so we shall feel constrained to act in relation to any presents which may be construed as an acknowledgment of our subjection to the Government of France. We hope your Excellency will find nothing disrespectful in this frank exposition of our views and feelings; and may we not cherish the hope that you will readily grant us the request we claim at your hands? Yours with the greatest respect. This protest was accompanied by another from King Glass and the 3 other individuals who signed the document now in the hands of the French Governor. It is as follows: Protest of King Glass, his son Dowè, Governor, and Tim. To his Excellency M. Bouet, Captain in the Royal French Navy, Governor-General of Senegal, &c. WE, the Undersigned, with great respect beg leave to express to your Excellency our surprise and sorrow, on learning that a paper, bearing date March 28, 1844, to which we affixed our marks in the presence of M. Amouroux, commander of the French merchant-brig Ossian, was a cession of territory to the French Government. We, Sir, were grossly deceived in that affair. No part of that instrument relating to the cession of territory was read or made known to us by M. Amouroux. He came to us as the commander of a French mer chant-vessel, and declared that the paper that he wished us to sign was simply an expression to King Louis-Philippe, and a wish that French vessels might trade with our people as they have done in time past. We therefore most earnestly protest against the validity of this instrument, and the gross imposition by which it was obtained. You are probably well aware of the many solicitations with which we, and other individuals in this community, have been repeatedly pressed by the officers of your Government; and you are probably aware too, that all these solicitations have been promptly and respectfully declined; and the solicitations of M. Amouroux would have been as promptly declined, had we known the contents of the paper to which we affixed our marks: Did this affair concern ourselves alone we should not feel so deeply injured. But to be made the unconscious and unwilling instruments of betraying our country, gives us sorrow of heart which we cannot express. We therefore appeal to your honour as a gentleman, and your sense of justice as a Governor, to return to us the instrument which has been so unjustly obtained. Yours with the greatest respect, &c. It is but justice to the French authorities here to state, that this instrument of writing was re-read to King Glass, and the other indi viduals who signed it, by M. Baron Dauricau the next morning. But he had the same interpreter that M. Amouroux had; and the individuals acknowledged that they had signed it the night before, but under the same misapprehensions as to its meaning. The first of these protests was signed by King Glass and every man of importance in the community. The second is the protest of the 4 individuals who signed the paper ceding our country to the French Government. We have now laid before your Majesty a detailed account of our difficulties, and the circumstances by which we have been brought into them. The foregoing protests, though written in the most respectful manner, were torn up by the Governor, in the presence of our messenger, without even having been perused. He is now threatening us with coercive measures, the interdiction of our trade, and other similar acts, because we do not passively come into his measures. But what have we done to provoke these calamities? We owe the French nothing. We have not, and we never will receive, one farthing from them as a compensation for the transfer of our territory to the French Crown. We have always treated them with the utmost cordiality, and we are willing to do so for the time to come, but can never submit to the bondage which they are attempting to force upon us. Though a small, and perhaps to you an unknown community, yet in reliance upon your well-known character for humanity, we earnestly entreat you to interpose and deliver us from this distressing thraldom. It has been intimated here, that the French have laid violent hands upon our country by the permission of the English, in fulfilment of a Treaty entered into between the 2 Governments some years since. Whilst we repel this imputation upon your Majesty's Government, we would nevertheless, in the name of God Almighty our common Maker and final Judge, protest most solemnly against being made the victims of European diplomacy. It has been said, and probably will be said again, that this appeal is made under the influence of interested foreigners; but let not your Majesty be deceived in relation to our views and feelings. The most unequivocal proof of our feelings may be inferred from the fact, that every male member of our community who has attained the age of manhood will affix his mark to this paper. For nearly 2 centuries the English have carried on an extensive, profitable, and very friendly trade on this very spot which the French would now violently take away from us. The amount of revenue which your Government has derived from this trade is much greater perhaps than your Majesty is aware. Some of us whose names are hereto affixed have spent the vigour of youth and the strength of manhood in lading your vessels with the most precious products which our country affords. We are still disposed to maintain this friendly intercourse; but unless your Majesty interposes in this our hour of extremity we will go down to our graves feeling that our kindly disposition towards your Majesty and the English nation has not been appreciated. We do not pretend to suggest what measures your Majesty should pursue in relation to our grievances. If any doubts are entertained as to the justice of our representations, then let an officer visit us, and institute such inquiries as may be deemed expedient; and if all is not substantiated which has been said, then let your Majesty leave us to our fate. This humble and most earnest entreaty is most respectfully submitted to your Majesty's consideration. KING GLASS. CASE GLASS. PRINCE GLASS. No. 145.