The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-01 00:00:00

IMPORTANT.

At the moment I am writing this, however, it
is reported at LLOYD'S that a French squadron
of five ships of war positively fired into an
English ship off Tortola, and that even after they
had recognized our flag, they shewed no disposi-
tion to make reparation of the outrage. Consols
have declined to 954, perhaps in consequence of
this rumour, although no 'great reliance can be
Placed ou its truth.—Colombian is now If to 2.
Mexican 71 +. Greek, '!0 .2 des.
Another account states that, three French
frigates have appeared off Tortola, and fired into
an English ship from Glasgow ; but when she
hoisted her colours they desisted, and left her to
proceed. -

Ila(f-past One.—Consols are now 95-T,. This
is a'holiday at the Bank.

WINDSOR, Saturday Morning.---There is not
the slightest foundation for a rumour that has
been circulated respecting an intencre'd change of
the Ministry. The Earl of LIVERPOOL will be
in town this day. Ins MAJESTY, I rejoice to
say, is so much recovered, that he transacted
business yesterday.

We believe we, are indebted to the politeness
of the Editor of the Liverpool Mercury for the
following unpleasant intelligence, which has been
received by a respectable mercantile House in
Liverpool, via Barbadoes. The account is cor-
roborated by the Barbadoes Mercury of the
20th ult.:--

" DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH TROOPS BY THE
ASHANTEES. •

Acrn, Jan; 31, 11324.

`°DEAR SlR—This will be. handed you by Captain pug.
MEY,'Of.the brig Elizabeth, who is now lying off 4-nd on,, and
as she touches at Itarbadoes, I cannot let slip this opportunity

of writinga few lines.,
" It is with the greatest concern that I have to inform you
that the Ashantees hare made an attack upon Sir CHARLES
314CAapir's division of the army, upon the Gold Coast, and
completely routed itrmostof the officerakilled, and Sir Csuati.r s
himself wounded in two places during the action, and now
missing. They came down 15,000 strong; Sir CHARLES'S
division was not more than one-third of that number. The
battle was fought on the 21kt instant near Sicondee, and lasted
from 2 P. M. until 6 P. m. when Sir CHARLES having expend-
ed all his ammunition, was surrounded, and his army com-
pletely routed. The Ashantees, however, sustained a great
loss, and it is not known where they are gone to.

" There were fourteen officers with Sir CHARLES when the
action commenced, and only one, a Lieutenant Enskixt,
escaped to tell the tale of woe.
" Among the slain are some of the principal and oldest mer-
chants at Cape Coast; those that I have heard named are—
GEORGE ROBERTSON, JAMES HEADLE, EDWIN JONES,
and Mr. TEDLET, the Staff-surgeon, killed; Captain L. Lr-
TRANGE, died of fatigue ; Major RICKETS, severely wound-
ed ; many others that I do not know the names of, killed;
and mangy-wounded and missing. They were expecting an
attack at Cape Coast, by the latest intelligence, and they had
actually sent down a vessel to get 7,000 stand of arms, which it
was reported at Cape Coast, that I had here.

" As this vessel will most likely call at Cape Coast, the
Captain will be able to give you late accounts, and most accu-

rate intelligence of this dreadful transaction, which may yet be
the cause of the Gold Coast being taken from us."

An article from the Southampton Chronicle,
dated Portsmouth, April 30, says—

" It was reported -here by the master of a merchant vessel
from the coast of Africa, that the natives had come down from
the interior and murdered all the white population at Sierra
Leone: the report also added, that the Scout and Ringdove had
been dispatched thither. This report wants one thing to ren-
derit interesting, namely, confirmation,. for otherwise it is too
sweeping in its nature, and too vague in its origin, to excite anY
reasonable alarm."

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