Soon after seven o’clock in the morning the Teazer was got under weigh, and, finding the right channel, steamed up towards the Bloodhound, with the squadron of boats in her company. As soon as she was seen from the Bloodhound, Captain Jones ordered that the guns of the Bloodhound’s gunboats should open a deliberate flanking fire on the west part of the enemy’s defences; and he then sent a boat under Mr Bullen, his clerk, who was acting as his aide-de-camp, to point out to Captain Lyster the position in which he wished the Teazer to be anchored. At ten minutes past eight, the Teazer having anchored, Captain Jones pulled on board her, to consult further with Captain Lyster on the plan of proceeding. The rocket-boats were then ordered to take up a position to the northward of the Bloodhound. This was quickly done, and Lieutenant Marshall threw some rockets with beautiful effect, setting fire to several houses, among which, to the satisfaction of all, was that of the Prime Minister Tappis. When this was seen, a hearty and spontaneous cheer ran through the whole squadron for the crew of the rocket-boat, who had thus punished the chief instigator of the former attack on the British boats.
After this, the rocket-boat shifted her position ahead of the Teazer, and a general but deliberate fire was opened from the whole force. At forty-five minutes past ten, Lieutenant Marshall threw a rocket, which struck the battery below Tappis’ house, and at the same time a shot from the Teazer capsized the gun. The firing became still more rapid; an awful explosion ensued; a magazine of the enemy’s had blown up. And from this moment the fate of Lagos was decided; house after house caught fire, and the whole town was shortly in a general blaze. More ships-of-war now came in, and Kosoko, finding his case hopeless, took to flight, and Akitoye was reinstated.
The only portion of the British forces landed was a small body under Commander Coote, who went on shore to spike guns.
The next morning he and Commander Gardner, with the boats’ crews of the Sampson and Penelope, were employed in a similar way. They returned in the afternoon, having by extraordinary exertions embarked or destroyed fifty-two pieces of ordnance.
Lagos has now become a British province.
Chapter Nine.
The Burmese War—1851-1852.
By the treaty of Yandaboo in 1824 the Burmese granted security to English merchants and English commerce. It seemed then as if the first Burmese war had really had some good results, and as if civilisation had taken an immense stride in the country.