The work of civilizing Western Africa by shot and shells
goes merrily on. The crews of four of the cruisers employed in the coast blockade of the slave-countries have just achieved an ex- ploit at Lagos worthy to take rank alongside of Captain Denroan's burning of the barraeooas at Gallmas. Some unsuccessful attenyts have been made recently to induce the chief of Lagos, who rejoices in the musical name of Coreioco, to engage himself by treaty to abolish the slave-trade. His sable majesty, afraid of the too Close proximity of our cruisers, forbade men-of-war's boats to ascend the river on which his capital is situated. In defiance of this prohi- bition, a request for an interview with the chief was transmitted by a deputation consisting of twenty-three boats, manned by 260 officers and men, abundantly supplied with twelve-pounders, car- ronnades, shrapnel shells, and other implements of war. A lire was opened by the natives upon this squadron as soon as it crossed the bar of the river. A landing was effected by the British ; but, after some hard fighting, they were obliged to reembark without effecting anything. The commodore on the station was forthwith sent for ; and he was, when the last despatches were sent off, pre- paring fur a renewed attack. Fears were entertained that the chief of Lagos might avenge himself by an expedition against a mission- ary establishment near him. The collision was evidently provoked by sending the man-of-war boats up the river in defiance of the prohibition of Coreioco ; and for that step there does not appear to have been any necessity, seeing that former embassies had been "received by the King with every demonstration of respect." The English " Bloodhound," " Volcano," and " Harlequin," (such are the appropriate names of some of the cruisers,) are teaching the Ne- groes that might is more to be relied on than right : not exactly the way to persuade them that it is wise and virtuous to abstain from war, plunder, and slave-making.
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