kill, and the remnant we sold to the slave dealers. But through Her Majesty's good actions the slaves are taken from the slavedealers, and are carried to British settlement, where they were made free; moreover, they were made there to observe wisdom and instruction. After this they were brought to their native lands by the expencise of Her Majesty.

The emancipated reached their homes, met their parents, in sound health, and they all began to be merry. This we observe, moreover, several others of the sort, which induces us all to join our voices in one solemn prayer, that the blessing of God may rest on Great Britain Queen.

N.B.-That such good actions of Her Majesty our late King Akitoye observe, and when he is in trouble do beseech Her Majesty for assistance, and the which has been granted.

Her Majesty have heard the whole complaint of our late King, and have deeply search into the matter, and it was found to be in fact he was the right heir of the throne, and that he was driven out by the exiled Prince Kosoko. Her Majesty Queen of Great Britain observ'd that our late King has been perfect in his complaint. This leads Her Majesty's good wishes to bring our late King Akitoye to his home, and replaced him on his former throne. Moreover, the laws of Great Britain is placed in his hands, which we do prove that till his death never transgress.

Previous to this, by the command of His Majesty, the whole town or villages of our late King were delivered to him by the hand of the Queen's Representative, namely, the late Consul J. Beecroft.

After our King's death, the late Consul B. Campbell, by the command of Her Majesty, took his son Docemo and place him on the throne of his father; also he gave him the laws of Great Britain, which his father had left. We humble beg to state that we have not heard that our present King brake any of the laws of Great Britain, Britain Queen.

But on the 28th July last we saw unexpectedly Commander Norman B. Bedingfeld, of Her Majesty's ship Prometheus; and Wm. McCoskry, Acting Consul, came to our King. We afterwards learn that our King's presence is wanted on board Her Majesty's ship Prometheus the following day. He is requested to call on board the said steamer without his Chiefs and Captains; but his reply is that he will not come alone. Notwithstanding this, the Commander replied that if the King choose to come he may left the said Cheifs and Captains behind him, seeing that he, Commander Bedingfeld, has a secreet word to tell the King.

On the next day, the 29th, our King went on board the said steamer, and the secreet word was discovered to him by Commander Bedingfeld; that is, our King must give up the island of Lagos,

with all the "rights, profits, and territories," &c. This was drawn in a paper, and our King is requested to sign the same; and we were witnesses to the same that our King refuses to sign the said paper or Treaty. There is no décision made till our King's return.

On the 3rd of August last, the said Commander and Wm. McCoskry came over to our King with two brass-gun boats, wellarmed Marines, and commanded the King to sign the said Treaty that he has refused to sign on board Her Majesty's ship Prometheus; but our King would not. Previous to this, the King asked the Commander for permission to write to Her Majesty respecting the same, but it was disregarded.

Seeing that the Commander impose so much on the King to sign the said Treaty, he was obliged to tell him that what he agree to is this: that if the white gentlemen and emigrants in the town has any affairs between themselves, let it be settled by themselves.

After this the King was called to the British Consulate to sign what he agree to; but instead of that, the Commander brought before him the rejected Treaty, and told him then that, whether he wish to sign or not, he is ready to take the island of Lagos by compulsion.

To prevent the Commander from firing in the town, and to keep his people from running away for specified time, induces him to sign the said Treaty. We after this learn from the King that he was obliged the more to sign the Treaty in order to be permitted to write to London to Her Majesty.

Dear Madam, we are extremely sorry to state that all the interior Cheifs were our enimies. The reason is, because our late King Akitoye had, as it were, fallen into a covenant with the Queen of Great Britain, and had signed the Treaty for the suppression of the Slave Trade, which the interior Chiefs dislike, seeing they have no more convenient places to dispose of their slaves.

But as we are now receiving such hard treatment as that from Commander N. B. Bedingfeld, of Her Majesty's ship Prometheus, we say, Great Britain now turned her back towards us; and yea! we are falling down before our enimies the slave-dealers.

This induces us to cry unto Her Majesty that we are droping down before our enimies, together with our King, Cheifs, and Captains. Therefore we, in the name of God, beseech Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain to raise us up, and let not our enimies triumph over us. Yea! Her Majesty's praises shall be heard throughout the whole African lands.

We beg, &c.

his

EDON, and 79 others. mark.

(Inclosure 2.)—The Chiefs of Lagos to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. MADAM, Lagos, September 10, 1861. WE, the Undersigned, Cheifs of Lagos, send this as a compliment to Her Majesty.

We herewith beg to state, that since we have written last to Her Majesty, till this present, the island is not at ease. There is much disquietness in the land. The King, as it were, informing the people in the town to be quiet, for that he has written to Her Majesty, and in short expecting to receive a satisfactory reply.

Let us beg to inform Her Majesty that a merchant here, by name Wm. McCoskry, Esq., whom the late Consul G. Foote made a Vice-Consul, is rather a hard man for us.

His actions towards us is very savage.

We do not witness such bad treatments from the late succeeding Consuls or Acting-Consuls as these at Coskry's time. Of this gentleman we beg to say he knows nothing about the management of the town; and we, in our common sense, judge that he is not a fit man for the office he is placed.

