The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-08 00:00:00

THE COAST OF AFRICA.

TREATY EFFECTED BT CAPTAIN SELWYN, of Ef. M. 4;
PROMETHEUS, ON THE FART OF THE BEITIsIZ
FRENCH TRADERS AND THE KING OF MALAWI/31e.
The following is an extract of a private, letter froth
H. M. S. Promethus, dated Serra Leone, Jan. 5 :
" On the Bth December we embarked black troops for
the Gold Coast, and since that time up to two days sines
we have never been free of them or had one moment's
rest. Fancy us crammed up with fifteen soidier offle
cers—it was fearful work and the heat 'dreadful. We
reached Accra, where there was a row with the natives
chiefs (on the sixth day after quitting Sierra Leone), but
too late to be of any use. The Scourge had knocked the
place to pieces, and all we could do was to admire the
ruins ; we found them so complete that not a curiosity of
any sort was to be had to bring away. We had to re-
main at Accra a few days with the Commodore getting
station orders, and we then left for Cape Coast Castle
with some mortar beds which we were ordered to land
there. This kept us five days more ;in fact, quite long
enough to miss the packet and our letters. In leaving
Cape Coast Castle we had to tow a steamer called the
Dover more than half way back, she being out of fuel,
so that we were seven days making the passage. We
then thought all our troubles in the trooping line were
ever, but it was worse and worse. The Britomart,
senior officer on this division, was lying here, and made
a signal as we were coming in to prepare for sea imme-
diately. We soon found out that there was another
• palaver' going on with the King of Malaghea, so we
had one day to get in about 20 tons of coals and provi-
sions, and then proceed to the river Mellacouri, to try
and bring the affair to a favourable termination. We
started at one o'olock the following morning, arrived off
the mouth of the river by eight o'clock ; about twelve
anchored off a place called Biutu Point, about 12 miles
up the river. Here we held communications with seve-
ral English and French traders hearing their corn-
plaints against the King Banda-Mori-Lahu, who had
been trying to drive them cut of the river, causing
them no end of expenses to remove their property, and
had even threatened their lives. We despatched notices
to all the chiefs about the country by carriers from Biii-
tu, to meet on board at a place called Singundo, 10
miles further up the river, to hold a palaver. The fol-
lowing day at 10 o'clock, from Singundo we sent a let-
ter to King Banda to come on board and receive a let-
ter from his Excellency the Governor of Sierra Leone ;
this he refused to do very violently, but the chiefs cam's
to the palaver. They were one and all inclined for peace
at any sacrifice, and agreed that the King had acted -
very wrong, confirming all the statements of the traders,
and calling them very lust. A deputation of these chiefs
went to persuade the King to come to terms, but he was
most obstinate. We gave him 6 hours to consider his
answer, and, finding he would not alter, steamed down
the river and back to Sierra Leone again. Not a mo.
meet was lost. Additional troops were embarked in
the Dover, colonial steamer, armed with our howitzers,
having officers and men from the Britomart, and off we
went to punish the King. We had to go right up off
the town of Malaghea, to cover the troops landing, and ,
if necessary, to blow the town down. We took up 440
men, consisting of soldiers and commissariat people, hos-
pital labourers, carriers, &c., and you may imagine the
state we were in. We struck on a rock twice during
our passage up the river, but got afloat again, though
with a great deal of damage from the way she was
making water ; but of course we did not know the ex-
tent. From the time of our arrival off the town, two
hours were given for the King to appear before the
senior officers. When the time was nearly up, a depu-
tation of his Ministers came on board, and begged a
little more time, and then they felt sure they would be
able to arrange everything. Wishing to be as leni-
ent as possible, and prevent bloodshed, two hours
were given from the time the troops were landed ;
we lauded them because we said we should after
the first two hours. Lieutenant Edye, commanded ;
Captain Selwyn, with Mr. Shears, clerk, being also
on shore. The captain, first lieutenant, and paymas-
ter of Britomart, were also on shore. The fore* was
landed in three divisions to the right and left, and centre
of the town. Of course the town was taken possession of
at once, no one attempting to interfere ; in truth, all the
people retreated to the woods where they always retire
to fight. At 12 o'clock another palaver was held at the
prime minister's house, and there au wrreement was made
with the chiefs, that they were to pay all the merchants'
expenses, about $2OOO each—a great deal for them—and
to abstain from anything like interfering witb, or hinder-
ing the trade of; the English or French merchants. Thc
