Operations 45. M. Macedo to the Earl of Malmes- July 4 Anti-Slave Trade Cirbury cular issued by the new 58. Mr. Southern to the Earl of July 7 Suspension of operations Malmesbury 314 of H.M.'s ships within Brazilian waters............. 315 FRANCE. 1852 141. The Earl of Malmesbury to Count April 5 Blockade of the Bight Walewski of Benin. Exemption 316 176. The Earl of Malmesbury to Sir July 16 Claim set up that the R. Pakenham 177. Portuguese fort at July 16 Ditto from the 321 322 Continuance of Slave Trade in Cuba. 390 slaves landed in September near Trinidad 323 253. Mr. Otway to the Earl of Nov. 21 Angry reply of Spanish Malmesbury Minister to Mr. Otway's 258. Lord Howden to the Earl of Dec. 26 Seizure of Bozal negroes Malmesbury 4 Russell 266. 323 by authorities of Cuba. Dismissal of Alcalde, &c. 326 Extensive preparations for Slave Trade in Cuba 328 Ditto Re appointment of 328 General Pavia as Jan. 14 Anti-Slave Trade pro- 271. Lord John Russell to Lord Jan. 31 Continuance of Slave 277. The Earl of Clarendon to Lord Feb. 24 600 slaves landed at Howden 279. Lord Howden to Lord John Feb. 16 Note from Spanish Russell Government in praise 280. The Earl of Clarendon to Lord Mar. 12 To urge the immediate Howden 283. Lord Howden to the Earl of Mar. 16 Promise of Spanish GoClarendon vernment to set all the 284. The Earl of Clarendon to Lord Mar. 26 Ditto Howden 345 345 346 No. Consular: 342. Lord John Russell to Consul- Jan. 27 Complaint made by the General Crawford Captain-General against meanour Page 347 Remarks on his official &c. 356. The Earl of Clarendon to Consul- Mar. 31 General Cañedo's comGeneral Crawford 349 Mr. plaint against Crawford. Mr. Crawford's explanation is satisfactory 350 AFRICA (THE BIGHTS). CONSULAR. No. 4.-Consul Beecroft to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. June 17.) Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. I have, &c. JOHN BEECROFT. (Inclosure 1.)-Copy of rough Notes from the Daily Journal of Mr. Louis Fraser, Her Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul for the Kingdom of Dahomey, including his Departure from Fernando Po, Arrival and Reception at Whydah, and Visit to Abomey, 1851. (Inclosure 2.)-Notification by the King of Dahomey. Whydah, May 14, 1851. THE best compliments of Gezo, King of Dahomey, to all whom it may concern, greeting, and says that the Queen of England was the first to send a white Governor to Whydah to make friends with him, before either the French or Portuguese settled here. He is anxious to have it understood that he is the friend of the English, and that, if they lose anything, he will find it and protect them, and that he expects them to do the same for him. his mark. For GEZO, King of Dahomey, YERVOGAR DAGWAH No. 5.-Consul Beecroft to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. June 17.) I BEG to inclose herewith the letter forwarded and read to the King of Benin, relative to the re-establishment of Akitoye on the throne of Lagos before that place was attacked. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. I am, &c. JOHN BEECROFT. (Inclosure.)-Consul Beecroft to the King of Benin. To the King of Benin, Greeting, As Her Majesty's representative, it is my wish to recall to your recollection the desire of the Queen of England to be friend with all the Kings and Chiefs of Africa. In compliance with my Sovereign's wish, friendship was offered to the present Chief of Lagos, which he refused, and fired on a flag of truce. This has placed him at war with England; and I have to inform you that no other King of Lagos will be acknowledged by England than Akitoye, and knowing your interest in that King, and desire to serve him, I tell you this, that if, before the end of this month, Kosoko, the usurper of Lagos, does not surrender, and acknowledge his rightful and proper King, Akitoye, and resign the crown in his favour, Lagos will be totally destroyed by fire, and not one house will be left between that and Jaboo. It remains for you to prevent this disaster by assisting Akitoye, whose acknowledgment as King of Lagos will create peace and good-will amongst all parties. Akitoye is now at Badagry, and has friends at Lagos ready to assist him with yourself. On your speed in this matter, will be shown your desire, or not, of obtaining the friendship of England. SIR, Given under my hand, this 4th day of December, 1851. JOHN BEECROFT. No. 11.-The Earl of Malmesbury to Consul Beecroft. Foreign Office, September 14, 1852. I TRANSMIT to you herewith a copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Admiralty by my directions, in answer to a letter which I have received from that Board, asking whether the Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's naval forces on the west coast of Africa, would be justified in using force to defend Akitoye, the Chief of Lagos, against any attack directed against him by the ex-Chief Kosoko, or by the native Chiefs near Lagos. J. Beecroft, Esq. I am, &c. MALMESBURY. SIR, (Inclosure.)—Lord Stanley to the Secretary of the Admiralty. Foreign Office, August 30, 1852. I HAVE laid before the Earl of Malmesbury your 2 letters of the 26th of August, inclosing copies of Commodore Bruce's despatches of the 12th and 13th of July, and requesting to be informed as to the instructions to be sent to the Commodore in answer to his question, whether he will be justified in using force for the protection of Lagos against an attempt which he apprehends that Kosoko, the late Chief of that place, may make to recover his position there. And I am directed by Lord Malmesbury to refer you, in reply, to my letter of the 14th of July, and to request that you will state to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that his Lordship is still of opinion that the Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's ships on the west coast of Africa should be authorized, if necessary, to use force in order to prevent Kosoko from regaining his usurped authority at Lagos. I am, &c. The Secretary of the Admiralty. STANLEY. No. 12.-The Earl of Malmesbury to Vice-Consul Fraser. SIR, Foreign Office, December 20, 1852. I HEREWITH transmit to you a copy of a letter which I have received from Messrs. Forster and Smith, complaining that the missionaries belonging to the Church Missionary Society have obtained from King Akitoye a grant of an undue proportion of the river frontage of the island of Lagos. I inclose also a copy of the answer which has been returned by my direction to Messrs. Forster and Smith. The view taken by Her Majesty's Government upon this question is, that Akitoye was established on his throne by the efforts of England alone, and at a great waste of blood and treasure. He was placed there for the express purpose of promoting and maintaining a legitimate commerce in lieu of an inhuman traffic. The extension of Christian doctrines was also doubtless an important consideration in this policy, but it was of necessity secondary to the first, because its success mainly depended on the former object, as the extension of the palm-oil trade has proved to tend rapidly to the civilization of the natives. It appears therefore to Her Majesty's Government most desirable to secure mechanical facilities for our merchants and our trade, and, by our official influence over King Akitoye, to prevent him from granting the frontage, indispensable for traders, to other persons, who will probably hereafter sell the land to them at unfair and onerous terms. I have accordingly to instruct you to inquire into the proceed |