The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20
AN AFRICAN KING TO THE BRIT
ISL EMPRESS.

HEwErT's LETTER AND DEMANDs-wHy HE
SHOULD NOT PAY EXCESSIVE TRIBUTE-LEr
THE ADMIRAL COME AND TAKE HIS FINE.
From the London Telegraph, May o.
CAPE COAST CAsrLR April IL 1876
The following Is the text OF the notice OF Commodore
Howctt served upon the whydah merchants acquaint-
ing them with ihc fine imposed the KING OF Daho-
mcy and warning them to be prepared for any occur
renee after the LIST Of June:-
NAVAL OFFICIAL WARNING.
HER BRITASSic MAJEsTYs SHIP ACTIVE
Orr LAGOS, March 4, 1875
GESrLRNEx-Having demanded from the King Of
Dahomcy an indemnify OF 500 punchcons OF palm oil
authorities al whydah, on the 2Sd or January, on ME-
TurnDu, agent for 4. n A. Swanzy that place. and
further having intimated TO the King that IN case OF
his not paying tho the LIST Juno next shall
place his coast under strict blockade l have TO
give you notice thereof order that you may pre-
pared for any consequences that arise out CT my
ultimatum.
Of Her britannia Majes,ys vessels Of war will be
stationed OF Why dab protect British interests and 10
afford such to foreign traders cause or
humanity may render necessary.
earnestly cnjoin yoI not to neglect this warning.
which gwen carly order that you may make timely
arrangements for the protection OF your individual
interests i have the honor 20 be- SIR. your obcdsnl
servant, W. y. W. HEWETr,
Commodore Commanding Her Britannia Majcsty's
Squadron on the West Coast OF Africa.
To X GkRNA. Esq, Resident Agent OF Aessrs. REGIS
Co; A. CARxEsA, Esq, Agent Of Messrs Fabrcs Il
Co; l.. PkRnirR. Agent OF Mcssrs. Lasner, Dammas,
H. do Aquiar.
ROYAL REPLY.
Thsreupon the following letter addressed by Mr..
Stafford to the Commodore. written At the instance
tho whydah authorities, and purport,ng 10 DO
sage from tho King OF Dahomcy reply to the Com
modore's message and etters:--
wnypAH, March Is, 1875
SIR have the honor at tue request OF the King OF
Dahomey, as delivered through tho Avoyah in the
presence OF all the white men here 10 lay before you
the following message from The King your
communication respecting the Outrage committed upon
Mr.. 1urnbull and the indemnity demanded In
qnenco thereof The purpot. OF your leiior was rem
dcrcd TO the King by Cabocecr Chadaton, the King
sending back your letters TO himself unopened, as
hereinafter mcntioncd:-
/. That in all the books written about Dahomey, by
either the French. Portuguese or English, and from
the commencement OF tho Kingdom OF Dahomey down
TO his and his fathers rcigns such fine as that
demanded by the Commodore has ever been paid bo-
FORE
NOT at home Il g., Abomeyl, but war; and
that after he has flushed his waEand gone back his
town, he should then like % the Commodore at
Abomov about the paaver that he pay this fine
until no himself has the Commodore and judged
whether the amount correct; that If he SEQ
She Commodore himself he will not pay IL
The King understands from officers sent by the
Commodore to the Avoyah, that II there any palavcr
against any European here the authorities
10 man oi-war. or In the nbscncc OF rnan-owar TO
Capo Coast 10 have some sent 10 arbra,e upon tho
matter inc King ~ reply saysahai be cannot submit
breach against his laws no will punish him he thinks
proper by Inc AS heretofore.
T. The King sends the letters written by the Comno-
dore 10 thc French. English, Portuguese and Chassha
houses and wishes them TO say something about them
Tho letters here given to Mr. Gcrna OF tho
French house oil Regis CO., aud he. saying he knew
nothing about the letters, and dd Eug
lIsh handed them TO the Chassnx The Cha sha would
have nothing 10 do with them, aud handed them me-
and refused 10 take them. Ito threw them to my
kncos, which rendered them 10 the Avoyah and
Cabocccrs AS thcy would take them. | asked
Thorn II should return them 10 you, and they suffered
me 70 70 out of Ayaiic with them. subsequently they
rent Caboccer to ask Tor Thorn back again, stating
that they belonged to tho Avcyah, whcrcupon gave
them back.
5 That tho King believes the palaver 10 come from
NE Commodore himself, and not from the Queen Of
England that n u from the Queen OF England
be would DO able 70 know.
q Thai tho KING would like the Commodore to stop
~ war palAysr and bV merchant and surning hn,