THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAMsaid—seeing the noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies in his place—that after what appeared in the newspapers that morning, any information which the noble Earl could give their Lordships on the subject of the hostilities between our forces at Elmina and the Ashantees would be listened to with interest.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, he was much obliged to the noble Duke for giving him an opportunity of stating what had occurred. The summary of news that had appeared in the papers was generally correct. The date of the last despatch received from Cape Coast Castle was the 16th of June. Immediately before that despatch was written the engagement at Elmina referred to in the public papers had been fought between Her Majesty's military and naval forces and a body of Ashantees, in which the latter were repulsed. The forces on that occasion were commanded, the land force by Lieutenant-Colonel resting, and the naval by Captain Fremantle, and both branches of the service conducted themselves with the greatest gallantry, and were led with the greatest skill and prudence. The Ashantees were repulsed with great loss, leaving not fewer than 200 men dead on the field, besides a great number of wounded. Our loss in that engagement and a slight skirmish which had occurred previously was two killed and seven wounded. Our regular troops were assisted by a body of Houssas, whose bravery was spoken of in the highest terms. The despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel Festing addressed to the War Office, and that of Captain Fremantle addressed to the Admiralty, which gave all the details of the engagement, would be published to-morrow, and therefore he need not enter into details in replying to the Question of the noble Duke. Another operation had been carried out previously. He alluded to the destruction of a portion of the town of Elmina—only a portion of it had been destroyed, because the other parts had remained loyal. That operation was undertaken in consequence of the disaffection of the inhabitants of a portion of the town, who showed a disposition to give 'aid to the Ashantees. Full notice was given to the inhabitants 268 of that part of the town which was destroyed to remove, and Colonel Harley stated that owing to that precaution no life was lost. It was to be regretted that such a step should have become necessary, although there was strong ground for suspicion; but he might mention that the removal of the buildings which had been destroyed was not only necessary for the safety of the garrison but was also attended with sanitary advantages as they approached so close to the fort that proper steps would not be taken for the health of the forces. As regarded the probability of an attack on Cape Coast Castle, it was true that deserters from the enemy had informed the authorities that a force of Ashantees encamped at a distance of about 15 miles from Cape Coast Castle and Elmina respectively intended to make such an attack, and that in furtherance of that object scouts had advanced within seven miles of Cape Coast Castle; but Colonel Harley and the officers engaged in dealing with the Ashantees expressed no doubt as to the result of such an attack. As to stores and provisions, their Lordships might remember that on a former occasion he mentioned that two steamers on their way to Cape Coast had been lost, and apprehensions were entertained that a considerable supply of stores had been lost in them. After full inquiry, it had been ascertained that scarcely any military stores were in either of those ships. The whole of the military stores which he had supposed to have been on those steamers had been received at Cape Coast, and they were amply sufficient for all the wants of the troops. He believed the only loss experienced was that of a number of boots and great-coats; though it was possible that some military stores might have been put on board those steamers at Sierra Leone. If this was the case, such stores were lost; but none had been sent in those steamers from this country. A large supply of provisions had been sent out already, and much more was about to follow, in the shape of maize, rice, and other food suitable to the population.
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEobserved that the statement of the noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies was satisfactory as far as it went; but he ventured again to suggest that the 269 natives should be armed and drilled for the purpose of service against the enemy in the interior. He understood that intelligence had been received up to the 23rd of June, and at that time there was a demand on the part of the colonists for gunboats to secure the safety of tribes under our protection.