things wo-e a more pleasing aspect.
While at anchor here, observing the sickly state of the Officers
of the garrison, he voluuntarily lehded a party of his men. put the
whole of the guns in the her possible order, and personally super-
Mtended the exercise of the soldiers at the use of sonic skip guns
worked with tackles.
1 also beg leave to bring under the notice of his Lordship the
conduct of acting Captain Woolcombe, late of the Owen Glen-
dower, and now of the Itann, whose activity and cordial co-opera-
tion I an: intinced to think prevented the inhabitants of Donuts
from taking a part In the war auainst us.
His seal, and that of his Officers Ind men, cannot be too highly
praised, from the cheerfulness with which they underwent the at-
temlant fatigues of intercepting supplies by day and night tor.
warded by water to the enemy., in which labours Lieutenant semi"
of his Majesty's brig Swinger, shared.

Cape Coast, February 28, 1824.
Era—ln compliance with tour direction, that I should detail, as
nearly ae I posaibly can, all the patticulirs that may have occurred
in the division of the army which marched from Djuquah, under
the im nediste tom nand of le.; Excellency Air C. 11•Carthy,
as well as such circumstance. eti Way have fallen under my obser-
vation, relative to the action which took place on the flat
in the Wassaw country, between the said division and an army
of Ashantees, i have the honour to state, that I matched front
Djuquah at !even o'clock on the morning of the 9th, with one com-
pany of the Royal African Colonial Corps, eighty woof; one
company of volunteers, sixty-eight strong; three companies of
militia, one Inindred ard seventy strong, making a force of three
hundred and eighteen; besides two hundred Commendu, two
hundred of Appie's people, and • company of natives of Cape
Como, about lone tenant, making a total of four hundred and
forty, which were iirderld to felicity us ; this, with the troops which
ninwhed under my command, made a force of seven hundred and
fifty-eight strong.
Bansoo, a village distant about seventeen mils from ear camp
at Djuquah, was the place at which we were directed to halt. Hie
Excellency having marched on by himself, we overtook him about
half way ; the road, or rather tract, was excessively bad, in conse-
quence of which, we did not arrive till a late hour in the evening
at Bansoo, much fatigued.
We remained at Bansoo the whole of the next day, the 10th.
waiting for the native force to join, which they did not do until
late in the stay; the next morning, the 11th, his Excellency
lurched off with the combined force of regulars and militia, and
desired I would remain till every thing was set forward. This I
found the geutest difficulty in accomplishing, as I could not get
carriers, die people who had brought the things from Djuquah
having run away. i wes, therefore, obliged to send a party of the
wear gated to preba every person they could find. wows as well as
Dien, and, after a considerable delay, we succeeded in settles a set-
ficient number of carriers, and proceeded; but erintraber of them,
as they lqund opportunities, flung their loads into the woods and
ran off. We arrived at a village on the bunks oldie Bemoan
tailed Ihimin, late in the evening of that diu. baying tnasiad
eighteen miles, where we remained till six o'*dt the neepe-,
I log, the lath, when we marched for another village. shoat aisaattllg
miles lower down on the banks of the Bonsorn-pra. nand Dm.
booaaaie, which, from the extremely bed state of die petit; being
frequently obliged tomtits swamps which took us wroth blether than •
ebove our knees, we did not arrive at till very late in the day, every
person excessively fatigued ; the native force at this time kept a
considerable distance in our rear.
About seven o'clock in the morning of the Llth, we eounmenowl
crossing the river Boosum-prik about two hundred yards wide, in
small canoes (eight in number), which could only carry two men
at a time, besides the person who
.paddled ; as eoon as the company
of regulars, under the command of Ensign Erskine, crossed the
river, his Excellency, who was one of the first that passed over.
proceeded with them on the march, towards Assamcow, in the
Wassaw country, distant about twenty miles from the river. To
give a description of this road is beyond my ability, suffice It to say,
that in my opinion 1 think it impossible that there can he any
thing worse in the shape of a path ; we had to cross numerous small
rivets, some of which, from their extreme depth, as well as the
numerous swampy places we had to pass over, considerably delayed
as, and we were only enabled to reach • small village called Gush
that night, where we slept. The next morning, the 14th, his
Excellency proceeded in advance with the company of the Royal
African C..tonial Corps, and desired I would bring up the rear;
we did not find this path so bad as we expected, and we arrived at
Assamaeow about half-paw two in the afternoon, where we halted
and remained five days, waiting for the native force to tonne tip :
