and the torches displayed the splendour of his regalia. The skulls of three Banda caboceers, who had been the king's most obstinate enemies, adorned the largest drum: the vessels in which the boys dipped their torches were of gold. The king stopped to inquire the names of the mission a second time, and to wish good night; his address was mild and deliberate; he was followed by his aunts, sisters, and others of his family, all with rows of fine gold chains about their necks. The number of warriors appeared to be about 30,000.

We scarcely know how to give an account of the first palaver with the king, without introducing the angry and contentious tempers and expressions of Mr Bowdich. However, we shall confine our report rather to the result than the progress of his first official interview. The presents to the king were highly gratifying, being given in the name of his majesty the king of England. He was much delighted with the telescope and camera obscura; he said, "Englishmen know more than Dutchmen or Danes-black men know nothing."

The king desired Mr James to explain to him two notes written by the governor-in-chief, at the request of Amooney, king of Annamabooe, and Adakoo, chief of the Braffoes, making over to the king of Ashantee four ackies (5s. currency each,) a month of their company's pay as a pledge of their allegiance, and the termination of their hostilities. The king instantly imagined that this was the governor's individual act; his countenance became changed, and his counsellors highly enraged. "Tell the white men," said the king, through his interpreter, "that the English come to put shame upon my face; this breaks my heart too much. The English know, with my own powder, with my own shot, I drove the Fantees under their forts, I spread my sword over them; they were all killed; and the books from the fort are mine. I can do as much for the English as the Fantees; they know this well; they know I have only to send a captain to get all the heads of the Fantees. These white men cheat me, they think to make Shantee fool; they pretend to make friends with me, and they join with the Fantees to cheat me, to put shame upon my face; this makes the blood

come from my heart." It appears that these notes or books were a certificate of a monthly pension of the African committee, paid in trade to the Fantee kings and chiefs in the neighbourhood of the British settlements, in consideration of their attachment, influence, and services, which books were claimed by the king of Ashantee, as his own by right of conquest. Of the extent of the governor's commission to Mr James we are not informed; nor can we therefore say, how far Mr James was authorized in supporting or abandoning the obligations of these notes. However this may be, Mr Bowdich took upon himself the management of the palaver. We shall pass over the letter that contains, in very pompous language, the account of Mr Bowdich's assumption of a power never formally committed to his hands, and shall content ourselves with saying, that the irritable suspicions and vanity of his black majesty were at length appeased.

The king's palace is an immense building, consisting of a variety of oblong courts and regular squares, the former with arcades along the one side, some of round arches symmetrically turned, having a skeleton of bamboo; the entablatures richly adorned with bold trellis and fanwork of Egyptian fashion. There is a suit of rooms over them, with small windows of wooden lattice, of intricate regular carved work, and some have frames cased with gold. The squares have a large apartment on each side, open in front, with two supporting pillars. They are lofty and regular. A drop curtain of curiouslyplaited cane is suspended in front, and in each there were chairs and stools embossed with gold, and beds of silk. The residence of the women is the most ornamented part of the palace. The fronts of the apartments were closed (except two open door-ways) by pannels of curious open carving, resembling a Gothic screen; one was entirely closed, and had two curious doors of a low arch, and strengthened or battened with wood-work carved in high relief, and painted red. Within the inmost square is the council cham ber. If there be much of Europear. intrigue and knavery in the public palaces, there is much more popular honesty than would be found in more enlightened countries. We greatly doubt whether the following custom would

be so strictly observed in England. A man was beheaded for transgressing the law, by picking up gold which he had dropped in the public marketplace, where all that falls is allowed to accumulate until the soil is washed on state emergencies.

