are bound to protect against external assaults.
The aristocracy of these little territories form
a confederacy; of which we are the chief and
predominant power. Originally, this combination
had for its object only the independence
of the various states within the river Prah;
but is gradually being expanded to internal
purposes of even greater value. It now
furnishes a federal representative body, which
meets under the presidency of the governor
of the Gold Coast. This assembly takes
charge of such common internal affairs as
the construction of roads; raising the means
of their construction by a poll tax, which
has been surprisingly well paid. Thus then,
we find Queen Victoria's authority prevailing
over a congeries of petty states and tribes on
the Gold Coast of Africa, maintaining
tranquillity amongst them; enforcing law and
justice; developing their resources; drawing
forth higher characteristics than had been
before observed in the negro mind; uniting
them into a species of nationality, and
preparing the way for another victory of the
truths of Christianity over barbarism and
paganism. In this good work the Queen is
worthily represented by Major Hill, the
governor of Cape Coast Castle.

Before British power on the coast was
consolidated, the kingdom of Ashantee, which
now lies on the further side of the Prah,
claimed a similar authority to that which we
now enjoy, over the whole country down to
the coast; which was devastated and harassed
by attempts to enforce, and efforts to repel,
that authority. In these conflicts the British
government became involved; and, some
three-and-twenty years ago, we were at first
worsted, at length successful in a war with
Ashantee. By the treaty with which peace
was restored, the river Prah was declared to
be the boundary of the kingdom of Ashantee,
and all the tribes to the southward of that
river were placed under the protection of the
British government. The court of Coomassie,
like other less sable courts, has the pride of
ancient recollections and of present superiority
to the neighbours of the same hue, and that
pride was deeply humiliated by the restriction
of its territories and pretensions. However,
by the moderation and good sense of
Governor Maclean whilst he lived; and
subsequently, through the judicious influence of
the Rev. Mr. Freeman, a Wesleyan missionary,
the King of Ashantee has, until recently,
fairly fulfilled his obligations under this
treaty.

As with other African potentates, and
most sovereigns elsewhere, Quacoc Duah, the
King of Ashantee, is very much controlled
in his external relations by his chiefs and his
army; and whether these chiefs envied the
growing prosperity of their Fantee neighbours
under our protection, or had exhausted
conquests in other directions, may be doubtful;
but this is certain, that, feeling power weakly
exercised at Cape Coast Castle by two of
Major Hill's predecessors, Ashantee intrigues
to recover ground and influence and authority
south of the Prah becomes very apparent
towards the summer of eighteen hundred and
fifty-two. Immediately on the south side lies
the Assin country, and its chiefs, Chibboo and
Gabri, were a brace of worthless scamps
ready to cheat any one, and were consequently
objects of suspicion. On them Ashantee
influence was brought to bear; and, in October
last, Chibboo accepted from the King of
Ashantee four hundred ounces of gold to
throw off his English allegiance and to bring
over his captains to Ashantee. They,
however, denounced him, seized his person, and
brought him to trial before a court composed of
chiefs, and over which Governor Hill presided.
By this tribunal he was convicted and
sentenced to be deposed from his "stool," and
imprisoned at Cape Coast Castle for life. On
the petition generally of the chiefs, he was,
however, released, and restored to power;
the heirs of his principal captains being
delivered up as hostages for his good conduct,
and he undertaking to make a good military
road through his country.

This checked Ashantee intrigues for three
or four months. In April last, however,
they revived; and in a more subtle and
a more dangerous form. Further within
the river Prah than the Assin country, is
Donquah, the chief of which had died some
three years previously. With a view, as it
was pretended, to pay respect to his memory,
the King of Ashantee, in collusion with the
Assin chief, sent an armed party to make
"custom" at Donquah; but, in reality, to drive
the Assin people on their return into Ashantee.
The appearance of this force, commanded
by the brother of the King of Ashantee, in
the interior of their country, alarmed our
confederates the Fantees. It gradually
increased, and at last became a great army.
The Fantees grew excited and armed also;
seized on all the Ashantees trading in their
country, and roused their followers. So that
quickly there were collected seven thousand
or eight thousand Ashantee troops against
ten thousand Fantees. War seemed certain.
Unfortunately, Ensign Brownell with only
forty men of the Gold Coast corps —sent by
Major Hill to reconnoitre and look into the
matter, and ignorant of the strength of the
Ashantees —ventured into the Ashantee
camp. There he was courteously received;
but was made a prisoner, being, however,
kindly treated. The young soldier retained
all his self-possession; held a palaver with
the chiefs; showed them all the dangers
and risks of a war; and promised that their
invasion should be overlooked, if they
immediately withdrew their forces and
recrossed the Prah. At last the Ashantee
chiefs succumbed to the reason and good
sense of their youthful prisoner; and swore
that, if their captain and the people in the
hands of the Fantees were given up, they