The Sun. — 1824-05-03 (London, England)

BRITISH FRCSS.] We are afraid that the disastrous intelligence onounced on Saturday, and brought from Barhadees., detailing the defeat and massacre of the force,under Sir Charles M'Carthy, at Sciondee, on the Gold Coast, on the 21st of last January, is bUf.toO wArfounded ; and .that*this excellent of4gei.,2 with his unfortunate companions in arms, and'Several of the oldest and most respectable m4ritiantk at Cape Coast, who 'accompanied him, have either fallen in the contest with these ferocioueSavages, or survived to experience a fate still more appalling. Notwithstanding the solemn treaty entered into by Mr. Bowdich in September, 1817, at Coomassie, the capital of the ASantee.territory, with " Sai Tootoo Quamina," the Barbarian Monarch, signed by him; and by Boitinnee (barna," chief of the neighbObring. country of Dwahin anal its dependencies, and attested by four of the principal Caboceers, or Captains, of the Ashantee warriors, deputed from the General Assembly to swear with the King—guaranteeing perpetual peace and harmony between the British, subjects in that country, and the subjects of the Kings of Ashantee•and Dwabin, and also prornishig peace between the Ashantees and the barbarians of Rwabin, and all nations of Africa, residing under the protection of the Company's forts and settlements on the Gold Coast, declaring that neither party had then any claim on the other, the AShantee Monarch agreeing by this compact to permit a British officer to reside constantly at his capital; for the purpose of institutinc, and preserving a regular communication with the Governor-in-Chief, at Cape Coast Castle ; and both Kings stipulating to commit their children to the care of the Governor-in-Chief, for education at Cape Coast Castle, in full confidence of the good intentions of the British Government, and the benefits to be derived from it ;—in despite of this treaty of only a few years back, it appears that the Ashantees, with a, perfidy characteristic of barbarians, had latterly made frequent incursions for the purpose of plundering and desolating the Cape Coast territory, and in one of these expeditions had seized a British sergeant, whom they murdered and mutilated in the most. shocking manner. Tired of fruitless representations, Sir Charles M'Carthy, the Governor. of Sieara Leone, to avenge this latter outrage, had come down to Cape Coast Castle in January, and prepared the expedition which. terminated so disastrously. This lamented officer divided his force into three bodies, of one of which he took the personal command, and was accompanied by several of the merchants from Cape Coast, as volunteers. But unfortunately, before the divisions could form a junction, Sir Charles, with his body, was intercepted' by 10,000 of the.Ashantees, whom he fought as long as his ammunition lasted ; but his small force was at length over; powered by the overwhelming force of the Ashantees, and this gallant officer, with the officers and merchants who accompanied him,Were either butchered in the contest or fell as prisoners into the hands of these savages. Though fOurteen days had elapsed since the departure from Cape Coast of the expedition, no intelligence from Sir Charles M'Carthy, or the merchants with him, had reached that place, when the Elizabeth,. who brought the news of the fatal 'encounter to Barbadoes, left it.  [