THE DESTRUCTION OF LAGOS,

December 26th, 1851.

DESCRIPTION OF LAGOS.

The town of Lagos, built at the mouth of the River Ogun, which debouches in the Bight of Benin, is a healthy place, and well situated for trade. It is the seaport also of Abbeokuta, a town of considerable dimensions, 60 miles inland from it, and which it is hoped will become a very important place now that Lagos is open for legal commerce. The River Ogun is navigable for vessels for some burden as high as Abbeokuta, but it was formerly entirely closed by the people of Lagos to all trade except that in slaves. Abbeokuta is in the Toruba country, a most fertile tract, far larger than England, and it is about 150 miles from Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, while Lagos is on the other side of it. Clapperton, who passed through the country in 1825, describes it as rich and fertile, well supplied with native manufactures, and free from the curse of the slave-trade, the people living happily in perfect peace and security. Shortly afterwards, however, it was ravaged by slave-trade wars, and the peace and prosperity he witnessed was succeeded by the most frightful atrocities and devastation. Within the last 30 years not a single house stood at Abbeokuta; the natural strength of its situation, however, pointed it out as a place of refuge from the curse that was desolating the country, and the remnant of the population of no less than 130 towns assembled together for mutual security. Abbeokuta now contains at least 50,000 inhabitants.

Since 1839 the gradual diminution of the slave-trade effected by the British squadron had favoured the progress of agriculture, and secured another interval of rest and peace for the country; when, in 1840, a movement commenced, which appears to be providentially directed to exercise a powerful influence over the destinies of Africa.

A very large number of the Toruba tribe, who during the wars spoken of had been shipped as slaves at Lagos, were captured by English cruizers, and liberated in Sierra Leone, where they imbibed the habits of civilized life, while their hearts still yearned towards their native land.

In 1840, fifteen of the Toruba people were deputed by the rest to visit their country, in order to obtain information relative to its state. They landed at Lagos, where they were treated with great cruelty by the slave-dealers. They were robbed of their property, and some lives were lost. The remainder escaped into the interior, and reached Abbeokuta, which, to their surprise, they found had sprung up on a spot where no habitation had existed formerly. They then embarked at Badagry, and returned to Sierra Leone, carrying with them the intelligence that the country was comparatively safe, and that they had been most kindly received by the inhabitants. In 1841 a number of these people, clubbing together, returned to their native country, and others following, 3,000 British subjects are now settled in Abbeokuta, and others at Badagry, the only available seaport to it while Lagos prevented the navigation of the Ogan.

In 1845 the Church Missionary Society formed an establishment at Abbeokuta, under the title of the Toruba Mission, with a branch at Badagry, and far distant from British protection, six or seven missionaries are now devoting their lives to the great work Providence has opened to them in the heart of Africa.

The Rev. Samuel Crowther, one of the mission, is himself a native of the Toruba country. In a midnight attack upon his town, when quite a child, he was carried off as a slave. The vessel he was shipped in was captured by a British cruiser, and after being liberated at Sierre Leone, he was educated at the Church Missionary school. He then became a schoolmaster; and, after several years' trial, he was sent to England for ordination, and then proceeded to his native land to Christianize his fellow-countrymen. One of the first persons he met was his own mother, and she was his first convert. Thus by the wonderful dispensation of Providence, slaves torn from their homes and their country have traversed 1,500 miles by sea, to return Christian and civilized men, and to spread these blessings over the land of their birth.

Now as the power of the king of Dahomey depends on the success of his slave wars, which have been the source of his wealth, the influence Abbeokuta was spreading adverse to the slave-trade was too important to be longer neglected, and he therefore, with a great army, suddenly appeared before its walls in March, 1851. The attack, however, was expected, and the Dahoman army was utterly defeated.

This event was followed by an attack on Badagry by the chief of Lagos, when an Englishman and a Krooman were killed, and a large amount of English property destroyed. Since his defeat the king of Dahomey had been preparing for the destruction of Abbeokuta, in which he was to be aided by the chief of Lagos. The people of Lagos had long been trained to arms in their habitual slave wars, and they possessed at least 5,000 muskets and 60 pieces of cannon.