we found Mr. Brandon, the Acting Ordnance Storekeeper (Cape
Coast), at this place, where he had arrived several days berme with
ammunition, &c. h.sving come in the Colonial schooner, to Sue-
cornice, ten hours march, to Assamacow, which was truly welcome
now to us, as our men (the regulars and militia), bad only twenty
rounds each man, a great deal of which, from the badness of the
paths, the crossing of riven, and the rain which tell ON ow march,
was damaged, end which was immediately replaced: at this plate
we found provisions very scarce. During our stay at Anstriacow,
we were informed that the Wassaws and Dinkeras were retreating
before the Aohantetw, and were in 'hewers for provisions; tier
Charles, therefore, immediately on the arrival of part of our native
force, dupe:rind Mr. Tanker Williams. the Colonial Focretary,
and Adjutant General of Militia, with twelve volunteers,-to serum
the Wassawe and I)inkeras that he would, in a day or two. march
forward with the force under his command to join them, and that
he expected the division of the army, under 11M or Chisholm, and
numerous parties of natives, would won form a juneion with us,
and then we should have sufficient force to meet the Ashantem: but
Mr. Williams found them retreating, and it wait with the greatest
difliculty he persuaded them (they having crowed the small river
Adoomaniinoi. to halt on Its liank, and make some preparation
I tor defence till Sir (*index should joie with his force ; this was on
the 20th. on the morning of which I arrived with the company of
the Itoyal .aftican Colonial Coma; the compacy of volunteers, and
the three companies of militia, already alluded to. having, by di.
rection of his Excellency, marched from Assamacow on the 19th.
On my was to the Wasaawn and Dinkeras, I met a very greet
number of women and children, and, sorry am 1 tome. men ; 1
asked the men where they were going? they told me they were
going to look for provisions, and would soon return. I arrived
on the hordets of the aforesaid rivet Aden/name', on the morning
of the 20:h, having been, from the extreme bad state of the paths,
the mud in sonic places reaching to the middle of our Niches,
obliged to sleep one night in the hush; from Asearnatow to this
river, I should suppose, is distant about twenty-four
Shortly after my arrival with the troops Mr. Williams., Adju-
tant-General of Militia, informed me that he could not get say of
the people to cut the bush for the camp. I accordingly went to the
Chiefs of the WatUlaWS and Dinkeraa, and told them the necessity
there was for the hush about the place, intended for • camp, to be
cleared, and which ought to be done immediately ; they promised
to send people over to the opposite bank of the ever, where we ex.
ported the Ashantees to attack us, and to have all the wood cleared
Immediately ; shortly after this the WYSS'S mustered their force.
and were moving or with evory thing they had. 1 inqnired where
they weregoieg ? they said they were going toclear the wood on the
other side of the river. I stopped where they had to crow over.
for a considerable time, to see if they really intended to go over
but at last I could plainly see their intention was to retreat: 1
therefore put a strong guard of militia to prevent their doing so,
till Sir Charles should arrive. I then lien• for the Chiefs, or Head-
men, tied asked them what they intended to do, whether they in.
tended to tight or not? They said they intended to fight. At this
moment an alarm was given that the .Ashantces were advancing,
and every one went to his station, where we remained for about Ave
hours, exposed to a most tremendous shower of rain. It beilot
this time nearly dark, and as it is a rule with the Ashmore* never
to tight at night, we called in the troop' leaving sentries where
necessary. Immediately on the alarm being given I deepatched
a messenger to his Excellency, to request he would send all the
assistance he could. At this time i• was surprised his Eleelleney
was at a croon with two huts, about four or live miles from us.
Both Officers and men slept this night without any covering, as
there was not time to erect hum and the men were notch fat enied.
Next morning, the 21st, his Excellency ernes' with about 2110 of
Apple's people, and 40 of the natives of Cape Coast. The Cem-
anemias having halted on the way, I acquainted him with the
manner the IVaasaws had behaved. After he had taken a little
rest he sent for the Chiefs of the Wawa's and Dinkerse ; hut be-
fore he had got halt' through the palaver the alarm was given, and
every person repaired to his station. His Excellency the* went
round with time to see how the men were posted.
About two o'clock the Ashantees. 10.000 in number. marcher
up to the opposite bank of the river, when the mode. corn-
menced with determined vigour on both sides, and lasted

• "itrmonavnt.m.—Coloniel Office, t7th dune.—lt NM been
ascertained; that the liberation of Mr. Waianas has been atl'ected.

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