Star.
London, England, 1826-06-26 00:00:00

AFRICAN EXPEDITION.

The following is an extract from a letter received
from the Coast of Africa :

SIERRA LEONE, Arms 10.
" A report has been brought from Accra that the
Ashantees have opened another campaign, directed to
wards the sea-coast.—The Di.patch, 18, Captain Par-
sons, is expected to leave Accra about the 18th inst. on
her return to England, with the Inspecting Engineer
Officers, previously touching at the river Benin, and
soine places in the Bighth to inquire niter the African
travellers. Nothing has been heard of them since the
death of Captain Yearee, Dr. Morrison, and one of the
attendants. We expect success from Captain Clapper-
tin, because he is eminently adapted to the undertaking,
possessing, besides the indispensible qualifications ct
health, strength, and intrepidity, an inexhaustible store
of patience, united with the utmost forbearance; for, to
the African, time is of no value, and much addles is
necessary to persuade him to come into your views of
going forward. C iptain C. is accompanied by Mt.
Houston, who was with Belzoni. The last accoun s
from Mr. Dickson, who landed on the same object at
Dahomey, were not promising; the King could only
offer him protection to a certain distance; his baggage,
therefore, would only be an incumhrance, inviting de-
predation. Slaving is carried on on this coast to as great
art event as ever, chiefly under the French. flag. Lieu-
tenant Robert Card, of the Redwing, a few _ died
days
since. Mr. Tringham has succeeded him; and Mr.
Douglas has succeede I L;eutenant Gay, of the Maid-
stone, who has been invalided home."

Saturday morning the Lords of his MAJESTY'S Most
Honourable Privy Councilauenabled at the Council °See. Whrte.
hall-place, on Colmsial Appeals. The Members of the Court pre-
sent were Lord Syowsta., the bfasraa of the R 00.% 4.ord Cot-
ouarrea, and Sir Greece Robe. _

Mr. CROMPTON, attacned to the Embassy of the
Right Hon. Sracrroao CADIPING, arrived at the Secretary of State's
Ofce for Foreign Affairs on Friday afternoon from Constantinople,
with dirtches for Mr. Secretary CAM4IIO.
LOT ORIEL and family ; Lord DUFFERIN and
family ; Sir EDWARD SMITH and family ; Admiral Sir Jamas Wane-
then ; and Miss Hamlin have arrived in Dublin front Holyhead.
DRURY LANG TIFIZATRI....-THOMAS BISAJ, Esq. the
Member for Leominster, and Contractor for the present
•Ltutery, on Saturday signed a contract to become the
Lessee of this Theatre for fourteen years. The terms
have not been mentioned, but this spirited speculator
has given a cheque in part payment of his engagement.
Covent-garden Theatre closed for the season Friday.
Firm—About •on minutes to 12 o'clock on Saturday
night, an alarming fire broke out upon the premises of .
Ms. Day, fancy biscuit baker, in Prince's-street, S:orey's
Gate, Westminster, which soon spread with destructive
force to the houses next adjoining. The fire originated,
it would appear, from the incautiousness of a little girl,
not more than ten years old, who was entrusted with
the nightly task of putting the children to bed, and who,
upon this occasion, left the candle burning, which
caught the bed cur t sins, and afterwards spread through-
out the house, which was quickly burnt down, as was
likewise the adjoining house, tenanted by Mr. White, a
hair dresser, wilo lost every thing. Extending Kith
unabated rage, the fi irises next attacked Mr. Vickers's,
the Red Lion, which, within a few hours, was consumed
to the gr•sund floor. The very first engine that arrived
was the parochial one of St. Margaret's, which, though
comparatively small, was played with super ior skill, and
had the effect of keeping the fire in check till the arrival
of several others. About three o'clock, the frontage of
the Red Lion fell inwards, with a tremendous crash,.
when apprehensions were entertained lest the confla-
gration should communicate to the cellar, which was
stocked with liquors. The greater part of the land-
lord's effects had, fortunately, been removed to the
Duke of Ormond public house, in Prince's-street, though
much was inevitably lost. Nothing could surpass the
kind exertions of the neighbours in assisting the sufferers.
It was not till seven o'clock, however, that this alai m-
ing and destructive fire was so subdued as to pacify the
public mind.
The punishment of women of " bad reputation," in
some parts of Africa, is cruel and sanguinary in the ex-
treme. Of sixty, who were bound and brought before
the Magistrate or Sheikh at flornon, five were sentenced
to be -hanged. in the public market, and four to be
flogged; which latter punishment was inflicted with
such severity that two expired under the lash. Those
who were doomed to death, after being dragged,
with their heads shaven, round the market on a public
day, with'a rope round their necks, were then strangled,
and thrown, by twos, into a hole previously prepared
for the purpose.
Last week, a coachman named Carter, who has for
some time driven the Defiance Coach between Huntingdon and
London, Waieisannitted to -Huntingdon gal, on suspicion of an-
' Wing i large mm of risonerfrons a Banker's parcel which had
been entrusted to his private care, by the late Mr. C. Wm; clerk
to Messrs. Prisnarzza. in Huntingdon, to deliver in London, and
which, when it reached its deminlion, was found to contain nothing
.'of valet. ' ..

POLICE INtELLICiENCE.
OClttbtlar.t...
hfr. Asa. of the %Vbite MOM lintel, Fetter-lane, was summoned
foe refusing to pdy the driver of a cabriolet his legal fare.
The complainant stated, that he was standing in Oxford-street,
when he was hired by Mr. Jones, who asked tuft what be would
charge by the Lour. He told him hs. but he must charge by die.
tance, If that should be the most advantageous way. Ur. Jones
had a friend with him in a gig, and two other friend% got into the
cabriolet, which was ordered to follow in the rear of Mr. Jones,
and in this way they went to Hampton Court, where they remained
an hour and a half, and arrived hi Vetter-late at half-past 11 at
night, having started at tour. The drivers have the option of chug-,
Inc by time or distance, and as it is always present to the minds of
drivers that charging by distance is inure profitable than by time,
he chose the former, and though by that method he was entitled to
325. he only charged Us. and he declared that he had reserved to
himself the choice.

Mr. Jones declared that he made no such reservation, but as the
complainant had sworn the contrary, Mr. J. was adjudged to pay
the fare, with costs, aMounting to 11. I.ls.

HATTON GARDEN.

Saturday an examination of a private nature, from which the
public press, and every individual but those immediately connected
with the case, were excluded, took place before A. S. Lama and
W. nooses, lieges. We have only been able to ascertain that the
individual suspected has hitherto been considered of tile highest re-
spectability, and is a principal in a public establishment, which will
be condderably injured should the charges be established, which
are said to be embezzlements to au enormous extent. The exand-
uation was very short, at the suuclusion of which the prisoner was
remanded for a fortnight.