From these facts, added to which they had 100 armed canoes, we may estimate the enormous power of mischief possessed by Lagos over the comparatively defenceless country around. It therefore, for the cause of humanity, became very important that a check should be given to the proceeding of the chief of Lagos. Indeed, as a nest of piracy and plunder, the destruction of Lagos was a duty owing by civilized nations to themselves. Indeed, the treatment of the liberated Africans in 1840, the destruction of English life and property at Badagry, and the constant buying and selling of the people of Sierra Leone, and other outrages, loudly called for redress. Indeed, common justice to the heroic devotion of British officers and men at Lagos requires that the great importance of this enterprise should be fully understood by the people of England, who have so long demanded the suppression of the slave-trade, and who will not fail to appreciate the gallant struggle which has struck the death-blow to the last remnant of the crime over 2,500 miles of coast.

The more immediate cause of the attack on Lagos appears to have been in consequence of an application made for assistance by Akitoye, the lawful chief of Lagos, to Mr. Beecroft, the British Consul for the Bights of Benin, residing at Fernando Po.

Akitoye, the younger of two brothers, had, by his father's will, succeeded as king of Lagos. The elder Kosoko had been, for misbehaviour, banished. After the death of the old king, Akitoye recalled Kosoko, and took him into favour; but Kosoko, bribing the army, usurped the government and drove Akitoye to take refuge at Badagry. On this Kosoko prepared to attack Badagry, and had he been successful would doubtlessly, as he intended, have attacked Abbeokuta also, and given a blow to the advance of Christianity and civilization in Africa, from which it would have taken her long to recover. On this account Mr. Beecroft felt it his duty to apply to the senior officer on the coast for a force to destroy Lagos, his movements being hurried by hearing that the king of Dahomey had sent 1,000 picked troops for its support.

FIRST EXPEDITION TO LAGOS, AND ATTACK ON THE 'BLOODHOUND' AND BOATS OF THE SQUADRON BY THE FOLLOWERS OF KOSOKO.

After Akitoye had escaped to Badagry, when he was in danger of being pursued by his brother, he applied to Mr. Beecroft for British protection, if not for assistance to restore him to his government. The Commodore, on receiving Mr. Beecroft's report, and believing that Kosoko would not venture to offer any annoyance, despatched the 'Bloodhound,' with a few boats in tow, to accompany Mr. Beecroft, with a flag-of-truce up the river Ogan to Lagos, the seat of his government. Mr. Beecroft was directed to represent to Kosoko that he came as a messenger of peace to advise and negotiate with him, but in no way to commit any act of hostility. Indeed the strength of the squadron of boats was totally inadequate for any such purpose. Kosoko, however, somewhat naturally, did not comprehend this system of proceeding. Seeing a steamer and eighteen armed boats coming up towards his town, he disregarded the flag-of-truce, and became firmly impressed with the idea that they had hostile intentions. Instantly collecting his war-canoes, a very considerable and formidable fleet was got together to retard the advance of the supposed enemy, while the barracoons at the side of the river and every available spot was lined with his troops, well armed with muskets, and possessed of no small number of great guns. As the 'Bloodhound' and boats, therefore, advanced up the river, in spite of the flag-of-truce, they encountered a severe fire from the concealed batteries along the whole line of the shore. Still steadily on they went, returning the fire with interest from their own guns till they got abreast of the town. A desperate and gallant dash was then made for the shore. Some of the stockades were carried, the enemy driven back, and the town entered and fired; but again the negroes rallied and came down in overwhelming numbers on the British. It was soon evident that their force was inadequate to hold the place: two officers were already killed and several men wounded. Unwillingly, therefore, they were compelled to retreat, and gaining their boats, pulled out of gun-shot, and anchored till the following morning. They then left the river, well assured that the treachery of Kosoko would speedily be punished.

SECOND ATTACK ON AND DESTRUCTION OF LAGOS,

December 26th, 1851.

The first expedition against Lagos having failed solely from want of sufficient force to keep possession of the town, Commodore Bruce resolved, as soon as he could collect a sufficient number of vessels, to send one of ample strength and thoroughly organized, which should not fail to drive the slave-dealing chief, Kosoko, from his stronghold.

