§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has received a Memorial from 246 inhabitants of Lagos, dated December, 1890, calling attention to the frequent and disastrous raids and kidnapping expeditions from Dahomey on 55 the Yoruba country, and to the neglect of Article 1 of the Treaty of Cession in 1861, to the following effect:—
In order that the Queen of England may be the better enabled to assist, defend, and protect the inhabitants of Lagos, and to put an end to the Slave Trade in this and the neighbouring countries, and to prevent the destructive wars frequently undertaken by Dahomey and others for the capture of slaves, I, Docemo, do with the consent and advice of my Council, give transfer,&c.; and, if so, whether he will inform the House as to the action which Her Majesty's Government proposes to take in the matter?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThe Petition has only recently been received, as, although dated in December last, it was not sent to the Governor until the 28th February. It will receive the careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government; but I may state that the Governor was authorised, before the arrival of the Memorial referred to, to send a letter to the King of Dahomey protesting against his making an anticipated raid, and warning him.