great vexation), has taken. 2. The taking my Elmina Fort, in which I eat (with great stress) and given to Kwarki, from whose ancestors the King of Ashantee having fought with, took by paying the 1000 pireguans they owed in that fort (one thousand times 81. 2s. sterling)." He was very much excited again. I interrupted him, therefore, with the denial of the fort being given to Kwarki, and that I would explain things to him if he would allow me. He told me to hold on. "The fort is bought, they say. Why, if they wish good understanding with me, they should send a person to inquire of me before. What debt does the King of Elmina, Kobbina Gan, owe that the fort should be taken from him? 3. And the Sierra Leone Governor who came to take it, not being satisfied with that power on the coast, sent his gold ring by Attah (Mr. Plange) to say he takes now the coast, but at the end of four months he would come and take my power also away from me. Auha," he cried out, and many of his people about him questioned, "Is he able?" He was so very much annoyed that he could hardly keep on his seat. I interrupted him again by saying that I do not believe the Governor sent such message, and prayed him to allow me the opportunity of questioning Mr. Plange before him, which he promised. "No," he went on to say, "do the white men know how to travel to fight? We know it here. No! only war must end this matter. 4. There, Atjiempon, my father, has been bound, hands behind him, and his cloth torn to pieces, all goid he wore taken of him, and the soldiers have been selling in the Cape Coast market. 5. Yes, because he wants to take away my power, he receives some bad fellow who has been rambling about here as a messenger from Gyarman, and has sent Kondoya (Lindzey) to accompany him thither, my own country, yes, and should you not find him what will be it then? No! muskets must be fired on this matter." Thank God, although he was so much excited, when he turned to speak to me personally he cooled his tone. He then said, "Why a person like you was not sent before? It is rather late; you will soon hear. But'you as a messenger, though muskets be firing, are safe."

10. Finding him cooled a little, I undertook to explain the interchange and the cause. Then I questioned his " eating from the Elmina Fort," which is meant the annual stipend, whether he has not been promised with its continuation, and moreover doubled, as I understood. answered this with a question, "And what became of what was due before?" I answered an inquiry ought to be made. I

He

observed he was touched, but still I found it was no use to expostulate with him until I have been allowed to open your Honour's letters, because all his attendants about him, with the exception of my landlord, Busoomburootinya, appeared to listen one side and allow no reasoning.

11. He speaks awfully bad of Mr. Plange, and puts him down as the causer of the existing irritation, referring to the taking away his power in four months, telling him in a very disrespectful

manner of the roads to the coast to be closed against him if he, Mr. Plange, was not allowed to cross River Prah with the white captives; and that the Governor had said, with the nail of his thumb to one of his upper front teeth, as though forcing it out, that he will not pay him the amount he asks for the white captives at all, but what he, the Governor, thinks proper; which sign is very disrespectful and vexatious in this and Fantee too. And, lastly, suspecting him very strongly to have misrepresented affairs in Coomassie to the Governor. He then told me to come home to my lodging, and wait for his convenient time to read the letters to him and Chiefs.

12. I am sure, your Honour, I have left nothing here unsaid which he mentioned to me as grievance. I beg, therefore, to leave them to your Honour, to draw out your inferences in comparison to what he openly told me, of having no war with the Governor or white men.

13. There being no call made up to Friday, the 20th, for the reading of the letters I brought, and the antecedent one by a policeman, I talked with my landlord and Ossoo Kokoli, the necessity, which led to their going to the King about it. I was called then about 5 p.m., and Messrs. Ramseyer, Bonnat, and Plange being also called, I was called to read them. The King and people exhibited not the least dissatisfaction on any part of their contents, but the money not being lodged in the hands of his envoys at Cape Coast, which they all at once attributed to Mr. Plange having written to say, the Ashantees being rogues would not allow the white captives to come to the coast when the money be sent to Coomassie.

14. But I sternly denied the having heard anything more than your Honour desiring the King to act in accordance with the original arrangement; the sending the white men to Cape Coast, and there the money be paid by Mr. Grant, in whose hands the money was already lodged, and that of your Honour having given order to Mr. Grant to that effect, and that the King's letter states that the envoys should wait at Cape Coast till then.