Considerable difficulties and numerous palavers occurred between the king and the mission, respecting the three chief objects to be attained. The residency of a British envoy at the court of Ashantee the education of the king's children at Cape Coast Castle and lastly, and principally, the treaty. In the different palavers, the king and his privy council plead their cause with a diplomatic shrewdness not unworthy of an European congress. We shall not transcribe the letters which passed upon the subject, as we could have wished that Mr Bowdich had rather abstracted than detailed this portion of his volume. When Mr Bowdich paid his first visit to Baba, the chief Moor, he found him contemplating a curiously intricate figure like a horoscope-his MS. was filled with them; he laid his finger on it, and said, "if you have any hard palaver, this can make me settle it for you when no other person can; if you have any dear friend in England you wish to see, tell me the name, and this shall bring him to you." Some pens, paper, ink, and pencils were presented to him; the paper and pencils were much esteemed, but he preferred his own reed and vegetable ink. His disciples and pupils were writing on wooden boards, like those which Mr Park describes. When a charm was applied for, one of the oldest wrote the body of it and gave it to Baba, who added a sort of eubalistical mark, and gave it a mysterious fold; the credulous native eagerly snatched it, paid the gold, and hurried away to enclose it in the richest case he could afford. At Baba's house there was a Moor just come from Timbuctoo, who related the following account of what we conceive can only refer to the fate of poor Park: "Some years ago, a vessel with masts suddenly appeared on the Quolla or Niger, near Boussa, with three white men, and some black. The natives, encouraged by these strange men, took off provisions for sale, were well paid, and received presents besides it seems the vessel had anchored. The next day, perceiving the vessel going on, the natives hurried after

her (the Moor protested, from their anxiety to save her from some sunken rocks with which the Quolla abounds), but the white men mistaking, and thinking they pursued for a bad purpose, deterred them. The vessel soon after struck; the men jumped into the water and tried to swim, but could not from the current, and were drowned." Exactly the same account was also given by another Moor, who, however, had not been an eye-witness. These Moors always affected to deplore the ignorance of the Ashantees. Baba drew a map of the world, encircling one large continent with sea, bounded by a girdle of rocks. Old Odumata's notion of geography was equally strange; he mentioned, that when on the coast above Apollonia, he had an idea of walking to England; for he was informed he should reach Santanee (Portugal) in thirty days, and that after that the path was very good. Apukoo (another Moor) was constant in his visits, and was very facetious and full of anecdote. He was very desirous of learning tennis and sparring. He became very communicative of Ashantee politics, and asked, why the king of England did not send one of his own sons to the king of Ashantee with the presents, and why so great a king sent so small a force to Africa? The Spanish campaign was gone through again and again, and never tired him. He gave excellent and frequent dinners to the mission, as did Ódumata. Both were extravagantly enraptured with the miniature of an English female, and called all their wives to look at it. We fear that the residence of such men as these Moors at the court of Ashantee will present most formidable difficulties against the efforts of Christian missionaries. When the English women were represented not only to possess the advantage of enjoying the sole affections of a husband, but the more amicable privilege of choosing that husband, the effect was truly comic. "The women sidled up to wipe the dust from our shoes; and, at the end of every sentence, brushed off an insect, or picked a burr from our trowsers; the husbands, suppressing their dislike in a laugh, would put their hands before our mouths, declaring they did not want to hear that palaver any more, abruptly change the subject to war, and order the women to the harem." The king was much delighted

when Mr Tedlie explained to him his surgical instruments and medicines. He could not help coveting the greater part of the medicines. He expressed the greatest astonishment at the botanical books. One of the king's sisters sent a message that she wanted to come and see the white gentlemen. After exchanging compliments, she complained to Mr Tedlie that her left hand pained her very much. Just after the fashion of many an English fair invalid, nothing material seemed the matter with it; and the courtesy of the white doctor, more than his skill, seemed the object of her invitation!

Many obstacles occurred in the discussion and decision of the treaty. On the terms being refused by the king, the mission threatened to quit Courassie. At the moment of starting, a royal messenger ran up to say, the king was waiting to see the mission. On being admitted into the royal presence, the king demanded why the mission had determined to quit him so suddenly. On its being represented that he had trifled with the objects, and abused the liberality of the mission, he replied, that what was told him was true; he liked the treaty very well, but begged to be allowed a little longer till all his captains came. After much delay, the preliminaries were settled and signed. The mission was then invited by the king to visit Sallagha, the capital of the Inla country, the path to which was through a beautiful country, abounding in neat crooms, the sites spacious, and environed by extensive plantations. The path was wide, and so nearly direct, that the eye was always in advance, through beautiful vistas, varied by gentle risings. After some conversation, the mission was conducted to a house prepared for its reception, where a relish was served (sufficient for an army) of soups, stews, plaintains, yams, rice, &c. all excellently cooked, with wine, spirits, oranges, and other fruit. Declining the offer of beds, we walked out in the town, and conversed and played drafts with the Moors, who were reclining under trees; the king joined us with cheerful affability, and seemed to forget his cares.' About two o'clock dinner was announced. At the eastern side of the croom, a door of green reeds gave admittance through a short avenue to the king's garden, an arch equal to one of the largest squares in London.

