It seems nearly certain that we shall have another little
war with Ashantee. Sir Francis Scott, Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Forces, states that no peace is possible in that region until Coomassie is compelled to submit. The young King, apparently at the instigation of his mother, has continued the human sacrifices he is bound by Treaty to prevent, and is threatening chiefs under British protection, who are all now waiting to see if the Government will crush Ashantee or not. An ultimatum has therefore been despatched to Coomassie, requiring the King to accept British protection, and govern by the advice of a British Resident. If the King refuses, as Sir Francis Scott evidently thinks he will, it will be necessary to send half a West India regiment, five hanlred Houssas, and one hundred white soldiers from Lagos, and remove the King in favour of a relative who will understand that he is to take his orders from Lagos. There seems no objection to the expedition, which has not been predetermined, but forced on us by constant interference ; but we hope Mr. Chamberlain will not be too confident. A defeat on that coast would mean a massacre, and we distrust a column without a proper pro- portion of white men. There should be at least three hundred Marines and a number of Artillerymen with "mountain" guns,—guns that mules, or even coolies, can carry. Other- wise, we may have in the end to send five thousand men.
