raded, and to disavow the illegal acts above referred to. Advantage was taken of their presence in town to oblige them to sign the treaty, instead of the expedition invading their territory, and there dictating the terms of a treaty, and showing them there was the power to enforce it. As the chiefs in possession of the land disputed the English right to it, war was declared against them, and, after six weeks' hard fighting, the people were expelled with great loss of life and sacrifice of a great number of their towns, which were destroyed by fire. Another difficulty also arises from the treaty: it is, that the giving of the land to the English stops a much-frequented slave-path to the tribes of the coast above and below the colony. In fact, it is their only communication, and being deprived of it causes dissension and quarrelling among themselves. The war with the Quia country has not been at all popular in the colony. In the early part of November last a very large tract of country was added to this colony, and is now under its jurisdiction. It comprises nearly all the Sherbro country, which includes the Sherbro island, the Turtle islands, Bague, Manneu Bague, and Barley rivers, with their dependencies, and all lands adjacent to Bendo, the land ceded in March last. On the 6th of August last, Lagos, a territory a short distance down the coast, was ceded to the English by Dacemo, King of Lagos. We now hear reports of trouble there, as he has become dissatisfied with what he then did. A few days since a company of soldiers passed down from the Gambia. The French are very desirous of acquiring territory on this coast, and consequently look with a jealous eye on the late acquisitions to the British crown. The American difficulties having excited the fears of the cotton consumers in England, they are making every effort to be less dependent on the United States for supply. A company has been recently formed in England styled the "British and West African Company," with a capital of £100,000. Among other objects in view, is that of purchasing 10,000 acres of land in Sierra Leone for the purpose of raising cotton by free labor. Cotton of a very good quality grows spontaneously in the Sherbro, small lots of which have already found their way to the English market. There have been but eight cases of slaves adjudicated in the courts of this colony for the last year, and only two of them had slaves on board. The "Clara Windsor" arrived January 7, with five hundred and ninety slaves on board. She had when taken six hundred and seventy-seven, eightyseven having died on the passage to this port. The "Flight" (formerly the "Fairy," of New York) arrived May 31, with five hundred and two slaves on board. She had when taken five hundred and thirty-nine, thirty-seven having died on the passage. Of the slaves arriving here two hundred were sent to the Gambia, February 21. Three hundred and ninety-five were sent to the West Indies in the ship "Paterson," which sailed November 27. Among the arrivals of vessels to this port the past year, were fifty English, eighteen French, and three Spanish men-of-war. During a residence of three years in this port, not a single American ship-of-war has visited the harbor. It is very desirable they should call at times, as our commerce is quite important and should not be left altogether without protection. I am frequently asked by residents, why, considering the importance of our commercial intercourse with the colony, a vessel of the United States is never seen in these waters. The petty wars among the native chiefs inland of the colony, the colonial war with the Quia people, the American difficulties stopping the supply of American goods, which are staple articles of trade, and the fear of war between Great Britain and the United States, altogether have a very depressing effect upon business generally. ZANTE, (TONIAN ISLANDS.)-A. S. YORK, Consul. MAY 30, 1862. I have the honor to annex herewith statement of imports, exports, and tonnage of the Ionian Islands of the year 1861. I have not been able to forward the statement at the end of the quarter, because it is only a few days since that the Ionian government published it in Greek. Five of the articles, viz: sugar, coffee, drugs, flour, and codfish, are American produce, imported here through England, Austria, and France. I cannot really understand why the Americans do not take this into their hands, by putting themselves into a direct communication with the islands. By so doing they could monopolize the articles of their own production, and exchange with those of the islands. America provides itself with currants and oil from England, whilst she could get the articles from the direct places of production cheaper and of better quality. The value of the American productions imported here yearly amount to about £111,768 4s. 3d.; this is worth the consideration of American trade. Besides this, there are other articles that have a great margin for speculation. Timber is imported here from Austria and sold at a very high price. The amount expended yearly for the article is £23,020 18s. 11d. America could not only offer the article cheaper, but also of a superior quality; and I am sure the first experiment would check the Austrian trade and give us the preference. Furniture, staves, wheat, corn, rice, flour, cheese, butter, salt provisions, and codfish are also articles worth the consideration of American trade. Currants of superior quality have been lately sold at $20 per 1,000 pounds; olive oil at $10 per barrel. Each barrel contains eight imperial gallons. The coming currant and olive crops promise well. |