The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-02 00:00:00

P Grey and tkewessea are Asada...Xs. Sigma is a French-
man, Mr. Shepherd is • native stela ask awl Kr. Geddes
is a native a(Saatlead. lash magas etthe sesnoil it, by
right of tales, a magistrate nerd wait, whether relat-
ing to the city Of the swiss swat be approved by
the council babe. It csn beams a law. There is a
regularly organised polies tame fur the mainte-
nance of order, or a city attarsay to discharge the
usual dude, of that dace, and a port captain and a
port surgeon, whose duty it is to board all Tunis entering
the harbour. All vessels entering the harbour are se-
quired I. pay harbour dues, except the English mail
steamers. These vessels are exempt because they bring and
receive a mail to and from this place. The same privilege
is offered to the steamer of any other country that will in
like manner deliver and receive a mail to. and from the
countries from which they come. The steamship Prome-
theus commenced her regular tripe to this port in July last
in connexion, by the transit steamers on the dyer and
lake, with the steamers from San Francisco at San Juan
del Sur. The authorities of this place granted to the cam.
piny the privilege of occupying a certain portion of land on
the opposite or north side of the harbour, for the purpose
of fitting up the river steamen, discharging coal, At. There
appeared to be • disposition, on the part or the government
here, to render to the company such facilities as might be
in their power in establishing the route; and when
the first steamer started on her first voyage up the
river and grounded on • sand bar opposite the town, the
boats of the war vessel Bermuda, then lying in port, were
promptly sent to her relief, and assisted in getting her off.
Previous to the departure of the Prometheus for New York,
the bill for port charges was presented and payment refused,
on the plea that the company did not recognise the autho-
rities, and consequently would not pay. This announce-
ment was received with surprise and regret, u it was the
wish of the authorities and citizens that a good understand-
ing should exist between them and the company. The
Prometheus was permitted to depart, and made several
trips, each time refusing to pay as before, at the same time
all other vessels arriving and departing paid the regular
charges without • murmur. On the morning of November
21, the Prometheus, then in port, and about to start for
New York, with a large number of passengers, among
them Mr. Vanderbilt, president of the canal company,
who had just returned from the lake of Nicaragua, whither
be had west with the new lake steamer Central Ame-
rica the usual bill of charges was presented in-
clulieg those due on former occasions, and payment again
refused. A warrant was then issued (the council approv-
ing) for the arrest of the captain of the steamer for the
debt. The captain of the port, with some policemen, went
on board, and on serving the process, the captain of the
steamer resisted ; on this the port captain, with his men,
retired, at the same time giving notice that the steamer
would not be permitted to proceed to sea until the debt was
paid. In a few minutes after, the Prometheus was drop.
plug down the harbour, and immediately the English brig-
of-war Express got under weigh. Ono or two blank cart-
ridges were fired. The steamer still continued dropping
down, • round shot was then sent across the bow, and ano-
ther across the stern from the brig. The steamer then re-
turned to her place of anchorage. Mr. Vanderbilt came on
shore, and the debt was paid. It is a matter of regret to
the Americans residing in San Juan that such an occur-
rence should have taken place. Nearly ono-half the
improved property is held, and more than one-half the
business Is done, by American,. For good order and for
safety of life and property, Grey Town will com-
pare favourably with any town in any country, and
while Chagres has established an unenviable reputation, and
San Juan del Sur and Virgin Bay are following the same
track, Grey Town or San Juan del Norte, presents the sin-
gular contrast of good order and safety, whilst almost sur-
rounded by Spanish American anarchy. There seems an
anomaly in the fact that while the Prometheus recognised
no authority in Grey Town, they repeatedly called on the
authorities to assist them in quelling insubordination on
board their vessels. It is but • snort time ago that the cap-
tain of the Prometheus applied directly to the captain of
the English brigof-war in the harbour for assistance, on
the event of • difficulty with his passengers, which he
expected would take place. The Americans here deem
the Mosquito question a matter to be settled between the
governments interested; and until that is done, that, in
order to maintain the law sad give protection to citizens
and strangers that the usual port charges, as well u all
other taxes levied by consent of the council, should be paid;
and it may be hero added that Americans, in buying pro-
perty, landed or otherwise, or accepting office under the go-
vernment, are not required to relinquish a single right they
may possess se American citizens.