The British squadron which, towards the end of December, the commodore had assembled off Lagos, consisted of H.M.S. 'Penelope,' 46, flag-ship of Commodore Bruce, Captain H. Lyster; H.M.S. 'Sampson,' 68, Captain Lewis T. Jones; H.M.S. 'Waterwitch,' 8, Commander A. Gardner; H.M.S. 'Volcano,' 5, Commander Coote; H.M.S. 'Harlequin,' Commander 'Wilmot; H.M.S. 'Bloodhound,' Lieut. Patey, tender to 'Sampson;' H.M.S. 'Teazer,' 2, Lieut. Leckie, tender to 'Penelope;' H.M.S. 'Sealark,' 8, Commander Edward J. Southeby. The smaller of these vessels were able to cross the bar of the river, while the rest furnished an ample supply of boats for the expedition. The command was given to Captain Lewis T. Jones, of the 'Sampson,' with Captain Henry Lyster, of the 'Penelope,' as his second, both volunteers on the occasion. They were accompanied by Commander Hillyar, of the 'Penelope,' and Lieut. Saumarez, of the 'Sampson.' An iron boat with rockets, belonging to Mr. Beecroft, which was also sent, was commanded by Lieut. John Corbett, and two paddle-box boats, by Lieutenants Edward Marshall and F. D. Rich. Everything being ready by the 23rd of December, Captain L. T. Jones anchored the 'Sampson' at the back of the surf, in the most advantageous position for throwing shells occasionally across the lagoon into the town. He then crossed the bar of the Ogan with the boats of the 'Sampson' and some of the other vessels, preceded by the 'Bloodhound,' and anchored off Point Bruce for the night. On the morning of the 24th, on landing on the shore some way from the town, he found Mr. Beecroft with the ex-king, Akitoye, who had arrived just before, bringing with him from Badagry and Abbeokuta some 500 men; while others, who came in through the course of the day, made their numbers amount in all to 640. Having mustered and inspected these troops, Captain Jones distributed to them, as a mark of recognition, a white neck-tie, with which they seemed much pleased. He likewise ordered that they should be supplied with three days' bread from the 'Bloodhound.'

At 2 P.M. the 'Bloodhound' weighed, and crossed to the opposite side of the river, where the boats of the 'Sampson,' under the orders of Lieut. Thomas Saumarez, were sent to launch all the canoes at the slave-station on the left bank worth bringing off. At 3 Lieut. Saumarez returned, having in a very short time launched seven large and two small canoes—a most desirable acquisition for the conveyance of the auxiliary forces. The landing party was covered by the guns of the 'Bloodhound,' firing to the right and left, and over the heads of the men, to check the advance of an armed force seen from the mast-head approaching. This service accomplished, the 'Bloodhound' dropped up the stream with the tide, for the purpose of gaining a knowledge of the navigation of the river, and of examining the lines of defence. The line of sea-defence extended from the south point of the island of Lagos to the north point, along the west point, a distance of nearly two miles; and in parts where the water was sufficiently deep for boats to land, stakes, in double rows, were driven in 6-feet water; and along the whole of this distance an embankment and ditch for the protection of infantry, and at chosen points exceedingly strong stockades, made from stout cocoa-nut trees, were erected for guns, the guns being laid for the difficult points of the passage. Twenty-five guns were found to be so placed. As the 'Bloodhound' ascended the river, three guns from the south end of the island opened on her, the fire being very well directed, but faulty in elevation. As her commander now knew the channel, he was able to return under steam. At 3.30 P.M., she, according to agreement, accompanying the boats of the 'Penelope,' was seen crossing the bar; and at 5 the 'Bloodhound' and 'Teazer' anchored near together, out of range of the enemy's shot. Captain Lyster, then on board the 'Bloodhound,' arranged with Captain Jones the plan of attack. They decided that the auxiliaries should keep on the right bank of the river, proceeding up as the steam-vessels advanced; then that the steamers and boats should pass the line of defences as quickly as possible; and then, keeping round the north of the island, should at that point make the grand attack. It was there that the king Kosoko and the slave-dealers resided; and it was considered right that they should be the first to receive punishment. The day was now too far advanced to commence the attack; and the following day, the 25th, being Christmas-day, it was resolved that it should be spent as quietly as possible, and be a day of rest. This it was, except that the enemy wasted a vast quantity of ammunition by firing their guns at the squadron, which was far beyond their range.

