§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies a Question of which he had given him private notice. The right hon. Gentleman had most probably seen the statements in the papers to the effect that the Commandant of Cape Coast Castle was marching with troops towards the Kingdom of Ashantee. He wished to know, Whether that officer has been directed to take the field against the Ashantees; and, if so, whether any precautions have been taken to prevent a mortality amongst our soldiers similar to that which followed the last expedition?
§ MR. CARDWELL,in reply, said, no instrnctions had been sent to the Governor of the Gold Coast to march troops against the Ashantee territory, and any proceeding on his part of that kind would be at variance with his instructions from home. He had, however, heard that the Governor was going into the interior of the country on a friendly expedition, and he (Mr. Cardwell) had it in a Despatch from the Governor that he did not contemplate any warlike measure, but he believed the Governor had taken troops with him as a guard.