le 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.

But, twenty-six years after this treaty had been signed, numerous
complaints reached the supreme government of Calcutta of the oppressive
tyranny of the governor of Rangoon, which, it appeared, was directed
chiefly against traders in Rangoon.

One of the immediate causes of British interference was the conduct of
the governor towards certain captains of British trading vessels; one of
whom, on the false representations of a Burmese pilot, was placed in the
stocks and fined nine hundred rupees. A representative at Ava was
placed on an island on the Irrawaddy without provisions, and left there
till the river rose and nearly swamped him. Sooner than irritate the
court, the representative was withdrawn. Insult after insult was heaped
upon the British, and though every means was taken to ensure peace and
conciliate the Burmese, it was soon seen that sterner measures must be
taken with them.

On 7th January the governor of