The stars in their courses seem to fight against us
in Ashanti. The forces despatched to relieve Coomasaie have been delayed by torrents of rain, which have made the rivers impassable, and it is greatly feared that they will be too late. Sir Frederick Hodgson had informed Colonel Willcocks that he could only hold out to June 20th, and the letter was not de- livered to the advance guard till the 21st. The Governor would therefore be compelled either to surrender or to cut his way out, and from some cannon firing heard on the 21st, it is conjectured that he had accepted the second alternative. As all roads had been stockadecl, and were defended by well- armed negroes in great numbers, it is scarcely possible that the march should be a suceasful one, or that the Europeans should escape massacre. Their best chance is that such as may survive will be held as hostages. With Coomassie in native hands another expedition will be required, with at least a thousand Europeans in it, and we can only hope that when it has been successful Coomaasie will be reasonably garrisoned, and a practicable road cut to it with defensible posts at dangerous points.
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