Star.
London, England, 1824-09-02 00:00:00

and CITY OF

THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN
• LONDON,
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4erjeant, torcing
to the area square of Annamaboe Fort among some
Mr. Swaney, Albantieh some
me of whom were trading with the late
who was permitted for some time :diet
she transfer to remain in the fort, till his house in town'
was ready for reception ; but as the detail of this mat-'
ter would extend beyond the intended limits of this
outline, suffice it to say that the British Serjiant ced'his
duty, and that the affair-might even theu have been
sbecked in the bud but for the mercantile pliancy ref
Mr. Swaney, who, fearing to lose his trade by offend-
ing the Ashantees, was less decisive than a persim less
interested might have been. At this time the trade of
Annamaboe averaged 300 ounces of gold, 15 tons of
ivory, and as much palm oil as the merchants were will-
ing to purcbase monthly; two-thirds of this valuable
trade falling to the share of Mr. Swaney.
The unwelcome ne en of the Serjeant's seizure reached
Sir Charles M'Carthy at Sierra Leone on the Scl of
November, 1822, at'a inqinent when on the point of
embarking in the slbop of war Dtiver, to snake a visit
of inspection to the Gambia; his -imitations were of
course immediately altered, arid. he -reaolved upon re-
turning to the Gold Coast, to enquire personallyinto
the state of the affair.; and, in order to make a little
shew orpower„ he took sioith him S 2 rank and file of
the 2d West India Regiment, under the command of
Captain Stepney, in the Colonial service; he was fol-
lowed by a. small patty of recruits for the Royal
African Corps, under the command of Captain Laing,
who had returned 2 few days before from a mission into.
the interior countries-Of Africa.
The return of the Governor-General to .the Gold
'oast, which took place on the 7th of December, was
hailed by the natives with every demonstration of joy;
undisguised happiness pervaded, the countenances of
every one, and afforded to these of his followers; who
were real friends of African liberation, a sight far more
imposing-than the triumph of the greatest conquesess!
How distressing to view the present altered state oethe
picture. Their protector no more! • British infloence
peetturaed Themselves exposed in defence of their
liberties—their wive* and their children left to the un-
pitying knife of their old and blood-thirsty oppressors' I!
For so-they.mnst be called, despite of all the boasted
humanity of the blood-sutiting despot of Ashantee.
Sir Charles M'Carthy was quite undecided what line
to pursue in this dilemma; he was unwilling to proceed
to hotilitiesswithout knowingthe real intentions of the
Adhantees, and negociation was impractiCable, unless
attended with considerable risk, for 41 intercourse be-
tweet) the Ashantees and the settlements had ceased
since she mints of the serjeant. Dissatisfaction and
lousy still prevailed among the Officers of the lateCom-
isaily,.sod rather than assist, a few endeavoured
to ridicule the unpleasant • the thoverasildli.
eamt They called out loudl Asisure of the
Mirjeget should be peremptorily pun
dew mere deciaiw INPUMMIE wouhl have belie
by theists Government. Captain Laing, Royal
Light Infantry, made a tender -of his services to pro-
ceed to Coomassie,-and 'endeavour to bring about an
undemanding with_ the King; abut that • most worthy
maa, the late much esteemed Governor, objected tothe
scurries as being too perilous.
La sEer it attempt the settlement of the differences
by proceeding to ficsquah was also refused, and the
time passed on inactively. and in idle spoculationa, until
the Ist of February.. les, when the set jean was be-
beaded et. Demuth, and any further drethts as to the
intentions of the per were entirely :c-
-owed ; Preparations were thereforemade for the pro-
* -ution of the war, which, from this starement of feels,
may mien to ewe kits arigin mote,to accident than
mere to thrt,offendod dsgaity, *side, and avarice
of a powerful sad despotic wog, than to she indiscre.
tioes of Mr. Rapids. the disputes of-Mr. Depois, or the
wed opiniOns of the lete lir. Charles M'Carthy.
