The Sun. — 1863-04-13 (London, England)

LAGOS.  In consequence of internal wars scarcely any trade was being carried on. Hostilities still continued between the Egbas and the Ibadanes ; whilst Dahomey and his army on the 7th of March were reported to be within nine hoars' march of Absokuta, so that the attack upon the town may take place at any time.  The Egbas, more especially the inhabitants of Abeokuta, have been behaving so badly of late, by murdering and kidnapping the people of Lagos, as well as plundering the goods of English merchants, that Governor Freeman has considered it necessary to issue a proclamation ordering all British subjects to leave Abeokuta, and at the same time to establish a blockade, in order to prevent the natives obtaining supplies from the coast, and although the force ho has at his command is totally inadequate to the requirements of the colony, still he has, by judicious measures, so inconvenienced the Egbas that there is every reason to believe that they will be brought to reason in the course of a short time. There has lately been some sharp fighting at Epe", in the Zebu Ode country, about 30 miles from Lagos. It appears that one Popoo, a refractory chief of the Kosokas, established himself at Epe, when the ex-king and his chiefs returned to Lagos, and lately he has been attempting to levy duties on trade within British territory. Complaints of this nature having been made to Governor Freeman, he went on the 14th March, down to Epe in her Majesty's ship Investigator, Major Leveson, the colonial secretary, having preceded him, via Palona, with 40 armed Houpas (a warlike tribe of Mussulmen from the interior). After three days' fruitless negociation, during which Popoo, ill-advised by certain foreign traders, refused to hold any communication with the goverhor. Accordingly on the morning of the 17th February, Major Leveson and Commander Lefroy, of the Investigator, received instructions to deliver him an ultimatum, as it had been reported that Popoo was preparing to fight, and that a large force had been collected during the night. Commander Lefroy took with him three officers and eleven blue jackets, armed with rifles and revolvers, whilst Major Leveson was accompanied by his Houpas. Fearing treachery, the Houpas, who showed that they were well accustomed to bush fighting, felt their way, creeping stealthily through some thick bush that lay to the right, lest the party might fall into an ambuscade, and whilst thus advancing a heavy fire of musketry was suddenly opened on Commander Lefroy's party from a patch of bush about 200 yards in the front, by which a marine was slightly wounded in the throat. This volley was promptly returned by the blue jackets, who steadily held the ground, and with good effect. In the meantime Major Leveson and his party, advancing unseen through the bush, came upon some 300 of the enemy, collected in an open space, and poured in a volley, taking them completely by surprise. Eighteen of Lefroy's force were drawn into an ambuscade and killed, several were wounded, and the rest, panic stricken, took to the adjacent bush. Some desultory skirmishing then took place, in which the enemy brought two iron guns loaded with rivets to bear, but after a few ill directed shots which hurt no one, they ceased firing, and retired howling further into the bush. Major Leveson, although severely wounded, was still able to keep the field, but his wound was nearly proving fatal. An iron bullet entered the head below the right ear, within half an inch of the carotid artery, fracturing the jaw and remaining embedded in the bone. On the return of the boats to the Investigator, the wounded were sent on to Lagos in a canoe, the governor giving orders to bombard and burn the town, which was done effectually. Commodore Wilmot and Captain Luce, R.N., met with a very kind reception from the King of DahoH eok toldta eA themb Abeokuta, shouldu ta,having b swornto t on tiy th attackbb me try t father (before he died) to do so, conseqounee_ at would not break his word, but havibnaga d to them. is, taken the city—he would give it  maintained, tchoerpsasle lvdee severe