The Prometheus returned to Sierra Leone on the 9th, having left Cape Palmas on the 2nd. The Espoir arrived the same day from the Island of Mayo, Cape de Verdes.

The Alecto hove up for Lagos to meet the mail. I learn from Commander Raby, who is a very active officer, and of considerable knowledge in coast matters, that the Slave Trade is now at its height in Whydah; legal trade is completely stopped, and they allow no intercourse with men-of-war. A Captain Croft, of the Barbara, of Bristol, told Commander Raby, that he was on shore at this place the last time the Alecto had anchored there; the people on shore made him a close prisoner, and when one of his kroomen went to the beach to make a signal to his vessel, the natives seized him up and beat him unmercifully.

The slavers come down the coast under the American flag, and lay off the place, making their arrangements under their noses, and as soon as the cruizers leave for Lagos, they ship their slaves in 4 or 5 hours, and get off; if it had not been for the protection afforded them by the American flag, and false or real papers, which these vessels can easily procure, I am confident several prizes must have been taken by our cruizers in the Bights, for I find, on reference to the reports of Commander Raby, that no less than 2,500 slaves have alone been shipped from Whydah in so short a period as 6 weeks; although it will be seen, by examining the logs of cruizers employed in the vicinity, that Whydah and its vicinity have been carefully watched.

I have lately been able to add one more vessel, the Ranger, to this part of the station (the Bights), and soon hope to receive tidings of a check, no matter how small, having been put to this illegal traffic. It is to be regretted that hitherto no American cruizer has been stationed on this part of the coast, but I have lately received intelligence that one of their gun-boats, Sumpter, will guard the Bights.

Her Majesty's gun-boat Brune, Lieutenant Henry Hand commanding, was at anchor off the Consulate until the 18th September, when, in consequence of a disturbance at Badagry, she started for that place, and arrived at a village named Beechy, about 12 miles from Lagos, and came to for the night, in order to ship wood cut for her by the order of King Docemo.

The next morning Lieutenant Hand, in his capacity as Acting Consul, held a meeting of the Chiefs of Badagry on board the Brune, and settled the palaver satisfactorily.

I inclose, for your information, the copy of a report made by Mr. Richards, Acting Second Master of the Brune, to Lieutenant Hand, Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Lagos, of his proceedings at Abbeokuta.

I regret to have to inform you that the Ashantees are still in a very unsettled state, and hostilities may be expected any day between our troops on the Gold Coast and this numerous and powerful tribe, unless we can manage to settle the grand palaver, so long pending, in an amicable manner; but the difficulty is to get these people to be up to time.

I have received no further news of the King of Dahomey's movements with regard to Abbeokuta, but I doubt if he will rest until he has attacked that place, and thereby washed out, to some extent, the insult offered to his father, and which I believe he is determined to do.

Since my last report (October 2), no intelligence has reached me of the Niger Expedition. I have communicated with Captain Walker in charge, and issued every necessary instruction to the senior officer in the Bights to render whatever assistance Captain Walker may be in need of.

Archer started (October 2) for Benguella, and received intelligence that a vessel under American colours had shipped a cargo of 300 slaves between that place and Little Fish Bay, some 6 weeks previous.

Commander Fitzroy left for the latter anchorage on the 18th September, and informs me that the American vessels, fitted as whalers, had been trying to negotiate for slaves at that place, but having failed, proceeded to the southward of the limits of my station, where there is little doubt they will ship a cargo.

I am happy in being able to report a second capture of the Espoir, although she has only been so short a time on the station. It appears that while in latitude 4° 44' north, longitude 14° 21' west, she sighted and took the well-known slave-vessel Clara Windsor, having on board 850 slaves. The particulars of this capture is forwarded separately for your information. The Clara Windsor put in to Ascension, when she was supplied with water, and started the same day for Sierra Leone, to be placed in the Vice-Admiralty Court.

Rear-Admiral Sir H. Keppel.

SIR,

W. EDMONSTONE.

(Inclosure.)—Mr. Richards to Lieutenant Hand.

Brune, Lagos, July 25, 1860.

I HAVE the honour to state, that in obedience to your orders I proceeded for Abbeokuta on the 17th instant, with your message to the Alake and Chiefs, and found, on arriving there, that they had already acceded to the wishes of the merchants in opening the river-road. I therefore waited on His Majesty, and, explaining my errand, congratulated him on having allowed the river to be opened, which he assured me was permanently so.

2. With reference to your inquiries of the Alake and Chiefs as to the best mode of establishing peace, I have the honour to state, that they would hold out no hopes of any settlement at present; that their enemies-having destroyed the towns of Ibo and Illugun, and, moreover, had entered into a league with the King of Dahomey to attack Abbeokuta itself—were the aggressors; and that their honour and safety demanded that they should prosecute the war, an opinion in which the merchants of Abbeokuta concur; but they will be glad to confer at all times with the Consul about the war.

3. At a meeting of the merchants of that place, at which I was present at their request, they stated that the stoppage of the road for such a length of time was owing principally to the town of Igbein, in Abbeokuta, in which reside the principal part of the Native Trading Company, and who are opposed to the residence of European merchants in Abbeokuta; that though the road was originally closed to keep the people from deserting from the camp, to take up their trading occupations, yet after a time, when the rest of the towns, 144 in number, were willing that it should be open to foreigners on their paying a certain duty, they opposed themselves, and they only consented when the Alake threw the whole responsibility of the proceeding on themselves. In order to do away with any just plea for again shutting the road, which they admit, with the exception of Igbein, is not done out of enmity to them, they have obtained a promise from the Alake to authorize the King of Lagos to seize all native trading canoes coming from Abbeokuta. By these means they anticipate they will secure the river-road from further interruption. These, their views, they desire me to explain to you, trusting you will do what lies in your power to forward their interests.