15. The King here called out Mr. Ramseyer, and told him, "you would have been ere this on the coast, but Mr. Plange has prevented it; a rogue he is, who is the cause of the existing irritation now between me and the coast; on whose head all that happens will fall;" then turned directly to Mr. Plange himself: "You, have I not told you already, that the safety of Ashantee and the countries on the coast are put on a stake by you" (with a pointed finger at him); “you came and told me of my power to be taken at the end of four months," &c., repeating all what he had told me at my private interview with him. But the excitement was here stronger, because most of his Chiefs were present and united in abusing Mr. Plange. I tried many occasions to pacify them, but I found no chance, neither Mr. Plange was allowed to defend himself. He was asked if he is not an Elmina man as he reported? The poor young man being frightened, lowered his position by saying, in addition to his affirmation, that he is consequently a slave of his. Here the King began to explain how the Elminas sent to ask his succour, which led to his sending Akyempon with money, &c., and why he, being Elmina man, came with commission from the Governor of Cape Coast. Is it because there is nobody at Cape Coast to be sent ? No; but that you might get a chance to play roguery and many other abuses. We, however, sat down until he asked us to go home for this time. I learnt, afterwards, that he expressed a regret that he was so excited before me, fearing that I would think he was angry with me, and repeated his inquiry why I was not sent before. However, he will see for a chance for me to do the best I can between him and the white men. This I have been told by two of his confidentials.

16. From this day's interview I beg to remark that whatever is communicated from this to the coast is brought, through some other channel, back again to Coomassie, and places the writer in a very awkward position. I do not know which way I shall be able to send you this as the path is closed. I have been privately told that he is thinking to give me one man to accompany my cane-man to bring some communication to your Honour; if so, you will have every information necessary. We are all prisoners here-not, of course, in irons as the Fantee traders and the hammock-men, who were sent to take the white captives to the coast, are.

17. It appears as though the end of Ashantee Power or Kingdom is close at hand. You can hardly meet with an aged man to reason with: still I am hard at

work to get chance to expostulate with the King and two of the best of his confisdentials at a quiet night's interview. I have reasons to thank God, because he appears to have good feelings for me, notwithstanding attempts being made by some of his people to make him angry because I went and brought Akyempon from Half-Assinee.

18. I do not suppose they have been able yet to muster over 200 Fantees in Ashantee, but there are over 500 Ashantees on the coast, and his people who are going to war-I mean the commons, not the captains-are all murmuring very much. They have not enough muskets; we find three and two to a musket as they pass by, so that we have much in our favour.

I will write again when he makes up his mind at any time to allow communication with your Honour.

I beg to recommend to your Honour's sharp looking-out for the Ashantee forces the following directions: Appolonia, Wassau, Western Denkirah, Assin and Akim. Pray have an eye on the King of Elmina. He sent private messenger, his own brother, Intekoodji by name, through Assinee by Kreukiaboo, and although Fantees and some Elmina people are in logs here and no way for any communication, he has been despatched since I arrived to pass by the same way. He brought about fifty dollars to purchase slaves, which by mistake were taken from the person that had the keeping of them when catching the Fantees and plundering their property, but the King has restored them.

Thank God we are all in good health, and beg to remain, &c.,

(Signed) JOSEPH DAWSON. His Honour Colonel R. W. HARLEY, C.B., Administrator of Her Majesty's Forts and Settlements on the Gold Coast.

Inclosure 4 in No. 1.

Coomassie, December 29, 1872.

SIR, I have written the Administrator the state of affairs in Coomassie, which I have not the least doubt he will show to you.

I am glad, however, with the success I have this day met in being able to effect the King's yielding to my becoming intermedial between the two Powers, viz., his and that of the British Government, by communicating his grievances. If I am to rely on his promise he has this evening told me, that will stop commencing hostilities until I obtain no satisfaction for

him, but which I am rather afraid he will never get, from the intimation I have in possession of it, viz., the head of Kwarki of Denkirah being sent to him, the Ahkans, i.e., Assins, Denkirahs, Akims, and Wassaus, all being returned to the Kingdom of Ashantee.

I sought for this private interview with him and the most sensible of his confidentials, and I am gratified with having obtained it this evening. I expostulated with them regarding the invasion they make now, and although the King would not stoop to confess the rash and unnatural start made in this invasion, he has acknowledged it by the promise of stopping hostilities until I have communicated with the Governor.