At dawn of day on the 26th the 'Bloodhound' weighed, accompanied by the 'Sampson's' boats in two divisions, the one preceding, the other following, and proceeded up the river. The 'Teazer' came directly after her, with the boats of the 'Penelope' arranged in the same order, and accompanied by Mr. Beecroft's iron boat 'Victor,' fitted for rockets. As soon as the vessels got within range, the enemy opened a fire of great guns and musketry from the whole line of the embankment, which was filled with men; but so well sheltered were they, that the muzzles of their muskets only were visible. This fire was returned by the steamers with their great guns only, and though with very beautiful precision, yet with very little apparent effect; indeed, from the soft nature of the green wood of which the stockades were composed, the shot could not do them much injury, while the guns themselves, being retired, could not be seen. At 7.20 A.M. the 'Bloodhound' and her division of boats had passed the north-west point, and in trying to get round the north point, grounded in 8 feet. The black pilot, John Johns, was in no respect to blame for this, as the channel had filled up since he was there last. Mr. Beecroft, who was on board with his interpreter Richards, had also been assisting in piloting the steamer. She had hitherto carried three fathom all the way up; but now, on sounding, it was found impossible to get further. Anchors were, therefore, immediately laid out to heave her off. During this time a very beautiful and deliberate fire was kept up from her 18-pounder, directed by Mr. Barry, the gunner, and from her 12-pounder howitzer by Lieut. M'Arthur, R.M.A., with shrapnel and common shells, by which means the enemy's great guns abreast of her were silenced. Nothing, however, could put an end to the perpetual showers of musketry which the blacks kept discharging at the vessel. The greater part of the balls, however, fell short; but every now and then one or two would fall on board, and hit the men slightly. As they were of necessity very much exposed, very few escaped a slight touch. Meantime the 'Teazer,' in following the 'Bloodhound,' had also grounded at a considerable distance from her, so that the two vessels could afford no support to each other. While the 'Bloodhound' remained on shore, the division of boats under Captain Jones continued to throw shot and shell as any movement was observed on shore, and to check the operations of the enemy, who had succeeded in bringing a gun under shelter to bear, the shot at each discharge coming nearer and nearer, though the gun itself could not be seen. At 10 A.M. Captain Jones despatched Lieut. T. Saumarez in command of the 'Sampson's' gun-boats, viz., first and second life-boats and pinnace, round the north-east point, to ascertain the strength and position of the guns on that side the island. As they neared the stockades, a fire from four guns in a strong position was immediately opened on them. This fire was returned from the life-boats and pinnace by the 24 and 12-pound howitzers with such good effect as to have upset and turned out of its carriage one of these guns.

The object of ascertaining the position of the guns on the north-east side being attained, the boats were recalled, as it became requisite to reserve the ammunition and shells for the grand assault, when the other division under Captain Lyster should have joined.

As the fire from gingals, petrals, and muskets continued from the ditch and embankment abreast of the ship, and as the enemy were observed trying to bring their guns into position, at 2.30 Lieut. Thomas Saumarez, with the boats of the 'Sampson,' accompanied by Lieut. E. M'Arthur, R.M.A., in command of the marine artillery, was despatched to attempt a landing and to spike the guns. They did all that men could do; but it was found impossible to make their way through the showers of musketry opened against them. Mr. Richards, a gallant young midshipman, was mortally wounded, and 10 men severely wounded; while so hot was the fire, that there seemed every prospect of the whole party being cut off. Still they bravely persevered. While undaunted efforts were being made to get on shore, Mr. William J. Stivey,[1] carpenter of the 'Sampson,' setting a noble example, which others followed, leaped on shore, and, axe in hand, hewed manfully away at the stakes to make a passage for the boats to go through them. All, however, was in vain; their numbers were thinning rapidly, and at length Lieut. Saumarez himself, being hit in three places, reluctantly, but very properly, gave the signal for return. The remainder of the day was spent in throwing shot and shell, as circumstances required, so as to prevent any guns being moved against the steamer. The nearest shot passed about 10 yards astern of her.

