You will, moreover, report, after consultation with the senior naval officer on the station, as to the amount of force which will be required for the maintenance of British authority on the island, and for the protection of the place from attacks on the part of the neighbouring Chiefs. You will bear in mind, however, that it will be the policy of Her Majesty's Government strictly to avoid all aggression upon the surrounding Chiefs, and that it is on every account desirable to keep the expedition for this purpose within the narrowest limits compatible with the safety of the place. I have requested the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to whom I have transmitted copy of this despatch, to issue instructions in conformity therewith to the officer commanding Her Majesty's naval forces on the West Coast of Africa. H. G. Foote, Esq. J. RUSSELL. No. 5.-Acting Consul McCoskry to Lord J. Russell.—(Rec. July 11.) I DEEM the establishment of a Consular guard here of so much importance that I take the liberty of calling your Lordship's attention to the subject. The progress of Lagos in civilization is much too fast to please the Native Chiefs who pay allegiance to Docemo; they cannot compete either in mercantile or agricultural pursuits with the emigrants from Sierra Leone, Brazil, and Cuba, and the consequence is they go back to their old predatory habits, and the King is unable to control them. At present a native accused of theft, robbery, or any other offence, seeks the protection of one of the Chiefs, and refuses to face his accusers, and were the King to send men to arrest him they would be sure to commit excesses either by maltreating the person or plundering his house, and this would lead to serious disturbances, perhaps to civil war. On the other hand, were a few men of a Consular guard accompanied by a messenger from the King and Consul sent to arrest any man, even a Chief, I am certain he would submit quietly; they already know that at least they will be treated fairly at the Consulate, and if acquitted they are free, and incur no expense. Any one, however, who renders necessary the services of the King's people, if even for his own arrest, has to pay dearly for them. With such a state of things the numerous applications at the Consulate by all classes of the population for the settlement of differences and disputes of all kinds are to be expected, and it is only when we have to call upon the King to carry out the decisions that any difficulty is experienced : this a Consular guard would obviate. On many occasions when the Consul is absent on duty, the "Brune" may also be absent; such a time is the most likely to be seized upon for any attack on Lagos, and then a guard at the Consulate would be most useful: they would serve to give confidence to the inhabitants and maintain order. In all circumstances that may occur to occasion any extraordinary risk to life and property, the Consulate is the place where the best protection is expected, and which a guard can only enable it effectually to give. I do not say that there are at present any prospects of danger in Lagos, but there are, and will be for years to come, the elements of strife between the emigrants and the aboriginal population, and it will take good management to prevent any outbreak till the fusion be complete. The guard need not be numerous, but they ought to be good men; 30 men would be sufficient; they could be easily increased, if thought necessary, by enlisting some of the numerous runaway slaves from Whydah and neighbourhood, many of them well formed and intelligent men, who would be satisfied with less than the usual pay. There will be no objections on the part of the King here to the establishment of the guard, on the contrary, he will be well pleased, and so will all the mercantile and industrious community. Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. W. McCOSKRY. No. 5*.-Orders addressed to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker. By the Commissioners for Executing the Office Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great land, &c. June 28, 1861. of Lord High Britain and Ire HER Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs having, in a letter dated the 22nd instant, transmitted to us the copy of a despatch to Mr. Foote, Her Majesty's Consul at Lagos, in which are stated the reasons which have determined the British Government to take possession of the island of Lagos, and having signified to us the Queen's commands that the senior naval officer on the west coast of Africa should be instructed to co-operate with Mr. Foote in carrying into effect the views of Her Majesty's Government, we send you, for your information and guidance, copy of the above-mentioned letter* and of its inclosure, and also copy of a further letter of the 24th instant, from the Foreign Office, with extract of its inclosure, from which you will perceive that if the occupation of Lagos cannot be effected or maintained without * Merely a transmitting letter. resorting to force, it is not to be undertaken until further instruc. tions from home, and that any permanent force to be employed on shore at Lagos must be of black troops, and not be furnished from any portion of the crews of Her Majesty's ships. Given under our hands this 28th day of June, 1861. Sir B. Walker, Bart, K.C.B., CHARLES EDEN. CHARLES FREDERICK. Rear-Admiral of the Blue, or Senior Officer By command of their Lordships, C. PAGET. (Inclosure.)-Lord J. Russell to Consul Foote. (Extract.) Foreign Office, June 24, 1861. IF you should be of opinion that it would be necessary, in order to secure respect for the British flag, to have a permanent force stationed on shore, you will defer taking possession of the island until a detachment of black troops, which the War Department have been requested to furnish, can be sent to support your authority, as it would be inconvenient that any portion of the men on board Her Majesty's ships should be employed on shore for any length of time for this purpose. H. G. Foote, Esq. J. RUSSELL. No. 6.-Acting Consul McCoskry to Lord J. Russell.