4. With reference to your instructions as to obtaining information about the war, I have the honour to state, that nothing has been heard of any further hostile engagements. On good authority I was informed that the people of Ijebu, who were until lately neutral, have sent presents to the people of Abbeokuta, and it is thought there is a possibility of the Ibaddans accepting peace were a message sent.

In conclusion, I have the honour to state I left Abbeokuta yesterday, and arrived here this day. I have, &c. Lieutenant Hand.

JOHN RICHARDS.

No. 68.-Commander Bedingfeld to Commodore Edmonstone. SIR, Prometheus, December 31, 1860. I Do not think that the Slave Trade is carried on to any extent on the Northern Division. The Portuguese on the River Jeba possess a number of domestic slaves. Mrs. Lightbourn, at the

head of the Pongas, has barracoons, with a number of slaves, who, I believe, are sent across to the Nunez, and shipped from there in French vessels as free emigrants. There are also canoes passing from the Sherbro to the Mellacore and Forecareah, with slaves in; some of whom have been captured off Kent. I dare say that if any opportunity would offer, Mrs. Lightbourn would ship off a cargo.

I did hear a report of a brig getting away from the Pongas, with 60 slaves, but it proved to be a French emigrant vessel.

Legal Commerce.-From the Gambia down to the Pongas the trade is in ground-nuts, bemi-seed, hides, timber, and a small quantity of gold and ivory. The trade is chiefly carried on in French and American vessels. There is a depôt at the Iles de Los, belonging to a trader of New York. He supplies all the rivers with Yankee notions, and in return gets nuts and hides at Matacong.

Mr. is doing well, growing indigo.

In Yacony Bay and Bompey and Sherbro rivers the timber trade is carried on, but very slowly. I believe that there is good timber up the Bagroo, but it has not yet been surveyed.

All down the Liberian coast the trade is palm-oil and sugar, which is very much increased: also sugar, cotton, and indigo, on the St. Paul's river. The sugar plantations extend for 25 miles on either side, and are very thriving. They have a small flat-bottomed steamer which can go over all the bars.

At Bassa and Palmas the people are trying indigo and cotton both of which seem to thrive well.

The people at Palmas are building a hospital for strangers, as so many of the Bonny traders call in there. They are also going to have a new light for ships calling in, and have to pay 3 dollars' light dues. I have, &c. Commodore Edmonstone.

NORMAN B. BEDINGFELD.

No. 70.-Commodore Edmonstone to the Secretary to the Admiralty. (Extract.) Arrogant, at Sierra Leone, March 17, 1861.

I HAVE the honour to inclose, for their Lordships' information, a copy of Lieutenant Bennett's letter reporting his proceedings while up the River Niger.

The Secretary to the Admiralty.

SIR,

W. EDMONSTONE.

(Inclosure 1.)-Lieutenant Bennett to Commodore Edmonstone. Bloodhound, Fernando Po, December 1, 1860. IN compliance with your orders I left Mayumba Bay on the 4th October, and arrived at Ascension at 9 P.M. on Saturday the 20th. On Thursday, the 25th at 6 P.M., the defects having been made good, the ship provisioned, and deck cargo having been taken on board, I

sailed for the Bights, and reached Whydah on the 6th November, when receiving information from Commander Wratislaw, of the Ranger, that Commander Raby was expected the next morning, I anchored to await his arrival.

The Alecto arrived on the 7th, and I received orders from Commander Raby to proceed to Fernando Po to coal, and await his arrival. I arrived there on the 12th (Saturday), and on Monday morning Commander Raby arrived. Having filled with coals, I received my orders from Commander Raby (a copy of which is inclosed) to go to the Rivers Brass and Niger, and in consequence of the Acting Consul at Lagos not deeming it proper to leave that place, I was directed to act for him. I reached the mouth of the Brass on the evening of the 16th November, having experienced an extraordinary strong current against us. Off the Brass I found the barque Oriente, of Liverpool, and having engaged her master to pilot me across the bar, I weighed at daylight on the 17th, and proceeded to the anchorage off the factories. The English traders having come on board, I explained to them the service on which I was employed, and finding that the Brass towns are 35 miles up the river, and that it was impossible to get the ship any nearer to them, I requested those gentlemen to attend me in a boat expedition to the towns of Abalambra and Bassambra, which together constitute Brass Town.

I left the Bloodhound at half-past 4 the next morning (18th) in the whaler, attended by the gig of the ship, under the charge of Mr. T. Stringer, Master's Assistant, and the boats of the English traders. The crews of the Bloodhound's boats were, with the exception of the coxswain's, composed of Kroomen, as I did not think it advisable to subject more Europeans than I could possibly help to the influence of the climate. We reached the towns at 9.30 A.M., and immediately sent to tell the Kings I wished to see them; it was, however, some time before they could be found, but shortly after 2 P.M., they came, attended by the principal Chiefs, to the Ju-ju House. I then, through an interpreter supplied by the traders, informed them why I had visited their towns, and after fully explaining what the result would be if they in any way molested the vessels on the Niger, I drew up the inclosure No. 3 for their signature.

I then invited them to return with me to the Bloodhound, and to go to the Niger with me, but this they declined to do, saying they would go to the new factory in their own canoes, and meet me there. Finding I could not alter their determination, and having concluded my business with them, I left the town at half-past 5 P.M., but in consequence of grounding in the creek, did not reach the Bloodhound until 1 A.M. At 11 A.M. of the same day (19th) weighed and