The breezes were strong and constant. In the centre, four large umbrellas of new scarlet cloth were fixed, under which was the king's dining-table (heightened for the occasion), and covered in the most imposing manner: his massy plate was well disposed; and silver forks, knives, and spoons (Colonel Torrane's) were plentifully laid. A large silver waiter supported a roasting pig in the centre; the other dishes of the table were roasted ducks, fowls, stews, pease-pudding, &c. On the ground, on one side of the table, were various soups, and every sort of vegetable; and on the other, oranges, pines, and other fruits, sugar-candy, Port and Madeira wine, spirits and Dutch cordials, with glasses. We have heard of no aldermen in Ashantee, but such proceedings as these must prove how fully worthy Ashantee appears to be both of a mansion-house and a corporation.

At length the wished for treaty was fully discussed, and formally sworn to by the king of Ashantee and the king of Dwabin. The king sent a handsome procession of flags, guns, and music, on the occasion, to conduct the mission to the palace. "The value of this treaty," says Mr Bowdich, "is enhanced by the reflection, that the justice, dignity, and spirit, of the British government have been preserved inviolate; and that it has been the result of the impression, and not of the abatement of these characteristics." The treaty consists of ten articles, the sum and substance of which is, that there shall be peace and commerce between the English government and the kings of Ashantee and and Dwabin; in the fifth article, the king of Ashantee agrees to permit a British officer to be resident at his capital. In the tenth article, the two kings promise that diligent inquiries shall be made respecting Major Peddie and Captain Campbell, (employed by the British government to proceed from Senegal into the interior to trace the source of the river Niger), and to oblige the neighbouring kingdoms to befriend them. No law, it appears, has ever been enacted in this kingdom with equal solemnity, or an oath so serious been submitted to by the king, or imposed on the captains. After this, the mission expressed their wish to return to Cape Coast Castle; the king, however, seemed very unwilling that they should depart. After many

delays, Mr Bowdich was determined to quit even without his majesty's permission: an escape was not so easy. Before they had proceeded fifty yards, the gong-gongs and drums beat to arms, and they were attacked by a crowd of swords and muskets, headed by their housemaster Aboidwee, who in the first rush seized the luggage and the flag. This was of course resisted. The Ashantees did not at tempt to fire, but made their attack early with their heavy swords and large stones. "We kept our ground," says Mr Bowdich, " nearly a quarter of an hour, though our caps and belts were torn away, and we frequently fell. Mr Tedlie was stunned by a blow on the head, and as we were all much bruised we retired to the house, not expecting they would follow us; but they did so with a fury threating destruction. The captain, Aboid wee, mad with fury and liquor, made a cut at me as I held him from me, which would have been fatal but for the presence of mind of me and of the soldiers." The king wished it to appear that all this happened without his countenance of the outrage. He even offered to give the heads of all those who had led on this ruffian multitude. The king and the mission eventually parted very excellent friends. king supplied them with bearers, he would not hear of pay for any of them, and persisted in appointing one of his captains to be an escort. The king and his captains were seated by torchlight, with all their insignia, without the palace, and the mission quitted the capital preceded by the king's banners, discharges of musketry, and every flattering distinction that could be thought of. His majesty has provided one of the best houses for Mr Hutchison as resident, and has anticipated every thing to make him comfortable and respected. Nothing could be more considerate or kind than his speech on taking leave. In his letter to the governor, after many expressions of friendship, the king adds, "I will thank you to impress on the king of England, that I have sworn not to renew the war with the Fantees, out of respect to him. I hope, therefore, he will in return consider if he cannot renew the slave trade, which will be good for me." Thus it is, that as long as other nations deal in this abominable traffic,