The expedition to Donquah; loathe 911th of February,
followed the murder of the •serjeant, and was one of
ihassiet gallant and sucoessfal reneontres we bare had
with the enemy; for, although the advanced guard
only, Mounting to about one benched men, were en-
gaged (the main body, under Major Chisholm, having
been betrayed, and led astray by a treacherous guide),
the Ashantees, amounting to-nearly two hundred, and
* large force of Fantees, were pursued fora distance of
eight -.miles, totally defeated, and signal punish-
ment administered in the death of, four of their Chiefs,
and nearly one hundred men. The -superiority of the'
Ashantee mode of fighting over that of the Fantee, was
clearly demonstrated by the different effect of their re-
spective firing, the • Ashantees, front their steady aim,
bringing down eur men at every volley, while that of
tbe trainees, being directed 100 high, merely crowned
us with leaves.; and it was quite as well that they were
not more skilful in the use of the musket at that time,
as the party of Ashantees; with the help of s stray shot
now and then from the Fantees, contrived to kill and
wound seventy-one out of the handfif opposed to them.
The report of this victory spread like wildfire through
the -country, and before'Sir Charles left the Coast, in the
()nth of May following, he received' the allegiance of
most of the Fantees, and of various other native tribes,
who, desirous to rid themselves of the Ashantee yoke,
Ileeked from all quarters to his banner, which was em-
phatically termed, and looked upon at that time, as the
standard of liberty. While such things were going on,
and the most gigantic preparations for war, .were every
where in a state of-forwardness, the 'King of Ashantee
busied himself, by means of emissaries, in an- attempt
to intimidate .our allies ; he sent to one, advising him
sarcastically, to arm the fishes of the sea; to another,
;he intimated his intention of carrying the terror of war
'into his country with such alarming sounds, that be
would awake his father from the silent ;rate ; and to
Sir Charles M'Carthy he sent his compliments, with a
'threat of soon having his head as an ornament to
great war drum of -Ashanleel He also acknowledged
ale murder of the serjeant, and directed the messenger
to say, he had seen the linife with-whisk it was per
crated. To the Fantees generallyche threatened exter-
mination ; he advisedthem to be on their guard, for
could talk over theethite men whenever he pleased, alit
then come down upon them. He ridiculed their con-
fidence in Madidellke name leywhiehthe natives called

;Governer
~aa doneon a . occasion. . ;biscuit&
no impression oh theFantees, who now appeared intpited
with a degrle of confidence and enthusiasm quite un-
usual to them. The Ashantee Monarch, therefore, be-
ginning to think more seriously of the ma than be
was at List disposed to do, and knowing. hit best
troop; were on a hakardous campaign in the Crept'
country, at length sent an embassy to Minis*, too p
the olive branch to the British through the mediabn of
the Dutch Governor. SW Charles MiCarthy, estiOng
apprised by Governor Eoplinan of the artival of this
embassy, and 6f the pacific nature of their message,
sent up four Gentlemen ro receive it (these were
Captain Laing, Ensign Wetherill, Mr. Wdliante; Cola
Mal Secretary,- and Mr. F. Swaney, fnerchant) ; but
to their great surprise, they found, on- appearing in
the Palaver-hall, that the tenour of the message was
threat of vengeance on the people of Cape Coast, -
whom they accused (perhaps with some justice) of poi,
soning the mind of the new Governor againit the King
of Ashantee ; they denied that 'Assai bad sanctioned
the murder of the serjeant, and laid the whole affair
at the door of the Fames, whom they accused of per.
fidy of the blackest nature. This message, so opposite
to >A hat had been' anticipated, not only surprised' the
Gentlemen from Cape Coast, but also seemed to strike
with astonishment the Dutch Governor himself, stho
declared upon the honour of a Netherlander, that he-
had understood it differently yesterday ; and, in proof
of his assertion, called upon hit linguist to explain the
message, as interpreted to him the day before: It Was
of such a nature, that had it been delivered, pacific ar-
rangements might have been entered into; but as the
Ashantees .denied any knowledge of it, the conference' .
was broken up, and matters stood exactly is before.—
This occurrence took place 'about the beginning of
May, 1822, and Bir C. WCardsy, a few weeks after-
wards, left Cape Coast, in the Cyrene sloop of war an
a tour of inspection to the Gambia and Sierra Leine;
his instructions were very concise-0 To make as many
Allies as possible—to induce them to oppose any force
the Ashantees alight send towards the Goast--‘but to
risk as little ar possible in the way of military enter-
prise till his return.
