§ SIR JOHN HAYIt will be in the recollection of the House that the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary far the Colonies in reply to a Question from the right hon. Baronet the Member for Droitwich (Sir John Pakington), in May. promised that the Ashantee war should be put a stop to and a transport sent to fetch a way the troops. I wish to ask the noble Lord, Whether, in accordance with the promise given before Whitsuntide, any transports have been cent to convey troops from the Gold Coast, what number of men are to be conveyed and when the ship sailed?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETSir, I will state the arrangements which have been made for removing the troops which it is intended to transfer from Cape Coast Castle to the West Indies. We have taken up a transport, which is to proceed, and will be ready to proceed, in two days, to the Cape de Verd Islands. We have likewise ordered the Gladiator, a paddle steamer, to proceed at once to Cape Coast Castle to bring the troops, calling at Sierra Leone, to the Cape de Verd Islands, there to meet the transport, which will convey them thence to the West Indies. We expect that the transport will have arrived at the Cape de Verd Islands in time to await the arrival of the Gladiator with the troops on board.
§ SIR JOHN HAYThe numbers?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETThe number of those whom it is intended to remove is slightly above 500.
§ SIR JOHN HAYI have also a Ques- 1840 tion to put to the Under Secretary of Stat for War, of which I have given him notice. I wish to ask him, How it is that only one transport for 500 men is provided, when the Returns in the hands of Members this morning show 1,402 men at Cape Coast Castle, in addition to the garrison of 300 men. and whether there is reason to suppose, as I fear there is too good reason, that 1000 men have died?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI hope, Sir there is no reason to suppose that 1.000 of the men at Cape Coast Castle have died; on the contrary. the last Return received from there showed that the rank and file, at least, were not suffering from any great amount of sickness. The promise which was given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies was, I believe that those troops who had been sent from the West Indies to the Gold Coast for the objects of this war should be removed, and that the force at the Gold Coast should be reduced to its normal strength. It had been decided, long before the outbreak of hostilities, that the force permanently to be stationed at the Gold Coast should for the future consist of one battalion. The removal of these 500 or 550 men from Cape Coast will leave between 700 and 800 men, which is the force that it is proposed permanently to station there.
§ MR. HENRY SEYMOURsaid he wished to ask Whether it is true, that of fifty-one officers landed at Cape Coast Castle thirteen had already died, while ten others were sick from the effects of climate? Also whether, but of 1,400 men landed, 600, within short time after their arrival, were. either dead on invalided?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIt is quite true that within the last year thirteen officers have died on the Gold Coast, and about the number which has been mentioned by my hon. Friend were invalided. The Returns have been laid on the table this evening, and will be in the hands of Members to-morrow.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONI wish to ask when the order was given for the Gladiator to proceed to the coast of Africa, and whether she will afford proper accommodation for 500 men?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETTo-day the Gladiator was ordered to proceed to the Gold Coast. We have to reason to believe that her accommodation will prove insufficient for the troops she is to take.
§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEasked 1841 the noble. Lord to state the name of the transport which was to proceed to the Cape de Verd Islands, and why she could not go straight to the Gold Coast. Was the Gladiator to perform the service for which she was intended in one or more trips?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETThe reason we have sent the transport to the Cape de Verd Islands is in order to save time. She would have to beat up against contrary winds in order to get to Cape Coast Castle, and we think time will be saved by sending the Gladiator, which is a steamer, to carry the troops thence to the Cape de Verd Island. She can do this in one trip.
§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEsaid, the name of the transport, or the class to which she belonged; has not been stated.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETI cannot tell my hen. Friend the name. She is, however, a sailing ship.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETShe was taken up immediately upon the requisition of the War Office; I think on the 26th of May, or about the end of that month. We have had her fitted out at once; the men have been working day and night to get her ready.