The

there will always be a bar to English philanthropy. No reasoning of humanity-no prospect of future good will be found to avail against the greediness of present avarice. Owing to the swollen state of the rivers from the heavy rains that had fallen, the return of the mission to Cape Coast Castle was attended with many disasters. A dreadful storm overtook the party, which obliged them to separate, and spend the night in the woods. The remainder of the journey was more propitious. At length, concludes Mr Bowdich, climbed some very steep and rocky. hills, apparently of iron stone, and desscended into a flat country, continuing until a small rising about two miles from Cape Coast Castle opened the sea to our view; as delightful to our sight as land would have been after a prolonged and perilous voyage. The shouts and greetings of the natives were a grateful introduction to the more congenial congratulations of our countrymen." Thus happily terminated the mission to Ashantee.

we

We shall take another opportunity of presenting our readers with an abstract of the various and curious information contained in the second part of the volume. In the mean time, we cannot conclude without repeating our acknowledgement of the great delight we have felt in contemplating so singular an addition to our knowledge of African men and manners. We are perhaps the more gratified in having so recently perused so many journals of so different a complexion on the same subject. The narratives of Adams, Ridley, and even of Tuckey, have furnished very scanty additions to what was already known, while the personal sufferings which they underwent, force upon us the regret, that such information was purchased at so dear a cost. They present a picture only of wretchedness, ignorance, and barbarism. Ashantee we appear to revisit Mexico at its first invasion. We had intended indeed to compare the two nations, but our limited space forbids it. In one point of view this publication must be of singular use. It will tend to raise the character of the African negro so long and unjustly ranked and treated as a being incapable of improvement, and therefore unworthy of respect or sympathy. There is in

But in

deed one foul blot that marks the character of this people-human sa crifices and tortures. But their manual skill, their general courtesy, their regular government, their powerful armies, their immense treasures, and their splendid habitations, render

it a phenomenon not easily to be explained, why it should be reserved for this late period of African adventure, to make known to Europe any specific notices of such a people not a week's journey from Cape Coast Castle. To be continued.

THERE is something so very affecting in the circumstances under which this little volume is given to the public, that had its merits been far less than they are, it must still have been received with a melancholy interest. All of us may perhaps have perused the former works of the same excellent person with some portion of that critical watchfulness, which, in this fastidious age of literature, most readers are but too apt to keep both over their own feelings and those of the author who may be instructing or delighting them. She was then a candidate for public favour,and we believe that even the most ordinary mind, in such a case, withholds or bestows its praise, with a feeling not unallied to self-importance and pride. It is not enough that we read, and in our hearts approve; but we must take our part in the discussion which the appearance of a new book creates; and we all know how tempting a thing it is to hold ourselves up at an imaginary superiority—or at least, at the same level with the object of our applauses-so that, instead of publicly hailing a work of genius and power with that free and unrestrained delight which in solitude we experience, we too often join with surprising eagerness in all the little carpings of criticism, and talk almost with familiar indifference of the exertions of intellects far indeed beyond the utmost reach of our own. With such unreasonable and ungenial moods of mind in their readers, must all authors lay their account; and Mrs Brunton was, we dare say, exposed in some degree to their influence-though perhaps, from what we are about to remark, not to an equal degree with many of her contemporaries. All such feelings, however, are now gone for

*

ever-a loftier lore is taught to us by the grave-and we see, and delight to see, free from all clouds or shadows of our own raising, the pure excellence of that spirit whose mortal garments are now laid in the dust.

We have said that the literary character of Mrs Brunton was perhaps not so much the object of critical discussion as that of many of her contemporaries. We may be mistaken, but we speak our own feelings respecting her, when we say, that she never was considered, by the Scottish public at least, entirely in the light of an author. Her writings were neither so numerous nor so splendid as to endow her with that character; nor did they so prevail over the minds of men, as wholly to sink the idea of her own private and living self in some abstraction of a great and creative genius. We saw in her an amiable and intelligent woman-walking with serenity the serene path of common life-discharging not only with scrupulous fidelity but generous devotion all Christian duties-not wishing to be distinguished in any way above those whose society she loved-and seeking rather to attach others to her by the warmth of her affections and the simplicity of her manners, than to dazzle them by her accomplishments, or subject them beneath the ascendancy of her intellect. It would appear, from what has been revealed to us of her personal history by a reverential hand, that she became an author almost insensibly-and that her clear and vigorous mind embodied its conceptions in written words, rather from the delight which it felt in such operation, than from any premeditated design of writing a book and giving it to the public. She seems never to have read that she might write-but from