difficulty now was to obtain the King's signature. We
were drawn up in a column in front of the enemy, and
a more desperate-looking set of ruffians were never seen,
they were about 10 deep, close to the wood, ready to re-
treat— in all about 2000 men. All our officers were in
front of the line ; the brutes were frightened—not with- •
out cause—for if we had began, they would have been=
nicely polished off. Just as we expected the fatal crisis,
a chief came to tell us where the King was hid, and to
conduct unto him. Captain Selwyn, of the Prometheus
accompanied by Lieutenant Edye and Mr. Shears, clerk,
and also Captain Mockler, let W.1.R., went as a depu-
tation, escorted by a strong guard, under the command
of Lieutenant St. Aubin, 2d W.I.R. They soon found
the King, seated in the wood in an arm-chair, and sur-
roundecby a very large body of troops, armed to the
teeth, that we had never seen before. It was a curious
sight, not easily to be forgotten. Thero was the old King
between GO and 70 years of age, with all his household
goods around him, looking very miserable and fright-
ened. Captain Selwyn confronted with him the agree-
ment in his hand, being surrounded with the other
members of the deputation, with revolvers in sword-belts,
and drawn swords. The old King soon put his name
to the document, and all the chiefs followed his example.
The deputation then all shook hands with hint. He
asked for an officer to be allowed to go with him to his
house to ensure his safety in passing soldiers on
guard ; but we told him the guards would be withdrawn
and no harm would be offered him by any one. We
returned the way we came, and presently saw one
of the most remarkable sights that was ever wit-
nessed even by people who have been all their lives on
the coast—a procession in front of the King—groups of
fools, jesters, ladies (very black ones), all in the most
extraordinary rig, cutting every kind of caper and ab-
surdity you can imagine. At the end of all this the
King came, mounted on an Arabian steed. We pre-
sented arms in two columns, drums, beating and
trumpets blowing. The King appeared wonderfully
struck at the appearance of the men, and rode up and
down the line twice, saluting the officers as he passed in
really not an ungraceful way. In two days after this
we were again down the river, and back to Sierra Leone.
Having disembarked the troops, we were ordered to sea
again on ,the 7th. We left yesterday for the River
Pongas and some other river. Just as we got offtuhde
Isles De Los, the water being beautifully smooth a
clear, the captain thought it too good a chance to loses
and ordered a survey on the state of the ship's bottom.
The divers reported she was in a frightful state, and one
man, a clever fellow, made a drawing of her bottom as
it appeared ; he said she was in a sinking state, and we
had to coast it back here as we could ; the ship is now
leaking, so that an engine is obliged to be kept going
night and day to keep the water under. We have orders
to remain quiet until the spring tides commence, and
then we are to be beached and repaired as well as they
can do it here ; but there is little doubt but that we
must go home. We have had the fever on board, but
fortunately only one death. All the worse cases of sick-
' tress are left at the military hospital. The remains of
Bishop Vidal, who died on his passage down in the
Bacchante, mail-packet, were interred to-day (26th
December), all the naval and military officers attending
in full dress. It is a sad thing—he is quite a young
man • his wife, who only came out in the last packet to
join few, has only waited to see her husband brought
home a corpse. She returns to England, if her health
permits, in the Prometheus, Captain Selwyn having
given up his cabin for her accommodation. The newly
appointed governor, Colonel Hill, also comes to Eng-
land in the Prometheus, which is expected to leave early
in January."
The stagratiou caused in all departments of business
by the long Ministerial crisis, now terminated, has been
such as is rarely witnessed from political circumstances.
Tuesday at Manchester is said to have been one of the
dullest days ever known.
The Royal Mail Steam.
Company have given notice that
in consequence of the Severn having been taken up by
the Government, the Solent is appointed to
the
ik el the
next Brazil mails, which will leave on Sunday, h
instead of the 9th.

THE NORTH AIIERICAN COLONlES.—Yesterday were
published copies of acts recently passed by tie Legisla-
tures of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and
Prince Edward's Island, for giving effect, on the part of
those province's, to the recent reciprocity treaty with
the -United States. They were presented to both Houses
of Parliament by the command of her Majesty.
The Bishop of Oxford Lai instituted the Iter. H. If:
Swinny, M.A., perpetual curate of Mortlake, Surrey, to
the vicarage of Wargrave, Berkshire, vice the Rev.
Edmund Peel, 1.1, A.,
on the nomination of Lord
Braybrooke,