When reasoning with him on the evil effect entailing on the trying of the two Powers, he coolly questioned me, "and what is that? because here in Coomassie, we kill 100 persons in a day for custom, and as the young here are anxious to see something wonderful, he thinks the young on the other (the coast) side feel the same anxiety." What childish idea!

The

He has drained all his forces; the only Chief kept is the Gevabin Chief, who starts when he the King does. strongest force is directed against Denkerah, thinking by that, that he can get to Elmina sooner to take his fort back and the head of Kwarke, who asked the Government to reclaim his ancestor's property, the Elmina Fort, for him.

I only regret the being detained here and not knowing how long, because, unless he changes his mind as to send me back with his grievances, he will not allow me to come, until he finds his failure in the invasion; he may then make use of me to bring about peace. I am here almost starving, because he pays but little attention to the Governor's envoys, being checked by his Chiefs for having been too liberal before; and some fellow having reported here that Colonel Foster told him when he was sent to him by the Governor to receive subsistence, said that giving money to him, he may as well throw it into the sea.

January 1, 1873. Having not as yet closed this, may I beg to wish your Honour a happy new year, and many happy returns of the season. Mine has met me in prison.

I shall be very sorry to miss the chance of seeing your Honour ere you leave the coast. Should you be going ere I return, and you want the journal to the Appolonian Mission you can apply to Mrs. Dawson for it; I am writing her to that effect. I would only beg of your Honour to have an eye on placing your humble

servant in as favourable position as your Honour can, because I have now made up my mind entirely for the Government, and trust the Lord will make me useful for the good of my country in the hand of the Government. May I beg your Honour's acceptance of one of the pairs of sandals I am in search after for the King of Dahomey. I do not know what will please the Administrator and wife from this, as curiosities, having only here Ashantee pipes and moulded weights for gold.

I have heard of a letter having arrived from the coast since last three days, but he has not yet called me or any one to open. Atjiempon has not yet reached Coomassie, he will come on Monday next I hear. Present my best respects to Colonel Foster.

Inclosure 5 in No. 1.

Government House, Cape Coast,
November 25, 1872.

YOUR MAJESTY,-I have the honour to forward for your Majesty's information copy of a Proclamation, which I have issued on my arrival here, announcing my appointment as Administrator of the Government of the Gold Coast by my Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria.

2. In acquainting your Majesty with my assumption of this Government, I desire to convey to your Majesty that I am animated with the desire that nothing but the most friendly relations should exist between us during my administration, and to assure your Majesty that no effort shall be wanting upon my part to prove to your Majesty that such is the wish I very strongly entertain and earnestly hope may be realized.

3. I desire to express also my best wishes for a continuance of your Majesty's health, and that it may long be spared to promote the prosperity and happiness of your people, by developing the commerce of your great country in the peaceful habits of industry.

I have, &c., (Signed) R. W. HARLEY, Colonel, Administrator. His Majesty the King of Ashantee, Coomassie.

Inclosure 6 in No. 1.

Government House, Nov. 28, 1872. YOUR MAJESTY,-I have the honour to acknowledge your Majesty's letter of the

9th instant, from Coomassie, received here on the 25th (three days since), and I hasten to assure your Majesty of the gratification it affords me to find that you have allowed the European missionaries with the Commissioner, Mr. Plange, to leave Coomassie for Formannah, on their way to Cape Coast, for which I beg to offer you my warmest thanks.

2. Her Majesty's Government will also receive this intelligence with much satisfaction, and will not fail to appreciate the good faith and friendliness which your Majesty has displayed.

3. As the 1000l. to be paid to your Majesty by the Baste Mission has been already placed in the hands of Mr. Grant, their agent at Cape Coast, in the presence of your Majesty's Envoys in accordance with the terms of the Acting Administrator's letter, dated 25th October last, addressed to your Majesty, I have given an order to that gentleman, under the seal of this Government, for its payment to the envoys on the arrival of the captives at Cape Coast, and they (that is, Woosoo Coker Coomah Cotiko, and Quadu) have been requested to remain at Cape Coast until they come down.

4. If your Majesty wanted any additional proof of the good-will of myself and this Government towards you and your subjects, I am sure your Majesty will see how strong it must be from the manner in which your Chiefs and Envoys have been treated while at Cape Coast; and at your request I will send you Atjiempon and his followers under safe conduct to the Prah, in order that he may return to Coomassie ; but as he has begged to be allowed to remain here a few days longer to receive his Fetish stool, which he left at Half Assinee, I have consented to his doing so, and as

your Majesty also desires that any Ashantees remaining at Elmina should be sent back to Coomassie your Majesty's wishes shall be made known to them, and they shall be told to return.

