31st of July last, inclosing a copy of a report from the Governor of Senegal to the French Minister of Marine, concerning certain transactions which had recently occurred in the River Gaboon, and complaining of the conduct of the masters of some English merchantvessels, as having endeavoured in various ways to injure the French establishments in the Gulf of Guinea, and having at last gone so far as to oppose the efforts which Captain Bouet was making to induce one of the native chiefs to abandon the Slave Trade. In reply, the Undersigned begs to inform Count de Jarnac, that the only information which has reached Her Majesty's Government respecting this matter, is contained in the inclosed printed copy of a memorial addressed to Her Majesty by the chiefs and inhabitants of King Glass's Town, on the River Gaboon, the original of which was received a few days ago.

According to this document, it would appear that persons representing themselves as acting for the French Government, have recently endeavoured to obtain from the above-mentioned community permission to extend French jurisdiction over their land, but that this has been unequivocally refused. That, under these circumstances, a M. Amouroux, master of a French merchant-vessel, obtained the signatures of 4 persons, one of them the head chief of that people, to a paper which none of the four could read, and which was represented to them as merely a private letter, expressing feelings of friendship alone, but which, after they had signed it, turned out to be a cession of territory.

It appears that the chief was deceived by Amouroux, and that, if he had not been deceived, he and the other individuals whose names are attached to the paper, had no authority to transfer the territory to the jurisdiction of the French; that other individuals, whose presence and sanction to such a deed was necessary to make it valid, were not present, and did not give it their sanction; that those persons, and that the chief himself, together with the remaining 3 persons who had signed the document, protested formally against the validity of it, and against the imposition by which it was obtained; and that every man of importance in the community formally appeals against its worth.

The Undersigned requests that the Count de Jarnac will communicate this paper to the French Government, and will add, that without more authentic information it is not for the Undersigned to say what degree of credit is to be attached to this representation; but the Count de Jarnac will perceive that the memorial is signed by King Glass himself, the chief of the community; and the Undersigned, agreeing as he does, with what appears from the inclosure in Count de Jarnac's note to be the opinions of M. Bouet, that there is great inconvenience in the masters of merchant-vessels assuming to them

selves the functions of political agents, cannot forbear observing, that the share which M. Amouroux is reported to have had in the transaction is a strong confirmation of that opinion. The Undersigned is far from supposing that any negotiations with the natives of Africa which the French Government may think proper to entrust to its naval or colonial officers on that coast, will not be conducted with scrupulous good faith towards the natives, and with a due regard to the interests of the legitimate trade which they carry on with Europeans. But it would be a great satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government to be assured, that the negotiations which have passed with the natives of the Gaboon, a people long connected with Great Britain by friendly commercial intercourse, have been conducted throughout by officers of trust and responsibility, and that no unauthorized or interested agents have interfered to mislead or coerce them. The Undersigned has no difficulty in assuring the Count de Jarnac, that Her Majesty's Government on their part will do all in their power to discourage and prevent any such interference by British subjects, as is complained of in Captain Bouet's report; and espe cially, that any act, by whomsoever committed, which shall in the smallest degree tend to retard the abolition of the Slave Trade upon any part of the coast, will receive the severe condemnation of Her Majesty's Government. The Undersigned, &c. Count de Jarnac.

ABERDEEN.

(Inclosure.)—Memorial of the African Chiefs, &c. to Her Majesty. King Glass's Town, Gaboon River, West Africa,

April 4, 1844.

To Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.

WE, the Undersigned, a humble community of native Africans, residing on the Gaboon river, and generally known as "King Glass's People," in a time of great perplexity and distress humbly address your Majesty, and earnestly entreat your interposition.

For the last 6 or 8 months we have been importuned repeatedly and most earnestly by different representatives of the French Government to allow them to extend their jurisdiction over our territory. To these importunate solicitations we have always returned prompt, unequivocal, and respectful refusals. We well knew that we were a small, and in some respects a defenceless people, still our liberties were dear to us. It was a boon that had come down to us from our forefathers, and it was but natural that we should wish to transmit it unimpaired to our posterity.

Whilst we steadily declined their proposals, we gave them the most satisfactory assurance that our country should always be open to their commerce, and that their vessels should always trade here on

terms of perfect equality with those of all other nations. What more could a humble people like ourselves offer?

But the French were not satisfied with this; they insisted that the authority of Louis-Philippe should be acknowledged, and that the French flag should be hoisted above that of all other nations in our towns and villages.

Finally, on the night of the 27th ultimo, they succeeded in obtaining a paper, on which they now found a claim to extend their jurisdiction over us. The manner and circumstances by which this instrument of writing was obtained, and the fairness of the claim they have now set up, may be inferred from the following protest and memorial, which was signed by King Glass and every man of consequence in the community, 2 days subsequent to the execution of the paper under consideration.

Protest.

King Glass's House, Gaboon River, March 31, 1844. To His Excellency M. Bouet, Captain in the French Royal Navy, Governor of Senegal, &c.

WE, the Undersigned, submit, with a great deal of respect, the following statements, in relation to an instrument of writing which has probably been conveyed to your Excellency, purporting to be a transfer of our territory to the French Crown, and signed by King Glass and 3 other individuals belonging to this community.

