The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-11 00:00:00

WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

The African Company's Royal Mail steamship
Athenian arrived in the Mersey yesterday after-
noon, with the mails from the West Coast of Africa,
and 4,053 ounces of gold dust, together with a large
miscellaneous cargo and full complement of passen-
gers. Her dates are—Benin, Nov. 24 ; Fernando
Po, Dee. 21 ; Cameroons, Dec. 2 ; Old Calabar, Dec.
4 ; Brass, Dec. 5 ; Bonny, Dec. 7 ; Sierra Leoue,
Dec. 21; Bathurst, Dec. 25 ; Teneriffe, Dec. 31;
Madeira,,Jan. 2 ; Lagos, Dec. 10 ; Accra, Dec. 12.
Our Liverpool correspondents are indebted to the
courtesy of Mr. Curry, purser of the Athenian, for
the following summary of news by that vessel.

At Benin the health of the residents was good
and trade brisk. The steamers Fidelita, Sea Flower
and Benin loading.

Fernando Po was healthy, and the new Spanish
governor was doing much in the way of improving
the island. Ships at Clarence Cove—United States
gunboats Sumpter and Mystic ; British schooner
Eliza, of Bristol; and Hamburg barque William
Oswall.

The Cameroons were healthy, but trade rather
dull. The natives were quiet, and the recent dis-
turbances had been amicably settled. The dry sea-
son continued very long this year, but rain had
fallen previous to the Athenian's departure. The
Montezuma and the Elizabeth Emily were in the
river.

Brass river was unhealthy, and trade was stag.
nant. The Empress, Arabian, Florence Nightingale,
Orient, and Bell were in the river.

At Bonny trade was rather dull, but the health
of the place was good. The. Grand Bonny arrived
in the river on the '3(l. Dec., and the Valleyfield
sailed for Liverpool on the same day, full of oil.
The ships Mississippi, Empress, Adventure, Mary
Black, Mary, Fanny, and Pomona were loading.
LAGOS, Dec. 10.—Healthy. Trade brisk ; re-
ceived 240 casks of oil. Outside the bar her Ma-
jes,ty's ship Medusa, United States gunboat
Sumpter, ships Prussian Eagle, Palma, Galatea,
and screw steamer Fidelita. The new British con-
sul, Mr. Brand, was pleased with the place and in
health.

ACCRA, Dec. 12.—N0 news. Health and trade
pretty good.
CAPE COAST CASTLE, Dec. 14.—Healthy. Trade
brisk. A serious riot took place on November 24
between the people of the Intin and Bentil quarters
or companies into which Cape Coast Castle is di-
vided. In consequence of some misunderstanding
their old feelings of jealousy and mutual hatred
broke out, and they went out to a plain about two
miles from Cape Coast to .fight: The authorities
of Cape Coast, when they beard of these proceed-
ings, lost no time in marching to the spot, with
as large a force of regulars and municipal volun-
teers as could be raised. Lieutenant Williams
marched boldly between the two rival parties,
and the chief justice went about amongst them
endeavouring to persuade them to retire, He

41.1r1'71 rfrf.
With the excepiiuo, however, of a few shots,
actual fighting took place, and the troops retired
for the night. Next day the [battle began in
earnest, the Intins numbering 3,500, and the Ben-
tils not more than 700. The latter, notwithstand-
ing their inferior numbers, fought with great
courage. The arrival of Lieutenant Williams and
his force about 9 a.m. put an end to the combat,
but not before 15 men had been killed and 40
wounded.

SIERRA LE ONE, Dec. 21.—H.M.S. Sharpshooter
arrived on the 20th, and sailed southward on the
21st. H.M.S. Surprise is undergoing repairs.
Garland. of Plymouth, Phoenix and African Royal
Mail steam-ship Cleopatra sailed December 17.

BATHURST, Dec. 25.—Healthy, inhabitants keep-
ing up Christmas in true English style.

TENERIFE; Dec. 31.---Ship James Shepherd.
No news.

MADEIRA, Jan. 2.--Placed in quarantine A.R.M.

ss. Armenian.

LIST OF PASSENGERS.—From Brass : Mr. Mit-
chell. From Bonny : Lieutenant Glover, RN.,
and servant; Mr. Walker, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Watts,
four seamen. From Accra : Mr. Moffatt. From
Cape Coast Castle; Mr. Small, Sergeant-Major
Broadhurst. From Sierra Leone ; Mr. S. M.
Carter, Mr. John Levi, J. Cuddy (distressed sea-
man). From Bathurst : Captain: Brown, late Ist
West India Regiment, C. A. Morphem, ditto.
From Madeira ; seven distressed seamen from the
Madras, and four from the Flying Foam. There
were also three Portuguese, whom, the Athenian
being placed in quarantine, the authorities would
not allow to land, but requested Captain Lowry to
take them on to Liverpool, and hand them over
to the Portuguese consul there.