Parliamentary Papers

industry, in building houses for their residence, and schools and chapels. They shall not be hindered or molested in their endeavours to teach the doctrines of Christianity to all persons willing and desirous to be taught; nor shall any subjects of the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo who may embrace the Christian faith be on that account, or on account of the teaching or exercise thereof, molested or troubled in any manner whatsoever.

The King and Chiefs of Porto Novo further agree to set apart a piece of land, within a convenient distance of the principal towns, to be used as a burial-ground for Christian persons; and the funerals and the sepulchres of the dead shall not be disturbed in any way or upon any account.

ARTICLE IX.

Power is hereby expressly reserved to the Government of France to become a Party to this Treaty, if it shall think fit, agreeably with the provisions contained in Article V of the Convention between Her Majesty and the King of the French for the suppression of the Traffic in Slaves, signed at London, May 29, 1845.

In faith of which we have hereunto set our hands and seals at Porto Novo, on board Her Britannic Majesty's ship "Harlequin," 17th January, 1852.

Additional Articles to the Treaty between Commodore Henry William Bruce, John Beecroft, Esquire, Her Majesty's Consul in the Bight of Benin, and Arthur Parry Eardley Wilmot, Esquire, Commander of Her Majesty's ship "Harlequin," and Senior Officer present on the part of Her Majesty the Queen of England; and the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo and of the neighbourhood, on the part of themselves and of their country, signed at Porto Novo on the 17th January, 1852.

WHEREAS it is expedient to make further additions to the aforesaid Treaty ;

It is therefore hereby agreed between Henry Grant Foote, Esquire, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the territories lying within the Bight of Benin, and Thomas Tickel, Esquire, Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Vice-Consul at Badagry and Porto Novo, on behalf of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo :

ARTICLE I.

English people, or others under English protection, may buy or sell, or hire lands and houses, in the Porto Novo country; and they shall be permitted to erect factories for the purposes of trade, and certain spots of ground shall be assigned to them, in suitable places, for that purpose. And if English people are wronged or ill-treated by the people of Porto Novo, the King and Chiefs shall punish those who wrong or ill-treat the English people.

ARTICLE II.

But English people must not break the laws of the Porto Novo country, and when they are accused of breaking the laws the Chiefs shall send a true account of the matter to the British Consul, and the Consul shall send for the English person, who shall be tried according to English law, and he shall be punished if found guilty.

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ARTICLE III.

If the Porto Novo people should take away the property of an English person, or shall pay their just debts to an English person, the King of Porto Novo shall do all he can to make his people restore the property and pay the debts. And if English people should take away the property of the Porto Novo people, or should not pay their just debts to the Porto Novo people, the King of Porto Novo shall make known the fact to the ViceConsul, if there is one, or to the Consul at Lagos, who shall do all he can to make the English person restore the property and pay the debt.

ARTICLE IV.

The Queen of England may appoint an Agent to visit the Porto Novo country, or to reside there, in order to watch over the interests of the English people, and to see that this Agreement is fulfilled. And in case of danger of attack from an enemy, or when necessary for the protection of the Agency, the Resident Agent may be allowed to send for and maintain a guard for his protection.

The Agent shall always receive honour and protection in the Porto Novo country, and the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo shall pay attention to what the Agent says; and the person and property of the Agent shall be sacred.

ARTICLE V.

All differences and disputes for debts, or other engagements between English people and English people shall be determined by the English Agent or Resident in the Porto Novo country, subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Consul at Lagos.

ARTICLE VI.

No wars shall be entered into between the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo and any other Chiefs or State without first making the British Consul acquainted with the matter in dispute.

ARTICLE VII.

The King and Chiefs of Porto Novo shall do all in their power to encourage trade and establish a friendly alliance with King Docemo, of Lagos, and his people, and all other Native Chiefs and people under the protection of Her Britannic Majesty. And should any disputes arise between the people of Lagos and the people of Porto Novo, the King and Chiefs will decide justly and fairly between their respective countrymen, and, at their earliest convenience, agree upon some plan for the settlement of disputes between them.

ARTICLE VIII.

That the King of Porto Novo engages to remove, without delay, any obstructions to the free navigation of the lagoon between Badagry and Porto Novo, and that henceforth he will keep it free from all such obstructions to sea or river-going craft as do not naturally exist.

ARTICLE IX.

The King of Porto Novo shall within forty-eight hours of the date of this Agreement, proceed to proclaim it and carry it into effect.

Done, signed, and sealed at Porto Novo, this 16th day of May, 1861.

(Signed)

THOMAS TICKEL, Acting Vice-Consul.

SUGEE, King of Porto Novo.

PREGAUH, Chief.

GOGAUH, Chief.

AGUJUBIE YORUBAH, Chief.

MAMA MAHMADO, Mahomedan Chief.

The above signatures of the King and Chiefs of Porto Novo were signed by mc, at their request, their hands touching the pen.

(Signed)