We beg to say (not of command) that we do not want this gentleman McCoskry to hold the office of a Vice-Consul any longer in this island. Why so? Our King, in the time of the late Consul B. Campbell, made some rules, which, if any disregard, a penalty of certain sum is to be laid on him. Notwithstanding this Mr. Coskry went against the rules, and the said penalty was laid on him. We see from since that time he was seeking the destruction of our King.

All his endeavours is to be an office-bearer to Her Majesty, in order to get the more chance to revenge himself on the King. This we forsee in his movements.

Properly speaking, this gentleman is our real enemy; and if he continue bearing the office of a Vice-Consul in this island he will totally destroy it-not by his power, but by making many false reports concerning things that we knows nothing of. This induces us to write, as to inform Her Majesty previous.

We hope this few lines will meet Her Majesty, as well as the Royal families, in a good health.

In this we pray that Her Majesty may long live to see the civilization of Africa, by the hand of her good Representatives.

With this, we beg, &c.

his

ONIKOYI M, and 23 others. mark.

(Inclosure 3.)-King Docemo to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. MADAM, King's Palace, Lagos, September 10, 1861. I, KING DOCEMO, of the Island of Lagos, compliments to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain.

By this I return thanks to Her Majesty, and do wish her prosperity and good health.

Let me beg to say that the Queen of Great Britain has done, and still doing, much good for we Africans, the thanks of which we were unable to return.

May I not say the Africans? for what Her Majesty has done for my late father Akitoye were more than what I could express. The goodness, I say, which has been done to my late father, that by bringing him to his home, and replaced him on his former throne. Moreover, he has been authorized to govern all the neighbouring villages by the Representative of Her Majesty, the late Consul J. Becroft.

The laws of Great Britain also have been placed in his hands, and in the which we found written, that the successions to be secured to his heirs males. In obedience to which, after my father's death, I was set on the Throne by the late Consul B. Campbell. Dear Madam,

My father's Treaty with Great Britain Queen were placed in my hands: I had also signed some Treaties with Her Majesty's Representative. These, as well as that of my father, I have in hand, and I am guided by the same.

But unexpectedly, Commander Norman B. Bedingfeld, of Her Majesty's ship Prometheus, come in the river. On the 28th July last, which is the third day after her arrival, the said Commander, accompanied by Wm. McCoskry, Acting Consul, over to my place, and requested me to show my presence on board Her Majesty's ship Prometheus the following day; moreover, I was informed to do without my Cheifs and Captains on my coming. This I rejected, but seeing that I could not be persuaded to do so, the Commander told me to left them behind me, because he has a secreet word to inform me.

The following day, being the 29th, I went on board the said steamer ; the Commander then revealed to me the secreet word, which is a Treaty, that I may give up the island of Lagos, with all the "rights, profits, territories," &c. He requested me to sign it, but I would not, for it looks very strange in my appearance. I took a deep consideration on the same, and call to mind that had the Queen of Great Britain in want of the island of Lagos for her uses, it might not have been given to my late father.

On the 3rd Agst. last I send for the Commander that I wanted to see him; he also send to inform me that he has heard of my preparations to fight him, and that on his coming I must expect to see

him with troops. I immediately sent back the very bearer to inform the Commander that there is nothing of the sort he mentioned in my heart. Notwithstanding this, the Commander, accompanied by Wm. McCoskry, with two brass gun-boats, and lots of well-armed marines, over to my palace. I inquired from the Commander the reason of his calling on me in such manner; he replied that he has heard of my preparations to fight him, which induces him to call on me in this way. I asked him again that do not I send back your messager to inform you that there is no danger in my part? For that I am set on the throne by Her Majesty's command, and shall it be in my mind to fight against the British subjects? Oh no! such intention is beyond my power. After this, the Commander requested me to sign the Treaty that I had refused to sign on board Her Majesty's ship Prometheus. This again I would not sign; but he impose on me so hardly that I was obliged to tell him that what I could do is, that if any gentleman, white or black, has any affair betwixt them, I agree that they should have it settled by themselves.

Such being the case, that the Commander requested me to call on him at the British Consulate the following day, in order to sign the Agreement made.

On the following day I went over to the Consulate, but instead of the one I consented to, the Commander brought before me the afore-mentioned Treaty, aud requested me to sign it. Seeing I am not pleased with the contents, I again refuse to sign it. But he impose on me so much the more, with a strict command that if I would not, he will presently discharge his cannons on the island, and that he will brake it down in few seconds.

To prevent the Commander from discharging his cannons on the land, and to keep the people in the town quiet for specified time, and moreover to be permitted to write Her Majesty on the same account as I herewith have done, induces me to sign the said Treaty. Dear Madam,

I deeply sorry to lay this complaint before your Majesty, seeing there is no other King or Queen on the earth on whom I rely, but Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, seeing that by Her Majesty's command I was set on the throne of my ancestor.

But Commander N. B. Bedingfeld and Wm. McCoskry's determination is to dethrone me; so by this I stretch forth my hands to Her Majesty. Oh, save me! lest I be plucked down.

Herewith I inclose Her Majesty again the duplicate of the Treaty that Commander Bedingfeld and Wm. McCoskry compelled me to sign.

With this I sincerely pray that the blessing of God most gracious might rest on Great Britain Queen. May God make her enemies fall