We must now return to the 'Teazer,' and the operations connected with her. As soon as she grounded, Captain Lyster ordered the anchor to be run out immediately, and kept up a steady fire from the ship and boats. At half-past 8 the water seemed to rise, and all the exertions of her own crew, and the crews of the boats accompanying her, failed to get her off, up to this time her 32-pounder bore on the enemy's battery, and kept it in check, but it was not long before two guns were brought to a stockade, about a point on her quarter, and in a position which none of the 'Teazer's' guns could reach. These guns were admirably served, and it soon became evident that they would destroy the vessel before the tide rose again. Under these circumstances but one of two courses remained, either to blow up the 'Teazer,' to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, should the expedition have ultimately failed, or to land and destroy the guns annoying her. As may be supposed, Captain Lyster, supported by Commander Hillyar and the other officers with him, were not very long in deciding on the course to be pursued. Not a doubt existed on the minds of any of them of the success of the proposed plan, but all were aware of the great loss of life they would too probably suffer in carrying it into execution. The following boats were at once formed in line abreast, ready for the attack:—

1, gig, Captain Lyster, Mr. Wroughton, midshipman; 2, whaleboat, Commander Hillyar, Mr. Park, midshipman; 3, 1st lifeboat, Lieut. P. Marshall, Mr. Puddicombe, midshipman; 4, 2nd lifeboat, Lieut. E. D. Rich, Mr. E. Brown, naval cadet, Mr. Wilson, carpenter; 5, Victoria (rocket-boat), Lieut. J. Corbett, Mr. Gillham, master's assistant, Mr. B. F. B. Clark, master's assistant, Mr. James Blight, boatswain; 6, pinnace, Mr. H. Hathorn, mate; 7, 1st cutter, Mr. S. B. Balfour, acting mate. Mr. H. A. Dewar, gunner; 8, 2nd cutter, Mr. F. R. Fletcher, midshipman.

All being ready, the boats, as before mentioned in line abreast, pulled in towards the stockade, where the best place for landing appeared to exist, keeping up all the time a continued fire of spherical, grape, and canister shot. As the boats touched the shore, they received a discharge directly in their faces, of some 1,500 muskets, but, notwithstanding this, they undauntedly landed, and forming on the beach, after some severe fighting they forced their way into the stockade, driving out the enemy, who fled into the thick bush close to the rear of it. Among those who landed and charged with Captain Lyster were Mr. Walling and Mr. Spruole, surgeons of the 'Penelope,' and who afterwards exposed themselves equally in their attendance on the wounded under fire. Scarcely had the blacks retreated than Lieut. Corbett rushed ahead, and spiked all the guns in the fort.

This object being accomplished, Captain Lyster issued orders for the re-embarkation of the party, but scarcely had he done so, when it was discovered that the enemy having made a desperate rush at the 1st life-boat, had succeeded in getting hold of her, and were tracking her along the beach towards the spot where the guns were posted which had first opened on the 'Teazer.' On seeing this, the British, headed by their gallant leader, Captain Lyster, hurried down to the shore for the purpose of retaking her, but some delay occurred in consequence of having to divide her crew of 60 men among the other boats, which somewhat crowded them. The enemy, on seeing this, rushed back from their concealment in the woods, by swarms, and poured in a destructive crushing fire on the boats, at pistol range. On this occasion, a gallant young officer, Mr. F. B. Fletcher, midshipman, in command of the second cutter, and who had charge of the boats while on shore, was shot through the head and killed. Several officers and men had before been wounded on shore, among whom was Lieut. Williams of the Marine Artillery, who, though hit in three places, had continued at the head of his men till they returned to the boats. Commander Hillyar was also wounded, and very many of the men were killed. Among the latter was James Webb, gunner's mate, belonging to the first life-boat. When he saw that she was likely to fall into the hands of the blacks, he made a desperate attempt to spike her guns, but while thus engaged, he was cut down by the enemy and mortally wounded. While Commander Hillyar was arranging the boats, so that they might keep up their fire as they retreated to the 'Teazer,' some of the Kroomen on board Mr. Beecroft's 'Victoria,' let go her anchor, and there she lay exposed entirely to the fire of the blacks. On seeing this Captain Lyster pulled back to her to learn what was the matter—"What has occurred now?" he asked of Mr. Blight, the boatswain. "The Kroomen let go the anchor without orders," he replied. "Then slip your cable and get out of this," exclaimed Captain Lyster. "It's a chain-cable, clenched to the bottom, and we can't unshackle it," replied Mr. Blight. On hearing this disheartening intelligence, Captain Lyster jumped on board to see what assistance he could render. Just then, Lieut. Corbett staggered up towards the stern, exclaiming, "I have done it, and am alive!" In truth, he had cut the chain-cable with a cold chisel, and in so doing, while leaning over the bows of the boat, had received five different wounds, which, with the addition of a severe one received on shore, rendered him almost helpless. His right arm was hanging to his side, but he still with his left worked away, and assisted in getting the 'Victoria' off to the 'Teazer.' While Captain Lyster was leaving the 'Victoria' to get into his own boat, he was shot in the back with a musket-ball. On account of the hot fire to which they were still exposed, and the number of men already killed and wounded, he judged that he should not be justified in attempting to recover the life-boat on that occasion. Leaving her, therefore, on the beach, the party returned to the 'Teazer.' The people who had at first got possession of the life-boat had afterwards abandoned her, but they now returned, and some 40 or 50 got into her, intending to carry her off. Seeing this, Mr. Balfour, acting-mate, assisted by Mr. Dewar, gunner, pulling back to the shore in the first cutter, threw a rocket towards her, and so well directed was it, that it entered her magazine, and blew it up. As soon as the party got back to the 'Teazer' (having now pretty well silenced the fire of the enemy), they set to work to get all the provisions out of her, and then having thrown overboard all her coals, with the exception of 10 tons, they contrived to shore her up, to await the rising of the tide. At length their exertions were crowned with success, and at sunset they succeeded in heaving her off. Then getting up the steam, they anchored out of gun-shot for the night.