About a fortnight after his departure (the 4th of
June) a report was -prevalent that a body of 2,000
Ashanteer bad crossed the Boosom-pra River,.ind were
making their way to the Fantee country: it being of
cruse deemed necessary to check their progress, Cap-
tain Laing-was dispatched with a few regulars, the An-
namaboe Militia, and a strong native force, to give them
battle; but as they retired on hearing of his approach,
that Officer directed his attention towards Ajumacon,
the territory of a powerful native King, who, there were
strong of belief, intended to assist the Ashen-
tees. of
gisarrived on the confines of hii country,
which is separated from Fantee by the viver Amiga, a.
=lmage was mat to invite him to join in the general
cause of freedmen, but. as the invitation was ac-
cepted, another messenger was dispatched to acquaint
him, leis fervidly. that.unless he joined Me white setra
the white am meld cone to hist; to which he replied,
he was perfectly ready. and they might come as soon
as they pleased. On the morning after the receipt of
chi/message of defiance, orders were given for the con-
struction of a bridge acmes the Amissa, which, by the
exertions of Messrs. Hutchinson-and Swaney, Captains
of Militia, was completed on the evening of the second
day ; it was not a work of ,such magnitude as that
which Cesar threw across the Rhine; but it had the
effect of intimidating Appiai who, perceiving that his
ricer afforded him no protection, sent a friendly mes-
sage to Captain Lstiog, and joined him in great state
neat day, at the bead of 1,600 'men. well appointed
with areas and ammunition. Wish this farce, amount-
ing now to about 8,000 affective firelocks, a movement
was mode.througb the kingdom of' Alumacou towards
Esseeooma,,the territory of Quail* Ansunquals, another
chief in allianch with the King of Ashantee, who hear-
ing of the approach of so large a force, Sed from his
country, and took refuge at Coomassie. Everything.
after this bearing the temblaice of quietness, the army
returned to quarters on the .20th of June, the various
Chiefs, who had been long disunited, having sworn to - •
one another to assemble instantly at any punt the 'shim' •
men should comnatid.
Towards- the end of July another disposition of
making an inroad upon the Faroee country, was mani-
fested by the Ashantees, and it was judged espedimte
to form an encampment •about twenty five ntileafredt
the coast, for the purpose of watching their motions;
the site of a deserted Fantee town, named Yancoomas-
sie, was the spot chosen, to which a few detachments of
regulan and militia were marched on the 2Sth of the
month, and were soon afterwards joined by the respee-
dee native Chiefs, with their troops, making in all a
force of about ten thousand men. Another camp was
formed at Jouquah, about 'fifteen miles in the rear of
Cape Coast, for the purpose of foiling the enemy in
that quarter, it being reported that be was mating
for the coast ia -two strong divisions of thirty
thousand me each. These judicious preparations
bad "the elm of keeping them at bay for some time ;
baked it hops 40 be believed that they had again re-
tired; Mesta& the eveningaf she 20th of August, an
septets from Aiiiiinaeo2 reached Yancomassie with
tidings of the Ashantee army being within forty miles
of Apr iss capitals to which they were marching with
all speed. Orders were immediately given for a march,
and neat morning, at an early hour, Captain Laing
quitted Taocoomassie at the heed of a tolerably well
organised force oftegolan, militia, and aatives,amount-
leg in all to about 5,000 men, the remainder being left
at the camp, under command of Captain Hutchinson,
firi case of a stratagem bsibg intended by the Asbestine.
On the afternoon of the led, the force from Yantis,. .
reached Ajumacon, which was found in a stale •
treat alarm and confusion ; the women painted mad
bespattered with chalk; making
..felioAis for wade
Mb the -castoffs of their country ; the mew
niearet them in fantastic dresses, and ready
pa eapected conflict, the Ashantee army being then
040 lines distant. As soon as the men, who UV
stadia lliag and fatiguing march, were a little refinished,
advanced parties were sent out to watch and gin:lZ
telligence of the enemy's motions, and Caplets

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2.1824.[Pa10s lisvzs-nute .
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1. t 24. LONDON, EA:ITS:AAmtIkpAAN,:trOADSTAI
.1/3' alleged offence_ was
.an insult offered tor the Kin of S_ior,Cra. hanreles2,whnoe,bes:ido,rwmoeurldbetcasraioltheutos,aastessay .
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DIG Ashantee. bythe jean who was en oreing sal T . h.ddo
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