—(Rec. Sept. 10.) REFERRING to your despatch of the 22nd of June last, informing me that Her Majesty's Government had decided upon taking possession of the island of Lagos, having on the first opportunity communicated the purport of your despatch to Commander N. B. Bedingfeld, Her Majesty's ship Prometheus, the senior officer of the Bights division, that officer, with great promptness, brought his vessel into the river. At a conference held on board the Prometheus, on the 30th ultimo, we opened the subject to King Docemo, explaining to him fully the intentions of the Government in changing the anomalous protectorate into an avowed occupation; he had no arguments of any weight to urge against the proposition; and as his Chiefs were not admitted, he promised to lay the matter before them, and give his answer on the 1st August. In the meantime we sounded the European residents and the Sierra Leone emigrants, and, with a few exceptions amongst the last, found them favourable to our views; most of them have had reason to complain of the want of protection to property under the rule of Docemo, and every year things are becoming worse instead of better. No redress of grievances could be got without bribing the people about the King's person, and no natives were admitted to his presence without paying, unless with the Consular messenger. On the 1st of August Commander Bedingfeld and I went to the King to hear his answer; but we saw at once, on entering, that the party opposing the cession had succeeded in getting the King to refuse, which he did, on the ground that as the Treaty of Cession had been drawn up here, he did not believe Her Majesty's Government had issued the instruction upon which we were acting. Having endeavoured to satisfy him on this point we took our leave. They then tried to intimidate us by threats, but as Commander Bedingfeld had taken measures to put down any disturbances, none occurred. We have, however, thought it right, considering the aspect the affair had assumed, to inform Docemo that if before the 6th instant he had not made up his mind, we should take formal possession of the island in the name of Her Majesty, and await further instructions. There were at first threats of opposing this by force, but the precaution that had been taken, and, above all, the presence of an imposing vessel like the Prometheus in the river, kept all quiet. Docemo, seeing how matters went, and having himself ascertained the feeling of the European residents, called another meeting at his house, at which he requested all the Europeans and emigrants to be present to hear the proposals of the Government explained. At this time there was great excitement, but owing to the admirable arrangements that had been made, no disturbance took place, and the meeting ended satisfactorily, Articles II and III having been added to the Treaty to satisfy the King. It was then arranged that he and his Chiefs should, next day, come to the Consulate and sign the Treaty, and be present at the ceremony of taking possession. Yesterday an immense crowd had collected about the Consulate to witness the proceedings, and at 1 P.M. the King landed under a salute of 7 guns from the Prometheus, anchored close by. After signing the Treaty, with four of his principal Chiefs, they were conducted to the flag-staff that had been erected outside; the Proclamation inclosed was read, and the British flag unfurled, and saluted with 21 guns; the national anthem sung by a band of children from the Missionary Schools, led by Revs. Messrs. Maser, Macauley, and Sharpe; and concluded with dinner on board the Prometheus, to which Docemo, some of his principal men, and nearly all the Europeans in the place, were invited. I herewith transmit the Treaty of Cession, and I hope your Lordship will approve of what has been done. The benefit to the country, and its influence on this part of Africa, will be immense; but it would not have been effected without some demonstration, as there are many about the King's person to whom the change is hateful. I am greatly indebted to the senior officer for his tact and judgment in assisting me in this matter; and I do not believe we should have succeeded so easily but for the presence in the river of the Prometheus, or some similar vessel. Your Lordship will observe that if the matter has been carried apparently somewhat against the will of Docemo, this was forced upon us by the conduct of his people; as, had we receded, they would have been convinced I was acting without authority, and would have conducted themselves accordingly; and this would not only have affected me, but nearly all the European community, they having supported me throughout. Considering this, and also the ultimate result to which we may reasonably look forward, I await with some confidence your Lordship's approval. Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. W. McCOSKRY. (Inclosure 1.)—Treaty between Norman B. Bedingfeld, Commander of H.M.'s ship Prometheus, and Senior Officer of the Bights Division, and William McCoskry, Esquire, H.B.M. Acting Consul, on the part of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and Docemo, King of Lagos, on the part of himself and Chiefs. Lagos, August 6, 1861. ART. I. In order that the Queen of England may be better enabled to assist, defend, and protect the inhabitants of Lagos, and to put an end to the Slave Trade in this and the neighbouring countries, and to prevent the destructive wars so frequently undertaken by Dahomey and others for the capture of slaves, I, Docemo, do, with the consent and advice of my Council, give, transfer, and by these presents grant and confirm unto the Queen of Great Britain, her heirs and successors for ever, the port and island of Lagos, with all the rights, profits, territories and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, and as well the profits and revenue as the direct, full, and absolute dominion and sovereignty of the said port, island, and premises, with all the royalties thereof, freely, fully, entirely, and absolutely. I do also covenant and grant that the quiet and peaceable possession thereof shall, with all possible speed, be freely and effectually delivered to the Queen of Great Britain, or such person as Her Majesty shall thereunto appoint, for her use in the performance of this grant; the inhabitants of the said island and territories, as the Queen's subjects, and under her sovereignty, Crown, jurisdiction, and government, being still suffered to live there. |