The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-12 00:00:00

AFiticAN issTITUTIoN.

Yesterday the Anniversary Meeting of the
Friends and Members of the African Institution was held at
the Freemasons Tavern. The Great Hall was filled by an as-

aernblage of about 1800 respectable individuals, of whom a
large portion were females of the Society of Friends.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN took the Chair in the absence
ci his Royal Highness the Duke of GLOUCESTER, who was
stated to be seriously indisposed.
The Report was read by Mr. EVANS, the Secretary. It
ttPressed the regret of the Committee at being obliged to
state, that in consequence of the non-performance of the en-
INernents entered into by the Governments of France and
Pain, no effectual check had been put to the traffic since
ils'44t year. Although the trac7ers had been in some measure
rassed, yet they had not been checked ; they had only been
tldered more cruel and desperate in their mode of conduct-
-5—4 it, and the price of the slaves had been enhanced in
°l3sequence of the increased risk in capturing them. Under
}, French flag the trade was carried on without even the
tempt at concealment, and the French slave ships actually
"'armed on the coasts, and never met with the slightest moles-
t-ition from the French cruisers. The circumstance of the traffic
nad been laid-before the French Government, and it would he
seen whether they ever bad any intentions of carrying their en-
feagements into effect. That the French Government had it
in its power to put an end to the traffic, as far as related to their
own subjects, was not to be denied. With respect to the effects
of the trade, the Report stated, that wherever it prevailed, the
.arts receded, commerce was stifled, and man became doubly
ferocious. The accounts which had been received of the pro-
Stems of the island of Sierra Leone were highly satisfactory.-
--Yhe duties collected in the Colonies had last year been increased
!o an extent far beyond any former years. The intercourse with
theinterior had increased, and caravans of merchants now come
!gown constantly for the purpose of selling their gold dust and
I:PrY- The war With the Ashantees was highly unfortunate to
i 1,5 Colony. The cause of the war was stated by Sir Charles
amaeCarthy to have been the following circumstance :—A Ser-
geant of the African Infantry had been treacherously seized by
Zbarbarous Ashantee Chief, and murdered under the pretence
h_
he had spoken disrespectfully of the King of the Ashan-
irs• The whole circumstances of the outrage were such, that
could not, without compromising the honour of the British
,Z4nte and flag, be overlooked. But in the absence of official
authentic statements the Committee abstained from relating
41 thing respecting the conduct of the war.
,41-10cd CALTasoneE moved that the Report should be re-
Z`ved, and Lord HanvEr seconded the motion, which was
rried unanimqusly.
GunwEr, of Norwich, Mr. T. F. Bux.roae, and other
Cen.tlemen, addiesSed the Meeting after which a liberal col-
cation was made in tursport of the 'lnstitution.

ARTInICAICE.—MISSOLONGHT, FEB. 10.—This
Aernoon about three o'clock, we felt a violent shock of an
earthquake, which ri:n in the direction from north to south.—
During the shock the thermometer fell from 50 to. :9 degrees
tux nu tr.)
MERMAID.—We are informed a Captain of an
fast
Indiaman has lately brought home one of these rare pro-
ductions of Nature, and which he has submitted to the inspe.
c;_11 of the most eminent Naturalists in London, who have de.
4:41' dit as their opinion, that it is genuine.
Now that the Last Drawing Day of the Lot-
l"Y last contracted for is so near (Saturday,
1"P41, of May), curiosity is on the tiptoe to ascer-
o whether, after all, Government will really
reontinue 'so productive a tax, especially as it
it Voluntary one, and there are so many of a_
itnmPulsory nature which they are constantly
_rnPortuned to give up. Whatever may be the
lciult, Mr. SIVEWRIGHT has given a splendid
proof of what may be effected by judicious
theuies, for the Public have purchased more
f an in any of the last fifty Lotteries, and the
oW Tickets and Shares that now remain will no
doubt And Purchasers before the 22d instant, as
I_l_l that one Day, Two of 20,0001., besides Ten
'jthey Capitals, must be decided.