On this unfortunate occasion there were no less than 13 men killed belonging to H.M.S. 'Penelope,' besides Mr. Fletcher and Mr. H. M. Gillham, master's assistant, who afterwards died of his wounds; while Captain Lyster, Commander Hillyar, Lieut. Corbett, and First-lieut. of Marines, J. W. C. Williams, were wounded severely, together with 57 men of the 'Penelope,' and 2 of the 'Teazer,' most of them also very severely wounded. Crowded together in so small a vessel during the night, the poor fellows suffered severely, though the medical officers of the expedition, Mr. R. Carpenter, senior surgeon, Mr. Walling, assistant-surgeon of 'Penelope,' Dr. Barclay, acting-surgeon, and Dr. Sproule, assistant-surgeon, exerted themselves to their very utmost in the performance of their duty on the wounded. During the day they had never flinched from exposing their own lives, as, in the midst of the fire, they stepped from boat to boat to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded and dying.

Soon after 7 o'clock in the morning, the 'Teazer' was got under weigh, and finding the right channel, steamed up towards the 'Bloodhound,' with the squadron of boats in her company. As soon as she was seen from the 'Bloodhound,' Captain Jones ordered that the guns of the 'Bloodhound's' gun-boats, should open a deliberate flanking fire on the west part of the enemy's defences, and he then sent a boat under Mr. Bullen, his clerk, who was acting as his aid-de-camp, to point out to Captain Lyster the position in which he wished the 'Teazer' to be anchored. At 8.10 the 'Teazer' having anchored, Captain Jones pulled on board her, to consult further with Captain Lyster on their plan of proceeding. The rocket-boats were then ordered to take up a position to the northward of the 'Bloodhound.' This was quickly done, and Lieut. Marshall threw some rockets with beautiful effect, setting fire to several houses, among which, to the satisfaction of all, was that of the Prime Minister Tappis. When this was seen, a hearty and spontaneous cheer ran through the whole squadron for the crew of the rocket-boat who had thus punished the chief instigator of the former attack on the British boats. After this, the rocket-boat shifted her position ahead of the 'Teazer,' and a general but deliberate fire was opened from the whole force. At 10:45 Lieut. Marshall threw a rocket which struck the battery below Tappis's house, and at the same time a shot from the 'Teazer' capsized the gun. The firing became still more rapid—an awful explosion ensued—a magazine of the enemy's had blown up, and from this moment the fate of Lagos was decided, house after house caught fire, and the whole town was shortly in a general blaze.