5. As I have received news that Mr. and Mrs. Ramseyer, with their child, are very sick and weak, I feel sure your Majesty would regret in common with this Government anything serious happening to any of the party while they remain detained by your Majesty, and that you will, therefore, give immediate orders that they may be sent down without any delay to Cape Coast.

With my best wishes for your Majesty's health, I have, &c.,

(Signed) R. W. HARLEY, Colonel, Administrator. His Majesty the King of Ashantee, Coomassie.

P.S.-I send a special interpreter with this despatch, who will make known its contents to your Majesty truly and well, and will bring me back your Majesty's answer with the missionaries, whom I beg your Majesty not to detain. R. W. H.

No, 2.

The Earl of Kimberley to Colonel Harley.

Downing Street, May 12, 1873.

SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 14th ultimo, forwarding a letter from the King of Ashantee, with others from Mr. Dawson, your special messenger to the King, as to the causes which have led to the invasion of the Protectorate by the Ashantees. I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

persons charged with or convicted of the crimes hereinafter enumerated, and being fugitives from the justice of their country, should, under certain circumstances, be reciprocally delivered up; their said Majesties have named as their Plenipo

tentiaries to conclude a Treaty for this purpose, that is to say:

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, John Savile Lumley, Esquire, her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to his Majesty the King of the Belgians;

And his Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Count d'Aspremont Lynden, Officer of his Order of Leopold, Commander of the Order of the Ernestine Branch of the House of Saxony, Grand Cross of the Orders of Charles III., of the Medjidie, and of the Saviour, Member of the Senate, his Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles

ARTICLE I.

It is agreed that her Britannic Majesty and his Majesty the King of the Belgians, shall, on requisition made in their name by their respective Diplomatic Agents, deliver up to each other reciprocally, any persons, except as regards Great Britain, native born and naturalized subjects of her Britannic Majesty, and except as regards Belgium, those who are by birth or who may have become citizens of Belgium, who, being accused or convicted as principals or accessories before the fact, of any of the crimes hereinafter specified, committed within the territories of the requiring Party, shall be found within the territories of the other Party:

1. Murder (including assassination, parricide, infanticide, and poisoning), or attempt to murder.

2. Manslaughter.

3. Counterfeiting or altering money, or uttering counterfeit or altered money. 4. Forgery, counterfeiting, or altering or uttering what is forged or counterfeited or altered.

5. Embezzlement or larceny.

6. Obtaining money or goods by false pretences.

7. Crimes by bankrupts against bankruptcy law.

8. Fraud by a bailee, banker, agent, factor, trustee, or director, or member or public officer of any company, made criminal by any law for the time being in force.

9. Rape.

10. Abduction.

11. Child stealing.

12. Burglary or housebreaking. 13. Arson.

Provided that the surrender shall be made only when, in the case of a person accused, the commission of the crime shall be so established as that the laws of the country where the fugitive or person accused shall be found would justify his apprehension and commitment for trial if the crime had been there committed; and, in the case of a person alleged to have been convicted, on such evidence as, according to the laws of the country where he is found, would prove that he had been convicted.

In no case can the surrender be made unless the crime shall be punishable according to the laws in force in both countries with regard to extradition.

ARTICLE II.

In the dominions of her Britannic Majesty, other than the Colonies or Foreign Possessions of her Majesty, the manner of proceeding shall be as follows:

I. In the case of a person accusedThe requisition for the surrender shall be made to Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Minister or other Diplomatic Agent of his Majesty the King of the Belgians, accompanied by a warrant of arrest or other equivalent judicial document, issued by a Judge or Magistrate duly authorized to take cognizance of the acts charged against the accused in Belgium, together with duly authenticated depositions or statements taken on oath before such Judge or Magistrate, clearly setting forth the said acts, and containing a description of the person claimed, and any particulars which may serve to identify him. The said Secretary of State shall transmit such documents to her

Britannic Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, who shall then, by order under his hand and seal, signify to some Police Magistrate in London that such requisition has been made, and require him, if there be due cause, to issue his warrant for the apprehension of the fugitive.

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