On 6 August 1861, at Lagos, Docemo (Dosunmu), King of Lagos, signed with Commander Norman B. Bedingfeld, of HMS Prometheus, and William McCoskry, Her Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul, the treaty of cession of the port and island. Beside Docemo, Telabe, Rocumenu, Obalehow and Achetong set their marks.

The text is published in the London Gazette of 20 September 1861, enclosed with McCoskry’s dispatch of 7 August to Earl Russell. McCoskry and Bedingfeld act on behalf of the Queen of Great Britain; Docemo, on the part of himself and chiefs.

Article I: in order that the Queen of England may be the better enabled to assist, defend and protect the inhabitants of Lagos, to put an end to the Slave Trade in the neighbouring countries, and to prevent the destructive wars so frequently undertaken by Dahomey for the capture of slaves, Docemo, with the consent and advice of his Council, gives, transfers and confirms unto the Queen, her heirs and successors for ever, the port and Island of Lagos, with all rights, profits, territories and absolute sovereignty. The inhabitants are still suffered to live there as the Queen’s subjects.

Article II: Docemo will be allowed the use of the title of King in its usual African signification, and will be permitted to decide disputes between natives of Lagos with their consent, subject to appeal to British laws.

Article III: in the transfer of lands, the stamp of Docemo affixed to the document will be proof that there are no other native claims upon it; he will be permitted to use it as hitherto. In consideration of the cession, the Queen’s representatives promise, subject to the approval of Her Majesty, an annual pension equal to the net revenue hitherto annually received by him, to be paid at such periods and in such mode as may hereafter be determined.

Quiet and peaceable possession is to be delivered with all possible speed to such person as Her Majesty shall appoint. The Gazette reproduces the marks of the five Lagos signatories and the signatures of Bedingfeld and McCoskry, dated Lagos, 6 August 1861.

This is distinct from the treaty between Great Britain and Lagos of 1 January 1852, signed by Akitoye after the Reduction of Lagos in 1851, and from the proclamation of the Colony of Lagos the following year. It is not the 30 July meeting aboard Prometheus; the instrument is that of 6 August.

Image: Lagos Island, the central district, with the harbour on the right; Sir Demo, 30 April 2014; CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9. The 1861 cession concerns this port and this island.

Source consulted: Lagos Treaty of Cession. Treaty text: Treaty of Cession, Lagos, 6 August 1861 (London Gazette).