The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-26

hhds. Cuba muscoyado AZ 6sc. sc. An couee, siics
Of Rio were checked by the auction sale advertised
for to-day. Among the transactions was cargo Of
Jamaica and 900 bags OF St. Domingo, both for ex-
port, at private terms. Freights were slack and
rates dull, and shippers were waiting for the Ara
bias letters.
Africa Absorbed.
Whenever the United States gains foot Of
land by the right Of discovery or the force Of
treaty, long and loud vail is set up by our
British relations and their bulldog, the Tim,s,
leaps barking from its kennel, to the full ex-
tent OF it's chain. The whole monarchical and
aristocratical race are appealed to as witnesses
of that democratic iusoience which would
create more States without kings and MOBILES
without pension lists or decorations and which
would place men upon an equality OF rights
and responsibilities, irrespective Of descent or
entails, of royal favor OF of sycophantic SER
vice. 1t is all right however, for these alarm
lists to steal, conquer, annex, appropriate and
govern every territory, island or coast which
they can approach. Their dram beat, heard in
every hour Of every day that salutes the rising
tial airs of England have perpetual joy. But
let the first notes of Yankee Doodle" be whis-
tied by a wandering American, and British
feet ia ordered off without delay, to inquire
into the cause and nature Of the disturbance.
British aggression is no novelty. It Is . part
and parcel of the British constitution, physi-
cal and political. 1t belongs to the system
Aggression and the spoils of aggression are
what it grows upon. The toll OF overtaxed
home labor and the plunder Of distant lands
have enriched the great at the expense of the
small; and all that British courage, skill, in
dustry and power have Won, chiefly belongs
to, and is the property of, about fifteen hun
dred British families and their dependents
Every barrier, then, which American progress
interposes to such q Continuous and selfish ag
grandizement is looked at with rage. At the
thought of our enlargement, the dock yards are
crowded up with shipwrights; ships are got
ready for sea; the Times thunders and foams at
the mouth; three-deckers put into Bermuda,
call at Havana, and peep in at San Juan.
In the meantime, British annexation goes
merrily on, whenever an opportunity presents
itself. Dude, the finest province of Bengal,
with population of about four millions, and
territory containing $4,000 square miles, has
just fallen in to the British crown. The native
King was requested to abdicate, and on his
declining to do 80, was deposed by General
Outram, at the head e 10000 men, and five
millions of dollars of revenue have been turned
into British treasury. All this is, no doubt,
very proper and commemorate in British eyes,
and the world is called on to admire it's po
Icy. And similar annexation and deposition
have been going on much nearer Europe and
America. The press seems to have overlooked
the splendid coup d etm which has recently pro
duced the overthrow of another King, and the
further consolidation of British interests in
Africa by new deposition.
A black throne has fallen before the union
jack. Nigritia, like Mosquito, is dignifcd by
British protection. The negro race is again
sheltered by the British flag.
Our readers are not, perhaps, generally
aware of the foothold which the British govern
ment has obtained upon the African coast, be-
tween the equator and fourteen degrees north
latitude. Its possessions already embrace an
area Of 10000 square miles, with large
population, lying between the French and
Portuguese settlements. On the island Of ST.
Mary's, ct she River Gambia, which lie naviga-
bic so miles for vessels Of 500 tons, and $50
miles farther for those of smaller size, is the
fourishing settlement Of Bathurst 1t is well
fortified, and contains 5 900 inhabitants. There
are other posts on the same river also fortified,
and intended to protect the trade Of the inte-
rior. The exports for this and the adjacent
settlements are beeswax, gum, hides, ivory,
gold and palm oil, amounting to nearly mil
lion of dollars per annum, and the duties paid
on these in Great Britain are quite large. The
shipping employed in the trade amounts to
ever $1,000 tons
Sierra Leone is another of these British colo
nice, on a peninsula about $50 miles south
from Gambia, with IN area Of 1893 miles, and o
population Of about $4,000. Among the early
settlers were about ], 200 negroes stolen from
this country during the revolution and shipped
from Nova Scotia in 1892. Several towns have
been founded, and are somewhat prosperous,
such az FreetowD, Regents town and Kent.
The products Of this colony are similar to
those Of the West Indies, and for these the re-
turns are made IL Manchester and India goods.
spirits, ammunition and firearms The in
crease of the population is owing to the re-
captured slaves and to disbanded soldiers sent
out as settlers. The value Of the annual ex-
ports is about half a million Of dollars.
r~y1 =
another, and the most important, of these set
Elements. 1t is in north latitude degrees
minutes, and is defended by forts at Dixcove,
Succondee, Commendo, Anamaboe, and Accra,
which is q recent annexation.
The British trade from the grain, ivory and
gold coasts is very valuable The raturns NJ