The one bright spot in the news of the week
is the official intelligence of the relief of Coomaisie. This occurred on July 15th, the tidings being heliographed to Fumsn and then sent by runner to Cape Coast Castle. No details are given, but it appears certain that Colonel Willcocks, who had promised to relieve the place on the 15th inst., forced his way through on the appointed day, possibly after severe fighting. The little garrison is therefore safe, and Colonel Willeocks, having two thousand men with him, munitions, and sufficient food, may be relied on to disperse the besiegers. We trust he will be allowed to reorganise Ashanti, which ought not to be left as it has been, dependent for order upon the dread which many chiefs entertain of seeing the old regime revived. We shall gladly also record a large increase of the garrison of West Africa, which is now far below the needs of that great series of dependencies.
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