At half-past 10 A.M:., Commander Coote was seen coming up the river with the boats of the 'Volcano,' and at a quarter before 2 Commander Gardner, with the boats of the 'Waterwitch,' joined the expedition. At a quarter before 3, Commander Coote was despatched with the gun-boats of the squadron, and accompanied by the rocket-boat, to attack Kosoko's house, with directions, however, to fire only a few rounds, Captain Jones being unwilling further to destroy the town, which, it was very evident, must soon fall into the possession of the British and their allies. The boats being recalled, the firing ceased, and a summons was sent to Kosoko, by a friendly chief, belonging to the Island of Eschalli, with a flag-of-truce, urging him to capitulate. He was allowed till Monday morning to consider the proposals of the British Commander. All acts of hostility were to cease till then.

The following day was Sunday, and Captain Jones determined to make it a day of rest, provided the enemy showed no signs of hostility. "He felt it" (as he observes) "as a national question that they should duly observe the Sabbath." Every preparation, however, was made for the final assault, which it was intended should take place on the following day, should Kosoko still reject the proffered terms. During the whole of the day canoes from the north-east side of Lagos were observed crossing to the island of Echalli, loaded with furniture and household goods, but they were not stopped, though a jolly-boat might have hindered them, as Captain Jones considered it a matter of no consequence on which side of the river the property of the inhabitants remained, especially that of persons flying for their lives. He also wished to show the people that the British had not come to plunder, but that their sole object was to stop the slave-trade. At 3:45 it was ascertained that Kosoko and his followers had abandoned the town, and fled into the woods. The women and children had been sent away some days before, and it now appeared that Akitoye and 2,000 had absconded during the night in 50 or 60 canoes. Captain Jones therefore sent his aid-de-camp, Mr. Bullen, with the interpreter, Richard, to the chiefs of the auxiliary forces, desiring them to close with the canoes, and to escort the rightful King Akitoye to his house, and to instal him in office, preferring that those who had remained faithful to him in adversity should have the satisfaction of acting as his bodyguard in the hour of success. Akitoye, therefore, and the blacks, who had accompanied him from Abbeokuta, crossed the river, and took possession of those buildings which had escaped destruction. Fortunately a creek and swamp, running some two hundred yards inland from the river, had checked the flames, and saved the eastern part of the town. The only portion of the British forces landed was a small body, under Commander Coote, who went on shore to spike guns.

The next morning he, with Commander Gardner and the boats of the 'Sampson' and 'Penelope,' were employed in a similar way. They returned in the afternoon, having by extraordinary exertions embarked or destroyed 52 pieces of ordnance.

On examining the town, desolate as it now appeared, considerable cleverness was perceptible in the cunning methods devised for entrapping assailants into ambush. In fact the place in every respect was far stronger than was supposed, even when this second attack was planned. Every officer and man engaged in it deserves the greatest credit for their zeal, courage, and perseverance. There can be no doubt that its capture struck one of the severest blows the slave-trade has ever experienced; and that thus, though we must deplore the sad loss of so many valuable lives, and the amount of suffering experienced by the wounded, yet we must feel that these exertions and sufferings have not been thrown away, but have much advanced the cause of religion and civilization in Africa, and will aid in wiping away the darkest stain which exists on the present history of the world.

Besides the killed and wounded already mentioned, Lieut. Thomas Saumarez, of the 'Sampson,' was severely wounded, and Mr. Thomas Richards, midshipman, was killed, shot through the brain, while ten men belonging to the same ship were wounded.

Captain Jones in his despatch especially mentions Capt. Lyster and Commander Hillyar, neither of whom, though severely wounded, would return on board till they had seen the success of their exertions. He speaks also in high terms of Lieutenants Marshall, Rich, Corbett, and Saumarez; of Mr. J. Cook, gunner of 'Sampson;' of Charles Blofield, boatswain's mate, who commanded the pinnace when there remained no officer to put into her; of George Tule, gunner of Royal Marine Artillery, who served a 24in. howitzer in the first life-boat with admirable precision; of Mr. Donelly, the surgeon of the 'Sampson,' who nearly lost his life in coming to the assistance of the wounded; of Mr. Hacking, purser; and of Mr. Robert H. Bullen, who acted as his secretary and aid-de-camp, and "than whom," he observes, "no Lieutenant could have done better."

It is to be hoped that Akitoye will not forget the lesson he may have learned at Abbeokuta, and that thus Lagos may be from henceforth as well known for its advancement in Christianity and civilization as it has hitherto been for its slave-dealing and wickedness.