-The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Cowley. MY LORD, Foreign Office, September 6, 1844. WITH reference to my despatch of the 3rd instant, I herewith inclose to your Excellency copies of 4 letters from Messrs. King, of Bristol, relating to the occupation by the French of certain points on the coast of Africa, and of the answers which have been returned to them. Her Majesty's Government have also received communications from other houses at Bristol and Liverpool, expressing great apprehension of the consequences which may result to British trade from the establishment of French authority at the places in question. I have therefore to instruct your Excellency to represent this to M. Guizot, and to express the confident expectation of Her Majesty's Government that the Government of France do not contemplate, in the erection of any fort at the Gaboon, or elsewhere, the imposition of restrictions upon the trade carried on with the natives of the place by British or other merchants, a trade which for a long course of years has been free and uninterrupted, and which still continues so at all British factories upon the coast. I am, &c. H.E. Lord Cowley, G.C.B. ABERDEEN. (Inclosure 1.-Messrs. King to the Earl of Aberdeen.-Bristol, August 30, 1844. (Sub-Inclosure 1.)-Mr. Wilson to Messrs. King. MESSRS. R. AND W. KING, Gaboon River, West Africa, THE accompanying documents, inclosed to you by Captain Dyer, will afford ample information about the troubles in the Gaboon, occasioned by the unjustifiable proceedings of the French. The people for in King Glass's territory turn their eyes to yourselves. They hope that you will forward their petition to the Government of England, and use your best endeavours to get their petition granted. It is well you to know that they have sent a memorial to His Majesty LouisPhilippe, but there is but a slim prospect that anything will be done in France, unless the matter is urged upon them by the English Government. This is a small community, but they are a noblehearted people, and neither Government ought to disregard their claims. They manifest the utmost indignation at the treatment they have received, and they never will, it seems to us, submit to a Government which has been forced upon them in this manner. They will wait patiently to get their grievances redressed; but if no help comes from abroad, they will probably retire from scenes endeared to them by the associations of childhood, and the graves of their kindred, and find a home in the bosom of Africa, where no white foe will ever again invade their peaceful habitations. I cannot but hope that England will interfere, and that their rights and liberties will be restored to them. The document addressed to Her Majesty Victoria, as everything else pertaining to this matter, has been written very hurriedly, and necessarily with many imperfections. We trust, however, that this will not exclude them from the attention of those to whom their eyes are turned as their only friends. Excuse the freedom and haste with which I have written; I would not have troubled you with this communication at all, if my own feelings had not been deeply interested in behalf of this injured people. Yours, &c. Messrs. R. and W. King. J. LEIGHTON WILSON. (Sub-Inclosure 2.)-Mr. Dyer to Messrs. King. Englishman, off King Glass's Town, Gaboon River, April 5, 1844. GENTLEMEN, I ARRIVED at this place on Sunday the 24th ultimo, and found 5 merchant ships from France, and 1 French war-cutter, in the river. Since my arrival, the Governor of Senegal has been here, and caused everything to be brought to a stand still, because King Glass and his people will not be brought into subjection by him to the French Government. The inclosed I am requested by King Glass and his people to send to you, as they say you are their only friends for a long time, and that in England they have no other. They beg you will read it over, and see whether it be in a fit state to be presented to the British Crown, and if not, they beg that you will beautify it for them, and do something to assist them in shaking off the yoke which the French would have them wear. The French seem determined not to leave one stone unturned ere they have all this river subject to them; and King Glass and his people swear (as is customary) by the graves of their forefathers, that they will not be subjects to the French Crown. The inclosed papers have been written by some gentlemen residing at this place who, with myself were eye-witnesses to the whole transaction. Though as yet they have not hoisted the French flag at King Glass's town, they have sent to inform me that I must obtain passports from their blockhouse for my men I may need to go with me as traders out of the river, which King Glass is not willing that I should comply with, because as yet the English flag is flying in defiance to the French at this town. There has not been one English man-of-war in here for some time, otherwise I should know how to act. But, under the present circumstances, it is my intention to comply with the usual demands of our English cruizers, which is, to choose my men, take them, with ship's log-book, to the King's presence, and there let my nate insert their names, mentioning that they agree to serve of their own free will and consent, and with the consent and approbation of the King, and one or two of the head men. With this, I intend proceeding down the river on the 9th instant, then, if the French cutter boards me I shall produce this as my certificate, which, if to them is not sufficient, I know not what to do for an interpreter; for King Glass says, if his people take passports at the hands of the French it will be an acknowledgment on their part of the sovereignty of France extending to their territory, and this he says, he would rather go into the bush, and take up his abode with the tiger and monkey, and die as they die, than become the subject of a nation by the instrument which herein is inclosed, and which he swears has been obtained by fraudulent means. For my part, I fear that the river is lost to the English, though all the natives are opposed to it. The Governor of Senegal left this morning, wherefore I do not rightly know, but I think he is going to try the Kings of Corisco Island, and the rivers Danger and Moondah. They have been trying at Batanga, and if the English do not enter into some Treaty with those Kings to prevent them, the best of our ivory marts will be lost; and where shall we go to seek for others? Messrs. R. and W. King. I have, &c. SAMUEL DYER, Master and Supercargo. (Sub-Inclosure 3.)-Notices of various things in West Africa. GABOON RIVER.-About the middle of March, 1843, the river was honoured with a visit from Prince de Joinville, in the Belle Poule, accompanied by a brig and schooner. They anchored at Prince |