We feel assured, Sir, that when you understand the manner and circumstances by which this paper was obtained, you will denounce it as a transaction unjustifiable in itself, and dishonourable to the French name; and we now appeal to yourself, as a man of honour, and as the representative of a great and generous nation, for suitable redress. Be it known to your Excellency, that this article which purports to have been written and signed on board the cutter l'Epaulard, was signed only in King Glass's house. M. Baron Darricau, whose name is attached to this document, was not present when it was signed; and though he brought up his vessel to King Glass's town in the night, he cannot be regarded in this transaction either as a witness or a contracting party for the French Government; and it is not fair, therefore, that his name should be appended to it in any way whatever.

M. Amouroux, master of the French merchantman Ossian, now in the river, is the individual by whose influence these signatures were obtained. If, therefore, your Excellency will take the trouble to summon him to this place, and meet us in general council, we promise to prove to you, beyond all doubt, that he obtained those signatures by the most unjustifiable means. He made King Glass a visit on the night of the 27th instant, brought with him a jug of ardent spirits,

and professed to come on a visit of friendship only; he was not regarded as an agent of the French Government by King Glass or either of the other individuals above-mentioned. He requested the King to make his mark to a paper, which he represented merely as a private letter to His Majesty Louis-Philippe, expressing feelings of friendship alone, as none of the party could read French, they confided in the veracity of M. Amouroux, and made their marks, not having the most distant idea that anything was said about the cession of territory to the French Crown. Not only are we prepared to establish these charges, but we are ready also to prove to your satisfaction, that Peter Dennie (a native from the opposite side of the river) who acted as M. Amouroux's interpreter, and whose name is attached to this article as a witness, said before he left this place that M. Amouroux read only one paragraph from the paper which had been signed, and therefore was guilty of deceiving King Glass and others. May we not rely upon your honour to investigate this matter? and if it is ascertained that M. Amouroux is guilty of the charges herein contained, render us the justice which we now claim at your hands.

We would state further, that King Glass and the other individuals whose names are attached to this paper had no authority to transfer our territory to the jurisdiction of the French, even if they had not been deceived.

Whether the Sovereigns of Europe have any such powers we do not know; with us no such things are allowable: when we have business of importance to transact, it is customary to assemble the people at large, and no measures are adopted without a pretty general concurrence. But such was not the case in relation to the transaction under consideration. Toko, who is our virtual Minister of Foreign Affairs, and without whose presence and consent no acts of the kind can be considered valid, though in the town, knew nothing of the affair until the next day. Will Glass, who stands next in importance, so far as foreign relations are concerned, was likewise absent. Case Glass, the brother and lawful successor of King Glass,* Prince Glass, the father and protector of one of our largest towns, James, the protector of another, Peter, the protector of a third, and many others, too numerous to be mentioned, but whose presence was necessary in that transaction, were all absent. Indeed, there were only 4 persons present (3 of them men of but little consideration), whilst the affair was conducted under the cover of night, and with the utmost secresy. We would further state, that while we entertain for yourself and the Government and people whom you represent the highest respect, and whilst we have ever welcomed the French to our shores, and hope ever to do so, on terms of the utmost cordiality, we nevertheless decline, in the most

* Dowè, the son of King Glass, whose name is appended to the above-mentioned paper, is not, as may be supposed, the successor to the throne.

respectful manner, the exercise of any foreign jurisdiction. In this we are united to a man. King Glass, and the other individuals who signed the paper in the first instance, are fully agreed with us in presenting this protest, as you will infer from their protest herewith inclosed; and we do hope that your Excellency will, without the least hesitation, restore to us the paper which has been so unfairly obtained.

With the information which we have now laid before your Excellency, and which we are ready at any time to prove, we can scarcely think it necessary to say more. May we not ask with becoming respect, how such a transaction would be regarded and treated among civilized nations? What would be the feelings of your own people in similar circumstances? We know that we are a weak and feeble people, but does that annihilate our rights? Is it right that we should be cut off from the sympathies of the world, and have our rights and liberties trampled, because we cannot measure arms with our invaders? Whilst we desire to speak with all deference, it becomes us to be candid. Our hearts can never be won by such proceedings. You may demolish our towns; you may destroy our property; and you may expel us from scenes endeared to us by the associations of childhood, the graves of our fathers, our wives, our children; but you can never make us the willing subjects of a Government which has been forced upon us.

That part of the document in question which confers upon the French authorities the power of regulating our commerce, and which requires the French flag to be raised in our towns above that of all other nations, with our feelings is altogether inadmissible.

The management of our commerce has always been in our own hands. It is a legacy bequeathed to us by our forefathers, and it is but natural that we should wish to retain it.

No one can with justice accuse us with unfairness or partiality in our transactions with foreigners. We are now, as we have ever been, willing to grant the French perfect equality in every respect: we cannot willingly grant them supremacy over other nations.

It is said, we need protection. But who are to be judges of this? When we feel the need of foreign protection, it will then be time for us to apply for it.

In consequence of this painful affair, we feel compelled to decline your kind invitation to dinner on Monday next. If your Excellency will do us the honour of a visit, and hear our complaints more fully, and especially if he will grant us the favour we justly claim at his hands, it will then afford us the greatest pleasure to testify our friendship and regard both for yourself and the Government and people whom you represent.

The boat that was offered to King Glass has been returned; and